It is widely known that London is a very vibrant city with a lot to offer. However, coming here for the first time with no one to show you around can be daunting, especially since you do not know the places to visit. It is very easy feeling like a “sheep in the big city”. Therefore, in no particular order of importance, here are some of my top (and affordable!) things to do in London:
- Oxford Street: As simple and as cliche as it may sound, nothing signifies your arrival here as much as being in the centre of London itself. Just taking a stroll here during the day or at night, when all the colourful lights have filled the air, will feel very magical. Nothing will make you feel like you’re in London as much as experiencing Europe’s busiest shopping street, filled with all types of people, numerous high streets, fashion stores, restaurants (there are many places where you can try different cuisines, such as Chinatown), bars, clubs and all types of things to do. During the day, there are also other places near Oxford Street that you can also visit, such as the National Gallery or Trafalgar Square, all for the price of £0!
- Hyde Park: I would recommend visiting in the spring/summer (with the exception of say, Winter Wonderland). If the sun is out and you’re looking for something simple and affordable to do outdoors, this is definitely the place to be. Such a beautiful and enormous park, it is a great place to go and just lay on the grass and bask under the sun while having some good food and ice cream. Time will go by so fast and you’ll leave very relaxed. You could also hire bikes with Santander Cycles and ride through the park for a full day of fun. It is all a fantastic way of taking advantage of the few days that London decides to shine! As aforementioned, Winter Wonderland is also a must-see. My experience here was nothing short of sensational. From the rides, the food, the music, the atmosphere, just wow.
- Shoreditch: This is such a trendy part of town, filled with so much art. Just like Oxford Street, all you need to do is to stroll to experience the magic that is present. Unlike Oxford Street however, this is the place to head for independent boutiques as there are so many vintage and design stores. A must-visit is Brick Lane, where there is so much beautiful graffiti on the walls, an eclectic dining scene and so much to see and do, with an urban edge. Also, there are plenty of creative events that go on around Shoreditch and it is not rare for you to stumble upon a spoken word or open mic night (most of which are free). It’s all good news here really.
- Camden Market: There is so much going on here. Be it selling of crafts, books, clothing, jewellery, live music, fancy restaurants, street food, beautiful scenery, a thriving nightlife scene – it’s just all too magnificent to put into words and definitely worth paying a visit!
- Museum of London: Obviously, the UK has a rich history and visiting museums is something I’m pretty sure everyone has been told to do here before. This is definitely my favourite museum so far, as I literally felt like I was taking a journey from the past to the present day. You get to actually walk the streets of Victorian London and take a stroll in recreated pleasure gardens. It’s so informative yet so fun at the same time. (and it’s…free!)
Obviously, there’s much more to do in London and it is not limited to this list, but the times I have found myself appreciating this city most are when I stumble upon places without intending to. Therefore, my advice to anyone would be to literally just explore, without necessarily having a destination.
Furthermore, apart from places to visit, there are so many experiences here that one should definitely take advantage of, such as plays and concerts. Although they can be expensive, I believe they are very much worth it every once in a while.
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