London is one of the world’s most densely populated and vibrant cities. It’s a city that’s famed for its diversity and culture. Thinking of London conjures up ideas of walks along the Thames, museums, art galleries, theatres, football, pubs, famous restaurants and so much more.
Planning a trip to such a large city can seem daunting. After all, it’s one of the most densely populated cities in the world. So, we’ll take you through our top five picks for a trip to the city. We’ll start off by looking at some of the more unusual things you can do and then move on to its biggest attractions.
Walk on the Wild Side
This city can cater to all tastes. The United Kingdom, particularly London, is well known for being open-minded and accepting. So, there are plenty of options for travellers who want to experience something a little different when they’re in the city.
If you’d like to sample some of London’s more exotic nightlife, have a look at JOYclubs event calendar. There’s a range of events for swingers (if you’re into that scene), and some are hosted in famous clubs and theatres around the city. For example, the Windmill Theatre hosts a night of astonishing dancers performing enticing and alluring shows.
Camden Market
We’re going to continue our look at the more alternative side of London by taking a walk around Camden Market. This is one of the most iconic markets in the city and is famed for its food, arts and crafts, music and fashion.
The market started out with only 16 stalls in the 1970s. Traders sold antiques, arts and crafts, and jewellery. The area was originally developed as warehouses and distilleries used to produce gin in the 19th century. However, as change is one of the only constants in life, gin production decreased, and Camden had to find new uses for its buildings.
Since the 70s, the market has grown, and now it spans roughly 16 acres and has over a thousand shops and stalls. You can go on guided tours of its food stalls or just wander around at your own pace. There’s so much to see and eat that it’s worth setting aside a few hours for this trip.
The London Eye
Welcome to the UK’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel. The London Eye has been taking visitors on a slow journey up to its highest viewing point of 135m since it was opened in 2000. It has won over 85 awards for tourism over that time and is an iconic part of the London skyline.
The wheel has 32 air-conditioned, sealed capsules carrying up to 25 visitors. The wheel revolves at roughly 26cm per second, which means that it takes about 30 minutes to complete a full circle. The Eye doesn’t stop to allow passengers to board or exit. Instead, the rotation is slow enough to let passengers move on and off while the wheel is in motion.
You can get some spectacular views of London from the top of the Eye. It’s possible to see Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Tate Museum and even as far as Wembley Stadium on a clear day. Tickets can be booked in advance online or at the ticket booth at the Eye.
Westminister Abbey and Big Ben
Westminister Abbey has been a central part of British history since 960AD. Since the year 1066, 40 monarchs have been crowned in the cathedral, and some of the most significant people in British history are buried there. You can visit the Abbey and then walk across the road to the Houses of Parliament in a few minutes, where you can visit Big Ben.
The Palace of Westminister, which is commonly known as the Houses of Parliament, is the meeting place of the United Kingdom’s government. It was originally constructed in the 11th century as a royal palace and was the primary residence of the Kings of England until 1512. A fire destroyed part of the building at that time, and the monarch moved to the Palace of Whitehall, but the government continued to meet at the Houses of Parliament.
Big Ben is one of the towers of the Palace of Westminister and houses the Great Clock. Guided tours are conducted around both Westminister Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. It’s worth going on a guided tour, as the guide will have in-depth information about the history and architecture of these amazing buildings.
Buckingham Palace
We couldn’t cover the sights of London without visiting the official residence of the King of England, Buckingham Palace. In 1761, King George III bought Buckingham House as a family home for his wife, Queen Charlotte. The house eventually became known as the Queen’s House, and 14 of their 15 children were born there.
The next king, George IV, decided to carry out a major renovation of the house and employed the famous architect John Nash. However, the cost of the renovations escalated, and Nash lost his job. Edward Blore completed the work under the reign of William IV. Queen Victoria was the first monarch to take up residence in the house in 1837.
Today, visitors can tour the many state rooms of the Palace. It’s open to visitors during summer and at limited times in winter and spring. You can learn more about tours around the house at the Royal Collection Trust site.
Plenty To Do in London Town
As you can see, there’s an endless variety of things to do in London. We’ve only touched the surface of this vibrant and exciting city. For example, we haven’t even mentioned any of the Royal Parks in London, such as St James’s Park or Richmond Park. London is such a fascinating city that you can just spend the day wandering around areas like Liverpool Street, the Southbank and Greenwich.
So, now that you’ve got a good idea of what’s on offer, why not start planning your visit? Remember that London has plenty to do after dark, so you can go and catch a show or visit a club in the evenings after you’ve visited its historic sites.
