Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day life of living in London and forget to really enjoy the city. Next time you can spare a day from reading and coursework, consider taking a day to be a tourist in the city and see it through different eyes. In need of a couple of ideas to start you off? We can help with that!
The Food
Have you ever walked past those places with really long queues for the latest Instagram food trend and wondered what the fuss was all about? Take bubblewrapwaffle in Chinatown, for example. The wait can be crazy so consider getting there at opening time or just before closing, but this is definitely one to try. Or, if you’re more of a doughnut person, try Doughnut Time for sweet treats topped with Kit Kats and Kinder Eggs (yes, whole Kinder eggs). Whilst these might not be the best food choices for every day, as a tourist you might never get the chance again…
If it’s less sweet treats and more real meals you’re after, consider returning to a childhood favourite or pop culture phenomenon. The Rainforest Café and Bubba Gump Shrimp Company are both heavily themed and not too expensive – perfect for a trip you might not usually take!
The Sights
London has some of the most recognisable tourist attractions in the world, and it’s definitely worth spending a day exploring some. A trip on the London Eye or a stroll across Tower Bridge might not be how you spend most of your time but try a little change and embrace one or two tourist hotspots (just maybe not at peak tourist times…). Don’t forget to take lots of photos!
The Museums
London has a museum for everything and so many are free! If you’re taking a module on war, head on down to the Imperial War Museum. Medieval module instead? Try the British Museum! This is a great chance to do a bit of background research on your subjects in ways that go beyond the coursepack or what’s uploaded to KEATS. If you’re after something a little less conventional then try the Clink Prison Museum (not quite free, but offers student tickets) for a trip to a prison that’s almost 1000 years old.
The Theatre
London has one of the best theatre scenes in the world and part of the reason it’s so successful is the tourist traffic that sustains it. For a traditional experience, try The Mousetrap or Les Misérables, respectively the longest running play and musical in the world. Or, if you want to try something a little different, check out Everybody’s Talking About Jamie or The Exorcist.
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London might be your place of study, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun here too. Combine any of our suggestions into a day where you put down the books and explore the city to your heart’s content, without feeling bad about talking hundreds of photos or dawdling to look at the things you find interesting. Let us know what you get up to!