The 23 most interesting places in London

Journey to London

Hi everyone, one more day! Today, I felt like varying the theme of my blog a little bit, seeing as I was in London last summer and I know that it is a popular Erasmus destination (as well as being popular with non-Erasmus students), I thought that I would do an interesting post about the places that you cannot afford to miss if you're going to London. Let's start!

Big Ben

Although now I believe that its name has changed to "The Elizabeth Tower", it can be said that Big Ben is the most famous clock in the whole world. This apparatus used to mark the time characterises and changes the skyline of London compared to other cities. The bridge that you have to cross to see Big Ben up close, is always full of tourists and people going to work on their bicycles. Last summer, when I was there, the side-walks were full of selfie sticks. Sad, but true. For those who are curious, there is a non-official Twitter account for Big Ben, which on the hour always publishes a tweet saying "Bong".

The London Eye

Gigantic and for the majority of the time, full of queues, the giant wheel of London is a stones throw away from Big Ben. I have never been on it, because it costs £20 (or more) to go on it which seems a bit ridiculous, on top of that, you have to wait in a really long queue. If for you, the reader, it's worth the cost to see the whole city from up above and in full, then continue reading.

Tower Bridge

The most famous in London, you can go up each of the towers that makes up the bridge and see the views from there. It's worth it.

The Tower of London

It's one of the most historic places in London since it used to be an old prison. It's an enormous castle and my recommendation is (if you have time) to spend the afternoon close by. Just before the bridge, there is a beautiful area with river banks and green areas where you can have a picnic and enjoy the views, if that's what you enjoy. Did you know that the guards outside the Tower of London are called "beefeaters", like the brand of gin? Well, in reality, the drink is called this since "beefeater" literally means "someone who eats beef" and around the 15th century, these guards were the few citizens who could afford to buy that kind of meat.

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The National Gallery

The best museum of paintings in the world, according to me. I love everything. The façade, its columns, the dome, Trafalgar Square in front with its gigantic statues of lions and fountains, what's more is that it's free (and there's WiFi, in case you're in a predicament and you need your GPS to get to your hotel/residency/flat or whatever it is). I remember that one of the first places which I went to was this art gallery. My favourite painting here is the Arnolfini Portrait by Van Eyck. The museum opens at 10am and I was there at 9:40, waiting with 5 other Asians... How could that not be the case?! They're everywhere! The National gallery is enormous and if you don't live in London, it's almost impossible to see it in its entirety. So annoying. It's so big that the museum offers a map so you don't get lost in the different rooms. I remember it as if I was still there, the painting was in room 56, if you enter from in front of the room and on the side there is the painting of a man with a red turban. Those who are into art will know what I'm talking about. In the National Gallery, there are thousands of paintings, but the ones that I like the most and would recommend to see are: the Rokeby Venus (Veláquez), The Virgin of the Rocks (Da Vinci) and The Sunflowers (by Van Gogh). I could go on, but then this post would turn into a post about art and not about London. I actually ended up going back to this museum 2 more times. Of course, if some of you decide to go, culture yourselves and inform yourselves about the paintings that are in there, who painted them, how and why. Going to a museum without knowing anything about the history or art is like being totally blind. You will never value or appreciate how much a painting is worth if you only see it superficially. It's the same things with books. It always needs a second read or visit.

The British Museum

We're going to carry on with museums. Being that its entry fee is also free, it is one of the most important museums in the world. The British museum isn't like the National Gallery where there is only pictures and paintings, this museum includes works of all kinds. For me, one of the most interesting works are the details on the frieze of the Parthenon and its façades (poor Greeks, they should take back what is rightfully theirs). You have to pay this place a visit, it also hosts the Rosetta Stone, an Easter Island statue and the mummies. Great. Have I already told you that I love that it's free to go into the museums? Although there are people that don't take advantage of that, ugh. When I was in London, there was around 10 demonstrations in front of the National Gallery, protesting because they wanted to privatise the museum... Watch out, I think the British Museum closes early, around 4pm.

The Tate Modern

This is the modern art museum in London. It's also free, if I remember correctly. I'm not a massive fan of modern art, so I just went to see the most important paintings.

Madame Tussauds

This is the wax museum, but I didn't see it. They say it's very impressive, but ah well, maybe the next time in a thousand years.

Wax figure of Adele

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Trafalgar Square

It's beautiful at night with all its lights and fountains.

Trafalgar Square by night

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The Globe Theatre

This is the magnificent theatre of Shakespeare. In my second year of A-Levels (high school diploma), I studied and read his works, as well as studying the life of this famous author. He worked for the Globe Theatre, and well, although this is only a reconstruction of the actual theatre (what a let down), you really feel like going to see it. Also, they put on good plays such as Hamlet and for a considerable price as well, it costs something like £5. An opportunity no one should pass up.

Harrods

If you are a lover of fashion and luxury, this is the place for you. People usually go to Harrods as if it were a museum because everything they sell there is for an extortionate price. It's like the English version of "El Corte Inglés" but multiplied by like 80, 600. At the entrance, (there are many entrances) there are 2 men who open the door for you with a smile on their faces, as if you were a princess. M'lady. But I don't know, in general, it's cool. It's usually busy. I went with some friends and by chance we ended up in the furniture section and we saw the price of a very fine little blanket which didn't even measure a metre and a half in length and it cost something like £3000. Woah. I think that people go to Harrods to make themselves depressed. Then, we felt like buying something, so we went to the fruit section and we wanted to buy a dragon fruit (in Spain they don't sell them and it enticed me to try it). We chose the smallest one, the grocer weighed it and said it would cost us £10 each, what a joke. We told the guy that we would leave it and we left haha, how embarrassing. But I don't know, it was cool just to visit. The landings of the staircases are decorated in minimalist details, with banisters that look as if you'd have to pay just to touch them and fountains and things everywhere, it was cool.

St Paul's Cathedral

It's really cool on the outside and I'm sure that it's much cooler on the inside, but you'd have to donate a kidney to be able to pay the entrance fee so I left it. If you have the opportunity, you should go.

Camden Town

It's an area in London famous for its market. When I went there, it was great weather and fairly hot so it was full of people, but without being too much. I would totally recommend it if you like vintage and alternative clothing or if you simply want to see a market that is a bit out of the ordinary. Of course they also have the typical brands which are international and super well-known, but I recommend that you go to Oxford street if you want to by branded clothing. Camden Town is also cool because it's full of music everywhere; at the exit of the tube station, every few steps you take, etc. I love it. There is also a section dedicated to gastronomy. It's not like Borough Market. Camden is more about buying to try and Borough Market is more about buying food to take home. When I went there, my friend Kate and I bought between us some delicious candy that was a mix of banana and strawberry with chocolate, marshmallows and many more things, it was so tasty. It may sound simple or like something that you've seen so many times before, but it was something that you have to try to understand. Furthermore, something that I loved was an area dedicated to Spanish food. They had the biggest paellas that I have ever seen in my life. There were market stalls decorated with Spanish flags, chorizos and some sort of bull.

King's Cross

If you are a fan of Harry Potter, you have to go to King's Cross station. They have the famous wall there which Harry and Ron run into. Kate and I were waiting there for half an hour to take a photo but it was worth it because now I can boast about it. On the side there is a shop where they sell all types of objects related with the best saga of stories in all of humanity (ha) and yeah, you also have to queue up to get in there. With the recent death of Alan Rickman, rest in peace, his fans and fans of Harry Potter had come to Kings Cross and left bouquets of flowers, candles and messages on the edge of the trolley.

The Shard

The famous London skyscraper. If I'm not mistaken, it's close to the Tower of London. They say that the views from the top are spectacular, clear and even more so by night. When they told me that it was the highest skyscraper in the European Union, I freaked out, because it doesn't actually cost that much. I mean, it's fairly expensive, but it's not as expensive as the other tallest skyscrapers in the EU. I really like it. The thing that really caught my attention about this building is that the point at the very top looks like it hasn't been completed, I mean it's a point that doesn't end. I don't know, one of those architectural things. I have uploaded this photo especially for you, so you know what I mean. There are apartments and restaurants inside that leave you gob-smacked.

The Shard

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Oxford Street

An excellent shopping street! From the cheapest to the most expensive things, but it's cool. It's always full of people, people here and there running with their heavy bags.

Oxford Street

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Piccadilly Circus

This is an area which connects various streets. Famous for the giant screens advertising products. More impressive at night with all the lights.

I remember that there was a tube strike that day. I ended the day with destroyed Vans. My poor shoes.

Hyde Park

I speak about Hyde Park as if I can talk about Regents Park or Saint James' Park, but Hyde Park is the one that I like the most. You can rent bicycles to get around quickly and if you go on a Sunday, go past Speaker's Corner, it's just a corner where there are usually people talking to the public about anything, generally it's something controversial. This corner is on the Marble Arch side, an enormous arch which also gives its name to the tube station next to it. Hyde Park is cool as well because there are squirrels and they come up to you if you offer them food. Furthermore, there is also the famous Peter Pan statue or the lake which is called the Serpentine where you can rent a pedal-boat and... fly. Whatever you choose to do, you can spend a nice afternoon with you friends chatting or having a drink (not an alcoholic one though, watch it, it's illegal).

Borough Market

London is generally full of markets. The coolest ones are the vintage clothing markets, but Borough Market is a food market. It's open all morning and it's close to the Globe Theatre. It's quite big and even though it is a market, if you're spending a fair bit of time in London, it's something you have to see before you go.

Notting Hill

A great neighbourhood that is even cooler if you have seen the film (Notting Hill) with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. It's one of my favourite films since I was small because I love Rom-Coms and I love them even more if the main character is one of the most attractive men on the planet with the most beautiful smile in the United Kingdom. Everything else isn't relevant. Only joking. Let's see, it's close to Hyde Park and to some of the tube stops from Oxford Street. The neighbourhood has lots of special little clothes and souvenir shops, and it's also famous for carnival.

Notting Hill

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Portobello Market

I'm briefly going to talk about Portobello Market. It's not that impressive and it's nothing like Camden, but it's still cool even if it is a lot smaller. It has small shops and you can find all sorts of things, from clothing, through to watches and finishing with cheeses.

Portobello Market

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Buckingham Palace

It's enormous and they say that it's really impressive inside. But without a doubt, the most frequented thing is the march that the guards do with their traditional, tall, black hats and the terrace which is opposite the palace - full of people watching them parade.

The Great Fire of London Monument

The Great Fire of London Monument also stands out. It's a monument - a commemorative tower (I think) that you can go inside if you're willing to go up the tower walking. When I say walking, I'm referring to the fact that you have to climb so many stairs, seriously, there are so many. From the highest step, you can see the whole of London, so imagine how many there are. In fact, the day that I went with my friends, we had to lie to one of them and say that there was only 50 steps, in the end it almost killed us because it turns out there were a lot more, haha. Oh, and if you're a student, you can get a discount. I'll leave the incredible views for you here.

Conclusion

That's everything for today's post, the longest post in the history of this blog. I could carry on talking about special places in London, but I think that these are the most important in my opinion and the ones which I remembered the most and the places of which I can put my two cents in. It's possible that there will be a second part to this post, but with even more special places or ones that are outside of London like Windsor or... The Harry Potter Studios! Share this blog, I hope that you have enjoyed it and tomorrow we'll come back to see. See you later.

Loved this post? Want to learn more about London town, the greatest city of all? Why don't you explore how to rent a flat in London so that you can enjoy it forever.

And if you are the world's biggest fan of Eurovision, you should definitely go to the "London Eurovision Party" this April. Have a look at this article if you want to know everything about this event in London and Eurovision 2019.

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