London is one of the most awesome cities on the planet. It is packed full of history, culture, food, shopping—basically everything you could ask for. If you are studying abroad in the UK, it can also be fantastically easy to get to.
While living in Norwich for the past eight months, I have visited London numerous times, but never really spent longer than four consecutive days there. As it is so easy to get to, I usually just take a day trip there and avoid paying for very expensive accommodation. So here are three different day trips, each tailored to what type of mood you are in:
1. Shopping!
One of my favourite things to do in London is shop. There is just much more choice and variety than there is in Norwich.
Covent Garden is a great place to start as there is a lot of choice and a great street atmosphere. You need to visit Ben's Cookies in Covent Garden Piazza, as they are amazing. Make your way through Soho following the road past Hamley's, which is a world famous toy store. You then end up on Oxford Street which is a major shopping district in London with plenty of designer and high street stores to keep you company.
You should finish with dinner at Selfridges. If you make your way to the top level of Selfridges, there is a food canteen/restaurant place which is delicious and quite reasonably priced.
2. The Tudors!
History is everywhere in London. It breathes wherever you go. While England's history covers thousands of years, most peoples' image of England is dominated by the Tudors. So if you want to tailor your day trip towards them there is a few top sites you should hit.
Firstly, the most impressive is the Tower of London. Although this is quite removed from the rest of the tourist centres of London, it is definitely worth a visit. You also get to see Tower Bridge, another iconic London location. Another site worthy of a complete day trip in itself is Hampton Court Palace, the home of the infamous Henry VIII. This is a 45-minute train ride from Waterloo. You should also check out Westminster Abbey, another iconic building in London, which is the burial place of many monarchs in England. It is also where many are married and are crowned.
3. Royal!
If you fancy a royal day in London there is plenty to see and do. I would recommend starting at Kensington Palace, the home of Prince William and Duchess Kate. Then take a leisurely stroll through Hyde Park with a quick stop at the Albert Memorial and Albert Hall to remind you of Victorian times.
If you make your way through Kensington, you will eventually find yourself in Knights Bridge where you can make a stop at Harrods. This is England's fanciest department store and also where the Queen shops. Then just keep heading east and you will find yourself at Buckingham Palace, the most royal place in England. (Of course, you need to take the clichéd tourist moment with the guards.) If you still have time, you can continue through St. James Park and end up at Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.
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