It’s not exactly news that London is one of the world’s most popular city-break destinations – indeed, attractions like the London Eye, Big Ben and Tate Modern are icons instantly recognised by visitors from across the globe.
However, you’d be surprised by the sheer numbers of people who make poor use of their time on a short one or two-day break in the British capital. So, to help ensure you aren’t one of them, here are some of the best ways to get the best out of your every minute here.
Stay somewhere relatively central
Sure, if you had a week in London, you could be justified in choosing a hotel in one of the cheaper outskirt boroughs and travelling into the centre each day to experience the major attractions.
If time’s at a premium, though, you won’t want to waste it stuck in buses or tube trains that seem to take forever to get to ‘that’ attraction you’ve specifically come to London to see.
That’s why conveniently located City of London hotels might be an especially attractive option for your short break in the capital. The popular Dorsett City London, for instance, is within walking distance of massive tourist draws like the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
List everything you want to do in advance
With its total area sprawling over more than 600 square miles and 1,500 square kilometres, London is a vast, vast city. If, then, you have specific sites or attractions in mind that you definitely wish to see, it’s a good idea to mark them off on a map well ahead of your trip.
Doing this will allow you to group together those attractions that are physically closest to each other and prioritise them on your visit, so that you don’t find yourself constantly walking for an hour or more between sites.
Take the Tube almost everywhere…
While the ‘Tube’ – the term more-or-less everyone uses to refer to the London Underground – can feel confusing and overwhelming initially for first-time visitors, once you do get to grips with it, it’s pretty much unrivalled among the various ways to whisk yourself around the capital.
One does have to apply some caveats to this tip in the current COVID-19 times, though. First of all, at the time of typing, those travelling on the Underground network were required to face coverings for the full duration of their journeys, as stated by the Transport for London (TfL) website.
Secondly, it’s advisable to target non-peak times for using the Tube, so that you can easily find a seat and maintain the social distancing that is so important for all of us right now if we are to stay safe.
…or walk or cycle instead
Now, hold on a minute. This particular tip may seem to contradict the spirit of the previous few with regard to how to make the most of what might be very limited time in London.
But really, it depends on what kind of break in London you wish to enjoy. If you have a list of specific attractions that you feel you simply have to see, by all means, it’s probably best for you to use the Tube.
However, if you instead wish to simply immerse yourself in London’s atmosphere and perhaps stumble across some less expected charms along the way, walking can be a wonderful way to discover the city with its various fascinating nooks and crannies.
Hire a Santander Cycle at points along the way, and you might be surprised by the brisk progress you make around the city in the space of a day.
Embrace London’s hidden gems
Again, it may seem odd to suggest that if you only have a few days at best available to you in London, the best thing is to eschew obvious attractions like Buckingham Palace or Oxford Street.
The most rewarding London breaks, however, often combine such ‘household-name’ sights with visits to the capital’s seemingly endless supply of hidden gems – think quirky bars, lesser-known museums, easily forgotten gardens and so much more, as revealed by Time Out.
Apply the above tips to your next weekend or few days in London, and you’re likely to derive even greater enjoyment from what is already a highly fulfilling city for visitors of every taste.
The post 5 ways to make the most of your whistle-stop London break first appeared on Travel Toodle.