There’s so much going on in London you may not know where to start, it can be tricky to know where to go and what to do when you get there. We are always hearing about the various attractions around the city i.e. where to go and what to see, but if you are only in London for a short period of time you have to narrow that down largely. There are always adverts and posters saying what we should be doing in London, but here’s a quick guide on what you “should not” do while you are in London with alternatives:
- Accommodation- Staying in a hotel can be very expensive, try staying in one of the youth hostels in London, you save money and can also have the same amenities available as a hotel.
- Transport- When you are ferrying about it may seem easier to just take a cab but be warned that it can be ridiculously expensive. Taking the metro or bus can actually save time given the horrendous amounts of traffic in the city centre and it’s a lot cheaper.
- Bus Tour- It’s weather dependent but doing a bike tour instead of the bus tour can be a great way to properly experience London, get some exercise and save some cash.
- Hyde Park- Although Hyde Park is one of the most well known parks in London, it tends to be really crammed. It’s a must to visit it but also check out Richmond Park for some peace and quiet and perhaps a spot of deer watching.
- Restaurants- There are plenty of expensive restaurants laying around London and it can be easy to get carried away. Try some of the more local and quaint restaurants or if you want some guaranteed quality try one of Gordon Ramsay’s Protégé restaurants for some of the best food and affordable prices.
- Nightlife- For some of the best bars and clubs you may think they would be around the West End but head towards East London and you get to the cosy and local nightlife area.
- Shopping- Instead of heading to Oxford Street walking up and down with all your carrier bags and tiring yourself out trying to find the next shop, try Westfield shopping centre in Stratford and have it all in one place.
- Panoramic Views- Avoid the queues of London Eye and go to Hampstead Heath where you will have a spectacular view of the city and can head into 1 of 3 pools they have up there.
- Shows- the West End is utterly famous but for something more intimate and a little less pricey try the local theatre ‘Tricycle’ and enjoy a great show.
- London zoo- The zoo is one of the biggest and has a great reputation but also has quite a lot of hype attached. For a better zoo head somewhere a bit further a field for a great animalistic experience.
There are plenty of things you should and shouldn’t do in London and plenty of ways for you to save money. Accommodation is probably the easiest thing to compromise on so you can still do the activities you want, try and have a great stay full of fun-filled activities.
