Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Travel England Guide - The London Calling

Travel London GuideLiterally a clash of personalities, Travel to London is always exciting, the electric city that anyone should experience at least once. Don’t let the well-used label of it being “one of the most expensive cities in the world” deter you as there are plenty of activities to partake in which won’t break the bank. Here are 10 ways to enjoy the vibrant capital:

1. Muse over History
Most of London’s museums are open to the public for free and there are plenty of them. Don’t miss the Natural History Museum and Museum of London for a thorough and creative display of local culture and history.

2. Cherish the City Views
Views are always free, despite what real estate agents might tell us. And you can appreciate London’s Thames and the classic sights of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey from many different standpoints and times of day.

3. Get Arty
Bite into the Francis Bacon at Tate Modern or see works by artists dating back from the 1500s in the Tate Britain. Visiting art galleries is a must in the UK capitol with other notable places being the National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery in Trafalgar Square and White Cube.

4. Go Green
Park yourself in one of London’s royal parks, where well-watered foliage provides a lush landscape to further appreciate the city views. Regent’s & St James Park offer the most breathtaking views of the Palace and Big Ben whilst Hyde Park hosts the popular Diana Memorial Fountain and Peter Pan statue.

5. Shop in the Street
Cruise along the eclectic Portobello Market (part of the Notting Hill area made famous by Hugh Grant) on the weekend or try Borough Market and Spitalfields Market which are perfect for gourmands and gluttons alike.

6. Buy a Brew
OK so it’s not free, but can you really appreciate London – or the UK in general – without stopping in for a pint? Of course, pubs are on every corner in this city, but the best ones are those that sell the microbrewery labels on tap. The Market Porter at Borough’s Market is by far one of the finest to sample smaller “real ale” labels.

7. Plug into Free Sounds
On Fridays at 5:15pm, Commuter Jazz plays at the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank. You can also catch free lunchtime concerts at St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Royal Opera House.

8. Commute to an Inner-city Countryside
Whilst still part of Greater London, there is one place where urbanites can feel they are truly out of the city. This would be the Mudchute Park & Farm, a volunteer-run animal farm and park space which is located on the Isle of Dogs in Docklands.

9. See Street Acts
The English have a long affinity with theatre – after all this is the country that gave us Shakespeare – and you can find live performers entertaining in London for free (although spare change is welcome). Check out the West Piazza of Covent Garden Market.

10. Change that Guard
And finally, a trip to London would not be complete without witnessing the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. Yes, these expressionless men are a British institution.

Enjoy your trip..

2 comments:

Walk Talk Tours said...

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Melissa said...

You are right you can go to London and not break the bank. Try to national gallery at Trafalgar Square, its free. Also there were several places that had afternoon/lunch prices which were much more affordable. You should check out this new travel site I found, baraaza.com. I got some useful info about cool activities to do while in London.