The London Travel Experience
When I was in college, I became so obsessed with everything English, so much so that I decided to leave my hometown to take up a Master’s Degree in English Studies. I was not able to finish the course, but it strengthened my resolve to visit England when I’m able. Of course that didn’t happen right away as I set up roots in the US after getting married. We did go to Peru and Italy after our wedding. We were planning to visit London and Paris the next year, but then the pandemic happened. So obviously, we needed to hit pause on our travel plans. As soon as we heard international travel is now allowed, we immediately set our plans in motion and our first stop? London. I’ve shared plenty of London travel tips and images so read along!
Public Transportation
I’ve heard so much about the London Tube and the double decker buses so it was an absolute must that we try those. Coming from the Philippines, public transportation was my way of life, so navigating the city of London was very easy for me. As soon as we landed at Heathrow, we decided to try the London taxi to our AirBnB, which was quite frankly a HUGE mistake. We ended up paying £100 (or $110) for what could have been a £40 Uber ride. I was determined to try every means of transport English-style, but I guess you live and you learn.
The first time we used the tube we opted to use the Single tickets just to see how much it costs, without knowing that Single tickets are deliberately hiked up. We paid about £12 for a one-way trip. Ouch. So we shared this with our AirBnb host Clair and she told us we’d save more money if we get the Oyster travel card since we plan to use public transport the whole week. I’m so glad she told us because my oh my, it was such a budget-saver.
Big Ben & UK Parliament
On our first day, it was Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, so virtually every site we intended to visit were closed. Instead, we walked the area around the Big Ben. Despite the situation, it was fascinating to witness how the English come together as a community for their Queen. In a way, it felt incredible to be part of history.
After that, we decided to go back to our AirBnB to get some needed zzz.
Hyde Park
After a good night’s rest we went to see the National Gallery but it was still closed, so we walked all the way to Hyde Park, the only place we’re sure would be open. As soon as we got there, we were greeted by throngs of people watching Queen Elizabeth’s funeral on jumbotrons. So I put my jacket on the ground, and we joined the mourners.
National Gallery
Finally, on our third day in the city, The National Gallery reopened, yay! The best part? It’s totally FREE. Most of the museums in London are free admission, which is an incredible way to connect the people with their art and history, don’t you think? If I lived in London, you would definitely spot me in a museum every weekend.
L-R: Water-Lilies by Claude Monet, The Sea at L’Estaque by Paul Cézanne, Woman with a Cat by Edouard Manet, The Water-Lily Pond by Claude Monet, Whistlejacket by George Stubbs, Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh, Portrait of Greta Moll by Henri Matisse, Mother and Child by Pablo Picasso
Going to museums have been some kind of tradition of ours everytime we travel. I personally think it’s one of the best ways to get to know the country you’re visiting. Granted many of the works they showcase come from every corner of the world, some museums just happen to have the world’s greatest art collections and to be able to witness them first-hand is a huge privilege.
Tower of London & Tower Bridge of London
After the National Gallery, we took a bus to see the Tower of London. I’ve been looking forward to this visit for months because many of the things I read and watched about the English monarchy has something to do with the Tower, particularly Queen Anne Boleyn’s final moments.
The Tower is a 1000-year-old castle that used to be a royal palace, fortress, and prison. Now, it is the residence of the Crown Jewels as well as the Yeoman Warders. It’s a huge estate, considering it used to protect England from invaders and housed royalty, so we didn’t get to see everything but went to see the following:
- Bloody Tower, where the two young princes Edward V and Richard were held captive and said to be murdered but no bodies were found;
- St. Thomas’s Tower, where the royal bedchambers are located;
- The Wakefield Tower, which used to be the royal lodgings and private audience chamber;
- Traitor’s Gate, where prisoners of noble birth passed through including Anne Boleyn;
- The Jewel House, where the Crown Jewels are displayed and secured. Unfortunately photos are not allowed inside;
- Chapel of St. Peter Ad Vincula, Anne Boleyn’s resting place;
- Tower Bridge, which is actually not part of Tower of London. It was built around the 1890s.
Other Scenes
In between our scheduled site visits in London we passed by some more iconic buildings and installations, like the Royal Albert Hall and Trafalgar Square. Of course, nobody goes to London without a photo of the red telephone box and their bangers and mash.
Quite frankly, I did not know what to expect of London. Everyone kept saying the weather is so bad. And as a Floridian who grew up in the tropical Philippines, bad is an understatement lol. But then again, that’s the charm of England, isn’t it? There were pockets of sunshine that popped up during our week there so our London travel experience was pretty good actually. I kinda miss it now 🙂
P.S. I still have so many photos to share from our trip so stay tuned for Part 2!
London Travel Tips
FIRST TIP:
If you’re too tired to take public transportation, skip the cab and use Uber instead. You will save half off. Now the tube and buses are a totally different story. If you’re on a budget, it is the best way to explore the city, plus you get to acquaint yourself with the locals. Or walk. London is very pedestrian-friendly. During our stay we clocked 20,000 steps everyday but it didn’t feel that way at all!
SECOND TIP:
If you’re planning to stay in London for a while and use public transportation, get the Oyster card. You can set the amount you want to load it with, then top it up should you need more. The best part: you can use it for the Tube, bus, and tram! The Oyster card is available at the station kiosks.
THIRD TIP:
Even though the museums are free, you still need to book a time slot in advance. To visit the National Gallery and book your visit, go here.
FOURTH TIP:
Unfortunately, visiting the Tower is not free. Currently it’s £29.90 per ticket, but if you’re a history buff it’s definitely worth buying. You can go here to purchase tickets.
FIFTH TIP:
If you ever find yourself at a pub (IMO the best way to dine), you normally order food and pay at the pub counter. Before doing so, make sure to remember your table number because they will ask for it.
