Hello everyone.
For those of you looking to spend a great weekend in London, I think I have a really solid (yes, I’m bold enough to say it!) itinerary to suggest.
Practical Tips
Formalities
To start, here are a few quick tips that you can easily find elsewhere, but are definitely worth repeating.
Regarding entry requirements for Great Britain, for the time being, a national ID card or a valid passport is sufficient for European Union citizens. Things may change now that Brexit is underway.
Money
The British currency is the British Pound (or Sterling). At the time I’m writing this, the rates are:
- 1£ = 1.17€
- 1€ = 0.85£
For those interested, I’ll take this opportunity to share this link so you can convert everything before your trip: Xe.com
How to get to London on a budget
As for travel, you’ll likely be able to find good deals at any time of the year.
London is frequently offered as a last-minute destination, and SNCF often runs promotional offers on the Eurostar. I’ll leave it to you to keep an eye out for the best deals.
If you’re flying, especially from Beauvais where the low-cost flights depart, you’ll need to plan your transfer from the airport (for me, it was Luton) to London. There are shuttles between Luton and Buckingham Palace. You’ll then need to plan to continue by public transport or on foot to reach your accommodation. In my opinion, this shuttle is ultimately the cheapest way to get into London (forget about taxis: they’re too expensive for this trip). If you want to book in advance, check online. I used this site (saved at least 20 euros compared to taxis): Terravision
Choosing your accommodation
To have a great trip, you need to think about where you're staying. This is often where things get tricky because prices can be very high. It also happens that in trying to save money, you end up too far from everything.
So, I think I’ve found a good compromise: I invite you to look around the Paddington station area. There, you have a high chance of finding some very nice Bed & Breakfasts, particularly in Sussex Square. These are lovely little private streets filled with flowers that will delight your senses! It’s quite striking how it feels like you’ve found a green oasis, far from the bustling, lively metropolis that is London. Almost all the houses on these streets are B&Bs. A huge added bonus: the location is ideal for visiting the city.
To get to the neighborhood, aim for the Saint Pancras subway; Paddington is just a 1-minute walk away. Also, know that from Paddington, you are a 10-minute walk from Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and about 15 minutes from Notting Hill, where you’ll find a superb, colorful, and picturesque market, as well as very lively antique shops. But it’s not just psychedelic T-shirts there; you can also find some pretty classy boutiques. Personally, I brought back a magnificent, soft, silky scarf for the equivalent of barely 20 euros.
Here is a link to compare accommodations in London.
Visiting London differently
Moving on, far from the classic tourist trails, I want to suggest another way to discover London, away from Big Ben, the Changing of the Guard, and Buckingham Palace. I want to share my favorite spots from when I lived in this magnificent city (I worked for 2 years in a London bar).
I suggest 3 types of circuits to try:
Itinerary 1: Shopping strolls
The first thing to do is head along Oxford Street to Oxford Circus. The more energetic can make the trip on foot from Saint Pancras in about 20 minutes; others can take the famous red buses to enjoy the view of this neighborhood (almost all the lines there pass through Oxford Circus). It’s likely the trip will take longer than 20 minutes, though, because while walking along Oxford Street, you’ll have the chance to do some window shopping. Indeed, there are a large number of famous and rather nice shops that you might want to visit.
In short, take as much time as you need; the goal is to arrive at Oxford Circus, which is a major intersection from which you can go anywhere!
Next, it’s easy: go visit and wander through Soho. For this, again, head to Oxford Street where you’ll find the entrance to Soho. Once inside, you won’t want to miss Carnaby Street (Beatles fans will be delighted), from which you might return with your arms full of bags containing Doc Martens, neon T-shirts, a mohawk on your head, and one or two body piercings…
A colorful and lively neighborhood (even more so than Covent Garden, purists will tell you), Soho is really worth a look. I am always surprised by this ethnic but also cultural melting pot: you’ll cross paths with couples coming out of shows in Charing Cross and others heading toward the local strip clubs.
Don’t miss Chinatown either, just for the change of scenery. To eat, stop in the Berwick Street Market area where you’ll find plenty of nice little restaurants. Plan to eat there before the hordes of office workers from nearby offices come out for lunch, otherwise, you might have to wait a bit before getting a seat.
For fun, go take a look at the Notre-Dame-de-France church at 5 Leicester Place: inside, you’ll find frescoes painted by Jean Cocteau. Historically, Soho has always been the neighborhood frequented by French people in London, whether during the religious wars or the world wars. Actually, to be honest, you’re likely to run into a lot of French people there, so if you were really looking for a complete change of scenery, it’s not guaranteed…
You have another option for "shopping" strolls: rather than entering Soho, skirt around it by taking Regent Street. You can also go shopping there, but in more classic and chic stores than those in Soho. You’ll find the perfect trench coat, shoes, and other luxury accessories. You’ll then head down to Piccadilly Circus.
If you wish, push on a little further and, after walking for about ten minutes, you’ll arrive at Covent Garden, the favorite spot for the "bobos" (bohemian bourgeois). In the covered market, you can admire all the restaurants below and make your choice. There are many artisan shops that are quite nice and street performances that are always surprising.
Itinerary 2: Cultural strolls
If you are staying near Saint Pancras, you can start your "cultural" day at the British Museum. A few minutes of walking should be enough to get there.
There, you will enter one of the oldest museums in the world and the oldest in England. It includes more than 7 million objects that trace the history of humanity. It’s incredible to see these collections: you go from contemporary watches to Egyptian sculptures, passing by the magnificent paintings of Turner (I’ve been a fan for a long time) and the history of money.
The galleries are open every day, which is not the case for the building covered by the famous dome located in the Great Court, which houses the reading room.
In short, it’s eclectic and, quite frankly, in one day, you’re forced to rush, and I think you miss quite a few things. In fact, you should spend two days there, at least. If you are only passing through the British capital, try to dedicate at least half a day to the British Museum.
Then, head down toward Piccadilly Circus where you’ll see posters for famous shows. All the theaters (or almost all) are there, and you might have the opportunity to see some superb musicals. You can still find Grease, The Lion King, etc., but also new productions.
A little tip: no need to book in advance online: I suggest you instead spot 2 or 3 shows that interest you, and if you have some availability, go directly to the theater box offices for the afternoon sessions. You will very likely get half-price tickets and prime seats. It’s even better than the "Buy tickets" offers you see everywhere.
The area is also the place for pubs and restaurants. Go take a look to enjoy the atmosphere; it would be a shame to miss it.
Itinerary 3: Green strolls
If you booked your hotel in the Paddington-Saint Pancras area, you will inevitably walk along Hyde Park, whether heading toward Oxford or, on the other side, toward Notting Hill. Take advantage of it; it’s the most beautiful and largest of the parks. Those who haven't had the chance to visit New York and Central Park will have the pleasure of finding hyper-greedy little squirrels there too. It must be said that they have plenty of room to thrive: 250 hectares when you also count Kensington Gardens (at the end of Hyde Park).
Besides the gardens and the triumphal arch in honor of the hero of Waterloo (Wellington Arch), go see Speaker’s Corner: this spot is traditionally the place of freest expression in the kingdom. It’s quite impressive: you find harmless eccentrics and real villains who openly advocate for war and death… Unsettling and difficult for a small French mind like mine to understand…
Fortunately, the park is also the setting for more joyful events. For instance, rock fans will remember that great concerts were held there: the Rolling Stones, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink Floyd, etc…
And if you liked Hyde Park, you’ll appreciate Regent’s Park. For that, from Paddington, head there by subway if it’s raining or, if you’re less in a hurry (because, there too, traffic is pathetic), by bus to get to Regent’s Park. Those who want to keep playing the tourist can get there in 20 minutes on foot.
This is also one of the most beautiful royal gardens, laid out over 2 square kilometers by the architect John Nash, who left his mark elsewhere, notably through beautiful achievements in the purest Gregorian style.
The park offers sumptuous gardens, space for sports, a boating lake, playgrounds for children, in short, enough to keep you busy for a good day.
Not everything is accessible, however, because the United States Ambassador has their residence in part of the park. Rest assured, it’s well done: you won’t be able to get close to it…
You’ll also find the famous zoo there which, while not really the oldest in the world, is among the first created, notably for scientific purposes. Today, about a hundred species can be seen there.
You can push on a little further and, to the south of the park, go see the famous Madame Tussauds museum and, if you exit the park via Baker Street, don’t miss 221B on the street and the museum dedicated to Sherlock Holmes.
Final thoughts
There you go, I think I’ve offered you some really good tips because, having returned very recently, nothing has changed! Very sincerely, I invite you to take good care in choosing your place of residence because, besides the problem of excessive prices, the location will determine whether you have a good stay or not. You should also know that the subway is expensive (more expensive than the bus) and that it is truly made to be functional. But if you want to enjoy yourself, take the bus or, even better, walk! For that, obviously, find yourself a well-located spot. Paddington is one of those…
I am well aware that some will regret not seeing the tourist classics, as I said at the beginning of the post, but, precisely, I wanted to offer you London in a different way.
So, have a nice trip and enjoy your stay in London!
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