London Eye

Created to celebrate the millennium, this giant Ferris wheel carries 32 egg-shaped glass gondolas, each capable of holding 25 passengers. There are superb views in every direction and the wheel’s slow rotation gives sightseers plenty of time to identify major landmarks during the 30-minute ride. On a clear day, the view from the top extends all the way to Windsor castle, and passengers are free to stand, sit, and move about the gondola throughout. The Eye is wheelchair accessible and located on the south bank of the Thames near Waterloo station.

The Tower of London

Over the past thousand years, the Tower has been home to kings, queens, gossips and prisoners. Here the sons of Edward IV vanished while in the care of their uncle, the future Richard III, and Jane Gray, Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Thomas More were held prisoner before their executions. History pours from every brick, and sleek black ravens still come at dusk to be feed on raw meat distributed by Beefeater-clad guards. Also housed here are the Crown Jewels, the Tower’s most popular attraction and worth waiting in line to see.

Westminster Abbey

Dating back nearly a thousand years, Westminster Abbey has been the coronation site of every British monarch save two, Edward V and Edward VIII. In addition to being architecturally beautiful, it’s one of the most desirable burying spots in the world. Geoffrey Chaucer, Isaac Newton, Ben Johnson, Oliver Cromwell, Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, Rudyard Kipling, and Lawrence Olivier are just a few of the notables resting here. Provided there is no special event scheduled, the public is admitted to this historic and majestic building.

Madame Tussaud’s

The young woman who became Madame Tussaud learned the art of life-sized wax modelling in Paris on the eve of the Revolution. Imprisoned during the Terror, she won her life and her freedom by agreeing to model the heads of guillotined aristocrats. She eventually fled to England, where she opened her own exhibition hall. Her work has been meticulously continued, and today’s visitors can see some of the artist’s original works as well as a galaxy of instantly recognizable singers, athletes, world celebrities, and film stars.

London Markets

Markets capture the lively, inexhaustible spirit of London like no other attraction. There are some 20 significant markets in London, each with its own theme and flavour. Among the most popular market Portobello Road in Kensington, the world’s largest antiques market, open Saturdays; Borough Market in Southwark, the city’s oldest market and heaven on earth for foodies, open Thursdays through Saturdays; and the East End Sunday markets around Brick Lane, including the Old Truman Brewery and Old Spitalfields.

Photo by: Armando Maynez

From the Tate Modern to The British Museum, London is known for being home to some of the world’s best museums, and with most being free of charge, the wide selection can be overwhelming and many of the smaller ones are overlooked. We’ve rounded up some of the most underrated artistic and educational establishments around the capital, that prove that when it comes to museums, bigger isn’t always better.

Hunterian Museum

Home to some of the UK’s oldest specimens from animal fossils to human skeletons, the museum showcases a number of anatomical and zoological pieces and paintings assembled by the 18th-century surgeon John Hunter, whom the building is named after. Part of the Royal College of Surgeons in the heart of central London, there are 3,500 bone-chilling artefacts to view. If you’ve exhausted yourself and need a cheap place to stay nearby, browse the offers from Hotels4U.

Museum of Childhood

Based in East London’s Bethnal Green, the Museum of Childhood houses a wide assortment of child friendly items from the Victoria & Albert Museum’s collection. From games to school essentials, the objects take you throughout the centuries, from the 1600s to modern times, to reflect each generation’s childhood experience. Ideal for kids, it’s a fun, interactive way to engage with history while enjoying a day out in the city.

Sir John Soane’s Museum

Open to the public since the early 1800s, you can find the famous British architect’s house, museum and library at No. 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, with the buildings dating back to 1792. Also referred to as an ‘Academy of Architecture’, the museum showcases various collections of Sir Soane’s from sketchbooks and drawings to Roman works of art among other antiquities.

Hayward Gallery

Often overshadowed by the Tate Modern, the famous gallery celebrates some of the world’s most controversial and explorative artists. Opened in 1968, its architectural structure reflects that of British buildings from the ‘60s with its warehouse-style design. Part of the capital’s South Bank Centre, there are plenty of visual art shows and exhibitions to view with some of the most famous including Tracey Emin’s infamous Love is What You Want and works by Andy Warhol.

Photo credit

London is a wonderful place to visit. From cosmopolitan shopping areas to fascinating history and stunning architecture, there really is something for everyone. You don’t have to stay in London to make the most out of the city though, here’s how:

So easy to get around

London is one of the easiest cities to get around with countless bus routes, overland trains and the famous London underground. Because the public transport is so good, staying outside the city is a great way to avoid overpriced London hotel prices and means that you will have a wider choice of accommodation.
You could stay in the beautiful city of Oxford, with its historic university and countless fascinating museums. From Oxford you can catch the shuttle bus into London which is quick and cost effective. Or you could take a trip to Brighton where trains connect the young and funky seaside town to London so you can make the most of two cities in one trip.

If you fancy the option of making the most of city life during the day but being tucked away in the countryside in the evening, you can! Stay in country accommodation and drive to a train station to catch the train into the city. There are loads of great country cottages in the UK that are near enough to the outskirts of London, you can have your cake and eat it!

So, what do you do when you get to London? Here are some of my top suggestions:

Buckingham Palace

You just have to love the British Royal family! If you have never been to Buckingham Palace then it should be a top of your list. With the Royal wedding last year and the Diamond Jubilee earlier this year, there really is no better time to visit.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden has a truly lovely atmosphere. Whether you want to buy handcrafted jewellery or delicious bespoke cupcakes or just sit back and enjoy a bit to eat in one of the many cafes, this is the place for you! You might even get to watch one of the fantastic street performers or musicians the work in the area.

Madame Tussauds

Not to be missed! This fantastic and awe inspiring display of waxwork people had been attracting tourists for years. Make sure you bring your camera so you can pose with some of the most famous faces. It is absolutely amazing how realistic the models are!

Have a relaxed day in London

With so much to do in London, it’s easy to think you have to be dashing around all the time. There’s nothing wrong with chilling out and enjoying a picnic in the sunshine in one of London’s many parks.
Great evening out

London is well known for its world class theatres. There are often tickets that you can pick up last minute for some really great shows as long as you don’t have your heart set on seeing one show in particular. Make the most of the evening, go for a pre theatre meal out. You don’t have to hold back because you’re not staying in central London – the performance will be finished in time for you to use public transport to get back to your accommodation.

Photo by UGArdener

From eating in a pub to choosing a trendy restaurant, London doesn’t lack places to put hunger at bay. London is a multi-cultural city and food follows the trend. You can find pretty much any ethnic cuisine you can think about but if you are after British fare, here are the famous foods to try while in London:

Fish and Chips

The fish is usually cod but haddock or plaice are also used. The fish is deep fried and comes with chips (French fries). Peas are also added (either just boiled or mashed). Onion rings might come as a side dish, too, but you are always asked if you want them.

Pie and Mash

Traditionally the pie was made with eel but nowadays it’s been replaced by beef. But you can still find places serving eel – either stewed or jellied – along with mash and a curious looking gravy (which is green).

English breakfast

It is a hearty breakfast consisting of eggs , bacon, sausages, baked beans, mushrooms, black pudding and fried bread. The black pudding is made from dried pig blood and fat .

Bangers and mash

Bangers are sausages in England and they are served with mashed potatoes. Onion rings might be served alongside the dish, too.

Ploughman’s Lunch

In a pub, if you order a ploughman’s lunch , you get crusty bread, some tangy cheese such a cheddar and pickles on the side.

Roast Beef

The roast beef is part of the traditional Sunday lunch. It consists of roasted meat served with vegetables such as carrots and Brussels sprouts. Potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding accompany the dish, too.

Yorkshire Pudding

This is not a desert. It is part of the main course and consists of batter made with flour, milk and eggs. It is baked in the oven and usually moistened with gravy.

Traditionally, a large, flat one is filled with gravy and vegetables to be served at the main course or as a starter. What’s left after the meal is served with jam or ice-cream for desert.

Shepherd’s Pie

The dish is made with minced lamb and vegetables. It is topped with mashed potatoes and put in the oven until golden.

Cottage Pie

It is similar to the Shepherd’s Pie but is made with beef instead of lamb.

Bread-and-Butter pudding

This is a desert made with layers of bread and dried currants which are baked in cream. It can be quite addictive.

Cream Tea

In London, cream tea is what you want to have. Along with a properly brewed cup of tea, you also get scones served with jam and clotted cream or sandwiches made with slices of cucumber.

Beer

Just step in a pub and you’ll be amazed by the many varieties of beers available. Any type of beer may accompany a dish in the pub. Oh and the beer you know elsewhere in the world is called “bitter” here, for English beer ask for “lager”.

Cider

It is an alcoholic beverage, often stronger than beer. It is made from the juice of apples, which is allowed to ferment.

Photo credits: Fish and chips ; English breakfast ; Bangers and mash ; Ploughman’s Lunch ; Roast beef ; Yorkshire Pudding ; Shepherd’s Pie ; Cottage Pie ; Bread-and-Butter pudding ; Cream Tea ; Beer ; Cider

London is an incredible city, filled with sights to explore, museums to visit and things to do. While you can capture the essence of the city during a 3-day stay, 5 days in London gives you a chance to get to know the city better and even plan a day trip out of London.

However, London has never been a cheap destination to visit. In order to save money on your trip to London , it’s best to plan your visit during the low-season. March is a good choice , but so is November. It’s when you can find low airfares and you won’t pay a fortune for accommodation, either. Plus, the sights aren’t that crowded. However, if you visit London during the summer, you can also attend outdoor festivals or plan day trips easier (as a tour).

>>read about the Free things to do in London

Itinerary assumptions:

• You stay in a hotel in Central London . You can also choose a hostel for your stay.
• You use the tube to cover large distances. The day travelcards are excellent but the Oyster Card is a better choice if you stay 5 days or longer.
• You use a map of the city (which also has an integrated tube map).

Day 1

The first day you arrive in London is best for getting to know the area you stay in. Walk around, with a map in hand, and see where the closest underground stations are, what important sights are located near-by and …how many pubs you can check out in the area. London is known to not make it easy on you to finding free wi-fi , so unless the hotel/hostel doesn’t offer a free connecting, then a pub might be the perfect option.

Alternatively, you can choose a free walking tour of London , which departs from Hyde Park Corner and takes 2.5 hours. Since the tour ends of the Parliament, you can continue to explore the area.

If you didn’t choose the tour, you can continue the day with exploring some of the most important sights of London. Take the tube to the Parliament. When you exit the station, Big Ben is to your right. Take photos and enjoy the area. Then cross the bridge and head to London Eye .

Some say it’s a bit over-rated but some love it (as I did). Before the ride itself there’s a 4D experience worth your time (and is included in the price). On a clear day, you can see a lot of London from the wheel. On a foggy day…you still can see some sights.

You might want to make your way to Piccadilly Circus , too. And maybe do some window shopping on Oxford Street. Have dinner in Soho before going back to the hotel/hostel.

Day 2

Start the day with the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace . Arrive early (15 min before the event) and look for a good location. Even during the off-season, there are a lot of travelers watching this lovely event. Please remember that during August to April, the changing of the guards takes place every second day; during the rest of the year, it takes place daily.

Then, you can walk along the Mall and make your way to Trafalgar Square . Visit the National Gallery if you are into arts, then walk towards Westminster Abby, passing by the Horse Guards.

Day 3

Get on the tube and head to Tower of London. You’ll exit exactly opposite the castle. Taking photos from this angle means you’ll have either poles or wires in your shots, as well. Cross the street and enjoy the magnificent sight. You can visit the Crown Jewels, too.

Then, walk along the Thames until you get to Tower Bridge . You can visit it inside, too. And of course, you have to cross it by foot.

Get on the tube again and head to British Museum. You can easily spend ½ day here taking in the magnificent treasures of humanity.

>>read about the Best Exhibits at British Museum

End the day with a visit to Harrods, the most famous department store in London.

Day 4

Start your day in Kensington Gardens . Enjoy the green , vast space and walk towards Hyde Park. You can easily spend ½ day here.

Go back to the Kensington Gardens and cross the street to get to the many restaurants and souvenir shops in the Bayswater area (close to Bayswater tube station). You can pick up £1 coffee mugs and £5 t-shirts, along with £1 fridge magnets. This is the best place to be if you are looking for some ethnic food, too.

Alternatively, you can plan a day trip to Stonehenge. Catch a bus to Amesbury. There’s one departing at 2:10 p.m. and the ticket costs £16.50 one way. The bus back to London is at 6:20 p.m., which leaves you about 2 hours to visit the area (as the travel time by bus is 2h 40 min each way). Or you can book a tour to Stonehenge. And if that’s not what you like, you can always rent a car and drive there.

Day 5

You’ll be spending the fifth day around Kensington area, too. Head to the Natural History Museum and then to the Science Museum . If you still have time, you might want to check out Victoria & Albert Museum , too.

These museums can easily take up ½ day to an entire day, depending on what you are passionate about seeing.

Alternatively, you can spend the fifth day outside Central London. The Royal Botanic Gardens and the Windsor Palace are easy to get to by tube and are located within 30 min of Central London.

All photos by Cristina Puscas and may not be used without permission.

Visit London Zoo

Whether you’re with your partner, some friends, family or the kids, London Zoo is a great place to visit. It was voted London’s Best Tourism Experience in the 2010 Visit London Awards and sees hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. London Zoo is the world’s oldest scientific zoo and was opened in 1828.

Today, the Zoo contains a collection of 755 species of animals with over 16,000 individual animals. You can find everything from African birds to creepy tarantulas, as well as the classics including giraffes, elephants, penguins and gorillas.

The park is open every day of the year from 10am to 5.30pm (until Friday 15th July, when it stays open until 6pm). Over the summer (16th July to 4th September), ticket prices are £18.60 for adults, £14.50 for children and free for children under 3 years old. There are also prices for seniors, students and disabled people. If you buy the tickets online, you can get a discount.

Relax in Hyde Park

Hyde Park offers a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of the city itself and is the perfect place to spend a hot summer’s day. With over 350 acres of space, there’s plenty of space for picnicking, sunbathing or a bit of strolling. Once you’d had a relaxing rest on the grass, you can give your arm muscles a bit of a workout by rowing across the Serpentine lake.

In Speakers’ Corner, you can stand and watch one of the many weird and wonderful speakers talking about anything from politics and religion to culture or life in general. If you’re feeling brave, you can even join in and give a speech of your own.

Entrance to the park is completely free but there is a charge for renting a rowing boat on the Serpentine. You can find more information on Hyde Park here.

See Notting Hill Carnival

If you like bright colors and vibrant music then you should definitely see Notting Hill Carnival. Taking place every August Bank Holiday since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival is led by members of the local West Indian community as a celebration of West Indian culture. With over 40,000 volunteers and over one million revelers, the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street festival in the world, after the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.

The carnival lasts for three days, starting on the Saturday with a steel band competition. Costume prizes are awards on the Sunday with the main parade itself taking place on the Bank Holiday Monday. Aside for the parade, the streets are lined with stalls for the duration of the carnival, selling a wonderful selection of traditional Caribbean foods, including jerk chicken and rice and peas. Check here for more details.

Photo by: ianbruce

London is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. It’s a place filled with culture, history, excellent nightlife and a lot of things to do. The following itinerary is based on my 5-days stay in London (back in March 2011). Among the sites visited are: British Museum, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Bucking Palace, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Hyde Park and Westminster Abby.

In order to save money on your trip to London , it’s best to plan the visit outside the summer season. Sure, you need to pack layered clothes and make sure you have something to withstand the wind and the damp air, but the sights aren’t very crowded and everything is cheaper.

When you have only 3 days to spend in a large and interesting city such as London, you need to set the priorities. Which are the sights you must see and you would be sad if you left the city without seeing them? Mark those on the map and then create an itinerary. Everything else comes in second.

Itinerary assumptions:

• You stay in a budget hotel or hostel easy to reach by underground.
• During your stay in London you’ll be using day travelcards outside the peak hours (from 9:30 a.m.). The long distances are covered by the tube , the shorter ones on foot.
• You have both a map of the city and a map of the tube (you can usually find them bundled , in pocket size maps).
• For the purpose of this article, you get to stay 3 full days in London; hence you’ll be leaving on Day 4.

Day 1

Get to know the area around your hotel/hostel. Which is the closest underground stop? What important sites are close by? If you stay in Bayswater , you can walk to Kensington Gardens and then all the way to Hyde Park with its famous Speaker’s Corner, then to the Arch of Wellington and the Buckingham Palace .

>>or look for a hotel near Buckingham Palace and read more about Parks in London

In the afternoon, find a pub (chances are there plenty of them close to where you stay and many offer free wi-fi). Try the pub food – fish and chips are a must-have – and the beer. Get to know the locals and feel the vibe of the city. Maybe even watch a football game on TV in the pub.

Day 2

Changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace: if you visit London outside the summer, the changing of the guard doesn’t take place every day, so do a bit of research ahead of time. And make sure to get to Buckingham Palace at least 15 min before the scheduled event as you need to find a good spot to watch the changing of the guards. Even outside the summer, there are crowds waiting. The ceremony takes about 45 min.

British Museum : the museum is huge, so make a plan. Visit the exhibits you don’t want to miss and then leave some time for the rest of the museum. Just remember that it takes hours and ½ a day is minimum what you’d end up spending here. You can take breaks and enjoy a coffee or something refreshing at the café within the museum

>>read about the Best Exhibits at British Museum

St. Paul’s Cathedral : easy to get to from British Museum by underground. Remember to look behind you when you exit the underground stop. You can visit the inside of the church or just take photos from the outside.

In the evening, you can enjoy the nightlife, whether you head to a pub or a club. Just remember that if you visit London during major events (such as a football game or St. Patrick’s Day), by 7 p.m. the pubs are full and it’s hardly like to find a table.

Day 3

Tower of London: exit the underground exactly opposite the castle. Visit the Royal Jewelry if you want to. But you can certainly spend a lot of time just walking around the castle.

Make a stop and enjoy some coffee (and probably internet, too) at the Starbuck’s located close to Tower Bridge . Then cross the bridge on foot. The bridge can also be visited inside.

Then, you can catch the underground directly from a station close to Tower Bridge and get off at the Parliament. And the exit is right near Big Ben (this girl was quite scared of the …Big clock). Spend some time taking photos of the Parliament and the famous clock (good luck being able to fit both you and it in the same picture!).

London Eye : cross the bridge to London Eye. Although some say it’s an overrated experience, I loved it. I admit my husband sort of dragged me to take the ride but the 4D experience before the read really was worth it, too. In a less foggy day, the views are amazing.

Westminster Abby: you can easily spot it from the London Eye. Just cross the bridge back to the Parliament and walk by it. There’s a fee to visit the Abby but there’s a smaller chapel close to the Abby which can be visited for free.

Now you can walk towards Trafalgar Square passing by the Horse Guards. If lucky, you can even see the changing of the guard. If time allows, visit the National Gallery .

All photos by Cristina Puscas and may not be used without permission.

Roman Colchester

Journey time: Approximately 1 hour by train.
You can easily visit the attractive town of Colchester from Liverpool Street Station in London to take in 2,000-year-old Roman walls and the Balkerne Gate, which is the largest surviving Roman gateway in Britain. The town’s half-timbered houses, some complete with 17th century the bullet holes, add to Colchester’s charm, as does its Victorian architecture and the medieval Colchester Castle, the largest Norman Keep every built. Other popular attractions include Colchester Zoo and Colchester Castle.

The seaside resort of Brighton

Journey time: Approximately 1 hour by train.
This famous English seaside resort is a popular weekend getaway for Londoners because it’s so easy to reach from the capital. Getting from London to Brighton, from either London Victoria or London Bridge stations. Once a sleepy fishing village, today its pebble beach gets incredibly crowded during the Summer, yet the town still manages retains a bohemian charm and a laid-back atmosphere. Dubbed ‘Gay Capital of Britain’, the Kemptown area east of the centre caters well for the LGBT community while its trendy restaurants attract a wider clientèle.

Ancient Epping Forest

Journey time: 35-40 minutes by train.
Hop on a train from Liverpool Street Station to the town of Chingford and when you get there you can walk about half a mile to reach Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, originally built for King Henry VIII in 1543, and Epping Forest itself. This ancient woodland, once home to a hideout of highwayman Dick Turpin, has inspired novelists and attracted poets, artists and musicians for centuries –offering a complete escape from the chaos of London.

The famous university city of Cambridge

Journey time: Less than 1 hour by train.
Cambridge, one of England’s most famous university cities, can be reached from Kings Cross Station in London and is home to some fine Gothic architecture amongst the college’s many stately buildings. Soak up the scholarly atmosphere; take in the impressive view of King’s College Chapel from across the river Cam; and get up close to admire the intricate features of the city’s Gothic architecture.

The cathedral city of Winchester

Journey time: Approximately 1 hour by train.
This historical cathedral city perched on the edge of the South Downs can easily be reached by train from Waterloo Station in London. It grew up from a Roman town but today its top attraction is Winchester Cathedral itself, dating back to 1079. One of the film locations in the 2006 blockbuster movie The Da Vinci Code, the cathedral is the longest in Europe, with architectural features spanning the 11th-16th centuries. Ruined Wolvesey Castle is another famous landmark, dating from 1110 and once the Norman bishop’s palace.

What’s your favorite London day trip?

Photo by: Barkaw

While we all know the famous sites London has to offer, like Big Ben, the London Eye, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace, there’s also plenty of other fantastic, off-the-radar things to see and do while traveling to England’s capital. BootsnAll, our sister site, has been hard at work recently renewing their focus on indie travel. They have updated many of their city guides to include tips to help travelers make the most of their visit to that particular city. They want you to get off the beaten path, see more than just the famous sites, and try to interact with the locals as much as possible. Part of what they’re doing is giving tips on these city guides to make them more friendly to travelers looking to add a city like London to a round the world itinerary.

If you are interested in long-term travel, BootsnAll is the place to go for all your RTW trip planning needs. Putting a renewed focus on indie travel also means focusing on round the world travel, as that is the pinnacle of indie travel. So if you have ever thought about taking an extended trip, head on over and check out what they have to offer.

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