In celebration of it being the two year anniversary of moving to London yesterday I have decided to write another blog post on what a tourist must see and do when visiting London for the first time! I am aiming to list mostly free attractions but will also include a few costly ones. I have written a few posts in the past on things I believe everyone should experience when visiting London but since then I have had a few people (three to be exact) ask for suggestions on what to see when visiting London. Since past posts were on things that only I enjoy I thought I would make a more universal list.
- See one if not ALL of the museums (Free)
I mean how many places in the world provide free admission for museums? Even if you aren’t a fan of museums I assure you there is something that will attract you to at least one of the many museums in London. There is the V&A museum – which to be honest is not MY favorite museum but many of my friends adore it. There is the British Museum, The TATE modern (which I enjoy) it is a modern art museum, the Natural History Museum (which includes an exhibit with moving dinosaurs, who wouldn’t love to see that?) and then, of course, there is the National Gallery! - Visit a few of the infamous markets ($ or Free)
Portobello road, Brick Lane, Camden Market, and Borough Market – just to name a few. I am bias due to the fact I used to work in Camden and fully embrace the culture and stereotype that is Camden, so yes it is my favorite. Brick Lane is also very cool, the area has a lot of awesome Street Art and Graffiti, and the shops have interesting pieces such as a Barbie Head Ring I purchased years back. Portobello is one of the most famous markets, but is insanely busy – great food and vintage finds. Lastly, Borough Market is mainly food and sells some delicious cheese that you can, like me, forget you purchased until your entire luggage wreaks and you almost wish you hadn’t bought it in the first place. - Feed the ducks in the Park (Free or Cheap)
London has some beautiful parks and gardens, Kensington, Hyde Park and my favorite Regent’s Park. For as little as one pound you can purchase some bread from a nearby Tesco and go feed the ducks in the park, then go explore or sit on a bench and people watch. - High Tea and a Full English Breakfast ($)
You’re in England, and what is more English than a Big Greasy Breakfast of Beans, Bangers and Eggs and a spot of tea later on in the day? My favorite high tea is at the Orangery in Kensington and my favorite English Breakfast is actually anywhere that you may question how sanitary the food is, but if you prefer cleanliness Patisserie Valerie and The Breakfast Club make a delicious one. - Scream Tourist, by taking photos in the most obvious of places (Free)
I am talking about near the phone booth in front of Big Ben, which coincidentally does not work and smells of piss, across the SouthBank near the London Eye, Near Tower Bridge, in front of Buckingham Palace, hoping to catch the Queen photobombing you from her window, and also, with my sister’s personal favorite – with a big red bus. - Get Hammered in a London Pub or Club ($ or Free 😉 )
I wish I could suggest half of the amazing pubs I visited while in London but to be honest I think 95% of my time spent in London I was drunk – a great way to be by Londoner standards. I for one, definitely prefer pubs to clubs but spent some time in both. If I am going to stick to “Tourist” spots a few great pubs include : The Globe, World’s End (my favorite), The Shard is cool to visit for a drink and a great view, any Weatherspoon’s bar (The MET was a classic for my friends and I – seriously, the owner still remembers me whenever I visit London) and then there was always the Rocket, where you could get drinks for two pounds on Tuesdays.. very popular with American students and the reason I was hungover EVERY Wednesday at work. Some good clubs include Koko (which has an awesome history background as well) Libertine, Maddox, Mahiki, Cirque, Fabric and Ministry of Sound. - Pray for Your Sins ($)
I appreciate a beautiful church, and as someone who desperately wanted to go into Architecture but gave it up I also love to look at a few but to be honest only a few. London, however, does have some of the most beautiful cathedrals that I have seen (with the exception of the Sagrada Familia, of course). The two big ones are respectively, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Westminster Abbey, I believe the Westminster is the more infamous of the two but I am a much bigger fan of St. Paul’s. There is also the Southwark Cathedral, which I did not visit. - Window Shop (Free or if you want… $)
Visit Harrods, the well-known Oxford Street and Selfridges to get a glimpse at what some High Rollers buy during a casual shopping spree. If you want to you can dish out some cash yourself and buy something, I mean if it’s in your price range. More than once I have witnessed women walk out of Selfridges with 3 or more bags from Louis Vuitton, Hermes or Gucci – which I can only assume they spent more than 5,000 pounds or 8,000$ – I can only wonder how much food that could provide for a starving child. - Tour London for Three Pounds
Maybe this is a waste of time, but I used to enjoy riding the buses around London (when I didn’t walk) as opposed to taking the tube. If you are able to grab a seat on the top floor closest to the front you are provided with a really awesome view of London. It’s like taking one of those tourist buses that you have to pay 20 pounds or more for, just without the tour guide, but you probably aren’t really listening to him anyways, right? 😉 - Go See All the Royal Things Americans are SO Obsessed With
You know – The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, that one castle that is super far away that Sarah went to. I have been in too many castles and palaces to even care anymore and I am sorry if that sounds so pretentious but I would rather be in the park or in Camden drunk. Unless Prince Harry is going to give me a personal tour of his bedroom then I am fine with not visiting any of the royal palaces, castles, towers, bathrooms, whatever. But hey, tourists eat this shit up so definitely give it a go. I never actually have been in Buckingham but Kensington was pretty cool and Tower of London was super fucked up and awesome.
I apologize if this post was not of any help, but to be honest I also do not really mind. These are just a few things that a 23 year old girl who is drinking wine on a Wednesday night assumed that other 23 year old girls may enjoy when visiting London. x
Runaway Blond 