3 Days in London

This article is for all those travelers that just need an idea of where to start and some tips on planning.

London is a city rich in history but has also been rebuilt into a bustling city for any modern traveler. If you're from the States, you'll often hear this English city compared to New York City because of its extensive subway system, fast-paced atmosphere, and walkable streets lined with skyscrapers. London's unique history dates far before NYC however and takes at least 2-3 days to explore.

One of the best parts about London is that it's very tourist friendly. Every major attraction is easily accessible via public transportation and a little bit of walking. (My apologies, but I can’t comment on disabled accessibility.)

WHEN TO GO

I went in the middle of August 2023, which seemed to be a perfect time. The weather wasn't too hot, nor too rainy or cold. In fact, it only drizzled a little one morning, the rest of my days were sunny and a cool 70F.

This timeframe meant that it was still bustling with city inhabitants, but the tourists weren't overrunning the place. As with all travel, going in the bridge months, like April/May and September/October, provide great weather and less people.

GETTING TO LONDON

You'll likely be flying into the city. No matter which airport you land into (there are few, Heathrow is popular though) there is a train or bus to get you into the city.

I don't recommend renting a car because traffic can get bad, the public transportation is easy and cheap, and there is a tax for anyone driving within the inner city between key times during weekdays and weekends. If you still want to drive, read more about it here, $ Congestion Charge$ .

WHERE TO STAY

Depending on your budget, you could go super high-end, or all the way down to a hostel. The prices are not cheap overall for a basic hotel room, which is why I stayed at Wombat's City Hostel London. It was in a good location and an easy walk to get to either the subway or wherever I was heading. It's a clean place with a large pub and common area in the basement that had good vibes.

What I didn't realize in my naivety, and being a native Floridian, was that most UK hotels/hostels don't have air conditioning in the rooms. I was there in the middle of August which provided decent weather, but we had to leave the window open to get some of the stuffiness out of our 6-bed dorm and we were right next to an above ground train line. When I say I got very little sleep, I mean it. Those trains are efficient when traveling on, but waking to the screeching and creaking of the train going by every 15 minutes was obscene.

Key tip, when searching in Hostelworld or your preferred booking site for summer travel, add the filter for "air conditioning". Places also offer portable, electric fans as well.

So, it was a bargain price for London and a decent stay, but I'd bring some earplugs next time.

GETTING AROUND

Public transportation is one of the best things about Europe. London is no exception. Their system is probably the best with the vast number of routes and frequency of trains, it can't be beat.

I'll always prefer public transport when I'm in a city. The metro is phenomenal. There are convenient entry points all over the city and arrive every 5-8 minutes. There are so many routes, you can literally get everywhere by subway alone. There are buses and taxis, but the city traffic can get a bit backed up.

Easiest thing to do is buy an Oyster Card. You can get a one-day ticket that offers unlimited travel. Caveat is that it has to be within the specified zones. A generic ticket will cover the most popular zones though so don't fret, it's not entirely complicated. The only time I had to buy an extension ticket was when I traveled outside the city to Windsor Castle.

If you're only going to be using the Tube once or twice that day and using the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour the rest of the day, the day tickets may not be the most economical option. Just grab a one-way or return tickets.

All of these can be purchased in the subway before going through the gates.

WHAT TO DO

London has so much to offer from its rich history to all its modern must-sees. My favorite way to see the city, like I mentioned earlier, is the bus tour. There are loads to choose from but the City Sightseeing bus is always a good option. It gets you directly to all the major places and provides audio descriptions along the way.

Most buses either provide cheap plug-in headphones or it's a speaker. You could even bring your own plug-in headphones, especially if you're hard of hearing because the cheap ones they give you don't really block out the city noise if you're sitting on the top, open air portion.

A great economical option to see the best of London is to get the London City Pass, which includes one day of a hop-on-hop-off bus tour plus many other features. It includes entry to all the top places you can't miss such as,

• Tower of London
• Tower Bridge
• Westminster Abbey
• Windsor Castle
• St. Paul's Cathedral
• Kensington Palace
• Shakespeare's Globe Theater

I highly recommend you book these tickets in advance if you are on a tight schedule! They are the most popular places to visit and sometimes get sold out or have specific entry times, like at Westminster. They are all worth a visit and you'll save money with the pass. Peruse through the card's offerings and see if there is anything else you'd like to see, but the above listed are a can't miss.

Another thing I did, and absolutely loved, was doing a self-guided walking tour. It's a great way to get more enmeshed in the city and see more of the local markets and attractions.

A guided tour by a local is an even better way to see all the sites with a personal touch, if you can afford it.

OTHER PLACES TO VISIT

• Leadenhall Market
• Borough Market
• Trafalgar Square
• Covent Garden (a cute, walkable area with plenty of shops and cafes)
• The Regent's Park (a lovely place to walk, at minimum check out Queen Mary's Rose Garden if it's the right season for blooms)
• The London Eye
• The Shard
• Sky Garden

EXTRA THINGS TO DO

Windsor Castle

This is a bit out of the way to get to, but so worth the trip.

Windsor Castle remains a functioning residence. On site is King George VI Memorial Chapel where the late Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest. You may walk through a guided path through the palace and the chapel as well.

I highly recommend purchasing the audio guide which provides you a history of the castle and explains modern uses and traditions still practiced.

Buy tickets in advance. If using the London Pass, make sure the timing is correct.

You could also switch it up and purchase a full-day tour that includes Stonehenge, Windsor, and Bath. Sadly, I did not make it to Stonehenge or Bath, but Windsor Castle was stunning.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

If you're slightly Harry Potter obsessed and would like to step into the real Great Hall, or see the actual Gryffindor Common Room, this is a must see.

BOOK AHEAD! This place sells out so quickly that I nearly missed out. Seriously, book at least two months in advance.

Getting there:

1. About a 50-minute train ride northwest of London, you'll travel to Watford Junction where there will be a Harry Potter themed double-decker bus waiting to take you to the studio. On the bus, they play a video from the cast and studio to keep you entertained on this 15–30-minute ride depending on traffic.

*Caution on the return journey. If you stay until closing, the bus back to the train station gets crowded quickly and I had to wait for two full buses, about 30-45 min, until I could finally board.

2. Alternatively, there is a day tour out of London via Coachbus. If you don't want to deal with the train and waiting for the HP bus, this is great. I

Once at the studio, I suggest that you get the audio tour at minimum. It provides so much detail that you won't get otherwise. Allow at least 2 hours here, more if you've got the time. There is a full food hall at the beginning where you can enjoy Wizarding World classics, a cafe halfway through where you can grab a butterbeer to rest before continuing your journey, and a host of shops at the end where you can buy all your specialty items.

This place was iconic for any HP fan. And don't forget to book your tickets well in advance.

PLACES TO EAT

1. Natural Kitchen

The best place for a vegan English Breakfast plate. There are three locations open now. The St Katharine's Docks location is the one I visited which is now closed. It was a great view and convenient location. The food is well worth a visit though.

2. Bravas Tapas

Also in St. Katharine's Docks area, is this fantastic tapas restaurant with Spanish cocktails, delicious food, and a great view.

The patatas bravas and croquettes were phenomenal.

3. Burrough Market

There is plenty of delicious street food to try here. You can't miss the chocolate covered strawberries!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

London is a great city that everyone should visit at least once. It is easily accessible for international travelers, full of history and has something for everyone. I started my trip in London with two and a half days to explore before taking a 4 hour train up to Edinburgh. It was far cheaper to catch a direct flight out of Orlando into London, than it was to fly into Scotland, so it was a no brainer for me.

It's always my motto that you should plan well but also be open to winging it. When I caught my return flight home out of London, I had an extra day to explore. I bought a day ticket for the Tube and just wandered. It was a great day, and I got to see more of the city than I did on my first round through.