London
Things to Do in London
London is a first-class city through and through. You won’t find any litter on the streets or even a garbage can oddly. You do sense a kind of sophistication in the air and it’s clearly displayed at your hotel’s front-desk lobby. The British, do have a cool and sophisticated way when speaking. The fish and chips are to die for. It’s how you envisioned them to be, crispy, flaky but not oily. I stayed at the Crown Plaza as it was close to everything and more convenient.
Buckingham Palace
I did my research prior to visiting London and signed up for the Hop-on, Hop-off bus tour. It’s very efficient and time saving. It drives you around the city of London and stops at all major attractions/stops. It only cost about $32 Euros and avoids you from having to depend on Google Maps while in a foreign country.
Buckingham Palace is one of those stops. It’s a humongous palace where the Queen of England often resides. Though no tourists can enter the gates, there’s always a guard pacing back and forth within its courtyard. Therefore, it’s free. You’re about to have some great shots to post for social media. I missed the “Changing the Guards” ceremony so keep an eye out for that. It is quite the scene from what I hear.
Big Ben Tower
Your next stop will be visiting Big Tower so make sure to start the day-off early. It’s a historical parliament site which includes a ringing clock bell at the very top of that tower. Up close, It looks like a wax sculpture that had been chiseled to perfection. Big Ben is just astonishing and free to see, from the outside as it’s gated. I could spend my time, eating lunch and just staring at it all day. You get a vibe of how old London is.
Westminster Abbey
Down the street from Big Ben Tower you’ll find Westminster Abbey. It’s the royal church where Prince William married Kate Middleton. Let me tell you, this church looked bad ass. It’s Gothic looking and brings you to a time when William Shakespeare was still alive. It just gives you the chills because of how old it is. You can walk inside and around it’s also free.
Kensington Palace
As you hop-on, back into the bus, Kensington Palace will be another must see landmark. It has damn near a 300-foot driveway of a courtyard walking in. This three-story palace is where Princess Diana once lived. Inside, you’ll find a three story palace filled with antique bedroom sets still intact, portrait paintings and a gift shop that includes a breakfast/lunch area. The entire walls look as if their gold plated. Remember, it’s the birthplace of Queen Victoria and where other royals called it home for over 300 years. Tickets are only 15 Euros a piece. One cool thing is that outside of the palace is a park. You can walk around or ride bicycles for more exploring.
Chelsea Football Club
England loves its football, soccer that is. I noticed that this stadium was twice the size of Avaya Stadium out in San Jose, CA. I don’t think the U.S. market can complete with Major League Soccer compared to England’s stadiums. The fans here are rowdier and chanted the whole duration of the game.
London Tower Bridge
What a bridge. Up close, it’s very walk-able from end to end. The paint job still looks fresh and brand new. The bridge is light grey with baby blue. It reminds you of a castle. Remember those bounce houses or jumping houses, looked just like that.
