CITY PER DAY 05.14.19 7868 11
London is pictures from a textbook come to life in English: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, red telephone booths and double-decker buses.
Antonida Pashinina
rode around London on a double-decker bus
Transit passengers fly through London to the USA or Canada. Some tourists even I have been to London twice - and I advise you. Eight hours between flights is enough to get to know the capital of Great Britain.
I have compiled an 8 km route through the main attractions of the city. It starts at Buckingham Palace and ends at the Sky Garden observation deck. Along the way you will see the main places of London: Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Palace of Westminster with Big Ben, London Eye, Millennium Bridge, Shakespeare's Theatre, Borough Market and Tower of London. If time is short, I advise you to limit yourself to a walk along the banks of the Thames from London Eye to Borough Market or take a ferry ride along the river.
How to get to the center. Heathrow Airport is an hour's journey from central London by tube. To do this, I advise you to buy an Oyster travel card - an analogue of the Moscow Troika. According to it, a ticket costs 5.1 £ (422 R) during peak hours and 3.1 £ (256 R) at other times. When purchasing Oyster you need to make a deposit - £5 (413 RUR). This amount and the unspent balance can be withdrawn at the end of the trip in the metro terminal.
Rush hours - on weekdays from 6:30 to 9:30 and from 15:59 to 19:00
Buckingham Palace- the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. The state rooms are open to visitors in summer and September. Entrance costs £25 (2067 RUR), an audio guide is included in the price. Tickets are sold on site, but I recommend buying them in advance on the website to avoid queues.
Tourists love to watch the changing of the guard at the palace. This is a solemn ceremony: for 45 minutes, the Royal Guards in red uniforms and bearskin caps march to the music of a military band. There are a lot of spectators, so it is better to reserve your seats in advance by checking the schedule on the official website. From April to July the ceremony is held every day, in other months - every other day. In bad weather the event may not take place. Sometimes the changing of the guard is canceled 15 minutes before the start.
Near the square is located National Gallery- one of the most visited museums in the world. Masterpieces by Rubens, Vermeer, da Vinci, Van Gogh, and Botticelli are exhibited there. The entrance is free.
Scotland Yard and Household Cavalry Museum. If you walk from Trafalgar Square along Whitehall Street, you will see the headquarters of the London police - Scotland Yard - on the left. To the right of it is the Palace Cavalry Museum. This is not the most significant attraction, but tourists love to take photos with the cavalrymen. Many even try to pet the horses while the imperturbable, stony-faced guards look into the distance.
Westminster Abbey - gothic temple with high walls, columns, vaulted ceilings and magnificent stained glass windows. British monarchs, famous writers and scientists were crowned and buried here. Charles Dickens and Isaac Newton are buried in the abbey.
The most vivid impression of my London trip was the organ concert in the Abbey. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and Debussy's music sounded in the twilight of the cathedral, and it seemed to me that I was the heroine of an old film exploring a Gothic temple.
A ticket costs £21 (RUR 1,737) on the website and £23 (RUR 1,902) at the box office. Admission to concerts and services is free. To get to the concert, I got in line 20 minutes before the start, and I got... a good place. Taking photographs inside is prohibited.
Palace of Westminster and Big Ben. Castle - majestic building, where the British Parliament meets. The interior decoration somehow reminded me of the St. Petersburg Hermitage. The excursion costs £26.5 (2191 R), an audio guide can be purchased for £19.5 (1612 R). If you go to a public debate, they will let you in for free. True, then the visit will be limited only to the lobby and the House of Commons or the House of Lords.
The most famous tower Palace of Westminster- this is the Elizabeth Tower. Many call it Big Ben, although in reality Big Ben is only a 13-ton bell inside the tower.
Unfortunately, until 2021, Big Ben is closed for reconstruction and is completely hidden behind scaffolding. The Parliament website explained in detail how the main London landmark is being restored. For example, the authorities plan to install an elevator in the tower and improve the fire safety system.
£61m
will be spent on reconstruction
"London-eye"- Ferris wheel on the banks of the Thames. A ticket on the website costs £27 (2233 RUR), on the spot - 30 £ (2481 RUR). I didn’t ride it, but instead went to the free observation deck. I'll tell you about it further.
Right next to the Ferris wheel there is a pier for water buses - pleasure and passenger buses depart from London Eye along the Thames river boats. For example, a ticket to the Tower on the Thames Clippers city ferry costs £7 (579 R). It is paid by Oyster card.
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Millennium Bridge - pedestrian bridge across the Thames, which was built in honor of the third millennium. It is the Millennium that is destroyed by the Death Eaters in the Harry Potter film. This is a subtle English joke on the designers: when the bridge was first built, it was shaking and had to be reconstructed. The structure is now safe. Notice the little pictures under your feet: a local artist is painting on chewing gum stuck to the bridge. It doesn't sound like much, but it looks nice.
Opens from the bridge beautiful view to St. Paul's Cathedral, which is located on the other side of the Thames. This is the residence of the Bishop of London. Under the dome of the building there is the famous whispering gallery: even if you say a word very quietly, the echo will reflect it at the other end of the gallery. A ticket on the website costs £17 (1406 RUR), at the box office - 20 £ (1654 RUR). Services are free to attend, but it is unlikely that you will be able to go up to the dome during the ceremony.
"Globe"- a theater recreated according to the drawings and remains of the foundation, where Shakespeare’s troupe played. In summer, performances are held in the open-air courtyard, and in winter they are moved to the covered part of the building. The cheapest tickets are standing for £5 (413 RUR). All year round The theater conducts excursions; the tour costs £17 (1417 R).
Borough Market- the oldest market in the city, where you can eat or buy cheeses, sausages or honey. There are queues for food. A beef sandwich costs 6.5 £ (538 R), a cinnamon bun costs 2.5 £ (207 R), a donut with cream costs 3 £ (248 R), a glass of organic milk costs 1 £ (83 R). The market has step-seats where you can eat.
Tower- London fortress with a 900-year history. In the center is the White Tower, which William the Conqueror built after seizing the English throne in 1066. Over the years, the fortress was overgrown with new protective layers: ditches with water, thick walls and tall towers. Throughout its history, the Tower has been a fortress, a palace, a mint, a treasure repository, a prison and a zoo - and now it is a museum. A ticket costs £29.5 (2440 R) at the box office and 24.7 £ (2043 R) on the website.
£24.7
costs a ticket to the Tower on the fortress website
Sky Garden is an observation deck, winter garden and cafe on top of a skyscraper. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance. In my opinion, this is a great way to end a long tour of London.
Details
Food. Lunch or dinner in a pub or cafe will cost an average of 10-20 £ (927 -1854 R). Among the local cuisine, it is worth trying the traditional breakfast, pudding, meat pie with a side dish of mashed potatoes and the famous “fish and chips” - fried fish and potatoes in batter. Tourists also often order Scotch eggs, wrapped in minced meat and fried in batter. The dishes are simple, but very nutritious and high in calories. To avoid paying for a drink, you can ask for tap water.
Traditional English tea - 5 o'clock tea - with small sandwiches, cakes and scones with cream and jam costs about £20 (1654 RUR) per person. It’s so filling that you don’t want to have dinner afterwards. You can limit yourself to just tea and scones with cream - on average it costs 6-8 £ (496 -661.333 R).
£20
costs on average for tea with small sandwiches, cakes and scones with cream and jam
If you want to save money, buy ready-made food in stores. The second course, sandwich or soup costs 2-3 £ (165 -247.5 R), a salad will cost about 4 £ (331 R), a package of berries - 2 £ (165 R), a bottle of water - 0.5 £ (41 R) . Prices for products whose expiration date is about to expire are reduced - this is indicated on the packaging. I bought a pack of donuts for £0.16 (R13) instead of £0.79 (R65), and they were fresh and delicious. Many stores also have a meal deal - several products at a fixed price with a discount. The set includes one dish, a snack and a drink. All together will cost 4-5 £ (331 -413.75 R).
At the popular bakery Brick Lane Beigel Bake, bagels with red fish and cream cheese sell for £2.2 (182 R), and a slice of cheesecake for only £0.90 (74 R). At the Foodilic buffet you can eat as much as you like for £7 (579 RUR). The menu has both vegetarian and meat dishes. There are Pret a manger cafes on literally every corner. I bought a huge sandwich there for only £3.35 (277 RUR). It's cheap for London.
Public transport. The London Underground is divided into nine zones. The ticket price depends on the zone and travel distance. The main attractions are concentrated in the first and second zones. Using an Oyster card, travel within this area will cost £2.90 (240 R) during rush hour and £2.40 (198 R) at other times. A bus ride with an Oyster pass costs £1.5 (124 RUR).
In the metro, the card is applied to the reader twice: at the entrance and exit. If you do not swipe your card at the exit, the system will write off more money. On the bus, the card is applied once at the entrance.
The advantage of paying for travel with an Oyster card is that the system charges no more than £7 per day within the first and second zones. Once you reach this limit, the rest of the trips that day will be free for you.
Museums. One museum in London requires at least two hours. Login state museums free, tickets are sold only for individual exhibitions. For example, at Tate Modern, entry to an exhibition of paintings by Pierre Bonnard cost £18 (1,489 R).
You'll have to pay a few pounds to check in your clothes or bag.
Sightseeing tours of the main parts of the exhibition can cost up to £30 (2481 RUR). But volunteers and museum staff conduct free themed tours for everyone. For example, at the British Museum I was on free excursion about the afterlife Ancient Egypt. To get on such a tour, you do not need an appointment, and the schedule can be checked on the website.
Spending per day in London - £36.05 (2534 RUR)
| Directions | 17.2 £ (1422 R) |
| Food | £14.85 (RUR 1,228) |
| Souvenirs | £4 (331 |
We suggest going to an amusing trip around the capital. In 72 hours you will see the most famous sights of the city on the Thames that will take your breath away, and our guide will help you spend your time wisely and avoid common tourist mistakes. So, we suggest you read our guide, which will tell you what you can see in London for 3 days on your own.
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Once you get there, we recommend that you take care of your travel card in advance, since you will often need to travel by metro. We recommend purchasing 3 daily Travelcards for 2 zones. If most route you plan to cover on foot and only occasionally use the London Underground, then an Oyster plastic card is also suitable for you. Also, using this card, a bus ride will cost you much less than if you paid for it in cash.
A nice bonus is the 2FOR1 London discount system for Travelcard holders: if you purchased travel passes at the National Rail ticket office, the cost of visiting some attractions will cost you 50% less if you are traveling as a couple. So you can buy two tickets for the price of one to the Museum of Modern Art, London Eye, Madame Tussauds, Tower of London, etc.
Please note that your ticket must be valid on the day of the attraction. How to use the 2FOR1 London discount system? It's simple! You need to go to daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london, register and print out the vouchers you need. You will present them, along with your travel card, at the entrance.
Where to stay
The UK capital has a huge number of accommodation options for tourists.
The most budget-friendly are rooms with breakfast, the so-called bed&breakfast, hostels and private apartments. Apartments can be booked on the website airbnb.ru. You can find an inexpensive hotel or hostel on Booking.com. When choosing housing, give preference to options that are located near the metro.
So, you were able to get from the airport to the hotel without any problems, you had a little rest, which means it’s time to get used to the city and enjoy the long-awaited vacation.
1 day
Getting to know the city on the Thames. Don't forget about comfortable shoes and clothes. And also charge your smartphone. There are many kilometers of road ahead and beautiful city views.
Every traveler who decides to visit London must take a sightseeing tour on the famous red double-decker bus. If you do not know English, then an audio guide in Russian will help you. It is noteworthy that you can get off and get on the bus at any stop. This way you can see the sights along the route and save on travel costs.
The ticket is valid for 24 hours and the cheapest way to book it is on the website, just don’t forget to print it out first. Ticket holders are also entitled to bus tour museum tour, river cruise and guided tour. To save on entrance fees to attractions and get various nice perks, we recommend purchasing a London Pass. If an audio guide is not important to you, then you can consider a more budget option.
After the tour, we suggest having lunch at the Wetherspoon chain pub. There are many of them in London and finding the nearest one is not difficult. Why do we recommend this place? It's delicious and very cheap by local standards.
Museum of London
Do you want to get acquainted with the history of the city? Then head to the Museum of London. Entry is free for everyone. Open daily. Opening hours: 10:00-17:30 (Monday-Saturday), 12:00-17:30 (Sunday). The museum is located at 150 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5HN. If you are coming by metro, then you need the St. Paul's. We recommend a visit to all those who would like to clearly see how the city has changed since the times of the Roman Empire.
British museum
You must also visit the main museum of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the British Museum. Entrance to the museum is really free, but to visit the exhibitions held there you will have to pay. Interesting fact: six cats are officially employed here as rat catchers. Here you can see unique exhibits from all over the world and most of them were added to the museum’s collection under very strange circumstances. Just look at the famous Rosetta Stone. Address: Russell Street, WC1B 3DG. Can be visited daily. Open from 10am to 5.30pm. You can get there yourself by metro, station – Holborn, Tottenham Court Road.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum of Art and Design always welcomes curious tourists who can appreciate the unique collection, which includes more than 4.5 million exhibits. Address: Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL. You can visit for free. The doors are open to guests every day from 10 am to 5:45 pm, on Friday from 9 am to 11 pm.
Science Museum
It will appeal not only to adults, but also to children, because only here you can take part in the exciting “Cockroach Tour”. Here you will see the world through the eyes of insects if you visit the museum on weekends. Open daily. Doors open at 10:00. The museum closes at 18:00. If you go by tube, you need to go to South Kensington station. Address: Exhibition Road, London SW7 2DD. If you don't want to spend £6 on a ticket, arrive after 4:30pm. Admission will be free and you will not have to pay for a ticket.
Natural History Museum
After leaving the museum, do not rush to go far, because very close to everyone there is another amazing dinosaur museum - the Natural History Museum. Only here you can see a huge skeleton of a dinosaur, an equally impressive copy of a blue whale, a giant squid and many other interesting exhibits. Children 10 years and older can take part in a free tour. A useful life hack on how to get into the museum without queuing: it’s simple, go around it on the right along Exibition Road, there is also an entrance there. Address: SW7 5BD, Cromwell Road. Open every day from 10am to 5:50pm.
Flying to London and not visiting the Tate Modern gallery would be an unforgivable mistake, and you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to take part in a free tour. Just come by 11:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:00 and a gallery employee will share with you interesting information. Believe me, 45 minutes will fly by. Address: SE1 9TG, Bankside.
Did you know that you can attend evening choir services at Westminster Abbey and tour the inside for free? Didn't you even know that Westminster Abbey is a functioning temple? It's not too late to catch up. Just come by 5 pm on weekdays, except Wednesdays, or on weekends by 3 pm and you will see everything with your own eyes. Address: 20 Deans Yard London SW1P 3PA&.
What to do in the evening
If your soul requires continuation after such a busy day, then a party at the Heaven club is just what the doctor ordered. And you'll be lucky if you go to the club on a Monday, because that day of the week there's a free Popcorn party. All you need to be happy is to print a coupon from the club’s website.
Don't want to dance? For a quiet and cozy evening, we recommend the Paradise by Way of Kensal Green restaurant! A very atmospheric place that you fall in love with at first sight. The excellent cuisine will delight and impress even experienced gourmets. But keep in mind that they also know how to make noise and light up until the morning. If you want quiet, come early. Address: 19 Kilburn Lane, W10 4AE.
If noisy parties are not for you, but you want to while away an interesting evening, then go to the world-famous West End musicals. You can buy a ticket with a good discount at the Half price tickets booth, which is easy to find when you get to Leicester Square. They hold sales a couple of hours before the start of the musical.
Day 2
We explore the city from a bird's eye view.
London Eye
Today you will see London in all its glory. For a unique experience, head to the Ferris wheel, the most popular attraction - the London Eye. It is better to buy tickets online in advance. The cost of one ticket starts from £17, but do not forget about the “Two for the price of one” discount system, which we wrote about above. The Ferris wheel is located near Waterloo and Westminster stations. You need exit 1.
St Paul's Cathedral
You can enjoy the architectural masterpieces of London by climbing just over 500 steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Don’t forget to visit the whispering gallery under the dome and conduct an experiment, because this place is unique in that if you whisper a word in one part, you can hear it in another without any problems. If you buy a ticket on the website it will cost you £12.50.
Observation platforms
Thrifty tourists will argue that it is simply wasteful to pay that kind of money for a beautiful view, and they will be right. Indeed, in order to see a magnificent panorama of the city it is not at all necessary to pay money, it is enough to know the places. You can take stunning photos completely free of charge when you reach observation deck entertainment center Ally Pally.
Spectacular views of the city can be enjoyed from Waterloo Bridge. Even at night you will get excellent photos. Be sure to climb to the top of Parliament Hill to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, worries, problems and enjoy the atmosphere of this place. Accessible from Hampstead tube station.
Boat trip along the Thames
Now is the time to go for a boat ride on the Thames. To make the trip not only pleasant, but also useful, immediately after this we will go to Greenwich to see the sights and check in on the prime meridian. To avoid wasting time, boat tickets can be purchased on the website. You need Westminster Pier, which can be reached from the metro station of the same name; it is from there that the boats you need depart.
Greenwich
After your walk, take the tube to Canning Town to avoid the crowds and enjoy the futuristic structures of the Great Barrier in peace or stroll through the nearby Thames Barrier Park. Now back to the subway to get to the station we need - Greenwich. Are you tired and your body needs a boost? Then, without wasting a minute, let's go to a British pub that has been opening its doors to its guests since 1837 - Trafalgar Tavern. Sitting at a table, perhaps the very same one where Charles Dickens once liked to sit, you can enjoy not only a delicious lunch, but also a view of the Thames.
After a delicious lunch, by law... you're supposed to explore Greenwich. In general, to do exactly what we came here for. Here you can do what absolutely all tourists do, go to Greenwich Park to take a photo on the territory of the Royal Observatory, standing on the prime meridian. The main thing is to get there before closing (17.00).
Well, while you're here, take a stroll down to the embankment to photograph the clipper ship Cutty Sark, which once upon a time brought tea from China and wool from Australia. Don't miss out on some truly original items at Greenwich Indoor Market. Just don’t get too carried away, as we will devote our third day in London to shopping.
Well, and finally, take the elevator or stairs down into the famous Thames Tunnel.
The Greenwich plan has been completed, which means you can go have fun at the best entertainment venues with a sense of accomplishment. As budget travelers, we continue to look for free entertainment. In the evening, blues lovers should definitely visit the “Aint Nothing But” bar and listen to live music completely free of charge. Also, for a nominal fee, or even completely free, you can enjoy the musicians playing in the “Birthdays” bar.
Day 3
We go shopping for souvenirs, antiques and vintage items at the most visited Portobello market in London in the Notting Hill area. Here you will find everything you need. If you have watched the film “Notting Hill” starring the beautiful Julia Roberts, then you will easily recognize this place and do not miss the opportunity to look into the shoe store at number 142, where, according to the plot of the film, there was a guidebook store. Bank cards are not particularly popular here, so prepare cash in advance to pay for purchases. Keep in mind that the street market is only open on weekends, but if you're planning on buying antiques, you can come any day of the week.
Borough Market
Today we'll have lunch at Borough Market, so we'll get on the tube and get to London Bridge station. Here you can taste and purchase fresh bread, fragrant meat sandwiches, golden-brown pie with filling, juicy fruits, a variety of vegetables, and all this at an affordable price for a budget tourist. Please note that the market is only open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 17:00. Address: SE1 1TL, Southwark street, 8.
No shopaholic would ever deny himself the pleasure of strolling along Oxford Street, where over 300 shops are concentrated. All you need to do is get on the tube and get to Oxford Circus. You can buy inexpensive items at Primark - 499 Oxford Street. Unique and colorful T-shirts can be purchased at Lazy Oaf at 19 Fouberts Place. In general, all shops on Oxford Street are at your disposal.
Chinatown
After shopping, head to the 1888 Wall in nearby China Town for a giant bowl of rice. Notably, this bowl is made from 1,888 photographs of China Town stitched together. Hint: to find this place you need to turn onto Macclesfield Street from Gerard Street. Now don't miss the Horse & Dolphin Yard, this is the yard you need to visit. For dinner, go to the cozy Leong’s Legend restaurant. You will find it if you go back to Macclesfield street. >You can end your trip around London at the legendary MoS (Ministry of Sound) club, which offers its guests only the best sound and the best tracks from the most popular DJs in the world. Price entrance tickets ranges from £10 to £22.
Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Tower, Tower Bridge, London Eye... All this is well known. And I want to see all this with my own eyes.
Like any other capital, London is full of museums. Some of them are shareware. This means you can make a suggested donation, but you are not obligated to. Sometimes free museums have paid exhibitions.
A sore subject for me is the opening hours of museums. Almost all of them are open until 6 pm, however, there is an exception: on Fridays, some museums are open until late. For example, the Victoria and Albert Museum is open until 10 pm on Friday. Check the schedule on the websites.
If you manage to see 5 museums in a day, then consider purchasing the London Pass. It never works out for me. For example, I set aside a whole day to visit the London National Gallery. And I visited her only on my third visit to London. I'm going to check it out again because it's worth it.
Transport in London
Double-decker buses are as much a symbol of the city as Big Ben or red telephone booths. Choose interesting route, climb to the top deck and explore the city. Moreover, a bus in London is much cheaper than the subway, and if you change the route in one direction, it counts as one trip.
To pay for bus and subway fares, I recommend the Oyster card. It will also come in handy if you are planning to travel to the London suburbs by train.
Is there some more water transport, which in some cases is much more convenient than underground and underground. For example, the best way to get to Greenwich is by water. One "but": it's expensive. About 7 pounds one way.
Locations where famous films were filmed
My must-see program included locations where Harry Potter, Sherlock and Doctor Who were filmed. Of course, there are many paid themed excursions and the lazy traveler can choose them. But searching for locations and planning routes is a separate pleasure. I enjoy it to the fullest.
Where to eat on a budget in London?
You can eat on a budget and tasty in many pan-Asian cafes.
In the heart of London, pay attention to Chinatown. Buffet, large portions, takeaway. Cost from £5.
It's also worth checking out the London markets. I especially recommend Borough Market.
What are the best pubs in London?
Choose any: the one closest to the hotel; the one you liked; the one that came along the way. Is it true. Not a single pub had bad beer or a cold reception. I talked about some particularly outstanding places in a separate article.
It's hard to write about London. We hear so much about this city from school as part of studying English that by the time we travel to the British capital, we have accumulated a huge list of attractions that need to be visited, so advising anyone is simply a lost cause. I will skip the standard recommendations about the Tower and the British Museum, and will talk about those places that are usually tucked at the end of guidebooks, but in solo travel they are definitely worth a visit.
Visit the prime meridian
Tourists rarely reach Greenwich, and the area itself is considered one of the few areas of modern London where native residents of the capital live. Those who like to explore the life of the locals should step away from the park and walk along the nearby streets to see how on a lazy Saturday morning the British, despite the gloomy weather, sit outside the cafe and sip coffee, holding The Daily Telegraph in their hands.
Museum fans should go to the Greenwich Observatory, where they will tell you about chronometers, astronomical clocks, and even “time balls.” And then just go for a walk in the park: there are few tourists, so the walk will be much more pleasant and calmer than in the same Hyde Park.
Go to a musical
For some reason, going to a musical is a mandatory part of the program in New York, but not everyone goes to London productions, and yet the main author of the most famous musicals, Andrew Lloyd Webber, is British, and his creations were first realized in the British capital. However, the most iconic musical is not the creation of the famous composer or even any other English production, but Les Misérables, which has been on the West End stage for more than 30 years.
When you come to any musical, don’t be surprised by the choice of actors: the British advocate diversity in everything, so Jean Valjean is easily played by an African-American, and Fantine is played by a Chinese actress.
Browse for curiosities at the Notting Hill Flea Market
On Saturday, you should definitely go to the Notting Hill area, where from morning until five in the evening the famous swap meet Portobello Market. Here you can find antiques, young designers trying to make a name for themselves, philatelists and numismatists, and farmers with their trays of cheese and other foodstuffs - you only have time to look around so as not to miss anything. While walking around the market, don’t miss the full-fledged shops, often hidden behind hastily laid out counters.
And be sure to just take a walk around the area, especially Lansdowne and Westbourne Grove.
Eat street food at Borough Market
After visiting Tate Modern, there is no need to rush back to the City, no matter how the Millennium Bridge beckons you. Instead, take a stroll through Southwark to Borough Market for some tasty, inexpensive food. Borough Market attracts delicacies and the finest farm produce from across Britain, but it comes with a price tag to match. But ready-made food, which is sold here in trays and corners, will be very cheap, and most importantly, it will be delicious: here you will find Indian tandoori, Vietnamese noodles and traditional English meat pies, which you are tempted to wash down with Pimm’s with fresh cucumber.
The market is open on Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 17:00, on Friday from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Saturday from 8:00 to 17:00.
Walk through unknown museums
London is rich in museums: for archeology lovers there is the British Museum, art historians should rush to the National Gallery, and fans of the history of fashion and applied art should definitely visit the Victoria and Albert Museum. But no less interesting are the less popular museums, among which I especially remember the Design Museum and the John Soane Museum. The first one does not have a permanent exhibition, but there are amazing large-scale exhibitions (that’s how I got to the Paul Smith exhibition). The second was once the home of the architect John Soane, who was an avid collector of antiques and art, so the museum is outlandish both in terms of architecture and the exhibits on display (entry to the museum is free, by the way).
Watch a movie in an unusual place
Since 2007, London has had a very unusual format for watching films - Secret Cinema. The point is this: you buy a ticket to an announced film (the date is known in advance), but you will only find out where you will watch the film a couple of days in advance, when you receive a secret message. It could be anything: the roof of a house, a hospital or a bunker. There is also the Tell No One format, when you buy a ticket without even knowing what awaits you directly - a film, an opera or a concert.
All information about upcoming events, as well as buying a ticket, can be found on the website.
Leading museums like the National Gallery or the Victoria and Albert Museum are completely free to enter, so you can safely plan a visit without breaking the bank.
All museums have free WiFi, which makes it possible to do without an audio guide.
In British pubs it is not customary to drink inside, especially if outside the window good weather, so feel free to grab a pint of beer and sit at the narrow counters outside (if, of course, you can find a place, because even on a weekday, jacket-clad Londoners occupy local pubs).
If you don't like to walk or plan to actively use public transport, then it makes sense to buy an Oyster card: with it, travel will be much cheaper.
Every Monday evening there are free stand-up shows in the bar at the Stratford End Theatre.
Harry Potter fans should get to King's Cross Station, where near the entrance they decorated a wall with a trolley driving into it and the treasured inscription "Platform 9 3/4".
One of best views The view of the city opens from the observation deck of the Sky Garden skyscraper, which can be accessed absolutely free by prior registration on the website.
Useful sites:
Visit London - Official guide to London. This is mainly information for tourists. useful information you have to look for it, however, you also come across wonderful lists like “101 secret places in London”.
Secret London - a wonderful blog from locals, with tips on bars, restaurants and other activities in the British capital.
iknow.travel - a site on which I look for useful information from Russian-speaking locals when planning any trip, in the case of London it is simply a storehouse of useful recommendations.
London Inheritance - a site for those interested in the history of London.
Theater Monkey - scary as the plague, but terribly useful site for theatergoers, where you can find information about all productions and discounts on tickets.
Just Opened — a food site that talks about all the landmark openings in the city’s restaurant life.
Bonus: schedule by day to get everything done
For the first independent trip to Britain, where the main point of visit is London, it is worth allocating ten days, of which the first six days (including the day of arrival) are for exploring the capital itself, and the others for trips around the surrounding area. Based on my trip, I can recommend this schedule:
Day 1.
Arrival, accommodation and half a day for walking in the Westminster area. What you will see: Buckingham Palace (without entering), Westminster Abbey, St. James's Park, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square.
Day 2.
Museum day. What to see: National Gallery (free), British Museum (free), John Soane Museum (free). Walk through Soho, Chinatown and Bloomsberry. Harry Potter fans can walk to King's Cross Station.
Day 3.
Walk around the City. What to see: St Paul's Cathedral, Sky Garden, Fleet Street, 30 Mary Ax Tower (aka the Gherkin), Spitalfields Market. In the evening to a musical.
Day 4.
Let's explore South coast. What to see: London Eye (I wouldn't spend money), Tate Modern (free), Millennium Bridge, Southwark Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe Theater (excursion paid), Millennium Bridge, Borough Market, Design Museum (paid). In the evening, head back to the Southbank Center for a great spot overlooking the Thames.
Day 5.
In the morning on Portobello Road to the flea market, from there on foot through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park Victoria and Albert Museum (free).
Day 6.
We're going to Greenwich. What to see: Cutty Sark, Greenwich Royal Observatory and Prime Meridian, Royal Nautical College.
Day 7-10.
Trips around the area, which I will talk about in the next post.
