NATALIE DUNN

London is a huge, dense city with a very large population, ranking the third most populated city in Europe overall. It is also a very posh city, with a lots of nightlife along with fun things to do. With its fascinating history, to high end restaurants, to decadent desserts, and to luxury shopping, London is one of the top cities to explore in Europe. Spoiler alert: It is also a great place to migrate to, and live in as well (like most European cities and countries).

I have been to London on multiple occasions now for both a holiday and to see my own family, as I have family living there. With so much to see and do, you can never go wrong with exploring London. And here are the list of some of the things you can do during your time in London.

Go on a cruise of the river Thames

Sure, the Thames might not be the cleanest river out there, but the cruise is a fun way to soak up the sights along London’s riverbanks, complete with some fascinating commentary about the city. It’s best to book a cruise for a sunny day because that’s when it’s the most enjoyable. There are different types of cruises and prices can vary, so keep that in mind. You’ll get to see famous landmarks like the London Eye, Big Ben, the Tower Bridge, and the stunning city skyline along the way.

Do the tour of the Westminster Abbey

Directly in the heart of the city of Westminster, the Abbey is well worth the tour. It is a church with a fascinating history, including historical facts about the coronations and burials of past royals. You will have to pay to enter. Once inside, you will admire the beautiful gothic architecture. You will also learn about the history there. You’ll want to spend some time in there to be able to appreciate the history and it’s architecture. I loved visiting this Abbey, due to its beautiful architecture and its history.

See the changing of the guard

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, starting from 10.45 am onwards, to 11.45 am, the changing of the guard takes place at the Buckingham Palace. It can get very crowded at this time, so make sure that you arrive early! Also, check the times and dates before you go, as it is not on every day of the week. Also, times can change at any time for any reason.

Additionally, you can take a casual stroll at Hyde Park, which is close by to the Palace.

Go shopping

London is one of my favorite cities for shopping in Europe, asides from Paris, due to their large department stores along with wide range of high end fashion that they offer. My favorite two shopping department stores in London are Selfridges and Harrods.

Harrods

One of my favourite shopping places I have been to, is Harrods, which is located in the Knightsbridge area. I enjoyed shopping there thoroughly, with a lot of designers to choose from! You can find high end brands, such as Schiaparelli and Chanel. There are also mid to high end ones, including Self Portrait and Cult Gaia. There is a wide range of fashion items to choose from that fits your budget.

Selfridges

Located in Oxford street, Selfridges is also another high end store with a lot of options in terms of buying high end or luxury items. On my trip just recently, I shopped at Self ridges and bought a designer bag from Zadig and Voiture. Because it is a very big and a high end department store, I usually take quite a long time to browse things before deciding what to buy. Trying on clothes is not always easy, due to the size and style of the clothes,

Verdict: I really enjoyed both shopping at Self-Ridges and Harrods. Harrods is a bit more expensive for shopping. However, it is also worth it. I have bought clothing and other items from there. These include a Self Portrait blazer and an Aspinal bag. Selfridges offers a wider variety of items and a broader price range, and it carries more brands known for their creativity.

Visit the royal botanic gardens in Kew

The botanical gardens in Kew are beautiful and are well worth a visit. This botanical garden has several restaurants which you can stop for lunch, or a snack at. In addition to the different varieties of plants, this garden has a tree walk, some sculptures, and a couple of greenhouses. It also boasts several lakes. You will need to allow yourself a couple of hours to walk around and explore as it is a very large botanical garden.

Visit the Tower of London

The tower of london is an amazing experience which displays the actual crown jewels as well as other very important historical artifacts. Last year, as part of a Europe trip due to the Paris Olympics, on the very last day, I visited this museum.

Unfortunately, as we are not allowed to take photos inside the jewel house, along with the Chapel of St. John and as a result, I do not have any personal images of these areas to show you. For more information on what they display, I will direct you to their official site – click here to find out more.

Visit the national gallery

Located in Trafalgar square, this art museum is free to enter and has a large collection of historical art and sculptures. Take your time to explore and view the art, and learn about the history behind it. I loved the works as they are very pretty, creative and historical as well. It is well worth the visit.

NOTE: This is not to be confused with the British Museum, as this is in the Bloomsbury area. The British Museum is also a very popular museum, and it is highly worth a visit too.

Check Out the Tower Bridge

The tower bridge experience is located within the London bridge itself. This museum walks you through the fascinating history of the London bridge, including the Victorian engine rooms. Additionally, once you are up the top, there is a glass bottom, meaning that you get a good view of the bridge below. While this wasn’t free, it was reasonably priced. From my own experience, it wasn’t the most interesting museum that I have been to, but it was unique in a way, because it is located directly inside the bridge.

Have lunch or dinner at Chinatown

Located near Tottenham Court Road, one of the best Chinatown areas around the world that I have been to so far, London’s Chinatown has a very long row that serves Chinese food, along with other Asian shops and desserts. I usually spend time browsing the area. I do this to find good restaurants that serves specific Chinese dishes that I would like to eat.

Go to the theater

There are many iconic theater buildings located throughout the city. And you can go and watch famous shows here, including The Phantom of the Opera (I watched this show last year and it was amazing). A highly recommended activity, especially on wet weather days. Decide on which show you want to go and see, and buy the tickets for them. You will need to book these shows in advance, especially if tickets sell out fast. Additionally, taking photos is not permitted during the shows.

Do a tour of the London Dungeon

Located on the banks of the Thames river and near the London eye, the London Dungeon is a must do activity. It is a group tour, and you are not able to go by yourself. This tour lasts over an hour to an hour and a half, depending on how long the tour takes. It takes you through a tour of some of London’s most gruesome stories mixed in with factual history. There is also interactive activities and the overall experience comes with sensory effects, such as smoke, lighting and actors. At the end of the tour, there is a 10 meter drop ride, which is really fun – but optional, if you don’t like heights. Unfortunately, personal photography is not allowed within the dungeons but you can purchase a photo package after the tour.

The London Dungeon is just a few minutes’ walk away from the London Eye, making it easy to pair a thrilling historical experience with the Eye’s slow, panoramic ride — which is perfect for photos and soaking in London’s skyline.

Go to Greenwich

This town is located just beyond the central district of the city; however, it is readily accessible via train. Some of the museums are free, while others, you will need to pay to enter the other museums (including Cutty Sark). However, you do not need to visit these museums in order to observe the imaginary line. Additionally, there is a tranquil park where you can unwind and spend leisure time. Although I have not been to these museums during my time in London from memory, they are worth visiting if you do have the time.

Bonus – Kings Cross

Bonus: King’s Cross is not just iconic itself because it was featured in the Harry Potter film. I do not watch this movie anymore or do tourist activities linked to Harry Potter anymore due to its association with JK Rowling, who is a transphobic person (more on this later). It also features the St Pancras international train station, where you can take the Eurostar to Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam, and Cologne. This lets you travel without the need to fly, and it is much more convenient. Additionally the area, including the St Pancras train station, has several restaurants that serve delicious meals and drinks as well which makes it worth it.

Tips:

• Most London museums, if not all, are free to enter. This is great news for anyone on a budget. It is especially beneficial for those looking for free or cheap activities to do. This includes the Natural History Museum, which is located in South Kensington.

• Like the rest of Europe, London also has issues with pickpockets – especially around areas with heavy foot traffic, in tourist areas or in train stations, especially the Elizabeth line, Overground and the Underground.

• The Buckingham palace tours are only available in, please check their official site as tours maybe subject to change.

• The UK is noted for wet weather. Be sure to pack an umbrella, and have a raincoat with you if the weather is forecasted to rain.

• The gardens are most suitable for sunny days, as it is more pleasant to stroll through the gardens.

• You don’t need to use the hop on – hop off bus to explore London and see the popular attractions; most of them are accessible by public transport or even by foot.

• To use the public transport, including the underground, you will need an Oyster card. It is easy to purchase and top up, and with this, it will save you from buying single use tickets. Also, the underground can get very crowded (and the metro can fill up fast as well, especially on really busy days), so be mindful of that as well. If you want to avoid the crowds, try to go on the Underground at a time that is less crowded, or use alternative routes.

• Don’t forget, the UK’s got some seriously sweet dessert and chocolate vibes! London’s home to some awesome chocolate shops, like Carpo, Venchi, and more that you do not want to miss.

Conclusion

Overall, I really enjoy London a lot. It is a beautiful city, loud and vibrant, with a lot of things to do, and lots of great places to eat at. It can get very crowded as it is a big city, so be sure to plan ahead in advance. It is a great place to do luxury fashion shopping, sightseeing, going for a nice stroll in any of their parks and dining. Despite the ignorant stereotypes, the food in London (and the greater UK) is actually really good, and in fact, much better than New Zealand’s culinary scene. This is a city that you must visit at least, once in your life.