I won’t lie – I can’t write a comprehensive post about what to see in London, England. It would be the same as trying to complete something similar for New York, Tokyo, Paris or any other major metropolitan area in the world. Adding to this impossibility is the excessively short length of time I stayed here – three days (really, just two-and-a-half). I’m not even sure if staying here for another month or two would cover everything I would want to do here. But I will relate what I chose to do here in this abbreviated time.
After disembarking from our AmaWaterways river cruise in Budapest, RAS and I flew to the UK. We wanted to spend a few more days somewhere else in Europe, and I suggested London. I visited once before in the mid-1980s for a week with my sister and brother-in-law, leaving a day before Live Aid took place. We saw Hampton Court, Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and St. Paul’s Cathedral. I do remember how dingy Piccadilly Circus was and how awful the meals (except the high tea we had were. From what I have learned and researched, I knew things have significantly changed in the city – and food is now some of the best anywhere (I’ll write about that next week). So, here’s just a short list of what we happened to do in London for our three-day stay.
Our rental
RAS and I stayed about three blocks from Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens in a studio basement apartment, which are common in London’s older buildings. It was ideal for us, and we were just a half-block away from our friends who came in a few days before from Switzerland. Perhaps the only issues we had with the place were the bathroom, which had a postage-size sink, and the combined washing machine and dryer. We weren’t sure how to use it, and it didn’t quite get our clothes clean, but it was good to use after a week-long river cruise.
Camden Market
This was once a transportation and industry hub during the Victorian era, with a narrow canal, railway and horse stables for wagons and carriages. Now, under the train tracks and in the stone structures are stores, restaurants and bars. It’s probably one of the most eclectic markets I’ve ever visited. I’ll mention the lunch we had here next week, but one of the surprises I encountered here was the Amy Winehouse statue. The late singer lived in the neighborhood.
Westminster Abbey
I visited this nearly one thousand-year-old church complex on my last visit. As befitting a place where most British royal coronations occurred, ornate carvings, gold and colorful banners adorn much of the interior. There are various chapels, many with the final resting places of monarchs like Edward the Confessor, who established the first structures of the Abbey and whose tomb is protected because of its age. One thing I learned was Queen Elizabeth II was not interred here - her gravesite is at Windsor Castle.
Tower Bridge/Tower of London (walk by)
Because of the crowds that I saw from different pictures from these places on the River Thames, I declined from reserving entry tickets. But I now wish I had, because I didn’t visit here back in 1985, and who knows when I will return? I hadn’t remembered the sheer size of the Tower grounds, which was a famously a prison, a palace and an administrative site. The impressive nearby bridge – which is often mistaken for London Bridge – has twin towers that people can now visit and view from a glass platform between them. We also saw the London Eye, which looked fun but a bit touristy.
Notting Hill
Many people know this northwest London neighborhood as the setting of the Julia Roberts-Hugh Grant rom-com from almost 30 years ago. In fact, some fans take photos of the book shop featured in the movie. I wish I could have spent more time here, because it has a small-town atmosphere and daily outdoor market centered around Portobello Road with vendor stalls. As such, I only went to a small bakery called Biscuiteers, which I’ll write about next week.
Hyde Park
Like Notting Hill, we spent less time here than I would have liked. I did go for a run one afternoon then a walk the next morning, but I barely covered any ground in the 350-acre park, which was once the hunting grounds for royalty. The park is in two parts – Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens – and nearly bisected with the Serpentine, a long curving lake. Some of the points of interest here are the Princess Diana memorial fountain, Kensington Palace and the Italian Gardens.
Chinatown/Piccadilly Circus
We walked around these areas briefly after a fantastic Indian dinner (more about that next week), which are adjacent to Soho, Convent Garden and the West End theater district. London's Chinatown looks like many others I've been to elsewhere, except there were more open buffet restaurants than I normally see. Piccadilly, of course, was once the center of the city - and much more dingy the last time I was here. But now it's cleaned up and bougie, with more boutiques and designer shops.
Some quick tips
- Book activities in advance - This is especially true for mega-popular attractions like the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey and if you really want to see something.. You won't likely get same day entry.
- Get an Oyster Card - I used this to get around the city, whether it was the buses or the train (Underground or Tube). It's a convenient way to access transportation.
- Explore the food scene - We Americans have a very unfair preconceived notion about British food. But we didn't have a bad meal during our stay here (more next week)
- Be open to exploration - This is probably what I should have done in Notting Hill and the Borough Market, so make time for just wandering around.
