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London

The Grand Buckingham Palace

Serving as the administrative headquarter of the Queen of England, this palace open to visitors from late July to September. The State Rooms are lavishly furnished while the aura of this palace is worth experiencing. Another thing that should not be missed when here is the Changing of the Guard ceremony that takes place outside the palace. This majestic palace has been serving as the official residence of the British monarch since 1837 and still holds its value intact.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

This place is for everyone who is a die-hard film fanatic. Home to finely carved life-size wax statues of celebrities from all around the world, Madame Tussauds can’t be missed. Along with celebrities, this museum is also home to popular names from the pop world, historians, sportspersons and more.

London Eye

Woah! Trust us, any visit to London will be incomplete without witnessing the beauty of the city from the London Eye. Also, referred as the Millennium Wheel, London Eye has been standing on the south bank of the River Thames since 1999. Attracting more than 3.5 million visitors per year, a half hour ride on this huge Ferris wheel will make you fall in love with the city.

Oxford Street

Home to approximately 300 retail stores, Oxford Street, is for the shopaholics. From Hamleys to H&M, Debenhams and Marks & Spencer’s, you will find a store of all the retail giants. This two and a half kilometres long street is referred as the busiest shopping street in the whole of London.

Big Ben/Elizabeth Tower

Yet another iconic attraction of London, Big Ben or Clock Tower is located at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. Any trip to the capital won’t be complete without a picture in front of this popular London attraction. This 318-foot tower and its resounding bell make it a must visit. Also, while you are here, be sure of visiting the Westminster Palace.

St. Pauls Cathedral

St. Pauls Cathedral is the largest and the most popular church in London, and without a doubt it is one of the most spectacular cathedrals in the world. St. Pauls Cathedral has definitely seen its share of history. It was built on top of Roman temple which was burnt to the ground in the Great Fire of London (1666). Designed by Christopher Wren, the cathedral is a master piece of English Architecture. The 365 foot dome’s interior is absolutely marvellous and one shouldn’t miss the Whispering Gallery.

Harry Potter Experience

If you are a Harry Potter fan, then this experience is nothing short of phenomenal. It can be your personal magical day-out in London, with the ‘behind the scenes’ tour of Harry Potter films at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. In person, see the sets, costumes, and props used in the filming of the movie and see locations like Dumbledore’s Office, The Great Hall and Hagrid’s Hut. It is the epitome of ‘The Harry Potter Experience’.

Hop on Hop off Bus Tour

In order to make the most of the Hop on Hop off Bus Tour, it is suggested to make advance bookings and get a 24 hour bus ticket. You can also add a free walking tour and a free river tour to your bus ticket. The bus tour covers 4 zones and more than 60 stops including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Oxford Street & Regent Street, Shakespeare's Globe, St Paul's Cathedral and Trafalgar Square. The bus departs every 5 minutes from main tourist points, and every 15 minutes from elsewhere. Audio guides available in the following languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazilian) & Russian.

View from the Top of the Shard

If you want to see the skyline of London and get 40 mile long view in all directions, then the Top of the Shard is an experience you shouldn’t miss. The Shard is 800 feet tall and is Western Europe’s tallest building. You can see the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Wembley’s Stadium for this building which was designed by architect Master Architect Renzo Piano. The sunset from the Top of the Shard is an epic and most-wanted experience.

London Dungeon

The dark past of London compressed into 90 minutes of bone-chilling and nightmare causing experience is what the London Dungeon is all about. With live actors, thrilling rides and scary special effects, the London Dungeon is a uniquely thrilling attraction. See, hear, feel and smell the horrors of London’s past unfold right in front of you.

Piccadilly Circus

A square filled with electronic screens and bright lights, the area is instantly recognisable. Serving as the heart of West End, from here one can easily visit some of London’s biggest nightclubs and theatres. In addition, Ripley’s believe it, or not museum is also located in this area.

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Ride of the London Eye

Any trip to London is incomplete without taking a ride at the iconic London Eye. The giant Ferris wheel offers excellent views around the city and is lit up in seasonal colours while acting as the centrepiece of this gorgeous city. The pods of the wheel are spacious and can be shared with others as well. However, if you wish to splurge on a private one to have an amazing time with your significant other, even that can be done.

Weather

London has a temperate climate, with modest temperatures during the summers and winters where temperature rarely goes below zero. Rainfall and winds are fairly regular throughout the year, with little snow during the winters. But never forget to carry your umbrella as in London “If it is not raining, it’s drizzling.” In July, the temperature averages at 19°C and January can be as cold as 5°C. If you want to enjoy London in the warmth of the sun, then June is the best time to visit with 7 hours of sunshine.

Culture

London was founded by the Romans in 43 AD and was given the name Londinium. It was a fortified settlement with a bridge across the river Thames. The Roman Empire helped lay down some strong architectural foundation by building grand structures like residences, temples and most importantly walls. The next big influence to its architecture was the Georgian era which brought to life structures like the Westminster Bridge and the British Museum. Then began the Great Victorian epoch, the era of industrial revolution and steam engine. Be it the first railroad to Greenwich, or Big Ben or the House of Parliament, all was built in this era.

Language

Throughout London people speak English, however there are 4 different accents like Received Pronunciation, commonly called as RP. Cockney, known for its rhyming slangs like Dog ‘n’ Bone (read Telephone and Apples and Pears (read Upstairs). Estuary and Urban Estuary are the other two accents that you would find around London. However, there are over 300 languages spoken in London schools.

When to Go?

Owing to the amazing culture and the breath-taking attractions, London can be visited any time of the year. However, to make the most of the journey, June to August is the best time to visit this gorgeous city. London experiences summer during these months and the beer gardens and rooftop bars are in full bloom during this season. This season even hosts a number of outdoor cinema and summer music festivals.

Advantage of The London Pass

If you are a first time traveler and want to hit all the major attractions in London, then The London Pass is a must have. Getting individual tickets at each attraction can be very expensive, so it is best suggested to get the London Pass. The London Pass, helps you spend more time sight-seeing by letting you skip long queues. This prepaid card gives you entry to cities top tourist attractions like Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, including over 80 other attractions. The 1 day London Pass would cost around £70 and a 3 day pass would be around £115.

Not using a Visitor Oyster Card

Travelling in London can be an expensive affair and the queues can be rather long. A Visitor Oyster Card would make your moving around in London a dream. Oyster card is smart card, which is a quick and easy way to pay for your journeys on the Bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, London Overground, TFL Rail, River Bus and most national rail services in London. Traveling in the Tube can be expensive, and it can even cost you twice as much; if you don’t have an Oyster Card. You can get a £30 card, for a 3-4 day trip and can always add more credit to it at any Tube Station or Oyster Ticket Shop. Since 2016, you can use an Oyster card to travel to Gatwick Airport directly using the Gatwick Express.

Eating at a Supermarket

Eating in restaurants or eating out can be extremely expensive in London. And like they say – “Penny saved is a penny earned.” The best thing would be to go to the local Supermarket where you can get a variety of pre-cooked food like salads and sandwiches. This can save you a lot of money, if you aren’t too keen on spending too much on food.

Hotel Reservation

While booking a hotel outside the city center can seem like a wise and cost-effective decision; it can turn out to be more than you bargained for. Traveling to the city center from outskirts of London will be quite expensive and will take you a lot of time too. You would rather spend that time sight-seeing in London and enjoy the streets like a local by taking long walks..

Trying to do everything

It is quite humongous task to see and do everything in London on your first trip. While it is quite alluring to try and cover everything in a single trip, however you would end up losing money and not getting the most out of the experience. It is advisable to plan your trip in advance and decide which attractions you would want to cover. It would help you save money, by not making you jump from one expensive attraction to another; and giving you more time to appreciate the attractions that you see.

The Ledbury

If you want to eat and feel like royalty, then this is the place for you. It is the fine dining experience at its best. Located at 127 Ledbury Road, You must order the Tasting Menu (obligatory on Sunday) when you visit this restaurant. It is cuisine of the highest order, with matching wines and an 8 course meal, spread over 3 hours. And yes, you must try their amuse bouche.

The Golden Chippy

This has to be the one of the best cheap eats in London and is located at 62 Greenwich High Road, London. They make perhaps the best traditional fish and chips in London. The food is great and a fraction of the cost of a good restaurant.

Pizza Union Spitalfields

You can find this place at 25 Sandys Row, London. This a delightful place with great service, and frankly quite inexpensive. A Fiorentina pizza for £4, now who can resist that. It just tastes heavenly!

Shakes & London Dessert Lounge

Located at 182 High Road, Willesden, is paradise if you have a sweet tooth or may be the entire jaw. The Red Velvet here is to die for and perhaps the best milkshakes in London. They have a great staff and amazing service too.

Caravan King's Cross

The rustic feel of this restaurant is enhanced by its concrete floors and exposed heavy duty pipes in an industrial size dining space. The terrace of the restaurant overlooks the Granary Square and have the potential of being a brilliant lunch experience, on a sunny day.