London
London, in a few days
The British Museum, Camden's markets and a pint in a wood-panelled pub. A city that changes character from one neighbourhood to the next, from Notting Hill to Shoreditch.
- Day by day
- D1 Day 1 2 things
- D2 Day 2 2 things
- D3 Day 3 1 thing
- Worth sorting before you go
- Words that help
- The practical page
- Packing checklist
Day by day
Day 1
- Morning · Big Ben and Westminster free · about 30 minBig Ben is the bell in the Elizabeth Tower of the Palace of Westminster, the Gothic Revival seat of Parliament beside the Thames.
- Afternoon · Tower Bridge free · about 1 hThe Victorian bascule bridge beside the Tower of London, with walkways across the top and the original engine rooms inside.
Day 2
- Morning · The British Museum free · 2 to 3 hTwo million years of human history under one roof, from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures; entry to the permanent collection is free.
- Afternoon · Buckingham Palace · about 1 hThe monarch's official London residence: watch the Changing of the Guard at the gates, and in summer tour the State Rooms.
Day 3
- Morning · Camden and Notting Hill free · half a dayTwo sides of London: Camden's markets along the canal, and Notting Hill's pastel terraces and the Portobello Road market.
Worth sorting before you go
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Flavours & local habits
🍽️ Worth tasting
- Fish and chips: white fish fried in crisp batter, with thick chips, salt and malt vinegar.
- Sunday roast: roast meat with potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, the long pub lunch of the weekend.
- Full English breakfast: eggs, bacon, sausages, beans, tomatoes and toast. North of the border it becomes a full Scottish, with black pudding and often haggis.
- Haggis: sheep's offal, oatmeal and spices, served with neeps and tatties (mashed swede and potato).
- Shepherd's pie: minced lamb under a baked crust of mashed potato.
- Cream tea: scones with jam and clotted cream, a tradition of Devon and Cornwall.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Skip the crowded pubs around Leicester Square: expensive, and rarely good.
- Look right first when you cross the road: traffic drives on the left.
- On Tube escalators, stand on the right and leave the left for people walking up.
- Do not pay to enter the national museums: most are free, with a donation box at the door.
- On single-track roads, pull into passing places to let others by, and never park in them.
Words that help
The practical page
Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/london
Packing checklist
Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.