London

Post on London

This post has been made possible by generous contributions from: Miranda and Rebecca

It’s pretty expensive here and the most New York like city.

They use the pound.

If you use Orange as your phone provider you get a deal once a week at Pizza Express!

The tube is one of the greatest transportation systems I’ve been on. I wish the subways in New York were like this, it’s almost idiot proof. Get an oyster card.  You’ll pay a 5pound deposit which you’ll get back when you return your card to a window at the end of your stay.  You can refill it as much as you want. (If you are there for a semester, apply for the student one immediately.  Consider getting an unlimited)

You have to call a car service to take you to/from the airport if you don’t want to use the express trains because cabs are very expensive.  The car service was actually relatively cheap for more than an hour drive. Hummingbird is the name of the car service.  Try to only use this if you get in after the tube is closed.

From the Gatwick/Stanstead station the Easybusy is convenient (but beware: have to walk a bit to accommodation) as is the Gatwick Express or Stanstead Express, which are trains and you can transfer to the Tube from there (that’s what we did)

Accommodations 

We stayed with a friend so I don’t have specifics.  London’s pretty big, so keep that in mind when picking a hotel because you want to know the area you’re in.  My favorite area was the theatre district (Leichester Square/Oxford Circus).  Rebecca says: it is crucial you stay in Zone 1 (she agrees with my favorite area)

Food

GO FOR TEA.  Book from that website, they offer deals.  We went to the Chesterfield Hotel and it was amazing.  Be prepared to eat a lot.  You wouldn’t think that finger foods would fill you up so much, but you really will get stuffed.  Make a reservation.

Brick Lane is not a hotel, but a street known for their Indian food.  They all have these really good 10 pound specials

Camden Market is not a restaurant, but a market that also has really good shopping for jewelry and even clothes.  But they also have every type of exotic food you could possibly think of (including American) and they give out free samples.  I ate more here than at any other point in my entire life

Belgo: Really good Belgium food in the theatre district.  It has a really cool setup and layout and the food was good

Hummingbird Bakery: Also in the theatre district area, they had GLUTEN FREE cupcakes and other cupcakes and it was amazing.  They also have regular cupcakes and they are “American style” in case you missed Magnolia while abroad.

Planet Organic: if you’re gluten free or a health nut, you must go here.  Just trust me.

Yo! Sushi: Sushi on a conveyor belt!

Pizza Express: It’s Italian food.  Get the pizza leggere: the middle is cut out and replaced with a salad.  This venue is more of a sit down than grab a slice

Pret: they are everywhere.  It’s a sandwich place just like the one in America.  Amazing porridge that sells out early in the day

Eat: a chain similar to Pret

Wagamama: Asian noodle house that everyone freaks out about

Supermarkets (ordered from best to grossest)

Hakkasan– Fancy chinese (take parents!)

Zuma: Fancy Japanese (take parents!)

J. Sheeky– Fancy fish place (take parents!)

Supermarkets Rated from Best to Grossest:

Marks and Spencer- great prepared food!

Waitrose

Sainsbury

Sainsbury Express

Tesco

Salads: go to Tossed or Pure

Patisserie Vallerie– the closest thing to brunch

Coffee: Costa Coffee, Cafe Nero

Things to Do

See a show on West End.   Even if you’re not a big theatre person it’s just a good thing to do- kind of like how people see Broadway shows when they come to New York.  A lot of shows have runs on West End before transferring to Broadway so that’s cool if you can see a new show before it comes to America. They also have classic musicals.  You really can’t go wrong.  You can get student rush tickets for 30 pounds if you show up an hour before (best luck with shows that are not as popular).  I saw Matilda (now coming to Broadway! I hated it.  Miranda LOVED it.).  SEE LES MIS.  Longest running musical, and it originated in London.

Bourough Market– near the London Bridge.  It has AMAZING food.  Rebecca says “the veggie burgers were beyond”

Porabello Market– In Notting Hill.  Antiques.

Big Ben, Parliament, Westminister Abbey, Eye of London: All near each other.  You can actually see the first three from the outside and call it a day (or go inside the Abbey) but the eye of London is really cool to go on.  You buy a ticket which gives you an assigned time and then you wait online.  I mean it was amazing, but if you don’t go you won’t be missing out on THAT much.

Tower of London, London Bridge

Buckingham Palace: WHERE THE QUEEN LIVES!  It’s really pretty.  There’s also a nice park (Green Park) right next to it which was fun (speaking of Parks: Rebecca’s favorite is Regents Park).  The changing of the guards is on alternate days

Kings Cross Station: if you’re a Harry Potter nut and want to take a picture wheeling a cart into platform 9 and 3/4. It’s located by the bookstore, you don’t have to like go into the platform area

Abbey Road: Didn’t go, I’m sure you all know what this is.

Portobello Market: Another great market.  I think this one is only open on Saturdays.

Odeon: If a movie comes out while you’re abroad that is a must-see (i.e. Hunger Games), see it in London!! Assigned seating.

You can now go on tours of the Olympic Stadium and see where Aly Raisman did her magic

Or you can take a boat to Greenwich to see the Prime Meridian

Museums are free except for special exhibits that you need to book online in advance.  Museums include:

Royal Academy, British Museum, National Gallery, Tate/Tate Modern.

Imperial War Museum: I’m upset we didn’t get to go.  Heard AMAZING things from people who went upwards of 4 times.  Go if you’re really into wars and World War 2, like I am.

Shopping

Harrods: nice department store thats fun to just go in

Top Shop: in Oxford Circus is the best.  New inventory weekly. 3 floors. I got vertigo.

Shopping Streets: Oxford Street, Carnaby Street, Regent Street

Pubs

White Heart

The Court– next to UCL, a popular student pub

Princess Louise: historic vibe

Camden Pub Crawl: pretty fun time, went to a biker bar

Bars/Clubs

Mondays: Tiger Tiger(Leicester Sq), Moonies (fratty, Tottenham Court Road area),

Tuesdays: Sports Cafe (Leicester Sq)

Wednesdays: Roxy (fratty basement, Tottenham Court Road area), China White (Oxford Circus, may be a different night for you)

Thursday: O’Neils (Chinatown), Proud (Camden)

Zoo (Leicester Sq)

Cirque (Oxford Circus)

Mahiki (fancy)

Fabric– insane, all night place

Ministry of Sound