When traveling to the United Kingdom, the one thing to absolutely keep in mind is to be prepared for the moody weather. It changes instantly from a sunny morning to a cloud covered afternoon. So I would suggest packing for all kinds of weather. The sun, the rain and chilly temperatures in the same day call for packing layers to keep yourself warm and umbrella & a hairdryer to tackle the downpours. However, try and keep your travel bag light and pick the one you can carry on your shoulders. Believe me, you are going to thank me for this.

I stayed in one of the central London family hotels, however, there are a lot of accommodation options available depending on your budget. The important point to keep in mind is to always take a cab service or public transportation while in London. Driving through London can be stressful, time consuming and expensive.

I started my trip on a weekday which was a blessing. I visited all the touristy places from London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden to the Borough Market, Camden Market, Abbey Road, Portobello Road. They are worth a trip but on weekdays these places are swarming with people. Therefore, It would be a good idea to cover these places over the week like I did.

London is solo-traveller friendly, you will find many people travelling alone especially when you visit parks and restaurants. I would encourage you to visit Kensington Gardens, St. James’s Park, Green Park and Richmond Park among others. The entry to most of the parks is free like most of the museums like The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), The Museum of London, The British Museum, The National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern and The National Gallery.

When in London, also take out time for appreciating the arts. Whether you have a craving for live music or a classical play, the Monarch in Camden or the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue are there to satiate it. Also, book your tickets through TKTS, to get the best prices.

Plan your trip in such a way that you can squeeze in more. You can take day-long trips to the regions of Windsor, Bath, Brighton or Oxford. I went to Dover for it had everything from castle, beaches, White Cliffs, secret wartime tunnels to list a few. However, I gave it more than a day. There is also the option to visit other European countries and it is cheaper than you think.

I would like to share some friendly advice on things you might not get in any travel guide. All things said and done, London is a capital city, with its fair share of crime. Therefore, be careful of the time and the surroundings you are in. Advice from the locals can come in handy here. Also, be mindful of the colloquial terms that may mean different in British. Last but not the least, carry with you a country/city guide and always keep some change on you.

If you live in New Zealand and looking to book flights to London, check House of Travel for great deals form all the airlines. Their Mix and match search engine helps you find the best fares from different airlines.

I hope you have a great Brit-trip!

London is an incredible Capital City. Home to over 8 million inhabitants all considered some of the friendliest people in the world, I had no doubts that myself, and my husband would have an unforgettable holiday. What attracted me to this city was the variety of fun things on offer to do. I like to keep active and found that on any given night, depending on individual interests, there truly was something to appeal to all tastes.

The first step in my planning was to search for discount hotels in London. The popularity of the area made finding a place an easy and fast process. Any hotel I looked at also had a ton of past customer reviews which narrowed down my search. I also booked London airport transfer in advance at a good price.

Once the hotel, flight, and coach bus were booked it was time to decide what we wanted to do.

Once the hotel and flight was booked it was time to decide what we wanted to do. The first place of interest was the Buckingham Palace, mainly out of historic reasoning and to see if it looked better in person. I wasn’t prepared for the very long walk down a straight street to view it, but the stunning park and infamous Guards on the way made it easier. Once you arrive to the Palace you will be greeted with hundreds of tourists, a schedule for the changing of the guard and the large protective gates. No access is granted but you get a decent view on the outside, well worth the walk.

On the first evening I was all about finding a good British pub. The CrabTree offered me a wine list and views of the Thames. What I enjoyed about this venue was that the outdoors was even more exciting than inside. You could sit under a Willow Tree, or just join some locals on the long wooden tables. After that we booked the London Eye experience, it was absolutely breathtaking and really gave us a feel of what London was all about. My camera was full of pictures from every angle, this is really something that you can not leave this fabulous city without checking out for yourself.

The next day involved an early morning trip to Camden Town Market. The cobbled pathways where exactly how I envisioned this area to be. The vintage stalls have everything from clothes, to handmade essentials and of course collectibles for the Tourists who want to acquire some British souvenirs. After shopping it was time to visit Chinatown for food and quick dash around. This is a very busy area packed to the brim with tourists and locals. After a few solid hours of exploring we dined in quality at the Four Seasons. It opens late night to deal with the huge crowd.

Next on the list was the National History Museum, perfect for historical fans and those who love dinosaurs. On the final day it was time for some beautiful photographs around Trafalgar Square. We found ourselves mingling with Londoners and workers who where having their lunch outside and chilling. This was such a casual area, busy but relaxing. Although I didn’t get to see a play it’s on my list for when I return to this incredible city.

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I love the London festivals, here is a post from Nick of Nexthop.info

Music, culture, food and fun are part of London everyday so just think about how great London life is at the various festivals held throughout the year. Someone once told me that “If you are tired of London you are tired of life”, and the same can be said for the festivals of the city. There are so many and such a diverse array of festivals that you would have to be bored of life if you could not find one that is special or enjoyable.

For me the summer festivals are particularly great because Londoners finally soak up some sun! Hyde Park is a great place to check out the summer music scene but my favorite festival in London is Camden Crawl. The music festival usually has 250 artists over a number of stages.

    Another music festival is Field Day, a two day event in Victoria Park. There are usually massive parties after the festival that make the day even better! For lovers of film and comedy, one must see the London Film Festival. Feature films, documentaries and shorts are all part of the fun. Southbank in London is almost always hosting some kind of festival or event.

London Wonderground features comedy, performers, sideshows and food stalls almost all summer long at Southbank. The Greenwich Comedy Festival has been a part of the festival circuit in London since 2009 and has featured some of the best comedians from all over the world.

If you want to go to some festivals that are a little bit obscure and ‘out there’ why not check out the London Mandolin Festival. I bet you have never seen so many ways for a small string instrument to be played. How about trying a mull wine at the Twelfth Night Bankside Festival, a Pagan festival that goes back to before the Christian mid winter feast. If you are feeling hungry, there are plenty of food festivals throughout the year such as the London Taste Festival where you can see your favorite chefs demonstrate their cooking skills.

   There is a festival for everyone in London and the vibe and spectacular setting of London always adds another element to seeing your favorite comedy, music or film in the city. The public transport system and information centers positioned all over the city makes your favorite festival a carefree and joyous experience at any time of the year. Enjoy all the festival fun in London folks.

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My first international trip was to London, England. When I travel I like to get deep into the roots of a city and learn how the people live life and where they go as locals. London did not disappoint.

Firstly, don’t be afraid to get onto the subway, or the Underground. You see the most interesting people riding and get a chance to strike up a conversation. Even though nearly everyone wears black or grey, they really are approachable and of course they know you are a tourist because you are wearing jeans. Most everyone I encountered was friendly and offered up their favorite places to eat and play.

Here are a list of wonderful places that every tourist should visit, but I really encourage you to step out of the norm and your own comfort zone and explore!

*The Tower of London, my far my favorite of all of the landmarks and buildings it has quite a wicked past.

*The London Eye, this is the best way of seeing the whole city scape and what a view it offers, but it is a bit pricey, instead if your budget is tight head to Hampstead Heath and visit the gorgeous surroundings.

*Buckingham Palace, obviously the most well known landmark, stay for the changing of the guard.

*Museums: The National Gallery, The British Museum, The Natural History, The Science Museum, Tate Modern, Victoria and Albert Museum. There are many gorgeous places to get your fill in the magnificent city of London.

There are well over one thousand hot spots to play in London. I found that Ye Olde Mitre had some great history and great beer as well. The locals love this place and are very friendly and will openly tell you of their other favorite haunts. The bars in the East End of London tend to cater to the locals and you will meet good people there. If you are an adventuresome type, you must do the Jack the Ripper tours; you will learn all about the grizzly murders and even visit the places the bodies were discovered and you finish up in the same pub old Jack hung out in. It is very colorful if not just a tad bit scary, but you are safe and it is well worth the fun.

Just walking around London you feel every sense of history as you wander past buildings and walls that are centuries older than our own country, it is a little humbling. You must visit Piccadilly Circus and ride the double decker buses. This place holds quite a feast for your eyes with people of every shape and design playing amongst the shops. This was one of my favorite places of all, and I tell everyone I know to make that little trip and make sure to “Mind The Gap.” Cheers!