England’s capital is one of the finest in the world. After an absence of many decades we took a city break at the end of our 35th Wedding Anniversary celebrations to reconnect with its hidden secrets. In this blog, Uncovering the Magic of London in 3 days, we give you a compact itinerary of some of the city’s best bits and its hidden gems that are off the beaten track.

Introduction

Londinium as it was called back in the Roman times stands strong on the national and global stage both as a tourist destination and an economic power-house. With around 9 million people living in its centre and suburbs, London is a vibrant destination for working, living and playing. With around 300 different languages spoken here, you can be sure of a diverse cultural experience on your visit. Whether its nearly 2,000 year old history, its magnificent architecture or the appeal of the river that draws you, a visit here will not disappoint. With its city core being known as the Square Mile, London is in fact larger than Paris and Los Angeles, so you can imagine that there’s quite a lot to pack in during a city break.

Whilst we are typically not city lovers, there’s something quite enlightening about seeing your own capital. We’ve not been to London for decades and only then just for an event rather than sightseeing. So when an opportunity to stay in the Smoke presented itself after a trip to Cyprus without the van, we seized it with both hands.

We booked ourselves the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in Lambeth with stunning views over the sunset landscape of the river Thames. What a fabulous location it was too offering us good transport and walking links around the city. More on that later. Within just a few couple of hours, it became evident that our 3 day trip to London was going to be a magical experience, especially as we reconnected with it as curious travellers and not tourists. Travel has taught us so much and allowing ourselves to see beyond the facade of a city landscape and discover what lays behind and within, is part of what shapes our travels. Read on learn about how our perspectives created a memorable reconnection with our country capital.

Different ways to see London

Making a choice about what to see in a short space of time can be tricky. Researching your options might muddy the waters even further when there is so much you can choose. In many ways, part of a city visit strategy has to be identifying what you love to do the most and go from there. Whether that’s history, the off the beaten track highlights, food, museums, theatre or art. London has a plethora of opportunities under all of these categories, so you’ll never be bored. In this guide, we focus on our chosen itinerary whilst also adding alternatives that you could incorporate.

Whatever you choose to build into your plans, just ensure that you have enough time to relax, rest and recuperate, as city energy and the sheer movement around it can be exhausting.

1. Uncovering London’s Traditional City Sights

London oozes cultural sights that every tourist wants to add to their bucket list. Icons like Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the Guard, Trafalgar Square, Westminster and Big Ben. These alone can be reached easily with the underground network . And of course if you have a limited time, then the Hop on Hop Off buses are a good option allowing you to breath in a taster of the city without moving physically very far.

For us this trip, we wanted to reconnect with some of those icons whilst find some new places that were yet to be discovered by us. So being located on the south side of the river, just a mile away from Westminster, made this an absolute must revisit.

Top Tip

Tie in a visit to the south side of Westminster as the sun sets. The views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are just magnificent, in spite of all the crowds that have the same selfie ideas.

2. London from the Water

Whilst the Hop on Hop off buses are tempting and of course iconic, there are different and perhaps less touristy ways you can experience this magnificent capital. The water perspective is one of our favourites.

Picking up a Hop on Hop off River Cruise with City Experiences cost from £24 per person. The principle of this mode of transport is the same as the buses. There are a number of stops where you can jump off and pick up the next boat an hour or so later. We took our boat from the London Eye and sailed sedately accompanied by the fabulous commentary of our onboard guide. The stories and history we learnt about from our watery perspective is nothing like the bus tour and they were quite enlightening. For example did you know that Ian McKellen owns a riverside pub? Or that you can reach Birmingham by boat from the Thames in 2 weeks?

Our chosen route took us to Greenwich. And whilst there was a bit of the Thames, where even our guide admitted there wasn’t much to tell, we enjoyed the opportunity of chilling out from the city vibe and watch the world go by.

Top Tip

If you can time your boat trip with the opening of the Tower Bridge either whilst on board or from the Tower Bridge stop, it is one of the those iconic moments that is worth capturing. Check for opening times here. It lifts around 800 times per year so you might just be lucky as we were.

3. London from above

There are lots of different ways to experience London and leaving out the aerial view would be a sin. Of course if you happen to be on a flight into London Heathrow, then you will most likely get a magnificent view from your window seat as you take your flight path landing. However, there are other ways to experience a bird’s eye view of the capital’s skyline; here’s just a few of them.

1. The most obvious is the London Eye, of course. From £29 per person and bookable on line, you can secure your 30 minute rotation of London’s most famous wheel. Standing at a whopping 135m, it is the world’s largest cantilevered observation tower and was opened in 2000. Although if you have any whispers of vertigo or acrophobia, then we recommend finding an alternative option. And there are plenty of options that will not send you into a frenzied state. We recommend if you do want to take the wheel that you book at least a day ahead as even in October it was very popular and all the slots on the day had already been booked.
   
2. You can if you book at least two weeks in advance, go up to the Sky Garden (or as it is sometimes referred to as, the Walkie-Talkie). This iconic building in the heart of the business sector of St Mary’s Axe boasts being London’s highest garden. And with a shop, fine dining, snacks or an Italian restaurant or bar, you have a number of choices to see London’s roof tops. Standing at 160m this is a relatively new addition to London’s aerial experiences, opening in 2015. Just remember to book. If you want to take your chances, you could get to the front of the queue at 10am and see if you can get in on the day, sometimes, enabling you to grab a coffee in London’s finest indoor, upstairs garden.
   
3. Just around the corner, you can also visit the Gherkin at 30 St Mary Axe, as it is lovingly called. Aside of its obvious business prowess, the Gherkin, also has Searchys and Iris Bar. Although please do not be disappointed and ensure you book well ahead to get in. The bars are not open until 5.00pm and book up very quickly, especially at the weekend.
   
4. The Garden at 120 in Fenchurch Street is a free to enter building, unlike its commercial competitors and there is no need to book. Rising up to level 15, there is a panoramic perspective awaiting you. London’s largest public rooftop garden gives you a 360 degree view of the city.
   
5. And the final one we would like to add is the one we chose; in part because we couldn’t either practically or physically do the others. The Battersea Power Station Lift 109. Catching the Uber Water Taxi from London Tower, we took the 40 minute journey on a very swollen Thames that lapped precariously close to the embankment edges to Battersea. Having no idea that the Power Station was a thing, we were incredibly surprised and pleased to see how the building had been converted. Not only can you shop, eat and drink at the station, you can also learn more about the Power Station’s role back in the 1930s and go up 105m up one of the four chimneys for an incredible view up the Thames towards the city hub and to the south west to Wimbledon. We chose to go at sunset for an incredible light display as the skies turned orange. The whole experience cost us £34 for the two of us for about a 40 minute tour. Myles, with his acrophobia felt comfortable and we got to learn about the London’s power. It was a fabulous trip combining education with experience and views.

4. London the Obscure

Reconnecting with the old Smoke gave us an opportunity to see the capital through a traveller’s eyes and not just as a tourist. And it does feel different. Different because we seek out places that are off the beaten track, look beyond the obvious and search for the unassuming parts that are the very fabric of the city. Of course you could fill your entire time with just the big sights that London has to offer. Although for us, we wanted to see the more unusual side of London.

• So taking a walk from our Lambeth located hotel, it was good to see the outpouring of support on the Covid Memorial Wall along the embankment.
• We enjoyed St Thomas’ and Guy’s Hospital memorial gardens and the somewhat controversial history around its president Sir Robert Clayton who has a very hidden location due to his slavery involvement back in the 17th century.
• Whilst we didn’t go into the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth, we found a piece of the Berlin Wall, which we were able to mentally package up with the one we found in Reykjavik, Iceland.
• Hidden in the backstreets of Southwark we found a Medieval graveyard called Crossbones. Whilst now a memorial and gated with a warden, it was good to see how the lives of paupers and prostitutes (known as the Winchester Geese) have been honoured. In a bygone era where the area known as The Mint represented one of London’s poorest and most violent slums, the graveyard was quite literally a dumping ground for the dead. It is thought to have held 15,000 bodies when it closed. It is a sobering place to visit.
• Borough Market. Whilst it may sound like an odd ‘off the beaten track’ entry, after all we can visit a market any old day; Borough Market is something else. Hidden beneath the railway arches, this now charity and community run market has a 1000 years of history which is honoured by the market’s evolutionary presence. It is an absolutely fabulous place to hang out, although busy, it is mostly filled with locals. The food stalls are all supporting sustainability and is a must visit destination. It’s just a short walk from the Tate museum.
• It might sound like a strange one to add to the ‘off the beaten track’ list, although go with me. Take the opportunity at the weekend to walk the streets of the business sector around St Mary’s Axe. The quiet streets allow you to admire the sky chasing office blocks that sit amidst the older buildings that give this area is eclectic fusion. No traffic, no people, no hassle it is a such a great experience, especially if you tie it in with a trip to the Sky Garden (Walkie Talkie) or the Gherkin.
• Whilst it may be surrounded by crowds, the watching of the lifting of Tower Bridge is pretty unique and has to be timed right. So check out this website to see if you can tie it in.
• Westminster Cathedral is not to be mistaken for Westminster Abbey. Hidden around the corner on Victoria Street about half a mile from the famous abbey, the Cathedral holds its own significant place in history. A Neo-Byzantine 19th century building that heralds being the largest cathedral in England stands grandly amongst the similar looking Victorian residential buildings. It is quite a picture and well worth popping by.

5. London via Museums

London has a staggering 200 museums, give or take, around 116 of which are free to enter such as the Tate Britain Art Gallery. It’s worth noting that when the upper viewing platform is open, you can get some good aerial views from here, although they are probably the lowest of the bird’s eye view options available.

With so many museums to see, during what is probably a small space of time, making a decision about which to visit can be tough. We focused on what we thought we should visit and others that really appeal to our personal loves.

Having not been since the archetypal School Trip where packed lunches were always consumed well before 12.00, we headed for the free to enter Natural History and Science Museums, the Tate Britain (although we weren’t in there for long – it just wasn’t for us) and Churchill’s War Rooms in Westminster which cost us a whopping £32 each. We split the four museums across two days just to manage our legs and our minds.

Of all the museums, the Science was by far the best and we could have spent more time there. If we were to give a top tip, go to the Science museum first with fresh legs and then do the Natural History. Whilst the latter was good to see, we felt as though the Science had the edge and I say this as a natural history person. The exhibits were modern, refreshed and with endearing stories attached to every display. Whereas the NH felt a bit untamed, less organised and if we’re honest, nothing much has changed in the last 40 years. However the building is second to none, so for architecture alone, it has to be revered.

The War Rooms were an intrigue for us, given our mission to reconnect with as many WW memorials as possible around Europe. Having seen the film, The Darkest Hour, it was good to see the actual underground rooms where Churchill fought his many battles, not just the ones against the Nazi’s. The museum is detailed and interactive and I think at the beginning of the day, perhaps we would have had more enthusiasm for that detail. Although by 4.00pm we were beat and so didn’t enjoy the biography element so much. Still it was good to see, if not a tad on the expensive side.

Getting Around London

London is one of the best capitals we know for transport links. With a good road network getting in and out of the city, to the iconic red buses, black cabs, trains, underground and Uber ferries that will take you wherever you want to go. Of course your mode of transport may be influenced by budget and time available, although for us, we mixed and matched our choices based on how tired we were and what was best for the attractions we had chosen. Just bare in mind that London has the Low Emissions Zone to contend with so make sure you plan this into your trip.

Uber Boats

Whilst relatively new, in comparison to other modes of transport, the Uber Clipper boats provides a two-fold benefit to the London explorer. Firstly it gives you a fabulous watery perspective of the city, which you might otherwise miss if you take the underground. Secondly it offers a much more sedate route to your chosen destination than the busy and sometimes complex tubes. They are though more expensive and their timings can be a bit confusing, so plan your trip with Uber carefully. You can book tickets directly at a boat pier, or through your Uber Account or online using the link above.

Black Cabs

Of course a trip to London is not complete without a ride in a Black Cab. They are super easy to pick up and you can pay with Google/Apple Wallet, no cash is required. They now have a standard fare policy amongst all cabs, so you are not going to be ripped off. If you find that your feet can’t bare walking any further, then hail a cab and rest those those poor soles.

London Underground

London’s underground is one of the most comprehensive and first underground network in the world. Built in 1863, the underground covers around 250 miles across 6 zones. It is probably the most convenient and quickest options for getting around, as long as you don’t mind sharing your personal space with others. You can pay at ticket desks, via the Oyster system or through your credit card and Google and Apple Pay. For some fun facts about London’s underground, click here

London’s iconic buses

The cheapest method of transport is the London bus, although it is not necessarily the easiest or fastest way to travel. For an easy to follow app, download this to optimise your travel journeys.

Bicycles

Bicycles are an increasingly popular method of getting around London. Bicycle stations appear everywhere and for just £3 for a Day Pass you can hop on either an electric or manual bike. London has plenty of cycle lanes if you are ready to brave them. Check out this link for more information.

A 3 Day Itinerary

So with some top tips for a magical trip to London, how about we share our 3 Day Itinerary. Of course you will want to do your own thing, although here is some inspiration using our Interactive Map. Click the image below

Although for a more detailed and step-by-step itinerary, here is how things panned out.

Night 1

• Walk along the Lambeth Embankment beside the Covid Memorial Wall and watch the sunset sink behind Big Ben and Westminster.

Day 1

• Take the Hop on Hop off cruise from London Eye to Greenwich
• Take a tour of the Cutty Sark and walk through Greenwich
• Catch the cruise back to Tower Bridge Pier and walk around the Tower of London. Take a walk to St Mary Axe and see the splendour of the office buildings. If you get chance to book a table at the Gherkin or the Sky Garden this is a good time to do it.
• Catch an Uber bus to Battersea Power Station for a tour up Lift 109. Have a glass of champagne at Searchys.

Day 2

• Walk through Lambeth to the Imperial War Museum, see if the Crossbones Graveyard is open and grab breakfast at the Breakfast Club, before hitting the Borough Market.
• Walk through the historic back streets until you reach the Golden Hind and Shakespeare’s Globe. Visit the Tate Museum if it your thing and check out the views.
• Walk over the Millennium Bridge and take the tube from Blackfriars to Embankment to seek out the Tree Memorial, Oscar Wilde’s statue and walk the hidden streets between Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden. Have a drink at Covent Garden and watch the world go by.
• Grab a Black Cab to Westminster and visit Churchill’s War Rooms.
• Walk through Westminster and around the Westminster Abbey.

Day 3

• Walk across the Thames and find breakfast at the delicious R Coffee in Westminster before checking out the Westminster Cathedral.
• Pick up the tube to South Kensington and the Natural History and Science Museum.
• Walk to see the Thin House and have lunch at the Brompton Cross in Chelsea.

Final morning

• After leaving our hotel, we grabbed breakfast at the popular Tom Tom Coffee House near Victoria Coach station.

And there we have it; Uncovering the magic of London in 3 days. What a treat to see our capital city through the eyes of an explorer with some great revelations along the way. We hope you have enjoyed the ride and have been inspired to follow your own path to London, even if you are a long-serving British citizen. For more information on exciting cities, hidden European gems or even further afield destinations, go to our Travel page at www.motoroaming.com

If you have already been to London, what are your Top Tips and recommendations of things that you most loved to experience?

/K