London is home to some of the world’s most infamous tourist spots, from Big Ben to Buckingham Palace and even the London Eye. But after studying abroad in the city for three months, here are some of the places I think more people should visit and explore.
- The East End
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London’s East End is a trendy area that expresses love for art, food, and shopping. At the heart of the East End is a half mile stretch of road called Brick Lane. This street is best known for its curry, street art, and bagels.
Two 24/7 bagel shops have been running side by side for the past 52 years and there is a debate amongst locals about which is the best. The “yellow one”, Beigel Shop, has been in business since 1855, whereas the “white one”, Beigel Bake, has been open since 1974. I recommend trying them both and making a decision for yourself.Â
Just a 12-minute walk from these bagel shops is an underrated food and shopping market called Spitalfields Market. There are over 100 food and retail vendors selling items like jewelry, paintings and clothing. I personally recommend trying a grilled cheese sandwich from The Melt.
Original photo by Emily Kudryk - South Kensington
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In 1851, the first ever international world’s fair took place in Hyde Park, and with the profits, Queen Victoria decided to transform South Kensington to honor her late husband, Prince Albert. Today, South Kensington is one of the most high-end boroughs and is home to many colleges, museums, and monuments.
One of the most infamous and vast museums in this area is the Victoria and Albert Museum, also referred to as the V&A. This free to enter museum displays many unique collections such as fashion, architecture and the Cast Courts. It also has more traditional collections like statues, paintings, and books. If you go, you should not skip the cafe or the garden as both have magnificent displays of overlooked artwork.Â
Just a short walk away from the museum is the Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park located right next to Kensington Palace. Scattered through the park are many statues and memorials, the most famous one being the Albert Memorial. Walking through these parks gives you a great sense of how the locals in London enjoy their free time, with many biking, running and playing with their dogs.
Original photo by Emily Kudryk - The City of London
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Did you know the City of London is only one square mile, and the rest of London is technically Greater London? The Romans established this piece of land in 47 AD as the capital of Roman Britain. This means it is home to London’s longest and deepest history. Today, it is the financial capital of England with many well-known businesses having offices there. This includes the headquarters of the Bank of England, which is best known for its gorgeous architecture. It is also home to the world’s largest gold reserves. St. Paul’s Cathedral is another architect based tourist destination best known for its 365-foot dome built in 1710. It is also where Winston Churchill’s funeral was held.Â
But the place I recommend visiting the most is Leadenhall Market. Even though its architecture is also immaculate, it is also a wonderful place to grab a couple drinks or eat. If you go at the right time, you will see many business men in suits crowd the local pubs to grab a pint after a long day at work. I think this sums up a part of London’s culture quite well.
- Kings Cross
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Kings Cross is most notoriously known for the fictional platform nine and three-quarters depicted in the Harry Potter franchise. Many tourists line up everyday to take pictures at the photo op that Universal Studios has displayed in the train station. But many people do not explore Kings Cross any further than this.Â
Just outside of the train station, you are able to explore Coal Drops Yard which was an old coal yard that has been converted into an outdoor shopping center. It acts as a community hub as many friends and families gather and play in this area.Â
Another asset to this area is Regent’s Canals Towpath. This is a nine-mile walking route connecting different parts of London and allows for many houseboats to nestle on the canal. One of these boats has been converted to a bookstore called Word on the Water. It is docked on the towpath in Kings Cross and has gained a lot of attention through social media. The space is very inviting and allows for a pleasant book shopping experience.
Original photo by Emily Kudryk
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