The UK capital truly has something for every tourist, whether you’re excited by historic museums, hip shops, Michelin-starred restaurants or beautiful green parklands. Instead of a foreign holiday this summer, why not discover what London has to offer instead?
London’s famous museums—such the V&A, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum—are rightly renowned, but the city also has some lesser known museums that are equally fascinating. Take a trip to the Horniman Museum in South London’s Forest Hill. It holds the collection of a Victorian tea trader and includes Haitian voodoo shrines, an aquarium, musical instruments from all over the world, and a giant overstuffed walrus.
Also worth a visit is the Wellcome Collection near Euston. As well as rotating exhibitions on the ground floor (past exhibits have included a scientific exploration of societal attitudes to dirt through the ages and the history of hallucinogenic drugs) it has a fascinating permanent collection which includes medical implements from history and work by Pablo Picasso.
If you’re looking to shop, London has a store for every budget and style. You could explore the markets in Camden and Spitalfields, head to Oxford Street for every high street option imaginable…or, if you’re looking for something different, you could find yourself in Rei Kawakubo’s six-story concrete Commes des Garcons warehouse. The aesthetic trends towards corrugated iron and animal skulls and the space is constantly evolving—every six months they close for “tachiagri” (new beginnings) and redesign the entire store!
When shopping and museums get too much, the capital also has plenty of parks. The Lee Valley Regional Park stretches 26 miles along the River Lee and is the perfect place to relax and unwind after pacing the streets of the city. In these nature reserves you can even find kingfishers, dragonflies and peregrine falcons, and there are numerous trails to follow through the marshlands.
In the evening, soak up more of London’s culture with a trip to a show. Opportunities range from the huge productions of the West End to independent cultural delights. Check out the Southbank Centre for an alternative to classic Theatreland—with over a thousand performances a year in its Royal Festival Hall, Hayward Gallery, and Queen Elizabeth Hall, it attracts more than 3 million visitors every year and has a show to suit everyone.
With so many exciting events and opportunities, make sure to book your accommodation in London early to avoid missing out. Choose a London city hotel to put yourself in the heart of the action, get to grips with the tube map, and prepare to explore the beautiful old streets of the city, perhaps even with a little time for watching the sport!
Jesse Wallace writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
