London Calling: Tour Like a Local

 

Natural History Museum in Kensington, London

Nothing compares to touring London like a local. Away from taxis and bougie hotel breakfast, seeing the real London like a native is truly an experience to cherish for a lifetime. Gear up for some cheap thrills and goofy city adventures as we have picked a few tips and tricks to explore the British Capital.   

You can also read: Top London Picnic Areas with a Mouthwatering View in Sunshine

Free Museums

What's best than kicking off the local trip with some freebies? London's majestic museums are a treat to watch, explore and learn its history. Natural History Museum is a delight to watch specially the dinosaurs section of the free gallery include enormous installations of T-Rex, Triceratops, and many more fascinate everyone in the museum.You can get easy access to Natural History Museum through the budget hotels in Kensington High Street famous amongst the Londoners for affordable stays in London. Whether it is art, archaeology, or architecture there are a number of cultural attractions that are absolutely free to visit.

Tube Through London

Skip the expensive taxis, and Ubers and travel like local Londoners do. UK's public transportation especially its tube network is one the largest systematic transportation networks in the world. Get an Oyster card made as it helps you quit the long queues for single-fare tickets and is far cheaper. Use the tube maps to navigate through the network and the stations.

Explore the ‘Hidden London’

There's always more to a city than advertised; similar is the case with London. The big city is more than its royal buildings, the massive river, and Big Ben. In fact, so much of it is unexplored that there is a special tour called the "Hidden London" operated by London Transport Museum. This tour takes you through London's unknown areas that are equally interesting as the others. You will get to see the lost stations of the Euston stations, the subterranean shelter located at the Clapham South station, the city's first-ever skyscraper on 55 Broadway, and Churchill's secret station.

Eat a Traditional Lunch

The Brits love spending their Sundays eating a traditional roast at a local pub. You can easily stop by any local pub and have their traditional roast consisting of meat of your choice, steamed vegetables, a Yorkshire pudding, and stuffing. The roast is typically accompanied by horseradish sauce, mint sauce, English mustard, cranberry sauce, and bread sauce. It is said that the tradition came to prominence during King Henry VII's era and is still cherished and eaten every week without a hitch.

Sunset on the Primrose Hill

Fancy a cute evening with some hot chocolate, a BLT, and a gorgeous skyline to gaze at? Then do it like the locals and head to Primrose Hill. This hilltop is 62 meters above sea level and gives an uninterrupted view across the skyline, and is apparently one of the six "protected views" in the city. So, grab your picnic basket and hike up to the hill to enjoy a quiet evening under the sky. Primrose Hill is the place where you have to be before sunset for the ravishing view of sunset and what’s best? When your accommodation is very near like Park City Grand Plaza Kensington is very close to the Primrose Hill sunset point.

Taste London’s Craft Breweries

The brewery scene in London is thriving and popping! London's craft beers are a must-have for beer lovers and first-timers. The aesthetic and Instagram-friendly rooftops are a cool place to chill, hang out, and interact with the locals.

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7 World-Famous Landmarks that Symbolize London’s Tradition

 

Hyde Park In London

London is home to some of the most beautiful landmarks. Such is the city of London.

London maybe has more renowned structures than some other city in Europe and conceivably on the planet, as it was the point of convergence of a colossal realm that once spanned across landmasses and went on for quite a long time.

You can also read: Find Your Zen at Holland Park’s Kyoto Garden

Here is a rundown of the most famous landmarks of London that must not be missed by a tourist visiting the city.

1.       Hyde Park

The historical backdrop of this park returned to the sixteenth century when Henry VIII made it his confidential hunting grounds.

 It was subsequently switched over to public space and underwent a few phases of changes throughout the long term. Because of its area, visitors of the Hyde Park Lodging can undoubtedly visit a couple of other eminent locales, like Kensington Royal residence and Kensington Nurseries. Hyde Park is the place to visit in November due to Winter Wonderland which is the most fascinating festival to watch when you are in London. Infact Londoners waited long for this festival and often stay in budget hotels in Kensington for affordable long stays in London during this festive season.

·        Tickets & age restriction, if any: Children under 16 have to accompany by a parent. Otherwise, there will be no entry. Kids of 2 years old have a ticket to be free. Hyde Park is free for public in all seasons.

·         Opening time: 05:00am-12:00am.

·         Nearby attractions: London Eye, Royal Albert Hall, The West End, Oxford Street

 

2.       The Big Ben

Big Ben is a giant clock housed in a pinnacle over 300 ft. tall and includes enormous 23 ft. clock dials that are obviously apparent from a remote place. Underlying 1859 by the famous draftsman Augustus Pugin, Big Ben is a nuanced portrayal of the neo-gothic style that began in England.

Tickets & age restriction, if any: There is no age restriction. However, tickets are free of charge, but now, different packages, such as adventure tours, guided tours, etc., range between $20 to $60.

·         Opening time: Although Big Ben used to be open 24/7, now it is temporarily closed due to covid-19.

·         Nearby attractions: Westminster Abbey, Westminster Bridge, Churchill War Rooms, Household Cavalry Museum.

 

3.        Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is available to vehicular and person on foot traffic, yet it likewise fills in as a Victorian-period exhibition hall under the open skies.

·         Tickets & age restriction, if any: There is no ticket price to visit the tower bridge. However, considering age restrictions, children under 15 must be accompanied by their parents.

·         Opening time: 07:00am-07:00pm, Monday to Friday

·         Nearby attractions: Tower Gateway DLR Station, The London Bridge Station

 

4.       St. Paul’s Cathedral

Situated on the Ludgate Slope, ignoring focal London, St Paul’s Church building is another famous milestone that most UK-based and, surprisingly, unfamiliar travelers experience no difficulty perceiving.

The site has been involved persistently by strict designs since the mid-seventh hundred years, while the extravagant structure that presently bears this name was underlying the seventeenth 100 years.

·         Tickets & age restriction, if any: Free tickets for children under 6. Tickets price differ from package to package.

·         Opening time: Travelers can visit the church from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, the house of prayer is just open for administration. Visitors can see St Paul’s from 12 PM to 4:30 PM from Monday to Saturday.

·         Nearby attractions: Churchill War Rooms, National Gallery

 

5.       The Buckingham Palace

Among the numerous castles generally utilized as illustrious residencies, this is the one that fills in as the home of the Sovereign and her loved ones.

Initially worked for the Duke of Buckingham in the mid-eighteenth 100 years, it was bought by George III and, in this manner, extended. The East Front of the royal residence was one of the recently constructed wings. Today, it addresses the most famous face of the structure since it contains the well-known overhang that rulers use to manage individuals.

 

·         Nearby attractions: St. James’s Palace

 

6. Trafalgar Square

Named for the famous English maritime triumph over Napoleon’s armada, this public square in Westminster is embellished with a significant landmark called Nelson’s Section. The segment is almost 170 ft. furthermore, it is topped by the sculpture of the adored chief of naval operations whose name it conveys and encompasses four lions. All the famous squares is easily reachable from Park City Grand Plaza Kensington which is relished amongst the Londoners for affordable stays in central London.

The landmark was worked during the 1840s. However, it was revamped in 2006 to reestablish its full brilliance.

·         Tickets & age restriction and opening time: Since Trafalgar Square is a public space, you can go there whenever of the day or night to partake in its sculptures and wellsprings. That likewise implies visiting won’t cost you a penny! It is also free, consistently open from 10:00 to 18:00 and until 21:00 on Fridays.

·         Nearby attractions: Nelson’s Column

 

7. The British Museum

One more of the central images of London, the English Historical center is effectively accessible to visitors remaining at Park Stupendous Paddington Court and another nearby inn.

This establishment is certainly too huge to even consider visiting on a solitary day. However, it’s coordinated into various offices committed to a particular locale or subject, permitting visitors to investigate just those assortments they are keen on.

·         Tickets & age restriction, if any: Tickets and permanent collection are free.

·         Opening time: Daily: 10.00–17.00 (Fridays: 20.30)
Last entry: 16.00 (Fridays: 19.30)

·         Nearby attractions: Tower Bridge, Tower of London, and the Steam Dreams Rail Co.

 

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