THINGS TO DO – Page 5

September 1, 2016 by: Sunny London

Visiting London Zoo Tips

If you’re planning on visiting London Zoo, then these are a few tips of what to do. You can also learn five suggestions of what not to do at the end of this feature too!

In the three years that I have lived in London I have learned that the London Zoo is not just a tourist attraction. In fact, many Londoners love going to the zoo. My husband is certainly one of them. He’s been there many times, so he was a great guide for my first visit.

Growing up in America I have visited the Bronx Zoo, San Diego Zoo and Pittsburgh Zoo, as well as going San Diego whale watching. It has been quite some time since any of those trips. So, I was very excited to visit London Zoo, especially to see what makes it so appealing to Londoners. Since it’s located within The Regent’s Park, I thought the trip would be pretty quick. I was certainly wrong about that.

Visiting London Zoo- Save Money

This attraction is part of the London Pass, which is a discount pass I’ve written about many times on the blog. That is one way you can save money on your visit. If you watch the video below, you’ll see the long line of people waiting to buy tickets. Another bonus of using the London Pass is the London Zoo is part of the fast track entry. This means you can save money and skip the queue!

Our tickets were complimentary, but if you order your tickets in advance, it’s another way to save on admission price. At the time of this publication, an adult ticket is £25.50 with no discounts.

Visiting London Zoo- Take Your Time

If you’re using the London Pass, I would suggest pairing the London Zoo trip with something like the London Transport Museum because it is shorter than an attraction like The Tower of London. Madame Tussauds is very close by, but it isn’t on the London Pass system.

It was recommended that we designate at least two hours to our time at the zoo. We were there close to three hours and didn’t attend any shows. We didn’t stop to eat either. I wouldn’t necessarily attribute the time to crowds. There really is a lot to see, and not everything was available the day we visited. You can see what I mean by that in the video.

Visiting London Zoo- Get Personal

I don’t recall ever being able to get to close to animals in American zoos. Usually you are separated by some type of fence, with the exception of children’s petting zoos. However, the London Zoo gets you very close to some of the animals and bugs. Yes, I said bugs.

Growing up in Florida gave me way too many chances to see bugs and reptiles, so these exhibits weren’t at the top of my list. But, I went through them. There was a section of the bug area that allows you to walk in to a room full of giant spiders. There is nothing separating you from them, except their webs.

You can see in the video the other area we visited that puts you up close and personal with mammals. One of them nearly ran over my foot and it’s caught on film!

Visiting London Zoo- The Map

Make sure you use the map and check off everything you want to see. The zoo is separated in to two different areas, so you might miss the smaller section. It includes the Into Africa area which is where you’ll see the giraffes. They’re very photogenic.

Visiting London Zoo- What Not to Do

In around three minutes, you can learn some very valuable tips that will truly make the difference on your visit. This includes the type of weather to avoid so you don’t end up seeing tons of animals lying around like this…

I promise there’s nothing fishy about this hook to get you to the Sunny News YouTube channel which shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes safety tips, pub advice, and a shopping guide.

You’d really be an ass if you don’t take a few extra minutes to watch the suggestions that are very easy to apply.

Alright, alright, that’s enough pun at the animals’ expense. Here is the zoo video link. Please leave your questions and suggestions that you have about visiting London Zoo or other London attractions either here or on the YouTube channel and I’ll answer them straight away.

https://youtu.be/sl4lScj63Ho

August 21, 2016 by: Sunny London

Virgin Active Gym The Pack Cycle Class Review

What’s the most fun and challenging workout in London? I’m voting for the Virgin Active gym ‘The Pack’ group cycle class. I was invited to a blogger/vlogger activity at the Virgin Active gym near Bank, Monument and Cannon Street underground stations recently and had an awesome time!

The gym is relatively new and is one of the best fitness facilities I’ve ever visited. Below are the details about the class I took.

Virgin Active Gym The Pack: What Happens

We each received guest bands and a t-shirt for our team as we arrived. The shirts have our Twitter or Instagram handles on the back too! After dropping our stuff in the locker room, we had a quick meet and greet and headed to the cycle room. Virgin Active Gym Walbrook has two rooms that can be adjusted for air pressure to simulate different altitudes. The cycle studio we were in is one of them. The other room requires a medical release for you to train inside of it. There are shots of the room information in my YouTube video below.

We were divided in to three teams. I’m not really sure how the ‘bike’ knew to what team we belonged. Our instructor told us all how to enter basic details like gender, fitness level, etc. He also explained how to adjust the bike to match our height before we started.

Throughout the 45-minute class we had several challenges. For example, for the resistance challenge we had to watch our individual calculations on the bike to make sure we were within a certain resistance level like between 60-80. If we were too high above it, we wouldn’t gain points for our team because we weren’t applying enough resistance to our ride.

The ‘pink’ team, which I believe were the FitFam bloggers and vloggers, seemed to win nearly every challenge. However, the overall winner was a different team. You’ll have to watch the video to see who won. It’s based on whichever team travels the furthest distance.

Virgin Active Gym The Pack: Final Thoughts

I’ve taken cycling classes in Florida, New York and London and approximately 7-10 different gyms. This was by far the best. The instructor was great because he motivated everyone not only from his cycle in the front of the room but also by checking everyone’s individual results a few times during the class. The music was awesome.

I loved the giant screen in front of the room that counted down the time left in the group cycle class. It also would count down the time left for the various challenges.

If you like working out by yourself and want a new challenge, this workout at Virgin Active Gym is absolutely something to try, and if you do really enjoy working out by yourself more often than not, you might want to look into the best recumbent bike reviews so you can find one for your home, increasing your fitness, hopefully with ease. I’m not sure if it’s at every one of their fitness facilities. I went Virgin Active Walbrook. The idea of being able to push myself at my own pace and comfort level while being motivated by not wanting to let my team down truly made a difference in my individual effort. You can see inside the gym and class in the video below. I’d love your thoughts about unique workouts in your area and what works for your fitness routine. If you’re visiting London and want to truly something really different, this would be an activity for you too. #TogetherWeRide

August 8, 2016 by: Sunny London

Harry Potter London Bus Tour

If you go on the Harry Potter London Bus Tour you can be chauffeured around London to see some of the best locations featured in the films! I recently had the chance to do this with Brit Movie Tours.

Since ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ opened at Palace Theatre, which was just near where I first lived in London, every muggle is buzzing with a renewed interest in the magical stories.

Twice I’ve visited the Warner Bros Studio tour in London. I also have been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Because many blog readers contact me about the Harry Potter experience in London, it seemed like a good idea to give this 2-3 hour tour a go.

Harry Potter London Bus Tour: What You See

Foremost, you need to know that through the duration of the tour, you will only get off the bus 5-6 times. It’s a long time to sit just to see a handful of exterior ‘sets’ up close. That being said, there were several times on the tour that I learned locations I walk by frequently were important sets in the films! For example, Australian House was used to shoot scenes for the outside of Gringotts Bank.

There were also two markets on the bus stops that I had yet to visit. They’re definitely on my list of things to do in London now. Both markets were sets for the Leaky Cauldron.

Harry Potter London Bus Tour: What You’ll Learn

The tour guide shared tons of movie trivia with us as we moved through the streets of London. This was not only to provide us with interesting information but also to occupy our time as we sat in London congestion.

For example, as we crossed in to the City of London, he shard that roads leading in to London have a dragon statue. This marks the start of the City. Dragons always face outward to show they are protecting the city.

Movie Trivia on the Harry Potter London Bus Tour:

Did you know that no American actors or actresses were allowed to be cast in the film’s per JK Rowling’s direction? Verne Troyer (Mini-me in ‘Austin Powers’) is the only actor ever cast. It was due to height requirement, and his lines were dubbed over to avoid people hearing his American accent.

Routemaster bus no. 15 is what inspired the Night Bus featured in the movies.

There are several errors in the Charing Cross station scene. First, Mr. Weasley and Harry are shown going down an escalator to leave the Underground. Next, they struggle with Oyster cards. The films are set to take place in the mid to late 90’s, which was before the Oyster card was available until 2003. (If you’d like some travel advice, be sure to watch my YouTube video ‘20+ Tube Tips in Two Minutes‘)

When movie production companies want to film the London Underground, a member of TFL must be on the set at all times. In fact, it’s the TFL employees suggestion that they struggle to get through the turn stiles because the employee said it’s something very common that nearly happens to everyone.

The late Alan Rickman, who played Professor Snape, had to be told at the start of the films what would happen to his character. JK Rowling felt it was important he knew the path his character was on so he could adequately play the role. This occasionally caused arguments between him and the various directors because they couldn’t understand why the actor would modify or refuse some directions.

The London Eye in Harry Potter Films:

It seems I can never get enough pictures of the London Eye. But did you know it’s very difficult to film due to so many restriction? It’s barely featured in the London skyline shots in the Harry Potter films. Rules for filming the London Eye include: the film can’t promote terrorism and the attraction cannot be destroyed.

If you’ve seen ‘London Has Fallen’, you may have noticed it doesn’t show the London Eye falling. In fact, the new ‘Independence Day’ only implies it’s destroyed. The one exception that exists is ‘Fantastic Four.’ In it, the London Eye comes off its axis and falls in to the River Thames. They get around the restriction because (SPOILER ALERT!) the super team puts it back together in the end.

Harry Potter London Bus Tour: On the Platform

The tour ends at the mock Platform 9 3/4 and has a photo opp for anyone who wishes to wait in the queue. Be warned, if it’s on a busy day, the line could be an hour or more.

As I mention in the video of the Harry Potter London Bus Tour, scenes were not actually filmed between platforms 9 and 10 at King’s Cross St Pancras International Station. They took place between platforms 4 and 5.

Now, watch the video which shows the stops you make on the tour, and the actual school that Danielle Radcliffe attended. If you can’t find it, leave a comment on the Sunny YouTube channel, and I’ll tell you the name of the school. One hint is: it’s located near the Millenium Bridge.

Don’t forget to read the other Harry Potter posts on the blog after you watch the video:

How to Get to the Harry Potter Studio Tour London
Hogwarts in the Snow– 5 Reasons You Must Go!
The Dueling Challenge: Harry Potter London vs Orlando
What You’ll See on the Harry Potter Tour

My experience was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This doesn’t affect my opinion expressed above. There are tons of walking tours I would like to try with Brit Movie Tours now, including: James Bond Tours, Romantic Comedy Tour London and the Krays Gangster London Tour. For Downton Abbey fans, they have a tour for you. And, Game of Thrones fanatics who are in Ireland, you might want to read this too. Let me know which ones you do! You can also check their TripAdvisor reviews to see what others have to say about the experience.

July 24, 2016 by: Sunny London

Derren Brown Ghost Train at Thorpe Park Review

Were you thinking that Ghost Train at Thorpe Park would never open? When it did open, did you think it would be worth the extended wait? Perhaps the illusion of an actual attraction was all that Derren Brown and the amusement park would accomplish?

Mr. Sunny and I attended the very eagerly anticipated launch party for the attraction in July. We had been invited when I inquired about visiting Thorpe Park in March. Needless to say, we were curious what could delay the Ghost Train so long.

Having never been to Thorpe Park, I was curious how it would measure against the amusement parks where I spent most of my childhood in Orlando. In fact, you could say I have spent years in them because I did work at Universal Studios in the tours and events departments. For this reason, I’m ‘professionally trained’ on ride and attraction openings. Therefore, this review will be either extremely critical or extremely knowledgable. You decide the lens.

Experience aside, what I know nothing about is Derren Brown. In fact, I don’t even like scary stuff. Every year I get invited to the Jack the Ripper walking tour in London. I’ve never gone because I don’t think I could sleep after it. Any horror film I have seen has been under duress. I can probably count them on one hand.

Based on these elements, this is what we think about the new attraction.

Derren Brown’s Ghost Train at Thorpe Park: Thumbs Up

It’s a very British attraction. What I mean by this is, most of the 13 minute experience takes place in a seven-tonne railway carriage suspended in air. Ghost Train is also housed within a Victorian warehouse modelled after one found near a station in London.
It has made the leap beyond the standard haunted house that we previously sought as live entertainment to induce fright.
The effects were cool. The first phase of Ghost Train involves a quick pre-show from a Derren Brown hologram. I would’ve loved it if Tupac and Biggie Smalls had been sitting behind him. However, that would definitely have contradicted the first point I made here.
Not everyone’s virtual experience is the same. Mr. Sunny and I saw different characters and storylines while on Ghost Train. His journey had females and mine featured males.

Derren Brown’s Ghost Train at Thorpe Park: Thumbs Down

Organisation is lacking. A 13 minute attraction shouldn’t have a one hour wait at a launch party. Once inside the actual Ghost Train, not all of the space in each area was utilised. Why not fill the carriage of people to move the line faster?
Further, there was nothing to do while standing in line. Couldn’t they have monitors showing information about what was involved in making Ghost Train? Things they’d like you to notice and appreciate? At the very least, Thorpe Park should put up some posters of optical illusions for people to see and discuss as they wait. What about some live entertainment via magicians?
No touching. No touching EVER. When they announced the actors would likely touch us, and they requested we not strike them back, I was shocked. Obviously, I am not saying I was looking forward to getting in a fist fight with an amusement park employee. I just don’t feel like being touched by someone in the dark that I don’t know. Shrek’s Adventure, London Dungeon, and The London Eye find unique ways to use create terror through non-living gimmicks. (Yes, those links are all my reviews on the blog) For example, at Shrek’s Adventure, guests sit on boxes and feel hard movement under them. They are supposed to be boxes filled with rats. It’s pretty creepy. Can Ghost Train include hot air being blown on to the back of people’s necks to simulate a zombie breathing behind them?
Mind the Glass. My husband wears glasses. At one point during Ghost Train guests are rushed from one room to another. In this ‘panic’ an employee grabbed my husband’s headset and pulled it off of him quickly. The person also pulled off and nearly broke my husband’s glasses in the process. Mr. Sunny was not happy.
The Daily Train. If you ride the London Underground (not like an arse) on a daily basis to work, you likely already feel like you’re on a Ghost Train (or ride from hell) every day. This is especially true during peak travel times.

Darren Brown’s Ghost Train at Thorpe Park: Final Thoughts

With some focus on the organisation of the queue, additional mechanical effects and moderation of the performance from the employees/actors at the attraction, Ghost Train could be very interesting. The visual effects are impressive. We had a really great time on the roller coasters that were open at the launch party.

We rode everything except Storm Surge and Rush. Nemesis was our first ride. Next, we hit Stealth and Colossus. Tidal Wave is Mr. Sunny’s favourite because he likes water rides. Me, not so much. My favourite is easily Colossus. Saw The Ride tossed us around quite a bit too.

I have a few teasers of pictures from our evening below, just after the two-minute YouTube video I made of what a visit to see Derren Brown’s Ghost Train at Thorpe Park could involve. Go on then, take a little virtual ride with Mr. Sunny and me. (Yes, that’s us talking at the top of a ride in the beginning and also him chasing me on the bumper cars too) …

Have you had the chance to experience Ghost Train at Thorpe Park yet? What did you think? What is your favourite ride at the amusement park?

July 17, 2016 by: Sunny London

How to Climb the O2 like a Rockstar

Climb the O2? Most Americans don’t even know what Londoners mean when they say ‘the O2,’ much less know it’s a London attraction that even locals visit. Maybe that’s because it’s one of the newer iconic buildings in London. Maybe it’s because the O2 has had several names in less than the two decades it has existed.

During the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in London, the building was called the North Greenwich Arena due to sponsorship issues with the games. It was originally built to celebrate the year 2000 and was first named the Millenium Dome. When became sponsored by the telecommunications company O2 (which happens to be my mobile phone provider) in 2007, the name changed to the O2.

When I did a livestream video on my Facebook page, my American friends were quite curious about the attraction.

In summary, after the Manchester Arena, it has the second-highest seating capacity for an indoor venue in the UK. In 2008, it surpassed Madison Square Garden for the busiest music arena.

Aside from its use for concerts and changing name through the years, the O2 also offers an adventurous activity called Up at the O2. In comparison to the London helicopter ride I took, I felt the views were better at the O2 ‘summit.’ Perhaps not quite as spectacular as The View from the Shard, but then again, you are talking about a big difference in height. I really loved my climb the O2 experience and have some advice for anyone considering this attraction in London.

Climb the O2: Advice

1. Plan on wearing their shoes. If you’re OCD like me, definitely bring a pair of socks. You can see what they give you in the first photo of this blog review.

2. Choose and prepare your photography equipment ahead of time. I managed to squeeze my iPhone 6, a GoPro Hero and my compact digital camera in to the two pockets of the jacket.

It was tight, and I wouldn’t recommend it. I took the cameras without covers so they would fit. Luckily, I had some Kleenex in my purse. I wrapped it around the two cameras hoping they wouldn’t get scratched during the climb. It wasn’t smart, but it did work.

3. Plan on wind. It was a relatively nice day in London. On the ground, the weather was perfect. As I predicted, at the summit the wind was significant. If you plan on filming video for YouTube or doing a livestream broadcast on Facebook like I did, bring a good quality lav microphone. You can see what a difference it made for my sound in the video below.

4. Be in shape. The first set of stairs is fairly easy. But the actual incline is pretty steep. You aren’t going to be able to count the climb the O2 experience as your daily workout. However, if you have a bad back or trouble with your knees, this London attraction isn’t for you.

5. Plan for a manicure after you climb the O2. The only way you can get to the top and back down is by using your hands. Every 5-6 feet you need to shove your cable attachment through some gears. It’s not easy, but eventually you get the hang of it. Nails with a pretty paint job won’t make it through that. It’s best to have a spa appointment booked after you are up at the O2.

Climb the O2: Fear of Heights

I feel you can enjoy the Climb the O2 attraction if you are afraid of heights. It’s one of my fears but I didn’t have a single issue or moment of doubt during my trip. The guide we had, Carolina, may have had something to do with this too. She’s worked there three years and is amazing.

We had a swift but thorough safety training first. She took time to make sure each of us understood the process too. Carolina also made sure we all had photos before, during and after we did the Climb the O2. In fact, she took one with each person’s camera. This is mine.

Climb the O2: Londoners Do It

Surprisingly, nearly everyone on my climb was from London. Usually when you go to attractions, you pretty much see Americans and other foreigners. One gentleman said Climb the O2 was on his list of ’50 things to do before I turn 50.’ What a cool idea!

Climb the O2: Watch on YouTube

I can write about what’s involved and how much fun it is Up at the O2. However, I think you’d probably appreciate it more if I show you…

My Climb the O2 experience was complimentary for the purpose of a review. You can see in the YouTube video how much fun I truly had. You can also read about their excellent reviews on TripAdvisor. They also offer sunset climbs, twilight climbs and private climbs.

If you’re an American visiting London, make sure to bookmark my Guide for Americans Visiting London on the blog, which has reviews for hotels, restaurants, attractions, afternoon tea, events and more. I look forward to reading your comments about the tips in the video and answering any other questions you might have about the American expat experience in London, or perhaps ideas for an NFL in London trip. Oh, and if you are planning a journey here, be sure to pin this to your London trip board. Of course, you can always share it with friends on other social media too.

July 13, 2016 by: Sunny London

Tips for Taking a London Helicopter Tour

If you’re considering a London helicopter tour, there’s a few things you should know. I don’t mean the obvious questions you should answer before booking a flight.

‘What are the obvious things,’ you might be wondering.

Well, choosing a reputable company is the very first step, it would also be the same if you were looking for helicopter flying lessons. After that, it would be a great idea to investigate online reviews. Since it is so easy for people to write and post their thoughts about experiences online for attractions, hotels, restaurants, and just about any activity, it would be well worth your time to do some research on what other people have to say about the company prior to even calling to inquire. Much like you’re doing right now 😉

Assuming all that meets your high expectation level, there are actually a few more extremely important steps you need to take.

Having flown in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon and an erupting volcano in Hawaii, I thought I knew what to expect for a great London helicopter experience. I even watched other people’s videos prior to my booking to get ideas about what would happen. However, there’s one thing I absolutely missed!

To avoid being surprised by anything when you take your London helicopter flight, spend six minutes watching this YouTube video below. It includes my tips for how to fly high through the sky with the London helicopter company. There are shots taken from the take off and landing, as well as highlights of what you’ll see from the air.

My flight with the London Helicopter company was complimentary for the purpose of a review. As you’ll see in the YouTube video, this does not affect my thoughts on the experience. I was on the ‘London Sights’ flight. I believe the cost of this experience for an individual is £200. Their website shows more about individual flight prices and group packages.

As I reference in the video, they’re highly rated on TripAdvisor.

There’s also a Guide for Americans Visiting London for the First Time on the blog, which has reviews for hotels, restaurants, attractions, afternoon tea, events and more. I look forward to reading your comments about the tips in the video and answering any other questions you might have about the American expat experience in London, or perhaps ideas for an NFL in London trip. Oh, and if you are planning a journey here, be sure to pin this to your London trip board. Of course, you can always share it with friends on other social media too.

June 26, 2016 by: Sunny London

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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

June 21, 2016 by: Sunny London

7 Tips for Visiting Windsor Castle

Planning a trip to London and considering visiting Windsor Castle? If so, there are some things you should know. As the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, Windsor Castle is a must-see for royal family fans. It’s the Queen’s official residence and favourite weekend home. She spends most of her private weekends at the Castle, which is also used for ceremonial and State occasions.

1. Visiting Windsor Castle- Your Ticket

When you purchase a ticket, you have access to The State Apartments and St. George’s Chapel (if it isn’t a Sunday). However, keep in mind that you are not allowed to photograph anything inside either of these locations.

The State Apartments feature some of the finest treasures from the Royal Collection. When Mr. Sunny and I visited, he enjoyed seeing the trophies of arms and armour that line the walls of the Grand Staircase and Grand Vestibule. The china museum captivated my attention.

It’s important to note that since this is a working royal palace, opening arrangements can change at short notice. If the State Apartments are closed, there is a reduced admission price.

We skipped the Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House (also included in an admission ticket) because the line was twice as long for it. Oh, and speaking of lines, be ready to see a queue wrapped around the street for entrance in to Windsor Castle. We arrived around 1pm on a Saturday in June and were grateful to have press passes that enabled us to bypass this. If you consider that Windsor has about 27,000 residents and receives around 7 million visitors a year, it’s no wonder that the line is so long to enter Windsor Castle.

2. Visiting Windsor Castle- Special Events

Windsor Castle offers many family activities such as storytelling and art workshops every Saturday and each school holiday. For Shakespeare’s 400th birthday, there is an exhibition which shows how generations of monarchs have enjoyed the playwright’s work. Later this year is a ‘Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen’s Wardrobe.’

3. Visiting Windsor Castle- Special Tours

You can pick up a free multimedia guide which can assist with maximizing your visit to Windsor Castle. However, if you have a larger group, you might want to consider a more focused tour.

Generally, you need about 15 people at a minimum for most of the special tours. As a food and travel blogger, I would be most excited about the Tour to the Great Kitchen so I could learn about royal dining. In fact, that’s one of the souvenirs we purchased during our Windsor Weekend, a book on seasonal recipes from Buckingham Palace, A Royal Cookbook.

When I learned there are 18,000 bottles of wine in the cellar, I really wanted to come back for this tour!

You can also climb 200 steps to the top of the Round Tower on the ‘Conquer the Tower Tour’ which has views of the Castle Precincts, London’s skyline and the River Thames. This tour is generally offered in August and September.

4. Visiting Windsor Castle- Changing of the Guard

The most disappointing part of my Weekend in Windsor visit was learning that Changing of the Guard had been cancelled for the day we arrived. Mr. Sunny and I set our alarms extra early in order to arrive to Windsor by train, check in to our fantastic room at the Macdonald Windsor Hotel, and grab a great spot on the street.

Changing of the Guard is supposed to be far more spectacular at Windsor Castle than Buckingham Palace, so we were crushed when we discovered it wasn’t happening. Although it was clearly conveyed why, we think it may have been because most guards were being used in London for the Trooping the Colour.

5. Visiting Windsor Castle- Seeing Her Royal Majesty the Queen

If you are interested in seeing the Queen, you’ll have better luck on a weekend. This castle is where she grew up, so she views it as her home, whereas Buckingham Palace is her ‘office’. She also evacuated to Windsor Castle during World War II. Generally, she and the Duke of Edinburgh are driven to the castle when they make the commute.

While you probably won’t have a chance to see her, you can tell if she’s home if her flag is flying. Further, she rides her pony Emma every morning and keeps her green Jaguar at the Windsor Castle Mews. She is a fan of driving herself and does so as much as possible. I learned these interesting facts while on a walking tour with Amanda from Windsor Tourist Guides during a walking tour I had while visiting Windsor Castle.

Tips for Visiting Windsor Castle, London Day Trips

Her Majesty the Queen’s pony, Emma

Royal Mews, where the Queen keeps her Jaguar

6. Visiting Windsor Castle- Save for Souvenirs

As someone who grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida and worked at Universal Studios Florida, I realise every attraction has at least one gift shop. It’s actually a pet peeve of mine that you nearly always have to exit a ride through the gift shop. While Windsor Castle has several gift shops located around the areas for which your ticket gives you access, they are at least more covertly placed.

While I live in London and can’t go a single day without seeing several souvenir shops, I did in fact buy a few things during my visit. It was actually pretty funny when I got home and saw the cookbook on Amazon.co.uk.

And, I even checked and found A Royal Cookbook on Amazon.com in the US too!

Aside from those impulse purchases, I bought several boxes of Windsor Castle English Afternoon Tea. There was just something about buying tea at the Queen’s house that reached out to me. However, if I had a lot more money, I would have chosen a teacup and teapot from one of the exquisite collections for the Diamond Jubilee or her 90th birthday celebrations. They were in the price range of hundreds of pounds, so they definitely surpassed my souvenir budget. In any event, you might want to be prepared to purchase a few items as souvenirs from your day at the Queen’s weekend house.

7. Visiting Windsor Castle- To Stay or Not to Stay?

If you are in London for a limited amount of time, want to see a castle, and love all things royal, then plan a day to visit Windsor. As I indicated during a livestream Facebook video outside of Windsor Castle, it is truly an overwhelming experience and will consume 2-3 hours.

From central London, it could be a 40 minute train ride to Windsor and Eton Central station, which is across from the castle. The trip from Paddington station is £20 ($35) roundtrip. Entrance to Windsor Castle at this time for a standard adult ticket is £20. It is a part of the London Pass program for saving money on attraction tickets, for which I have written about in many blog reviews. Windsor Castle is not designated for their fast-track entry.

While a visit to Windsor is what many people recommend as a day trip, I disagree. To truly enjoy the castle and what Windsor offers, I think it’s worthy of a full weekend and wish we had stayed two nights. If you’re flying in and out of London via Heathrow Airport, you might want to arrange a hotel in Windsor on the first or last day of your London visit, since it is fairly close. If you live in London as an American expat and are looking for a staycation, there is plenty to do in Windsor for two days.

Whatever you may choose, you will do yourself a huge favour by checking in advance the Windsor Castle website for dates when the castle may be closed or have shorter opening hours. I can’t imagine going to the town for the first time and not visiting Windsor Castle. Finally, make sure you get your ticket stamped when you leave, as it will give you access for a full year!

If you’re planning a full weekend in Windsor, be sure to watch my Visit Windsor- 10 Things to Do YouTube video below. And, don’t forget to leave your ideas in the comments below too.

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As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads that will guide you through trip planning, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

May 1, 2016 by: Sunny London

Royal Albert Hall Tour Review

Taking a Royal Albert Hall Tour has always been an activity on my list of things to do in London, but more so when a friend of mine recommended I checked out a Sports Hospitality, which included offers to sport and music events around London. This is probably one the best things I have ever done and this is why this city is my favourite! When I received two London Passes I knew this venue would be a part of a full day itinerary for me. I’m glad I combined it with other events that day because there were a few things I discovered on the tour that you need to know if it’s an activity you’re considering.

For the first London Pass exploration day, I hit several monuments in the City. I saved the second pass for a day of activities that didn’t necessarily require super sunny weather.

My first stop on Day 2 with a London Pass was the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre tour in Southwark. I knew out of the four attractions on my itinerary that it would have the biggest crowds, so it was best to be there as soon as it opened. Next, I took the Underground to Queensway and visited Kensington Palace. After a beautiful walk through Hyde Park, I arrived at the working theatre and music hall around mid-afternoon. Luckily, there was a Grand Tour starting in 15 minutes.

Since I had a little time to spare and was starving, I ordered a light snack in the Royal Albert Hall Cafe Bar and Verdi. I didn’t realise it would take a few minutes for them to prepare it and bring it to my table. Further, I didn’t know they would begin assembling the tour five minutes early. If you’re going to order food from the cafe, give yourself plenty of additional time. Also, know that you receive 10% off your order if you show a tour ticket.

Our tour consisted of about 10 people who were all very smartly dressed. I was probably the youngest person on it. The Royal Albert Hall tour guide was good and clearly stuck to a tight schedule for the one hour experience. One of the first points of interest on the tour was the entrance for the Queen when she attends performances.

I agree- not the most exciting pictures, but the information about Royal history of the hall is intriguing. When it was built 145 years ago upon the inception of Prince Albert people could buy a box. This actually meant they held a 999 year lease on it. With a box purchase, you received your own keys. People decorated their box, and it was fashionable to try to ‘outdo’ your ‘neighbors.’

Of course, Queen Victoria bought the first Royal seating box. The Royal box has a crown above it. It’s roped off with silk curtains and has posh chairs in comparison to chairs in other boxes. Currently, when Queen Elizabeth isn’t attending the music hall for an event, her staff uses the box. If you work for her, you can apply for tickets. Recently, boxes sold for £1.2 million and still are under ‘ownership’ for nearly one thousand years.

As a charity building, the Royal Albert Hall operates as a hall for hire. It’s had epic costume balls and concerts to raise money. Generally, it costs £16,000 to rent the hall. The BBC has it each year for ‘BBC Proms for 7 weeks, and they bring all their own kit. They remove all the chairs in the arena so people can walk around for the promenade.

One of the more epic events occurred when J.K. Rowling launched the Order of the Phoenix, book five of the Harry Potter series. She read passages from the book on the stage.

The week before my Royal Albert Hall tour, the film Raiders of the Lost Ark played, accompanied by a live orchestra. This made the venue the biggest cinema in Europe. They do about 10 of these types of showings a year.

Royal Albert Hall Tour: Need to Know

We weren’t able to take any pictures inside the hall during our tour due to a rehearsal taking place for a show. This was really disappointing to me, especially as a blogger who relies heavily on images to tell a story.

Our tour guide shared loads of information about how the stage and seats can be altered to accommodate different performances. They’ve even had a tennis court placed inside. If you are ever planning on attending an event, you definitely want to review a seating plan before purchasing tickets. Based on the placement of the stage for an event, some seats may be better than others. Also, the top seats are extremely vertical. If you experience a fear of heights or mild vertigo, these might not be enjoyable for you.

Royal Albert Hall Tour- Interesting Facts

Within 20 minutes of a show closing, the stage breakdown begins.
Trucks can drive under the stage from outside to facilitate set bulking and deconstruction.
At Kylie Minogue’s concert, the venue ran out of champagne.
The original Royal Albert Hall was built with no bathrooms. This meant people ran to the parks during show intervals.
The venue is seen to be a living memorial to Prince Albert.

If you aren’t using a London Pass, it is cheaper to buy your ticket online. This means the price would be: Adults £12.75, Concessions £10.75, Children (6 – 16 years) £5.75 (including 25p booking fee). There are several options for tours, including: a Secret History Tour, Afternoon Tea Tour, Victorian Interactive Tour, and a Story of the Proms Tour.

Have you ever been to the Royal Albert Hall for an event? What was your experience? What seating or ticket suggestions do you have?

April 18, 2016 by: Sunny London

11 Best Places to Take a Selfie in London

Planning a visit and need to know the best places to take a selfie in London? Did you know that London is the selfie capital of the world? According to the website Suggestme, it’s very true.

With that in mind, it could be a bit overwhelming trying to figure out all the best #londonselfie places on your own. That’s why I put together this list to help you. So, without further ado, let’s review the top locations in London town for you to include with your holiday smile. If you’re wanting to better your smile before you go on your holidays and taking your super selfies, you may want to look at different dental offices close to where you are, such as this Dentist Temple Terrace for example, and see how they can help you.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #1 Big Ben

The top spot to show your Facebook friends that you’re having a good time is Big Ben. Specifically, it’s the most popular backdrop for selfies in the capital. Many people try to take selfies as they cross Westminster Bridge. Time and time again when I pass these tourists, I see them struggling with positioning their picture because it’s difficult to fight the oncoming crowds of people moving across the bridge. Not to mention the oncoming traffic made of busses, taxis and cyclists.

The best location to get you and your friend Ben in the same shot is actually from the opposite side on Great George Street. In fact, you can get a two for one here because there’s a telephone booth you can position yourself inside or near that is perfect for an iconic London photo souvenir.

If you go to 12 Great George Street on Google Maps, you can see the place to which I am referring.

Here is a street view. The telephone booth featured in the pictures above is on the left.

It’s likely you’ll need to wait in a fairly organised queue to get a great shot, but it’s worth it. However, try to avoid making too much of a scene. Here’s a slice of my Snapchat (SunnyInLondon2) to show you what I mean.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #2 Buckingham Palace

If you really want a royal way to remember your trip, then you must walk a few minutes from Big Ben to Buckingham Palace. It’s pretty easy here to stand in front of the gates and get a good shot of your faux visit with the Queen.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #3 St Paul’s Cathedral

Another easy space to get a ginormous monument behind you is next to St. Paul’s Cathedral. However, take it to another level by being slightly more creative. Instead of just standing in front of the location and snapping a photo, walk from Southwark across the Millenium Bridge and position yourself with the cathedral behind you.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #4 Madame Tussaud’s

If you’re looking to be just plain cheeky, there’s a Marylebone museum designed just for selfies. Well, almost.

If you want to win an Academy Award for Best Selfie on a Holiday, Madame Tussaud’s is THE place to travel. Inside you’ll see all types of fake celebrities which will surely give your selfie stick a genuine place on the stage. From Darth Vader to James Bond to the Royal Family, you can spend hours being star struck here.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #5 Shrek’s Adventures

If you’re more focused on specific fictitious characters, then there are a few other options. While I feel Shrek’s Adventure in the South Bank area is primarily an attraction for people with small children, there is one alluring factor for adults.

Every group (which in my case on the day I visited was a party of one), gets a quick chance to pose with Shrek’s at the end of the experience. This photo op could make your friends really green with envy.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #6 Platform 9 3/4

For a literal camera quest, you should add this spot which will make all your muggle mates curious.

While capturing the whole ‘illusion’ of finding Platform 9 3/4 is tough in a selfie, it’s every Harry Potter fan’s dream. I had a friend take this shot of me for the blog review of Hogwarts in the Snow at Christmas. Since you would need directions for getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour if you’re just visiting London, you might want to consider just visiting a similar setup for a mystical photo at the King’s Cross Platform 9 3/4 area. Rather than take a full day of your trip to complete the Harry Potter Studio Tour, you can just hit the Central London staged setting.

Either way, both locations will let you get this picture of you that will produce magical results.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #7 London Eye

Moving up your selfie itinerary, you can grab a shot at one of London’s newest icons in the sky- The London Eye.

Before you visit, be sure to read the blog on Advice for How to Ride High. While you are there, it’s pretty easy to get a great picture if you board the carriage and immediately head to the back. This perfectly positions you for a timely picture of you and one of the world’s most famous riverside views. While at the attraction, you can also snag a sneaky Big Ben photo from a different land angle too.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #8 The Shard

For the highest horizon in Europe, you’ll have to go to the View from the Shard experience. I’ve visited twice and both times it was spectacular. From this altitude you can get a great shot of you and The Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast and the Mayor’s office.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #9 Regent Street

For all the fashion forward Sunny friends, put on your pret a porter gear and strut your stuff on this runway- the middle of Regent Street.

While you must be exceedingly careful to stage this shot, it is possible to position yourself in the center of Regent Street. I’ve actual done a Periscope broadcast from this location when I was promoting the NFL in London street party that’s taken place the past few years in the Autumn.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #10 Tower of London Bridge Exhibition

For the most death defying selfie, there is no doubt in my mind that the glass floor in the walkway of the Tower Bridge Exhibition is the clearest way to get the best selfie in London.

Again, there is a whole blog review devoted to this attraction that’s part of the London Pass. In fact, many of the attractions listed here can be a part of that money saving system.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #11 Piccadilly Circus

At almost any time of the day, you’ll find Piccadilly Circus flooded with eager selfie takers. With the bright lights and flashy displays, this spot is always a winner. In fact, if you look closely at the couple posing below, you’ll see they’re aiming for every angle.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: Final Thoughts

There is one spot in London that I have intentionally left out and that’s Trafalgar Square. It’s certainly populated with tons of tourists every day fighting to take pictures on and with the Nelson’s column monumental bronze lions.

It’s just not something I would advise. There doesn’t seem to be a safe way to get to them and planning a selfie seems dangerous because there’s no railing and minimal space to balance your feet. There is no doubt that it is a great photo location. But, I wouldn’t count on a selfie stick producing concrete results. Well, unless you want to be on one of those viral videos that shows you falling off the statues.

What are your thoughts, Sunny friends? Where would you suggest is a great selfie spot in London?

Visiting London Zoo- Save Money

Visiting London Zoo- Take Your Time

Visiting London Zoo- Get Personal

Visiting London Zoo- The Map

Visiting London Zoo- What Not to Do

Virgin Active Gym The Pack: What Happens

Virgin Active Gym The Pack: Final Thoughts

Harry Potter London Bus Tour: What You See

Harry Potter London Bus Tour: What You’ll Learn

Movie Trivia on the Harry Potter London Bus Tour:

The London Eye in Harry Potter Films:

Harry Potter London Bus Tour: On the Platform

Derren Brown’s Ghost Train at Thorpe Park: Thumbs Up

Derren Brown’s Ghost Train at Thorpe Park: Thumbs Down

Darren Brown’s Ghost Train at Thorpe Park: Final Thoughts

Climb the O2: Advice

Climb the O2: Fear of Heights

Climb the O2: Londoners Do It

Climb the O2: Watch on YouTube

How to Visit London: Itinerary Day 1

Starting Tube Station: Tower Hill or Tower Gateway

Extra Attraction:

How to Visit London: Itinerary Day 2

Starting Tube Station: Waterloo

Extra Attraction:

Visit London: Final Thoughts

1. Visiting Windsor Castle- Your Ticket

2. Visiting Windsor Castle- Special Events

3. Visiting Windsor Castle- Special Tours

4. Visiting Windsor Castle- Changing of the Guard

5. Visiting Windsor Castle- Seeing Her Royal Majesty the Queen

6. Visiting Windsor Castle- Save for Souvenirs

7. Visiting Windsor Castle- To Stay or Not to Stay?

Want a Food Freebie in London?

Royal Albert Hall Tour: Need to Know

Royal Albert Hall Tour- Interesting Facts

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #1 Big Ben

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #2 Buckingham Palace

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #3 St Paul’s Cathedral

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #4 Madame Tussaud’s

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #5 Shrek’s Adventures

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #6 Platform 9 3/4

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #7 London Eye

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #8 The Shard

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #9 Regent Street

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #10 Tower of London Bridge Exhibition

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #11 Piccadilly Circus

Places to Take a Selfie in London: Final Thoughts

THE ESSENTIAL FIRST TIME GUIDE TO

HARRY POTTER

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