Okay, now you're ready.
So, there are a lot of reasons to get stoked for our upcoming trip to London, not counting EVERYONE SPEAKS ENGLISH THERE! Steve and I loved living there while he was getting his PhD, and every trip back feels a little bit like going home. I've put together some of our favorite spots in London for you to check out, but don't let our experience limit you. Let London take you where it will, and I promise you'll have a smashing time!
Getting Around:
First of all, you gotta get around, and you will all have three-day passes to the Underground (or Tube). I'm sure you will find it to be a very similar system to the Paris Metro. Here's a London Underground Map to use as a reference, and, like in Paris, they have one at each Tube stop. Be sure to plan your trips by area to make sure you get the most of our time in London. Less than three days is going to go very fast! Also, if you're out late, you may want to take advantage of the Black Cabs. They are expensive, but can come in handy. Just be sure you get into a black cab vs. what the British call a mini-cab. Many of them are reputable, but they aren't certified and controlled like the black cabs, so I'd avoid them if I were you. I've taken the Tube late at night many times, and it's usually no big deal, but be sure to stay in groups to minimize the chance of a problem.
Historical Sites:
If you're into history, London is a fantastic city for you. For ancient history and anthropology, you might want to visit the British Museum. If you're into WWII history you can check out Cabinet War Rooms. One of my favorite historical sites in London is Tower of London & Tower Bridge. Here' where you can see the Crown Jewels, classic English Beefeaters, and Tower Bridge (what we American's usually think of as London Bridge).
You also can't go to London without visiting Big Ben & Parliament and right next door is Westminster Abbey, the coronation and burial site of most British royalty. And since we're talking about royalty, you must see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace if you haven't, and if you want to travel out of London a bit you can go see the royal family's place in the country, Windsor Castle.
Parks & Gardens:
If you want to see some of the most beautiful parks in the world, you won't want to miss Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens. Kensington Gardens also holds Kensington Palace, the home of the late Princess Diana. It has a nice tour with the history of the building and area as well. Another of my favorite green spaces in London is Regent's Park. It's close to the Camden Market (more on that in a minute), so if you make it up there, it's a great walk along the canals to Regent's Park.
Shopping:
If you like to go shopping, you will not be disappointed in London. Probably the most popular and famous place for London Shoppers is Oxford Street, which is full of people, noise, and just about any other store you can imagine.
If you want to go more high end and see where the royals shop, you have to go to Knightsbridge, home of Harrod's, where the Queen shops, and Harvey Nichol's where Princess Di shopped and the young royals still go to get fashionable and fabulous. This neighborhood is also full of high-end designer shops like Gucci and Prada, so you pretty much have to be a royal to afford anything here. But a little window-shopping never hurt anybody, right?
My favorite shopping area in London is in Soho, around Covent Garden. Here you find a lot of interesting and unique shops that are less pricey and more interesting than the high-end neighborhoods. The areas around Charring Cross Road are some of my favorites, and like The Marais here in Paris, it's a great place to get lost for an afternoon.
Two other favorites of mine are Portobello Road and Camden Market. Saturday will be the best time to visit both. Portabello Road is the area of Notting Hill featured in the film of the same name, and is a great market to check out interesting antiques, funky new and vintage clothing, handbags, and just about everything else. There's a German guy who sells the best bratwurst I've ever had on one of the corners there, and I'm hoping he's still around. Camden Market is more youthful and funky, and full of tons of amazingly cool shops selling clothing with a London street vibe. There are also open-air markets on Saturday, but everyday is cool in Camden.
Theater:
Some of my favorite memories in London are from some of the great theater we saw while we lived there. First and foremost, no one does Shakespeare like the British; they just get it more than the rest of us I think, and I saw some amazing productions while I lived in London. You can check out plays at the South Bank Center, but for a more authentic Shakespearian experience, check out a play at the Globe Theater, also on the South Bank.
More great theater can be found in the West End, where you'll find Broadway style musicals and plays. You can see all that is running online, and for the best prices you'll want to go to the Leister Square Box Office. It's similar to the TKTS box office in Times Square in New York, and you definitely get the best deals there. If you want to try your luck, many theaters sell last minute tickets for a discounted rate. It's a bit of a gamble, but I scored front row center seats to Les Miserables this way, and it was amazing. Check with the theater box offices themselves to see if they offer these kinds of last minute deals.
Art & Architecture:
We are definitely getting a ton of great art here in Paris, but there's also a lot to be seen in London. If you're into modern and contemporary art, you'll want to check out the Tate Modern and Tate Britain. The building of the Tate Modern is worth seeing in and of itself. There's also the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square; it's London's equivalent of the Louvre (no where near as big or overwhelming though). One of my favorites is the National Portrait Gallery, where you get a little bit of art, a little bit of history, and a little bit of pop culture all in one place. Right now they're having an exhibition of 60's rock photography from the Beatles to Bowie. Sounds good to me, and like the National Gallery, it's FREE!
If you're at Trafalgar Square, you should also check out St. Martin's In The Fields. There are tours of this historic church and it's crypt, and they host many free classical concerts there on a regular basis. Not far from Trafalgar Square is one of London's most famous churches, St. Paul's Cathedral. You can climb the dome and get what I think is the best view you can find of London. Oh, and the architecture isn't bad either.
Other Fun Things To Do:
If you have never been to a wax museum, Madame Taussaud's is something not to be missed. It's cool and creepy and really very London. Another great way to get the best views of London imaginable is to go on the London Eye. It's just across the bridge from Big Ben and is a great way to see all of London in a covered, temperature-controlled pod. And every time someone came to visit when we lived in London, the first night we always took them to see the view of the Thames and London from Waterloo Bridge. Check it out if you're near it at night, you won't forget it.
What to Eat:
So in doing all this sight seeing you're bound to get hungry, so here's my favorites in London. First and foremost there's Wagamama, a cool Asian noodle bar that has locations all over the city. Seriously, you can't turn around without seeing one somewhere, but they really are one of my favorites. When I was in London last my friends introduced me to Gourmet Burger Kitchen, and it was the best burger I've ever had. They're also all over the place, so you are bound to find one in whatever neighborhood you're in. If you want to have some good, cheap Indian food, be sure to go to Kahn's, near Hyde Park. And if you want something a little more mainstream, check out both Pizza Express and ASK. They're pizza chains, but have good salads and are not too expensive. All these restaurants' websites have menus so you can check out the prices before you go. But really, for a cheap meal on the go, all the sandwich bars in London are pretty good, and I always liked Prêt A Manger.
So, that's my take of London. I can't wait to see what you all find during your time there. Remember, the only thing we have scheduled is the opera at Covent Garden Opera House on Friday night. Be sure to be there early because they won't let you in until intermission if you're late, and you'll miss half the opera that way!
It's going to be great to be there with all of you, and be sure to let me know if you have any questions!
Lock decor.
Then on to dinner.
I'm still trying to figure out why Steve (and Chelsea) got the Tartare.
Finding a home for our locks.
And I had no idea that Jack had become so attached to his lock and was heartbroken when he realized he had to leave it. We appeased him by giving him Garret's (sorry Garret).
Throwing the key into the Seine.
Our own row of locks.
And if you ever want to find yours again, look for section 23A.
