London is a big city and there is so much to do in and around it. Here are my top 10 things to do in London. Most of the things on my list are free or fairly affordable. 1. Museum Crawl One of the best things about London is all the free museums. My friends and I did a small museum crawl on a weekday we didn’t have classes. We went to the Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, and the Sherlock Holmes Museum (admission fee). I also went to the British Museum and National Gallery. Beyond these five, there are a ton more you can visit depending on your interest. Many are free! 2. Watch a football (soccer) match at a local pub or go to a game in-person This Fall semester lined up with the World Cup 2022. I have never been a huge football (soccer) fan, but it is such a big part of pop culture in Europe that it was hard not to get excited and want to keep up. My friends and I watched a couple matches at a local pub in Putney, one of them being the crazy World Cup final game, Argentina v France 3. Walk along Regents Canal from King’s Cross/ St Pancras Station to Regents Park & Primrose Hill A cool walk in Central London is along Regents Canal going from King's Cross to Regents Park. Along the way you'll get to pass by Camden Market and some other shopping areas. The newly renovated area behind St. Pancras Station and King's Cross is another neat area to explore. It is home to a Google office and across the canal there is a shopping/dining/outdoor area called Coal Drops Yard. The vibe is really hip and modern and definitely worth checking out. You could spend all day at Regents Park exploring the gardens and just people watching in the park. Be sure to go north, up to Primrose Hill to see a view of the London skyline. It's worth the walk up. 4. Get a British Reading Card and study at the British Library This is something I did but wish I went and used more. I mean, how cool is it to say you're studying in the British Library?! Also, the reading rooms just generally are a great study environment. The University of Roehampton has a great library as well, but if you're looking to get out into central London but still want to get some work done, this is a great option. A British Reading Card is also free! 5. Watch a West End show or a smaller local production I am not a huge live performance person, but if you’re in London, watching a West End show or some local live production is a must. I watched three performances total this semester. First, our UH group watched the musical Wicked with our Social Programme. I then say a small production at a theater in Sloane Square called ‘Baghdaddy’. There were only five actors, but the script, use of lights and sound effects made it feel like an immersive experience. When my friend came to visit my last week in London, we saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. 6. Enjoy the city from a rooftop garden (Sky Garden) A definite bucket list item for me was to go to a London rooftop garden. One of the most famous is Sky Garden, however there are a couple more you could check out. Admission is free, but you do need to make a reservation in advance. When my friend and I went up, it was night time (we just missed sunset), so we got to enjoy the city lights. It can be super crowded, but go with the right people and it can be a really enjoyable experience. 7. Take a trip down to Greenwich (pass through Canary Wharf) A cool area to check out for a day is Greenwich in Southeast London. Home to the Old Navy College and some other notable museums. When I went with my friend, we passed through Canary Wharf. I was familiar with this area because it was a case study in one of my real estate courses at UH. It is super modern and home to some big name corporates like Citibank and HSBC. 8. Visit Portobello Road Market on a Saturday and haggle at the antique market On a whim one Saturday, I decided to go see what Portobello Road Market was all about. I also wanted to visit Notting Hill and its pretty houses. I absolutely loved walking around the market; it stretches down Portobello Road past multiple streets. I was walking at a pretty brisk pace and still it took me close to two hours to see majority of it. I definitely recommend going early as it gets really crowded come lunch time. While the market is open 6 days a week, Saturday is the main market day where all the street vendors are open, including all the antique shops and stalls. I have never been a huge antique collector or someone who goes to those types of shops at home, but it was so much fun weaving through the crowds and looking at what each seller had displayed. From silverware to jewelry to old prints and cameras, this market has so much to offer. I ended up getting an old print and a compact for my cousin’s omiyage. Along with the antique market, there is also a big vintage clothing section and food stands. I got Iraqi food for lunch which was something I never ate before. 9. Go (window) shopping down Oxford and Regents St, Covent Garden, and SoHo Especially during the holiday season, walking down Oxford and Regents St is so much fun. You don't even need to shop and buy anything. The streets are bustling with people and the lights displays are up and lite. 10. Visit a London food market (Brixton Village, Seven Dials, Borough Market, Carnaby)
There are so many different food markets in London, one of the most famous being Borough Market. Another one I liked was Brixton Village down south. For weeks, I was craving crispy Chinese roast pork and after some googling, I found a place called Three Uncles that was supposed to have bomb Cantonese roast meat. The Brixton area is definitely interesting and different from other parts of London.
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Kaylee MikiI'm a college student from Hawai‘i studying abroad in London and looking forward to traveling around Europe and sharing my experiences. Archives
January 2023
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