Roaming with Red

So, you’ve arrived in London! It’s a big, bustling city with a hundred different things to do and you have no idea where to start! Well, I hope the below will give you some guidance. This is by far not an exhaustive list and I’m sure I will add to it but it’s some thought starters from my first two weeks in the city. It also will not include any places to eat and drink. That will come in another blog post because there are simply too many places to mention!

Walk the City

I’m sure everyone’s sick of me writing this but if there’s something you should do first, it’s walk. Get a feel for how the city behaves, how the traffic moves and what takes your fancy. There is so much to see and do that getting a feel for the city first, even if it’s just for a morning, is such a good way to orient yourself.

If you’re in need of inspiration, and want a walk that combines both the city and some scenery, below might help. Start at Kensington Gardens, wander through the big, green expanse and find your way into Hyde Park. You can pretty much spend as little or as much time as you want here wandering through the different parts of the garden. You might even spot a squirrel or two! From Hyde Park, make your way into Green Park and see Buckingham Palace (even just to tick it off the list) and keep going onto Trafalgar Square. It’s a decent walk but you’ll find yourself going from beautiful greenery right into the hustle and bustle of the city!

Explore the Boroughs and Areas of London

The different suburbs of London and outer London are so different to each other you have to see as much as you can. Central London is extremely different to East London which is once again very different to West London. Everything is easily accessible by the Tube and it’s another opportunity to find the London that you enjoy most.

Explore Chiswick in the West for a leafy and residential area that still has plenty of life in it. There are some lovely places to sit on the River Thames and enjoy an afternoon beer here. Head slightly closer to the city and you’ll find Fulham, a slightly more up-market, bustling suburb with some great produce and craft shops. I’d highly recommend visiting Fulham Palace while you’re here – its gardens are a lovely place for a lazy afternoon and the actual building itself is quite remarkable! Head much further East and you’ll hit Hackney. This area definitely gives off that grunge, Melbourne hipster vibe so expect to find plenty of craft breweries hidden in massive industrial buildings.

Make the Most of the Free Museums

This is one I definitely have done a lot of! A lot of the major museums and art galleries in London offer free entry and it is something that you really need to take advantage of! There is such a wide range of museums and galleries to see that there simply has to be something for everyone. Below is a list of ones I’ve seen and are worth a look.

Museum of London – I am a lover of history so this was one of my favourite museums to visit. It essentially provides a comprehensive history of London, from prehistoric times to now. The exhibitions are extremely informative and fascinating and some are even interactive! You can sometimes forget how much history this one city has been a part of!

Tate Modern – for all you modern art lovers out there, this is the one to see. Not all the exhibitions are free, you normally have to pay for special showings, but the free galleries are definitely worth a look! There are some incredibly talented people in this world and the gallery does a great job of championing modern art.

British Museum – This is a museum you simply cannot do in a day. There is SO MUCH to see here! I spent three hours in the museum and only barely touched the surface. The artefacts on display cover almost anything you can think of and it is fascinating to see so many different cultures in one place. I will acknowledge that lots of the artefacts on show were taken from their traditional custodians and not freely given so I will let each person make up their own individual minds about a visit and the right or wrong of the museum.

National Gallery – This is another stunning collection of art, but probably more geared towards your classical painters. The collection they have in this museum is incredible as you wander through room after room, from Italy to France to Holland and beyond. It’s also in prime position sitting right at the top of Trafalgar Square – the balcony provides quite an imposing view of the city below so make sure you take a look!

Tower of London (THIS IS NOT FREE SO I’M BEING A BIT SNEAKY HERE!!!) – ok, it’s not technically free but it’s a museum so I figured I may as well include it here. The main attraction in the Tower of London are The Crown Jewels.  As pieces of artwork, they are absolutely stunning. There is so much history contained in these few pieces and it’s insane to think of the generations of monarchs who have worn those Jewels (I have a slight moral objection to the concept but that’s a conversation for another day). However, there is also so much to see in the Tower beyond just the Crown Jewels. Those walls have seen centuries of history come and go as the city has grown and changed around them. I found the whole place fascinating so would highly recommend you find some time to check it out.

That’s a wrap for the first of these but I’m sure there will be plenty more to come so stay tuned.