If you have got the travel bug and you are ready to move around to see new things, then you really need to think about what it would be like for you to stop in London on your way. It should absolutely be the next place that you host an adventure, but if you’ve never been to London before, you might be stumped as to why you should spend so much money.
Let’s be fair here. London, as one of the biggest and most important capital cities in the world, is somewhere you are destined to spend a lot of money because it is expensive to visit.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that you should be put off, however. One of the best things about London is that there are so many ways to make your trip an accessible one. From the luggage storage in London to the numerous and iconic black cabs, London is easy for anyone to visit, to stay or to pop into on the way somewhere else.
It is famed for its architecture, its history and its art. But it’s not just those things. The food, the fashion and the fun are some of the best around. If you are looking at your next adventure, here is why London should be it.
The libraries. You would not think to leave your hometown library to go somewhere else just to go and read a book, right? However, London has the British Library which is a grade one listed building and the largest National Library in the world with over 150 million items held in this building and some that date back as far as 2000 BC. You’re going to find some of the most interesting and most iconic works around. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales is home here, and that was written in the 15th century.
There were the original song sheets that were written by The Beatles and the Memorandum written by Lord Nelson two days before the Battle of Trafalgar are all kept here. You are literally walking through the library to look at pieces of history that have been in the hands of aristocrats, royalty and leaders throughout the country. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to see the song sheets from The Beatles?
Shakespeare. While we’re on the subject of history, consider the fact that if you go to the Globe Theatre, you’ll be able to watch something exclusively Shakespearean. London’s theatre scene is massive. It’s much like the Broadway scene you’d find in New York, but better.
The West End is packed with theatres and shows, and yet there is something amazing about going to the Globe Theatre to see something Shakespearean. Shakespeare’s Globe is reconstructed from the original Elizabethan Playhouse.
The pubs. London is renowned for its pubs and for its long history in alcohol and beer. It’s very easy to mock the pub culture of the British, but it’s glorious.The people gathering outside the pubs on a summers’ evening know exactly why they are there – and it’s not just the social life. It’s the nooks of an amazing pub with the best, coldest beer on tap.
It’s The George in London Bridge where Shakespeare himself would frequent. It’s the Grade II-listed Spaniards Inn in north London that has some of the best British food. The pubs are iconic to the city for a reason – you just have to go and find out what that reason is!
The architecture is incredible. The galleries, the museums, the buildings themselves are just stunning to look at. You cannot walk down a street in London without your head swinging from side to side trying to take everything in. It’s very easy to pick out the architecture throughout the city.
Christchurch, which sits opposite Spitalfields market and the cathedrals and the palaces and the museums all have a historical backing. Sure, it may be surrounded by skyscrapers and business-like buildings made of glass and Chrome, but that doesn’t take away from the original architecture that has been here for centuries.
The food. Most people wouldn’t think London to be synonymous with amazing food, but it really is. From street food to fine dining, you can visit fishmongers that have the finest, freshest fish as well as the markets that offer some street food in style. Borough Market, Camden Market, Exmouth Market and more. You can even head out to The Ledbury, Lyles or The Clove Club and more for a modern British take on worldwide cuisine.
London Fashion Week. Move over Paris. Move over Milan. London Fashion Week is just as fun, just as important and just as memorable as any other city in the world. If you are into fashion and you love to be on trend, then going to London Fashion Week is going to put you in front of some of the world’s most famous models, designers and producers.
The scenery. Have you ever sat beside the River Thames at night time and watched the sun go down? Have you ever watched the city lights come on and heard the roar of the cars, the aeroplanes, the trains, the street vendors and the boats and felt completely at home?
Sitting next to the London Eye on a summer’s night and just watching people go by? It is part of the pleasure when you visit London. Yeah, you might spend a lot of money here, but you’re also going to be able to save money just by watching people and immersing yourself in the lives of others. Seeing the street entertainers and hearing the buskers is just part of the fun.
The art. One of the best things about London is that you can see incredible artworks absolutely free. The Tate Modern sits along the River Thames and it’s one place that you can visit to see the exhibits and artwork that can change your life.
The British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Natural History Museum and the Wallace Collection have so much to them and you don’t have to spend a penny at all if you don’t want to.