Charming London

Amazing Vibe, Architecture, and Pubs! 

Get In and Around London. 

Buy an Oyster Card to use the tube (underground trains) and buses. It is the most affordable and comfortable way to get around London.
Which Airport to choose? There are more than five airports scattered across London. Some are farther than others. Traffic and fatigue after flying makes the distance even worse. Heathrow Airport is the most convenient one; you can take the tube, Piccadilly line, from there to central London for only $4 GBP. There is also an Express Train that you can take from Heathrow airport to the final station, Paddington, if that’s more convenient to your final destination, but be ready to pay around $20 GBP per ticket.

Where to Stay and Where to Eat?

W Hotel, featuring a central location in SoHo, located steps away from Piccadilly Circus, Chinatown, and Leicester Square. The rooms are fancy and small, offering an outstanding service, a great bar and vibrant night club, Room 813.
Hotel Xenia is a boutique hotel with an excellent Italian restaurant, Evoluzione, and a chic bar. It is located within a short walking distance to the Natural History Museum, Hyde Park, and Science Museum.

Sushi Samba is a fusion bar and restaurant on the 38th-39th floors with a panoramic view of London. The Ceviches, sushi, rolls, and Brazilian steaks are to really die for! What a perfect mix of cuisines and elegant concept of Japanese, Peruvian, and Brazilian cuisines.

Brewery time! Visit the Temple Brew House. Sample some of their beers, have local small plates, and choose your favorite drink. The Organic Black Isle, stout, was my first choice while the London Pale Ale was my second. And find cool and interesting cocktails at Central & Co. All day Brasserie & Bar.

Great atmosphere, lively music, and a fancy dinner with tapas at Aqua Nueva.
PRET is conveniently almost at every corner in London offering organic Coffee, natural food, green juices, quick breakfast or simple snacks.

What to See and Do? 

There are so many Shows to see in London! Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic theater performance. Buy tickets online, directly at the theater, or around Leicester Square. Stomp at Ambassador’s theatre and Cats at London Palladium were stunning. You can find tickets from $30-$40 GBP. I don’t like to plan in advance, so we called the same afternoon/night to check if there were tickets available after we were ready to finish our journey for the day and bought them directly at the theater. If you are more of a planner, you can buy them online. 

For a nice, crowded, and exciting shopping walk, start from Leicester Square passing Piccadilly Circus and continue on to Regent Street then Oxford Circus.

Enjoy a charming and iconic Tower Bridge view during the day and at night. It is a short walk from one end to the other.
Ride a red double-decker bus and seat on the second floor for a nice view and inexpensive tour. Your Oyster Card will take care of the ride!

Gothic clock tower, the end of the Houses of Parliament, and probably the most well-know London icon; The Big Ben. Walk around, cross the River Thames, and take beautiful photos.
Seven Dials are seven streets that link Covent Garden to SoHo. Explore independent boutiques, pubs, restaurants, and charming streets.

The National Gallery offers a great collection of early and high Renaissance, Baroque, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism paintings. I saw more famous Van Gogh paintings in here than in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Did I mention it has a voluntary admission fee? National Portrait Gallery is located just a few steps from The National Gallery.

Other things to see and do: The Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral. Take a photograph with a red telephone box, and enjoy an English afternoon tea.

What to Avoid?

Luton Airport, it’s too far! And it requires a bus ride of about one hour plus depending on the traffic to central London.
Easy Jet, a low-cost airline. If you are traveling with just one hand bag it’s fine, otherwise check all the extra bags, seats, and boarding passes charges.

 

Bye! Charming London.

Katherine.

Live hard! Live wise!  With Simply Green.

More great Simply Green adventures and travel articles in Travel.