If travel is something you’ve always wanted to do, and your bucket list for “eventually” is a mile long, sometimes it’s a challenge to figure out where to start. Well, I’m here to convince you that London should be at the very top, even if it’s never been on that list in the first place.
I was talking to a friend the other day about her upcoming honeymoon that was still in the planning stages. She mentioned that her and her new husband were looking at destinations in Europe and that it seemed cheaper to fly into London first than to fly direct to wherever they decide to go. They proceeded to mention that London has never been a place of vacation consideration for them. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard it all before. “I wouldn’t like the food.” “I’d rather go to ______.” “The British Pound isn’t in our favor.” “Is there even anything to do there?” “Isn’t it always rainy?” As someone who has been there three times now, I’m here to give a little bit of insight and hopefully change some perceptions. Keep in mind, I’m certainly no expert on London or the UK. However, I do feel strongly on this subject, so let me break it down for you.
- It’s one of the cheapest places in Europe to fly to from the US.
- As previously mentioned, when comparing prices to various European destinations, London is consistently one of the cheapest options. London Heathrow Airport (one of six international hubs in London) was the seventh busiest airport in the world in 2021 in terms of international passenger traffic (1), likely contributing to the cheaper flights.
- It makes a great springboard for other European destinations.
- Because it’s one of the cheapest airports to fly into from the US, it’s the perfect place to begin your European adventure before continuing to other bucket list destinations.
- It’s a just a 3-hour train ride away from Paris, which is then 6 hours from Barcelona, 3 hours from Amsterdam, and just an hour and a half from Belgium.
- If you don’t feel like taking a train, flights are cheap from London to the rest of Europe, so places like Italy and Greece are absolutely within reach.
- There’s so much more to eat than traditional British cuisine.
- Fish and chips, bangers and mash (sausage and mashed potatoes), and meat pies are certainly British staples, but the melting pot of cultures found in London ensures you can find just about anything to eat. Chicken Tikka Masala is extremely popular. Sushi is common. Pizza, pasta, tacos…all are readily available. I’ve even eaten Subway in London in a pinch. While I would certainly recommend trying the local cuisine, you won’t go hungry if meat pies aren’t your thing.
- If you’ve grown tired of sit-down restaurants or just want something different, street markets are a great alternative. London has a ton of them, like Borough Market and Camden Market, which feature anything and everything from French sandwiches and doughnuts to burgers and Ethiopian stews.
- Plant-based diet? No problem. Nearly every restaurant has plant-based options, front and center, on their menu.
- The weather really isn’t that bad.
- December and January are the coldest months with November typically being the rainiest. The average temps in Winter hover around 42F, rarely dropping below freezing. In the warmer months you’re likely to see average temps in the 70s with sun.
- There’s truly something for everyone.
- History buffs:
- Visit the British Museum (home to the Rosetta Stone) or the Natural History Museum, both of which are free.
- Art lovers:
- Check out the Tate Modern (Britain’s national gallery of international modern art), the National Portrait Gallery, or Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.
- London’s West End is home to a world-famous theater district where shows like Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, and The Book of Mormon can be seen each night
- Foodies:
- There’s everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to specialty food markets to explore.
- Afternoon tea is a unique experience you won’t want to miss.
- Everyone:
- There’s just something magical about seeing Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben in person. Places that have only existed on the TV in your living room seem absolutely surreal in real life.
- Don’t miss the Tower of London (home to the Crown Jewels), Kensington Palace, Tower Bridge, or the Changing of the Guard outside of Buckingham Palace.
- Easy day trips from London include visits to Cambridge, Oxford, the town of Bath (including an ancient Roman bathhouse you can explore), Windsor Castle, and Stonehenge. While you’re at it, don’t forget the Harry Potter Tour of Warner Bros. Studios.
- Getting around is incredibly easy (and cheap).
- If you’ve never been to Europe, you haven’t experienced the joy that is European public transportation. Did that sound sarcastic? I promise, it wasn’t. Getting around London is a breeze, and that is reason enough to make it your first European destination.
- The tube (underground subway) system is incredibly simple and convenient. Load money on an Oyster Card (a contactless travel card specific to London), swipe as you enter the turnstile at an underground station, board your subway train, swipe again as you exit. You can also use contactless credit cards, so if you have one that doesn’t charge international fees, (Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture, etc.) it’s even easier.
- The tube goes just about everywhere in London and it’s never far from your desired destination. Plus, if you stay within the area of Central London, you’ll never pay more than £9 for a full day of sightseeing.
- If, for whatever reason, the tube won’t take you where you need to go, buses or the London Overground are just as simple and inexpensive.
Hopefully this has convinced you to make London one of your next vacation destinations. If not, I hope it at least made you think a little. There are so many sights and sounds that you can’t find anywhere else in the world, and with the ease of travel, it’s truly the best gateway trip I can think of.
PRN Travels 