6 hours in London – an intense trip for those who don’t have time

One of the biggest joys international students experience is meeting new people, making new bonds and seeing old best friends in the most surprising places you never dreamed about. I was so lucky to meet a friend in my lovely city, but today – my friend visited me in London! How is that possible that fate brings the same people who used to go to the same school, talk the same language, but today are settled in distant countries? My friend Marta travelled from Poland, where she is studying at the University of Warsaw, and myself – 3 h on the train and I appeared in the heart of the UK.

Are you ready for intense cardio?– I asked my friend with a smile on my face. I knew she had to be tired after 3 hours flight and waking up at 5 am, but – to my biggest surprised – she replied the following:

"I want to see as much as possible! Can we walk? I want to see London for one day!"

I was so shocked, that this girl is standing in front of me ready for a trip, admiring skyscrapers and excited for my ‘’guided tour’’ in London.

I decided to show my friend the most spectacular places and make her trip unforgettable. As people say – we need to learn from the best – I did my research before and planned the trip. The key to success is preparation, right? Thus, I will share with you my 5 tips to stay organized and manage your time in London, where time flies faster than the speed of light.

First of all, I made sure I will know where I meet my friend. Baker Street is one of the stops on the National Express route, 1 h from the Luton airport. If you arrive at Baker Street you will be able to walk through the city centre and see most of the places. Thus, you won’t waste your time and money in the tube, which is 90% crowded and tiring. However, I promised my friend she will have a chance to travel on the underground and compare it with the underground in Warszawa.

Two weeks before I booked 2 tickets (for free, but booking is necessary) to enter the Sky Garden, which is a perfect destination if you want to absorb all the London in a short time. From the 38th floor, you will be able to see St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Westminster, the Shard, and those little people running so fast like tiny ants around the red dots moving from one side of the bridge to another. Yes, double-deckers make London unique!

If you are ready for one hour walk and a cup of coconut latte from a Pret – you will experience much more adventures and get the adrenalin boost, as we did running to the Sky Garden, where the queue built up in a few seconds. However, first things first – we decided to have a proper chat and enjoy our coffee at one of the Pret. Of course, my friend knows my addiction to chocolate, and she surprised with such a Polish sentimental delight "Ptasie mleczko", which means – The milk of the Birds. I never understood why such a weird name is used for most delicious Polish chocolates! I will never forget how we used to go on a school trip Vilnius – Warszawa or Krakow and stop for shopping. Without no doubts, we had to bring "Ptasie Mleczko" for our families and friends. That’s why even today these chocolates with Vanilla favour remind me of the childhood and old good days when you have no responsibilities and enjoy your every day doing most creative things. But who said we don’t do it today?

After our morning coffee, we reached Sky Garden. In a few minutes, we met a tourist from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland and other countries, who assimilated together with us on, enjoying the view from the Sky Garden. Soon, funny moments and excitement were captured with the camera and then we went for a walk towards the Tower Bridge. For those who don’t like using real maps or direction on every corner (yes, they exist in London) I would recommend getting internet and GPS – it will help you so much to find your destination less than in one minute. In my opinion, one of the most magnificent experiences in London is a walk along the River Thames. At the same time, you get a chance to see the architecture, cross the bridge and spot the Londoners’ style. Without no doubts, London is the place of most extravagant, unique and diverse fashion! At the same time, you can hear people talking in different languages, who will impress you with the politeness. Soon, we reached our next destination – St. Paul’s Cathedral. You can enter this church, but the ticket price is £20, while during the Public Holidays or the Mass you may get there for free. Always check before paying.

Then, we took a tube from St Paul’s towards Oxford Circus – the main street in London. Ideal for shopping and a tourist. While we were deciding where to go for lunch, I suggested checking new flavours of the tea at the T2 shop, which is one of my favourite shops to get a great present. This time I left the shop with the warm heart and feeling cosy after one cup of Go-Go tea – an incredible mixture of chai latte, vanilla, cinnamon and Christmas smell. Despite Christmas have finished, this flavour may uplift you and energize for a long day at work and uni.

At the end, we went for lunch at SOHO. Even if the time was not on our side, we quickly reached my favourite place offering the best vegetarian and vegan meals. After my first experience in this stylish and friendly place, I can’t wait to come back and try their new vegan dishes! Today we ordered tofu with rice and a vegan chicken. If you want to find out more fancy names, check Mildred’s at SOHO. "Wow, and this is vegan? I must say, it tastes really good!" – I heard this exciting voice enjoying her vegan tofu, wild rice with the vegetable mix. Next time we will definitely come back for the desserts!

However, after nourishing our souls and living these 6 hours to the fullest, our trip has finished. Time to say goodbye. As somebody wise said – the meeting should be joyful, and the goodbyes – creative. With this positive vibe, we said goodbye guessing what the next day will bring to us in different parts of the world.

PS. This is one of the saddest facts about having your friends abroad – you never know when you will see them and after you see, you must accept the unknown and use 21 c. technology. See you next time in the skype window!

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