Welcome to a semi-regular series where I recap my visit to a European city with recommendations of the best activities I found. Semi-regular because I’m on a budget and I have class.
First up, London.
I spent my first three weeks abroad in London and fell in love with the city. I walked around a lot, navigated the tube, and only got lost twice. It was hard to narrow my options down, but here were my five favorite places.
1. The Globe
I am an English major and have always dreamt of going to visit The Globe, which is famously associated with the playwright William Shakespeare. While there, I got to see the play Boudica and while it is not a work of Shakespeare’s, the performance was so amazing. I stood during the play, an experience reminiscent of Shakespeare’s time, and it was cool to have the actors interact with the crowd. The entire night was magical and I definitely recommend seeing a play there!
2. City Hall
For fans of modern architecture, this building is the place to go. While it’s only open to the public during Open House Weekend (one weekend in London where buildings are open for the public to explore) seeing it from the outside is still amazing. The spiral design is unique and provides great opportunities for pictures.
3.The National Gallery
One great thing about London is that a lot of the museums are free! The National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square and houses so many incredible works of art. The galleries inside are a maze of paintings, sculptures, and will provide hours of exploration. After you’re done, you can sit outside in the square and enjoy the local artists and performers who tend to frequent the area.
4. Borough Market
This food market is a plethora of amazing stalls ranging from meats to cheese to fresh fruit. I visited this market a few times and was never disappointed in my meal. One time I ate fresh pasta and another fresh mozzarella with focaccia. Needless to say if you visit this market, you will have a hard time deciding what to eat. My recommendation? Just get everything.
5. Millennium Bridge
I will be the first to admit that I’m not the biggest fan of bridges. I just can’t wrap my head around how they hold so much weight without collapsing. So I was not initially a fan of the Millennium Bridge, which when it first opened in 2000 had to be closed because it swayed too much. But my friend dragged me across the bridge and I’m glad she did. The bridge not only provides stunning views on both sides, it is in a great location. On one side you can go to St. Paul’s Cathedral and the other takes you straight to the Tate Modern, The Globe, and Borough Market.
Hope you enjoyed reading and stay tuned for my next destination!