Discover the real London
London – to many this city needs no introduction. We’ve both lived in London for (10+ years) at various times in our lives, so in this post, we want to give you our best ideas of activities to try in this great capital and discover the real London.
With its iconic buildings and traditions, London is one of the most recognisable capitals in the world. It has continued to top travel lists for years. Grand historic buildings like Buckingham Palace and Big Ben merge with the dazzling lights of West End theaters and vibrant nightlife around Leicester Square.
Classic black taxi cabs zigzag through its streets day and night. London is loved by so many for its unique mix of sights, sounds, and scents.
Whether you come for a day, a weekend or longer, there’s certainly plenty to see and do. Guidebooks list countless itineraries but sometimes such guides can be overwhelming. We’re also hugely grateful to our friend, Gill, a London local, for her fantastic insider tips for visiting London.
So to kick off our discovery of the Real London itinerary we have a fun fact! Did you know London is the smallest city in England?
It’s actually because the global city that most of us know as London is called ‘Greater London’. The actual City of London itself is a much smaller portion of this metropolis. It has a population of only 9,123 people, making it the smallest in England. It’s often referred to locally as the ‘square mile’ or ‘the city’.
How to Get to London, UK
London’s Smaller Airports
Luton (LTN) Airport is about 30 miles from Central London and around 20 airlines use this airline including EasyJet and Wizz Air. Stansted (STN) is dominated by Ryanair but Emirates and the hugely popular Jet2 offer a range of flights.
London City Airport flies to around 30 European destinations. It is the first airport in the UK that has scanning technology that has removed the need for 100ml liquid restrictions in hand luggage. London Southend is a small airport an hour away from central London. It flies to and from 5 destinations in Europe.
Use Skyscanner, Google Flights, or your chosen search engine to check for best fares to London.
How to Get Around London
London is one of the most expensive cities in the world but honestly don’t let that put you off visiting as there are many tips to save money, especially on transport.
For example, if you buy a standard ticket every time you use the underground, it will soon mount up.
However, you can purchase a £20 Visitor Oyster card for a full day of unlimited travel in central London within zones 1-2 or even better a £25 card for 3 days which includes buses and tubes.
It gets better if you arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick airports – a weekend in Central London, plus return travel to Heathrow Airport will be covered with a £40 card and a £50 card will cover the same but with return travel to Gatwick Airport.
🎒TPOP Tip: Do NOT bother getting cabs from the airports, they will be slower than the tubes and cost around £70 just for a one way trip! The bus system at times can be pretty patchy from these airports and you may find yourself waiting for ages.
Trains, Buses, Tubes and Walking around London
From Stansted and Luton airports, there are regular Express train services costing around £10 for a one-way ticket taking around 50 minutes. It really is worthwhile reading more information on Cheap Travel Around London
One other tip, London’s sights are really quite close together, so pack walking shoes and with your map go explore on your own two feet! It’s fun also to hop on a London double decker bus. Tubes are also quick and efficient.
Within the UK, getting to London using trains is probably your best option. If you book in advance, there are good deals to be had. We use Trainline to make our bookings.
How to Get To London By Train – Eurostar
If you are coming to London from within Europe, check out the Eurostar train schedule. It’s a great way to combine a 2-country holiday. Fly to Paris (check out our Top 10 Paris Things to Do). Next, continue by train straight into the heart of London.
The St Pancras International Railway Station has direct connections to the London Underground system.
When’s The Best Time to Visit London
London is a year round destination which is why it’s possible to discover the real London all year long!
In summer, the city overflows with events and countless concerts in its parks. Our prime tourist season with events like Wimbledon in July brings in fans in their thousands. All this activity can push hotel prices up.
November to March (bar Christmas) is cheaper but the weather is colder and can be rainy. You’ll find bargains on some West End Theatre tickets and no queues for main attractions.
Living only one hour away from London we visit all year round! However if this is your first visit we recommend coming to London in Spring or Autumn. Specifically the best months for weather and events are May, June, September & October.
Check the useful Weather in London for a more detailed overview. Also, Events in London provides up to date information on a range of activities that might interest you.
How long should I spend in London?
Many people come to London for 4 or 5 days, often as part of a longer UK visit While you can never see it all (we both lived here and didn’t), this is plenty of time to enjoy the main sights without feeling like a mad rush around.
If you’re planning to visit for longer, you can jump on a train to classic English cities like Windsor, Bath and York.
If you love the coast, an alternative combination with London is to visit a coastal town in Suffolk, England. We have lots of ideas of small towns to visit in the area and it’s only a couple of hours north.
Maybe even consider heading over the border to Scotland and spend a couple of days in Edinburgh! More on these extended ideas towards the end of this post.
Where to Stay in London
Okay, you’re in London so accommodation is going to be more expensive than many other cities. But there are ways to save money and have a decent hotel for the night.
The last time I went to London was the weekend of the 6 Nations Rugby with England hosting France. Hotel prices were ridiculous so rather than stay in our usual more central spot, I booked a budget room with ‘Travelodge’ staying by Bank Underground ( 10 minutes from St Pauls and another 20 minutes into Covent Garden). We paid £150 a night – room was great – clean but perfectly adequate for what we needed.
Use Travelodge Price Finder to check across their full range in the capital. Also don’t dismiss accommodation further away from the heart of the city as with tube lines as you can be in the centre in 20 minutes and at no extra cost if you’ve bought your Oyster card. Always check the tube map to see how far you are from one.
Also worth trying is Visit London Website on Where to Stay who suggest not only hotels but B&Bs, self catering and even camping options! We also use Booking.com or Expedia UK to check prices.
Air B&B can be a good option for a longer stay, and better for families or larger groups when you want space for cooking and relaxing together.
Things To Do in London (By a Local)
There’s a plethora of activities to see and experiences to enjoy London. For ease, we’ve split them into 5 main categories. You can find out more by visiting the official Visit London Website which is brimming with facts and details on current prices and how to get there.
- Sightseeing
- Museums and Galleries
- Entertainment
- Shopping including Markets
- Eating Out
Top Sights Of London
🎒TPOP Tip: Use free mobile Apps to help you get organized with sightseeing like Best London Travel Guide App. Combining entrance tickets can save quite a bit and sometimes these include bus and boat rides!
London Hop-on-Hop off Tour Bus
Taking a London hop-on-hop off tour bus is a great way to get orientated when you first arrive. Go earlier in the day when traffic is lighter. You will see many iconic landmarks including:
- Tower of London
- Buckingham Palace
- Westminster Abbey
- Shakespeare’s Globe
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- Tower Bridge
- Trafalgar Square
For me, the Tower of London is a must-do activity. Kids particularly love it. After all, you’re in one of the most famous fortresses in the world.
Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, it holds the Crown Jewels and the White Tower.
Find out what it was like to be a prisoner during your visit there! Learn about the ravens and beefeaters!
St Paul’s Cathedral’s history goes back to an original church built in AD 604. Today’s structure dates from the 17th century and is the central cathedral of the Church of England. If you have one, use your ‘London Pass’ to enter and discover how this building has witnessed so much of the city’s history.
Madam Tussauds has been around for years and has been replicated around the world. But the original remains a fun way to spend a couple of hours especially if the weather is a little iffy.
Take selfies with your favourite celebrities from past and present like James Bond, the British Royal family, US Presidents and singers like Ed Sheeran!
Your ticket includes the Star Wars Experience and Marvel Superheroes 4D Cinema Experience.
Best Views over London
Both the London Eye and a visit to the top of The Shard glass building provide wonderful views over the city.
They’re fun to do especially after you’ve walked around. Play spot the landmark. Book in advance and perhaps opt for ‘skip the queue’ tickets if you are going in peak season. For the more adventurous you can take part in a climb up the O2 domed roof.
A little further out of London but great for any Harry Potter fan and easily doable in a day, is a visit to Harry Potter World. You can catch a train from Euston Station in London – only 20 mins will take you to Watford and then it’s a 15 minute shuttle bus to the studio. Book your tickets in advance as it’s very popular.
Hampton Court Palace
Also out of the centre of London but on the train line from Waterloo, visit the wonderful, Hampton Court Palace. Jude lived very close to here for several years so we always enjoyed a day out here. It was said to be Henry VIII’s favourite royal residence!
Visit the magnificent Great Hall, see the beautiful gardens and find out what’s cooking in the Tudor kitchen. Get lost in the famous maze and see if you can spot the ghost of Catherine Howard in the Haunted Gallery.
Every summer it hosts a music festival over several weeks and It’s also great for going ice-skating if you are in London to celebrate Christmas and/or New Year.
Galleries and Museums In London
London is famous for its museums and galleries – what is even better for the visitor is that so many of them are free.
Most run additional exhibitions which will be chargeable but the majority of exhibition halls are open to the public without cost.
Our favourites include:
- Natural History Museum
- The British Museum
- Science Museum
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- National Maritime Museum
- Tate Modern
- National Gallery
Find out more about London’s free museums and exhibitions from the Visit London’s Museums website.
Other museums that are chargeable, perhaps less known but equally worth a visit include the London Transport Museum and Florence Nightingale Museum.
One of our favourite museums is the Churchill War Rooms. A visit here is fascinating if you’re interested in World War 2 and learning more about the war years British prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill.
Entertainment in London
London’s West End
Just like New York has Broadway, London has its own famous theatreland known as ‘The West End’. There are musical shows, plays and performances for all ages to enjoy. Most recent productions include Oklahoma at Wyndhams’s Theatre until 2nd September. Mamma Mia (our favourite) is playing at Novello Theatre. Book tickets either in advance or on the day.
They have a ticket booth you can visit in Leicester Square but everything is instant online. Having a night out at one of the almost 250 theatres is a recommended bucket list for discovering the real London.
Going to Covent Garden is great fun. It is one of the most popular place for visitors to gather. Crowds flock here, especially in the summer, as pubs spill out to the pavements, street artists perform their shows to the crowds and you can amble your way around the market stalls.
London’s Royal Opera House is nearby with year round world class performances.
Sporting Events and Concerts in London
There are never ending sporting events going on in London throughout the year. These include the London Marathon in April (yes, I completed this in 2008); Rugby Nations in February and March, Wimbledon in July,
Football fans may enjoy touring stadiums of London’s home teams like Arsenal and Tottenham or book tickets to see a match.
Hyde Park, London’s biggest park, hosts ‘British Summer Time’ concerts every year at the end of June/early July.
They’re hugely popular and it’s a fantastic venue. Top acts this year include Robbie Williams, Shania Twain and so many more!
The Royal Albert Hall is a gorgeous building outside and in. It first opened its doors in 1781 and is now run as a charity, receiving no government funds.
Book online to take a tour of the building and perhaps combine this with a weekend brunch. It’s well worth it.
If you can get tickets for a concert at this London venue, it will be a highlight of any trip.
London’s Royal Parks
Did you know that London has 8 Royal parks? It is one of the greenest cities in the world so if you need to escape the hustle and bustle you’ll never be far from a park. They’re all free to wander around and are open every day of the year. You can hire rowing boats or just sit and watch park life!
Several host running events from 5K fun runs to longer distances. Visit in October and take part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon around Hyde Park, St James Park, Green Park and Kensington Gardens.
Best Shopping Spots In London
Well, let’s face it, you’re never going to be far from a shop and there really is something to suit everyone’s budget. When I first moved to London, I found myself working a few doors down from Harrods Deparment Store.
The Food Hall is definitely worth a browse through. In fact, there are 330 departments in Harrods so you could a whole day here and still not see it all.
We still make time to visit when in the capital as it really is a way to discover the real London! To get here take the underground to Knightsbridge Tube station on the Piccadilly line. And, after all that exploring, why not treat yourself at their champagne bar?
The other famous London store Liberty is world renowned for unique fabrics. It’s housed in a beautiful Tudor building that itself in a tourist attraction.
Other famous stores in London which will appeal to children include Hamleys Toy Shop in Regent Street – still my daughter’s favourite. Crowds throng to London’s Lego Store and M&Ms World in Leicester Square.
Burlington Arcade close to Old Bond Street is also great fun to wander through and although these small luxury shops are expensive, just looking at the marvellous window displays is entertainment itself.
Right smack in the middle of London Oxford Street and Bond Street are both popular but can get very busy so avoid weekend afternoons if you can.
Don’t Miss London’s Markets
London is also renowned for its old and new markets, the most famous one being, Covent Garden. However do try some other ones too. Camden Market, Portobello Road are both worth a visit. For more information London’s top markets is a worthwhile read.
Eating Out In London
London has a fantastic choice for dining to include all budgets and tastes. If you want to indulge in a truly luxurious English tradition and are happy to pay £70 a person for the experience, book Afternoon tea at The Ritz. We’ve both done this at different times and although pricey, it is fabulous! The Ritz Hotel
A dinner cruise on the Thames is also fun. One of my favourite eating places is to head to Chinatown, Gerrard Street where you are spoilt for choice.Where to eat in Chinatown by London’s Time Out Guide will provide you with all you need to know.
For breakfast, we love the Indian restaurant Dishoom near Covent Garden. Yes, this might sound strange but honestly their breakfasts are amazing – go and try their nann rolls Mmmmm delicious. For more options link into the Visit London Food and Drink website.
And don’t forget the beloved English pub where you can sample good traditional fayre, meet locals and as we like to say ‘have a good knees up’.
Rooftop Bars and Restaurants in London
The bar and restaurant scene is always changing in a mega-city like London.
If you love high rise views, especially in the evenings, search out a spot for that cocktail.
The city skyline is phenomenal. For amazing views try Sabine at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, St Pauls. If you’ve been shopping in Selfridges and in need of refreshments, head straight to the top of the store to the bar Alto.
To read more on these two and for more ideas including menus check out this list of Roof Top Bars in London.
Local Secret Tips for Discovering the Real London!
At TPOP, we know knowledge from a local is second to none.
We’re so pleased that our friend, Gill, who divides her time between living in London and the USA was happy to share her tips on London with us.
Top 3 List for First-time London Trip
“1. Take a tour of the Houses of Parliament – there’s so much history there. If Parliament is in session, you can even watch debates from the public gallery. In the summer months visit Buckingham Palace (it’s only open in the summer); admire the artwork and finish in the palace gardens.
2. For shopping, don’t bother with Oxford Street – it is always packed. Instead search the shops of Marylebone High Street. Food shop here too. Buy some unusual cheese at La Fromagerie in Moxon Street just off Marylebone High Street, pair it with some with crusty bread and fig jam and take it to Regents Park for a picnic! If the weather is inclement have lunch at La Fromagerie!
3. Take an Uber Thames Boat Trip up the Thames to Greenwich- it’s not expensive and will give you a great sense of the size and layout of London with the Thames as the ’spine’. Do 20 minutes research before the trip so you don’t miss the big sites that front onto the river – St Pauls, Tower Bridge, the Tower etc. At Greenwich, tour the Cutty Sark at Greenwich and marvel at the history of this famous ship.”
Favourite Spots On a Sunny Day in London
Now more tips to Discover The Real London! There’s a secret garden called St Johns Lodge Gardens off the north east corner of the inner circle in Regents Park. It’s a quite a beautiful spot for – you guessed it – a picnic!
Enjoy also Queen Marys Rose garden in Regents Park. Its gorgeous in the summer! Green Park is not as busy as Hyde Park and theres always plenty of space to stroll and enjoy the sunshine.
Beyond The Tour Book London
A visit to Battersea Power station is a new venue and well worth a visit to see the transformation from derelict building to swanky shopping centre, offices and apartments… plenty of opportunities to stroll!
Start the day with a walk through Covent Garden Flower Market which is close to Battersea. Most people don’t know that it actually opens at 3am and closes at 10.00!
Pick up a blue badge tour guide. I can recommend Garrick at Garrick.mound@hotmail.co.uk for a tour in the Natural History Museum. Also try Chris at chris53rhodes@gmail.com
Chris’ walking tours include a Battersea Power Station tour and tour entitled the Great Fire, Small Mice and Intriguing Alleyways!
Day Trips from London
If you are staying longer and want to travel out of London for a day trip, there are many choices.
Taking a train is your quickest option. Select off-peak travel times for the lowest fares, Trains generally run from 0600hrs to 2300 hrs. Check Trainline for times and fares.
Our top day trips would be the following :
Cambridge – 1 hour 20 mins from Liverpool St Station – a historic university town, try punting on the river.
Oxford – 45 minutes from Marylebone Station – a book lovers town with rich education history.
Bath– 1 hour 20 mins from Paddington Station – a UNESCO World Heritage Site; visit the Roman Baths.
Canterbury – 1 hr 30 mins from Victoria Station – explore a traditional cathedral market town by the river
Brighton – 1 hr20 minutes from Victoria Station – go to the seaside; visit the famous Brighton pier.
Windsor– 1 hr from Waterloo Station – historic Windsor Castle and the cobbled streets of this royal town
Stonehenge
Salisbury/Stonehenge – 1 hr 25 mins from Waterloo to Salisbury. Then its 9 miles to Stonehenge and its incredible neolithic site of stone circles. There are bus trips from London to Stonehenge daily so that might be an easier logistical option if you’re unsure about public transport outside the city central area.
You Got It! How TO Discover the real London
Lots of information to digest we know! Hopefully we’ve given you plenty of ideas for a first or next visit to London and tips to discover the real London, or we should say, YOUR real London!
