Oh sweet London. This was my second visit to the UK, following my week-long trip to London right before my thirteenth birthday (this was also one of my only trips abroad in my youth, and one of my most exhilarating memories. I’m pretty sure I spent most of the week walking along the streets in absolute awe, then I spent the weeks after writing the first chapters to a novel about a young girl in London — one of dozens of started and abandoned writing projects throughout elementary and middle school).
I fell in love with London the first time I went, and just as in love the second time – despite the fact that the morning after a pub crawl, I pried my sweaty, sticky body from the top bunk of the non-air-conditioned hostel room, dragged myself into a hot shower, lost consciousness, and subsequently concussed myself on the concrete floor. I was away for a month, and this was the second night into the trip. An important lesson learned: always get travel insurance. This drastically cut the cost of my doctor’s visit, and reduced the stress during my trip exponentially. Another important lesson learned: drink water before bed after drinking alcohol, and don’t take a searing hot shower when you’re already sweating out a hangover (these seem like common sense things to most adult people I would think, but keep in mind I had just graduated college and was still lacking in some basic life skills).
Here are some London highlights for a quick stay in the city.
What to Do
Ride the London Eye
Besides being the tallest ferris wheel in Europe, one of London’s most popular attractions, and frequently alluded to in pop culture, the London Eye offers an absolutely breath-taking view of the city. And I am allll about them pretty views. It can get crowded at the peak of tourist season, as an FYI, so try to go early if you can!
Visit Abbey Road
Classic. The road after which the eleventh album by the Beatles (the world leaders in rock music, of course) was named, an album whose album art is one of the most famous images in the history of music, this place is iconic. The street crossing and Abbey Road Studios itself is a stop worth making during your time in London, ESPECIALLY if you are a Beatles fan.
Shop at Harrods
Chances are you’ve heard of Harrods even if you haven’t been to London. The world’s most famous department store? Shockingly gigantic space? Luxury and designer merchandise? Ringing any bells? Even if it isn’t, if you’re looking to splurge on a classic London shopping spree, this is the place to do it.
See a show at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater
For lovers of theater, you can’t get any better than the Globe. Not only is the theater scene in London awesome, but this place provides you with history and atmosphere included in the price.
Hit up one of many free museums
London is the DC of the UK: brimming with museums free of charge and waiting for you to explore them. Some of the most popular include the British Museum, one of the oldest museums in the world with millions of objects on the display, the Museum of London, detailing London’s history from prehistoric times to today, and the National Gallery, an art museum with over 2,000 works of European art.
See the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
This is a very cool thing to see, and a must-do in this royal city. Check to see when the Changing of the Guard is scheduled, and head on over to The Queen’s official residence, the magnificent Buckingham Palace. The Palace also offers tours to the public, if you have some extra time and a strong interest in the history of the royal family.
Go to pubs – lots of them
To really immerse yourself in English culture, pubs are the places to be. A pub in London is like a coffee shop in an American city. Historically, pubs, or public houses, have been gathering places for people to come together, engage, and enjoy a few beers. There are a ton of colorful characters and it is an excellent chance to meet people. My friends and I went on a pub crawl one night and met a ton of locals, plus visitors from all over the world! (At the risk of sounding like an asshole: drink a ton of beer, especially local beer, but drink responsibly and don’t concuss yourself. Seriously, I don’t think I told anyone about that for about a week afterwards because it was so embarrassing.)
Visit Shoreditch
Shoreditch is a on the east side of London, and it’s a little funkier than some of the other, more touristy areas. It’s grimy and splattered with graffiti and wall art, but that is part of the appeal. You can come here just for the street art and it would be worth the trip, but there is also a ton of cheap street food, funky boutique shops, coffee shops, and wild nightlife to entice you even more.
Take day trips
London is the capital of England and has enough to do and see to fill up months of time, but there is a huge abundance of sights to see outside of the city. Not to mention: the English countryside is like a dream. Here are some of the day trips I took while in the UK.
What to Eat
Borough market
There’s nothing I love more than walking through food markets. Even if I don’t eat anything, just being around fresh food makes me happy. Borough Market is self-proclaimed as “London’s most renowned food and drink market,” so you know they’re either really good or really, really cocky. They have stalls with everything you could want: breads, cheese, vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, baked goods, and ciders…you name it. The full market operates from Wednesday through Saturday, so you can stop by and get a hot lunch if you’re in a rush.
Fish and Chips
A classic, and can be found all over the city. I am a big fan, and I am not even one to seek out seafood dishes in general.
Castle Turkish BBQ and Restaurant
London actually has a ton of incredible kebab places, and although it is not classically British, I can’t NOT go on and on about how good this restaurant is. Located in Elephant and Castle, and right down the street from where we stayed, this gem has some of the most flavorful, juiciest, most delicious kebabs I have ever had, even to this day. HIGHLY recommended.
What to See
Big Ben, Palace of Westminster, & Westminster Abbey
DUH. If you don’t visit these three iconic sites while you’re in London, wtf are you even doing? They’re all in the same general area, and Big Ben is a big guy, so he’ll be hard to miss.
Trafalgar Square
This is the center of the city and commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (in which, of course, the British reigned victorious). This is where a lot of the hustle and bustle is, so if you’re interested in people watching, Trafalgar Square is your guy. If you’re lucky, you’ll even catch some kind of impassioned political protest, or if you’re in London during the holidays, this square is the site of the annual Christmas tree and New Year’s celebrations.
Platform 9 3/4, and other Harry Potter references
I grew up completed consumed by Harry Potter. I was one of those kids (and am one of those adults). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was the first real non-picture book I ever read (yes, back in the days where it was banned from schools) and I have attended at least one midnight movie premiere, donning a t-shirt with Rupert Grint on it, because I have had a crush on Rupert Grint for fifteen years now and counting — I even went so far as to write several fan letters and emails to him at age 11 (but I told him I was 13 to be safe) saying things like “I really admire your acting. I know I seem like a may be the type of girl to flirt, but I’m NOT. I really just think you’re a great actor,” which was obviously a lie as I mostly just wanted him to be my boyfriend and had no idea what made a good actor.
Anyway, if you’re an embarrassing Potter-head like me, you’ll enjoy seeing some Harry Potter-related landmarks, like the building they used to film Gringotts Bank,
Platform 9 3/4,
and the train station in which it is located, King’s Cross, also a filming site. And while you’re there, might as well jump on a train to Paris (it is quick and relatively cheap — very easy to do both cities in the same trip)!
If you’re REALLY feeling it, don’t be shy! Get a ticket for the WB Studio Tour, which immerses you in the sets of the movies, complete with well-preserved costumers and props, to get a real idea of what it was like to film and produce the famous Harry Potter franchise. Tickets are 37£.
Tower Bridge
Not to be mistaken for London Bridge (a lot of people do this for some reason, and residents will get pissed if you call it London Bridge or make any references to it falling down). Absolutely beautifully designed and a good excuse to spend some time by the Thames River.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Fun fact: my dad bought me a St. Paul’s Cathedral charm for my charm bracelet when I first visited London at age 12. It was my very first charm and now that bracelet is who the hell knows where, but it is relevant because it represented the first little dose of travel and my love for it. St. Paul’s Cathedral is located on Ludgate Hill, which is the highest point in the entire city. It was also London’s tallest building for over 250 years. Another fun fact: the church is one of the most recognizable and important places in London, and held services for the wedding of Charles and Diana and for the funerals of Sir Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, among others. Definitely worth a visit…and a climb to the top of the dome!
Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, & Hyde Park
Hyde Park is adjacent to Kensington Gardens and located at the entrance of Kensington Palace, a residence of the British royal family since the 1600s. Combined, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park cover over 600 acres. I always love walking through the parks of the cities I visit, and these are no exception. Spend an afternoon having a picnic in Hyde Park, strolling through Kensington Gardens, and visiting the State Rooms of Kensington Palace, which are open to the public.
How to Get Around
The Tube is definitely the most efficient way to get around the city if you are traveling long distances, and I used it often (compared to the DC Metro, the Tube was a breeze. Curse you, DC Metro, and your propensity to make me late to everything). However, it is also fun to jump on a red double-decker bus, an icon of the city, and nothing beats walking on foot. London is a very walkable city and I’d suggest doing so whenever you are able, because London is truly beautiful everywhere you go. Though it is a very comfortable place to be and the perfect place for solo travelers just starting out, there is also something distinctly European about it. We spent almost an entire afternoon just walking the city because there is just so much to see (gorgeous architecture out the wazoo!).
Everyone should go to London at least once in his or her life. It is like a staple of a traveler’s portfolio. And with all the direct flights straight into Heathrow from the USofA, and all the flights to other parts of the world that have extended layovers at Heathrow, what’s your excuse?? (Rhetorical question: there is none).
