Overview
London Reviews: Honest Truths from Black Travelers
Green Book Global is the only website and app that has authentic London reviews from the perspective of Black Travelers. If you want to know where to stay, where to eat, what to do etc. but also what it’s like Traveling While Black in London, then these reviews and travel tips will be essential to your trip planning for Black Travelers and allies alike.
Quick Summary:
London, a dynamic metropolis steeped in history and culture, garners rave reviews from visitors worldwide for its eclectic neighborhoods, vibrant nightlife, and diverse culinary scene. From the iconic landmarks of central London, such as the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, to the trendy districts of Shoreditch and Camden, London offers something for everyone. London reviews often highlight the city’s rich tapestry of cultures, with neighborhoods like Chinatown, Little India, and Brick Lane offering authentic cuisine and cultural experiences from around the globe. Meanwhile, green spaces like Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath provide tranquil retreats for relaxation amidst the bustling cityscape.
When the sun sets, London’s nightlife comes alive, with a plethora of bars, clubs, and theaters catering to every taste and preference. London reviews frequently praise the West End for its world-class theater productions, while areas like Soho and Covent Garden offer lively nightlife hubs with an array of pubs, clubs, and live music venues. Food enthusiasts are also in for a treat, as London boasts a diverse culinary scene that reflects its multicultural population. From traditional British fare like fish and chips and Sunday roasts to international cuisines ranging from Indian curries to Ethiopian injera, London’s dining options are as varied as they are delicious. Whether exploring its historic landmarks, immersing oneself in its vibrant nightlife, or indulging in its culinary delights, London offers an unforgettable experience that leaves visitors longing to return, as echoed in countless London reviews.
Interesting Facts:
- Oldest Underground Network: The London Underground, commonly referred to as the Tube, is the oldest underground railway network in the world, opening in 1863. It has since expanded to become one of the most extensive metro systems globally, covering over 250 miles of track.
- Multicultural Hub: London is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, with over 300 languages spoken within its boundaries. It’s a melting pot of cultures, with residents from all corners of the globe contributing to its diverse and vibrant atmosphere.
- Royal Residences: London is home to several royal residences, including Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British monarch, and Kensington Palace, where members of the royal family reside. These palaces are iconic symbols of British royalty and history.
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Every time I go to London I spend a lot of money and question how anyone can afford to live there. It’s like a British NYC but bigger and everything’s in £ so it always feels more expensive. For food, plan to spend about $20 per meal for a European sized portion that may or may not be good. Street food exists but that adds up quickly too. Fortunately London has free museums (like Tate Modern) and plenty of parks and markets to explore that don’t require any spending. You can also wander streets like Broadway and Nottinghill. Be careful of how often you transfer on public transportation, those add up too. You get charged based on how many buses you take or your entry/exit location for the tube.
Took my daughter on a graduation trip and we spent 5 days in London. Love this place! I know that the weather is a drag but there’s so much to see and do. Didn’t have any problems with traveling while black. So many cultures there. It really does feel like a mini-New York. The only negative I experienced is the food. Just HORRIBLE! I’m told I didn’t go to the right places but I’ve visited London a few times and the food is always awful but that won’t keep me away! 9 out of 10!
Loved London while I was there! Such a beautiful city. The people were so nice and welcoming. We stayed at a local Pub that was also an Inn and the workers were so helpful! We weren’t in town long but got to see Big Ben and the Queens Palace. Every got the chance to do a quick bike ride around the city which was a nice way to see multiple tourist sites! 10/10 would recommend, even just for quick visits! Can’t wait to be back!
I lived in London for just under a year while studying for my Master’s degree, it was absolutely amazing! So much to do and so extremely diverse. The creative scene is amazing there! Cheap to travel to and drone & so easy to get around. Very walkable (like most of Europe), and a bunch of transport options along tourist and local spots. It’s a melting pot with a bunch of different food options & activities. I recommend about 4 or 5 days to really enjoy the city. Don’t pass up on an amazing experience there!
Recently traveled to London and Amsterdam both cities were great with different experiences. Tip for London fly into Heathrow if you are going to stay in Central London and surrounding area easier to get to via public transportation. I flew into Gatwick and it took almost 2 hours to get to airport from my hotel. London is very transit friendly no need for Uber/cab plus it’s expensive taxis. Amsterdam was nice, red light district is over rated lol, it’s super crowded and not missing much I say skip it. Recommend wine and cheese boat trip, visit one of the many museums, fries are everywhere but nothing special to me. Had excellent Thai food in Amsterdam. Unfortunately my sister was harassed by a man who touched her on the leg and tried to tell police and they just brushed us off. Overall though experience was positive in both cities.
So without a question, London is definitely a place that you can enjoy as a Black Traveler! It is of my favorite cities for the nightlife, variety of activities (including free options at some of the museums), and the delicious FOOD. I’m not a fan of the “local” cuisine but if you want to explore a variety of ethnic cuisines there are options galore! Pro Tip: If you are looking for a good day party, check out https://www.everydayppl.nyc/events and look for the London events. Party normally draws a great, mostly Black crowd. DATING is also enjoyable in London so don’t be afraid to check out the dating apps while you are in town! I lived abroad in London for three years so I have created a list of restaurants and other things to do which you can find here: https://goo.gl/maps/8vcXK8jZPD7eYPoY8
London Town!
London should definitely be in your list! It has something for everyone and us literally such a diverse city.
Top 3 things to do and places to visit
– Instead of a Hop on hop off bus, get on the 24/11/9 bus routes. See a lot of the main tourist sites and save money with a daily cap of 5.25
– Westfields White City, less busy than Oxford street and all your shops in one place. London weather is very unpredictable
– Shoreditch/Camden, more of a hipster vibe but some amazing independent stores for shopping and coffee. A little bit our of central London so avoid the hustle and bustle, but close enough for transport links and great food and drinks
Tired of Covid and ready to roam, a cousin told us about unbeatable fares to London. We purchased immediately (fares quadrupled shortly after) and traveled in early September 2021. First of all, London is FULL of people of color. Many of the Black Londoners we observed were from African countries or had families who immigrated to the country.
Though we didn’t make it to Brixton, I noted that there were many recommendations from people of color who said that a visit is warranted before gentrification changes everything.
I’m a serious foodie, so I had a few aims: 1) Find some great fish and chips, which we did, at a random pub (Black Dog) close to our hotel (Staybridge Vauxhall), which was very close to the underground public transportation system. 2) Experience high tea, which we did by splurging (about $130) at the Ritz. I’ve read reviews that say other places are better but I enjoyed it immensely and did not feel uncomfortable or out of place in the midst of so many white women wearing hats and heels. 3) I had read about Sunday Roast dinners and we booked at Blacklock in Soho. We loved it and were treated royally! The star for me was not the meat but rather, the herbed carrots. I HATE cooked carrots but these were so good that I wrote to request the recipe and they sent it to me! 4) Check out the historical markets–we went to Camden Market, which had wonderful food stalls of various ethnicities; and Borough Market, which had lots of everything.
If you enjoy shopping and have money to burn, be sure to check out Harrod’s luxury department store.
I have traveled to London twice for extended periods of time. I studied theater in London while in college and was there for 6 weeks. There was always something to do. Of course, there’s lots of history and we took it all in: castles, bridges, parades, monuments, etc. I would suggest a hop on hop off tour and then go back to the ones you are interested in visiting. Also, take public transportation, walk around. There was and probably still is, a large Black population so the clubs were poppin. Met locals and had a ball. The second time I went I studied at Oxford for 6 weeks so we weren’t in London. We visited Stonehenge and other areas outside of London. Highly recommend London and surrounding areas.
I’ve been to London twice.
The first time was in 2017, I spent 3 days there. We visited Camden, which reminded me a lot of Tribeca, very hipster, good pubs, street food and the English version of pool = snooker. We did the history part, visited parliament, big ben, did a thames river tour, west minister abbey, double decker bus, phone booths (side note they don’t use them and they smell of urine), MI5 bldg., the tower of london (houses some of the royal jewels), the London Eye (big carousel built for the Queen’s Jubilee) and Buckingham Palace. We tried authentic fish and chips – not great. In fact, none of the food I’ve had in London has been good, each time I’ve gone. We actually ended up at a McDonald’s which is sad. I did encounter a flat white for the first time and it was nice to sit in a coffee shop and just sip and read. We stayed at the Doubletree in Notting Hill, there are a lot of cafes and trendy shops. It’s close to the tube/subway, but their system is way more complex than I am used to. I have a cousin that has lived in London for over 10 years, so he helped us navigate it. But there is always Uber, so that is helpful.
To me the English were just a bit snobby, customer service was lacking and they seemed to have a poor opinion of Americans.
London is a nice introduction to Europe, but there are far better places, that are more welcoming.
Aside from visiting the historical sights and monuments, I found the city to be very dull..at first. But I recommend going outside of the main tourist areas and go to where the Caribbeans and Africans are for the best nightlife and everything else. Just search for that type of food and you’ll get there. Once I left the main tourist area is when I really started to enjoy this city. I would recommend trying to go during carnival as well for the best “For the Culture” experience.
I honestly don’t know where to start. London is definitely charming !! I had multiple chances to go with and without work. Now what I can tell you is that August is a good period to go in my opinion… why?
1. The weather is good (not too cold, not too rainy)
2. A lot of festivals are happening during that time not to mention the Notting Hill Caribbean Carnival
3. Crease of the peak season (accommodation wise)
My friends and I were staying in this very good area called Canary Wharf (the bougie/financial spot apparently). There were a lot of cute restaurants/patios around and also super close from the train which will bring you to Central London in less the 40 mins.
You must stop by Shoreditch: the hipster spot with all the bars, lounges and restaurants!
The beauty of traveling to London England is that you can choose to frolic about as a tourist or a wanna-be local. London was stop the third stop on this trip. We chose to be tourist this first go round. One of the amazing things I recommend when traveling from Paris to London is to take the train through the English channel. The ride is amazing. Upon arrival, we had to hail a British cab. We chose to lodge outside of the city. Each day, taking the train was an adventure.
The Aloft hotel sat adjacent to a conference center off of the water. We got to commute into work with the locals, which is the best people watching experience. Most of our meals, breakfast and dinner were either in the Aloft restaurant or from the litany of dining choices in the conference center and subway area. Aloft was the last stop at the end of the line. One of the exceptions was fish and chips from a local pub.
We took a ride on the London Eye, providing scenic views of the London bridge. Immediately after, we visited the Sea-life Aquarium. Do have and purchase tea in London. We purchased ours from the iconic Soho shopping district.
The icing on the cake would have been a concert or live music. Hubby is not about that nightlife, so we’ll save that for the next time, solo or girls trip.
London is an amazing city with ALOT to do in and around London itself. If you have time to see more than just the main sites and want to get out of the city, I recommend a trip to Ouse Valley Viaduct in Hayward’s Heath. The rail bridge is really beautiful and architecturally interesting – both an Architecht’s and a photographer’s dream! On a sunny day it’s also really nice to walk around the surrounding countryside and enjoy a picnic. It’s half way between London and Brighton and easily reachable either by train from London Victoria or by car if the M25 is within easy reach. Visiting the viaduct can be combined with a trip to Brighton or the south coast.
Outside of the historical significance of London, I found it to be very boring. There was absolutely no African culture at all. I have light skin and I felt like I was treated better than my dark skin colleagues. It was crazy to be in a city as big and well known as London and see very little black or brown faces. I was told by the local black folk that London is just not the spot for Black people in regard to nightlife the food was horrible and uninteresting and ridiculously overpriced. I thought that the sightseeing was amazing because where else are you going to see Big Ben, Buckingham palace, museums, etc. but outside of those things I thought it was terribly boring.
Traveling to London for the first time and not sure where to start? We didn’t either which is why I am writing this review lol. London is huge with tons of things to do. There is no way to accomplish everything in a short period of time so we stayed for 7 days. However, not all 7 days were spent entirely in London (I’ll explain that later). We booked 4 different hotels in several neighborhoods. It is important for me when I travel to stay in as many neighborhoods as I possibly can and with London having more then 9 million people in just the city alone, there was no way for us to accomplish this by staying in one hotel/neighborhood.
Day 1: We spent the day relaxing and wanted to do nothing as it was a long flight. We booked 2 nights at the Hilton London Tower Bridge which was directly behind the tower. Amazing views and the area had some of the best restaurant with views of the London bean and London tower.. The hotel is also located directly across the street from the train station which is why we chose this hotel so we could take the train directly to Gatwick airport. We previously booked a quick flight to Amsterdam for day 3 of our stay while in London. Flight round trip was $132
Day 2: We had breakfast in sky with “Dinner In the Sky” in South Bank, London which is a short drive away from the hotel we stayed. We booked 3 months advance for this event and it was so worth it. Just a jaw dropping experience I’ll never forget. You can’t escape the views…. Surprisingly, tickets were only $120 per person. London is one of their permanent location so please don’t miss the opportunity if you’re ever in London. Later that day we had food and drinks at the Shards. The Shards is on a of kind, all glass building new to London. Sweeping views of the city. A must SEE.
Day 3: We flew to Amsterdam (review coming soon) lol
Day 4: We stayed in a hotel called A Point Hotel Kings Cross by St Pancras train station. Not horrible but not worth the mention either. EXTREMELY small and no fresh towels. The area was very stretchy. However, our stay in this area was to simply to take the train to Paris from St Pancras train station which we did for the day. So if this is your goal too, then stay in this area but pick a better hotel.
Day 5: We stay at the CitizenM hotel. Cute and very unique. Really good hotel drinks and food but the location was somewhat dry for the evening as this the business district. On this day, we went to a Rooftop cinema at the Bussey building located South London in neighborhood called Peckham. While the cinema was great, fun and had amazing views. The movie end time was too late (1 am) and there were no cabs in sight. Peckham is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in London. We were harassed and almost robbed, several guys thought I was a prostitute. Worst experience ever in London. Skip this location for another one of there locations if this on your list.
Day 6: Our last day, We stayed at Wilde Aparthotles by Staycity right in the middle of Convent Garden. Now this area looks like New York on steroids to me lol. Super busy and people everywhere. My favorite place in London. This day we just shopped and ate what local food we could. As you can tell, we didn’t really have some of the best dining experience. I’m a foodie so I wasn’t too impress with the food options available in London. Stick to some brand name restaurants you are familiar with to be safe.
Overall, London was safe and you can definitely have great time if you can plan ahead. Visit July 2018. From ORD to Gatwick was $432 round trip.
I could write an essay about London, but I won’t bore you. I’m here to talk about nightlife because I have had some of my best nights in London! Central London to be exact. I could be biased seeing as I already have friends who live in the city so it’s always a spectacular time. Hint: make friends who live in London. The array of restaurants to dine at from pubs to fine dining is ridiculous. And they have different ambiances for different types of people. Same goes for the bars and clubs. I had cute dinners with my lady friends to loud and obnoxious nights with the lads. If you don’t know locals to take you to awesome venues, google should help you out! If you can find an affordable place to stay near Central London (good luck) then good on you. I had an Airbnb in the suburbs which was a 30 minute train ride from the city. Thankfully, due to the abundance of rideshares and the train, you can have all the fun at night (wink wink) and still get home safely and affordably.
London, is an incredibly fun and vibrant city.
However due to its sheer size, it’s very easy to have the worst time ever.
It’s a very multicultural city as you may know already, with that theres definitely a few ‘black’ areas which will give you an authentic experience of the hybrid African and Caribbean British life. Brixton would be one of the better places for this, great African and Caribbean restaurants and a fun nightlife.
Central London is where you want to if you want to shop and get touristy. Check out points of interest such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Millennium Wheel for all of that ‘Britishness’.
Make sure you go to Shoreditch and Camden at some point, Camden for the markets and pubs, Shoreditch for the great nightlife.
If you’re looking for nightlife in Camden, depending on your vibe I’d suggest Jazz Cafe or Shaka Zulu. Shoreditch, check out Ace Hotel or The Curtain (although this is a members club, some nights aren’t and it’s quite easy to blag it at the door, security are normally really cool).
London is relatively expensive but it really just depends where you go. Central London is very expensive and it gets more affordable the further out of London you go.
Hiya! I went on a quick little visit to one of my favorite cities…I’ve been there a million times and lived there before…LONDON! Those accents..yasss I am here for it. The funny thing is as much as I enjoyed listening to them they equally liked listening to me. I arrived on Thursday night for a show at the Royal Albert Hall! Such a fancy place. The show was phenomenal and lots of laughs. Surprisingly I sat next to other Americans. As large as this world is it’s tiny.
I stayed at a Doubletree. It sucked! They didn’t have A/C and granted the city is normally not hot it was warm while I was there. I complained and of course Hilton wasn’t having it. Shoutout to a good brand for always making things right.
Friday morning I moved to another Hilton on Kensington high street and so glad I did. Way better than my previous hotel! I stumbled upon Ben’s cookies! They are amazing. If you’re ever in the city make sure to get there. Milk chocolate orange was delightful. I was able to connect with a high school classmate, Veronica. She’s looking to remain in London for the foreseeable future. I applaud her bravery to seek an opportunity that will make her happy! Good luck chica! When she and I met up we went to a hotel called the Berkeley for afternoon tea! Have mercy! It was fantastic. Talk about star treatment. See pics below. They remembered me from previous visits. I love when people recognize repeat visitors.
We then left and went to the hotel to relax and we decided to visit a couple of speakeasy locations. We found a rooftop bar called Me London, if you want this place definitely make reservations and be aware they have a minimal spend and are busy on weekends. We decided to try another place, Experimental Cocktail club and it was fantastic. There is a polish bartender, I don’t want to butcher spelling her name but she was amazing. We tried a variety of sips and she’s so creative at her craft. The music was old school hip hop and we danced the whole time.
She sent us to see her buddy Lucas at Hovarda. The food was ok but very pricey for tapas portions. I think because it turns into a club they cater to a different crowd. Lucas was super cool tho!
We ended up returning to experimental and danced the night away with some new friends. A great night.
Saturday we went for a little shopping adventure at Harrods! I love that store. So posh. We had a delightful cappuccino and purchased macarons! Salted caramel ones will change your life! Ladurée!!
We went to Mr Foggs residence for my last afternoon tea! The thing about this one is it was “boozy” so instead of tea they serve cocktails in teapots! How fun! The food was good but the atmosphere was the best! They had pianist and the whole place is modeled after “Around the world in eighty days”. A very cool experience. We also met some really cool British ladies. I love when you meet your spirit animal in other cultures.
I had to rush away from tea to the airport. The only thing I didn’t get was Nandos…I will right that wrong! Hahahah! I love London and look forward to future residence
London is an amazing place to visit. I’d recommend that you visit during the spring and summer months as the city literally transforms. During this time people are are out, more friendly and you’ll take better stock of the opportunities the city has to offer. London is cultural melting pot of the world so you’ll have no problems travelling here whilst blac. Unlike America there aren’t really any authentic native Black British people, most black people are 1st, 2nd, 3rd (possibly 4th) generation immigrants to the country from the Caribbean or Africa. They’re culture and spirit can be felt throughout the city and you’ll multiple opportunities to celebrate it. Bear in mind it is different to America and there the black British is may different, but is nonetheless profound. You’ll find Black expression through the arts, food, dress, history, culture, academia etc. If you’re lucky enough to visit London in the late August (last weekend of the month) and experience the Notting Hill Carnival – you’ll experience something quite spectacular, but be prepared for the overwhelming crowds. London is a buzzing city with so much going on, far beyond the tourist traps of The Big Ben and Buckingham Palace (all worth visiting), but don’t miss opportunities to visit Black majority neighbourhoods like Brixton, and Peckham for example where you’ll see a lot of representation and feel compelled to get involved. Not only is it a cultural melting pot for black communities, but also for almost every other community around around the world, from Asian to South American to European alike.
London is a great city! Probably one of the nicest cities in europe. I have been there twice and I still have a list of things I want to do for the next trip. The big city life is super exciting but also very tiering. The tourist places (museums, parks, etc.) are very far from each other. I strongly recommend the underground metro for transport, because the car traffic can get crazy during the rush hours. London can also get very expensive from food to accomodation. I do recommend to plan and book everything in advance to make it affordable.
We decided to carve out a few days for London on our annual trip to Europe and I was pleasantly surprised! The city has the hustle and bustle of a major city along with extremely friendly locals, high fashion, great night life and tons of history. We stayed at an Air B&B(Lux St. James Apartments Central London) near Victoria St which was in walking distance from Buckingham Palace. We saw the Changing of the Guards and had a traditional English breakfast. I would recommend the hop on hop off bus if you’re into tourist attractions, so you get to see the entire city. If that’s not your style, it’s easy to wander the city and stumble into a great pub. I’d love to go back and London has officially made my list of favorite places.
I live in London and whilst I love to travel, London is home and as they say- “where the heart is”. For now anyway.
As a Londoner I want to share some insider tips and tricks to exploring the city.
If you are into art, personally my favorite gallery is The Saatchi, this is also free and located in Slone Sqaure which is close to Harrods and King Road – which are popular tourist hot spots.
The Tate Modern is also another fav for art and exhibitions. Whilst some exhibitions come at a cost, other galleries in the Tate are free – Plus the 10th floor in the new wing, offers a great river side view of the city. This is also free to access. The Tate Modern is actually located on the River Themes in an area called The Southbank- this is a quirky strip along the river with street art, performers and markets with global street food.
Right outside the Tate Modern is the Millennium bridge, this is another tourist spot with views directly in front of St Paul’s Cathedral. Another free view point and skyline of London can be found at Madison’s rooftop bar also located in St. Paul’s. Whilst you may have to queue/ book on weekends (especially in the summer when it is busy), Madison’s is free to enter, you may however want to book a table to eat or have a few drinks. Otherwise simply going up for the views are allowed. Madison’s is slightly more dressy so feel free to dress up and make a might of it or just make sure you are not too casual (tracksuit and trainers) as you may not be allowed in. Eating and drinking here is not cheap but its all part of the experience and the food is good.
Borough Market is another London favorite and great for your foodie needs. From here (London Bridge) there are also great views of the Shard (A famous London building resembling a shard of glass). From the Shard there are phenomenal views of London’s skyline – The Shard is more formal and i believe you need to pay and book to visit the viewing deck. Alternatively, you can also book a table at one of three of the Shard’s restaurants.
For another skyline view of London, you can visit Sky Garden – this is free but you will need to book ahead of time to access the viewing deck- there is also a bar up here or you can go to sunrise yoga.
For food, naturally, i recommend local fish and chips or a pub lunch. For less traditional food, I really enjoy Busaba a Thai chain or Tayyabs – a very popular and delicious Punjabi restaurant in East London’s Whitechaple.
For more markets and street food, I also enjoy Spitafields market and Brick Lane (for vintage lovers and 24-hour bagel spots). Also down Brick lane, you can taste the best hot chocolate and handmade chocolates made by and run by Ghanaian coco producers. The hot chocolate is about £5 but made in front of you from cut up fresh and delicious chocolate.
For roaming the streets of London, I would recommend Covent Garden and its quaint cobbled streets and boutiques. Also in CG, is 7- dials – more cobbled streets and cute shops.
I did a complete 6 hour tour of all the major landmarks as a way to sample the city. as a history buff, this place was a dream and stood to reaffirm all the historical knowledge acquired through my grade school and undergraduate education. It is absolutely helpful to have a knowledgeable and fun tour guide as 6 hours is a long time to walk around and listen to someone who may not know what they are talking about. I found mine through airbnb. the tour includes. stop at the historical Borough market which is Lodon’s market for all the foodies out there. this will be a rest point for lunch. I really enjoyed the historical context provided by my tour guide and it definitely brought the city alive and painted a different vision for me. Enjoyed my experience here.
Here is a link to the tour if interested:
https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/407932
Although there is so much to do, see and eat in London, you can’t visit without having a cup of tea in a cute London cafe. While in London, I decided to visit Peggy Porschen (Belgravia location). You know…the insta-famous pink cafe! If you haven’t visited, add this delightful place to your London bucket list. Its beautifully decorated, and definitely a great place for photos. Apart from the cute aesthetic, Peggy Porschen also has lots of delicious cakes, cookies, teas and coffees. I should however note that it can be slightly expensive, but worth it if you want the experience. I paid about $7 USD for a single cupcake, and about $5 USD for a green tea. Also, I heard that it gets pretty busy during the day, which results in lines outside the door. We arrived pretty early in the morning (around 9:45 am on a Sunday), to beat the rush, and to also get a seat inside (as it was November). After eating, and sipping on tea, we flicked a few photos outside of their seasonally decorated doorstep!
London can get very expensive from meals to hotel but that’s for any European country. If you plan ahead you can purchase your tours on GetYourGuide app. The people are very friendly and helpful. Very easy to navigate if you’re from NYC area it’s a piece of cake getting around by bus or train.
I am obsessed with the Brits. From their long history of monarchy to the beautiful bridges, and let’s not forget the wonderful picturesque gardens.So they’re not known for their food, but they certainly make up for it everywhere else. I went to London in the spring, which is a nice time to go weather wise and of course to also avoid the summer crowds. , I was able to pre-purchase a London CityPASS. The CityPASS is a pass that provides access to attractions in your desired destination for certain consecutive days. You pay for the pass for 3, 4, or 5 days, and you get to see as many attractions within the allotted days that you can fit in your schedule.Of course, you can’t exceed the value you pay for the pass.The idea is that it saves you much more than if you had attempted to purchase tickets to individual attractions.For this trip, after adding up all the attractions I wanted to go to, it was a lot cheaper to purchase the CityPASS and it came with a loaded metro card for 25 dollars which you can replenish on your own.
I highly recommend the the tower of London.
About a 6-minute walk from the tour buses is the Tower of London. The Tower is indeed an old castle on the bank of the Thames River.It contains various towers with artifacts of the military and British history. Within this medieval palace, the Tower has guides called ‘Yeoman Warders’ (or ‘Beefeaters’ all of whom have served within the regular armed services for at least 22 years) all dressed in ceremonial uniforms performing in the square.When you arrive, wait by the entrance after check in for a free tour by the Yeoman Warders. The tour begins every 30 minutes and last an hour.However, the most spectacular feature of Tower is The Crown Jewels.
https://www.londonpass.com/london-pass-prices.php
I have been to London twice and I still have a list of things I want to go back to do. There is just so much to do that you should never be bored. Transportation is not expensive but between accommodation and food you might end up broke. All of the museums are free they do asks for donations though. The first time I went it was more to see the attractions but the second time I had more days so I was able to visit different areas inside and outside of the city center. I recommend making a reservation at most places, especially during high season. Some things I recommend doing are having afternoon tea, seeing Picadilly Circus, and going to Shoreditch or Camden Town to visit the Cereal Killer Cafe. Like I said, I still have a list of stuff I want to do, so I’ll have to make another trip one day.
If I could move to London, i would without a doubt. London is such a beautiful city but they only have two weather patterns lol. Either it is hot or cold/muggy/rainy. Theres so much to see and do and it’s like endless adventure. We got a little lost in the city and we didnt even get scared or nervous because you easily find your way back to where you were going. The history of this country is remarkable. Theres parts of its history still embedded within the city but with a modern twist. There are black people everywhere, obviously, but the AMOUNT of black people in London is also amazing. At first I thought there would be like one or two but it’s like everywhere you turn theres more and more people like us. If you visit, you have to go to Harrod’s. If you go to London, you just have to. It’s a staple of London and you have to ride the double decker bus. Shopping is a bit similar to the U.S. give or take a few dollars different, in my opinion.
London is a great city with great people. I stayed with family in Hammersmith which was in West London but I was a mere 15 min from a major shopping center and most popular sites. I recommend visiting the London Eye where you will get to see great views of the city. Also, the Tower of London and London Bridge are great locations for pictures. The best spot for pictures is on the lower side of the bridge. Take the walkway downstairs at the bridge and walk down a bit and have the bridge in the background. Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park are nice areas to stroll around and take pictures as well. My family and I had breakfast at a spot called the Breakfast Club which was very delicious
London is very diverse unlike other parts of Europe. The people were very friendly, polite and smiled a lot. My favorite place to visit was kensington palace. I was able to see Princess Diana’s dress and her outfit drawings by her designer. I also saw queen victorias dresses and childhood items. Outside of the palace is a beautiful garden which is acres long. London is one of the cleanest cities I’ve ever seen and the double decker buses are spotless. The subway is cleaner than NYC subways. One downside to London is that it is very expensive .
When I went to London I met several amazing people. The first night I went out I went to a concert in Brixton. The artist performing was Etta Bond, and the crowd was mostly black. That night, I met a very handsome very kind young man. He was born in Morocco. We exchanged information, and promised to keep in touch. The next day my friends and I toured the city. We saw Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Eye, and the River Thames. That night we went to a local bar called “Cirque” in Shoreditch. At the bar, I met two men, one from Eritrea, one from Guinea. One thing you have to realize about London is that most of the black people are either from Africa, or Jamaica, so the potential for meeting black people is very high, and the people you’ll meet are not Black Americans, rather other brothers and sisters of the Diaspora. The third night I went out, my friends had trouble getting into a club, and the young man that I met the first night came to meet me and take me on a tour of the city. We went to a local bar to grab a drink, and then wandered around Soho looking at the beautiful Christmas lights hopping on and off double-decker buses, and taking in the romance of the city. It was beyond romantic. After taking in the sights he asked what was the one thing I had yet to do, that I wanted to experience. I told him that I wanted to taste Afro-Caribbean food. He said he knew the perfect place. We stopped by my flat to change my shoes and he took me to an Afro-Caribbean restaurant where for the first time I had curry goat and jerk chicken. The night was a dream. The next day I got on my plane back to Los Angeles having experienced the best that London had to offer.
I particularly did not care for the local food. I had heard the food in London was average but of course had to try for myself. The traditional English breakfast was ok at best and definitely lacking in robust flavors. I still don’t understand the beans for breakfast thing! However, I did enjoy several meals of other ethnic cuisines.
Be sure to get a reservation at Brigadiers for amazing Indian food, great assortment of dishes. They do a special curry night menu on Mondays where you can sample various curries not on the regular menu.
Do you visit London? The heart of the United Kingdom and you are wondering to do don’t look too far because here are some tips, Roma, Nobu, StK, MR chow, Big easy, Sticks and sushi are among the restaurants to visit and if you clubs to visit in London are La lounge or Koko bar for the Afro beat lovers, Fabric, heaven, cargo, ministry of sound and studio 338 on Friday and Saturday nights are bangers. Visit the Buckingham palace, London eye etc for the history lovers.
If you love to travel and take picture check out the Airbnb experiences where they have walking tours. The photographer I had was super nice and knowledgeable. I had two hours of walking around London while taking pictures and learning about the history. I got over 70 edited pictures. If you’re interested his Instagram is @instatours.london and his name is James.
This summer , I visited the all UK ( England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales ). What I loved the most was the disparities between the states.
If you are seeking for modernity , visit England , particularly Birmingham, London, Manchester.
For a person who prefer greeny places mixed up with history , I would recommend Scotland. Edinburgh and its castles would make you travel through time.
In Belfast ( Northern Ireland) , you can visit the titanic museum, ulster museum, a gorgeous botanic garden.
however , Wales was my favorite place with its nice beaches and its incredible views in the moutains.
I went several times to London, it’s only 3H from Paris by train.
My favorite place is Brixton Hill, the Jamaican neighborhood (South London).
You will instantly feel home with all the caribbean, indian and african shops.
There are many afro hair salons, nails shops, restaurants and pubs.
If you like gothic culture or just curious, you can go visit Camden town (in North London).
I went to Camden market just to taste the street food (from all around the world).
Did a little shopping in the vintage shop (spot on if you are an artist looking for very unique style!).
I recommand a bus tour to see all the monuments (Big ben, London Eye, Tower bridge)
You can get off to take nice pictures (with the London City Pass you can get some discounts and free entries plus access to many attractions).
Must try one of the nice restaurants around the Thames river, it’s so romantic.
For the night life, I usally met my friends in the city centrer at Piccadilly Circus or Leicester square.
I went three times to Notthing hill canarval its always a beautiful experience.
London is good vibes only, very diverse so travelling while black there is fyer!
Hands down, go the Alchemist!!! The best restaurant and bar that serves the COOLEST drinks! I felt like I was in a Harry Potter movie. The selection was vast so you have a lot to choose from! I got fish and chips from here but it was blackened and it was ok, so I wouldn’t get fish and chips here. But the drinks and the vibes were ON POINT HERE!!!
I’m just getting back from London. I went for the Nottinghill Carnaval. It was so much fun. But I stayed for a total of 5 days. London is nothing like I imagined. I thought it was just a bunch of proper speaking stuff people. They may party harder than Americans. There is a deep Carribean culture amongst the blacks. I found that fascinating. They seem to have kept their heritage. The people were friendly for the most part. But they are aggressive. I took the subway station throughout the trip so I got to see normal life. It is very accepting of different race relationships. I seen a lot of that. It’s definitely a must see.
The vegan food scene in London is BOOMING! So many restaurants are becoming more vegetarian/vegan-friendly. In addition, there are more and more 100% vegan restaurants opening each year. One of the best vegan restaurants I tried in London is Kalifornia Kitchen, just north of Covent Garden. The interior decor is GORGEOUS, flirty, and very “instagrammable” (if you’re into photos). The food is PHENOMENAL. The Moving Mountains burger is delicious and has the texture of juicy beef. The jackfruit tacos are AMAZING, and there are very yummy desert options as well. If you’re vegetarian, vegan, or if you simply like trying vegan food… you HAVE to try Kalifornia Kitchen while visiting London.
I went at the beginning of July and the weather was amazing. The locals were very kind and helpful. The nightlife left nothing to the imagination. The best place to party was in their imitation of Time Square. I just bar hopped based on the music I heard from walking by. Great relaxing trip and was able to stumble across a lot of sites just by aimlessly walking around. The designer shopping is great here too, and cheaper than the states. If you are looking for some designer discounts, do yourself a favor and go to harrod’s or get the airport early and do some duty free shopping. I stayed at the Me Hotel (loved it) and they had a STK’s and rooftop bar which were both very lit.
London just reminds of being in America just more diversity and everyone has a different accent I could definitely see myself living there just because of the diversity. The night life is everything and so much things to see when it comes to tourism. London never lets me down
London is one of my favorite cities to visit and I could even see my self moving there. I enjoy staying at Hilton London Paddington since it has a great central location. I fly into Heathrow and I take the to Heathrow Express train to London Paddington Station. The hotel can actually be accessed through the train station so it’s very convenient on top of being a nice hotel. Hyde Park is a 10 minute walk from the hotel, it’s one of the major park’s in London. You can visit The Albert Memorial and Princess Diana Memorial Fountain there. Through Hyde Park you can get to Kensington Gardens and visit the Kensington Palace. I’ve done a tour of the palace which I recommend during my last trip to London I was able to see Diana: Her Fashion Story Exhibition in addition to a tour. I also visited Buckingham Palace but was not able to do the tour since it’s only available during the summer.I recommend getting there before 11am to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony. From there walk to visit Westminster Abbey followed by the Big Ben. The walk from Westminster Abbey to Big Ben has so many of the old phone booths for pictures, they look great with the Big Ben in the background. Next, walk to the Westminster Pier where you can get an awesome picture of the London Eye in the background. Then make your way over to the London Eye. The Tower Bridge is further out so I recommend an uber since it’s the quickest way. You can tour the Tower of London and see the Crown Jewels. Be prepared to wait in a long line to see the Crown Jewels. You can get some pictures with the Tower Bridge (London Bridge) in the background when you visit the Tower of London. If you’re a Harry Potter fan and plan on
going to Platform nine-and-three-quarters, it’s at the King’s Cross station. The line is very long if you plan on taking pictures with the cart. It can be around 40 mins. You choose a house and they give you a scarf, your picture is taken quickly by a staff member. While waiting for your picture to develop so you can purchase it, you can walk around the shop. There’s also Warner Bros, Studios Tour where you can see the making of Harry Potter. You have to purchase tickets months in advance. Visiting Harrods is a must even if you don’t plan on buying anything.
When in London you must make time for afternoon tea. I did the champagne afternoon tea at the Ritz. On the expensive side but I definitely recommend if you want a fancy tea experience. Fortnum & Mason is another great place for traditional afternoon tea. If you’re looking for a super trendy and great place for pictures than Sketch is your good to for food. It is very beautiful and perfect for social media pictures even the bathroom is trendy.
Carnaby Street is a shopping street with many stores and places to eat that I highly recommend visiting. It’s close to Oxford Street and Regent Street which also have great places to shop.
There is a lot to do in London. I visited Big Ben and the Buckingham Palace which was very fun. Also, the nightlife in London is good. There are clubs that are located downtown which play hip hop and R&B music.
London was my 1st solo destination so of course I fell in love. It was the 1st time I was doing something ‘crazy’.
London has so many options on things to do from the free walking tours which I highly advise( you get to see the big Ben, the bridge and take random pics and the old red phone booths) to the hop on, hop off bus. This was a great way to see and experience the city. It saved me lots of commuting money( while on this make sure you stop at the madame tussauds)
You could also go on the high tea tour bus it can be a bit costly but worth every minute.
The open markets are also a great experience for a foodie. The walk in the parks to just chill and feed the birds.
The streets are full of live with artists playing music on different street corners
Spent a few days in the UK after a week in Barcelona and I can honesty say it’s a great place for those who seek adventure and are huge history buffs. Anyone who enjoys doing a lot of walking so they can see the whole city and experience UK life, this is a must take trip. There is no shortage of history; from the museums, hotels and and art galleries, you will be overwhelming with information!! I was even able to get my cab driver to give me personalized tour through the city explaining that he significance of certain buildings and monuments. Must Travel!!
Spent a week in London with a friend from undergrad a few months ago and loved every moment of it. I’m already planning to go back! As a native New Yorker (Brooklynite), London is NYC with a Queen and an accent lol.
Tip: When traveling with friends, it’s great to see things together but I definitely recommend taking a “solo day” where you go off on your own, explore and then meet up for dinner to discuss your day. During my solo day, I went to Number 10 (UK’s White House), had tea and crumpets, and visited Platform 9 3/4.
Check out “shoobs.com” for events for POC in London.
This was my first time in London and I had a great time. I flew from JFK to Gatwick for 170 dollars! Talking about a win. From Gatwick, I took the train to London got right to sightseeing. This turned out to be a breeze because more of the sight you want to see your first time in the city are all within walking distance of each other. I book an Airbnb while at JFK in the Shoreditch area (another W.) I stayed which a couple in a private room of an apartment, here the link https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/30200956?guests=1&adults=1&source_impression_id=p3_1557004233_XeDTlyKoVYZeS8Uv.This area was everything I could want and more, I was away from most the tourists in the city and was able to live like a local for a few days. I used the train for my travels, there are very efficient are plentiful. Some meals were pricey but I was able to find a few hidden gems thanks to my friends. For example, a proper fish and chips were 18 pounds but I went to borough market and got a large serving of mussels for 9 pounds. Cheeky pints run about 5 pounds. I didn’t get to go to a proper nightlife experience but did make it to boxpark for a little turn up before they close and that was nice. For the most part, I didn’t have any issues as far as race relations go but I did get a few looks at king cross station. Overall, I enjoy my trip and look forward to visiting again.
Windsor is a town just west of London and it is known for it’s famous Windsor Castle. The castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It is full of so much history and is a residence of the British royal family. I’d recommend visiting during the summer months (April – September) as their are various boat trips operating on the River Thames. Also the only Legoland park in the UK is situated in Windsor.
I’ve been to London several times, mainly because most of my friends live there. I have never stayed in a hotel and have always stayed with friends. I will say that London is more on the expensive side, but for the most part the city is friendly to black travelers.
Although more on the expensive side, you can do some sightseeing for free. Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace are all free and fun things to do.
I really like the nightlife in London because there are a lot of different clubs to go to no matter what your preference is. If you like Vegas nightlife then you’ll enjoy London’s.
I definitely would recommend experiencing London!
I’ve been to London a couple of times and there is a lot to do. The great thing is that a lot of things are for free. From Paris it is really easy to get there. I recommend you to take the Eurostar which is like 2h30 to get to London and you get in the center so it’s pretty cool.
So if it’s your first time in London you défendirent have to go see Big Ben, Buckingham palace, the London Eye (it’s an attraction so if you want you can get there for a tour and have a pretty view of London but you have to pay for it), tower bridge, Hyde park, Tate modern museum.
If you want to have a nice view of London for freer you have to go to the sky garden, but be sure to book your ticket online in advance because I’d you don’t you won’t be able to get in. There is also a bar if you want to take a drink up there.
Some places that I also like in London is Little Venice it’s a little bit far from the center but it’s quiet and you can have a nice walk along the canals it’s really cool and not far from there you can go climb to Primrose hill which is an other point of view from London I recommend you to go at the sunset it’s even more beautiful. Of course you should make stop at covent garden but also at Camden Market you will enjoy a lot of different kind of food from all over the world but you’ll also have some pretty cool thrift shop there if you into that.
Also, if you watched Nottingham Hill the movie you should spend an afternoon there and see all of the colorful house, and if you get there during summer you should enjoy the carnaval which is the last weekend of August.
Shoreditch is the neighborhood to go for drinks, bar and street art you won’t regret it, and also a lot of thrift shop there. I recommend you to make a stop at the end of your day at Dinerama really nice place for chilling.
If you want some great Varribean food you defenitely have to stop by Britton which is the African-Varribean neighborhood of London and go grab some lunch at the Pop Brixton.
For the more common thing if you want to do some shopping Oxford street is the place to be.
There a lot to do in London and a week is not enough but at least it will make you come back.
Being black in London is not a problem, there a lot of black people there and people are really cool and willing to help if needed. Enjoy your time there :).
I stayed in Pimlico l, which is nice and more residential. It is close to the main attractions. The Big Ben was under construction, so I settled for the London Eye, The London Bridge and a ton of museums. I also took a trip to Oxfordshire and Brixton for more culture, and it was a great choice of travel!
London is very welcoming especially to black travelers. There is a lot of black people and mixture of different races and nationalities that make London a very welcoming city. However, the weather is a little bipolar it can look a bit depressing but there is a lot of sightseeing and history in the city of London. Some sightseeing activities include the Big Ben, London High, London Bridge, and Piccadilly Circus. The city at night is very vibrant and have distinctive threatres. At night u can visit museums that are sometimes open late, visit the ceremony of keys, and hit up west end London if you’re looking to have a good time.
London reminded me of many major cities except it’s very clean. It’s a mix of old vs new, history meets present. I loved it and it’s definitely a place to visit! We traveled during late February, early March and only there for 3 days. We stayed in the Chelsea area at the DoubleTree London hotel. 4+ star hotel and it was about $100 per night. Also, breakfast included. The best way to get around the city is the Tube – London Overground/Underground, bus to travel around. It’s much like NYC transit. Grab a physical map and make sure Google Maps is updated. If you are there for two days or more, I recommend purchasing a pay as you go Visitor Oyster Card. Add about €15/person for every 2 days. You can always add more. The credit never expires, you can get the balance back before you leave. Once you make it to the heart of the city walk or bike.
Sites to Visit/see: British Museum – free (check out the Egyptian exhibit first and see the Rosetta Stone)
Buckingham Palace
Big Ben
London Eye
Tower of London – about €25/person (You get a history lesson from former military and the Crown Jewels are here)
Tower Bridge
Oxford Street
Places to Eat/Drink: So London is not the best when it comes to food, but here’s a few
Elan Cafe – florals everywhere – pastries and tea here
The Grenadier – its a pub
Hoxton Grill
Box Park
Sky Garden – free – You can get a 360 view of the city, food, drinks and live music at night. It’s open during the day/night and it’s absolutely beautiful. Also it saves you from paying for the London Eye
Nightlife: East London/Shoreditch area is where it’s at! So many places for you to go. We went to The Hoxton Pony (Hip Hop Hype/Afro Beats nights are usually the first Fridays monthly, but events throughout. Buy cheaper tickets online prior to going. It was €9
Tips: Order pounds before you travel. Be a local! If you are traveling to another country from London via the Chunnel/Eurostar, arrive 60 mins prior to boarding or you will not be allowed to board! The fee is like €45
Overall, London is amazing! I wish we were there longer so much to see and do :)
London has no seasoning so the food will be bland! Very beautiful architecture and views though! My favorite part was the language because its English lol! There is no language barrier so you can speak freely and ask as many questions that you need. I believe as a solo traveler you can win here because of the language and things to do, just pack Lawry’s!!! Also they use pounds so you will spend more money than $dollars as their pounds are worth more, and goods cost about the same as ours. We stayed in the Kensington area which was very safe and easy to navigate, and uber was awesome and taxis were available.
London has a huge variety of nightlife options so there’s something for everyone. Peckham is up and coming with new venues such as Peckham Levels for food, drinks and live DJs. Prince of Peckham has a nice pub vibe and Bussey Building has a parties that go on late into the night. If you’re looking for the best DJs and sound systems in world, head to Fabric or XOYO nightclub in Shoreditch. They can keep you going until the early hours of the morning . Shoreditch has a lot of fun/quirky bars and clubs that close around 2am.
But be careful, London is not somewhere you want to party on a budget! With club entry at £10 – £25 pounds and drinks at least £10 each, it’ll be sure to set you back.
Europe is history but London is totally different since there are all kinds of cultures, foods, antiques and modernism. but it is the most expensive city in Europe that I have visited.
but I can not deny the great amount of things that have to be done in london is magnificent and that’s why I have to go back, I was only 3 days.
London eye, picadilly circus, London Brigde, Harrods, Webmister Abbey, BigBen are some of the great things that can be done. but you need a lot of money in london. ahahah
enjoy.
I loved London! You have to visit Box Park. Ace Hotel in east London in Shoreditch. The hotel is very art and fashion inspired. Great staff at the hotel. They were dressed in Ace Hotel clothing that you could buy. My room (Deluxe Double) for two people, I payed $150 a night. My most memorable thing I did in London was visit boxpark. It’s a bout 15 minutes from the Ace Hotel. The concept of this park is super cool. The park is made of tracker track containers cut in half with different brands inside the containers. Fashion, Art, and Food. Such a great vibe in this park, and it’s FREE to enter the park.
Practical Info:
Our trip was from Frankfurt, Germany to London, in mid-February. We flew into the smaller airport, Stansted, and took a bus from the airport to downtown London. Our tickets were about $150 each and the bus was pretty cheap, roundtrip. I think around $20 each. We stayed in the Southwark area at the Holiday Inn, for about $400 total, for 3 nights. The area was cool; very close to lots of transportation. Walking distanece from Millenium Bridge and some parks. The weather was cold – of course – but we have friends in London who helped us find plenty to do.
I’m going to focus on food places we went to (good and bad), since I’ve found it can be hit or miss when traveling, and I appreciate tips on good food:
Dirty Bones – American/soul food type restaurant in the Shoreditch area. Came highly recommended but we found it to be bland. We tried their wings, friend chicken, and mac and cheese. We were not impressed, but the restaurant was pretty cool looking and the live DJ played great music – new and old hiphop.
Le Pont de la Tour – right next to the Tower Bridge. It was a GORGEOUS location. I found it online and the aesthetic did not disappoint. I spent my whole brunch taking pics. The only problem was the food. It was not good AT ALL. We had french toast, burgers, and some kind of cheesy soup. If you want the view, maybe try cocktails only?
Nando’s – there’s a bunch of locations; pretty popular spot. They serve stuff like wings, roasted chicken, burgers, fries, large salads, etc. It’s nothing too special but it was good. And the restaurants are usually in good locations and pretty cool inside.
Vapiano – multiple locations around the city, and in different countries. This is one of our go-to’s if we see they have a location wherever we are traveling. Italian food that is made to order. You pick your pasta, sauce, and toppings – like shrimp, salmon, white sauce, veggies – and they make it in front of you. SO GOOD. We’ve maybe been unlucky once and gotten a chef who wasn’t very good.
Coppa Club – right by the Tower Bridge. Again, AMAZING VIEW. And if you can get a reservation for one of the cute igloos they have outside, even better! Super cool spot, very trendy… but horrible food. We had a pretty big group (like 12 of us) and I don’t think anyone was happy with their food. And it was expensive. I would recommend trying to reserve an igloo (they’re always booked up) and just doing drinks. So sad, because the place LOOKED amazing.
As everyone knows, London is a very expensive city. Many have likened it to New York. Like New York, they have a great public transportation system that connects all of London, as well as to the surrounding cities. If you’re only in London for a short period (less than 5 days) I would suggest staying in central London, in neighbourhoods like Hyde Park, Westminster, Waterloo, Kensington, Chelsea, etc. You can also stay further away from central london, but if you’re only there a few days, you’ll spend a lot of time commuting into the city. Hostels and AirBnBs are great here. I went during the Bank Holiday, so the BnBs were the same if not more expensive than the hotels. I stayed at the Novotel hotel by lambeth bridge which was excelled and located right by a bus stop. If you have a longer stay, I would suggest staying outside of central London, as it’s cheaper and easy to travel to central London via the tube. The tube is their subway system, and connects all of London. The tube is your bestfriend as it’s cheaper than taxi/uber and much faster!
We stayed at the 4 * hotel The Blakemore Hyde Park. As usual, I found this hotel on Booking. To have good prices for hotels, it’s like plane tickets you have to do it in advance. But the problem with London is that it is very expensive and the hotels are not necessarily top. Sometimes it’s going to be 4 * Hotels but the decor was stuck in 1988 … With the tapestry filled with flowers, you see the trick? There, it was recently renovated and was in a great location. The Queensway tube on the Central Line (red) was 5 minutes away and there were plenty of buses going there. And there was also the Bayswater station not far away which is on the Circle & District line. In the program of these 3 days: we started with Picadilly Circus, we continued towards China Town and we ended up towards the neighborhood of musicals: West End. For our day shopping, we went to Oxford Street. Can not come to London without shopping. The temptation is too great: River Island, Top Shop, Next, etc. We continued towards Soho and in the evening a little love ride on the Thames. Do not miss the morning guard climb to Buckingham Palace. Of course, 3 days is short enough to do everything in London. But that’s one more reason to return.
London is a big place with sooo much to do. I was so bummed that I only had 2 days to explore and see all that was on my make shift bucket list.
So, my trip was unplanned and literally happened spur of the moment in the airport. I am a major planner. Like, I love to have a trip planned out 2 weeks before travel with time to edit up to 3 days before. ( I’m a bit anal when it comes to planning lol)
Anywho, during my 2 days I think I made the best of a spuratic situation.
We statyed at the Chelsea Cloisters in South Kensington (Great location for the price)
The apartment hotel had a mini kitchenette and was a 10 minute walk to the metro which was super clutch when trying to get around.
I suggest you invest in an Oyster card (best mode of transportation)
We loaded our card with 20 pounds and it lasted us the 3 days and several trips.
During our time in London we hit most of the major “touristy” spots by hop on hop off bus. It may seem a little cheesy but I love the big bus experiences.
1) they have wifi
2) you can ride around the city at an affordable price and get a great view
3) You can get off at any stop you like or keep crusing past…your choice
We tried to have breakfast at “The Breakfast Club” but the lines were stupid long EVERYDAY! So if you want to go, go early!
We had a night out at Revolution Bar. If you like to have a good time this is a great place to do so. You should request a table early because they fill up quickly but the music was good and they have 2-4-1 drink specials. We me some pretty dope people there and wanted to go back the following night but decided to get a new atmosphere under our belt.
The next nightlife spot was called Tiger Tiger. This was a dope place as they had 5 rooms with different styles of music and vibes. We boght a ticket prior to coming for entry before 10pm and 2 drinks at the bar. It was a really fun experience and we would definitely go back.
Our overall experinece in London was amazing! I would definitely recommend an extended trip!
London is just one of those places that you could always go back to and still not get the chance to do everything there is to do. After living there for almost all of my life, I still haven’t completed all that is considered touristic. There is always the touristic side of a place, and a local side.
Oxford street is great and all, but, many locals stay local to their area of residence when shopping. Leicester square is great for nightlife, but, they can be pricey and sometimes it’s better to just go to the ‘Piano Bar’ in Angel, North London or to attend a ‘Don’t Flop’ rap battle at the Brixton Jamm in South London for the hip hop connoisseurs out there. Unless you’re having an English breakfast or Fish and Chips, English food in itself can be considered quite bland and most Brits don’t in fact delve into the cuisine. Turkish food, different types of Arabic food, and Indian and Chinese cuisines are typically the most frequented for something quick and accessible. Turkish was always my favourite, even when I stopped eating meat. A really great cultural experience can be had at ‘Aziziye’ near Stoke Newington, North London. Situated inside a mosque, you can head to the entrance on the left side of the building where stairs will lead you upstairs to the restaurant. The Turkish, like the Japanese, traditionally eat on the floor and there are many cubicles to choose from, which, also includes a buzzer for when you wish to summon a server!
If you visit in the summer, you will notice that Brits live in the park. Unlike here in the states, all parks are free to visit and you will generally notice swarms of people laid out with snacks and alcohol when the sun is out. Hyde Park is great if you are central, however, can become a little overwhelming with the amount of people so I would typically suggest researching parks in your area as they are bound to be more of a unique experience. If you visit in the winter, winter wonderland is popular with families and ice skating at Alexandra Palace, or Ally Pally as the locals call it, will be sure to put you in for a treat. London, like Washington DC or New York, thrives by inclusion and you will have the opportunity to visit areas like China Town near Leicester Square or the less renowned Edgeware road for an immersion into Arabic culture, Stoke Newington (along with many other towns) for Turkish culture, and Brixton for Jamaican culture. There is something and somewhere for everyone.
Travelling by boat is very easy and, in fact, many locals use this as a method of transportation for work. Researching the river bus will show you a few stops that you can alight at. Purchasing an Oyster Card at any train station will allow you to travel easier on all public transportation and now you can’t actually use cash on the regular buses. You can use this on the river bus as well. It’s great for if you want to see all of the sites on the River Thames, but, don’t want to get off just yet to visit them. My favourite route to suggest is heading over to Royal Victoria station on the DLR, catching the emirates cable car that takes you up and across the thames into North Greenwich (where the o2 centre is located) and catching a river bus from here to the last stop. Even locals enjoy this as a day trip every now and then. Start early so you can even check out the o2 centre (formerly the millennium dome).
Reach out if you need more local info on visiting London! info@lv-fn.com :)
Over the summer (2018) I spent 2 weeks in London. Amazing city with a very diverse culture. There is something for you regardless of your background.
I made sure I visited all the popular places I read about. They have one of the best public transportation in the world (I took all methods of transportation while visiting).
Places to visit:
• Camden Market (YES! It is safe…many say it is a bad place but I beg to differ.)
• Borough Market
• Tate Modern
• Big Ben
• London Eye
• China Town
• London Bridge
• Chelsea Football Stadium
• Horse Guard
• City of Westminster
• London Eye River Cruise
• Wimbledon
These are few of the places I visited while vacationing in London. There are so many things to do. I spent 2 weeks and still not not get to explore all it has to offer.
Another trip to London is in the near future.
London has tons to do. Watch the changing of the guard at the Palace is a must! There is tons of history here. So if you are a history buff you can literally spend the day wandering and learning all the history. Great night life. Food is okay, London is not cheap though so if you are on a budget plan accordingly.
Very big city with lot of shops for shopping lovers and food lovers. I had so much fun going out in London !
It is impossible to be bored because there is always something to do especially on weekends.
All the bars and nightclubs are so beautiful and lit ! I advise you to visit London in summer because there are many more attractions and you will have the opportunity to participate in the Notting Hill Carnival
My visit places: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Eye, Oxford St, London Bridge, ect…
I advise you to visit other cities in England such as Portsmouth and Bournemouth.
London is such a colorful city.
I’ve put off visiting London for so long and I’m upset that I did. It had the energy of NYC, but it was clean like Chicago :-P There was so much to do. Oxford and Carnaby Street were great for shopping. Notting Hill was the cutest neighborhood ever and worth a visit.
For nightlife, I would STRONGLY recommend making reservations. There were several places we couldn’t get into because of that reason alone. They also do a last entry at least an hour before the clubs end so don’t start your night at 1am like we did smh. Also, if you’re hungry after the club, Chinatown! It’s literally the afterparty.
If you think London is overrated, don’t let that stop you. Cities like London, Paris, New York, etc. have so much hype surrounding them because they are special. Just give it a few days. Go by Buckingham Palace, watch the Changing of the Guard, eat some fish & chips, say hi to my sis Meghan. I promise you’ll find something charming about the city!
London is expensive. It’s fantastic but undoubtably expensive. It’s like NYC but more forgiving, NYC felt to me like the big corporate who had no mercy. The next 7 tips will hopefully aid you on your travels:
1. London is diverse – accepting. Notting Hill carnival, the cops dance with the girls of colour and are very tolerant – it’s a big party. Not much can be said for the cops in America – yes I went there. Notting Hill carnival occurs in August’ and it’s ALOT but nevertheless a fun wild time,.
2. Don’t waste your money on an open bus tour. Take a normal red double decker which is capped at £6 compared to the open bus tour at £30 which includes an annoying tour guide. Rather take a seat with the grumpy Londoners and immerse yourself in the fun activity that is: people watching.
3. High tea – it’s a thing. It’s basically paying to dress up and eat scones in a fancy setting. The ritz and claridges are popular but quite frankly overpriced. Visit the chesterfield Mayfair – they have fun themes, unlimited refills, live music and they are half the price AAAAND in mayfair (posh part)
4. Visit Brixton market – amazing oysters, diverse population, the best Jamaican patty’s.due to gentrification it’s up and coming with cool restaurants – 384 (great brunch) wine parlour (fantastic wine bar)
5. Fish and chips is in fact a thing, all the pubs do it very average. The chesterfield mayfair Hotel does it for £24 and they batter their own cod none of that frozen rubbish- go there for this famous British duo.
6. The best restaurants are foreign. The best Thai I had was from a greasy spoon ( not so fancy place) spicy basil in Kilburn is the best – you can take your own booze there for a corkage fee of £2 or something. Thank me later.
7. Ending on a posh note – duck and waffle is fantastic also it’s open ALL THE TIME. With views of london it’s a perfect Instagram post place, proposal place and place to meet rich twats who love fanciness.
London felt relatively comparable to NYC in the cost of living and race relations. I went a few years ago, but my most memorable things to do were:
1. Portobello Market: This incredible outdoor thrift market had some amazing finds, from a jean jacket I still wear years later to great souvenir gifts.
2. Henley Royal Regatta: This swanky event made me feel very English and felt like a unique experience.
3. Drinking Pimm’s.
London Is beautiful. I had an extended Layover that left a few hours to get out and explore the city. One thing I immediately noticed was the feel of the city if a lot slower than here in the states. Just strolling down the streets was amazing, So many little shops and cafe’s. It is a bit more expensive considering the conversion from dollars to pounds.
I wasnt a big fan of the food. They dont really season anything.but the snacks were pretty decent. I will definitely make this a longer stop on my next travels.
London is basically New York only smells better and is a little pricier! The pound to dollar conversion is crazy so be careful when taking out money from the atm. I made the mistake of taking out way too much and when converting it back I ended up loosing a ton + the fee. Aside from the affordability London is a great vacation spot for those who love history. There’s a ton to do and so much to learn. We spent our first few days visiting the Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, and Hyde Park. All three have a lot of history to share so when visiting be sure to plan 2-3 hours for each spot. There are plenty of museums to get acquainted with the history of London but there are also a ton of other things to do! We had a so much fun visiting London’s Ice Bar. Though very very cold it was a cool experience to have drinks it cups made of ice while sitting in a cab made of ALL ICE. There are so many clubs and bars in central London and for the most part food shops stay open till about 2am. Be sure to visit Oxford Square which has all the shopping one could need!! It’s also a must to have tea! You’re in London so it’s only right! Most tea shops are pretty costly (around $30 each) but we found a very cute spot called Tea Terrace! It was about $16 a person and came with two teas and scones. Surprisingly the scones were delicious, but unfortunately London’s food his pretty bad. I would stick to American food while there because their cuisine is pretty seasonless. Overall, we would definitely come back to London because it takes more than 3 days to really see everything. The city has such a great vibe! The perfect mix between fast paced and chill. All it needs is a little Lawrys!
xoxo,
Keya
LONDON is such a nice city!!!!
I’m going there every year for the traditional Caribbean Carnival in Nothing Hill. It’s definitely the best Caribbean carnival in Europe so far. It’s always the last weekend of August. And if you like the Caribbean culture and food you definitely need to go to this carnival at least once in your life.
There is also a nice festival going on in July names the “Wireless” this year Drake and the Mito’s shown up! It was LIT. Every year this festival is fire ?.
There are many things to do in London at all time:
-Big Ben
-Tower brige
-Buckingham palace
-London eyes
-Oxford circus
-Piccadilly circus
-Brinxyon (little Jamaica)
-Camden town
-Borough market
If you go to Europe you have to visit London.
Yasmine
I had soooo much fun going out in London. I was there during the week and was not sure if it would be fun to go out. I was lucky enough to have a friend that lives there take me out. We went to a couple of lounges and they were really nice and low key. Then went to a night club and you would have thought it was a Thursday or Friday night. It was so much fun! We were near Piccadilly and out in the streets it was an up beat energy.
London was amazing! I loved a lot about the UK in general before even visiting, as I was always into their shows, music, and the different cultures. When I finally arrived in London I automatically fell in love! We visited in November 2017 around Thanksgiving in the US and stayed for 4 full days.
Things we did/ Things to do:
* The Original London Sightseeing Tour – The city sampler bus tour + the hop on hop off river cruise; with this tour we were able to see/visit The Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Big Ben, the London Eye, then took the river cruise over to the Shard, Tower of London & London Bridge.
* Walk the town in general; visited many pubs & restaurants
Places to eat with flair:
* Coppa Club | Tower Bridge – We booked a few months in advance and were able to get an igloo which was the highlight of our experience.
* Aqua Shard | The Shard – This place was amazing especially at night due to the scenery & the city lights.
Modes of Transportation:
* Uber/Lyft
* Trains
Night Life:
* Shoreditch is the area with many bars and clubs. There was a club that played hip hop, afro beats, reggaeton, and dancehall – I cannot remember the name of this club but I had a great time
* Brixton – another area with many bars and clubs. We bar hopped a lot here. Went to Prince of Wales, Rum Kitchen & two others.
Overall: I really enjoyed myself here, I loved the ambiance, the variance of cultures in almost every district/neighborhood in London. I really love the fact I was also able to meet a good amount of Jamaicans, Africans, and other Caribbean folks in my short time there!
London is so amazing I had to visit twice. I love everytgibg about it. I always go on the Hop on Hop off tours which are really affordable. On my last visit, we did the Merlin Adventure. This included a tour of Madame Tussauds, London Eye, Sealife Aquarium, Shrek Adventure and London Dungeon for just 55£. This was really great. The view from the top of London Eye was amazing. It was really easy to travel on the subway with an oyster card. We got to experience part of tge Changing of the Guard ceremony that was a great experience as well.
I was never a victim of racism on my visit to London. To me everyone seemed nice. I mean they are probably not the friendliest but they never showed any disrepect. Some maybe just stared a lot. There are alot of people of color in London and different cultures. I would always visit London for a couple days when ever I am doing a Euro trip.
If someone travels to London and they had a bad experience, I really wouldn’t understand why. Because my flight was canceled so I missed a whole day in London but the day I was there oh my! I even canceled my Airbnb and stayed in a hostel closer in the town because there was so much going. I’m planning on visiting again because of my short time there. But hostels are the way to go for cities like this that you plan on just sleeping there and stuff. I stayed at YHA hostel, my first hostel experience and it was awesome! Only downside was that the WiFi didn’t work in the rooms, so a lot of people stayed in the common area. Put London on your travel list!!! You won’t regret it.
London, is one of my favorites. I felt beyond welcome in the country and the city! I ran into plenty of other people of color who were also enjoying there time there. SOHO is the place to be for all the action. Theres plenty of stores to shop, places to eat and countless bars. I loved Freedom nightclub, it’s the only club I’ve ever been where I saw EVERY SINGLE person dancing; it was amazing! Cote restaurant is also in the SOHO district be sure to stop by the service is nothing you’ve gotten before and the food is one of the best I’ve had, EVER. When you’re picking a place to stay be sure to stay near the center of London, anywhere else may be cheaper but you’ll spend a ton of money trying to get to the center. The Buckingham Palace is so beautiful at night and if you see the flag raised, that means the queen is inside. I cannot rave about how lovely the people were, they knew no color they just were nice to everyone it seemed. I love London and can’t wait to visit again.
If you are traveling to Europe it’s best to exchange money at a local exchange place in London city for the best rates. Also a get a SIM card from the airport if your are staying for a week or longer it works out cheaper $42 with 13gb credit works anywhere in Europe.
Art
-Camden street
-Camden high street
-Brick Lane Street
-Shoreditch (main area for bars/clubs)
Places/things to see
-London Eye (Central London)
-River Thames
-Hyde Park
-Tower of London
-Big Ben
-Buckingham Palace
-Tower Bridge
-Trafalgar Square (National Gallery)
-Natural History Museum (Night of museum Filmed here)
-St Paul’s Cathedral
-Westminster Abbey
-St James park
-Piccadilly circus (like Times Square)
-National Portrait Gallery
-Harrods (high end expensive 7 floor mall)
London is one of my favorites So much to do and see, but there is no denying its rich history. I recommend getting yourself a free walking tour around the city so you can see the sites, as well as hear about the past. If you just want to walk around on your own that is good as well, as the old architecture is delightful on its own and some buildings have information posted about their history right out front.
If you have the chance to see the changing of the guards at Buckingham palace I suggest you do. It’s a fun little touristy thing to get under your belt. London has a modern fill to it and a historic filling all over tyr streets. Love, love it
I lived in London for 6 months. I flew there from New York and stayed at the Nido apartment complex in the Islington area which is very central. It was approximately 5 minutes from Kings Cross St Pancreas station, the most popular tube station is London. I would recommend staying in the Islington or Angel area because there are a lot of nice cafes, bars and restaurants in those areas and those neighborhoods are only a 30-40 minute tube ride from popular tourist destinations. My favorite restaurants in London are Honest Burger, Fish Bone and Duck and Waffle. Honest Burgers are hands down the best burgers in the world. If you love burgers, this is a must try. A lot of people love the fish and chips from the famous Poppies restaurant, I however prefer fish and chips from Fish bone on . These fish and chips are so fresh and super affordable. Duck and Waffle is a beautiful restaurant that over looks London. It is definitely on the fancier side and perfect for birthday celebrations. If you go, be sure to try the duck and waffle dish. Some of my favorite spots to go to in London were Oxford Street for shopping and Covent Garden for cocktails, food and shopping. When on Oxford street, be sure to check out Primark. It is London’s most popular department stores. I’ve gotten a purse a cheap as 10 pounds there! When in Covent Graden, be sure to take advantage of their unique cocktail bars. If you like modern art, I recommend going to the Tate Modern and the Saatchi Gallery. I’d definitely recommend going to the touristy places as well (London Eye, Big Ben, Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace). If you want a break from the touristy sites, you should check out Brick lane in Shoreditch for some great street art. Last but not least, one of my favorite places to spend the day in London is Camden Lock Village. It’s a huge market where you can get clothes, gifts and delicious/ cheap street food. I hope this review was helpful. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me on Instagram @iamsiennachristine :)
While in the UK it’s best to just walk and get lost in the city. I didn’t spend much time in the city but while there i made it my business to see a couple of monumental structures. While in the UK you must make it your business to see London’s Eye, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace. If you stand far away from London’s Eye and Big Ben you can also take some of the most amazing scenery pictures. London’s Eye is one of the most popular Ferris wheels in the world and us able to shed some light on what is usually a grey, gloomy sky in London. Big Ben and Buckingham Palace are two other venues that one must visit while in a London. Buckingham is beautiful palace which is gated and keeps a very well manicured lawn. I didn’t get the chance to become too familiar with places to stay or eat due to my short stay in London but if you are in you mid to late 20s the night life will be on your favor with energy packed music, as well as fun and free flowing locals.
Another one of my favorite cities. So much to do and see, but there is no denying its rich history. I recommend getting yourself a free walking tour around the city so you can see the sites, as well as hear about the past. If you just want to walk around on your own that is good as well, as the old architecture is delightful on its own and some buildings have information posted about their history right out front.
If you have the chance to see the changing of the guards at Buckingham palace I suggest you do. It’s a fun little touristy thing to get under your belt.
London is everything I imagined it would be and then some! If you’re into history, you’ll love the city. Everywhere you turn in London you are surrounded by thousands of years of history. The British Museum is one of the most impressive museums in the world and I highly recommend taking some time to visit. Of course, make sure you visit Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, but don’t spend too much time there. There are beautiful parks all around the city if you would like to do lunch in the park. Also, I HIGHLY recommend visiting Stonehenge while you’re in London. There are buses that run daily that will take you to Stonehenge and back in one day. I paid around 30 euros for my bus ticket. There’s also an entrance fee of about 15 euros. You won’t regret it.
First things first, I went before they left the EU so I spent a lot and they didn’t take discover anywhere. Otherwise, it was like visiting New York. I definetly want to suggest the B.B. Bus tour. It’s an afternoon tea and it’s amazing. Includes finger food and a free cup! Everyone was very nice and always trying to help us. Take the tube it’s so easy to manage and cheap.
London my great city!
Always a buzz, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham palace, Picaddily circus all so special & great!
I recently came back from a 3 week trip to London. I was there for work but also wanted to experience living somewhere else for a somewhat extended period of time. To get around the city, I mainly used the tube. There is an app that helped so much figuring out which tube to take until I was comfortable enough to figure it out on my own. The app is called Tube Map. Whether it’s going out, eating, or shopping you can find all of this and more in London. I loved checking out all of the stores on Regent Street and Oxford Street but you can also find some cool thrift stores and outdoor markets on Brick Lane and the Shoreditch area. The Shoreditch area is also home to a ton of street art and some of Banksy original graffiti art. It’s a very unique area and I absolutely love going there every time I visit London. This past time I went there were streets filled with food stands, thrift shops, and street performers. It’s a nice change of pace from the vibe you get around central London.
If you’ve never been to London, you should definitely do the touristy things and check out the London Tower Bridge and The Shard. The Shard has a 360 degree viewing at one of the top levels of the building with views of the entire city. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars but make sure you make a reservation in advance! The Tower Bridge has a tour you can do that allows you to go up and walk across the top of the bridge on a glass floor. There are plenty of pubs in London to check out. One I highly recommend that is also a historic pub is called the Horniman. It has such a fun vibe and plenty of different beers to choose from. It is also right on the water looking out to the London Tower Bridge. Other beautiful places that are a must see include Notting Hill, Oxford & Cambridge University and Covent Garden.
London oh beautiful London ??! I visited London just 3 weeks ago actually I took a little tour around the UK I visited a few different places in Wales ???????(Cardiff, Swansea and Maestag). I also Visited 3 different places in England ??????? Bristol (Bradley Stoke where I spent Valentine’s Day). I visited Bath another town I’m England where I experienced the Roman bath it’s a thermal bath spa with natural waters. Definitely a bucket list type of experience. Bath is beautiful all day hthe buildings look lik those in Italy, beautiful architecture. The third place in England that I visited was London and my God I am in love.
I stayed at the beautiful Tower hotel which is directly in front of tower bridge one of the historic sites in London. I went To Buckingham Palace, Elan cafe which is the most beautiful cafe u will ever visit. I went to Harrods and saw the shrine they have of the late princess Diana and Dodi who died a tragic accident (RIP) I visited west-minister Abbey, London Tower, Coppa Club, tower bridge, London bridge, London eye, i saw The famous red telephone booth and I went to Brixton. Brixton is good on a Saturday night they have lots of great bars with finger food and great music. I also Went to the Shard which is the tallest building in Northern Europe to eat at the oblix restaurant and it was amazing.
My overall experience in the UK was amazing and I plan to visit more countries is the UK very soon.
If you’re going that far and you want to see something just as mystifying as the pyramids of Egypt, you have to go to Salsbury to see Stonehenge. It’s a bit of a chore to get there as it’s west of London, you will need to take a train and a bus to get to the site, but well worth the effort! Tower bridge at night is a beautiful sight to see, you can walk along the water to get to it as best part is looking at it is free! I recommend going at night, as it’s very picturesque! Oxford street is a must, lots of pubs restaurants and shopping, we walked there from Buckingham palace which is was pretty cool, especially during the changing of the guard. Have dinner or just drinks at the restaurant on top of the Shard, plus you’ll get the best view of London from there. Big Ben which is an unmistakable icon attached to parliament is another site to see. If you’re not opposed to walking, I’d highly suggest that as things are all within walking distance once you’re in central London. Traffic is horrible walking proved to be the fastest for us. If you don’t want to walk you can take the big red bus for open top tours and get off at desired destinations. They also have the tube (their subway) that will get you anywhere you want to go as well as back and forth to Heathrow London’s main airport.
Experiencing the history of London in London, surpassed any knowldege or idea that I ever had about England. Its absolutely gorgeous and the details are unforgettable. Shopping was a bit over whelming because there are so many options, so do your research and have a plan. I would also recommend doing a Euro tour if your in London as the prices to travel to Paris etc are very cheap. The safety aspect gives you a peace of mind if your traveling alone or without a guide and getting around is very easy if your familar with public transportation. I have friends in London, so I primarily lodged with my friends. But I was able to find a very reasonable hotel near the airport with shuttle services.
The price tag on this trip might be hefty but I’d still say that it’s worth it! The Euro holds more weight than the dollar so I spent more than I thought I would. Food was pretty affordable. The biggest expenses were hotel & activities which adds up.
London surprised me with all of the things to do around town. I went with low expectations and ended up loving every moment of visiting! The transit is extremely easy to use, and very clean compared to other cities. The city is packed with great food, history, and high end shopping. I highly recommend visiting SoHo at night, and eating in the scenic China Town area at Viet Food! The pho was amazing!
London is a very beautiful and more than big city with a fantastic nightlife. The partys are awesome!!! There is also a lot of history and tours that teaches you more about the destination. You have to visit the city
London was a great city to go sight seeing! There’s so much to see and do and it actually reminds me of a bigger and cleaner NYC ; ) Since I went to visit family I didn’t have to plan a thing but they covered all the sights any tourist would want to see. Piccadilly Circus was fun to roam around and shop or just enjoy a great meal. But one of my favorite things about London are its open markets, namely, Notting Hill and the famous Portobello Road is a must see! I’m sure you’ve all seen the movie “Notting Hill” but it’s one of the world’s largest antiques market and it was just super cute to walk around. Secondly, Borough Market, a well known food market, was also super fun as we enjoyed local food vendors, handcrafted coffee, and of course fish n’ chips! Other things to do within walking distance of each other is to check out the London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and of course Buckingham Palace. The history is rich here but I was able to cover all these sights in just a couple of days and the best part, you can easily get around by train or on foot!
London offers a lot of sights to see and activities to experience. Of course, you need to experience the big ticket spots–Buckingham Palace (impressive in person), Big Ben (not so much), London Eye (look at it or ride it), and Parliament. For the Beatles enthusiasts, we were staying in Kensington and Abbey Road was a bit far to get to without interrupting our days there. Otherwise most of the sights are in Westminster, including a high end retail experience.
I wanted to get off of the beaten path a bit, so I went to Shoreditch, an artsy part of London (East London). There is a lot of culture and creativity here. I dropped in on a 90s R&B set followed by an open mic in an intimate bar that served (delicious) Jamaican jerk. It was phenomenal.
London is seperated by zones. Zone 1 is the center of the city. I stayed in Shortdetich which is on the line of zone 1 & 2. It was super affordable and right by their metro. It’s super easy to use their metro system which is similar to DC’s metro system. So lot of the tourist spots are free or super inexpensive. The people are super nice & love our accents. Go to London. You’ll love it!
London is so much fun. We went to party and we did just that. Literally! The Toy room was a lot of fun, they had Ted the teddy bear walk around and everything. So cute. The Box in SoHo was very interesting. The club is set up like a regular club with a stage. I went with the thought of it being a burlesque show. Not a sex show. They’ll play music and you party in between each show. It’s pretty explicit and interesting. Once the show is over you get to party like you’re in a regular club. Definitely something different to experience.
London is a very beautiful place with a fantastic nightlife. There is also a lot of history and tours that teaches you more about the destination. Two thumbs up!
London will always be my favourite city to visit despite the weather being unpredictable. I’ve visited three times so far and the city never disappoints in terms of nightlife, food, sight seeings and of course the locals with their unique accents. Buckingham Palace, where the queen resides is a must see attraction esp seeing the guards in the yard because for must of the time they barely move. Football is a common sporting event in London & I highly recommend anyone visiting London to attend a game. The atmosphere in the stadium is insane and an expirence you’ll never forget. Raves in London are also enjoyable as the tend to play a mixture of music for everyone to enjoy from hip hop to dancehall to local rap music etc.