Lydia & Tim
Things To Do
Transport in London
We have discovered that contactless cards from America unfortunately don't work for us, even though Oyster travel is available on Apple, Android, and Samsung pay. To avoid any confusion, you can buy an Oyster card for £5 from almost any machine now, and you get your £5 if you hand it to an Oyster office at the end of your travels. Having an Oyster means you can top it up at a machine and save a lot of money, since there is a daily cap on Oyster charges, instead of spending a fortune on tickets or all-day passes. You can use Oyster on trains and buses! Also, anyone taking the train from London to Bedford, we encourage you to buy early since prices will go up closer to the big day!
Dining in Central London - Taste Card
We highly recommend registering for a £1 trial with TasteCard (just remember to cancel it after one month). You get 50% off of your bill at many chains and can save you some serious money!
Primrose Hill and Parliament Hill
Both hills have parks have incredible views over London, and you enjoy a picnic here too. A great place to spend a relaxed afternoon or to view the sunset.
Hampstead Ponds
If you fancy a real London Local's favourite thing to do in the blazing heat, then take your swimsuits to Hampstead Ponds for a dip in some rather murky lake water! (It's actually one of Lydia's favourite things to do in London.) Hampstead Heath has so many great pubs, plus West Hampstead has amazing cocktail bars. This is a fun day out!
Camden Town
Start at Camden Town Underground Station and walk to Camden Locks and then into Camden market. Lots of amazing things to do here and souvenir shops. It is the 'punk' and 'rock n roll' part of London. The club 'KOKO' has some great acts, so definitely check their schedule!
Notting Hill and Electric Cinema
Electric Cinema is a more than 100 year old cinema in Notting Hill, one of the most charming areas of London. Enjoy your movie in a plush armchair, or if you book early enough, you can watch from a plush double bed in the front row. This cinema is just a hint of the beauty and charm of this area. Check out the Portobello Road Market, one of the best street markets in the world! The best day is usually Saturday, but since you are attending a wedding that day, stop by during the week (closes early on Thursday, but open until 6pm other days.)
Neal's Yard
A beautiful colourful yard where you can bask in the sun drinking tea and eating ice cream. Incredibly British but with a slight twist.
Leicester Square
A place buzzing with shops and fun bars, also near Piccadilly Circus. You can visit these places on the same day as seeing Trafalgar square, as they are all walking distance. All of the theatres are within this area. Go to www.seetickets.com for cheap-ish theatre tickets.
Trafalgar Square
Just an amazing place to take photos, but is also conveniently surrounded by free museums and galleries. There is the British Museum, filled with lots of Egyptian and Greek History. Plus the National Portrait Gallery, the V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum of Art and Design) and then a short distance away is the Tate which is filled with modern art.
Windsor Castle
This is where all of The Royals get married. We drove there together, as it's a short distance, however you can get a train from Paddington at a cheap price. Once you arrive in Windsor, you will find it is a cute little English town. We recommend going for afternoon tea and having scones and finger sandwiches (check Groupon). You can also queue for a rather long time, and visit the insides of the Castle. If you can, we have heard this is worth the money and the wait (we didn't have time to go - but if you do, look into buying your tickets in advance online.)
Buckingham Palace
One of Lydia's favourite spots in London. You can go to Westminster Underground Station and walk around Buckingham Palace grounds from there. 10 Downing Street is also within the area, plus Big Ben (unfortunately under construction) and Westminster Abbey. It's a great way to spend the day exploring the South Bank of the River Thames.
London Eye
This is one of those attractions where you get your photo and tell all of your friends that you did it. Personally, we prefer the River Thames cruises that tell you all the history of London, as well as giving you a thrilling ride. Look out for Groupon offers for this! The closest station to The London Eye is Waterloo ,and the Tate Modern is within walking distance too.
Oxford Circus
Madness that we'd recommend to avoid due being over packed with tourists and crazy shoppers. Only go here to see the wonderful Selfridges and Liberty department stores!
Hyde Park
Very large Royal Park with great atmosphere, beautiful place for a walk, picnic and pedal boat ride on the lake.