There are almost too many things to list in London. I have focused on the cheap/ free things, as all I ever seem to hear is about how expensive London is to visit. Well, yeah – if you have to take a family to a West End Show and have tea at the Savoy I suppose it is! But it’s a wonderful city to spend the summer in.
I haven't even bothered with the usual sightseeing "must-dos"!
Museums worth spending a whole day in:
The British Museum
The Science Museum
The Natural History Museum (with live butterflies this summer!)
The Victoria and Albert Museum (art and design)
If you like art:
The Tate
The Tate Modern (although the crack in the floor has been filled)
The National Gallery (Western European art)
London Walks – which I push shamelessly whenever I can, run every day and only cost £7 per adult, children free!
You just can’t beat the amount of things you see and hear and learn, from street level up to the rooftops. Two and a half hours (more if you do a pub walk!)
London has some beautiful parks if the weather is good. We used to go out for the whole day, but then we didn’t have far to travel. At the least they’re great for a breather, a picnic, to go rowing, play Frisbee etc.
Hyde Park (includes the Diana Memorial Fountain)
St James’s Park (pelicans and The Mall)
Regent’s Park (400 varieties of roses in The Rose Garden)
The markets aren’t as large as some European markets – there just isn’t the space. But they have an impressive history and are vibrant and an attraction in themselves.
Borough Market (London’s oldest – food & drink)
Smithfields (800 years old – meat market but includes cheese, pies, deli items)
Portobello Road (World’s Largest Antiques Market & v trendy vintage clothes)
Covent Garden – (arts and crafts) and take in the street theatre while you are there. I don’t mean lame mimes and living statues either – these guys are good.
For a little more money, take a trip down the Thames (ie by river) to Greenwich – local landmarks are pointed out on the way and it’s a great way to kill half an hour. £28 family ticket means two adults and two children can get on and off the boat all day.
Or come out on the Docklands Light Railway, which feels like a toytown train but runs through the heart of East London and Canary Wharf, dwarfed by the towers and offices.
Stop off at Canary Wharf for shopping, for dinner on the water, or for the
free events run all summer – example a performance of The Royal Ballet transmitted live from Covent Garden Opera House to a big outdoor screen, a showing of The Fountainhead, an demonstration of English Change Ringing.
Once in Greenwich we have a lively covered market, Greenwich Park with deer and squirrels that will eat from your hand and the marvellous Observatory Hill/ Observatory (free except for a charge for selected galleries). The Maritime Museum is at the bottom of the hill and also the various chapels and painted halls.
Then come to see me, and if HM’s working we can get a sneaky pint and sit and watch the river.