why london is one of the most popular cities in the world?
There is something about London that everyone loves. It is probably not the weather as it is notoriously rainy and foggy. But there is always something going on in London. The city in constant motion. It does not stop. It does not get quiet. Not even for a moment. Every day brings even more. Every day thousands of people come to London to see it in its natural habitat. Feel its pulsating beat.
Adjust the watch to London time and its insane rhythm and squeeze out from a day as much as possible. Many never leave or decide to stay at least for a little while, make a mark on it and re- shape it in its own way. London is a collision of a bunch of different cultures. Diversity infuses creative thinking, flavours, music, fashion. It is like hundreds of countries are trapped in one city. Perhaps then, this is it. Everyone can find in London a bit of themselves and discover something new. That is why we love London.
LONDON TRAVEL TIPS - top things to see & do in london?
I say “London” and lot of you might think immediately of Big Ben, the Buckingham Palace, and the overpriced London Eye and all the sort of classic of British icons. But London is more than you see in the brochures. It is trendy, eclectic, vintage. The art is not only to be found in museums (British Museum, the National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Modern). There’s tons of street art out there so leave for a bit a central London. Glimpse the classics, run away from the hordes of tourists and head to…
Shoreditch & BRICK LANE
It is now the beating heart and trendiest neighbourhood in the city with vibrant one of the worlds’ best art scene, boutiques and the hottest night life. It is packed full of legendary bars and eateries (e.g. Boxpark Shoreditch), it’s the perfect place to spend a Saturday evening when it really comes to life. I personally loved the Blues Kitchen (Restuarant & Bar). Not for the food (have not eaten there) despite is it said to be exquisite but for the vibe and the live blues music. Do not miss out the (Free) Street Art and Graffiti Tour and discover the hidden street art gems and their stories you otherwise would not find yourself. Hunt the Banksy’s street art and learn more about stunning London’s streets and many up-and-coming artists. Open your eyes and see the capital of England from a different angle. And lastly, stop and grab something delicious at the Brick Lane Market.
2. Borough Market
Eat out at one of the London’s largest and oldest food markets. This market has been in London since about the 12th century. It is located on the south bank of the London Bridge. It heaves with tourists especially during the weekend but you know what? The wide array of gastronomic mouth-watering delights awaiting there for you, makes it totally worth it. It is not cheap but the crowds come for free. Come you too at least for a bit and pamper your taste buds. It is a pure magic for food lovers.
3. LONDON THEATRE SHOWs
From the Borough Market, stroll along the River Thames up to Westminster. Stop at the Shakespeare’s Globe. But on the way get a bit lost in the meander of the charming alleys and invite yourself for a pint in one of out of the dozens bars located in the area. Feel the London energy. It is a great way of an appreciation for the city.
Spark your curiosity. Take a Globe Theatre Guided Tour and Discover what is on playing currently in the legendary theatre. The show tickets can go for as cheap as 5 GBP. But if you thought, this is it. You are wrong. There is something playing on every night in the city. After all, London is the theatre capital of the world where you can watch the shows like Hamilton, the Book of Mormon, Kinky Boots, the Phantom of the Opera, the Lion’s King, Wicked and many more. If you have time only for one play, let it be the Book of Mormon. It is played at the Prince of Wales Theatre straight in the heart of the city, in the theatre district. You will not get disappointed.
4. LONDON’S SKY GARDEN
London’s Sky Garden is the highest public garden – three storeys of lush landscaped gardens and an open-air terrace on the thirty-fifth floor of so called a Walkie-Talkie skyscraper where you can admire the whole London in a quick glance.It is located quite near to the Tower of London. There are a couple of restaurants and bars here. Come at sunset. The entry to the Sky Garden is free but you’ve just got to book in advance online through the booking system. A limited number of tickets is available so once a new pool of tickets is realised, be fast! (They open up the booking system on Monday for the following week). Then simply enjoy spectacular 360 degree views across the capital of England.
5. HYDE PARK & st. james park
Hyde Park is the most famous park in London. It offers both world-class events and concerts (e.g. British Summer Time Music Festival) together with plenty of quiet places to rest from the city noise and unwind. Visit Speakers’ Corner on a Sunday morning to hear very interesting people sharing their views on politics, aliens, or whatever…
6. PORTOBELLO ROAD MARKET & camden market
Pop in preferably on Saturday to Portobello Road Market to do your shopping especially if you are an antique lover. It is one of the most famous street markets in the world, featured even in the blockbuster “Notting Hill” movie starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.
Camden Market is actually a bunch of different markets strung together and is a big extravaganza. This is London’s biggest street market and a great place to grab a bite. It has a lot of street vendors. You can find them condensed at KERB. It is really busy here so start liking the crowds.
GETTING AROUND LONDON explained - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN LONDON
London is a great city but an expensive one and that includes transportation so instead of traveling by a London black cab (taxi) opt for more economic method and travel how the locals do i.e. via public transportation especially the London Underground (Tube). It is the best way to cross town or get to different neighbourhoods in town. There are a few lines of Tube that do operate 24h on Fridays and Saturdays night but bear in mind that when the midnight approaches, the Tube in general is shutting down.
There are 12 lines which are named and coloured. Download a Citymapper app on your smartphone. It will help you to find the best way. Pay for your tickets using a contactless debit card or purchase an Oyster card (cost 5 GBP and then you can top up as much money as you want) instead. Do not buy paper tickets. You might want to ride an iconic red London double decker bus at the cost of 1.50 GBP but they do not take cash. Again, use your contactless card or Oyster. You only need to tap in. No matter how far you go by bus, one ride is always 1.50 GBP. Press the stop request button when your stop is approaching. Some buses run late night but not all of them. Uber is available in the UK.
WHERE TO STAY IN LONDON?
There is no best area to stay in London. Each of them offers something different for a different type of traveller. So you need to answer yourself a question: “What do I want from my London trip?” Hotels are relatively expensive as everything else in London. Expect to get a lot less for your money here than in any other parts of the world. Central London is the most expensive as all the major attractions are in this area. You better book your accommodation that is just a few minutes walk from the nearest tube station and do it as far in advance as possible. It might save you a lot of time and a bit of money.
KNOW BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR FLIGHT TO LONDON
There are 5 airports in London. London Heathrow (LHR) and London Gatwick (LGW) are the main ones and are better than the others. There is also London Stansted (STN), London Luton (LTN) where the budget airlines like Ryanair or Easy Jet usually fly and London City (LCY). Getting to London city from each of the airports is easy. Each of them offers tons of different options: by tube, by taxi, by rail, by bus/coach (e.g. National Express or Megabus). But be aware of late arrivals and early departure flights as not all transportation operate 24/7 so you better check your options beforehand. If you come from Paris, Amsterdam or Brussels, it might be easier and faster for you to book a Euro Star train.