The best of London
by Stacia Bedford
To me, a city’s best attributes are not found in any of its tourist traps, but rather in its architecture, history, music, cultural events, neighborhoods, graffiti, shopping, dialect, art, food and residents. This is why my “London Calling” and “Top 10” don’t include many day-tripper attractions. There are tons of reasons to want to visit a city like London and even more reasons to fancy it, but here are my “top” ten:
1. British accents: Though the United States, Canada and a number of other countries site English as the official language, no other country’s inhabitants speak it with more eloquence and verve than the Queen’s own. I am an absolute sucker when I hear it and giggle a bit at the vernacular expressions. Some favorites include: knackered (exhausted), snog (kissing/make-out), git (someone acting stupid), bloke (a guy), nutter (someone acting crazy), loo (bathroom), dodgy (something risky) and nibbles or nosh (food or eating).
2. Double-decker buses: These two-story, red buses are ubiquitous in London. I love seeing them lining the streets and hopping on when I have some extra time to get from one part of the city to another. They are a great form of public transportation and a fun way to see the sites.
3. Harrods: This upscale store (of sorts) occupies five acres of the city and houses over 300 departments. Those departments range from clothing to food and just about everything in-between. As of late, Harrods has begun selling gold bars “off the shelf.” I’ve only ever bought souvenirs like mugs, bears and plastic shopper bags there – all of which Harrods is known for – but love visiting never-the-less, for the splendor and people watching.
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4. The Queen Mum (and her Diamond Jubilee): I love the idea of a monarchy. The fact that a woman – Queen Elizabeth II – has reigned for 60 years is amazing to me and I am very excited about her anniversary celebration this summer. I won’t be around for the experience first-hand, but look forward to seeing all the preparations for it.
5. Camden Passage: I’ve not been, but have done some online recon and can’t wait to check out Camden Passage on a Wednesday or Saturday (market days) morning. Located in Islington and not to be confused with Camden Market, this tucked-away pedestrian thoroughfare has some of London’s best (and affordable) antiques and vintage shopping. It also boasts a handful of great little cafes, bars and bakeries.
6. Free Museums (and the “almost free” Tate Modern): London is home to many expensive things, but when it comes to museums, it is one of the few cities where going to some of the city’s best, costs next to nothing. The following are completely free:
• Science Museum
• Natural History Museum
• National Gallery
• Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum
• Tate British Museum
• London Museum
• National Portrait Gallery
The Tate Modern is also a fantastic museum and is free for general admission, but charges a fee for its special exhibits. I plan on checking out the Damien Hirst exhibit (April 4th-September 9th) while in the city, which will only set me back £12.20 with my student ID.
• Science Museum
• Natural History Museum
• National Gallery
• Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum
• Tate British Museum
• London Museum
• National Portrait Gallery
The Tate Modern is also a fantastic museum and is free for general admission, but charges a fee for its special exhibits. I plan on checking out the Damien Hirst exhibit (April 4th-September 9th) while in the city, which will only set me back £12.20 with my student ID.
7. Trafalgar Square: Constructed in the 1830s, this iconic square is a great place to people watch and enjoy a (rare) sunny afternoon sitting by one of the fountains, while taking in the sites including the brass lions Nelson’s Column and the city’s vast population of pigeons. Another fantastic bonus of hanging out in Trafalgar Square is St. Martin-in-the-fields. This 13th-century church is located on the northeastern corner and has free lunchtime recitals on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 1-2pm.
Though the square is basically a huge tourist attraction, it means a lot to me personally, as my father spent time in London as a boy before moving to the U.S. and I have an old black-and-white photo of him feeding the birds there.
Though the square is basically a huge tourist attraction, it means a lot to me personally, as my father spent time in London as a boy before moving to the U.S. and I have an old black-and-white photo of him feeding the birds there.
8. High Tea at Claridge’s: Luxurious and elegant are the two words that describe afternoon tea at this 5-star London hotel. The experience includes a selection of tasty finger sandwiches, sumptuous pastries, freshly baked scones and of course tea. It comes with a hefty price tag of course (£38 per person), but worth the expense (in my opinion) for this award-winning tea service and simply delightful afternoon.
9. Artisan du Chocolat: This UK-based artisan “chocolatelier” has three locations around London and sells the best salted caramel chocolates I have ever had. They are a divine mix of sweet liquid caramel with a pinch of grey salt (from a distant island), captured in a cocoa dusted shell of intense dark chocolate – pure heaven. I might have to visit all three locations – you know, just to make sure there aren’t any quality issues…
10. Spa London: I found it a bit unexpected at first, but when I thought about another popular British city – Bath – suddenly it made sense. Located in the York Hall leisure centre in Bethnal Green is London’s first public day spa. The Turkish baths that originally stood on the site have been restored and renovated, and now a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing three-hour thermal spa experience is only £20. It is surprisingly opulent and certainly worth a visit.
