London is the capital of the United Kingdom, a bastion of English tradition, the biggest tourist destination. London attracts tourists like a magnet. There is a reason for everyone to come to London for a weekend. Some people go to London to see a red double-decker bus, a red telephone box, the Queen’s guards in their horned helmets at the corners of Buckingham Palace, wax figures in Madame Tussauds, the Tower of London or Big Ben.
You can sense the royalty in everything: the grandeur of the Tower and Westminster Abbey, the solemnity of the Guard of Honour at Buckingham Palace, the number and size of local museums and galleries, and the majestic Thames.
London is absolutely unique. Here, red double-decker buses and custom-made taxis swarm the streets. London has the world’s oldest tube station, Tower Bridge, red phone boxes and police bobbies in their helmets. ‘Conservative’ London can be a lot of fun. Its nightlife is legendary and its parties are considered the funniest and craziest in Europe. Countless pubs, restaurants and expensive nightclubs buzz until dawn. To feel like a Londoner, buy a ticket to London!
Probably most people go on a city tour, visiting Big Ben, Westminster, the London Eye and many many other places. London has dozens of parks, museums, monuments for every day of the week.
You should start in the centre. The most interesting places in London have almost all been collected in the ‘On the banks of the Thames’ blog. The city is set on the banks of the island’s largest river. Every metre of the Westminster area has a spirit for millennia. If you want to explore traditional London, you should either start from Trafalgar Square and head south to Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, or alternatively start at Vauxhall Bridge and move along the banks of the Thames to Westminster. Experienced travellers say that London’s tourist hub is small meaning you can reach all the famous attractions on foot.
Many people come to London for the football. And for good reason. For the British, football is sacred. Want to feel the crazy spirit of unity at a football match and feel like a true fan? So go to the game! Dreaming of a unique view over London? Hop in a cab that crosses the Thames on the Emirates cable car. It’s a must for London fans. The passenger cable car connects Greenwich and Royal Victoria Dock. Be part of the music festival! Londoners love music festivals. As well as music, treat yourself to English snacks, meals and traditional drinks such as… lager, ale and beer!
A sightseeing bus can work well, but it’s also worth taking the time to explore the city at your leisure.
A true Londoner’s life takes place in two places outside the office: a local pub and a park. In addition to all the things to do in London, you should have a pint or two of beer at the pub. In London, you should get to know an English pub – if not for the British food or drink then for the atmosphere. Pubs are busy on weekday evenings, especially on Fridays. Pubs are divided into those where you ‘just drink’, where you ‘drink and eat’ and where you ‘drink and dance’.
London also has parks everywhere – there is hardly another capital city with as many green spaces. One of the most famous parks is Hyde Park. In the park you can walk, boat, fish, show off your talent for Shakespeare, eat breakfast on the lawn or ride a horse.
Have you dreamed of seeing Buckingham Palace or visiting Prince William and Catherine Middleton’s apartment? You can see all the major sites of the British crown. From the meadows of Green Park, it’s interesting to see the entrance to Buckingham Palace. Witness the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, which takes place daily at 11.30am in spring and summer and every other day in autumn and winter. Schedules are displayed on a large tablet near the palace. If you want to photograph the ceremony, you should sit by the palace fence well in advance.
“Greenwich Mean Time” is located in London. Greenwich is also an area in the London Borough of Greenwich. It has the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum, the Royal House with art exhibitions and the famous “Cutty Sark” – one of the most famous ships of the 19th century. Nevertheless, this place became famous for its time zone.
Don’t forget to take London’s famous ‘double-decker’ red double-decker bus – and get the best seat on the second floor.
London’s nightlife impresses even the most hardened. Conservatism and restraint in no way prevent the British from spending the night on the dance floor until dawn. Nowhere are there as many pubs and clubs as in London! London’s main club venues – Soho and Leicester Square – welcome the crowds all week long. If you want to try something really cool and fashionable – head out of the city centre to places like Hoxton or Shoreditch in east London, or Brixton or Clapham in the south of the city. You’ll discover London’s fantastic clubbing scene, with its unusual pubs and bars, world-famous clubs and great night-time sounds.
London attracts tourists not only for its history and culture, but also for the chance to fill their suitcases with shopping! London is one of the fashion capitals of the world, like Milan and Paris. Find yourself shopping in the western part of the city and you won’t be surprised by the amount of shopping opportunities. In other parts of the city you’ll also find shopping malls, shops and markets and perhaps at more affordable prices.
The main shopping streets are Oxford Street for elite European brands, Regent Street for everything from large department stores to small toy shops, Carnaby Street for fashionable young people’s clothes, King’s Road for indie and avant-garde boutiques. Picadilly is known for its department stores, bookshops and souvenir shops. Knightsbridge is full of upmarket department stores and boutiques and Covent Garden has affordable clothes and shoes from popular brands.
In central London, virtually all shops are open from Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to 18.00, with major shopping centres closing later – around 20.00 to 21.00. In most tourist areas, shops may open on Sundays. Street markets open – Portobello, Borough, Brick Lane and Covent Garden.
The UK capital is not what you’d call cheap, but that doesn’t diminish shopaholics’ love of the city. And you can always hit the sales. There are twice-yearly sales in London, in winter and summer. The winter season of discounts starts at the end of November and often lasts until almost spring. After Christmas, however, there is very little left on the shelves, albeit at very low prices. After Christmas, prices are reduced by 50-70% and by up to 90% by the New Year.
Airlines: many airlines fly to London.
Airport: London Heathrow and Gatwick
Flight time: approx. 3 h
Distance from airport: 30-40 minutes (Heathrow, 25 km)
Language: english
Time difference: -2
Population: around 8.9 million
Passport: you must carry a passport valid for the duration of the trip
Currency: pound sterling (GBP)
Tip: Generally gives around 5 – 10% of the invoice amount
Water: tap water is drinkable, but bottled water is recommended
Electricity: voltage 220 – 230 V. Adapter required
1. London’s famous Big Ben is not a tower, contrary to popular belief. “Big Ben” is a clock installed in the clock tower of London’s Houses of Parliament. The tower is called the “Elizabeth”.
2. The zero meridian runs through London. It is also called Greenwich, the name of the borough of Greenwich. It also acts as a vertical equator, dividing the Earth into the Western and Eastern hemispheres.
3. There are two types of taxis in London – regular and traditional specialised. To get a taxi driver’s licence in London, you have to pass a very demanding test, which requires you to know every single street in London. That’s why drivers don’t use maps or sat navs. See for yourself!
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