Category: London

Hyde Park is one of London’s biggest and most beautiful parks in the city. On a sunny day, Londoners will flock to the park to enjoy picnics, drinks, brisk walks, boot camps and some fresh air – but is cycling allowed in Hyde Park?

Hyde Park is friendlier to cyclists than the other Royal Parks around. There are a number of designated routes you can take and is ideal for an early morning wake-up ride between April and September. Being flat it makes it an easy ride!

Getting to Hyde Park

With the park being in Central London it’s super easy to get public transport here. I wouldn’t recommend driving to the park as central London traffic and parking can be a nightmare.

Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Queensway and Marble Arch are all good options to arrive by tube. Don’t forget to check the map at the bottom of the article as it will guide you where the closest bicycle hire is.

Where to Rent a Bicycle

London has a public bicycle renting scheme, nicknamed Boris bikes and run by Santander. The bicycles are named after Boris Johnson who was the Mayor of London and brought the bicycles to the city. You will find cycle docking stations in the immediate vicinity of Hyde Park.

You pay £2 when you first get the bicycle out of the docking station and then £2 every 30 minutes you rent the bicycle. You can find a breakdown of how Santander bicycles work, here.

A bicycle can be found:

• North Carriage Road near Speakers Corner – the two near here I can’t confirm what type of bicycle hire they are. I’ve included them as they are on the Royal Parks map.
• West Carriage Road near Serpentine Sackler Gallery
• West Carriage Road near Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
• South Carriage Road near Marble Arch Station
• Queensway Station – Notting Hill Bike Tours (they offer private hire of their bicycles).

The Royal Parks provide a map of all the cycle hire stations, or the TFL website shows all the available bicycles plus docking spots and I’ve included a map below so you can find the hire stations.

There is an app you can download as well for Santander which will give you up-to-date information on whether there are bicycles available or docks available to park the bikes.

I’ve searched the internet high and low and not found a place you can get child seats for babies. The closest is London Recumbents in Battersea. If you find anywhere let me know in the comments below!

Taking Your Own Bicycle to Hyde Park

Taking your bicycle on public transport can be complicated, however, if you are planning to travel on weekends and non-peak times it’s generally fine. You can find the guidelines on taking your bicycle on public transport on TFL and National Rail website.

Where to Park Your Bicycle

Hyde Park has parking spaces for bicycles these can be found:

• West Carriage Road near Serpentine Sackler Gallery
• West Carriage Road near Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
• South Carriage Road near Will to Win Hyde Park Sport Centre

Royal parks provide a map of the spaces here or you can look on the map I’ve provided below.

Designated Cycle Routes

The Royal Parks have designated cycle routes and covers the main paths in Hyde Park. If you do want to explore a little more you will need to park your bicycle before doing so.

The basic circular route is about 2.5 miles (or 4km), if you’re cycling for exercise then this won’t take longer than 20 minutes (although you need to avoid all the people on the path). If you’re planning to take in the sights around the park then I would allow an hour.

Things to See in Hyde Park

With several cycling routes taking you through Hyde Park there are lots of things to do and see on your visit. Whether you prefer to keep cycling on or stop to take in some of the attractions there are so many reasons to stay.

Speakers’ Corner

Starting back in the mid-1800’s Speakers’ Corner has been a place for public speeches and debates. The park has hosted some famous people during its time like Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and George Orwell. Speaker’s corner is busy on the weekends, see if you can catch a few speeches!

The Serpentine Galleries

The Serpentine Galleries are free to the public and are located on either side of the Serpentine in the grounds of Kensington Gardens. Featuring contemporary art pieces, some that have been featured in the galleries are Man Ray, Andy Warhol, Henry Moore and Damien Hirst. It’s quite a popular tourist attraction in the park hosting over a million visitors a year.

Memorials, fountains and statues

In the park there are easily 20 statues you can visit, here are a few to consider:

• Diana Memorial Fountain – In memory of Princess Diana, the Memorial is meant symbolise Diana’s quality and openness. The fountain has three bridges where you can cross the water and go right to the heart of the fountain.
• Serenity – Made by British sculptor Simon Gudgeon the artist was is inspired by the Egyptian goddess of nature to create this bird bronze statue.
• 7 July Memorial – In honour of the victims during the 2005 London bombing.
• Holocaust Memorial – The first memorial in Britain to remember the victims of the Holocaust. It’s a garden of boulders surrounded by white-stemmed birch trees.

The Duke of Wellington Museum: Apsley House

The first Duke of Wellington bought Apsley House after he was victorious at Waterloo. Now it is a museum run by Victoria and Albert Museum, the museum hosts a magnificent collection of paintings which include pieces like Velázquez’s “Waterseller of Seville”.

The Rose Garden

As the name alludes to, it’s a beautiful rose garden with other seasonal flowers incorporated into the beds.

Cycling Regulations in Hyde Park

The regulation, legislation and policies for Hyde Park can be found on the website. I’ve included the three main things to note below.

Speed Limit

Hyde Park doesn’t have speed limits for cyclists so you won’t be penalised for speeding. As pedestrians have priority within the park for safety, it’s recommended that your speed is no more than 12mph (19kmph).

Keep to Cycle Tracks

Ensure you keep to the park roads and cycle tracks when enjoying your ride in the park. The park staff can fine you on the spot £60 if you don’t comply, unless you have evidence that someone’s messed up the cycling permitted signs (erroneously or maliciously) on the path where you were stopped.

Are Helmets Need?

In Western Australia wearing a helmet is mandatory when cycling so I thought UK Law would be the same, however, they don’t require you to wear helmets. It’s a totally optional thing to do here. If you want to wear a helmet you either have to bring your own helmet or can rent one from the bike shop.

There is less risk when riding in parks that a car is going to hit you but having a helmet, in general, will provide you with more protection.

Facilities in Hyde Park

Water Fountains

As someone that loves to cut down on my plastic use and carry my water bottle around with me everywhere, having free water available is important! There are only three water fountains which are available in the park, which are highlighted in the pdf map or the google map I’ve included. With the limited fountains make sure you note these down as a stop on your ride to refill and rehydrate.

You will find several refreshment points if you wish to buy bottled water or other drinks.

Food

Hyde Park is a fantastic place for a picnic if you have a chance to bring along a picnic blanket and food. You’re also allowed to drink alcohol in the parks so if you feel like having a beer or wine with your food that’s totally fine. Barbecues are not allowed to be used so unfortunately you’ll have to skip on that sausage sizzle.

Refreshment points are located around the park and offer quick refreshments like coffee, ice cream, snacks and sandwiches. You can also stop by one of the cafes and grab some hot refreshments, like:

Serpentine Bar and Kitchen

The Serpentine Bar and Kitchen serves hot meals and snacks, freshly prepared sandwiches and salads, cakes and drinks.

Lido Café and Bar

Lido Cafe has a large outside dining area with views along The Serpentine. The perfect place to take a rest from cycling and do some people watching.

Toilets

Toilet facilities can be found in Hyde Park, some of them are free and some require you to have 20 pence available to pay. It’s good to carry some coins around just in case.

The toilets available in the park:

• Serpentine Bar and Kitchen
• Lido toilets
• Tennis Pavilion
• Bandstand (costs 20p)
• Reservoir (costs 20p)

Map of the toilets can be found here and some highlighted on the map below.

Map of Hyde Park with Facilities

Other Cycling Destinations in Europe

If you love a cycling holiday, then I recommend Amsterdam! If you plan to visit Amsterdam you must check out my friend’s blog. Rafal has been living in Amsterdam giving fantastic tips on the city.

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With London being such a big bustling city, it is understandable to want to book ahead so you enjoy your time here. You’re probably wondering if you will get into the popular attractions like the London Eye, Tower of London, London Dungeon, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Bridge Experience and Tombs, and Westminster Abbey without a booking.

Do you really need to book ahead to enjoy London? Potentially but this is dependent on the type sights, restaurant, event and things you want to do. In this guide, I will cover how to look out for discounts before you book, what you should book in advance and what you don’t need to book.

Check Potential Discounts Before Booking

We all like to save a bit of money when on holiday. Before you head to an attraction, restaurant or anything in London check whether there is a discount available.

Days Out Guide

Days Out Guide is a great way to save money in London. It offers 2 for 1 price for London attractions. To be able to use the deal you need to book the vouchers online or visit a rail station for the voucher (it needs to be a physical copy) and have a National Rail ticket for each person. I’ve used 2 for 1 on the Tower of London before which save my mum and I £15 each on our entry.

The London Pass

The London Pass has a list of sights you can enter once you have paid for the pass and often with fast track entry. They cover an impressive 60+ attractions including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge Experience and the Thames River Cruise. It’s key to plan out your days you have the London Pass so you can get the total benefit.

Groupon

Groupon will have quite a few deals for restaurants and cafes for the week. It’s not uncommon to see a Michelin Star restaurant offering a Groupon deal. The times are normal weekdays but if you are visiting during the week it’s such a great way to grab a deal for your holiday.

Buying Tickets Online

Booking in advance can sometimes save you a few pounds. I mentioned in the Days Out Guide section you can get into the Tower of London under 2 for 1 but if it is the high season this option isn’t normally available. Instead of buying at the door for £25 you can buy an adult ticket online for £22.70.

This is also true of train tickets, some train companies do add discounts to their own websites. For example, a train company may offer a discount for booking on their website which others cannot provide the same ticket. It is more an incentive to get people booking with the train operator they are travelling with and away from the competition.

What You Should Book in Advance in London

Train Tickets

When to book: 12 weeks in advance before you plan to travel.

Planning on leaving London or taking a day trip? Booking train tickets in advance will save you a ton of money. There are different types of tickets that you can buy:

• Advance (where you can save the most money) – With the advance tickets, you need to travel at the exact time and on the train stated on the ticket.
• Off Peak – cheaper tickets than any time and allow you to travel any time off-peak. There may be restrictions on routes so double check beforehand.
• Anytime – this ticket gives you the ability to travel anytime and will be the most expensive ticket available.
• Group tickets – if there is more of you travelling and these can be cheaper than the advance ticket.

The tickets will be available in standard and first class. For any short trips like Cambridge, Oxford and Brighton I would suggest not buying first class as it doesn’t give you any added value and going with the standard. If you are travelling to Birmingham, York, Leeds and Manchester and have the cash to splurge on first class then it’s totally worth it. P.s. sometimes you can get upgrades on the weekend for £10+.

Check National Rail or Trainline for the latest ticket prices. National Rail is like a Sky Scanner for the rail industry and will hand you off to the train company offering that ticket.

For trains to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and more European check Eurostar or Trainline for the latest ticket prices.

Watch these train travel tips to help save more money on UK Rail.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

When to book: Two months +.

Just received your Hogwarts letter and ready to catch the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross? If only! Instead, you will be catching the muggle train to Watford. Although it still doesn’t take the magic away, after all, you will be going to Warner Bros. Studio Tour which is where most of the filming of the Harry Potter series happened.

Warner Bros. Studio has recently changed the entryway to include the Chocolate Frog Café, perfect for those starting early and need a coffee fix. Also, you will be able to see the newly installed Gringotts!

Before you get started there are some important things you should know about your admission to Hogwarts! Mainly when to book your tickets!

Book 2 months in advance:
For Warner Brothers Studio I would allow at least two months in advance to book tickets or earlier if you can. Getting morning slots will be harder to obtain than afternoon slots! If you want to spend a lot of time at the studio’s book as soon as you know you are coming to London to get those awesome time slots.

It’s a self-guided tour and will take about 3.5 hours to walk around the studio and take it all in.

An alternative way to get tickets is to use the Golden Tours as they seem to have tickets available when the official website does not. The downside is it costs a little more and only gives you 3.5 hours at the studio before you must return to London.

Pro-tip: Make sure you speak to the staff dotted around the tour, they are experts in all things Harry Potter.

Practical Information Warner Brothers Studio

Book Tickets: To book tickets for Warner Brothers Studio go here for the official site or here for Golden Tours.
Address:
Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, WD25 7LR
Opening Times: Tickets are available from 9 am to 18:30 pm (Tickets are only valid for your time slot)

Shakespeare’s Globe

When to book: A few months in advance for plays. A few days in advance or on the day for the tour.

Plays at the Globe can sell out so look at buying these in advance. Standing tickets are the more iconic way to see a play, as this what people did in the 1600s. There are 700 £5 standing tickets available for each performance in the summer theatre season, which runs from April — October.

There is also seating which is slightly more expensive.

The Globe also offers tours of the iconic theatre. These don’t need to be booked in advance so go with whatever works for you the best. The London Pass is accepted for entry to the Globe Exhibition and Theatre Tour.

Practical Information for Shakespeare’s Globe

Book Tickets: To get tickets to the Globe here
Book Globe Tour: Shakespeare’s Globe
Address: 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT
Box Office: 10.00 am – 6.00 pm
Globe Theatre Tours: 09.30 am – 5.00 pm

Exhibitions

When to book: A few months to a few days in advance.

Museums and galleries in London have some pretty cool exhibitions and can sell out pretty fast. For example, London celebrated the 20th year of the first release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. In October, the British Library launched an exhibition showcasing ‘Harry Potter: History of Magic’. 

The event was so popular with the fans that there were no weekend dates left in the first week or so of the event opening. The British Library had assembled a room for every lesson that was taught in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There are classrooms for potions, alchemy, herbology, astronomy, charms, divination, defence against the dark arts and care of magical creatures.

It does make you wish that magic really exists!

If Hogwarts doesn’t make you excited then look out for other types of exhibitions in London that might spark your interest. Look at booking these in advance as the popular ones sell out pretty quickly. I would highly recommend the Wildlife Photographer of the Year at the Natural History Museum which is on every year. 

Theatre, Ballet and Opera

When to book: A few months in advance to save money or a few days to on the day if you don’t mind paying the prices available.

The Theatres, Ballet and Opera are best booked in advance if you are set on seeing a particular show and at a certain price range. You can get last minute tickets fairly easily as theatres do get frequent no-shows and sell these spots. There’s more of a risk of being disappointed with the options available to you and if you are with a group you may not be seated together. 

I would recommend buying in advance: 

• Book of Mormon
• Hamilton
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
• Lion King

To grab last minute deals try lining up at the theatre for stand-by tickets and returns. You can also visit the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for cheap, last minute tickets. 

Restaurants

When to book: A few months to a few days in advance.

London has a fantastic food scene and with that, some restaurants can book out in advance. With casual restaurants, I wouldn’t normally book ahead of time and some don’t allow booking. If you have a specific restaurant you want to visit, if it takes reservations I’d go ahead and book.

Of course, busier areas will be harder to get tables and even harder if you are a big group of people. I tend to book a table when I head out to Soho, Covent Garden and Shoreditch. Generally, I will have a look a few days before or on the day.

One of my favourite places to recommend people and take people when visiting in London is Duck and Waffle. Normally to get a booking I need to do this 3 months in advance when the reservations are open. I have been lucky sometimes to get a cancellation a week before I plan on going.

A few ideas to get you started:

• Sketch – Instagram worthy pink themed 18th-century townhouse tea room turned into a restaurant and cocktail bar.
• Circus – Serves Pan-Asian food with cabaret performance during courses. It’s great fun for an evening out.
• Bob Bob Ricard – It’s an ionic Soho restaurant most famous for it’s “Press the bell for champagne” button.
• Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Sandersons – Alice in Wonderland is my favourite theme in the world and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is incredible!
• La Bodega Negra – Mexican restaurant which disguises itself as a sex shop. It’s a bit of fun walking into the door and the food is great too.

Bars

When to book: A few months to a few days in advance.

London has some quirky bars! From cool cocktail bars set in the Victorian era to SpeakEasy, you will be able to find a bar the perfect place to enjoy a drink. Lots of bars in London don’t need bookings but there are a few I would recommend booking, otherwise, you won’t get a table or will be left waiting for hours.

A few suggestions:

• Bar Termini – Great little Italian bar location is Soho. Due to the size and the fact they take booking it can be hard to get a table so it’s wise to book ahead!
• BYOC – Bring your own cocktail is a ton of fun. Everyone brings a small bottle of spirits and the bartenders make you drinks based of the spirits.
• Cahoots – Blitz spirit alive with dazzling cocktails which is set in old style London Underground paraphernalia. Enjoy your drink in one of the tube cars!
• Mr Fogg’s – Run by the same owners as Cahoots is based on “Around the World in 80 Days” and transport you back to the Victorian era. Enjoy adventurous cocktails like gin safaris to tipsy teas.

Buckingham Palace – Changing of the Guard, State Rooms, The Queens Gallery and Royal Mews

When to book: Allow a few days to weeks in advance to book.

Buckingham Palace is one of the most iconic sights of London and still the official residence of the home of Queen Elizabeth. It’s one of the few working Palaces left around the world and has the famous changing of the guards’ ceremony.

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is totally free and you don’t need a booking, you can find the dates on which there is a ceremony here.

For two months (July to Sept) of the year the state rooms are opened whilst the Queen is away allowing us visitors to explore the Palace. Whilst tickets are still available in March the tickets do start to run out towards the summer season so I recommend booking in advance.

If you don’t visit during July and September, you may get to see Queen Elizabeth drive by, after all it’s her actual home and workplace (p.s. I have actually seen her drive by once).

Alternatively, The Queens Gallery and the Royal Mews (where the Royal stables are) is open most days of the year.

Practical Information for Buckingham Palace

Due to restrictions currently only the gardens are open to vistors in April and May. The State Rooms are open on selected dates in May and June for guided tours. 

Book Tickets:

The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace & Windsor Castle with Lunch
The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace State Rooms
Opening Times: From 21st of May the State Rooms will be open Friday, Saturday and Sundays.

Buckingham Palace The Queen’s Gallery
Opening Times: Will reopen from the 17th May. As there are different exhibitions in the gallery opening times will vary. See the latest events in the link above.

Buckingham Palace Royal Mews
Opening Times:
Temporary closed.

Sky Garden

When to book: 3 weeks ahead.

On the 35th Floor of the Walkie-Talkie you will discover a tropical oasis, the Sky Garden. The tropical garden wraps around the spacious bar and outdoor terrace which gives you amazing views on London. You will get 360-degree views of London like the Gherkin, the Cheesegrater, the Shard, St Pauls and other iconic London landmarks.

It used to be one of London’s hidden gems but with anything this good it has become super popular. Before you get started there are some important things you should know about your visit the Sky Garden.

Book three weeks in advance.

The Sky Garden is slightly odd where it is a free attraction but to get a guarantee you can go inside you to need to book in advance as a limited amount of tickets are available. Booking opens on a weekly basis with slots up to three weeks in advance.

When booking you will get to choose a date and time which will allow you to enter within that hour.

Pro-tip: If you go to the Sky Garden for breakfast or cocktails you don’t need to book in advance.

Watch more on YouTube here.

Practical Information for the Sky Garden

Book Tickets: Book tickets to the Sky Garden here.
Address: 1 Sky Garden Walk, London, EC3M 8AF
Opening Times for Sky Garden Bar & Restaurants
Monday to Tuesday from 7 am to 12 am
Wednesday to Friday from 7 am to 1 am
Saturday from 8 am to 1 am
Sunday from 8 am to 12 am
Opening Times for Public Ticketed Hours
Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm
Weekends & Bank Holidays from 11 am to 9 pm
Price: Free Entry

Shard Viewing Platform

When to book: 14 days in advance to get the discounts.

It’s hard to miss the Shard in the London skyline, after all it is the tallest building in Western Europe and in London. The viewing platform spans over three floors, 69 through to 72 floors giving you a ton of fantastic views for miles. The views make you feel like a giant overlooking a miniature town complete with toy trains, cars, miniature London landmarks and a ribbon-like river Thames.

Before you get started there are some important things you should know about your visit the Shard.

Book 14 days in advance to get discounted tickets or read on how to get free views at the Shard.

The Shard offers discounts based on when you book if you book more than 14 days in advance you can get tickets for £24.00, between 1 to 13 days £27.00 and on the day will be £32.00.

To save even further money make sure you check out Days Out Guide 2 for 1 offer or if you have a London Pass this attraction will be covered by this.

How to get free views at the Shard? At the entrance near the Shangri La hotel is the entrance to Aqua Shard, Hutong and Oblix. When you arrive just tell the staff you would like to have a drink at the bar. There is a quick security check and then you head to the bar on the 32nd floor, the Aqua Shard or Oblix. The view is amazing and you get to relax with a drink.

Practical Information for the Shard

Book Tickets: Tickets to the Shard can be bought here.
Address: 32 London Bridge St, London SE1 9SG
Opening Times: The opening hours for The Shard can vary from day to day, so check their website for up-to-date time schedules is recommended.
Discounts: The view from the Shard is also on the London Pass and Days Out Guide 2 for 1 offer.

London Eye

When to book: A few days in advance or on the day.

I feel like so many cities around the world have tried to copy the London Eye but this Ferris wheel still takes the cake of being one of the best in the world (in my opinion). How can anything beat the views of the river Thames and view world-famous London buildings like the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben? Before you venture off the London Eye, there are a couple of things you should know.

You should only book the London Eye a few days in advance or on the day.

London’s weather can be flakey and booking ahead you could risk a day that has fog, rain or other issues with visibility, making the experience less than ideal. Leaving the booking to closer to the day will give you a better chance of beating London’s weather and enjoying your visit to the London Eye.

School holidays, summer and weekends will be the busiest times of year to go to the London Eye so it can be worth booking online to skip the queue and get the 10% discount.

Otherwise, it’s easy enough to book on the day if you would like to be flexible.

Practical Information for the London Eye

Book Tickets to the London Eye.
Address:  The London Eye, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB
Opening Times: The London Eye opening times vary throughout the year, typically the attraction opens at 10:00 and closes between 18:00-20:30. For exact details please check here.
Discounts: On the London Eye website you can get a 10% discount buying online or check out Days Out Guide 2 for 1 offer.

Tower of London and Tower Bridge

When to book: A few days in advance to on the day – mainly to get the discounts.

Mixed in with the high rises of the city of London is Tower Bridge and Tower of London. Almost every day I get to admire the Tower of London and I just think how lucky I am to see this incredibly beautiful bridge on my walk to work. It’s possibly the most famous bridge in the world!

Just across the bridge is the Tower of London. The building is from 1078 and use to run as a fortress, royal palace, prison, museum and much more of the years. So, what’s the best way to book ahead to visit two of the most famous buildings in London?

Book a few days in advance to on the day – mainly to get the discounts and skip the queues.

The Tower of London itself has a number of ticket kiosks and the chance of queueing more than five to ten minutes to purchase a ticket is low. By going early in the morning you will get the benefits of fewer people – head to the jewel room first so you get a bit of peace and quiet while admiring the jewels.

Did you know that you can enter Tower Bridge? Inside you will find exhibitions and guides who will tell you stories set during the Victorian time and learn all about its history.

I would book ahead if you wish to score the discounts. You can pick up discount’s tickets online or during the low season you can get 2 for 1 voucher. The voucher means you will need to queue at the ticket kiosk.

Practical Information for the Tower of London and Tower Bridge

Tower of London

Book Tickets: Tower of London tickets are available here.
Address:  Tower of London, London, EC3N 4AB
Opening Times: During the summer season (01 March – 31 October), the Tower of London opens between 9 am and 10 am, the last admission is at 17:00 and the buildings inside close at 17:30.
During the winter season (01 November – 28 February), the Tower of London opens between 9 am and 10 am, the last admission is at 16:00 and the buildings inside close at 16:30.
Discounts: Tower of London is included in the London Pass and available on the Days Out Guide 2 for 1 offer. 

Tower Bridge

Book Tickets: Tower Bridge tickets are available here.
Address:  Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Road, London, SE1 2UP
Opening Times: 09:30 – 17:00 (last admission)
Prices: There are over 15 ticket options so it’s best to check the website for the option you wish to choose. Tickets will be from £8.80+ for Adult and £3.80+ for a child.
Discounts: You can save 10% on buying tickets online. Tower Bridge is included in the London Pass and available on the Days Out Guide 2 for 1 offer. 

Westminster Abbey

When to book: A few days in advance to on the day – mainly to get the discount.

This beautiful church has been in London since 960. In 1245 it was decided to rebuild the church into Gothic style (after all it was the fashion) and completed in 1517. You’ve likely seen the church during Prince William and Kate’s wedding as it’s the it place for Royal weddings and also coronations.

What’s the best way to see and book Westminster Abbey? Book a few days in advance to on the day plus I will include a tip on how to see Westminster Abbey for free.

Westminster Abbey doesn’t require booking but booking ahead means you will get a slight discount of £2 and avoiding the ticket queue. The 2 for 1 discount and London Pass is available for the Abbey.

During the summer queues do get long here so make sure you arrive before the opening time to skip the wait times.

Pro tips: On Wednesday the Abbey is open until 18:00 and the tickets will be half price at the door if you head late on Wednesday.

See Westminster Abbey for free on Sunday’s. The church is open for worship only and means you can only go inside to pray but you won’t be able to visit the tombs and monuments during this time.

Practical Information for Westminster Abbey

Book Tickets: Purchase Westminster Abbey tickets here.
Address:  20 Deans Yard, SW1P 3PA, London
Opening Times: Daily from 9:30 to 15:30 and Wednesday from 9:30 to 18:00.
Discounts: You can save £2 buying tickets online and fast track the queue by using the book tickets link. Westminster Abbey is also included in the London Pass and available for Days Out Guide 2 for 1 offer.

St Paul’s Cathedral

When to book: A few days in advance to on the day – mainly to get the discounts.

St. Paul’s Cathedral dome is a landmark of the London skyline so if you haven’t been here, yet you’ve probably caught a glimpse of it. The original cathedral was built in 604 AD but during the Great Fire of London destroyed its predecessor in 1666. Now stands the St. Paul’s Cathedral we know and love today.

You’ll be able to explore the Cathedral Floor, the Crypt and the three Dome Galleries, Whispering Gallery and make your way to the Golden Gallery to get breathtaking panoramic views over London.

What’s the best way to see and book St Paul’s Cathedral? Book a few days in advance to on the day.

St Paul’s offers a £3 discount and fast track queue if you book ahead. Online tickets are only available to purchase the day before.

Pro tip: If you don’t have money to pay to go into St Paul’s head to One New Change Rooftop to enjoy free views of St Paul’s. During the evening there is a doorman at the elevator as there is a bar on the roof that has a dress code but just let them know you just want to go to the rooftop and not the bar.

Practical Information for St Paul’s Cathedral

Book Tickets: Purchase tickets to St Paul’s here.  
Address: The Chapter House, St Paul’s Churchyard, London, EC4M 8AD
Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday from 7:30 to 5:00
Sunday from 8:00 to 6:00
Discounts: St Paul’s offers a 15% discount and fast track queue if you book ahead. Online tickets are only available to purchase the day before. You can use Days Out Guide 2 for 1 discount (check availability as it’s not available all year round) and you can use the London Pass to enter St Paul’s.

London Bridge Experience and Tombs

When to book: A few days in advance to on the day – mainly to get the discounts.

London Bridge Experience is an immersive theatrical experience taking you through 2,000 years of London’s history. Travel back in time with some of England notorious characters and experience London’s darker history like the former plague pit and London Tombs. Prepare for a few screams and jumps as the unspeakable horrors emerge.

Before embarking on your dangerous mission at the London Bridge Experience and Tombs there are a couple things you should know.

Book a few days in advance to on the day as it will save you cash!

London Bridge Experience and Tombs only requires one ticket that gets you into both the attractions. Tickets start from £19.95 which will give you general admission. To get a fast pass this will set you back around £44.95, although I would suggest getting general admission tickets as there isn’t normally a queue and you can save £20!

Practical Information for

Book Tickets: Purchase the London Bridge Experience and Tombs here.
Address: 2 – 4 Tooley St, London SE1 2SY
Prices: Tickets start from £19.95.
Discounts: If you have a London Pass this will get you entry and there is 2 for 1 option available, this option will only save you about £10.

London Dungeon

When to book: A few days in advance to on the day – mainly to get the discounts or a show time to suit your itinerary.

Featuring 18 shows and 3 rides, the London Dungeon is a fun way to learn about London’s dark and creepy history. During the experience, you will meet so notorious characters such as Jack the Ripper and Sweeney Todd.

Here’s what you need to know before booking the London Dungeon. Book a few days in advance to on the day.

London Dungeon has set show times so if you need a certain time to suit your itinerary it’s best to book in advance. Booking on the day they will try and provide you either the closest slot or your desired slot.

Practical Information for London Dungeon

Book Tickets: Purchase tickets to the London Dungeon here.
Address: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 7PB
Prices: Prices start from £45.00 for VIP, £34.00 for fast track, £24.00 for standard and £22.50 for family.
Discounts: You can save up to 30% when purchasing online, alternatively, you can use the Days Out Guide 2 for 1 voucher.

What to Book in Advance in London Map

Everything mentioned in this post is on this handy map. Save the map to your phone and you will have all the locations.

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When you’ve finished your meal at a restaurant, how do you ask for the check in London? In London, we ask for the bill and not the check. However, if you did ask your waiter for the check they would understand.

I’ve seen some forum saying that some people ask for the ticket. I’ve never heard anyone in London ask for the ticket unless you are picking up items in the cloak room or at an event.

A quick note, while tipping is customary in the UK it’s not expected in the same way other countries do. All staff by law must be paid the minimum wage and the employer is not allowed to use tips to top up the employees pay. The expectations on tipping varies from place to place.

Examples for Asking for the Check/Bill

The polite way for asking for the bill in the UK would be:

• May we have the check/bill, please?
• Could we have the check/bill, please?
• Could we get the check/bill, please?

Or if the waiter comes by and asks you if you would like anything else, then just say “no thank you, just the bill, please”.

In a fancier restaurant, you would say something like “no thanks, I think that’s all for tonight” and then you’ll be presented with the bill.

The person that asks for the bill is normally the one presented with the bill. It’s not gender specific, if you ask for it you will you’ll get it.

A Guide to Tipping in London

Every type of establishment has its own rules for tipping so here’s a quick guide for each type.

Restaurants

Tipping can be awkward and confusing and the UK doesn’t make it easy with having two ways that tips can work in a restaurant.

Some restaurants add a 12.5% to 15% surcharge to the bill and some leave it up to you how much you want to pay. If the tip is discretionary a safe bet is to leave between 10% and 15% as a tip.

For tips that are my choice, I don’t tend to leave more than 10%. Normally my tips are just the coins I have left in my wallet which will be a few pounds or I will round the bill up. For example, if it was £27 I would round up to £30.

For service charge the restaurants are required to state on the menu if a service charge is included on your bill. If it’s unclear just ask the waiter to confirm.

If you don’t get the level of service you are expecting you can refuse to pay the service charge. The service should match the type of establishment you are in so comparing a takeaway store against Michelin restaurant isn’t a fair comparison.

Which? have written a guide on what to do when you want to refuse service charge.

Bars and Pub

A fancy bar will have similar rules to a restaurant especially if they have table service. There will be a high chance that your bill will have a service charge in this scenario.

For pubs, it’s not necessary to tip but if you wish to the bar staff will be happy! At the counter there will be a tip jar that you put your tip into. The pub will normally share this between all the staff.

Alternatively you can offer to buy them a drinks by saying ‘and one for yourself’. Although this may not be permitted depending on the pub or bar so a cash tip is always easiest.

Takeaway Food

With the likes of Deliveroo, UberEats, Just Eat and Hungry House it’s really easy to get food delivered to your hotel or apartment. Tipping isn’t required for takeaway but some people do like to tip. Some sites will prompt you at check-out to provide a tip or you can give the delivery driver some change as appropriate.

When picking up your food from the takeaway restaurant tipping isn’t appropriate, simply just collect your food and pay.

Fast Food Shops

There is no need to tip in fast food restaurants.

Cafes and Coffee Shops

In a cafe or coffee shop, when you have table service then tipping is usual. Like restaurants, you do have a mix of service charge and customary tips.

If there is no table service then there is generally a tipping jar available. In places like Starbucks you may find that they don’t get many tips, you will find independents get a few more tips or places that regulars go and build a rapport with the person serving them.

Paying with Cash or Card?

In London you will get a mix of payment options, some will be cash or card only and some will accept both as a payment. Normally you will find a sign somewhere stating if it is cash or card only.

When presented with a bill in a place that takes both payments then you need to state to the waiter you would like to pay with card. The waiter will bring the card machine over to you for payment. Some machines will allow you to pay the tip on the card machine but this is hit and miss as an option.

Paying tips by the card machine could mean that a portion of the tip is taken as a transaction fee and potentially some could be deducted for income tax. Therefor (therefore) tips are normally preferred in cash.

Cash is really simple! Leave the cash with the bill and the waiter will collect the money. If you state “don’t worry about the change” or something along those lines then the staff will usually assume this is meant as a tip. Otherwise the waiter will bring you back your change. Depending on whether service charge is included you can then leave an appropriate tip.

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Many of us have become accustomed to having air conditioning when travelling so it can be concerning when you start reading that most of London does not have air-conditioning available.

Let’s get to the important question, do you need air-conditioning in London? No, you don’t, unless London is experiencing a heatwave. The temperature during summer is an enjoyable mid 20’s (70°F) during the day and mid 10’s (55°F) in the evening. Most British housing will not have air-conditioning and will opt for heating instead.

Along with British houses don’t expect air-conditioning when you walk into cafes, pubs and restaurants. It’s always a surprise when a place does have air conditioning with the exception of shops and workplaces.

If you do need air-conditioning then you will need to research your hotels well. It will be harder to find Airbnbs for the above reasons and hostels that are equipped with this facility.

London Temperatures During Summer

London is generally in (the) mid-20s (70°F) as you can see in the table below but low 30s (86°F) isn’t unheard of. When London does get hot it can get stuffy and a bit humid).

Month	Average Temperature
June	21°C / 13°C or 70°F/ 55°F
July	23°C / 15°C or 73°F / 59°F
August	23°C / 15°C or 73°F / 59°F

In 2018 London and the UK had a massive heatwave with temperatures over 30°C / 86°F that lasted for quite a few weeks. An unusual event for the UK – where the grassed died in parks, Londoners melted from the heat, shops sold out of fans and trains struggled to run.

As an Australian I don’t find these heatwaves too bad, I actually quite enjoy them! It’s a nice break from the normal drizzly days. If you are from a cold country or used to air-conditioning then this weather could be a challenge for you.

How To Survive A Heatwave In London

Found yourself in a London heatwave? I’ve got some practical tips as well as fun activities to make the most of summer!

Let’s Start with the Practical Tips!

Fans Are Your Saviour

Get a little fan to take around with you, like those ones you get in Asia or a little electronic one.

Ask your hotel for a fan if they don’t have air conditioning. In my experience hotels will have these available.

Carry Water

During a heatwave you will have constant messages from the London Underground reminding you to carry water. The messages can get pretty annoying but when you are stuck at a red signal dying from the heat you will be thankful. Some of those lines can get pretty hot!

Lately, I have noticed a rise in water fountains available at National Rail stations which is great for refilling your bottles. At main attractions, there is (are) generally water fountains too!

Avoid Public Transport at Rush Hour

The tube can be almost unbearable in the summertime. The central line has been recorded to have a temperature of 40°C (104°F) with no air-conditioning or ways to cool the train down it can be unbearable. Then when you mix the heat with rush hour you get lots of hot sweaty people! Imagine the fun of summer rush hour is. It’s a major complaint amongst Londoners. P.s. Air conditioning varies on the public transport you are taking so sometimes you luck out but most times there will be none. It will change on some lines when they finally roll-out the new trains.

Look for other alternatives like buses or travelling in non-peak times. Sometimes I will head out for a drink until the peak hour has died down a little.

Invest in a Mist Spray

The adult version of running in the sprinklers! Facial mist spray! It is great for when you are overheating and need something to cool you down.

Fun Activities to Stay Cool in London Summer!

Go Swimming

London has lidos located around the city which are ideal for cooling down during the heat. It’s a popular way to cool down so during peak times you’ll have to queue to get your cold-water fix.

Here are a few lidos in London:

• Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds – Hampstead Heath
• Oasis Sports Centre – Covent Garden
• Tooting Bec Lido – Streatham Park
• London Fields Lido – Hackney
• Serpentine Lido – Knightsbridge
• Brockwell Lido – Herne Hill

Have a Picnic

Londoners love having a picnic and head to the park when it’s warm. At any chance during summer I will grab my dinner, picnic blanket and head to the park to catch the sun, light and fresh air. Some recommendations:

Hyde Park

Most popular with tourists, it’s a London attraction in itself and close to other London Landmarks so great if you are a tourist and only have a short time to explore.

Primrose Hill

Amazing view of the city while you enjoy a drink or some cheese, yes please! The hill is perfectly located to give you views of the London skyline.

Richmond Park

The best thing about Richmond park is the deer! Instead of people watch you can deer watch while enjoying your lovely picnic.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace was once a holiday destination for Londoners and was home to the famous Crystal Palace until it burnt down. You’ll discover the foundations of the Crystal Palace, the first illustrated statue version of dinosaurs, a maze, a local farm plus the kids can interact with the animals and lots of park space for a picnic.

Enjoy a Drink at a Rooftop Bar

All the advice says to avoid alcohol when it’s too hot! Boo, frozen cocktails on a rooftop is a magical way to cool down in my opinion.

A few recommendations:

• Bussy and Franks – Slightly outside of the tourist area (still in zone 2) these two rooftop bars give amazing views of London
• Queen of Hoxton – Located in Shoreditch, this bar is transformed twice-yearly into some cool themes.
• Skylight London – A new addition to the rooftop bars in London. In summer it’s an urban lawn club with Croquet, Pétanque and Street Food.
• Bar Elba – Has a happy hour every day until 6 pm and then from Sunday to Thursday from 9 pm to 11 pm.

Enjoy a Cold Beer in a Beer Garden

Green space can be hard to come by in some areas of London so the next place we flock to is pubs with beer gardens or riverside pubs. Sitting in a lovely garden enjoying a cold beer to cool down is the best way to enjoy the summer.

Pub with beer gardens:

• Canonbury – Canonbury
• Alwyne Castle – Canonbury
• The Albion – Barnsbury
• Earl of Essex – Islington
• The Edinboro Castle – Camden
• Magic Garden – Battersea
• The Ship – Wandsworth
• The Half Moon – Herne Hill
• The Duke of Edinburgh – Brixton
• The Faltering Fullback – Finsbury Park
• The Sun – Camberwell
• The Rose Pub and Kitchen – New Cross
• The Windsor Castle – Kensington

Riverside pubs:

• Crate Brewery – Hackney Wick
• Cutty Sark Tavern – Greenwich
• The Lighterman, King’s Cross – King’s Cross
• Lockside Lounge – Camden
• Mason & Company – Hackney Wick
• The Narrowboat – Hoxton

Find the Best Ice-cream

London is a foodie’s destination and there is nothing better than enjoying a nice cold ice-cream when the weather is sweltering.

• Milk Train Cafe – Covent Garden: Most famous for its cones wrapped in fairy floss and delicious matcha ice-cream
• Udderlicious – Barnsbury: I first discovered this place when I was living in Islington and went back almost every hot day it was acceptable to eat ice-cream! The ice-cream flavour is amazing!
• Yorica – Soho: A vegan’s dream place! or anyone on a plant-based diet. It’s the first dairy, egg, nut and gluten-free ice-creamery.

Do you have any recommendations to survive the heat or any accommodation you found that has air-conditioning? Let me know in the comments below!

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London is one of my favourite cities in the world! There is always something to do and explore. I still to this day have a hit list of all the places that I want to visit, it’s never ending.

As this will be your first time in London, trust me, you’ll have a great time! There is something for everyone and a never-ending supply of activities, food, bars, theatres and much more to explore.

Why is this London Travel Guide Different?

I want to make sure that you have the best resource for your first time visiting London. There are a lot of key things you should know to make the most of your trip. I come from a from a small city and I was confused as hell when I first landed at Heathrow! I am sure like me you want to arrive ready and prepared for your London trip.

This is why I’ve made this London First Timers Travel Guide, so you have a one-stop resource for everything you’ll need to know.

This First Timers Travel Guide will give you the breakdown on:

• Things to do and see
• Planning Your Trip to London (all the practical things!)
• The best hostel and hotels
• What areas to stay in
• Restuarants and Bars

London at a Glance

Costs, Top Attractions, Weather and Best Time to Go

London is well known to be one of the most expensive cities in the world, so it is key that you plan and make your pounds go further!

The great thing about London is the museums are free and there are ways you can experience things that cost money for less (included later in the guide). These can easily activities can easily be mixed and matched.

Average Costs in London

Budget

Dorm Beds £15 to 30
Markets, Lunchtime specials for food £3 to £15 (per meal). If you get a kitchen you can definitely save money here!
Visit all the free museums and cheap sights!
Travel zone 1 & 2 up to £8.40 (per day) or walk (completely free ;))

Midrange

Double Room in a Hotel £100
Dinner with Drinks £30
Theatre and Paid Sights £10 to £15
Travel zone 1 & 2 up to £8.40 (per day)

Top End

Four-star/ boutique hotel £200+
Three Course Dinner with Drinks £80 to £100
Theatre and Paid Sights £10 to £200
Cab Trips £30+

Examples

Just to give some quick examples of my spending when I go out to have fun. The other day I had a big “night out” (i.e. it was my sisters birthday and I spoilt her). It cost £224 (£75 each) for 3 of us to go out in Soho. What we bought was one round of cocktails, one bottle of wine at a wine bar and dinner was 3 courses (tapas style), one bottle of wine and a jug of margaritas. 

The other day I went out for a low key Saturday night microbrewery which involved burgers with chips and 3 rounds of drinks then we stumble on a wine bar which included another bottle of wine plus a sherry to take home. This all came to £70 between two of us. 

Things To Do in London

My favourite things to do in London for some reason all revolve around exploring hidden gems of London, food and drinking! But as it’s your first time in London you need to see some of the famous sights as well. My list is not definitive (London has months worth of activities!) and tailored to what I think you should see when you first come to London. 

Before you head to the sights and pay for entry have a look at:

• Days Out Guide which offers you 2for1 deals on London attractions. Great if there is a group of you just make sure you buy a National Rail ticket (oyster and TFL tickets don’t count) and get the vouchers (either print online or get one at a National Rail station).
• With a prepaid Oyster card, you can get tourist discounts for various sights. Go to the Visit Britain shop for more details. 
• The London Pass will provide you access to loads of sights. Simply purchase how many days you would like, active the card within a year (i.e. your travel date) and show it at the venue. 

Psst… Some London attractions are best to be booked in advance, this detailed guide will cover the when to book and all the information you need to know about them!

Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard

It is one of the few remaining working royal palaces. You might even see the Queen drive past (I honestly did see her drive past once when I was on a walking tour).

The Tower of London and Tower Bridge

Everyone always thinks that Tower Bridge is called London Bridge. Tower Bridge is the pretty one you want to see, the other is just a plain old boring bridge however it is a great photo op place for Tower Bridge.

All the Museums and Galleries

The best thing about London are the museums as they are all free!!! Here are just some of the ones you can visit:

• The British Museum
• London’s National Gallery
• Victoria and Albert Museum
• National History Museum
• The Two Tates

I have listed 9 of my favourite museums in this article if you want to check out more.

Big Ben and The Parliament

Big Ben is going through a couple of repairs at the moment as it’s sinking (needs a little TLC). Still, see the Parliament building but expect loads of scaffolding.

Piccadilly Circus and the Trafalgar square

See the latest statue on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. So there is more to do in the area then just see the plinth nearby are all the theatres, China Town and restaurants. 

Westminster Abbey

Most of us will remember Westminster Abbey from Kate Middleton and Prince William’s spectacular wedding in 2011 but the Abbey has played a big role in UK’s history. Benedictine monks set-up up the original church around 1050’s but in 1245 Henry III pulled down the church and replaced it with the Abbey we see today. 

Impressively since William the Conqueror (way back in 1066), the Abbey has been where the British sovereigns have been crowned with the exception of Edward V and Edward VIII that were never crowned.

If you got Westminster Abbey for a Sunday Service you can enter the abbey for free, the downside to this is that you won’t be able to roam around for free.

Explore the best parks in London

There is always a good reason to explore one of London’s beautiful parks from boating in Hyde Park to deer-spotting in Richmond. During a sunny day Londoners will flock to the parks enjoying picnics, drinks, brisk walks and some fresh air. Here are some of my favourite London parks:

• Hyde Park 
• Primrose Hill 
• Regents Park 
• Richmond Park
• Crystal Palace 

St. Paul’s Cathedral

St Pauls has played an important role in London’s history from royal weddings to state funerals. Located near the river it’s one of London’s iconic attractions to visit. Even if you don’t make it inside the Cathedral it is a beautiful building to visit. 

Fun fact, buildings in London can’t disrupt St Paul’s view. It’s classed as a protect view which is why London has some interesting shaped buildings.  

Covent Garden

In the West-end you will discover Covent Garden! Home to a beautiful market, a hot spot for shopping, near the theatres, restaurants, bars and full of history.

Greenwich and Docklands

This is a day in itself from markets, museums to parks there is a lot of cover in Greenwich. The coolest thing is the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) line (where the worlds time is set from).

Visit all the Markets and eat all the food

Here are just a few of my favourite markets:

• Leather-lane market and Whitecross street market are food markets open Mon to Friday during lunchtime. A popular place for those working in the area to grab food.
• Borough markets is a must to see and just a great place for eating all the food tasters but my favourite place is the vegan burgers.
• Bricklane markets are open on Sunday, lots of vintage, arts & craft and variety of food.
• Mercato is another great marketplace style of venue offering lots of food and drinks options plus they have a cinema.
• Columbia Flower Market is as the name says a flower market. Open on a Sunday it has a great vibe, buskers playing on the street, food stalls and coffee places!

See one of the great views of London

What better way to enjoy London’s view then in one of these wonderful buildings capturing panoramic views of the city.

Here are some of my choices:

• The Shard – I suggest going to the Oblix Bar, it’s free to go up there and a lovely place to grab a drink whilst soaking up the views.
• Sky Garden – It’s free to go to the Sky Garden you just need to book in advance.
• Duck and Waffle at the Heron Tower – You need to grab breakfast here, delicious food and fantastic views!
• Bussy and Franks – Slightly outside of the tourist area (still in zone 2) these two rooftop bars give amazing views on London.

The list could go one but I have listed my top 5 views of London so check out the article.

Do I need to buy tickets for museums and theatres in advance?

Museums will have exhibitions that you can buy tickets to. If there is an exhibition you want to see then booking this in advance is a good idea and it will be a time slot on a day. General entry to the museums is free and you will be able to see a lot of cool stuff without seeing exhibitions. I highly recommend the wildlife photographer of the year award at the national history museum. 

Theatres are best to be booked in advanced if you are set on seeing a show and price range. You can get last minute tickets fairly easy as lots of people book in advance and don’t show but these will be various prices points. 

Have a REALLY good London Attraction Suggestion?

There are endless things to do in London so I’ve barely touched the surface but would love to add your favourite attraction tip in. Let me know in the comments below.

London Weather

The weather is so easy to complain about in London! I think it’s the number one topic of Londoners. I always recommend bringing an umbrella and a jacket just in case.

If you are debating whether to visit in London in spring or autumn make here’s a list of local favourite events during these seasons.

Summer (June to August)

Warm to hot days, generally between 20 to 30 degrees and most daylight!

Autumn (September to November)

Milder day, generally between 10 to 20 degrees. Mostly sunny at the start of autumn and head to more drizzle towards November.

Winter (December to February)

Cool days, generally around 0 to 10 degrees. Mostly drizzle or rain during the winter months.

Spring (March to May)

Mild weather, generally around 10 to 20 degrees. The weather can be hit and miss, either really sunny or drizzle.

The weather has slowly been changing in London and season seem to be later (at least to me). In 2018 we still had snow in late March and then a few weeks later a heatwave of 25 degrees with beautiful sun.

Best Time To Go To London

The ‘BEST’ time to go to London can vary a lot depending on what you want to do. Some people are picky about the weather, while others don’t want to blow their budget during high season. Here is how I see it: ANYTIME is a good time to be in London! Just beware that the UK weather is unpredictable, the weather likes to keep us on our toes. 

If you like Good Deals: March to May & September to November

OFF SEASON. Heading to London outside of the school holidays has the most perks! You can enjoy lower hotel prices, people are friendlier and there is just better deals. If you are looking for a deal then avoid Easter and the May bank holidays.

Personally, I love travelling in Europe in September and October, the weather is generally warm, not too crowded and sunny!

If you love better weather then: July & August

The middle of the summer has the sunniest days and school holiday which means bigger crowds! As it is the summer season across Europe the whole continent will be more expensive. I would only recommend going over the summer if you hate rain, love hustle and bustle and have a bigger budget.

When to Avoid Travelling to the UK (in general)

If possible, DO NOT plan your arrival for Christmas Day or Good Friday. There will be NO available public transport, taxis will increase their prices and only a limited number will be open for check-in. 

Planning Your Trip to London

Tourist Visa in the UK

Being an Australian, a Kiwi, a Canadian, South African or an American you will not need a tourist visa and are allowed to enter the UK for up to 6 months.

An EU national can enter the UK without needing a tourist visa however who knows after Brexit and what immigration laws will be agreed.

How to Get a Tourist Visa London

One of the most important things about travelling apart from having enough money and a valid passport is to ensure that you have a visa or the eligibility to enter a country. Some nationalities will need a tourist visa when visiting the UK easiest way to check is by using the gov.uk website and you use their visa questionnaire to find out. 

The questionnaire will provide links at the end to the application details. If you are eligible for a standard visitors visa then follow this link for all the details https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa.

Which airport should I fly into?

A question I see all the time is which London Airport should I fly into? The airports available will differ depending on whether it is a long or short haul flight and whether it is a budget airline. 

Each airport does have access to transport to get into London and here is a breakdown using Covent Garden as the measure for distances/ time:

• Heathrow Airport – 18 miles/50 minutes – London Underground (i.e. the tube) runs the Piccadilly line (dark blue line) to Heathrow, Heathrow Connect and Express (trains) taking you into Paddington Station and National Express Buses will run from Heathrow into London to various bus stations. The tube is the cheapest method is the tube costing £6.40 to get to zone 1.  You will be able to Oyster Card or Contactless for this option (recommended) or purchase a ticket (not recommended). 
• Gatwick Airport – 28 miles/90 minutes – Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink all run train services to London Victoria and London Bridge. National Express runs buses into Victoria Bus Station (and a few others). The cheapest way is the bus but the trains are the quickest way which is about £8.40 to £25 into London. You can also use an Oyster Card or Contactless (bonus you won’t need to wait in a ticket queue if you use these options) on the train services or just buy a train ticket. 
• Stansted Airport – 38 miles/70 minutes – Stanstead Express runs train services into Liverpool Street station or you can catch National Express buses into Liverpool Street and Victoria. You will need to buy tickets for these services as Oyster Card or Contactless are not options.
• Luton Airport – 35 miles/70 minutes – Thameslink runs services into London Bridge, London Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and London St Pancras International (basically it’s all the same line). However, you will need to catch a bus from the airport to the station. Again National Express will run buses into London Victoria. You will need to buy tickets for these services as Oyster Card or Contactless are not options.
• London City Airport – 10 miles/40 minutes – This airport is in the centre of London you will be able to catch Transport for London services (TFL) like DLR and buses. You will be able to Oyster Card or Contactless for this option (recommended) or purchase a ticket (not recommended). 
• London Southend Airport – 42 miles/85 minutes – I don’t really count this in my airports but technically it’s no further than Standstead Airport.

How to Get Around London

London has a wide range of transport it offers and little quirks to go along with it! City Mapper will be your best friend in London so make sure you download the app before arriving in London. I love it for figuring out transport modes and routes, however, the walking functionality to me is less friendly so I use Google maps for walking routes. 

What is an Oyster Card?

It’s a plastic smart card which holds credit to allow you to travel on the London network. The card can be used to travel on various modes of transport in London like a bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line, River Bus services and most National Rail services.

You can buy an Oyster card at the ticket machines or as I mention above in things to in London you can buy this in advance. It’s £5 for the Oyster Card which you can get refunded when you are heading home plus any change left on the card.

You can also use contactless payments so if your card has the ability to do this then you don’t need to purchase or top up an Oyster card. 

Quirks of London Transport System

As I mentioned in the airport section all airports will provide you with the ability to use Oyster cards and when you leave London zones you won’t be able to use your Oyster card either. You’ll end up having to buy a ticket when you arrived at the station, generally at a higher price.

If you buy a travel card be aware that Emirates Air Line and River Bus services (the ferry) will be an additional cost (it’s costly as well!).

There are two types of credit methods, pay as you go and travel cards. Depending on your itinerary will be the deciding factor on which type of credit you should by. Staying under 4 days you should do pay as you go and over 5 days you should buy a travel card. Be aware that the travel cards are either weekly (7 days) or monthly (30 days). 

Is an Oyster Card the same as the London Pass?

No, the London Pass is a card a discounted prepaid card which gives you access to certain attractions.

How hard will it be to navigate the trains? How long of a ride is it?

I found the tube the easiest mode to concur when I arrived in London. At the stations there will be tube or national rail maps which are free and will help you navigate the system. The buses require a little more coordination and needing to know where the stands are.  

Should I Rent a Car?

London is so easy to get around without a car there should be no need for you to rent a car whilst you are here. Planning to travel more of the UK then look at getting a car when you have finished in London. I tend to pick up cars from the airport or further away location so I am not stuck driving in London (the traffic is horrible). 

Buy Travel Insurance

Travel insurance just gives you that piece of mind and protects you from the unknown. It always recommended that you purchase travel insurance and it is a prerequisite for some of the visas as well.

It’s worth mentioning that a few countries have reciprocal health agreements with the UK such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada which means you can get healthcare when travelling.

London Packing Tips

Bringing the kitchen sink isn’t a good idea if you struggle to carry the bag up and down staircases, uneven payment or crowds. London’s infrastructure is quite old and means that there isn’t a lot of lifts or accessibility around the city.

Clothes:

• Casual Wear – London is quite chilled with its clothing vibe unless you are living it up in the rich life! I can’t remember the last time I wore heels on a night out. The general items like tops, jeans, skirts or even shorts in the summer.
• Formal-ish Outfit – People do make an effort to look casual smart like a nice dress on or guys will wear a long sleeve shirt. The ladies can convert a simple dress with some jewellery, a jacket and comfortable shoes. Guys might want to pack a light collared shirt, some nice jeans and closed shoes. Personally I mix it up between a top/jeans and dresses with flat shoes or boots. My boyfriend tends to wear collared shirts and jeans with closed in shoes.
• Comfy Shoes – Pack your walking shoes! It’s key to making the most of your trip to London. Pack another pair of shoes that you can pair with a nice outfit for nights out.
• Jumper, Coat or Jacket (and Winter Wear) – This is a must! The weather in the UK can be so unpredictable, it could be July and you still hit a 15-degree day then it shoots up to 25 and during winter it can get cold. Considering it was still snowing in March it just shows all the extremes of the weather (albeit unusual for us). During the summer bring a light jacket and jumpers. London doesn’t have the coldest winters but it’s cold enough to warrant scarfs, gloves and big jackets.
• Nightwear – Staying in a shared room then you need nightwear but if you are living the high life in a private room or hotel I will leave that up to you.

Personal Care – The usual items like toothpaste, hand sanitiser, face wash, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner.

Technology:

• Camera – Optional item to take with you. 
• Phone
• Laptop – Optional item to take with you. 
• Chargers – Phone, laptop and camera chargers. 
• Battery Pack – if you plan on using your phone loads this is an essential item (at least to me).
• Power Board – I find having a small power board is a handy item to have whilst travelling, especially, when you have lots of electronics to charge.
• Adapter / Converter – Universal adapters are the best to carry around and there is no need to worry about carrying one for each country you visit! If you do forget you will be able to pick one up so no need to worry! Hotels and hostel can have loan ones available too. London uses the 3 prong UK plug at 230V, so unless you are from the UK you will need an adapter/converter.

Money

In the UK, we use the British Pound (GBP). The currency does have a few nicknames like Pound Sterling, Sterling, Quid and Nicker so you might hear these said by the locals. Card is widely used in the UK and in London some places are turning card only so having a pre-topped up travel card, debit card or credit card before you come is a must. 

There are exchange places dotted around London and lots of ATMs around if you do wish to get cash out during your stay. If you are using cash the currency is broken down into:

Banknotes: Frequently used are £5, £10 and £20 (this is the only notes ATMs will dispense). Rarely used are £50 and £100 (it’s really hard to spend £50 & £100. If a currency exchange or bank gives you theses ask for smaller notes).

Coins: 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2.

If you forget, don’t fret, you can use your card and then take out cash when you are in the city. Airport exchanges and ATMs will give you a worse exchange rate so you are best off waiting to get cash out. It’s there if you do need it.

I have to admit, converting my Australian dollars into Pounds makes me sad. When you have $50 and it ends up being £25 to £30 (on a good day).

Here’s a detailed guide if you are trouble finding solutions on how to exchange your money and advice for paying for things in London.

Where to Stay in London for the First Time

London reminds me of little towns put together to make a city and each area has its own vibes. You will find no “best” neighbourhood to stay in London as it is dependent on your interests and budget. For a weekend central areas will be way more convenient than being a few zones out but if you are here for a week being less central will help the budget.

It’s also crucial that you can either walk place or are near good transport links as it’s what us Londoners rely on.

I’ve detailed 15 of the best places to stay if you want somewhere that is walking distance to London’s best attractions.

A couple of areas I recommend are:

Bermondsey & London Bridge

One of my favourite areas in London is Bermondsey & London Bridge. It’s the perfect place to stay if you love to discover new street-food, craft beer and gin. For the beer lovers, it’s a must to check out Bermondsey Beer Mile. A bunch of brewers decided to cleverly to locate their microbreweries under the railway arches.

Close to sights like Borough Markets, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London and has good transport links.

Covent Garden and Soho

Right in the middle of the action, always bustling, surrounded by restaurants and bars and in the theatre district.

Close to sights like National Portrait Gallery, Oxford Circus and Southbank. There are good transport links as well.

Greenwich

A little quieter, full of open space and greenery. Slightly outside of the hustle and bustle but only a 20 minutes journey by tube, DLR or Thames Clipper. Plenty of restaurant, markets and bars to check out as well or a great place to have a picnic when the sun is shining.

Shoreditch and Hackney

Very hip and trendy areas (says someone non-trendy). From the curry mile, vintage shopping, street art and cool bars there is something to keep you occupied every day of the week. It’s one of the main areas I spend my time in London exploring and highly recommend to anyone visiting.

With a wealth of activities like finding Banksy artwork, street art, cute little markets and shops, enjoying a curry on Bricklane and the restaurant/cafe scene you can see why it’s a fav spot. Watch more of the YouTube video here.

Other London neighborhood to consider would be Victoria, St Pancras/ Kingscross, Earls Court, Camden, Kensington or Mayfair.

Hostels to Consider

Even today I still stay in hostels as I love that they are budget-oriented and sociable accommodation. I know people worry about whether hostels are safe and to help ease your worries about them here are 11 London hostel safety tips.

There are 100’s of hostels you can choose in London so make sure you research before choosing. Here are 4 hostels I would recommend checking out, I’ve either stayed here or had friends rave about these hostels.

Clink78

Clink78  was once a former courthouse is now a vibrant hostel. Clink is centrally located in Kings Cross with great transport links. Offering a range of rooms from private to 12 person dorms with wifi, kitchen, luggage storage, bar, laundry and 24/7 reception. 

Wombats City Hostel

Wombats City Hostel is located in several European cities so there is no surprise there is one in London. Located in Whitechapel and super close to Shoreditch with lots of lively bars, restaurants and cafes. Offering a range of rooms from private to 6 person dorms with wifi, kitchen, luggage storage, bar, laundry and 24/7 reception. 

Generator

Generator is another chain that has several locations over Europe. Located in between Kings Cross and Russel square it is centrally located. Offering a range of rooms from private to dorms with wifi, kitchen, luggage storage, bar, restuarant, laundry and 24/7 reception. 

St Christopher’s

St Christopher’s has 8 locations in London so choose the area that suits you best is centrally and you’ll be able to determine which St Christopher’s is the one for you. I tend to think of this chain to be more party hostels in some of the locations. Offering a range of private and dorms rooms with wifi, breakfast, luggage storage, bar, laundry and 24/7 reception. 

Hotels to Consider

I always find that hotels add a sense of luxury to your trip and London doesn’t disappoint with it’s range. There is something to suit every traveller and your budget. Here are some of the hotels you could conisder on your trip to London. 

Qbic

Sustainability is an important feature in a hotel in this day and age. Qbic ticks the boxes in sustainability with its modern decor that features creative designs and uses sustainable practices.

They have thought about everything in this mid-range priced hotel with incorporating sustainable materials, an eco-friendly rain shower and comfort with a natural bespoke mattress. Other amenities in The Qbic include free Wi-Fi, free tea and coffee, and free bike rentals.

Leman Locke

Leman Locke is an apartment style hotel, giving you the comforts of your own home but stay outside of the status quo. Located in the heart of Aldgate and a short distance to the City of London, Shoreditch and the Tower of London. Apart from the usual facilities like wifi, Locke guest can experience the regular curated events (ie. yoga, tastings, etc.), yoga / meditation rooms and access to Locke Labs (Locke’s unique take on meeting rooms).

Motel One

Not sure why they have named the hotel a Motel One but it’s nothing like what I picture a motel to look like. With its stylish design and affordable prices it makes it a great choice. Surprisingly the weekend is cheaper than during the week but I put that down to the location (i.e. where lots of people go to work). The downside to this hotel is that the area is not very happening during the weekend. However, it’s so close to Tower Bridge, Leadenhall Markets (where parts of Harry Potter were filmed) and Sky Garden. You only need to walk towards the river to find the action (i.e. Saturday/ Sunday night).

Restaurants and Bars

I have mentioned a couple of markets and restaurants in things to do in London but it’s always good to have more options. Being a vegetarian these will all have vegetarian options. 

Indian

I really like Indian food so here is my pick of restaurants Cinnamon Bazaar, Dishoom (various locations), Hoppers (don’t take reservations), Tayyabs (it’s also BYO) or Bricklane curry mile (it’s all about bargaining with the owners). 

Vietnamese 

In London there is also Vietnamese mile which mainly around Hackney area. I tend to go to BunBunBun Vietnamese Food which is also BYO. For chain restaurants Pho and Ping Pong (not Vietnamese) are good.

Vegetarian and Vegan

Specifically vegetarian and vegan my top choices would be Mildreds, Vanilla Black (quality of a Michelin star restaurant without the price) and Ethos. 

Pubs

It’s a hard job choosing pubs! and my list could go on forever but here are a couple; Porterhouse (Irish Pub), the Wigmore (slightly fancier), the Old Fountain and any of the microbreweries. 

Pizza and Burgers

There are lots of chain restaurants in London but my favourite go to‘s are pizza and burgers. For pizza, I recommend Franco Manca and Homeslice (they server 20″ pizzas). For burgers, my all time favourite is Patty and Bun with their Shroom burger. Honest Burgers just launched the All Beyond burger for those that haven’t heard of it, it’s the bleeding vegan burger, it’s a strange thought but if you miss meat then it’s an alternative choice. 

Dessert

How doesn’t love a bit of dessert?! I only have two recommendations at the moment as I am always trying to avoid the sugar but if you love icecream then I suggest checking out Milk Train (fairy floss ice-cream!) or try Bake (icecream served in a fish-shaped cone).

How much do I tip in London?

In London (and the UK as a general) there is a 12.5% surcharge that some restaurants add to the bill, if this is added then you don’t need to tip. Double-check the bill and then if the service charge isn’t included then you can give a 10% tip. 

For pubs, it’s not necessary to tip but if you wish to the bar staff will be happy! There is generally a tip jar that you put your tip into. The pub will generally share this between all the staff. 

Bonus tip as taxis don’t belong in this section… For taxis it is common to round up to the closest pound or say the amount you would like to pay (i.e. the meter says £7.10 and you wish to pay £9).

For more paying and tipping tips in London read this article.

Let me know in the comments below what you’re most excited about seeing in London, anything you want to know and how your trip turns out!

More London Articles

• 26 Things You Can Only Buy in London
  How to Plan How Many Days You Need in London
• A Helpful Guide on What to Book Ahead in London by a Local
• Do You Ask for the Check in London? A Guide to Tipping
• A Guide to Cycling in Hyde Park (With a Handy Map)

London has no shortage of Museums and Galleries. It can be hard to choose which one to go to! Most Museums and Galleries are free in London so it’s also great for a rainy day, waiting for payday and any other excuse because why not… Here are nine museums you must visit in London.

1. The Wallace Collection

The Wallace Collection is known for having a French 18th Century decorative arts genre and is the largest collection in the United Kingdom. A private collection that was created by Richard Seymour-Conway who left the house and artwork to his illegitimate son Sir Richard Wallace.

Peyton and Byrne also run a restaurant in the gallery. A perfect spot for some afternoon tea and a break from wandering around the gallery.

2. The Wellcome Collection

The Wellcome Collection has medical antiquities, plus hi-tech modern displays and art. The collection was started by Sir Henry Wellcome who was fascinated by the historical development of medicine worldwide. He travelled lengths to gather the collection that is now on display.

Only a small selection of Wellcome Collection is on display in the ‘Medicine Man’ section of the museum.

3. National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery was the first portrait gallery in the world to open to the public back in 1856. The gallery hosts portraits of historic importance, sculptures, and drawings.

It has expanded the exhibits to a constantly changing selection of contemporary work and stages exhibitions of portrait art by individual artists.

4. Natural History Museum

You can just picture David Attenborough walking the halls and filming one of his documentaries through the grand building. It must be said that it is my favourite museum with the grand architecture, great exhibitions (for example the wildlife photographer of the year and butterflies’ exhibitions) and walking around the halls seeing the dinosaurs.

I recently purchased the yearly pass, it’s not something that I normally do but if you plan to go to exhibitions then it’s totally worth it. For £60 you get a year’s membership with 10 guest passes. When you pay for 2 exhibitions each then you already make your money back.

5. Horniman Museum

I like to think that the Horniman Museum is most famous for the overstuffed walrus. Back in the day when people didn’t really know that walrus have fat rolls…

Slightly further out than central London in Forrest Hill but still easy to get to by the Overground.

6. Museum of London

Learn the history of London from prehistoric to modern times. The museum is in the London Wall and conveniently near sections of the original London Wall. Once you’re done exploring the museum complete the London Wall walk and experience more of historic London.

7. Tate Modern

Tate Modern is one of the four galleries out of the Tate collection in the United Kingdom, the other galleries are Tate Britain, Tate St Ives and Tate Liverpool. As you can tell by the name of the gallery, the gallery displays modern and contemporary art from 1900 to the present day.

8. Viktor Wynd’s Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & Natural History

Viktor Wynd’s has an interesting collection and the only museum that has an entry fee on this list. Walking down the steps in the small crowded room you will discover skulls, taxidermy specimens and assorted oddities. The myths about mermaids are real in here with monkeys attached to the bodies of fish.

You can enjoy a cocktail sitting next to a taxidermy lioness with a hat on her head and all the weird cocktails they offer.

9. British Museum

The museum has been around for a while opening its doors to the public in 1759. The British Museum has an extensive collection something along the lines of 8m pieces in human history, art and culture.

What are your favourite museums in London? Let me know in the comments!

Street art and graffiti has really skyrocketed in the last couple of years and now some cities are totally embracing this as a part of their identity especially in London’s East End. Shoreditch has incorporated this as a part of the vibe and feel of the area. It’s now is a hotspot for famous street art by the likes of  Banksy, El Mac, Stik, Space Invader, Jimmy C, Dscreet and Phlegm.

The street art and graffiti is scattered throughout Brick Lane, Shoreditch, Fashion Street, Bateman’s Row and Spitalfields. This is a lot of ground to cover to find the pieces or artist you are looking for.

Street Art Tours

An excellent way to see the street art and graffiti is to go on one of the many street art walking tours. I chose Strawberry Tours when I did this earlier in 2017 as it’s run as a free walking tour but there are also paid options.

Strawberry Tours – Free

Street Art London – £12 to £15

Street Art & Graffiti

During the tour, you will discover great pieces and hopefully, come across street art work from

Zabou

Jimmy C 

Mr Cenz

Star Yard 

How are awesome are these! Where are your favourite pieces located?

Calling all beer lovers,

London has the perfect thing for you! The Bermondsey Beer Mile. Rising in popularity it’s the perfect non-touristy thing to do in London.

Located in southeast London is a stretch of elevated train tracks where a bunch of brewers decided to cleverly to locate their microbreweries under the railway arches. Luckily for us, the public, the breweries open their doors to the public on the weekend!

Unlike a lot of breweries which are generally a shopfront, the breweries on the Bermondsey Beer Mile is actually where the magic happens. During the week they are busily brewing beer in their archways and on the weekend convert the workshop into a taproom.

What started out as a couple of breweries now has a couple of gin distilleries, cider and wine stores. There is something for everyone on the mile!

Planning a trip? Here’s what you need to know before you go.

Bermondsey Beer Mile Opening Hours

The best time to do the Bermondsey Beer Mile is on a Saturday as this is when all of the breweries open their taprooms to the public. The opening times will vary between breweries but as a general rule, they are open between 11 am to 5 pm.

The ones closer to Druid street are open more frequently like Thursday, Friday and Sundays. It varies a lot from taproom so you will need to check ahead. Sunday is a chilled day to wander around the arches and trying good beer.

 I’ve included all the opening times for the breweries in the article to help you make a decision.

Bermondsey Beer Mile Map

I have added a list of taprooms that you can visit on the beer mile. Bonus it’s a google map so the map can be saved on your phone! Here’s the link.

Here are all the breweries on the Bermondsey Beer Mile

• Southwark Brewing, 46 Druid Street
• The Barrel Project, 80 Druid Street
• Hawkes Cider, 92/96 Druid Street
• Hiver/All Good Beer, 56 Stanworth Street
• Anspach & Hobday, 118 Druid Street
• Moor Beer, 71 Enid Street
• London Calling Sweden, 72 Enid Street
• Cloudwater, 73 Enid Street
• Brew By Numbers, 75/79 Enid Street
• Bianca Road, 83-84 Enid Street
• The Kernel, Arch 11, Dockley Road Industrial Estate
• Affinity, 7 Almond Road
• Spartan, 8 Almond Road
• EeBria, 15 Almond Road
• Partizan, 34 Raymouth Road
• Fourpure, 22 Bermondsey Trading Estate

Where to Start Bermondsey Beer Mile

There are two points you can start the Bermondsey Beer Mile, at Fourpure or Southwark Brewing Company.

London Bridge and Southwark Station are closest to Southwark Brewery Company and this end of the beer mile has the largest concentration of breweries.

However, I like to start at Fourpure and get my walking out of the way early! The closest stations are South Bermondsey (national rail) or Surrey Quays (Overground).

When planning do keep an eye on the time as some of the breweries can close at 5 to 6pm on the weekend.

However, there are other advantages to starting the other way around is that you can drink at Fourpure until 8pm. Plus you can start the day by grabbing breakfast at Borough Markets or Maltby Street Markets.

Whatever route you choose I have organised the breweries in order!

Breweries on the Bermondsey Beer Mile and Route

This order can be reversed if you decide to start at the London Bridge instead of starting at the South Bermondsey (National Rail).

Southwark Brewing Company

Southwark Brewing Company is either at the start or end of the beer mile depending in the direction you choose. Their beer focus is mainly on craft cask ales which is different than most of the breweries on the mile. Don’t expect any fancy décor, they literally make space in the work area for a few tables and the brewing equipment is right there for everyone to see.

If you are a fan of Ales give their Golden Ale a go, it’s made using a blend of American and English hops.

Founded: 2014
Website: southwarkbrewing.co.uk
Address: 46 Druid Street, London SE1 2EZ
Hours: Tuesday 7pm – 10pm | Thursday 7pm – 10pm | Friday 5pm – 10pm | Saturday 11am – 6pm | Sunday 11am – 4pm

The Barrel Project

The Barrel Project is a microbrewery taproom, unlike the classic Bermondsey ‘railway arch’ taprooms it has some style. On the wall you will find huge wooden barrels stacked up high on the wall giving a cosy feeling and unlike the cold feeling you can get from the other.

They offer over 24 beers on tap so you will be spoilt by choice!

Founded: 2018
Website: https://www.thebarrelproject.co.uk/
Address: 80 Druid Street, Bermondsey. SE1 2HQ, London.
Hours: Wednesday- Friday: 4pm – 11pm | Saturday: 11am – 11pm | Sunday: 12pm – 7pm

Hawkes Cidery & Taproom

Recently opened in June 2017 in Bermondsey arches, they started brewing cider in an East-end Kitchen in London 2012. It was the first urban cidery in London. Hawkes Cider decided to open up a taproom on the beer mile for us to try the fantastic world of craft cider. They have a mix of ciders from traditional apple ciders to mixed berry ciders.

Founded: 2017
Website:  https://www.wearehawkes.com
Address: 92 & 96 Druid St, London SE1 2HQ
Hours: Wednesday:4pm – 11pm |Thursday: 4pm – 11pm | Friday: 12pm – 11pm | Saturday: 11am – 11pm | Sunday: 11am – 6pm

Anspach and Hobday

Paul Anspach & Jack Hobday started as homebrewers, after rave reviews they set-up a Kickstarter campaign in order to raise enough funds to open up a brewery. Once they raised enough funds they teamed up with another team of brewers, Bullfinch Brewery and the brewery was born.

Now you can try their a good range of innovative beers from these prolific and increasingly accomplished brewers. The porter is meant to be one of Anspach and Hobday best beers on offer so make sure you add that to your list! The porter has the classic undertones of coffee, chocolate and fruit cake all present.

Don’t forget about Bullfinch, their beer is all about the hops with the IPA being particularly good!

Founded: 2014
Website: https://www.anspachandhobday.com/
Address: 118 Druid Street, London SE1 2HH
Hours: Friday 5pm – 9pm | Saturday 10:30am – 5:30pm | Sunday 12:30pm – 5pm

Hiver Beers

Craft beer brewed with honey sourced from London urban beekeepers. Hiver Beers are generally refreshing blonde beer and rather than using additives they use honey.

They are all about supporting the British market and ensure that everything from their glass, print our bottles and stamp our business cards are from British suppliers. Additional they back to the bees by donating 10% of profits to pollinator charities.

Founded: 2013
Website: https://www.hiverbeers.com/
Address: Arch 56 Stanworth Street, London, SE1 3NY
Hours: Friday 5pm – 9pm | Saturday 11am – 6pm | Sunday 11 am – 7pm

Moor Beer

Justin Hawke opened his original brewery in Bristol and has expanded to the Bermondsey beer mile. The brewery is well known for unfined beer which basically means that their beer isn’t clear and you can see hazy or cloudiness in the beer.

With a great selection, there will be something for everyone, there is twelve keg lines and three cask lines.

They also have a great tagline: ‘Drink Moor Beer’.

Founded: 2007
Website: https://www.moorbeer.co.uk/
Where: 71 Enid St, Bermondsey, London SE16 3RA 
Hours: Monday 12-5pm (Takeaway Only) | Tuesday 12-5pm (Takeaway Only) | Wednesday 3-10.30pm | Thursday 3-10.30pm | Friday 3-10.30pm | Saturday 12-10.30pm | Sunday 12-9pm

London Calling Sweden

Bring new styles of beer on the mile is Swede Andreas Fredriksson. You can discover Swedish beer from breweries like Poppels Brewery from Gothenburg and a range of cheeses from the country. The rest are guest beers from Brew By Numbers and Moor.

Since: 2018
Website: https://londoncallingsweden.com/
Where: 72 Enid St, Bermondsey, London SE16 3RA 
Hours: Wednesday to Friday – 3-10.30pm | Saturday – 12-10.30pm | Sunday – 12-9pm

Cloudwater

From the north of England, Manchester to be exact, is Cloudwater. Introducing new brewing techniques and flavours to the beer mile. They like to use the hops in different ways to bring out the flavours in the grains. Offering a great range of beers, you will definitely be able to find something that you like here.

All beers cost the same and the amount served varies on the beers alcohol %.

Founded: 2014
Website: https://cloudwaterbrew.co/
Where: 73 Enid St, London SE16 3RA 
Hours: Wednesday—Friday 15:00—22:00 | Saturday 10:00—22:00 | Sunday 12:00—20:00

Brew by Numbers

Expect it to be busy at Brew by Numbers as their good beer attracts big crowds. They opened their doors in 2012 and quickly outgrew their space due to the popularity of their beers. Brew by Numbers will generally have 6 taps on offer and selection of bottles. Expect a variety of hop and flavour combinations in their beers.

Founded: 2012
Address: 79 Enid Street, London SE16 3RA
Website: https://www.brewbynumbers.com/
Hours: Friday 6pm – 10pm | Saturday 11am – 8pm

Bianca Road

The brewery is inspired by founder Reese Woods cycling road trip which was a tour from San Francisco to Miami in 2014. The beer is fresh and hoppy ranging from LA Bloods, a Blood Orange IPA, tropical summer IPA and a crisp London Lager.

They started out in Peckham but now have joined the mile.

If you have a South London card you can get 20% off.

Founded: 2016
Website: https://www.biancaroad.com/
Where: 83-84 Enid St, Bermondsey, London SE16 3RA 
Hours: Wednesday 5 – 10.30 | Thursday 5 – 10.30 | Friday 5 – 10.30 | Saturday 11 – 9 | Sunday 12 – 6

Kernel Brewery

The Kernel is the original Bermondsey brewery established in 2009 and the initiators of the beer mile. They no longer brew here since they expanded but you can drop by and pick up some of their freshly bottled beer. The beer is bottled alive, to give them time to grow.
Specialising in Pale Ales, India Pale Ales and old-school London Porters and Stouts with upfront hop flavours.

The Kernel is the earliest closing brewery on the Bermondsey Beer Mile closing at 2pm so if you want to try their beers it’s something you need to factor into your plans.

Founded: 2009
Website: https://www.thekernelbrewery.com/
Address: Arch 11, Dockley Road Industrial Estate, London SE16 3SF
Hours: Saturday 9 am to 2 pm

Affinity

Affinity is one of the smaller microbreweries on the mile offering all unpasteurised beer, over five taps. Starting the brewery in Tottenham Hale and then moved into the former Partizan Brewery arch.

I quite like the playful names of the beers like Social Seduction which is a West Coast style IPA made with American hops.

Founded: 2016
Website: https://www.affinitybrewco.com/
Where: Railway Arch, 7 Almond Rd, Bermondsey, London SE16 3LR 
Hours: Friday 5:00PM – 8:30PM | Saturday 12:00PM – 8:30PM | Saturday 12:00PM – 6:00PM

EeBria

A recent addition to Bermondsey Beer Mile and one of the few companies on the beer miles that are not a brewer but they are a local craft beer distributor. EeBria pours a variety of microbrews on a rotating tap and also serves beer in cans and bottles. They work with over 100 breweries in the UK and aboard to deliver excellent fresh beer to you!

Some of the breweries that have been featured Buxton, Moor, Cloudwater and Fyne, Northern Alchemy, Deya and Fallen, and every kind of craft brewery in between.

Bonus for summer it has a beer garden at the back of the railway arch and also has free air hockey and shuffleboard to keep you entertained.

Website: https://www.eebria.com
Address: 15 Almond Road, London SE16 3LR
Hours: Saturday 11am – 5pm

Spartan

Spartan is a microbrewery specialising in crafting beers using British hop varieties with a modern twist on traditional styles.

They are only open on Saturdays but they do offer brewery tours if it isn’t too busy and answer all your questions!

Website: https://spartanbrewery.com/
Address: 8 Almond Road, London, SE16 3LR
Hours: Saturday: 12pm – 7pm

Partizan Brewery

At Partizan Brewery is the smallest brewery on the beer mile and is based in the old Kernel brewery. There will only be standing room in amongst the giant steel tanks of beer but don’t let that put you off. They brew some pretty tasty beers ranging from their core to seasonal beers. Their style more focuses on uniqueness rather than any particular style.

Founded: 2012
Website: https://www.partizanbrewing.co.uk/
Address: 8 Almond Road, South Bermondsey, London SE16 3LR
Hours: Saturday 11am – 5pm

Fourpure Brewing Co

Fourpure Brewing Co. was opened up by two brothers in 2013 and they have created a successful business now selling widely. They pride themselves in brewing exceptional beer and in my opinion, it’s quite tasty! Unlike the other breweries, this one is located in a warehouse rather than a rail arch which features ample seating, bar, DJ and street food.

Recommendations: I love India Pale Ale (IPA) and Fourpure really delivers with its Session IPA. My second choice would be the American Pale Ale. They are around 4% each beer type.

Founded: 2013
Website: https://www.fourpure.com/
Address: 22 Bermondsey Trading Estate, Rotherhithe New Road, London SE16 3LL
Hours: Friday 4pm – 8pm | Saturday 11am – 8pm

Those That Didn’t Make in the Beer Mile

Some of Bermondsey Mile breweries have closed down in 2019 (super sad), here are the ones no longer around:

• UBREW: As it suggests in the name, Ubrew is about teaching you to brew. Which was great for keen brewers who don’t want to buy the brew kits or those who just want to learn how to brew like a pro. Occasionally they offer their members beer on tap and it can be an interesting range. I remember once having a lavender flavoured beer which was a bold choice on flavours! Unfortunately, it closed down for financial difficulties in June 2019.
• The Bottle Shop: The Bottle Shop doesn’t brew beer, they pride themselves on sourcing truly awesome beer and can be bought at wholesale prices in Bermondsey. They had over 200 local and international beer available. It also closed down for financial issues in March 2019.