London

I’ve been to London many, many times, and still find new, fascinating things to do every trip! It’s like a living museum with something incredible every time you turn a corner, from historic sights like the Tower of London, to world renowned museums like the British Gallery, to plays at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, to eating fish & chips at a landmark pub that’s been around since the 1600’s!

GETTING THERE

Most travelers arrive in London at one of four airports, Heathrow LHR, Gatwick LGW, Luton LTN or Stansted STN. The airports have direct flights from all over the world, along with many options for accommodations.

Just outside each airport was an efficient network trains, coaches, and buses to get into central London. The United Kingdom uses the British Pound GBP as currency, but credit cards were widely accepted.

AMAZING EXCURSIONS

London was the titan of modern civilization for hundreds of years, and practically every street was drenched in history. The River Thames ran through the capital, making a natural division of the cityscape, featuring Middle Age churches and towers that stood the test of time, Victorian era buildings with ornate facades, solid brick or stone buildings with ornamental wrought iron fences, gates and balcony railings, and shiny metallic skyscrapers.

Both sides of the Thames had a long walkway along the riverbanks, packed with people, outdoor cafes, and historic sites. There were many walkable bridges too, to get from one side to the other, and boat rides along the river.

The north bank of the Thames had Buckingham Palace, with its iconic changing of the guards, free for anyone to see. Just a short walk away clustered together were the stunning Houses of Parliament building and Big Ben Clock Tower. I timed it unwittingly to noon, and heard the clock sing, then strike 12 times. Also in the same intersection was the landmark Westminster Abbey, site of famous weddings and burials, including the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth I. Other iconic places on the north bank included Hype Park, and Harrods Department Store, where practically anything can be purchased for a price!

London’s West End, also on the north side of the river, was the heart of the city’s Broadway and off-Broadway scene, and not far away was the British Museum with the breakthrough Rosetta Stone, which provided clues to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs. The famous Tower of London was a little farther away on the northern riverbank.

On the south bank of the Thames River was the landmark London Eye Ferris Wheel, offering a bird's eye view of the city. A short walk away was the Tate Modern Museum, with an iconic Marilyn Monroe artwork from Andy Warhol, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, recreated after fire destroyed the original. It offered many performances of his famous works, along with cheaper standing room only tickets.

Another highlight on the southern bank was the Anchor Pub, built in the 1600s and one of the only taverns surviving from Shakespeare's time.

Also on the south side was the popular Borough Market, which had a glow-up thanks to social media, many vendors had custom creations including various cheesemongers and the famous strawberry chocolate cups! Almost every pub in London offered Traditional Fish & Chips, Meat Pies, and in general the Indian food in London was exceptional.

London had something for everyone to enjoy, but it came at a price. While most landmarks were free to see, housing, food, and transportation were quite expensive, fortunately though, the memories of London make every penny worth it.

CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT LONDON OR NEED HELP PLANNING A TRIP