Discover London
Page 1 London Welcome to your free “Discover London” city guide. We have put together a quick and easy guide to some of the best sites in London, a guide to going out and shopping as well as transport information. Don’t miss our local guide to London on page 31. Enjoy your visit to London.
Visitor information...... Page 3
Tate Modern...... Page 9
London Eye...... Page 11
The Houses of Parliament...... Page 13
Westminster Abbey...... Page 15
The Churchill War Rooms...... Page 17
Tower of London...... Page 19
Tower Bridge...... Page 21
Trafalgar Square...... Page 23
Buckingham Palace...... Page 25
Parks...... Page 27
On the streets...... Page 28
More of London...... Page 29
Going Out...... Page 30
Shopping...... Page 30
Local’s guide to London...... Page 31
Page 2 London Visitor Information
London is the capital of England and its largest city. Located on the River Thames, London is home to the Royal Family, the West End, Big Ben, the Tate Modern and much more. It is one of the world’s largest financial centres, and has a hugely diverse population. In fact white Britons are the minority in London as of now.
London has managed to retain a large town feel. It is pretty and does not have the massive skyscrapers of most modern large cities. The climate is temperate, winters are cold but not freezing and summers are more warm than hot. It rains quite often.
Getting there
Air
London is well served by airports. London Heathrow is the world’s busiest international airport. Security here is quite robust so give yourself plenty of time to make your flight. There is also Gatwick, situated south of London, Stanstead, north east of London, and Luton Airport, north of London.
Getting from the Airport:
Heathrow
Heathrow is 15 miles from London city centre. There is an express train to and from Paddington station. The Heathrow Express only takes 15 minutes and costs £22 one way. The underground also goes to Heathrow. Take the Piccadilly line (dark blue). At most the fare will cost £6 and will take under an hour. Depending on where you are in London getting to Paddington for the Express can be a hassle so it generally makes more sense to just get the tube.
National Express and Oxford Bus leave from all terminals. Tickets cost around £6.
Gatwick
The Gatwick Express takes 30 minutes and brings you to Victoria Station in central London. Trains leave every 15 minutes and cost around £18. There are also other trains running to London, though they take longer to get into London.
Page 3 London National Express buses run once an hour and take between an hour and a half and two hours to Victoria Station and start from £8.
Stanstead
Stanstead Express trains run every 15 minutes and prices start from £8. The Express stops in Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale stations in the city centre.
National Express buses run 24 hours a day from Stanstead and prices start from £5.
Getting around
Oyster Card
You simply must get an Oyster card to get around on public transport in London nowadays. You will actually save a lot of money by using these cards as well. You can pick up an Oyster Card at the airport or in train stations. There is an initial charge to buy the card and then you top it up by as much as you want. The card will cost £3 at the airport and £5 at train stations so pick it up when you land. Depending on how often you use it, around £20 should do you for a three day trip to London. Any money left on the card can be refunded at the same machines that top them up. You can also order these online and get them delivered to you before you travel to London. You can now also use contactless credit cards to pay for your journey. It works the same as the oyster (you touch it as you go through turnstile). The same fares apply.
Page 4 London Buses
The bus network runs 24 hours a day, and caters for over 6 million passengers weekly. The red Double Decker buses are recognised worldwide. You can pay for paper tickets at stations or use your Oyster card or contactless credit and debit cards.
Taxi
Cabs are expensive but the drivers do know their way around. Not all the black cabs are black anymore. Download the Hailo app and use that to call your cabs. Coming from the airports you are better off hiring a minicab.
Rail
The tube (the underground) is the oldest and second largest metro system in the world after Shanghai. Over three million journeys are made every day on the underground, servicing all over London. You can use your Oyster Card on the tube. The lines are not named by the final destination as in other cities. Instead they have names such as the Jubilee Line or the Piccadilly line. They are colour coded and quite easy to get used to. We have included a tube map below.
Page 5 London
Page 6 London London attractions by Tube
Victoria Station Westminster Station
Buckingham Palace (also Green Park and St. Westminster Palace (Big Ben) James Park) Westminster Abbey Cabinet War rooms London Eye (also Waterloo Station) Downing Street Florence Nightingale Museum London Bridge Station Charing Cross Station
Tower Bridge Trafalgar Square London Dungeon National Gallery Oxford Circus Station Oxford Street Regent Street
Tower Hill Station South Kensington Station
London Tower Natural History Museum Royal Albert Hall
Covent Garden Station Knightsbridge Station
Covent Garden Market Harrods London Transport Museum Royal Opera House
Bike
London’s Cycle Hire Scheme is spreading right around London and is free to use for the first half an hour. Prices do rise quite steeply after that so be aware. Although large and spread out London is a fantastic city to walk around in. In rush hour it can be quicker to walk between some stations. It will save you money.
Page 7 London Top Tips
Get an Oyster Card.
Get a London map and a tube map straightaway.
You can use Google maps without any data. Put location services on and it will pinpoint where you are. You will not be able to search places however.
Visit the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for cheap, last minute tickets to West End shows.
Tips – 15% for good service, 10% for cabs.
Get a “London Pass” if you are planning on visiting many attractions. It will save you money.
If visiting in the summer, book accommodation well in advance.
The busiest times are July and August. The quietest times are January to March.
On the tube move down to the end of the platform to get more space during busy times. The carriages here may be emptier as well.
Make sure to check ahead for any works on the rails line if you have to be at airport.
Safety/security
Only use taxi or black cabs When out don’t accept drinks from strangers. Although there is a lot of crime in London, most of it occurs in the estates outside the centre. The centre itself is quite safe.
Health
Emergency Number 112 or 999 NHS treatment is free for UK residents. Take out travel insurance. There are countries that hold a UK healthcare agreement. EU residents need a valid EHIC (European Health Insurance Card).
Page 8 London Tate Modern
Situated in an old power station on the banks of the Thames, the Tate Modern is the most visited modern art Gallery in the World and houses works of modern and contemporary art dating from 1900.
Opening times are Sunday to Thursday 10:00am to 6:00pm and Friday to Saturday 10:00am to 10:00pm.
Admission prices
Entry is free to Britain’s national museum of modern art, except for special exhibitions.
Exhibitions
The EY Exhibition: The World Goes Pop (17 September 2015 – 24 January 2016)
Hyundai Commission 2015: Abraham Cruzvillegas (13 October 2015 – 20 March 2016)
Alexander Calder: Performing Sculpture (11 November – 3 April 2016)
Page 9 London Getting to the Tate Modern
(Click on Map to open) By Tube
Nearest stations are Southwark, Blackfriars and St Pauls.
By train
Trains stop at Blackfriars station and London Bridge.
By bus
Routes 45, 63 and 100 stop on Blackfriars Bridge Road. Routes RV1 and 381 stop on Southwark Street. Route 344 stops on Southwark Bridge Road.
More info http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
Page 10 London The London Eye
The world’s highest observation wheel at 135m gives breathtaking views of London’s famous landmarks. Now called the Coca Cola London Eye, it was built in 2000 and originally called the Millennium Wheel.
Admission price
Prices start at around £20 and go up from there depending on which ticket you buy. You will pay more for fast track tickets or day and night tickets, where you get to go up twice. You are also able to get a guided tour or even book your own capsule. Try to book online as there is a discount. Unless it is high season it is probably not worth paying for the fast track. In fact queuing for the ticket will take longer on many occasions so if you have bought it online you can go to the pickup desk which has a much shorter queue.
Opening times
The first rotation begins at 10:00am and opens as late as 11:30pm in the summer, but usually closes around 9:30pm.
Page 11 London Getting to the London Eye
(Click on Map to open)
The London Eye is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, opposite the Houses of Parliament. Tickets can be purchased in County Hall, which is right beside the London Eye. By Tube
Waterloo station is the closest station to the London Eye.
By train
Waterloo and Waterloo East over ground stations are closest to the Eye. By bus
Routes 211, 24 and 11 are some of the buses that service the Waterloo and Southbank areas.
More info https://www.londoneye.com/
Page 12 London The Houses of Parliament
The houses of Parliament are situated in the Palace of Westminster. The two houses of the British Government, the House of Commons and the House of Lords convene here. Check out the view from the South Bank. Big Ben is the name of the Bell in St. Stephen’s Tower or the Clock Tower, only UK residents can climb the tower.
Opening times
The Houses are open on Saturdays from 9:15am to 4:30pm.
Admission prices
Tours cost £15
Page 13 London Getting to the Houses of Parliament
(Click on Map to open) By Tube
The underground and rail stop at Westminster station. By bus
Buses stop near Parliament Square in Victoria Street, opposite the Houses of Parliament.
More info http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/
Page 14 London Westminster Abbey
The Abbey is free to enter if you are going to worship but there is an admission fee if you are visiting. Make sure to pop along at 5:00pm during the week (except Wednesdays) or 3:00pm at weekend to catch an exhilarating performance by the Abbey Choir. Queues to get into the Abbey on weekends and in the summer are very long so get there early.
Opening times
9:30am – 3:30pm
Admission price
Adults £20
Children £17
Page 15 London Getting to Westminster Abbey
(Click on map to open) By Tube
Westminster and St. James Park stations are the closest to the Abbey. By train
Charing Cross and Victoria railway stations are the closest stations to the Abbey.
More info http://www.westminster-abbey.org/
Page 16 London Churchill War Rooms
During the Second World War these basement rooms became the Cabinet War Rooms, from where government ministers, military strategists and the Prime Minister Winston Churchill led the war effort. It was important to Churchill that he and his government remain in central London so as not to let the public think they had been abandoned. There is also a museum dedicated to Churchill here. It is a fascinating look at life during the war. Make sure to watch the video of former workers talking about their time underground.
Opening Times
Monday to Sunday 9:30am to 6:00pm
Admission Prices
Adult: £19
Concession: £15.20
Child: £9.50
Page 17 London Getting to Churchill War Rooms
(click on map to open) By Tube
Westminster and St. James Park stations are close by.
By Bus Routes: 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 87, 88, 109, 148, 159, 184, 211, 453
More info http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms
Page 18 London Tower of London
The Tower of London is a fortress on the North Bank of the Thames. The famous tower was once a royal palace, and prison as well as an armoury and treasury. It is most famous for being home to the Crown Jewels, which are still regularly used by the Queen.
Opening times
Tuesday – Saturday 9:00am – 5:30pm
Sunday – Monday 10:00am – 5:30pm
Last admission 5.00pm
Admission prices
Tickets cost £24.50 for adults and include access to the tower and the crown jewels as well as exhibitions and tours.
Page 19 London Getting to the Tower of London
(Click on Map to open) By Tube
Tower Hill underground station is the closest to the Tower of London. By train
Fenchurch Street is the closest to the Tower and London Bridge station is a little bit further away. By bus
Routes 15, 42, 78, 100 and RV1 will get you close to the tower.
More info http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/
Page 20 London Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge is a drawbridge or Bascule Bridge situated on the Thames near London Tower. The eastern side of the Thames is a busy port so the bridge was designed so that it could be opened for marine traffic. Visit the Tower Bridge exhibition where you get to walk on the high level walkways that have been closed to the public. You can also see the original steam engines that once powered the bridge.
Opening times
Summer opening times are 10:00am to 5:30pm and 9:30am to 5:00pm in the winter.
Admission price
Tickets cost around £14.
Page 21 London Getting to Tower Bridge
(Click on Map to open) By Tube
Tower Hill station is closest to the Bridge. By train
Get off at London Bridge, Fenchurch or Tower Gateway stations. By bus
Routes 15, 42, 78, 100 and RV1 drive by the bridge.
More info http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/lift-times/
Page 22 London Trafalgar Square
Named after the Battle of Trafalgar in the Napoleonic Wars, Trafalgar Square is home to the world famous Nelson’s Column. The column is surrounded by four huge lions, which were cast in Bronze melted down from French and Spanish Cannons. To the North of the Square is the National Gallery, a hugely popular art gallery which is free of charge to enter.
Opening times (National Gallery)
Daily 10:00am – 6:00pm
Friday 10:00am – 9:00pm
Page 23 London Getting to Trafalgar Square
(Click on Map to open) By Tube
Charing Cross is the closest Tube station to Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Embankment are also nearby. By train
Charing Cross rail station is a short walk from the square. By bus
Routes 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 53, 77A, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176, and 453 all go past the square.
More info http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/arts-culture/trafalgar-square
Page 24 London Buckingham Palace
Home to Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace opens to the public for only a certain amount of time each year. It has 775 rooms and is in full use to this day as the administrative headquarters of the Monarch. The changing of the guard happens daily at 11:30am inside the gates of Buckingham Palace.
Opening times
25 July – 31 August 2015 9:30am – 7:30pm
1 September – 27 September 9:30am – 6:30pm
Admission price
Adult £35.60
Senior £32.50
Student £32.50
Child £20
Page 25 London Getting to Buckingham Palace
(Click on Map to open) By Tube
Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner are the closest Tube stations to the Palace. By train
London Victoria is the closest train station. By bus
Routes 11, 211, C1 and C10 stop on Buckingham Palace Road.
More info http://www.royal.gov.uk/theroyalresidences/buckinghampalace/buckinghampalace.aspx
Page 26 London Parks
For such a thriving metropolis, London has some fantastic parkland. Hyde Park (pictured) would be one of the most famous. Here you will find the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. park is open from 5am to midnight every day. St James Park is known for its Pelicans which inhabit the lake. The park is neat to Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. There are also free concerts on here on summer weekends. Holland Park has Japanese Gardens as well as peacocks.
Getting to Hyde Park
By Tube
Get the underground to Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner or Knightsbridge.
Page 27 London On the Streets
The street performers at Covent Garden Market (pictured) are extremely entertaining. You will see some really fun acts here. Or visit a market, Camden Market, Greenwich Market and Portobello Market are the most famous. Burough Market near London Bridge is another excellent Market. Try the confit duck in a roll, they’re divine!
Getting to Covent Garden
By Tube
There is a Tube station at Covent Garden.
Page 28 London Sir John Soane’s Museum
This fascinating house has been left untouched since the death of its owner, architect Sir John Soane, 180 years ago. It’s full of his works of art, sculptures and artefacts and is free to enter.
Madame Tussauds
Meet the world’s most famous people at this fantastic wax museum. Opening times vary between 8:30am and 9:30am and closing times between 5:30pm and 7:00pm depending on the time of year. Door price is £30 for an adult and £25.80 for a child. Prices increase in the summer. Buying your tickets online can save you money. Madame Tussauds is on Marylebone Road, a two minute walk from Baker Street Station.
Visit https://www.madametussauds.com/London/ for more info.
The Museum of London
The Museum is home to 7 million objects, including old English artefacts and treasures from around the world. Open Monday to Sunday, 10:00am to 6:00pm. Get to tube to Barbican or St. Paul’s.
All of London’s major museums are free.
Visit http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/london-wall/ for more info.
London Zoo
London Zoo opened to the public in 1847 and has grown into one of the best in the world. Features and exhibits include England’s biggest penguin pool, the “into Africa” exhibit, “Tiger Territory” and a rainforest. There are plenty of cafes around to grab something eat and take a break. Open from 10:00am until 6:00pm in the summer and 10:00am until 4:00pm in the winter. Adult price is £27 and £19 for children. It’s cheaper online. The Zoo is a short ride from Baker Street Station.
Visit http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo for more info.
Page 29 London Going out
Pubs in London usually close around 11:00pm, but late bars will stay open until around 1:30am on weekdays and up to 3:00am on the weekends. Clubs can stay open until 4:00am, though some open right through until 8:00am.
The area around Covent Garden and Leicester Square are very popular. Just walk the streets and partake in some bar-hopping. Clapham Junction area has lots of different types of pubs and clubs.
If you fancy something more up-market, head to South Kensington or the West End, where you will find some really trendy but very expensive bars and clubs. Head east to Shoreditch or Soho for the more student/artsy crowd.
Brixton is becoming quite popular now as well.
Shopping
Oxford Street has over 300 shops and is home to Selfridges, John Lewis, Debenhams, Primark and many more. Take the Tube to Oxford Circus, Bond Street or Tottenham Court Road.
For more exclusive and upmarket shopping head to Bond Street and Mayfair where you will find Burberry, Louis Vuitton and other upmarket brands.
If you want to go to a shopping centre, Westfield has two in London at White City and Stratford. There are very large malls with a huge amount of shops as well as bars, restaurants, cinemas and gyms. There are Tube stations at White City and Stratford.
You will find Harrods and Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge (Knightsbridge Tube station). King’s Road has trendy boutiques (Sloane Square Tube station). Savile Row is home to many famous tailors and the flagship Abercrombie and Fitch store (Bond Street Tube station).
Page 30 London A local’s guide to London
Places to eat
Although England isn’t famed for its cuisine, London is home to cooks from every corner of the globe, and these days there is nothing you can’t eat in London. For a variety of cheap eats, check out some of London’s best markets. Borough Market by London Bridge has superb organic produce and delicious seasonal dishes made from local ingredients, and at the weekends you should head to the markets of Camden Lock for all manner of international cuisines, or to Brick Lane’s food halls if you like your lunch with spice.
Restaurants range from the fantastic (if minute) Afghan Kitchen on Islington Green to Zizzi Ristorante, a growing chain of Italian restaurants you’ll find spread across the capital. As a rule of thumb, you will find the best Indian restaurants around Brick Lane and Commercial Street, and also in southwest London in Southall. There are numerous Turkish and Middle Eastern eateries on the Edgware Road, and Soho is synonymous with Chinatown. There are great places for fish and chips in Spitalfields, and the Golden Hind in Marylebone has been serving up Britain’s national dish for more than 100 years.
Of course, there may be occasions when you want to splash out on a truly memorable meal, and in London you’ll be spoilt for choice. Maggie Jones’s is a Kensington institution with excellent meats and a rustic feel, and if you fancy a more sophisticated menu but still in unpretentious surroundings, you won’t do better than 10 Greek Street, which takes its name from its address.
Little-known gems
On Sunday mornings, the place to be is Columbia Road, home to one of London’s most popular flower markets. You can buy flowers and plants by the armful, street musicians perform on the curb side, and there are plenty of chic cafes, shops and stalls to browse for knickknacks and souvenirs.
Richmond Deer Park in southwest London is the best place for an afternoon walk. Once a royal hunting ground, this huge open space is still home to more than 600 red and fallow deer, and you will also see numerous species of birds. There is an ornamental garden in the centre of the park, and it is a superb place to run, cycle or ride if you want some exercise.
The Victoria and Albert Museum has one of the finest collections of applied arts in the world, and yet is often overlooked by first time visitors to London. It is free to enter, and the displays of fashion and textiles, jewellery, stained glass and renaissance architecture are quite extraordinary. You could easily spend days inside.
History lovers should head to Hampton Court, which was once the home of Henry VIII. This magnificent palace in Richmond upon Thames was built in 1514 and is set amidst 60 acres of gardens. Highlights include the royal tennis court, the world’s most famous maze, and William III’s state apartments, and there are fascinating temporary exhibitions too.
Page 31 London Last but not least, see the Thames from the water. You can use your Oyster card on scheduled river boat services between Hampton Court and Woolwich Arsenal, jumping on and off at convenient stops along the way, or get a ticket on a Duck Bus tour, driving the streets and then plunging into the water in your WWII amphibious vehicle.
(By Sophie Ibbotson)
Sophie Ibbotson is a director of Maximum Exposure Productions, a company which promotes emerging markets. She's the author of five Bradt Travel Guides.
Page 32 London