A citytrip in London

A city break to London is always a good idea. Whether you are going for the first time or have been many times before, you will always discover new great places. Last summer I was in London for the first time with my whole family and was packed with sights, activities and even a personal bucket list moment. I’d like to take you through the highlights we experienced. Maybe you’ll pick up some great tips for your own city trip in London!

High-speed sightseeing – with the rib boat on the Thames

Why start quietly when you can start with a good dose of adrenaline? One of the coolest ways to discover London is by high-speed sightseeing on a rib boat on the Thames. This was also our very first activity for us. And with 2 boy adolescents, this was a hit. The tour started quietly, with the guide taking us past the various sights such as the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, City Hall, Shard, St. Pauls and of course the London Eye, the Parliament and The Big Ben. Once we passed under Tower Bridge on the way back, James Bond music sounded through the speakers and the throttle went full blast! Where I braced myself against the speed and bangs on the water, all I heard was my boys laughing and cheering loudly and my husband even had the guts or a piece of this crazy ride filmed with his cell phone. A spectacular experience that gets your city trip off to an immediate flying (or rather, sailing) start!

Sleeping in Earl’s Court: perfect base for your city trip

During our city break we stayed in the Kensington district, within walking distance of the Earl’s Court subway station. This district in West London is the perfect base. From Heathrow Airport you can travel here without changing trains. And several subway lines depart from Earl’s Court, which means that with the Oystercard (a must-have payment method for public transport in London) you can get to all the hotspots in no time. Moreover, Earl’s Court itself is also cozy with nice cafes, a safe atmosphere and fine accommodations.

London at its liveliest: the markets

Those who want to really feel London should experience its markets. Not as a tourist stop, but as the vibrant heart of the city.

Covent Garden Market is London’s best-known market and thus a real tourist attraction. Covent Garden is a stylish, covered market in a former flower palace. Between the designer stores, craft stalls and cozy eateries, street performers play to complete the atmosphere. You can easily spend an hour here watching a violin-playing acrobat or a comical play. During our visit to Covent Garden, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at The Oystermen, a small and cozy seafood restaurant serving delicious oysters and amazing crab.

Camden Market is the opposite: raw, rebellious and colorful. Here it smells of freshly baked churros, curry and incense as you stroll past stalls selling vintage jackets, punk accessories and handmade jewelry. Every corner of Camden exudes creativity – and a touch of contrariness. Upon arriving at Camden Market, we walked mostly among the locals and visited a small covered market where there are very cute, handmade souvenirs to admire and come by. A little further on (as the market is quite vast) we came to the tourist part of the market. Long corridors is a covered market full of clothes, art and accessories. With the colorful umbrellas hanging from the ceiling here, it has a very atmospheric feel to it. Definitely a must visit.

Borough Market is the ultimate stop for foodies. And despite the crowds and tourists, (it is recommended to visit the market if possible during the week and in the morning to get ahead of most of the crowds) this market does give you a real sense of a local market. You can taste English cheeses, freshly baked focaccia, worldly herbs, a wide range of olive oil and fish and the best flat white in town. For lunch, simply sit at a wooden bar overlooking the cooking pans – pure, honest and incredibly delicious.

Shopping between history and haute couture

London is a paradise for those who love shopping. And that may be a tad chic. On Regent Street, you walk between impressive facades, historic buildings and flagship stores of well-known brands such as Liberty and Hamleys. The street itself is already a sight to behold. Bond Street is for those who dream of designer – or just love window shopping in style. The window displays are like art galleries, starring Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Dior. Even if you don’t buy anything, the atmosphere here is worth experiencing. The Burlington Arcade is also well worth a visit to stroll through, perhaps having a coffee at one of the small terraces, but especially to admire the windows of the exceptionally exclusive stores. And of course, a visit to London is not complete without a visit to Harrod’s. One of the world’s largest and most famous luxury department stores. With over 90,000 square meters of space, spread over seven floors, and 330 departments you really feast your eyes here. During our visit we decided to go our separate ways. Nice, because you can look for yourself, but it turned out to be a challenge to find each other in the end.

Dining out tip: Italian food in London in always good

Eating in London is always a treat, but an Italian restaurant in London is always good. Luciano’s, one of TV chef Gino D’Acampo’s restaurants is true delight. A beautiful restaurant, high-level service and delicious food. But it is always a party at Da Mario’ s restaurants as well. The food here is delicious and the staff very welcoming and enthusiastic. During our stay in London, we visited their restaurant near Covent Garden, but you can also visit Da Mario Kensington. Would you rather eat at a real local Italian? Then San Pietro is an absolute must. This small authentic Italian restaurant can be found in the Kensington neighborhood where we stayed. Not just any tourists come here so you eat among the locals. It is a really small and cozy restaurant where the staff is all family and do everything to make you enjoy their delicious food.

Must-sees: the soul of London

Of course, we only let the famous London sights pass us by via rib boat, but we also visited them at other times during our city break. Don’t let their fame fool you: they really are worth seeing.

• Westminster Abbey is grand, impressive and full of history. Here you can feel the ancient soul of the kingdom. Especially with the magnificent Big Ben next to it. Especially in the evening when it is illuminated it exudes true grandeur.
• The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is a gigantic spectacle that you must witness at least once. Make sure you get there on time, because the crowd pours in quickly. Beware in the summer, though, it is a very long wait so make sure you are well oiled up and have water with you. Preferably another umbrella yourself so you can provide your own shade.
• Tower Bridge is perhaps the most beautiful bridge in the world, which can be found next to the Tower of London, which over the centuries has served as a fortress, royal palace, state prison, mint, garrison, museum and arsenal, where now the crown jewels are still kept.
• The Shard is one of the largest buildings in the city, found next to Borough Market and can be visited on several floors. You can book tickets for the highest floors (68, 69 and 72) and gives you views far beyond London. On a clear day, you can even see Windsor Castle.
• London Eye is one of the most famous attractions but still worth visiting. You only go one lap, but at such a leisurely pace that you have plenty of time to take in the scenery. Especially when you’ve already visited some of it fun to look around and see what you can find from the places you visited. We do recommend booking a fast-lane ticket. We had ordinary tickets with a time slot, but the line turned out to be miserable so we opted to convert the tickets to fast-lane tickets on the spot and this saved us quite a bit of waiting time.

London as the locals do it

Between sights, it’s great to just be where Londoners are, too. So in the neighborhood where you are staying, be sure to seek out the local pub to soak up the atmosphere with a local pint and a serving of fish & chips. The atmosphere, the laughter, the wooden tables: this is London at its coziest. All these pubs also have delightful names that capture the imagination. For example, our favorite pub during our stay was The King’s Head near Earl’s Court. We ended each day by having a quick drink here before heading back to our hotel to get ready for dinner.

Almost every major city in the world has its own China Town. China Town London is a world unto itself. You stroll under red lanterns, past busy dim sum restaurants and Chinese supermarkets. Perfect for an impromptu snack or to take away for a picnic in the park.

My bucket list moment: Garden Lodge

As a Queen fan, one place in London was high on my list: Garden Lodge, the former home of Queen singer Freddie Mercury. Hidden behind high walls on a quiet street in Kensington, close to our hotel. The house is not accessible, but is still frequently visited by fans (like me, that is). Behind these walls, for years the house was full of his personal belongings, carefully kept by his close friend and heiress Mary Austin. The house has since been emptied and many of Freddie’s possessions have been auctioned off. Mary has decided to sell the property, bringing a special era for his fans to a definitive end. Very special to see, despite it actually being nothing more than a wall and a door.

Getaway outside London – Stonehenge

Do you have an extra day during your stay in London? Then a trip to Stonehenge is definitely worthwhile. About a two-hour drive from the city, you will find this world-famous prehistoric monument in the middle of the rolling Wiltshire countryside. The mysterious stone formation still raises questions: how did they get here? Who built this? And why?

Walking around the stones, with an audio tour in your ears you will get an insight into the origins of these unusually positioned stones. If necessary, combine it with a visit to the nearby town of Salisbury, known for its magnificent cathedral. There are plenty of organized tours from London, so the outing is easy to plan. Stonehenge adds a magical, historic touch to your city break – and shows how rich England is in culture, even beyond the city limits.

Credits photos: OpstapmetLisa