London is an incredible city and no matter how many times you visit, there is always something new and different to explore. It offers the perfect balance of nature, history, culture, fashion and food. While high street fashion shopping and watching concerts and musicals requires a substantial budget, London has much more to offer.
My perfect day in London starts outside Westminster, the British parliament right next to Big Ben. From here the pedometer gets a run for its money as I find that the best way to see London is on foot. Once at the Thames, crossing Westminster bridge leads to the London Eye, a key attraction which has become synonymous with London. Albeit being highly touristic and over priced with countless other locations offering better views of London, the London Eye is still a rite of passage for any tourist. With queues being ridiculously long at times, it’s best to be there early.
Walking on the Southbank by the River is always a treat, the views from the promenade are simply great. For lovers of art and culture Southbank offers two excellent attractions, the Tate Modern Museum and Shakespeare’s Globe. The Tate Modern is a free art museum exhibiting modern art, some of which even questionable in nature, taking the lift to the 10th floor offers incredible 360 views of the surrounding area and the river. The Globe is the theater where Shakespeare performed all his plays, well technically it’s a replica since the former theater was destroyed by a fire.
If that walk leaves you peckish a stop at Borough market is guaranteed to make you salivate! A street food market selling both raw ingredients, such premium cheese, cured hams, vegetables, bread as well as ready made food from all over the world. A festival of food be it Italian, Spanish, German, Eritrean, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese and British of course. Right at the corner is one of my favorite restaurants Padella,, making mouth watering Pasta, but not taking reservations queues can often be an hour long … but it is still well worth the wait.
From here looking upwards you will notice the Shard, a pointy glass skyscraper looking like a shard of glass, you can take the lift at the Shard to see the gorgeous city views, but make sure that the weather is quite clear or you’ll end up seeing very little. From here you can take a walk to the spectacular Tower Bridge, another Iconic site in London.
Following lunch a short rest and a light walk in one of London’s countless parks is needed to help with the digestion. Hyde Park is my first preference, apart from its scenic beauty making for a very pleasant walk, the Serpentine Lake at the park allows visitors to rent a paddle boat and make their way around the lake trying to avoid a swan or a duck. If you happen to have any crisps or nuts in your bag, keep an eye out for squirrels who are always on the look out for a treat and will guarantee a close encounter. Right before Christmas, Hyde Park becomes a fun amusement park – Winter Wonderland, offering multiple roller coasters, attractions like snow sculpting, games and Christmas themed food.
In the afternoon, catching a boat ride over the Thames is a great way to see the city from the river, most boats lead to Greenwich. A short but steep hill leads to breathtaking views on London from above, especially at sunset. From here you can take a tour of the Royal Observatory, as well as the museums planetarium. If you want to experience something different you can take a cable car down, with wonderful aerial views of the Thames and the O2 Arena, it is also possible to rent your own cabin and enjoy a glass of champagne.
Camden Town is another favorite area of mine. Camden is a hip colorful town, with a market selling all sorts of knick knacks, paintings and hand crafted goods. A short walk through the canal leads to the London Zoo, offering a full day of fun attractions for younger visitors and adults alike. Close to the zoo, a stop at Little Venice, offers a touch of Italian charm in London, with small colorfully decorated boats berthed at the canal.
Well you haven’t been to London unless you’ve seen the queen, and while a private audience with her Royal Majesty is hard to get, visiting Buckingham Palace is the next best thing. Check the time before visiting, and you can watch the daily Changing of the Guards. However do keep in mind that it can get super crowded. From here a short walk leads to Trafalgar square, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus. For History enthusiasts a trip to the Natural History Museum will offer hours of fun through informative and interactive exhibits.
I think it comes to no surprise that this is just a hint of what you can experience in London, with countless museums, art galleries, shops and theaters. Once you visit London, you will get addicted to visiting this capital city every time discovering new experiences.