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Best Attractions to Visit on Holiday in Miami

If you are planning a visit to Miami, then you are in for a treat, you’re sure to find something to do in this sunny city that everyone joining you on your holiday will love. This vibrant city has so much more going for it than many people would imagine; with plenty of hidden gems. However, if you are British, you will want to know these things this before your Florida visit. Whether you are planning to stay in Miami for just a short break, or a two week holiday, you will find plenty to see and do. Here are just some of the places that you won’t want to miss visiting during your stay in Miami.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach is one of the most famous of the city’s attractions and is probably the image that first springs to mind for many people when they think of Miami. Miami Beach is the ideal way to experience the city’s laid back vibe and is a great place to sit back and enjoy the sunshine. With its glistening water and white sand, it’s easy to see why this is a must-visit destination for many people visiting Miami.

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If you fancy adding a little extra excitement to your trip, why not take the opportunity to experience the open water and see Miami Beach from a different perspective? Booking a boat for rent in Miami is a great way to appreciate its stunning coastline fully.

Venetian Pool

Sticking with the water theme is the next must-visit attraction in Miami – the Venetian Pool. As its name suggests, this stunning pool features Italian-inspired architecture and is adorned with waterfalls too. The Venetian Pool is like no other swimming pool you have ever seen.

Located in Coral Gables, the Venetian Pool is dotted with palm trees, giving it an exotic look, and is filled with freshwater – bliss!

Ocean Drive

No trip to Miami would be complete without a wander along Ocean Drive. You are sure to recognise buildings from many a blockbuster film as you wander along this iconic street. Miami is famous for being home to probably the most significant number of examples of Art Deco architecture, and you will find plenty of it on Ocean Drive. If you visit at night, you will see the buildings illuminated in stunning style thanks to the neon signs that adorn the many hotels and restaurants.

Little Havana

Soak up some Cuban culture and pay a visit to the Little Havana neighbourhood during your stay in Miami. Little Havana provides a feast for all the senses to enjoy. As you explore the area around Calle Ocho, your ears will be filled with the sounds of Latino music, and your nostrils filled with the scent of delicious foods served up at the many restaurants, cafés and bars in the area. Why not, take a break from sightseeing and enjoy a cup of Cuban coffee and a spot of people watching in this vibrant part of the city?

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Those are just a few activities. What are some ideas you have about things to do in Miami, Sunny friends?

How to Visit London: 9 Attractions in 2 Days

If you’re planning to visit London, you probably are keen to see all the top attractions. Unfortunately, you might not have much time to do it. For this reason, I’ve put together a two-day itinerary for you that includes at least nine iconic places to see. It is organised by attractions that are in proximity of one another. You’ll also find other suggestions for if you have more time and energy.

How to visit London attractions like Big Ben

How to Visit London: Itinerary Day 1

For your first full day in London, the attractions I suggest are: The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Monument and the British Museum.

Starting Tube Station: Tower Hill or Tower Gateway

I’ve written separate blog reviews each for Visiting the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Monument. These three attractions will take approximately 3 1/2 hours, depending on how thorough you are at the Tower. If you take the Beefeater Tour and see the Crown Jewels, this should be enough time.

Once completing these visits, take the Underground to Tottenham Court Road on the Central Line if you want to skip lunch. The station is on the edge of Great Russell Street and is a three-minute walk away from the British Museum.

If you want to take a break and enjoy a nice lunch, exit one stop earlier at Holborn station. This is on the edge of Covent Garden. Read my Guide to Covent Garden which has restaurant and pub recommendations.

A Complete Guide to Covent Garden London from a London Local includes restaurants, hotels, attractions, Christmas, things to do, pubs and street performers

If you want to add an additional attraction, you can visit the London Transport Museum, which is great for both kids and adults.

Finally, head over to the British Museum, which will be free. The reason why I have ended each day with a free museum is because of time. If you find you only have an hour or so left before they close, you can quickly hit the artifacts and pieces at the top of your list. The Rosetta Stone, Magna Carta, etc.

Also, should you have more time on other days of your trip, you can return and explore knowing that you didn’t waste any money paying for two visits.

Extra Attraction:

You can’t do all of the above and an additional attraction, but if you want to swap one out, consider adding the London Bridge, which is indeed different from the iconic Tower Bridge.

How to Visit London: Itinerary Day 2

Starting Tube Station: Waterloo

It’s really important you read my advice for How to Fly High on the London Eye before going to it. You must arrive at this attraction about a half hour before the opening time. This will allow you to be in a pod soon after it opens. If you watch the 4D film, it will be a bit later. Either way, you could easily finish this visit within one hour. Your admission ticket will give you one rotation, which lasts about 20 minutes.

Advice-The-London-Eye

Next, begin walking toward Big Ben. Cross the River Thames via Westminster Bridge. Big Ben is the second most popular place in the world for selfies. For a list of suggestions for London’s Top 10 Selfie Locations, you guessed it, I wrote about that too. In fact, I show you through Google Maps the best telephone booth to stand in front of for the most popular selfie with Big Ben behind you.

Westminster Abbey should be your next attraction to visit. It’s right near Big Ben. Once you finish a tour of the church, walk to Buckingham Palace.

There are always crowds at the Palace, but it’s fairly easy to get great pictures.

How to Visit London attractions buckingham palace

Walk to St. James’s Park underground station and travel west to South Kensington station. There are plenty of places to eat in that area.

Like Day 1, this itinerary ends with a museum. The Victoria and Albert (‘V&A’) is my favourite museum in London. It nearly always has an exquisite fashion exhibition. The Andrew McQueen: Savage Beauty last year was by far the best I have ever seen in a museum.

Extra Attraction:

Instead of, or in addition to the V&A, you can also visit the National Portrait Gallery.

Visit London: Final Thoughts

That’s a list of how to organize and maximize your visit to London. If you have more time, I wrote a review on how to see four attractions in South Bank in one day. They include: Shrek’s Adventure, the London Aquarium, London Dungeon, and the London Eye. Obviously if these sound appealing, you want to adjust the itinerary for Day 2 to omit The London Eye. There’s a discounted pass you can buy which is a ticket to all four attractions.

How to See 4 South Bank London Attractions in One Day

Keep in mind, Shrek’s Adventure is best for small children, while London Dungeon is definitely not. Finally, if you’re expecting shows and organization like that of Orlando theme parks, that’s not what you’ll find. As a girl who grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida and worked at Universal Studios Florida, I can speak from strong experience. But, you sure won’t wait in 95º heat and humidity either 😉

Finally, you’ll want to visit London pubs in the evening. Watch these tips before you go, especially if you’re an American visiting London for the first time.


Note: all travel and attractions are within Zone 1 of the Underground.

If you’d like a page to bookmark which is a great London things to do list, the Guide to London for Americans Visiting the First Time includes day trips, shopping, cultural differences, hotels, restaurants, afternoon tea recommendations and more! Each one is included because I’ve personally visited and enjoyed it. My husband, ‘Mr. Sunny’ and his father, who are both London born passionate beer drinkers also use the Good Pub Guide whenever exploring a new British pub. It’s never let us down either. 🙂

What other questions do you have about your trip?

Covent Garden London- Restaurants, Pubs and Attractions

What’s so amazing about WC2? It’s the postcode for Covent Garden, London and has the best restaurants, pubs and things to do in the town.Well, obviously I am a biased because it’s where I first lived when I moved to London as an American expat. However, this neighborhood represents an amazing selection of food, attractions, culture and history. Since the first day I published a blog post, I’ve been clear that it’s my favourite area of London.

Living on Great Russell Street next to the British Musuem and working in Bedford Square, when NBC News was located there, means I have spent quite a bit of time in WC2. Therefore, creating a guide to Covent Garden for you is not only fun but also fairly easy to do. And, recently I added a ‘Secret Things To Do in Covent Garden‘ video to the Sunny News YouTube channel too that can show you hidden activities. Below, you will find information about:

A Complete Guide to Covent Garden London from a London Local includes restaurants, hotels, attractions, Christmas, things to do, pubs and street performers

Covent Garden, London- History

We can consider the area to be between St. Martin’s Lane and Drury Lane, which is on the eastern fringes of London’s West End. From North to South, generally it starts around the High Holborn area down to The Strand. The Northern ‘border’ is a little blurry.

The central square is now a popular shopping and tourist site, but it originally was a fruit and vegetable market. Since the 1600’s it transitioned from this to a place filled with taverns, theatres and brothels. In the 18th century it had become a red-light district. However, an Act of Parliament assisted with organizing the market and moved it to be an area containing cafes, pubs, small shops and craft markets.

Currently, Covent Garden still demonstrates an array of its rich history through the street performers, attractions and overall vibe. It always seem to present an energetic, playful atmosphere full of seasonal surprises.

Covent Garden Guide Restaurants Hotels Things to Do Attractions Pubs

You also never know what will happen in the piazza. For example, in the summer of 2015 there was an art installation which featured over 100,000 balloons.

Covent Garden Guide Things to Do Attractions Heart Beat Art Installation

Covent Garden, London- Hotels

Covent Garden isn’t particularly known for a wide selection of hotels. For this reason, there is a just a few on this Guide.

Bloomsbury Hotel– While technically just outside the northern edge of Covent Garden, this hotel is on the street where I first lived in London. If you’re a literary fan, this is the hotel for you. It has an academic theme, reflective of this popular literary hub in London near where many authors like Charles Dickens lived.

Corinthia- This is a five-star hotel whose spa has been rated as the best in London. I enjoyed their Christmas afternoon tea here once and can certainly say it is very luxurious. For an exceptionally perfect New Year’s Eve location, choose Corinthia. Year round its proximity to other London attractions is an additional bonus.

Covent Garden Hotel- Part of the Firmdale Hotels, this London hotel franchise is by far the most beautifully decorated that I have ever seen. Their afternoon tea both here and on Charlotte Street are the best quality for the price.

covent-garden-hotel-afternoon-tea-tour-london

covent-garden-hotel-afternoon-tea-tour-london

One Aldwych– It’s countless how many times I have been to this hotel for cocktails, food and a staycation. The spa is impressive, and it has the coolest pool in town!

Just across from Waterloo Bridge, it’s location makes it perfect for a stay that features theatre trips. Also, it’s less than a five minute walk to Trafalgar Square. Regent Street and Buckingham Palace aren’t too much further either. This hotel has had rockin’ success with their Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired afternoon tea too. If it’s something you’d like to do, be sure to book well in advance, as it’s often full.

The Savoy- For one of the most luxurious stays in London, see The Savoy. I’ve only had dinner at one of their restaurants. I can only imagine how wonderful an evening or extended weekend/trip could be at this swanky spot.

Covent Garden, London- Pubs

Any Londoner or British person will tell you that not all pubs are equal. My husband, ‘Mr. Sunny’ was born in London, as were his parents. He prides himself on a deep knowledge (based on countless hours of research) of beer and pubs in London and around the world. All of the blog information about these two categories is his work. His recommendations for a ‘damn good pint’ and possibly food to go with it are below.

Cross Keys- All Londoners know this pub. It’s striking exterior makes it an easy place to find. However, inside is surprisingly dark and seemingly full of local Londoners.

Covent Garden Guide Pubs Cross Keys

Lamb and Flag– This pub is a bit tricky to find, but if you’re looking for a true British pub that isn’t full of tourists, this one’s for you. However, we’ve only had drinks here. It isn’t one that I would suggest you have a meal too.

The Porcupine- When I first lived in London, my friends and I met at this pub often, so now it’s where Mr. Sunny and I chose to rendevous if we’re meeting after work. The reason is the fact that it’s right outside Leicester Square underground station so it’s easy to find. If you’re trying to catch up with someone who may not have access to wifi or a mobile network, this is a great meeting place to have a drink and start an evening.

Covent Garden Guide Pubs Porcupine

Shakespeare’s Head- While there is a pub in Carnaby with the same name, this is a Wetherspoon pub. Mr. Sunny likes this place because it’s generally cheaper than other pubs. It tends to get crowded, and it is very large. It’s a short walk from Holborn underground station on the Piccadilly line and Central Line.

The Harp- Of all the ones listed here, I think Mr. Sunny likes this one the best. It’s a Fuller’s pub that has a choice of ten hand-pumps. Again, beer only. I’ve had a few glasses of wine there, and let’s say that and food are not their specialty.

The Salisbury- This is the pub I pick for having traditional English pub food if you seek it in Covent Garden. (Another great one is Porter House, which is in the pub crawl listed below). I’ve eaten here and definitely recommend the fish and chips. It’s part of the Taylor-Walker chain.

The Ship Tavern– one of the best pub meals we’ve had is at this location in the restaurant upstairs. Drinks and bar snacks on the main floor are highly recommended too. It’s on a very secret street just around the corner from Holborn underground station.

Pub Crawl- For a Canadian, Irish and British pub that are in close proximity, you can take one of our first pub crawls published on the blog. There is also another pub crawl which features pubs that have sun-themed names and several are in Covent Garden too.

Covent Garden, London- Restaurants Reviewed

While you can find many of London’s popular chains throughout the neighborhood, there are also tons of individually owned restaurants that offer excellent food, both from a British or international cuisine.These are the ones I have reviewed and recommend to Londoners and visitors.

Bill’s Covent Garden Restaurant– There are two locations for Bill’s in Covent Garden. I enjoyed their afternoon tea at St. Martin’s Courtyard when I first started the blog. The restaurant is colourful, and the food is reasonably priced.

Byron Burger– A casual chain in London, my husband and I popped in this location while spending an afternoon in Covent Garden touring Christmas decorations and activities. A popular feature on their menu each year during this time is their Cheesemas burger. The extra calories for this one are truly worth it.

Five Guys– this location was one of the first to hit London. The popular American chain has since launched several other spots so the lines no longer stretch around the building. Having eaten at both this one in London and America, I can say they’re exactly the same.

Indigo Restaurant– Inside the One Aldwych hotel is where I had one of the best pieces of lamb I’ve eaten in London. Further, I’ve had cocktails in One Lobby Bar at the hotel and feel it’s a swanky place to chill both before and after dinner.

indigo-restaurant-one-aldwych-hotel-covent-garden-london

Le Garrick– The love story behind this French restaurant is endearing, and the food is fabulous.

Le Pain Quotidien– For a Belgium bakery found many places around London, I was pleasantly surprised at how healthy the menu is. This particular location spans several floors and has an outside seating area near the piazza.

Salvador and Amanda– For Spanish tapas, my husband and I have hit Salvador and Amanda several times. Aside from having Flamenco dancing several times a week, the restaurant and bar offer great drink specials during specific hours.

Shake Shack– A popular American chain, this casual burger place is one of my favourite in London. For a burger that is more affordable than other places, my husband and I love Shake Shack and treat ourselves to it as often as possible. They’ve added a few other spots around London, but the one in the Covent Garden Market still seems to have a regular queue at nearly all times of the day.

Covent Garden Guide Restaurants Shake Shack Piazza

The Real Greek– You can hit this Greek restaurant either on Long Acre or St. Martin’s Lane. We’ve eaten at both and feel it offers a big, fat Greek experience that rocked both times.

The Savoy– While their afternoon tea is supposed to be incredible, my husband and I went to Kaspar’s Seafood Bar and Grill at The Savoy. We were able to reduce costs through an opportunity at Bookatable, so I suggest you explore this if you’d like to eat rich but save money.

Wildwood Kitchen– If you’re near Seven Dials and are looking for a rustic Italian experience, you can try this restaurant.

Covent Garden, London- Restaurants Others Recommend

There is a list of places in Covent Garden that I am aiming to review because I have heard great feedback about them, so I have included them here.

Big Easy– This American dining restaurant ‘provides the taste of Southern states.’ It seems like a fun place to enjoy a meal if you’re seeking a bit of American culture.

Flesh and Buns– This restaurant is brought to you by the people behind Bone Daddies Ramen and Shackfuyu. It is their Japanese Izakaya bar & restaurant. Everyone I know who has been here is impressed.

Fire and Stone– This pizza place seems fairly casual, as one would expect. There has been quite a few times I’ve seen representatives passing out flyers or coupons for it in various streets of Covent Garden around the restaurant.

Frenchie Covent Garden- opening on March 27, 2016 this restaurant is receiving a lot of hype from media and has the area buzzing. If you’ve been there and can leave some feedback in the comments, that would be appreciated. In fact, at the time I published this Guide to Covent Garden, they didn’t have a full website running.

Homeslice– for pizza that is as close to New York style that I can find in London, read this review and visit Homeslice.

Rock and Sole Plaice– This is the one fish and chips shop in London that’s the highest on my list to try. It’s always busy when I pass it, and the creative name has me very intrigued. 

Covent Garden Guide Restaurants Rock and Sole

The Ivy Restaurant– Having eaten at The Ivy in Hollywood, I can say that I am a bit curious about this London location. It seems to have the same prestigous allure in the UK. However, since my LA experience was more about star spotting than food quality, I haven’t ventured to either London location for The Ivy yet. However, Londoners seem to think it’s a great place to eat, especially pre-theatre.

Covent Garden, London- Shopping

While I would say the best street to shop on in London is Regent Street, Covent Garden has a good selection of specialty stores that would make for a fun day too.

Seven Dials Shopping– This section of Covent Garden can be a bit confusing because it literally is formed by seven roads meeting at a roundabout. If you are planning on being in the area, I suggest you visit their website for any scheduled activities, as they frequently have summer and winter events. Specifically, they have a shopping party each year before Christmas and make the discount promotion for the evening available on their website.

St. Martin’s Courtyard– Perhaps most popular to Americans in this secret spot is Banana Republic. As a former car park, this section of Covent Garden has a handful of shops, restaurants and other services. It’s very small, so it’s not a place where you would spend a few hours.

Covent Garden, London- Street Performers

One of the most popular places to see street performers on a regular basis in London is Covent Garden. They audition at various times during the year. There is a judging panel made up of representatives from the Courtyard Musicians Association, Street Performers Association and the Capco Covent Garden Management Team.

The Courtyard pitch is for classical vocalists and instrumentalists. They don’t allow any wind instruments, brass instruments, electric guitars, drums, accordions, bagpipes or didgeridoos to be played at Covent Garden.

Covent Garden Guide Street Performers

Covent Garden, London- Things to Do

Christmas- Covent Garden is one of the most beautiful places to visit in London during the holidays. Their installation of decorations kicks off the start of the Christmas season each year.

Covent Garden Guide Christmas decorations in the Piazza

It’s also one of the locations that you can go ice skating during the holidays. Here you can see a bit of what the Somerset House experience is like.

Covent Garden Academy of Flowers– One of my most cherished experiences in London is the day I took an extensive floral arrangement course at this academy. They offer evening workshops for anyone mildly interested in learning about floral design. Vouchers for one of these sessions is one of the top gift ideas I suggest for the girl who has everything.

Hotel Chocolat– Who doesn’t love chocolate? My husband and I are guilty as charged for this. It’s why we loved the class we took at Hotel Chocolat so much. If you’re looking for a super fun date night idea, taking a chocolate course here is perfect.

London Coliseum– This is the home of the English National Opera. You can see what’s currently on the stage through their website, as it changes often.

London Film Museum (Bond in Motion)- This current Exhibit features cars and numerous other artifacts and props from James Bond films. It’s absolutely for people who enjoy and appreciate the franchise. As it is probably designed in honour of the release of Spectre, you will want to check their website to see if it’s still offered before you plan a visit.

London Transport Museum– If you’re even mildly interested in how people get from one place to another in London, this museum is worth your time. It’s also an excellent activity for kids and part of the London Pass discount plan for touring the town.

Olivier Awards- This ceremony is the British equivalent to the Broadway’s Tony Awards. Their given to individuals in West End productions and other leading non-commercial theatres based in London. They’ve been held at the Royal Opera House since 2012, and the most recent ceremony was April 4, 2016. Fans frequently fill the red carpets to watch stars as the enter.

Neal’s Yard- This is by far the most ‘Instagrammable’ location in London, after all the iconic attractions. It’s not an area you would just stumble upon, as it’s a bit tricky to find. However, it’s an explosion of colour and great food that real Londoners know exists and love.

 

 

 

Covent-Garden-Christmas-Neals-Yard-Remedies-Beauty-Balm

Royal Opera House- Home to The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet — this is the place to watch and learn about world-class opera, music, ballet and dance.

Horse-drawn Omnibus Tours– Stanfords offers an authentic horse-drawn tour through the streets of London. It’s something you would want to book in advance and is geared toward someone who doesn’t have a strong existing knowledge of London.

Theatre Royal on Drury Lane- This location is currently showing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

 

Covent Garden, London- Final Thoughts

You can get to my favourite neighborhood easily on the Piccadilly Line. However, the shortest journey on the underground in London is between Leicester Square and Covent Garden, at a distance of 300 yards. So, if you’re coming via the Northern Line, you may just as well exit at Leicester Square and walk less than five minutes to the heart of Covent Garden. Even though, the Covent Garden underground station has the best staff in London. (Trust me, they’re a very entertaining bunch.) You can see all their fun each day on Instagram.

Don’t miss the ‘Secret Things to Do in Covent Garden’ video added to the Sunny News YouTube channel also. It has things Londoners don’t even know exist! 😉

If there’s anything you can add about your recommended places in Covent Garden, I do hope you include the ideas in the comments below. Also, if I can answer any specific questions for you regarding the area, please give me a shout out! If you’re visiting London for the first time, you may also wish to see my Guide to London.

Covent Garden Guide Restaurants Hotels Things to Do Attractions Pubs

tours-theatre-in-london-sunnyinlondon

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How to See 4 Attractions at London South Bank

‘London South Bank, you’re it!’ That’s what I thought when a TravelEx representative contacted me about what I would do if I had the equivalent of $150 to spend in London on one day.

When I first moved here, the London South Bank area wasn’t nearly what it is today. For that reason, it’s always been curious to me. Seeing the London Eye transform the skyline and become such an engrained image so fast in a city so old is amazing.

To start my London South Bank attraction marathon, I first hit the Russell Square TravelEx branch on a Friday afternoon to pick up the Multi-currency Cash Passport. The currency app I use predicted that $150 would equal £105 on that day’s rate.  I was ecstatic when the TravelEx rate translated to the card having a £114 balance. Wahoo!

I already felt like a winner.

That rate is better than anytime I’ve transferred money over from a US bank to London. And it’s better than any rate I’ve received here with an American credit card.

With my cash passport and a hefty bag of electronic blogger equipment, I left my flat to hit London South Bank on a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning.

How to See 4 South Bank London Attractions in One Day

 

London South Bank: The London Eye

I enjoyed a 30-minute rotation on this London attraction in 2014. But, it made sense when playing tourist in the town for a day to kick off with something iconic.

Arriving at Waterloo Station at 9:20am, I walked to the London Eye Ticket Office to purchase tickets for all four attractions a bit before the scheduled opening office time of 9:30am. If you want to save money through purchasing combination tickets, you can do that there. You can save even more by doing it online days in advance. Either way, you physically have to pick up combination tickets at this office.

I followed the Advice for Riding the London Eye that I posted after the first visit.

South Bank London Eye Travelex

Sure enough, all my suggestions worked. I knew exactly where to stand and what to do.

Great shots and great view.

I just had no control over the morning dew.

South Bank London Eye Travelex

My fingers frantically notified all my social media networks of this exciting quest. Snapchat (SunnyInLondon2), Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook ignited with the news of my four attraction day affair in the South Bank London area.

London South Bank: Shrek’s Adventure

A little after 10:30am when I left The London Eye, I walked over to Shrek’s Adventure to book a show.

When set for the 11:15am tour with Shrek and Donkey, I went to London Dungeon and booked a 1:00pm show. My combination tickets allowed me to use the priority line at the Aquarium, so I didn’t need to book in advance there.

South Bank London Shrek's Adventure

Since I hit Shrek’s Adventure on a Saturday, it was covered with kids. I can only imagine what it’s like over the summer holiday. While I enjoyed the experience, this could be the one to skip if you aren’t passionate about Shrek or being surrounded by small children for 90 minutes.

South Bank London Shrek's Adventure

You begin your tour with an exceptionally enthusiastic tour guide. She sends you and a group of about 25 other guests off to the adventure.

You board a Magical Bus that is billed as a ride, but it barely moves. Instead you watch a 4D film which sets up the premise of the adventure and creates the feeling of movement and flying.

The movie is fun, but I kept peeking around my movie glasses to see if we were perhaps going to move through a screen and travel a bit on the magical bus. It didn’t happen. 🙁

When the film ends, you walk to another room and are greeted by Princess Fiona. Your group then travels from room to room on a quest to find Shrek. Various characters from films entertain you at each location change. Their performances are energetic and audience involvement is key.

At the end you amare rescued by Shrek and each person has a chance to take a picture with him. That rocks!
South Bank London Shrek's Adventure

London South Bank: London Dungeon

I had friends who visited the London Dungeon the weekend before and really had fun.

Since the entire attraction takes place in the dark, you can’t get good pictures even if you were permitted to take them. Therefore, I just have these two ‘clowns’ as my digital memory of London Dungeon.

South Bank London Dungeon Blogger Day Travelex

The queue process is long on busy days.

Similar to Shrek, you travel from room to room with different ‘hosts’ who either reenact or involve audience members in the history of London’s dark side. You explore Medieval torture scenarios from The Tower of London, life during the Plague, and highlights from Jack the Ripper’s rampage.

The script for the show is well-written and loaded with puns that people familiar with London’s history will appreciate. This is especially true of the Sweeney Todd scenes.

While this tour is indicated to be 90 minutes, I was at the attraction for two hours. This included my 10 minute stay at the attraction’s pub.

I’d advise anyone who is claustrophobic or not comfortable being in very dark places for long periods of time to skip this venue.

London South Bank: SEA Life London Aquarium

The priority line pass here is fantastic. It enabled me to skip a substantial queue after 3pm. However, this is where the Florida girl failed if you’re looking to learn all kinds of marine info from this blog.

South Bank SEA LIFE London Aquarium

Since I hadn’t eaten and was exhausted from continuous social media updates, I rushed through this attraction like a tidal wave. I didn’t read any exhibit signs and focused solely on taking pictures of the beautiful sea life at the venue. The fish were really entertaining. Between sharks who kept photo bombing my shots and this little ham below…

South Bank SEA LIFE London Aquarium

I was really entertained.

There are several opportunities to see stingrays and turtles. However, I only found one exhibit of penguins.

Sea life (especially when you’re separated from it by glass when you’re a chicken like me) is mesmerizing. I wish I had been there when it was less crowded and was able to concentrate.

Watching and hearing small children’s reactions as a giant shark whizzed by them in the tank was fun too.
South Bank SEA LIFE London Aquarium

In fact, I would love to go back to see the Shark feeding exhibit.

Souvenir Shopping:

Weak and weary, I travelled to an area near where I first lived in London because I know it so well- the West End. After crossing through Trafalgar Square, I went to a London souvenir shop I love in Piccadilly Circus- Cool Britannia.

South Bank London Travelex Trafagalr Square

Aside from pictures, buying artifacts from a trip must always be on your travel to do list. You’ll have to wait and see the vlog I post on the adventures of the day to find out what a Florida girl picked to remember this awesome day from Travelex. But, I can tell you that I did not get Mr. Sunny either of these…

Cool Britannia Piccadilly Circus London

Cool Britannia Piccadilly Circus London Mini Cooper

London South Bank: Final Thoughts

– You must visit the London Eye the day you schedule or purchase the tickets. The other 3 attraction tickets can be used within 30 days.
– The exchange rate from sterling to dollar changes daily. At the time of this blog post it is exceptionally low compared to what I’ve seen in the past three years while living in London. While your rate might not equal what I received, I do feel what TravelEx provided as an exchange rate between the two currencies beat banks and credit cards I have used in the past. Your experience could be different.

My day was complimentary via TravelEx. This has no impact on my opinion. How could you not love getting a great exchange rate on currency? 😉

 

Socially Distanced Things to Do in London While You’re Quarantined

London is experiencing one of the strangest phases of its existence. For years, this has been the tourist capital of the UK. People from all over the world travel to this great city to enjoy all the different sights and scenes. Nowadays, the hottest tourist spots are quiet places as everyone stays indoors. 

If you live in London, then you’re probably finding it very difficult to sit around doing nothing. So, here are a few things you can do in London while still sticking to the quarantine rules!

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Grab a Coffee on Your Daily Walk

While a lot of coffee shops and cafes are closed, some remain open for takeaway purposes. This means you can plan your daily walk passed one of these places, and grab some barista coffee on-the-go. Most of these places are small businesses that are desperately trying to make a bit of money amidst this crisis. So, it’s a great way to support local companies while enjoying your morning stroll around London. 

Exercise in a Park

Thankfully, we’re still allowed to exercise during this lockdown. In fact, as of writing this, the rules have been relaxed even more, and you can exercise as often as you want. You can even visit parks now, so it’s a great opportunity to get some fresh air and enjoy the best parks London has to offer. There are too many to miss, and I’m sure there’s at least one within walking distance of you. The great thing about this lockdown is that it’s given nature a chance to thrive. So, all of the parks look lovely and green, making them even more enjoyable. 

Order Food from Local Restaurants

Restaurants aren’t open, and they won’t be for a few weeks at least. However, plenty of local businesses in London are offering delivery services. You can either order their food on apps like Deliveroo, or you can order directly from the restaurant. Either way, it’s an opportunity to eat out while staying in. Don’t leave your home, obey the rules, and enjoy your favourite meals from some of the best places in London. In fact, you can check out this list of the top London restaurants now doing home delivery to see where you can order from. If you spot your favourite eatery, then get ready for a big night in!

Enjoy Your Bottomless Brunch

There are no shortage of places in London to enjoy a bottomless brunch. Of course, you can’t go to these places right now. But, you can try and replicate the experience in your own home. Get your hands on some best price Prosecco, make some lovely brunch nibbles, get dressed up, and you’re good to go. If you’re friendly with your neighbours, then you can try and arrange a brunch together on either side of your fence/balcony. You keep your distance while enjoying a typical London experience at home. 

Walk Along the Thames at Sunrise

In truth, you can walk along the Thames whenever you like – provided you’re keeping a safe distance between you and anyone else. That’s actually why I said to do it at sunrise. It’s outrageously early, but there are fewer people about. On sunny days, lots of people will think about going for a walk to get some fresh air. So, you get to do it peacefully and safely at a non-peak time. Why the Thames? Well, much like the London parks, the Thames has undergone some improvements thanks to a lack of use. The water looks nicer than ever, and you generally find that walking the Thames takes you passed some iconic London monuments. 

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Shop at One of the Open Markets

Instead of going to Tesco or Sainsbury’s for your weekly quarantine shop, go to one of the open markets instead. Some markets are still open, including the ever-popular Borough Market. Here, you can get fresh food and many store cupboard essentials to take home. Effectively, you’re shopping as you would in a supermarket, but supporting a local business instead. Most of the markets that are still open will have special rules in place. This includes social distancing policies or limiting how many people are allowed in at a given time. Be sure to protect yourself if you go out!

As you can see, there’s no need to be left feeling bored if you’re locked down in London. That sounds like the title of a TV show, doesn’t it? Locked Down In London! Anyway, I hope these ideas have given you something to think about if you’re looking for things to do while still quarantining yourself and abiding by social distancing rules. 

Advice for Visiting a London Christmas Market

If you love Christmas, then visiting a London Christmas market should be at the top of your list during the holiday season. As an American living in London for six years married to a born and bred Londoner, there are some things I have learned after visiting Christmas markets here every season that I think you should know.

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London Christmas Market Advice- Book Ahead

The biggest thrills are at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland every year. However, a lot of the super fun stuff requires booking in advance. For example, if you want to experience ice skating, Bar Hütte Karaoke, Ice Sculpting Workshops, Bar Ice, Zippos Christmas Circus, Cirque Berserk, Winter Wonderland Comedy Club, or The Giant Wheel, you need to visit their official Winter Wonderland website and get your tickets early!

So, before you check out a Christmas market in London, see what there is to do nearby that might interest you too.

London Christmas Market Advice- Arrive Early

From my experience going to the Christmas Market at Southbank, Trafalgar Square Christmas Markets, Leicester Square Christmas Markets, and others, arriving early means you won’t be getting smashed in to the crowds. Once I went to Winter Wonderland Christmas market on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning and up until 12:30pm I felt like I had all of Hyde Park to myself. Well, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But, I had tons of space to take photos and videos, plus there were no lines for food, drinks and festive things to buy.

If you arrive on a weekend night, you could experience some very big crowds. In fact, at times they might limit people entering the more popular Christmas markets due to overcrowding.

So, if you are in London for a long holiday weekend, I would plan to hit the markets in the morning and early afternoon. Then, see a show in the evening instead.

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Trafalgar Square Christmas Market early on a Sunday afternoon

London Christmas Market Advice- What to Wear

While you focus is on festivities, you want to look good too. Decorative Christmas jumpers (sweaters for American readers) are popular, but I prefer to celebrate the holidays with clothes that are chic and sophisticated but still comfortable. Further, Mr Sunny and I try to wear coloured caps so when Mr Sunny relaxes with a beer and I wander off to take photos and video- we can find each other faster.

Below are a few selections I like from Gant. It’s a brand that is making a huge effort for sustainability. If you’ve been in London any time over the past year, you know that it’s been a big movement here.

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advice-visiting-london-Christmas-Market

The featured items are from left to right:

And don’t forget to wear comfortable boots or shoes too. You might want to keep in mind that like any city, it does rain in London. This means it could get a bit muddy at the markets. Don’t wear shoes that can’t take a little wear and tear.

London Christmas Market Advice- Saving

While all of the Christmas markets are fun, you will find that the basic activities are the same at each one. In fact, a lot of the same food and drink stands are at each market. For example, you will find a mini-pancake stall, a sausage stall, and stalls that sell mulled wine or hot chocolate. If you’re like Mr Sunny, you will probably seek a place that sells Steins. A few weeks prior to Christmas you want to eat healthy so you can indulge in all of the holiday treats.

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advice-visiting-london-Christmas-Market

You will want to save some money too because there will also be specialty retail stalls that have Christmas decorations or London themed souvenirs. Build in time to survey them if you are looking for something special to remember your visit to London or just the trip to a London Christmas market. Also, tickets to rides at Winter Wonderland can add up really fast, so budgeting for this ahead of time will help.

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To Home From London- stall at Trafalgar Square Christmas Market

London Christmas Market Advice- Final Thoughts

By researching activities you want to do and booking them in advance, planning around crowded times, dressing comfortably, and saving calories and money before you go, you will better position yourself to be in the holiday spirit at a London Christmas market.

What’s your favourite London Christmas market to visit, Sunny friends? What questions do you have about going to one this year?

How to Spend 3 Days in London as a Super Tourist

There are some sights in London that never get old. After living here six years as an American married to a born and bred Londoner, it is hard for me not to take pictures of iconic London landmarks every time I am near one. Well, Big Ben is currently an exception to this because it is covered in scaffolding for the next few years.

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This phenomenon compares to what I experienced growing up in Daytona Beach, Florida. Every time I went to Disney World or Universal Studios I was overcome with excitement and energy, no matter how many times I went.

That’s the reality for me living in London. But, you will find that most Londoners don’t whip out their phone for a photo every time they pass Buckingham Palace or the London Eye. Most of them haven’t been to the iconic attractions recently.

Yet, I wonder how they give friends and family who come to visit them advice about what to do when they are in London to see the sights. Since they aren’t as keen to pay attention to “attractions”, much less the deals for ticket entry, do they know strategies to get the best prices?

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For these reasons, I have been a great resource to blog readers and friends who visit London. One of the top recommendations I have for people to save money on London attractions is to get a London Pass.

But, in order to make it worth it, you have to truly live like a tourist for a day or more, depending on which one you choose.

Based on the success of the blog I published about the Things to Do Near the Tower of London, I have put together several itineraries for the ultimate tourist days in London. If you follow them, you could save tons of money, Sunny friends!

How to Spend 3 Days in London: Day 1

  • Tower of London (£27.20)
  • Tower Bridge Exhibition (£9.80)
  • The Monument to the Great Fire of London (£4.50)
  • St Paul’s Cathedral (£20)
  • View from the Shard (£25)

If you paid for an adult ticket each of these individual attractions “at the door”, your total would be £86.50. An adult London Pass for one day is £75.

Yes, this would be one packed, exhausting day visiting attractions in London. However, if you want to see as much as possible in a short period of time, it is the way to go.

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How to Spend 3 Days in London: Day 2

  • Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre (£17)
  • Golden Hinde (£5)
  • London Bridge Experience (£29)
  • HMS Belfast (£16)
  • The View from the Shard (if you were too tired on Day 1)
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How to Spend 3 Days in London: Day 3

  • Kensington Palace and the Orangery (£20)
  • Royal Albert Hall (£8)
  • Westminster Abbey (£23)
  • Thames River Cruise (£19) take this to Greenwich
  • Royal Observatory Greenwich (£16)
  • Cutty Sark (£15)

The price of a 3 day London Pass is currently £109. Do the math on all the attractions I listed and see how much you will save!

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How to Spend 3 Days in London: Planning

In the spirit of honesty, these aren’t itineraries I could do back to back in three days. Mr Sunny and I are really lazy foodie travellers. One activity a day is enough for us. We generally make the regional cuisine our main event.

However, you would be amazed at the sample itineraries my blog and Sunny News YouTube viewers send me as possibilities. I write amazed because the activities they plan for each day would involve running from one direction to the other side of the London and then back again. Sometimes I wonder where they learned their map reading skills.

However, I think they just put things in order according to their list of priorities. This initially could seem like a good idea. But, for people who know and live in London, we understand that it is a very wide city in comparison to others. Further, the Underground and busses are great, but you need to know how much time to build in for travel as well.

My itineraries above are grouped together by location. And on the Day 3 itinerary, I even suggest using the London Pass for a cruise which takes you from one part of the city to another. In fact, most people don’t get to Greenwich because it is kind of out of the way. But, if you sight see along the way and have a plan of things to do when you get there, it is well worth your time (get it?!) to go to Greenwich.

So if you like to see as much as possible, condense your daily plans to attractions that are in the same general vicinity. Or…

How to Spend 3 Days in London: Final Thoughts

If you are a bit of a gambler and free spirit, there is a new tool on the London Pass website you might want to try. It’s a Spinner feature and is a new innovative way to randomise, jazz-up and create spontaneity during your London break.

Maybe you could use it to decide where to start your day of living like a tourist and then move around the above itineraries from there?

Let me know how it goes, Sunny friends. And if you need suggestions of where to eat when you’re out and about, I have something below for you too.

Want a Food Freebie in London?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

Send me the Free Pocket Restaurant Guide

Preparing Your House for a Guest’s Travel Experience

What are the big questions you have when travelling? For those that travel often, before booking a trip you probably think about the new destination’s environment to decide if it might be a good match for you. Those are questions are like: What will the country look like when I get there? How will the weather be? Will it be easy for me to get from place to place? What attractions might I see while there? Will people speak English fluently? What clothes should I pack to blend in with locals?

These questions that can circulate in your mind again and again until you have them answered through the experience.

While pondering all of these questions at home, you are probably conducting quite a bit of research on what the accommodation will be like. And, if you are going to visit a family member abroad, there may be a different set of questions that surface. For example, you could be wondering if you will get along well consistently during the stay? Will you be subjected to eating strange foods or starving? Will their house be too hot or too cold? Will you have enough space to sleep and store your stuff? Will their house be clean? Will the activities they choose match your own travel interests?

These are all natural, valid concerns. Therefore, it is only fair to consider that if you visit family or friends abroad, it is possible that they will one day come to visit you. It would be a good idea for you to alleviate their anxiety in advance with some simple steps to get ready for the visit.

There are many similarities between the US and the UK. However, when I have friends or family visit, travelling to London is quite a large consideration from their point of view. I try to answer many of their questions about differences through YouTube videos. To be honest, most of the content I produce stems from questions my friends and readers have sent through this blog, social media or the Sunny News. The top three questions I receive are: how do I get around London? What attractions should I see? How is the food?

Publishing guides to London has made it easy because I can just refer people to them and they can click on what they need at their leisure.

As an international host, it’s important for me to help answer as many of those questions in advance so guests have as little surprises as possible on their trip. But, there are also steps that I take to make sure my house is welcoming as well. Doing these things means I can relax more when they visit because I know I have done everything possible in advance to make sure their trip goes well and my guests have great memories of London, Mr Sunny and me.

Where to Sleep and Get Ready

All people need to eat and sleep, so that is where I start when preparing for any guest- international or not.

One of our best investments when we purchased furniture for our new home two years ago is a day bed that can be pulled out in to a double bed. We love this bed because when we don’t have a guest, it is small enough to allow us space in our extra room.

Next, a week or so prior to your guest’s visit, make sure all the bedding is washed. When my mother visited in April, I even bought my mother her brand new pillow.

The extra room has space enough for her to store her suitcase and a rod for hanging clothes. Additionally, the wardrobe doors have mirrors so guests can get dressed and check everything looks satisfactory before leaving ‘their’ room. Not having a mirror in the guest bedroom was a common complaint I received from my parents when they visited me in my townhouse when I lived in New York. As you can imagine, space to sleep and “live” is important to making sure people enjoy their trip.

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With regard to laundry, my mother gave me the best idea a few years ago when I visited her. She has a pop-up laundry basket that guests can use to toss clothes neatly out of the way at the end of the day.

One of my best friend’s from Miami left a little bag of goodies on my bed once when I visited her for a few days. This was a fantastic idea and is something I do now when people visit. As a travel blogger, I am in hotels often. I always make sure to grab an extra shampoo, conditioner, lotion, shower cap, etc. Then, when a guest comes, I put them on their bed. If you can afford an extra special touch, a small gift of something local could be appreciated when a guest arrives too.

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If you don’t have a separate guest bedroom and your guest is cool with couching it, there are a few more things you need to consider before the guest arrives. Extra sheets, blankets and pillows are obvious. But, if the room where they are sleeping has a big clock that chimes every hour or ticks loudly every second, you might want to turn it off or remove it from the room. A sleeping mask could help if the room has a lot of morning sunlight. You can easily grab an extra one on your next long haul flight.

Condition of Your Home

The condition of your home is important to consider. Remember that guests don’t expect to be dazzled by your living space. Chances are guests are grateful for not having the additional expense of a hotel. But they do expect it to be clean. Hopefully, this is part of your every day living and you aren’t partaking in a big cleaning overhaul as their visit approaches.

With regard to your exterior, keep in mind that it is the first impression guests will have of your actual lifestyle.

At the very least, clean your windows inside and out. An extra step might be to use a Wido pressure washer to clean the built up dirt from your driveway. Honestly, it’s something you can do anytime to have the benefits yourself, not just for anticipating guests.

Close friends and family probably have a good idea how you live already, but it’s nice to show them that you have taken some extra steps to greet them. This is especially true if they’ve paid a lot for a flight and have travelled many hours.

Individual Needs

Consider if your guest has allergies or fear of certain animals. If so, keeping pets in one part of the house and carefully vacuuming and nullifying the space is important.

Dietary requirements may require a conversation. For example, I have gluten sensitivity. It helps me if a host doesn’t plan meals that are entirely based on gluten because then I am completely out of luck. Aside from just asking people in advance what foods they tend to eat or should avoid, you might want to send them an email with links to the menus for a few restaurants that you think could be possibilities during their visit. Having take out menus for them to peruse if you are having food delivered is helpful too. Providing options from different types of cuisines in different price ranges gives guests a nice avenue to express their opinions and food interests.

Finally, if your guest has any medical needs, you must take those in to consideration. If walking long distances or up and down too many flights of stairs is an issue, warn them in advance if your building doesn’t have a lift. And don’t schedule too many activities in a day that could be exhausting to your guest.

Final Thoughts

I would love to hear about any additional ideas you have to get ready for a visit from a family member or friend. Please leave your ideas in the comments, Sunny friends. Have you had any bad experiences that you can share so we can learn more about what not to do when you are hosting people in your home?

This is a collaborative post on Sunny in London.

What To Do When It’s Not Sunny in London

Unfortunately this September and October London has had quite a bit of rain. The amount of sunny days in London have certainly been less than we would prefer. This can make it difficult to enjoy the city’s fantastic outdoor attractions. However, it also gives a great opportunity to think about all the great places to see in London and experiences to have indoors too. Whether you’re into culture or you prefer to do something chilled with your weekends, London still has a huge array of things to do when it rains. 

So where should you go the next time it’s not-so-sunny in London? Take a look at the following suggestions for things to do in London on a cloudy or rainy day.

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Head for Brunch

Brunch is a fun and really popular activity across the UK these days. It is also the perfect excuse to spend a few hours catching up with friends (whether bottomless or not!). When you’re in a city like London that’s quickly growing its foodie scene, you’re spoiled for choice with incredible brunch spots. Many of them also include some of the best views of London. Book a table and escape the rain to enjoy a leisurely morning in the city.

Of course if brunch is too early and boozy for you, there’s always the old faithful afternoon tea to use indulging for hours indoors.

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Discover a Bit of History

London is a city full of history, and sometimes it’s easy to forget about it with so much modernity around. Many people who live in London have never visited its best tourist spots, including the London Eye and Westminster Abbey. It might be raining outside, but there’s no reason you can’t discover a bit of history when you have the day to explore. 

Want to learn more about the history of London? Take a look at some of London’s most historic sites to help you plan where to go.

Get Cultured through Art

A morning or afternoon spent wandering around an art gallery can be a fantastic way to enjoy an afternoon or culture. London is home to some of the world’s best art galleries, including both contemporary art and art through the ages. Art galleries can get very busy at the weekend so if you can book tickets in advance, you should, or make sure you get there bright and early to beat the queues as they say.

Go Shopping!

One of the things London is most famous for is its shopping. There are a whole load of incredible stores to check out, ranging from one of boutiques and markets to well-known department stores like Harrods and Liberty. It’s easy to spend a whole day shopping in London, taking in the atmosphere and seeing what all the fuss is about! In the winter months, you’ll be able to take in the beautiful displays along Oxford Street, Regent Street and Carnaby Street. Plus, you will be able to see all of the Christmas lights. 

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Explore Food in London

London really is a fantastic city, with plenty of seasonal events and new openings that make it easy to find something exciting to do every weekend. If you subscribe to the Sunny News email, you will always have a fab list of upcoming ideas from which to choose. That way, come rain or shine, you’ll always have something to do in London.

And, of course, there are tons of foodie things to do in London too.

This is a collaborative post on Sunny in London.

Things to Do Near Tower of London

What is a huge mistake that people planning to visit London make? Not planning things to do near the Tower of London!

When I was a guest on the Eye on Travel CBS Radio Show with Peter Greenberg last year, I said that I feel the Tower of London is the top attraction that people should see when visiting London.

According to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva), the most visited attraction in London in 2018 was the Tate Modern. It accumulated almost 5.9 million visitors. The Tower of London saw approximately 2.5 million enter through the gates.

Given that statistic, you might wonder why I suggest the Tower of London first for everyone visiting London. However, if you know the Tower of London’s history, you might think the better question is: How many guests left the Tower of London with their heads last year?

Ha!Ha!Ha! You knew I couldn’t resist a corny ‘British’ joke, right?

But, seriously, when I get emails or comments on the Sunny News YouTube channel from people visiting London for the first time, they always express wanting to visit the Tower of London. For what it’s worth, I have visited it three times. The Sky Garden is the only attraction I have visited as many times. Is it shocking to learn that it is just around the corner from The Tower? Well, more like a 5-7 minute walk. But, that is close enough in my opinion.

So, what else can you do if you know you want to spend half a day at the Tower of London?

the-best-things-to-do-near-tower-of-london

Things to Do Near Tower of London: London Pass

If you are considering several attractions in one day, then it is likely that you will want a London Pass. Below is the suggested itinerary I have for people who want other things to do near the Tower of London.

  • The Tower of London (£27.20)
  • The Monument to the Great Fire of London (£4.50)
  • St Paul’s Cathedral (£20)
  • Tower Bridge Exhibition (£9.80)
  • View from the Shard (£25)

If you paid for an adult ticket each of these individual attractions “at the door”, your total would be £86.50. An adult London Pass for one day is £75.

The itinerary above would be tight, but if you want to max out on your time in London, it’s the way to go.

Things to Do Near Tower of London: For Foodies

If you’re like Mr Sunny and me, you don’t like to run ragged when you are on holiday. We enjoy leisurely lunches with adult beverages when we travel. As you will see on my Instastories, we don’t overload ourselves with too many commitments on any given day.

Activities that would interest foodies that are near the Tower of London include:

  • Walking to St Katherine’s Docks and having lunch at Dickens Inn or one of the many restaurants in the area. White Mulberries is a great spot for coffee and pastries. Their Instagram is a London account I love and have followed for years.
  • You can easily walk to Borough Market, which is open everyday except Sunday. On weekends, you can get to Maltby Street in about 20 minutes by crossing the Tower Bridge. Both of these locations are known for their outstanding street food.
  • There are tons of restaurants on both the north and south sides of the River Thames. They offer fab views too.
  • The Secret Food Tour of London Bridge is a 3-3 1/2 guided food tour of the London Bridge area that incorporates 8 stops.
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St. Katherine’s Docks, London

Things to Do Near Tower of London: Historic

For those that want to devour history instead, you can find things to do near the Tower of London too. Keep the Monument to the Great Fire of London and Tower Bridge Exhibition from the London Pass itinerary above.

Consider adding a visit to the London Dungeon for an entertaining look at London’s dark past. On the way over, you can also visit the HMS Belfast. Or you can swap something for time’s sake on that itinerary and add the London Bridge experience. The London Bridge and the HMS Belfast are on the London Pass.

Things to Do Near Tower of London: St Paul’s Cathedral

When my mother visited in April, her top requests in London were the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. Arriving at the first one close to when they opened, gave us enough time to swing by the SkyGarden before walking to St Paul’s Cathedral. I had previously booked a time for us to visit Skygarden, which is something you must do for this free attraction. In fact, like the Tower of London it’s one of the few attractions that Londoners actually visit.

We spent about 2 1/2 hours at the Tower of London and about 90 minutes at St Paul’s Cathedral. Our day of touring ended around 3pm.

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Things to Do Near Tower of London: Final Thoughts

You wouldn’t think that those three attractions would take up most of a day. However, you must build in time to get from one attraction to another. And, like I mentioned previously, I don’t like to rush through a million activities in one day.

For the closest amount of attractions in one condensed place, you want to read this article on How to See 4 Attractions at London South Bank.

How do you like to travel, Sunny friends? Do you like to buy a discount attraction pass and hit as many activities as you can in one day? Do you prefer to alternate pool days with attraction days?

For More Guides to London:

I have bookmarked many of my best guides to London for you and grouped them below. They should make planning a trip to London so much easier! To stay up to date with all that’s happening in London, subscribe to the Sunny News emails too.

THE ESSENTIAL FIRST TIME GUIDE TO

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HARRY POTTER

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YOUTUBE

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