Better Known London

Having done a blog post on Lesser Known London, it is only fair that I do one on Better Known London.

There is lots of things to do and places to see in London, some free and others costly.

London Southbank

View from the Shard

The London Eye provides a great view of London as does the restaurant at the Shard. The London eye is best pre-booked to save you joining the ticket line queue and the restaurant at the Shard requires pre-booking too. They are best on sunny days and clear nights, both times of day providing beautiful views out to the horizon.

There is also London Aquarium and the London Dungeons on Southbank, both can have tickets bought at the door. The aquarium is brilliant and makes for a nice trip out, whilst the Dungeons are a great (if not slightly scary) experience that I would highly recommend. I found that Madame Tussauds was slightly over-rated, but the wax works are highly realistic. It is definitely a place to go with a group of people to make the most of the visit.

You may also wish to visit Buckingham Palace, but google the times of the Changing of the Guard as it is something worth going to see. Occasionally there are events at the mall (like the London marathon finish line), but its only really an issue if you are driving. 

Hyde Park is home to lots of events, as well as being a pretty park. It is home to the better of the London Christmas markets: Winter Wonderland and a whole host of events that you can look up online.

If you are so inclined you can go and see the Houses of Parliament and if they are not sitting you can go on tours too, but you would need to look online. It made an interesting day when we went to visit. You can also go down Whitehall and peer through the gates at 10 Downing Street.

If you want somewhere for experiences then I recommend Leicester  Square and Covent Garden. The latter has markets, bars and street entertainers to keep you entertained when you visit.

There are also loads of museums with free entry. To name a few: Victoria and Albert, Natural History, Science, and Imperial War museum are just a few that are worth a visit with free entry. You can also go to Greenwich to see the Royal Observatory and the boat. Museums are a great place to go for a cheap day out and especially good if the weather is not showing you favour.

A sight you won't see anymore in the Natural History Museum

London is full of places to go and makes for a great day out. There is so much to do, but it is also worth looking online to see what events there are when you visit. London is also full of theatres, often with spare seats available for matinees. So, once you have decided what you want to see head to the box office as often their tickets are cheaper than online and they may even give you a discount (I once got a half price ticket for a Thursday lunchtime showing, from the theatres own box office a day or to earlier).

There are also lots of parks, as well as Hyde Park, there is St James' Park and Primrose Hill, which is near London Zoo. These are lovely places to go for a picnic or to enjoy the sunshine. London also has lots of commons and green areas, so you can find some solace while you are in the big city.

London from Primrose Hill