Suitcase Sagas

Exploring London needn’t burn a hole through your pocket, there are many free options to check out across the city…

Historic Landmarks

• Start off your London trip with the most iconic structure, the Tower Bridge (This is different from London Bridge, which isn’t half as pretty!)

• Gaze at the beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral on the bank side of the Bridge.

• Check-out the change of guard at Buckingham Palace at 11am (Do confirm online for daily). It gets really crowded so reach early and get a good spot near the gates. SS Tip: Windsor castle offers a much better experience

• Walk along ‘The Mall’ road or through the park to Downing Street to see where the Prime Minister stays…
• Walk around Westminster and take pictures of iconic Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey
• Back track a little to see the lions at Trafalgar Square. No trip to London is complete without this stop!

• End your day with London’s answer to Times Square, Piccadilly Circus. It is worth a trip at night…

Parks & Gardens

• Stroll or have a picnic in the green parks across London. Hyde Park is absolutely huge with lakes and beautiful buildings like Kensington Palace. Regent’s Park, on the other hand has beautiful fountains and manicured gardens.

• Walk up the slope at Primrose Hill for scenic views of the city. Spend an afternoon reading a book and enjoying the sun in the green spaces across London

Museums

• It is surprising that the amazing British Museum is free. The place has extensive collection of items from different eras and geographies. Another great place to spend an afternoon is the V&A museum…

• If you are travelling with kids, check out National History Museum next door and if you are into art, don’t miss the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square

Eating & Shopping

• Explore the lights and do some window shopping at Oxford Street, Knightsbridge (can’t miss Harrods) and Mayfair. For basic shopping, stopover at any of the Primark department stores to check out their large collection
• Stroll around Notting Hill gazing at the colorful houses and street stalls. You could get some great deals on cute stuff sold here.

• Explore the sights and smells of the large Borough Market close to Tower Bridge. Do consider grabbing a bite or buy some fresh food from the umpteen stalls at the market. Or grab a bite at upscale Camden or Covent Garden filled with variety of restaurants.

 

Winter Special

• Apart from Christmas lights and ice skating rinks (prettiest one at Somerset), the most wonderful part of December in London is Winter Wonderland! This is a huge fair set up from November end in Hyde park with rides, food stalls, ice sculptures, circus, shows like Nutcracker, etc. The atmosphere is amazing and it will bring the kid out in you.

 

Others

• Make a free booking and head to Sky Garden to see the town from up-high. Go around sunset and let the sights sink-in. Book the tickets in advance online…

• Walk along Baker Street to have a glance at the famous residence of Sherlock Holmes (you can enter the small museum for a fee – not worth it though!)
• If you want to see platform 9^3/4 of Harry Potter fame, take a trip to King’s Cross Station where they have a dedicated corner to pose and take pictures. They even have a Harry Potter store if you want to pick up souvenirs
• Alternatively, you could also consider taking one of the free walking tours to understand more about this beautiful old city…