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London
The Big Smoke
Keep calm and carry on
Why
The Why, When & How to visit...
London's calling! Lovely London is a wonderful place to visit for its historic monuments, world-class hotels, dining & shopping, catching a show, enjoying traditional English afternoon tea, and a pint at a classic British pub. It's very easy to get around by walking or taking its extensive underground rail system and relatively easy to reach with direct flights from many places around the world. It's also a great starting point to visit other highlights of England for a day or longer like Stonehenge, the Cotswolds, or maybe even the Harry Potter studio. It can also be combined with a trip to Paris only 2.5 hours away via the Eurostar train.
When
How
London is one of the easiest and often cheapest European cities to reach with a whopping 6 airports and direct flights from many cities around the world. Most international flights fly into London Heathrow (LHR) located 14 miles west of central London. It takes about an hour to reach the city by driving or train.
London's location prevents it from rarely getting hot, but not terribly cold either. Summer is the best time to visit for peak temperatures in the low 70's F and the lowest chance for rain. December is another nice time to experience the magic of London light up for the winter holidays and still have mild temperatures in the 40's F on average.
The underground train currently costs ~6-26 GBP compared to a taxi that can cost ~100 GBP to reach central London from Heathrow. The Underground train system can be paid using a card with a tap feature, so there's no need to figure out the complicated fare system. Uber is also available in London to get around.
Where
to stay...
In a city with some of the most exquisite hotels in the world, it's difficult to narrow down the choices to a select few. London has most of the top luxury hotel brands, including The Ritz, The Dorchester, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and Bulgari in the Mayfair and Hyde Park neighborhoods. Along with ones specific to London like The Lanesborough, Brown's and Claridge's.
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Then there are the mid-priced, cool, mid-century modern boutique hotels like The Standard, which is located near Regent's Park and various train stations. The Standard opened in July 2019 in a 1970s Brutalist building and has a rooftop terrace, restaurant, 5 bars & lounges, fitness center and rooms of varying sizes. The Hoxton Holborn is another option with cozy rooms and common areas to hang out across the coffee shop, restaurant and bar. The prettiest one however is Ember Locke, which opened in Kensington in July 2023. The hotel has a super cool design aesthetic across the rooms, F&B spaces and garden.
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For a historic, regal option at a mid-price, there's The Gore London, part of Starhotels Collezione. For a classic London row house, there's Tophams Hotel centrally located in Belgavia near Buckingham Palace. The hotel has a cozy feel across its rooms, restaurant and bar, a perfect place to unwind after a day of sightseeing. Lastly, for a peaceful option, there's Inhabit located in Hyde Park with a simple, organic design aesthetic in its rooms, library and breakfast area.
What
Do
to...
1) Take in the Sights - If it's your first time to London or your tenth time to London, taking in the sights in London never seems to get old. Luckily, many of the main sights are within a small area making it easy to see many within a short walk. Start with Buckingham Palace, which is open for visitors over the summer from mid-July to late September and for Exclusive Guided Tours every Mon, Fri, Sat & Sun. Tickets for a timed entry are required and can be purchased at the websites linked above. Changing of the Guard occurs every Mon, Wed & Fri at 11am with a parade on Sundays at 10am on The Mall leading to the palace.
From there, head east through the lovely St. James's Park towards the Thames River to see Westminster Abbey, including the Big Ben clock tower. A break may then be in order at a historic London pub like St. Stephen's Tavern or The Red Lion on Parliament Street. Refreshed, hop on a 30 minute sightseeing cruise down the Thames River to pass the London Eye (Ferris wheel), London Bridge and Tower Bridge to the Tower of London. Or a river cruise with a 4-course lunch with optional wine pairings. Alternatively pair a hop-on, hop-off river cruise with the double-decker bus tour operated by Tootbus for different route options to see more of London. Or see over 20 of London's top sights on this small group guided tour.
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2) Enjoy Afternoon Tea - Enjoying afternoon tea is a quintessential activity in London. The difficult part is deciding where. There are the traditional options of the iconic, luxury hotels like the Ritz, Langham, Claridge's or Brown's. Then the classic department stores like Harrod's and Fortnum & Mason. There are also options for afternoon tea in motion on a double-decker bus and river cruise. For more ideas on where to enjoy afternoon tea, check out Vogue's list of their top choices.
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3) Take a Pub Tour - No trip to London is complete without a trip to a pub. Check out picturesque favorites like Churchhill Arms, The Albert, The Golden Lion, and Coach & Horses. Or take this small group Historic Pub Tour (drinks purchased separately).
Eat
Start with a traditional English Breakfast followed by Afternoon Tea and then Fish & Chips or Bangers & Mash.
Drink
When visiting a pub, try a London lager, cider, or a Snakebite, which is a combination of the two. For cocktails, a Gin & Tonic or Vesper Martini - shaken, not stirred, James Bond style. Of course hot tea like English Breakfast or Earl Grey for a non-alcoholic drink. *If of legal drinking age to drink responsibly
Wear
Smart posh with an umbrella
Watch
Richard Curtis
Listen
"Here Comes the Sun"
by The Beatles
Gift
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