London: people, lifestyle, food, places
In my experience, the best time to visit London is spring-summer. The temperatures are not very high but the positive side is that in this period it is more likely that you will find the sun and enjoy the day outside, visit the wonderful parks and walk in the open air without carrying an umbrella. However, it must be said that the most fascinating period is winter, especially in November-December when London prepares to celebrate Christmas. In this period every street is decorated with lights, colors, decorations, there are street artists and everything makes the atmosphere magical despite the cold.
About London I would say "all roads lead to London". This is to say that if you are a European citizen it is very easy to reach London. If you leave from Southern Italy like me in just under three hours you have arrived with a direct flight and I think this is true for many other cities. In any case, once you arrive at one of London's airports it is very easy through the train, bus or an Uber, to get to any point of the city and at any time. London is one of the best cities where transport is top notch, very efficient. The London underground is listed among the longest in the world after Shanghai and Beijing.
Top destination and attractions
Parks
If you are a lover of nature and long walks in the open air, you cannot miss visiting London's parks.
Hyde Park
It's one of the most beloved parks in London and is part of the Royal Parks. It's divided into two areas by the artificial lake Serpentine Lake. Here you'll find the fountain in memory of Diana inaugurated in 2004. The park has several gardens, especially rose gardens and species of great botanical interest. Inside the park there are also commercial activities, bars, sports fields.
St. James' Park
It is the oldest of the Royal Parks and one of the most fascinating. Inside the park there is a lake with two islands, Duck Island and West Island. This is one of my favorite parks and I will not easily forget the view it offered with a view of the buildings of London and the London Eye. During one of my visits to London in the autumn I was fascinated by the colors of the trees whose leaves colored them red, orange, yellow creating a film-like atmosphere. In addition to being a park it can be considered an open-air zoo because you can admire about a hundred species of aquatic birds with wonderful colors.
Regent's Park
It's another of the Royal Parks. The park is one of the largest and most famous in the city and is a green oasis where you can practice sports and row a boat in the artificial lake of about nine hectares. Despite being an area frequented by sportsmen, Regent's Park offers various entertainment elements: interesting botanical species such as the wide variety of roses, various animal species that populate the lake, some neoclassical villas, a theater and a mosque. In the park you can visit the London Zoo dating back to the 19th century for a fee.
Among other famous parks such as Kensington Gardens, Greenwich Park, Battersea Park and others, one park particularly caught my attention.
Holland Park
As a good archaeobotany scholar, I couldn't miss visiting the Royal Botanical Kew Gardens.
This was one of the most beautiful experiences in London that I recommend to every visitor. What struck me most was the way the gardens were organized. Everything made sense and transported you to different realities. Kew Gardens are a large complex of greenhouses and gardens located between Richmond upon Thames and Kew, a little far from the center of London. Among the greenhouses there is the Palm House that was created to house exotic species and inside it conditions similar to those of the tropical forest have been recreated. The Temperate House houses species from the different temperate zones of the world. In 1987 there was the inauguration of the greenhouse inaugurated by Princess Diana in memory of her ancestor Augusta, Princess of Wales. The greenhouse houses 10 different climate zones. The Waterlily House houses fascinating and enormous water lilies and in the south-east corner of the gardens stands the Great Pagoda inspired by the model of the Chinese Taa.
Museums
London is home to museums with collections that are among the most valuable and interesting in the world. I recommend a visit to the National Gallery where the permanent collection is free to visit, the British Museum which houses about 8 million objects that testify to the history of humanity from its origins to the present day. Among the most famous museums is also the Natural History Museum which houses about 70 million exhibits organized into five main collections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology and zoology. Other interesting museums if you are in Kensington are the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. If you love modern art, don't miss the Tate Modern in the Bankside area which is housed in a former power station.
Where to go for the best view
There are many panoramic points throughout the city, both free and paid. In addition to the most popular ones such as the London Eye, the Shard, the Sky Garden, there are other less popular ones that are worth visiting if you just want to admire the view.
Among the most popular views, the Sky Garden deserves a special mention, which is located on the thirty-fifth floor of 20 Fenchurch Street. For this reason, it is advisable to book your ticket weeks in advance because you risk not having the opportunity to go. The design is very modern and goes very well with the garden that contains numerous species of plants that create a suggestive atmosphere.
Other places that offer free views from above include: Garden at 120, Greenwich Observatory, Parliament Hill, The Lookout, Horizon 22.
People
Watch people when you are in London and get inspired by them. Style is one of the things that distinguishes them. Let's not forget that London hosts Fashion Week but in my opinion the real catwalk is the street.
Food and drink
Many people think that London doesn't have a good culinary history and I thought so too. I mean, I'm Italian and I had a very different idea of food than the English one. However, London has its comfort foods that I miss a bit now.
Fish and Chips. It's definitely not the healthiest thing in the world but damn it is so good! It consists of a fillet of fish, usually cod, fried in batter and accompanied by plenty of chips. It is very often served with peas and can be easily found as street food. You can eat a good Fish and Chips at:
Sunday roast is a typical Sunday dish based on meat and roast potatoes and is served in many places in the center.
Let's not forget the typical English breakfast: eggs, bacon, beans, mushrooms, potato pancakes.
Tea time is typically English and is a moment of total relaxation in which you can also taste some sweets to accompany it such as the typical Scones. These are some biscuits similar to brioches but less sweet and are served with cream, jam, honey or lemon curd. There are many varieties of Scones and it is worth trying them. I suggest:
I think that the food that is consumed most during the day especially on weekdays is the sandwich and every supermarket has one. In my opinion this is not a good habit.
The traditional English food that I liked the most is definitely the Meat Pie. A savory pastry pie filled with various types of meat but also vegetables and accompanied with different types of sauces. Very good! For a good meat or veg pie i suggest:
The most famous English drink is beer and if you like sipping a beer every now and then you can't miss visiting a typical English pub and having a drink with friends.
Practical tips
Safety
Avoid carrying valuables with you to reduce the risk of loss or theft. What I would recommend is to respect as much as possible every culture you come into contact with in London. This city is in fact a center that contains different ways of thinking and different ideas and understanding and respecting is the first step to living the experience in London to the fullest.
Language
In London they speak English. I mean, even a little but I suggest having at least a basic knowledge of the language to be able to communicate. In the worst case scenario there is Google Translate 😉
Useful information
Always carry an umbrella with you. Tour London by bike. Bring a universal adapter for the electricity. Be careful if you stay in ground floor apartments, you might find mice walking around the house.
Let yourself go with the flow of the city and immerse yourself in every culture you encounter. You will discover how pleasant it is to meet people who can teach you so much. I will never forget my new friendships with a girl of Chinese origin, who taught me so much and allowed me to celebrate the Chinese New Year, a unique experience. I made friends with wonderful Indian, Thai, Ukrainian and many other guys with whom I keep in touch.
Thanks London!
The home for unique & authentic travel
