My Trip To London, England – A First-Timer’s Guide
My first visit to London was definitely not what I was expecting. To be honest, I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I was definitely eager to start exploring. London has so much history and culture yet it’s still a very modern big city. I am a planner by nature. I research, take notes and schedule as much as I can. We spent almost two weeks in London and still did not see everything. There are so many things to do and see. Eating vegetarian and gluten free in London was never an issue. The food was amazing. This is where I learned that I loved chips and mayo.
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Stay Central London
First, when arriving you’ll want to take the Heathrow Express from the airport. It takes you to the famous Paddington Station. You can get a refillable Oyster card for the time you will be staying in London which allows you to come and go on the tube. We chose to stay central, close to the London Eye. The Park Plaza Hotel was nice, clean and budget friendly. This was within walking distance to many of the attractions like the London Eye and next to Waterloo Station when we needed to travel further into the city.
So Much To Do In London!
What to do, what to do? I recommend the Go City Pass. This will get you some of the most popular attractions at a discounted rate and save you some money. Remember, some things you will still need to book in advance. The Tower of London and Tower Bridge are must see locations! The views from Tower Bridge are breathtaking. If you’re brave enough you can walk across the glass floors. I am not that brave. Stop by and see the Crown Jewels.
A visit to Kensington Palace is a must, as well as Buckingham Palace. Check the schedule and if you’re lucky you might catch the changing of the guards. I recommend a visit to the stunning Hyde Park for a picnic. Big Ben and Westminster Abbey are definitely on your to do list.
Take a cruise along the River Thames or ride the Big Bus. I really enjoyed this! It was a beautiful day and a lovely way to see the city while relaxing my feet a little. The guides are wonderful with all of the useful information and fun facts. London has great museums, many of which are free. Tate Modern, The National Gallery, and my daughter’s favorite, the Natural History Museum, just to name a few. Shakespeare’s Globe was really beautiful. Check out some of the famous areas in London like Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden. Stroll the charming neighborhoods like Chelsea, Kensington and Notting Hill.
Harry Potter!
I am usually one for doing things myself, but sometimes you need to book a tour. Our day trips from London were so much fun. Check out my post https://celiacbucketlist.com/calling-all-muggles/ for more on the Harry Potter Studio Tour.
Stonehenge
Another spectacular tour was the private sunset viewing at Stonehenge. We booked this tour through Viator. I cannot recommend this enough! The crowds had left. It was just our group and the sunset was picture perfect. The tour left early and we stopped in Bath to see the Roman bath houses and eat some lunch. Made for a long day but so worth it.
A bucket list check for me was seeing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Now renamed His Majesty’s Theatre. It was magical, a memory I will definitely cherish.
London Architecture
The architecture in London was stunning. The mix of modern and classic was perfection!
Like I said, there are so many things to see and do in London, I am sure I left some amazing things out. No matter how much time you have to spend or what you decide to do, the most important thing you can do is just enjoy it.