London - Places I can personally recommend

Places To See 

Embankment Pier

@takemetravelling

The classic London scene! You have the London eye, big ben, the houses of parliament, the river Thames and shops and restaurants everywhere. Make sure you check out the 2nd hand book store under the bridge

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Big Ben

@takemetravelling

Big Ben is actually the bell inside the clocktower and not the clocktower itself. The best viewing spot is either from Embankment or Westminster Bridge.

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Trafalgar Square

@takemetravelling

I usually end up coming across Trafalgar Square rather than aiming for it as it is quite near to most of the main attractions. This is a great place for a little break to stop and sit down while the busy city continues with its day.

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Buckingham Palace

@takemetravelling

You can book to go inside Buckingham Palace on selected occasions when the King is not around however viewing from the gates is just as exciting. If you time it right you may see the changing of the guards, however make sure you do not get in their way because they will not change their formation to go around you. If you would like to book to go inside Buckingham Palace you will need to have a look at least a month in advance to make sure you are available to go on the dates you are visiting.

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Neal's Yard

@takemetravelling

A quiet and colourful area tucked away down a side street. There are lovely cafes and little shops hidden away in a vibrant corner. If you are passing this is a must see as it is beautiful

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Seven Dials

@takemetravelling

I got a takeaway pizza from a nearby restaurant and sat on the steps of the Seven Dials. You can go at any time of the day however I found around dinner time which was when we arrived it felt calmer and everyone was happy and enjoying the evening.

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Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

@takemetravelling

The grounds are well kept and very accessible. You can also watch sport at most of the venues, as events are being run on most days, such as cycling and hockey. It is a large area so I recommend hiring one of the Santander bikes for a couple of hours to get round the park. This was such a great place to see, it had never been on my to do list for London but I got a hotel for a couple of nights right next to it so of course we had to look around.

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Roof Terrace

@takemetravelling

If you go into the one new change shopping centre and get the lift to the top you can get the most incredible view of London. Take a look at opening hours for the centre when you are planning to visit as they close the roof terrace if the centre is closed

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St. Paul's Cathedral

@takemetravelling

I highly recommend you to join in a ceremony they hold in the cathedral. I am not religious myself (we actually said we were going for the ceremony to get in for free) but it still felt completely magical. The architecture and acoustics inside are incredible, they also have a beautiful choir who take you to another place while listening to them.

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Carnaby Street

@takemetravelling

There is usually a theme along the street based on current events. Christmas is also an extra special display and a must see if you visit around this time!

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Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

@takemetravelling

For all the Harry Potter fans out there... yes it does in fact exist! There is normally quite a long queue to get a photo in the iconic spot however you can sometimes get lucky and meet a famous character. There are also lots of Harry Potter shops nearby

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Finsbury Park

@takemetravelling

Finsbury park is beautiful all year round with beautiful lakes and lovely places for a picnic.

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The Regent's Park

@takemetravelling

If you are able to I recommend visiting in the summer and going into the rose garden to walk through and get the sweet smell of the roses. There are many sections to the park with little hidden gardens and benches placed perfectly for a moment of relaxation

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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

@takemetravelling

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Primrose Hill

@takemetravelling

A peaceful viewpoint over London. Join the many who gather to watch the sunset and enjoy friends company. There is also usually someone playing live music which becomes a natural instinct to join in and sing along. I definitely recommend going up to primrose hill around sunset or if you are an early bird you can also get a great sunrise

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Things To Do

Sky Garden

@takemetravelling

The best viewpoint for completely free. I would highly recommend going to the sky garden instead of the Shard. You need to book a day and timeslot in advance however there are usually many spots available. There is also a bar at the top (pretty expensive) but a pretty cool spot for a drink. Make sure you also take a look around the sky garden as well as just the view to take a look at the plants and view from the other side.

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London Eye

@takemetravelling

You can book in advance or turn up on the day. It is usually cheaper to book in advance and is quicker to get on as you skip the queue to buy tickets. The London Eye is a classic for London and is a good present to buy someone.

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Tower of London

@takemetravelling

Brilliant history and an impressive place to visit. If you visit around remembrance day there are also sometimes special decorations put up around the 'moat'

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Graffiti Art

@takemetravelling

A less well known but a fantastic hidden gem of London. Take a Graffiti tour around the back streets near Shoreditch. We learnt so much about the artists, their style and the history of the art which makes you appreciate Graffiti much more. There are some questionable ones but some incredible and a few illusions too

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The British Museum

@takemetravelling

A must go to place just to see all the things the British stole from other countries :D I didn't used to be a museum kind of person and found them very boring however my boyfriend has introduced me to a good game to play... you have to compete to find the funniest looking object, statue or painting you can find. Winner just gets bragging rights. I can promise that you will find some very funny looking things at the British Museum

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Victoria and Albert Museum

@takemetravelling

The building is super impressive and there are lots of different rooms and cultures to go round and experience. I am not sure if you have to pay or not because we accidentally walked in for free through a side door

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Natural History Museum

@takemetravelling

This one of the most impressive museums I have ever been to. The skeleton hanging from the ceiling as you walk in is breathtaking and the building is incredible. There is so much you can learn here and so many amazing statues and objects to see

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Science Museum

@takemetravelling

This is an excellent science museum with lots of interactive parts and cool engineering displays. It is definitely a museum you can learn a lot from

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Puppy Yoga

@takemetravelling

Not a lot of Yoga actually gets done it is of course more about just cuddling puppies. This is an excellent win win for both puppy and person because the puppy gets to socialise with different people in a new place and the people get to cuddle puppies. What could be better! I actually did my session of puppy yoga at the angel shopping centre, the link is here https://www.puppy-yoga.co.uk/ and I cannot recommend it more if you are a dog person. Although beware they are not yet toilet trained so be prepared to be weed on (or worse)

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London Zoo

@takemetravelling

Who doesn't love a trip to the zoo. It des feel strange to be able to visit the animals in the centre of London

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Shops and Markets 

Oxford Circus

@takemetravelling

A pretty busy side of London busy for a reason. There are many shops down all 4 streets from the main crossroads. I recommend visiting here at Christmas to see the beautiful Christmas lights put up all the way down the streets. However if you are also planning to be shopping around the Christmas period be prepared to be standing in some quite long queues

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Westfield Shopping Centre

@takemetravelling

A huge shopping centre including everything you can possibly think of and more. There is also a food area and a few pubs too. I recommend going to the bar called bat and ball where you can play ping ping and a few drinks too. There is also an American themed sports bar where you can test your swing in their baseball games.

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Word On The Water - The London Bookbarge

@takemetravelling

A boat that has been converted into a bookshop with a parrot as a resident, how cool. This is an excellent hidden gem of London on a beautiful part of the river and perfect if you are a book lover.

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Daunt Books Marylebone

@takemetravelling

I will admit I am not much of a reader myself but the bookshop itself is quite beautiful, with a staircase that disappears downstairs to what can only be described as a world of books.

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Camden Market

@takemetravelling

Whether its food, beautiful gifts or clothes you are looking for Camden has pretty much everything. I can highly recommend trying some of the food stalls the food is amazing. You also need to have a wonder around the market. There are quite a few 'instagrammy' spots such as under the iconic Camden Lock bridge, under the alley of colourful umbrellas or the stall selling beautiful lights.

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Where To Eat

Chinatown Bakery

@takemetravelling

I recommend trying the fish shaped waffle type things, they do one filled with red bean (basically a sweet black bean) or a chocolatey filled one. There are lots of other cool cakes to try.

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Inamo Covent Garden

@takemetravelling

This restaurant is on the slightly pricier side however the food excellent and the table is interactive! You can play games, order from it and choose the background setting for your meal. This was a very cool experience along with the brilliant food which is why I highly recommend it You will need to book here reasonably far in advance to be able to get a table

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Cappadocia Cafe & Bistro

@takemetravelling

This is a perfect place for brunch. We had a stack of pancakes with bacon and syrup and the lightest most lovely french toast. They do great teas and coffees too No need to book here however please be aware they are usually pretty busy

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Emilia's Crafted Pasta (St. Katharine Docks)

@takemetravelling

You need to book in advance here as it gets busy and for a very good reason. The pasta is the freshest and lightest pasta you will ever eat! The sauces are flavourful and fresh and you get to sit with a beautiful view over St Katharines Docks

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Hoppers

@takemetravelling

For something different go try Sri Lanken food at Hoppers. We got a few different dishes to share including the funky breads and a couple of dishes we hadn't heard of before. All were excellent! They also do lovely cocktails and the setting of the restaurant is beautiful. We did not need to book however we did arrive quite late so I recommend booking if you can to avoid disappointment

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Dirty Bones Soho

@takemetravelling

I think this is one of my most favourite restaurants ever. We hadn't heard of it before but saw into the restaurant and thought it looked cool so went on in... what an excellent decision that was! I'm not sure whether we were really hungry but the food just melts in your mouth. We had the chicken and waffle which was a crispy chicken with a creamy sauce on a waffle and then blueberry pancakes which were light and fluffy with a fruity sauce. Im making myself hungry writing this :D There is something for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We didn't book however it would be a good idea to especially if you are a large group.

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Texas Joe's Slow Smoked Meats

@takemetravelling

A proper Texas style BBQ that gives you generous portions and tonnes of flavour. The setting of the restaurant is great and the staff are very friendly. We didn't book however on weekend nights you probably will need to

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BOXPARK Shoreditch

@takemetravelling

This is an over 18s only area but there are plenty of food places and bars to choose from. There are also a few market stalls at the bottom of boxpark. Take your pick from the many food stalls all the food is very tasty. However be aware it does get pretty busy so can be hard to find somewhere to sit

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Tips and Tricks 

The London Underground I have found is the easiest and quickest way to get around London. However here are some things to keep in mind

- Try not to travel in rush hours which are roughly between 8am-9am and 4pm-6pm on weekdays. The tubes can get pretty cramped and you can find it hard to move around 

- If possible use an Oyster or contactless card to go through the barriers instead of purchasing a day ticket as it usually works out cheaper. Just make sure you also scan again when you exit the station otherwise it can keep charging you 

- Download a tube map or take a photo of one when you see one, they always come in handy

- Plan the route you are going to take before you get on the underground as there is no signal down there 

London is a super busy place with both people and traffic so be careful where you are walking 

- Use proper crossings when crossing the roads as traffic comes from all different directions and speeds

- Walking or using public transport is usually quicker to get round London than driving, you also then avoid having to pay the congestion and ULEZ charges

- Keep all your expensive belongings put securely away in a bag or zipped pocket to avoid pickpockets and keep a tight grip on your phone when using it

I hope you have an excellent time visiting London, if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me. My instagram is takeme.travelling