London is by far one of the greatest cities in the world. After living there for three months, here are six of my favorite things to do in London – from pub walks to garden strolls and more!
If I were to have a second home anywhere abroad, I’d have to pick London. Maybe it’s the English charm that warms my heart. Perhaps it’s because I’d have easy access to the rest of the world (Heathrow, you’re a gem). Or, I guess it could be the fact I did live in London once, and I loved every minute of it.
The city of London is hard not to fall in love with; it captivates you from the moment you land and leaves you enchanted throughout your trip. Mind the gap? OK, you cheery lady, you. Walk off jet lag in Kensington Gardens? Why, yes — I’d love to say hello to Will and Kate! Cheers to the start of a trip? Sure, let’s go to one of Charles Dickens’ favorite pubs!
And the only-in London explorations continue throughout your journey. Whether it’s a visit to Big Ben, shopping at Borough or Portobello Markets, fashion hunting on High Street, royal watching at Buckingham Palace, or any combination of these adventures, London has something for just about everyone. There are so many things to do in London; even after three months getting Wanderlost in the UK, I still have so much of this big, beautiful city to see!
London Must-Dos:
South Bank Night Walk
It seems so simple, but strolling along the South Bank after sunset provides some of the most magical, dazzling views in all of London. To get your night jaunt started, take the Tube to Tower Hill, cross the Tower Bridge to the South Bank and walk down stairs to the water pathway. From here, it’s a straight, spectacular shot along the Thames down to Big Ben.
You’ll see the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben lit up and twinkling under the night’s sky.
Start to finish, this walk will take about an hour and a half, and note that between London Bridge and Southwark bridges, you’ll have to follow the streets — not pedestrian water path — for a couple of minutes. As long as you stay as close to the water path as possible, you won’t miss it when it picks back up. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a glimpse into Wanderlost directions — “Just stay near the water and feel your way there!” Yet somehow it always works. {Knocks on wood}
London Pubs
The pub scene is spectacular; exploring them is one of my favorite things to do in London (and as my waistline after three months showed … I visited them a lot). On the surface, a warm pint in Chelsea may appear just as, well, warm as a pint in Borough Market, but trust me — it’s not. Each pub is eccentric and delicious in its own way, which makes the warm beer easier to swallow, and the atmosphere memorable. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Ye Old Mitre: This traditional 1547 pub is located near the Chancery Lane Tube stop. It’s tucked away in a back alley, which is probably why it’s a hot-spot hangout for the older London crowd, looking to kick their feet up after work over good beer and even better pickle and cheese sandwiches.
- Ye Old Cheshire Cheese: Located right off of Fleet Street near St. Paul’s Cathedral, Ye Old Cheshire Cheese was one of Charles Dickens’ go-to pubs. While a little more on the beaten path, Ye Old Cheshire Cheese has delicious beers, a variety of food (including the must-have Ploughman’s plate), and multiple levels of seating. It’s also known for its sticky toffee pudding, so consider your sweet cravings satisfied!
- The Churchill Arms: If the flowers adorning the outside of this pub don’t draw you in, the pairing of beer and Thai noodles definitely will. The Churchill Arms is located just west of Kensington Gardens, and is known for its walls and walls of Churchill memorabilia. Now, at times, the bar itself can smell a little like stale urine (appetizing, right?), but as long as you’re prepared, it’s nothing a little booze can’t fix.
- The Queen’s Arms: When I lived in Kensington, this was the spot. The Queen’s Arms, tucked away on a side street (Queen’s Gate Mews) like all good pubs are, offers a great selection of beer, food and an open, outdoor area. But take caution: In recent years this spot has grown in popularity, so you’ll have to get there early if you want a seat and, in some cases, service.
- The Market Porter Pub: Raise your glasses, Harry Potter fans! The Market Porter Pub, located outside of Borough Market, was featured in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” as the Third Hand Book Emporium, situated right next to The Leakey Cauldron. In addition to its Harry Potter history, the pub offers a great beer rotation and close proximity to top London sights like The Shard, the London Bridge, and, for those who indulged a bit too much, the London Dungeon.
Oh, and good news for you non-warm-beer drinkers (like me)! While these bars do serve the traditionally warm English ales, you can also get cold blondes on tap. Hoorah!
London Parks
London is known for major sights like Big Ben, the Eye and Tower Bridge, but the city also has some hidden, emerald gems sprinkled throughout its neighborhoods: the Royal Parks.
Four of the main parks — Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James’s Park — are interconnected from Kensington Palace all the way to Big Ben, which makes for one of the most spectacular walks in all of London. When I was interning here in summer 2012, I used the “Royal Parks route” from my office down by St. Paul’s Cathedral back to my Kensington home every single day.
While the parks share similarities, each one has its own originality. Most notably,
- Kensington Gardens, home to the Kensington Palace, has grand landmarks like the Albert Memorial down to small, more hidden sights like the Peter Pan statue across its 265 acres. This is a good “starter park” for Wanderlost explorers, because it’s harder to get lost. Unlike the massive, yet mesmerizing…
- Hyde Park, which covers 350 acres, features the beautiful Serpentine Lake for paddle boating, a scenic stroll or relaxing over cappuccinos at the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen. Hyde Park is also home to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, Speaker’s Corner and dozens of gardens where you can sit down and – wait for it – smell the roses.
- Green Park is beautiful in its simplicity, with no frills, few flowers, and plenty of park benches to sit, relax and enjoy your London surroundings.
- St. James’s Park is the oldest of the city’s eight Royal Parks. It starts at Buckingham Palace, and continues along the Mall out to Horse Guards Parade, where you can catch a traditional Changing of the Guards ceremony (dates/ times here). St. James’s Park boasts beautiful flowers and some great Big Ben and London Eye views; keep your head up while garden hopping to ensure you don’t miss them!
Portobello Market
Whether you’re looking for new-age fashions, classic art, vintage jewelry or one-of-a-kind antiques, London’s open air Portobello Market should rank high on your list.
Portobello Market is located in the Notting Hill neighborhood, which is known for its multi-colored, charismatic houses (in addition to the Julia Roberts movie). The market opens daily at 9 a.m., with Friday and Saturday as its busiest days (and therefore the days most shops are open).
If shopping or bartering with store owners isn’t up your alley, you can still experience all that Portobello has to offer — just visit on a weekday morning. Head out to Notting Hill, snap photos of the charming little neighborhood, take a stroll through the market’s stands and shops, grab coffee in a cafe or from a vendor stand, and head out on your merry way!
The market has something for everyone, and it’s a great way to experience the lovely Notting Hill neighborhood.
Afternoon Tea
A proper afternoon tea is the perfect excuse to indulge in all sorts of delicious English sweets (and it’s one of the most iconic things to do in London!). Served typically between 2 – 4 p.m., afternoon tea is that much-desired gap in between meals. It consists of select, often rare, teas, baked goods, bite-sized sandwiches and, best of all, full-fat, fantastic cream and butter.
Most places require a reservation ahead of time, but during the off-season, you’re OK to wait up until the day before or morning of to call in for a reservation. I’d highly recommend the popular Bluebird in the Chelsea area. Or, if you’re looking for a deal, check out Groupon or Living Social. There are a surprising amount of tea-time deals at your disposal.
Wembley Match
Catch a match at Wembley Stadium if your schedule syncs up, and, equally important, immerse yourself in the pre-game scenes of the Greyhound, a soccer (sorry, football) bar right outside the stadium.
Like traditional tailgating, football fans get rowdy at the Greyhound, be it knocking back beer after beer, or playing a bar-wide game of “keep the ball in the air.” Sure, it’s a little rough around the edge, but that’s half the fun!
Know before you go
If you want to see the royal family — one of the best things to do in London! — visit in early June for Trooping the Colour. Known as the Queen’s Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour is a royal ceremony featuring 1,400 officers and men and 400 musicians that starts at Horse Guards, travels down along the Mall and ends at Buckingham Palace.
Of course, it’s great fun to join in the Queen’s birthday celebrations, but there’s an added bonus — you can see the entire royal family! I’m talking Will, Kate, Harry, and, of course, Queen Elizabeth II herself. (Side note: The Queen’s birthday is actually in April, but given London’s love for tradition, they’ve kept the parade in the summer.)
You can get tickets ahead of time, or, like us, you can show up to the Mall a couple of hours ahead of time with a good book and free view. Check out time and date ahead of your trip to make sure you have all the right details.
Last thing — if you’re looking for a good side trip, check out The Cotswolds, a beautiful portion of the English countryside with charming cottages, fields upon open fields of flowers and greenery, and quaint little welcoming villages. I loved it so much I visited twice!
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