BootsnAll Travel Community

I've been living in Lodnon for the past 6 weeks (and will be here for another 2 years). I have found I have a lot of free time. Can some of you guys just start posting ideas on what I can do to fill it?

What are you favorite sites in London (these could be well-known museums or little-known pubs)?

What area's of London are great for a stroll?

Know of any just really killer coffee houses with free wifi, cozy chairs, and open late?

I'm just trying to get some ideas. Oh, if you could also post any web links to thinks you mention it would be appreciated!

Mike

Hey Mike,

I've just moved to London too, although I'm from just outside anyway so I had an idea of the city beforehand. One of the things I've enjoyed doing so far is cycling - believe it or not! If you can get a cheap bike that won't be stolen and find a quiet route, eg. along the Thames, then you'd have a great time I think. Otherwise there are of course lots of hidden gems: my latest find was Marylebone High Street, just north of Oxford Street. Check it out!

Brick Lane - nice for a stroll, a number of great coffee shops and bars with wi-fi. chill out and watch the world go by

If you plan on checking out the nightlife, you can get most up-to-date information from Time Out London.
http://www.timeout.com/london


If you are looking for free wi-fi in the city, check out this local effort to map all of the freespots:
http://londonist.com/2007/05/free_wifi_in_lo.php

London has some wonderful museums and galleries. I like both Tates a lot (Tate Britain and the Tate Modern). I also like the National Portrait Gallery.

My other favorite thing to do there is to just take long walks.

spend a WEEK in the British Museum. Hang out and shop in Camden, eat inexpensive and tasty Indian food at night and a full English breakfast in the morning. Hang out around the South Bank once in a while but don't waste any money on the tourist traps, instead make friends with the street performers , buy used books from the vendor (very reasonable and a great collection) when he's out and watch the artists work. The TATE modern art museum nearby is free.
Go to Knightsbridge and laugh at the shoppers coming out of Harrod's
The parks are both beautiful and plentiful and the whole city has a great vibe so walk when you can.
Take a day trip to Bath.
Take a weekend trip to Scotland but only in the Summer and still bring a heavy coat.
Take a dax trip to Cambride, and perhaps Oxford.
Attend the Promenades in the Park and Notting Hill Carnival.
Hope that helps.

I was in London in March and went to Greenwich (where time was invented). It was really very cool. We took a boat from Westminster (near Big Ben). The ride was about 45 minutes and you pass The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, all the other bridges, etc, etc. Not only is the museum interesting, but the little town and park are quite charming.

If that's too dorky for you, go to Brixton for some real culture outside the 'London' that everybody thinks of when they think 'London'.

Portobello Road is also quite cool.

Goto the pub and watch some football on a big-screen tv. Many pubs have a fixture list posted in the window. Otherwise goto Sky Sports to check the upcoming fixtures. Any premiership match involving 2 of the big 4 teams (Arsenal, Man U, Chelsea amd Liverpool) is a good bet, you can be sure the pub will be full of excited drunken locals.

This coming sunday there are 2 big games to choose from.

If you're staying in the suburbs, Antigallican pub is awesome. It also doubles as a very nice hostel/budget hotel and is in Greenwich, a nice quiet area.

If you want to get a cheap tour of the city, I'd suggest hopping on a bus and riding it around for a while. The buses are perfect for sightseeing, and if you have an Oyster card, after you spend 3 pounds (or something like that), you don't have to pay anymore busfare for the rest of the day.

I love the museums, and the best part is that they're FREE (except for the special exhibitions). In the winter it's nice to wander around in them, and many even have late-opening hours (V and A, National Gallery, British Museum) so you could go after work and avoid the touristy crowds. On nicer or warmer days, I loved wandering Hyde Park or the weekend markets, especially Brick Lane. Or check out the half-price tickets booth in Leicester Square for same-day tickets to theatre or a musical. Oh, Covent Garden market, while quite crowded, is great for a wander around xmas time. Enjoy!!

Greenwich - including the big museum at the bottom of the park - cant remember its name - Naval I think, the new Globe Theatre, Hampton Court, day trips: bath, cambridge, oxford, paris on the chunnel - so much to see!