Samuel Johnson famously told his mate James Boswell, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” Johnson moved to London in 1737 at the age of 27. Boswell lived in Scotland and only enjoyed visiting London. That’s the kind of place London is… people come from all over the world for all kinds of reasons. Some stick around; others enjoy the bustle for a few days and then head back somewhere quieter.
From the argy-bargy of Oxford Street in January to the calm of Richmond Park in the sunshine, from underground raves to high-rise offices, London has it all. But… where to start?
Have a Full English at a “Greasy Spoon”
The only way to tackle a megacity like London is on a full stomach. There are plenty of nice options available, ranging from organic delis to the upmarket sandwich chains that power many offices with gourmet sandwiches and tasty takeaway coffee. But for a blast of morning energy and a real taste of English life, there’s only one choice.
Local cafes, affectionately known in England as Greasy Spoons or “caffs”, are an enduring part of British culture. If you’re looking for cutting-edge interior design, locally-sourced organic products or modern fusion cuisine, you’d best look elsewhere. If you’re looking for sausage, bacon, eggs, baked beans, mushrooms, fried bread (that’s right), bubble and squeak, fried tomatoes, black pudding and a nice cuppa tea, then the local caff is the place to go.
After a Full English for under £5, you won’t need lunch!
Get a TravelCard (Or Oyster)
Getting around in London can be expensive, so you will probably want to pick up a one day travel card, which costs £7.50 and means that you can take any bus or underground train for the day. If you are staying for longer, you should get an Oyster Card, which entitles you to discounted journeys on all public transport in and around London and looks cool when you swipe it to open barriers.
Hit the shops…
Photo: londoninflames
Whatever you want to buy, you will find in London. The West End has shops from all of the big names, including a vast TopShop, H&M and Nike shop. But the coolest stuff can often be found in London’s one-offs.
Selfridges, at the Marble Arch end of Oxford Street, has a massive range of clothes from top designers. The boutiques along Bond Street and Regent Street too. They are best visited during the sales after Christmas and in the summer, when you can find genuine bargains. You’ll need the energy from that full English breakfast to fight through the crowds!
Or the markets…
Photo: Yukino Miyazawa
There’s plenty to be found outside of the big name shops. Head to Portobello Market and dig through piles of antiques, clothes and memorabilia in search of something original and interesting. Saturday is the big day – when you should really aim to get there before 10am – but the market is open all week.
Camden’s markets are always popular with tourists… over 500,000 per week on average. You may not find bargains, but you will find a bewildering range of clothes, music and bongs.
Brick Lane Market on a Sunday is superb. You will find everything from clothes to old postcards, film posters and one-offs. There’s the whole spectrum of international food available too from the local restaurants.
Greenwich
Photo: On Alien Cinema
Once upon a time, Greenwich was a town of its own. In 1889, it was swallowed by London, which was clearly hungry for a little history.
The National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark point to strong naval links from the days of the British Empire. The Greenwich Meridian Line (0° longitude) which passes through here is a reminder that this was once considered the centre of the world.
But there’s plenty to see and do in Greenwich that isn’t about sailing. The Millennium Dome, which sat empty for years, reopened in 2007 as a 35,000 capacity music venue, cinema, shopping and entertainment complex. It’s a great place to catch a gig or a movie. You can find listings here.
Kew Gardens
Photo: Wolfiewolf
In the west of London, Kew Gardens (the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew to give them their full name), is a tranquil, beautiful place to spend and afternoon. 121 hectares of gardens and greenhouses on the banks of the Thames, these gardens have been a charming and important home for botany for over 250 years.
If you have green fingers this should definitely be on your to-do list.
If it rains, go to a museum
Photo: Lesteph
London’s museums and galleries are huge, impressive and, more often than not, free.
The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square and the adjoining National Portrait Gallery alone would take days to walk around, but when you throw the Tate Britain, Tate Modern and Saatchi Gallery, you are spoilt for choice.
The British Museum on Great Russell Street has an astonishing collection of historical artefacts dating back to the days of the Empire. Some of the treasures have caused tension in recent years as foreign governments demand their return. Best see them while you still have the chance!
The Natural History Museum and Science Museum in Kensington are both iconic museums, with massive collections and fun, interactive exhibits.
None of these museums or galleries charges an admission fee, but you may sometimes have to pay to visit special exhibitions.
If it’s sunny, lie down in the park
Photo: Emily Barney
London has more green spaces than any other major city.
Some of the nicest are Hyde Park, Regents Park, Kensington Gardens, Greenwich Park and Hampstead Heath. On Hampstead Heath, you can go to Parliament Hill and get a great view across the city, to the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and beyond. It’s particularly spectacular on Guy Fawkes night (November 5th) when you can watch the capital’s fireworks displays. When it’s warm, you can swim in the communal ponds, which is a lovely way to cool off.
Go out in the East End
Photo: encosion
Whether “city boys” in the streets around Liverpool Street celebrating their bonuses with Flaming Lamborghinis and jeroboams of champagne, office workers enjoying a quick beer on the way home after work or dodgy types in the revue bars and strip clubs of Soho, there’s always someone drinking in London.
In such a huge city, it’s hard to pick a specific place as a tip for the evening. Camden is great for live music, the nightclubs around London Bridge are pretty full-on and the wine bars of Kensington and Chelsea are perfect if you are hoping to spot a prince.
Some of the most exciting places around London right now can be found in Shoreditch, Hoxton and Hackney, which are slightly east of the centre. Gentrification is well underway, which is pushing the artists and creatives out towards Hackney. There aren’t many tourists out there and you should probably get a cab home if you don’t know the area, but it’s an interesting part of London.
You could ask the cabbie (taxi driver) to drop you at a greasy spoon and start all over again… he would know where the best ones are!
What do you think?