Things to Do in London
For me, London was a journey of many “firsts.” It was the first time I set foot in a country that had been a dream of mine since my childhood when I read and watched Harry Potter. Back then, England was a land of magic to me, as if, upon arriving there, I would suddenly pass through Platform 9 3/4, step into Hogwarts, and open the door to another world. When I was in middle school, Coca-Cola held a contest for Harry Potter fans with a trip to England as the prize. Although I had never traveled abroad before, my friend and I were so excited, wishing it could be us. I can still vividly remember us walking down the streets, dreaming about it. Even Disneyland, which I so desperately wanted to visit faded into history compared to my desire to see Hogwarts.:)
Although the years have dulled my excitement for Harry Potter, the first thing I looked up when I embarked on my journey to London for the Erasmus staff mobility program at the University of Bradford was which spots related to Harry Potter I could visit. I can’t say this research ended on a high note, as participating in these activities would have taken up almost all of my already short time in London. The most popular Harry Potter activities, like the Warner Bros tour, were far from central London, and the most desirable time slots were fully booked. Moreover, these activities were quite expensive. And who would I share my excitement with, and who would take my photos, considering I was alone? With these questions swirling in my mind, I decided to visit only King’s Cross and leave the other activities for another visit.
Another first I experienced was my first completely solo travel experience. I had traveled alone with a tour before or gone to a city alone to meet a friend, but this was different. Adding to this the fact that I had never been to this country before, taking a solo train journey made me anxious, to be honest. Fears of missing the train, going the wrong way, or having issues with reservations thankfully proved unfounded. However, something that wasn’t really on my mind—feeling unwell on the plane—led to different and new worries. Long plane journeys can occasionally make one feel uneasy, but this time it was different. I felt nauseous, was cold, and had no one to comfort me. I had no idea how I would gather the strength to catch the train the next day, but luckily, I felt much better in the morning. I think the filling and delicious breakfast at the hotel (Morgan Hotel) also contributed to this 🙂 (Note: Although the Morgan Hotel, with its two separate buildings and tiny single rooms on the ground floor, did not meet my expectations, the friendliness of the staff and the hotel’s central location were aspects I was happy with.)
The nice thing about traveling alone is that you can go wherever you want whenever you want, you have the chance to rest when you need to, and you don’t have to consider anyone else when deciding what to eat. On the other hand, when you are amazed by something, there is no one to share it with, no one to gossip with when you want to, no one to offer an opinion when you are indecisive, no joy in saying, “Let’s sit down and eat in a nice place,” and no one to reflect on the day with while resting in your hotel room. Additionally, if you’re like me and forget your fatigue while exploring, you can end up finishing the day with 50,000 steps and your feet dead tired in the evening. One of the biggest advantages of traveling alone in England, I would say, was that it’s an English-speaking country. The ease of being able to ask someone for help and getting a response is comforting.
Places to Visit in London
I had a total of three days in London, or rather, 2.5 days. While I was worrying about how I would manage to see everything, I ended up revisiting some places on the second day. And I did all of this without using any public transportation. I guess I started off too ambitiously on the first day. 🙂
One of the best but also most exhausting features of London is that the museums are free. With the exception of private/boutique museums like the Sherlock Holmes Museum, all the museums are free or have free entry days and time slots. Some days, they are also open for longer hours. If you plan to visit all of them, many are close to each other, but they are so big that once you enter, it’s hard to get out! Therefore, make good use of your time, prioritize the museums, and consider the days when they are open for longer hours.
Since Morgan Hotel is very close to the British Museum, I thought I would visit it on my first day before catching the train, but it seemed to open at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Even though it wasn’t 10 yet, I decided to take a photo at the entrance, and to my surprise, people were entering, so I went in too, but I wish I hadn’t. It turns out that the rooms open in phases, and only one room was open when I entered. My advice is to stick to the opening time you find online 🙂 This adventure resulted in me returning to the British Museum on my last day. If I hadn’t had the time, or if the museum wasn’t always free and on my way, I probably wouldn’t have gone back.
British Museum is a nice museum, but the exhibits on ancient civilizations like Greece and Rome are very familiar to us, which is probably why I liked the Africa section the most. My next favorite section was the Egyptian exhibit with the mummies. If you have limited time, I recommend spending it exploring these sections.
Oxford Street was also one of the first places I visited, but I can’t say it’s a particularly special street. Many shops and eateries are located here, and it’s very central; hence, it’s also very crowded. Of course, at some point during your visit, you’ll find yourself on this street—there’s no escaping it.
King’s Cross is a bit far from the city center, but if you’re a Harry Potter fan, I think it’s worth seeing. While waiting for my train, I didn’t dare to join the line to take a photo, but it was quite enjoyable to watch the adults who came to take pictures with their babies and children, often more excited than the kids themselves. Yes, there’s a generation that grew up with Harry Potter here; as the saying goes, we’ve grown up, but we still love it—what can we do? 🙂
On the Thursday of my return from Bradford, there was a food market set up in front of the station, which could be nice if you happen to catch it. There are also cafes inside the station, and Pret a Manger is here, just like everywhere else. For those who are curious, it’s quite easy to follow the trains on the board; announcements are also made, so there’s little chance of missing your train. If you’ve bought your ticket online, there are machines available to print them, and it’s easy to handle. Make sure to pay attention to the procedures mentioned in the ticketing process. Don’t forget to have the credit card you used to purchase the tickets with you when printing them.
Now let’s talk about Covent Garden, where I spent most of my evenings, located right behind the overly central and quite expensive (still the cheapest single room in the center) Strand Palace hotel. Covent Garden is a place where you can go for food and shopping, but the prices aren’t very reasonable—though I understand if you say, “Where are prices reasonable in London, anyway?” Some restaurants have live music in their courtyards, so even if you don’t sit down, you might want to watch them. There are also flower arrangements where you can take photos on the side of Covent Garden facing the metro. Breakfast isn’t included at the Strand Palace hotel, but they did replenish water/tea/coffee and cookies every day, and the room was quite comfortable; at that price, you expect nothing less! 🙂
I particularly enjoyed the places in the Soho area; especially on Friday nights and weekends, I loved how people gathered outside the bars and had drinks. The places are small but cozy; I could almost compare it to the old vibe of Cihangir, though I seem to have spent a lot of time there 🙂 Chinatown, which is close to this area, felt like a typical Chinatown with no special features—you won’t miss much if you skip it.
The parks in London, where you could relax under a shady tree on the grass and never want to leave, were my favorite spots. It’s hard to choose between Regent’s Park and St. James’s Park; Hyde Park comes in third place, probably because it’s too large.
St. James’s Park is ideal for sitting on benches by the pond and watching the ducks. Regent’s Park is great for spreading out on the grass; it has a pond too, but I don’t think it’s as nice as the one in St. James’s. You will inevitably pass by St. James’s Park since it’s so central; it’s almost like you’ll find yourself there on your way somewhere or back. Hyde Park is a park where you can do both, though exploring the whole park can be a bit challenging. Even though they can be crowded, there’s room for everyone, so don’t worry. And if you’re traveling alone like me, finding someone to take your photo is not too difficult. The parks have toilet facilities, but not all of them offer food, so it’s worth bringing something with you. At one end of Hyde Park is Kensington Palace. Since my visit coincided with a wedding day, I found myself among the crowd in front of the palace. The proud and happy English public, celebrating the princes’ wedding, had gathered there even though the wedding wasn’t happening at the palace. If you also visit on a special day, be prepared for a crowd.
Of course, you will also visit the museum area close to St. James’s Park. I visited the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum in this area. Both are ideal for families with children and enjoyable for adults too. The interactive screens on the top floor of the Science Museum, where you solve personal tests and answer questions, are quite fun for kids and interested visitors. The dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum are certainly the main attraction, but both the interior and exterior design of the building are worth seeing.
Directly across from St. James’s Park is Buckingham Palace. No offense to the British royal family, but I didn’t see much grandeur. Maybe it felt that way because we’re used to palaces. Of course, those who live there probably know its splendor best; it seems it’s not for us to judge.
In Trafalgar Square, the city’s most vibrant and crowded square, I took the opportunity to visit the National Gallery when I came across its late closing hours, even though it wasn’t part of my plan. I thought it was a nice gallery, though I did have some doubts about whether I had visited every room as I moved from one to another. Nevertheless, you can see almost every room.
Now, let’s talk about the city’s hidden streets. You can come across a decorated spot in every corner. Carnaby Street, with its colorful houses, isn’t exactly hidden but is worth a visit for a photo op. Neil’s Gate was a charming courtyard I stumbled upon by chance, though the crowd on a Friday night made it feel hidden for me, it’s probably a well-known place for locals.
Portobello Market in Notting Hill is a nice Saturday activity but can be tiring due to the crowd. If you’re used to neighborhood markets, it probably won’t bother you too much. Notting Hill seems to be a more upscale area with stylish houses and street layouts. It’s much quieter compared to other areas. I walked from here to Hyde Park; it was the most alone I’d felt on the streets, but it wasn’t a frightening kind of solitude.
Speaking of unsettling solitude, on a Sunday morning, when there was no one around, I felt like I was being followed on Regent Street, known for its expensive brand stores. Thankfully, the cautious attitude and instinctive actions which I am used to helped me handle it. Also, London’s homeless people can be quite bold; I experienced this firsthand when one threw water on me with an umbrella. It was raining, and I was already sick, so I can’t describe how much it brightened my day.
The Thames River was a complete disappointment for me. Anyone who reads my writings knows I love cities with water, but I don’t even consider this one in that category. The river water was very murky, and despite the nice weather, there were no beautiful views of people enjoying the riverside. At least in the central part, this was the case, and I neither had the chance nor the desire to walk the entire length of the river. For those recommending a tour on the river, I can’t understand what you’re supposed to see. I didn’t visit the famous Tower Bridge, so maybe that’s why I didn’t like it. I didn’t feel inclined to visit Big Ben on the last day, even though it was close to the transport options to the airport. Since it was under renovation, I couldn’t go, so maybe next time.
In England, you encounter universities everywhere, and they’re among the best. Most are just a few buildings within the city. As someone who loves campus environments, I felt a bit envious of those studying in London, though at least they get to enjoy it eventually.
Lastly, unlike other European countries where you find a church on every corner, there are very few churches or cathedrals in London. It was surprising, but since I’ve seen plenty of them in other countries, I didn’t miss them much.
Transportation from Stansted Airport
Stansted Airport is very far from the city center; don’t be fooled by its low prices. There are no direct shuttle services like Havaş, so you pay 10 pounds for that and then more for the metro to get to the city center. They dropped me off at Liverpool Street, and I transferred to the Holborn stop, which is very close to the British Museum, but the journey took a long time due to traffic. Interestingly, the bus ticket, which looked more expensive online, was cheaper when bought directly from the bus.
In addtion, this airport is very crowded, and if you don’t go early, you might face problems. If you go too early, like me, you might have trouble finding a place to sit. I wouldn’t break the rule of being at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight. If you go during rush hour, there could be traffic, so keep that in mind.
Where to Find Affordable Food in England
The bakery sections in supermarkets are definitely a good option. Of course, you can’t eat that every day. For cold sandwiches, Pret a Manger and E.A.T. are everywhere, and for hot sandwiches/toasts, options from Subway, Nero, and Costa are good. For a large pizza at a very affordable price, Icco Pizza is another option.
