"London is a bad habit one hates to lose." -William Sansom
Have you ever been to London? Do you dream of walking down the streets or sipping tea in England's capital city? If so, now is the time to go. With COVID-19 restrictions slowly easing across Europe and most parts of the world, travelling to London could soon become a reality of yours. ESOL students should especially consider planning a trip to the Old Smoke since it can become an excellent opportunity to practice their English skills.
It's worth stating that a trip to London is a prime moment to visit one of Europe's most important cities and experience all the beautiful things inside England's capital. London is great for a weekend if you don't have much to see, or a whole week or more depending on the areas and monuments you wish to discover.
Though most of us only have a few hours of vacation to spare per year, visitors must know that there is so much to see in London that even most residents haven't seen it all!
In this article, we'll discuss some of London's best areas/neighbourhoods to visit, the most noteworthy museums to spend the day exploring, and some specific monuments that can't be missed. So, are you ready for a wild ride of discovery through the streets of London? We sure hope so!
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Why Visit London?
Before getting started and discussing all of the unmissable tourist attractions, we thought we'd answer the question, why visit London? For most, the idea of taking a trip to an exciting world city such as London is a no-brainer; however, for those who are on the fence, a push in the right direction might be needed to have them purchase their airline ticket!
So, without further ado, the following are some bulletproof and irrefutably good reasons to visit London on your next holiday:
- Bustling Food Scene: albeit British food indeed leaves a lot to be desired, the food scene in London is still spectacular. Why's that? There are chefs from all over the world who have opened up restaurants and cafes that are some of the best in the world. Whatever you want to eat in London, you can find it since there are so many options. There are plenty of street food pop-ups and markets worthy of visiting, too, for their delightful eats.
- Watch Some of World-Class Sporting Events: the west part of London is home to some of the most impressive and iconic sporting venues on the planet. When hosting international events, stadiums such as Wembley, Wimbledon, or Twickenham have such a brilliant vibe that is worth experiencing at least once in your lifetime.
- Visit Europe's Most Cosmopolitan City: since estimates have found that one-third of all inhabitants are foreign-born, London is currently ranked as the most cosmopolitan city in Europe. There are people from all walks of life and different races that now call London home. So if you want to experience something different every day of your holiday, London is the proper city for you because some neighbourhoods feel as if you have entered a whole new country.
We hope that the previously mentioned reasons are enough to convince all ESL learners living in the UK or other parts of the world to consider taking a life-altering trip to London. Also, it's worth stating that sometimes the trips that we were not anticipating and had the lowest expectations for are the best ones.
But, when is the best time of the year to visit London? Take a look at the following subheading to uncover the answer!
Best Time of the Year to Visit London
Determining when is the best time of the year to visit a world-class city such as London is quite tricky because there are a lot of factors that must be considered. Such as? The following are things to keep in mind that might affect the moment of the year you travel to London:
- The weather,
- The price of airline tickets and other travel expenditures,
- The peak season of tourists
- Off-season.
Most people travel when they are allowed to take vacation time; this usually happens during the Christmas holidays and the summertime. Coincidently, the winter holidays and the summer months of June, July, and August are the busiest in London, with loads of tourists from all parts of the world flooding to England's capital to enjoy the excellent weather.
However, based on the advice of experienced travellers and media outlets, the best time to visit London is during the spring months of March and April and the autumn months of September to November. Why? Well, during the springtime, the weather is mild, the city parks are green and blooming, and there aren't many tourists. In the autumn months, the prices of flights and hotels have dropped after the summer, and you can easily find travel deals.
While London is a great idea all the time, we powerfully suggest that first-timers visit in the spring or the fall to avoid the annoyances that are experienced during peak seasons of travel in the UK.
The Best Areas in London to Spend Time Visiting
By knowing some of the best districts and neighbourhoods in London to visit, tourists can get the most out of their trip and see the famous monuments in that area. So let's take a look at the famous districts of London.
Buckingham Palace
While not necessarily a neighbourhood, Buckingham Palace is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II and one of London's most popular tourist attractions. The area around Buckingham Palace is also beautiful and perfect for afternoon strolls.
The palace is open to tourists from the end of July to September. The guided tour lasts around four hours and takes tourists to some of the 19 official apartments and a regularly changing exhibition about the royals. The guided tour lasts approximately 4 hours.
You can visit the outside of the palace and take photos. The best time to get pictures is during the Changing of the Guard, every day at 11:30 AM.
Find out more about visiting London.
Piccadilly Circus and Soho
With its giant screens and advertising boards, the area of Piccadilly Circus is regularly compared to Times Square in New York City. Every year, over 100 million tourists visit and the famous streets of Piccadilly, such as Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Covent Street.
The following are some of the exciting things that you can do in the Piccadilly Circus area and Soho:
- Shaftesbury Fountain.
- Visit Kingdom of Sweets or M&M's World.
- But some toys at the Lego Store.
- Eat at "Americanised" restaurants such as Planet Hollywood or Shake Shack,
- Catch a show at one of the famous theatres,
- Spend the evening in a nearby pub with locals.
It's important to state that next to Piccadilly Circus, you'll find the famous Soho area. Located in the heart of London and home to gorgeous buildings, shops, and theatres, Soho is classic London at its finest.
Discover the best parts of London.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is an area of London's West End and home to many tourist attractions. It gets its name from the fruit and vegetable market, which is now the area's main attraction and has since been named the Apple Market. Some of the other tourist attractions in Covent Garden that are worth visiting include the following:
- Saint Paul's Church,
- The Royal Opera House,
- The London Film Museum,
- The Lyceum Theatre,
- The British Transport Museum.
The area is also home to plenty of restaurants, shops, and coffee shops. So you could easily spend an entire day exploring the streets of Covent Garden without getting bored.
Find out how long you should spend in London.
Westminster
The neighbourhood or district of Westminster has the most monuments per square metre in London. The following mentions some worthy tourist attractions to visit in Westminster:
- The Palace of Westminster,
- Westminster Abbey,
- Big Ben.
It's worth mentioning that Westminster Abbey is a UNESCO world heritage site. You probably recognise the same if you've watched royal weddings on TV since many have been wed there. You could easily spend the whole day visiting Westminister Abbey, and we recommend purchasing tickets to take the guided tour.
Near the Abbey, you'll find Big Ben; the famous clocktower overlooks London on the River Thames. The tower is 96 metres in height and is a spot where many pictures are taken.
Camden Town
Camden Town is an area to the north of London's centre. Camden town is very popular with tourists thanks to its markets, unusual shops, and street food.
There are so many intriguing things to visit that include the following:
- Camden High Street,
- Inverness Market,
- Camden Buck Street Market,
- KERB Street Food Market,
- Camden Lock Market,
- The Stables Market.
All we need to say is that you won't get bored in Camden Town. Make sure you bring your wallet with some pounds to spend! However, like all popular tourist destinations, beware of pickpockets.
Notting Hill
Surreal, but nice.
If you're a fan of the film Notting Hill directed by Roger Michell and starring Julia Roberts, you need to go and visit the actual neighbourhood of Notting Hill in West London. Popular amongst "hipster" travellers who enjoy novelty shops and chic coffee shops.
If you like walking around and looking at antiques, you may want to visit the bohemian Portobello Road in Notting Hill. On Fridays and Saturdays, the market stretches out on the street for three kilometres.
Best Museums
In London, there are also tons of museums to visit and spend hours exploring. Each museum in London offers something interesting to see, from antiquities to contemporary art exhibitions; there is something for all art lovers!
Let's take a look at the best museums that are worth visiting if you have a few hours to spare in London.
The British Museum
We cannot have a list of the best museums in London without mentioning the world-renowned and iconic British Museum. The British Museum is one of the most famous museums in Europe, even the world. It's a fantastic history museum that is home to seven million objects of priceless art.
Notable pieces on display at The British Museum include The Rosetta Stone and Crouching Venus. It's worth mentioning that the exhibitions at The British Museum cover an extensive range of human history from Mesopotamia to contemporary European history.
With 6 million visitors a year, the British Museum in the United Kingdom's most popular tourist attraction.
Entry is free, much like most of London's museums, which makes visiting a brilliant idea for those travelling on a budget yet desire to admire Egyptian antiquities.
The Victoria and Albert Museum
Viewed by some as the best art museum in London, the V&A museum has excellent decorative art, design, and fashion pieces. The permanent exhibits are free to observe.
An afternoon at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is one well spent!
Madame Tussauds
Though it's not one of the standard choices, Madame Tussauds is one of London's most popular tourist attractions. Credited by some as the first Madame Tussauds wax museum, the London location is worth a visit and has many life-sized wax figures that you can take selfies with!
Though there are many chains around the world, the London Madame Tussauds remains classic and iconic.
While there are plenty more museums we could mention, such as the Natural History Museum and the Imperial War Museum, we are sure that the previously mentioned options are enough to keep you busy on your first visit to London. Check if you need to book tickets ahead of time!
Specific Monuments That Cannot Be Missed Whilst in London
While not all of them are necessarily in a specific area worth spending a lot of time as a tourist, some monuments cannot be missed when visiting London. Such as? Let's take a look at four worthwhile monuments that are likely to get you many likes on the gram!
Tower Bridge
Located between London and the South Bank of the River Thames, Tower Bridge is London's most famous bridge. If visiting for the first time, you need to dedicate some time in your schedule observing Tower Bridge. Tourists can also visit the engine rooms to learn more about the history of this London-based bridge.
Although there isn't a schedule for when it happens, you might want to be there for the opening of the bridge. The lower part of the bridge opens to let larger boats and ships pass underneath; something fascinating to observe while walking along the Thames.
Find out more about the cost of visiting London.
London Eye
A staggering 135 metres tall, the London Eye is Europe's highest cantilevered observation wheel. On the South Bank of the River Thames, some tourists may spend an afternoon near the London Eye. The pictures and videos from the top are brilliant since it provides you with a panoramic view of London and all its glory.
We remarkably suggest that you book your tickets ahead of time since admissions sell out rather quickly, especially during COVID times!
The Shard
Even taller than the London Eye, The Shard is the UK's highest building. At 310 metres, The Shard was Europe's tallest building is 2013 when it was completed. Constructed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, The Shard is beautifully designed and boasts office space, residential units, restaurants, and a hotel.
The view from the top of The Shard has become a popular tourist attraction for its sweeping views of the city.
Even if you don't have the cash to go to the top of The Shard, we highly recommend taking some time to go where it is located in the financial district.
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
Are you a fan of William Shakespeare? Did you read any of his essential works in secondary school? If so, you might want to take a visit to the Globe Theatre in London.
While not the original, the Globe Theatre was constructed in 1997 as a replica to provide Shakespeare fans with an idea of how the first Elizabethan theatre was during the 1500s. We highly recommend visiting The Globe and taking your favourite play by Shakespeare along if you get the feeling of wanting to act something out!
Advice to Consider When Visiting London's Monuments and Tourist Sites for First-timers
If it's your first time visiting London, or even Europe for that matter, you might be nervous and have so many unanswered questions. While the excitement of experiencing everything new on your first visit might encourage you to try new and exciting things, it helps to have some tips and tricks on how to maximise your time. Such as? The following list mentions a few suggestions that are worth taking into consideration:
- Book Things in Advance: even if you are thinking of going to London during the off-season when it is much quieter, we remarkably suggest booking as much as you can in advance. When hotels, entrances, flights, and shows are booked ahead of time, you are ensured lower prices and less time waiting in the queue.
- Don't Try to Do Everything: one of the biggest rookie mistakes when visiting London for the first time is trying to do everything; remember, London is a big city. By having a jam-packed schedule, you won't have time to appreciate spontaneous moments. However, by recognising that you can't do it all when planning your trip, you'll have a lot more fun and enjoy some relaxing moments.
- Stay in Central London: to avoid wasting time, we powerfully suggest that you stay in Central London since most of the monuments and attractions you'll want to see are a stone's throw away from the centre. Also, while hotels may be a bit more pricey in Central London, you'll save that money on transportation fees if you're far away from everything.
In conclusion, now that you know a bit more about London's most famous monuments and which parts of the city merit your attention, you can start planning your trip!
To learn more about London, check out our other articles. Before you leave, we highly recommend that ESL learners do their best to brush up on their English abilities with a private tutor that can easily be found on Superprof!
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