Travel to London. What to see in London What to visit in London in the evening

When I was in London - one of the most expensive cities in the world, with the most modest budget in my wallet, I learned to save as much as possible in this city. And if you ever suddenly find yourself in London and are looking for entertainment, and finances are singing romances, then here is a list of what you can do for free in London:

How to get a free London map?

A regular tourist card costs about one pound, but you can pick up a free brochure advertising walking or bus tours, which also have a map. Also at the Museum of London (The Museum o fLondon) they can give you a map of the city if you ask. This map from Lonely Planet can sometimes be a little difficult to understand, and then the same maps from the brochures will come to your aid, telling you where the stops and metro stations are. Or download a map of London to your smartphone in advance.

Free London Museums

Most museums in London are free. The Museum of London, the British History Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum are free. You'll be introduced to British history without charging a penny!

Art galleries - free

London's National Gallery and Tate Modern are also free.

Oyster Card travel

It's not free, but it can help you save on local transport costs. Check the current price on the website. I don’t know why their travel card is called that (oyster - oyster), it looks like a regular bank card.

Markets in London

Sunday is market day. You can go to the Camden Market, the Portobello Market, the Flower Market and a million other markets. Okay, okay, I'm exaggerating about the million, but not by much. You can walk around, have a great time and buy something for yourself much cheaper than in stores.

Free London City Attraction, England

At Buckingham Palace the changing of the guard occurs at 11.30, and at Whitehall the mounted guard changes at 11.00. It's definitely worth your time and won't cost you any money, enjoy.

Free internet in London

Looking for a place to connect to the Internet? In city libraries the Internet is completely free. There are only 5 large libraries in the city, where you will be provided with the Internet for free use for half an hour, and if you are lucky and there are few people willing to access the World Wide Web, then sit for as long as you like.

Where else can you go in London for free?

London is a very big city and there are beautiful historical buildings everywhere. But in fact it is practically unsuitable for walking. I walked around it for about 4 hours and with great difficulty saw everything I wanted (this is where the oyster map came in handy). I have never encountered such a problem in other European cities. The thing is that there is too much to see in London. During your walks, I advise you to go beyond the tourist area, which is located along the Thames, and see how ordinary Londoners live.

Recreation in the parks

You can spend time in any of London's parks for free. London has a large number of really beautiful parks, especially when the sun shines (which doesn’t happen often, it’s cloudy, alas), then Londoners pour out into the streets to enjoy the good weather, which I advise you to do as well.

Westminster Abbey is also free

You can get there for free! True, you have to cheat a little. The Abbey is a Gothic church and they won't charge you if you are a believer and worshipper. (What if you worship beauty?). So, if you want to get into the Abbey for free, say that you are going to worship (worshipping). I did not do this, but I witnessed a precedent.

How to get cheap theater tickets

Theater in London is one of the best in the world. Tickets there are terribly expensive. One trip to the theater can seriously hit the tourist budget. But if you try, you can find tickets at a good discount, be aware of this opportunity and don’t be lazy.

To sum it up, although London is an expensive city, there are plenty of ways to have fun and experience its culture for free. To see many attractions you can be charged 25 pounds! Look for more economical ways, they almost always exist and don’t waste your money.

People often ask me where to go in London in the evening - to eat, listen to music, take a walk, or just relax? How often do tourists find themselves in expensive and absolutely tasteless eateries near the main tourist routes - Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, etc. But London has a huge number of original, traditional, sophisticated and simply interesting places where you can relax in the evening. Here is my personal selection.

1. Traditional English tea ceremony

It seems to me that every person coming to London should definitely attend the “afternoon tea” - a traditional English tea ceremony. By the way, it can be ordered at any time of the day. All famous historic hotels in London hold this ceremony. The best are in the oldest and most famous hotels in London - the Ritz (http://www.theritzlondon.com/), Dochester (www.thedorchester.com/), Claridges (www.claridges.co.uk/). During tea time you will be served sandwiches, scones (traditional English scones) with jam and cream, various cakes and, of course, delicious English tea (you can also order champagne). The setting of the ceremony (an old English hotel, traditionally dressed waiters, a playing piano) is stunning. You will see a real English tradition, try what the English really eat for tea and just have a great time in the atmosphere of English luxury! Of course, I don’t go to “afternoon tea” every Sunday, but I often take visiting friends and relatives and everyone has an unforgettable experience. You can book a tea ceremony on the website of each specific hotel. Also, the website www.lastminute.com often sells tickets for this event at deep discounts.

2. Vintageenglish pub

This is where you can really feel the real English atmosphere. The pub is a second home for the British. People don't just come here for a drink. Families often come here for Sunday lunch, friends meet here, deals are made. Of course, when you come to London, you simply have to try real English beer (or ale) in an English pub. There are several old English pubs preserved in London, and many of them compete for the title of the oldest (it is not known for certain which of them is the oldest). In the Covent Garden area, I advise you to go to a pub Lamb & Flag(33 Rose St, WC2), which is located in a Tudor building (15th - 17th centuries) and has officially been a pub since 1623. There is another interesting pub nearby Cittie of York(22 High Holborn, WC1) - a drinking establishment has stood on this site since 1420. If you find yourself in the City of London area, I highly recommend visiting this iconic place Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese(145 Fleet St, EC4). Celebrities such as Charles Dickens and Samuel Johnson frequented this pub. The pub looks as if nothing has changed since it was rebuilt in 1667 (it burned down in the Great Fire of London in 1666). And if you decide to go to St. Paul's Cathedral, then there is another old pub very close to it Ye Olde Watling(29 Watling St, EC4). It is said that this pub was opened especially for the workers who built St. Paul's Cathedral under the direction of the famous architect Christopher Wren. After all, the previous version of the cathedral burned down in a fire in 1666.

3. London's oldest jazz club Ronnie Scotts (http://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/)

The best jazz musicians from the UK, Europe and America perform here. The club opened in 1959 and was the London equivalent of the famous jazz clubs of the 40s and 50s. New York. Nowadays there are amazing jazz concerts taking place here, but keep in mind that you need to buy tickets in advance (it’s almost impossible to buy tickets at the entrance). The club has a real jazz atmosphere - small tables, dim lighting, excellent food, just not a trace of cigar smoke (smoking is prohibited in London in public places). Ticket prices are very reasonable - £40-60 per person (food costs extra).

4. Walk along the south bank of the Thames at Southbank Center (http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/)

Provided the weather is good, an evening stroll along the south bank of the Thames is a great way to spend an evening. You can start your walk by simply crossing Westminster Bridge (at the British Parliament and Big Ben). On the other (southern) side of the Thames there is a beautiful embankment, where fairs, festivals, concerts often take place, where it is always noisy and fun. There are a lot of delicious restaurants and eateries there. The walk can be combined with a visit to the Southbank Center itself. This is a center for contemporary art, where exhibitions, concerts, and art symposiums often take place. And in the summer, the Southbank Center opens its own bar in the open area, where you can drink a traditional English summer cocktail, Pimm's, and enjoy a great view of London.

5. Soho Entertainment District

Soho is an entertainment district. Here are some of London's best clubs, bars and restaurants. The best thing to do is just take a walk around Soho and choose an establishment to your liking. There are no pretentious clubs here, and unless you are completely drunk, you will be allowed in almost everywhere. Keep in mind that Soho is also famous for its gay clubs, and if you're not one of them (at least according to the bouncers at the entrance), you may be politely told that you "don't belong here." Soho borders the West End musical district, Chinatown and Covent Garden. The nearest tube stations are Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Tottenham Court Road.

Traveling is always a way to relax and recharge with new impressions. Every city in the world is interesting in its own way, and even more so, a lot of amazing things await the traveler in.

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First of all, so that London is not surprised by the weather, which can change several times a day, and you do not have to change your plans, it is worth stocking up on both an umbrella and an umbrella.

Such sights of London as the Tower - the oldest building and repository of the city's history, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben and the All-Seeing Eye Ferris wheel.

Although they are always heard, they are still interesting, and each time they surprise in a new way.

But still, the capital of Great Britain can offer something more than traditional sightseeing.

Unusual London is Crystal Palace Park. You might think, what’s interesting about: paths, trees, a zoo? Everything would be fine, but in the park there are fifteen life-size species of these ancient creatures.

When an iguanodon, megalosaurus or pterodactyl “peeks” out of the water or “grows” before your eyes, it makes a strong impression.

Interesting London transformable pedestrian bridge. At first glance at the bridge, it may seem that it is not a bridge at all, but some kind of twisting and straightening mechanical caterpillar.

Through this engineering creativity, two problems were solved: a pedestrian bridge was created, and boats were given the opportunity to sail under it.

It's unusual to see a Hindu in London Sri Swaminarayan temple. However, it exists, and its size and architecture make the heart skip a beat in surprise.

London is rich in museums, but there is one very unusual among them - Cartoon Museum. There are more than 5,000 and thousands of comics on display here.

The exhibition reflects the history of quite serious animated films and touches on social issues.

The museum is especially famous for its rather unusual collection of works on the topic of political cartoons.

No less interesting Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising- the history of the culture of its consumption from 1800 to the present day.

This museum contains more than 10 thousand original objects based on the collection of Robert Opie. Here you can learn how they achieved recognition through creative packaging and advertising of their products.

There are also a lot of interesting things underground in London - 13 lines and more than 300 metro stations, and instead of escalators there are narrow passages and elevators, cozy carriage cabins with soft sofas.

The first line of the London Underground opened in the second half of the 19th century, and at that time wood was used to make moving staircases.

So it’s surprising that there is still a wooden escalator at Greenford station, which still works in our time.

At the end of the excursion, you can go to the Regent's Canal, which is called little Venice, and where travelers very rarely get. Or take a walk in the beautiful gardens of Kensington Palace.

This is one of the royal parks, which was a private royal domain under Kensington Palace, and is now a public garden. Here you can relax and accidentally meet representatives.

But London may not surprise you with its prices in the best way: the average cost is 1101 UAH; in a pub - on average 500 UAH;

The cost of a one-time trip on municipal buses (any distance) is 55.05 UAH. On average, you will have to pay from 1,400 to 5,000 UAH per night in London hotels.

At 1 GBP = 36.7 UAH.

The capital of Great Britain is one of the most expensive cities in the world. To prevent your visit from costing a pretty penny, pay attention to free places in London.

Visiting them will not cost you a penny of money, but you will get no less impressions than from visiting expensive roads and exhibitions.

Flower market

On Sundays, an unremarkable street Columbia Road V East End closes to traffic and turns into a riot of colors. There are millions of different flowers from all over the world. The market has been operating since the mid-19th century and during this time it has managed to turn into a kind of show with street actors, musicians and other attributes of such tourist places. Easy to get to, just 10 minutes walk from the metro Bethnal Green or Old Street.

Notting Hill

Even if you haven't seen the movie of the same name starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, you'll still love this historic quarter. You can spend the whole day exploring its quaint streets and colorful houses. By the way, Notting Hill located a stone's throw from Kensington Palace, another interesting place to see for free in London.

Portobello Road Market

Near Notting Hill you'll find one of London's most famous streets, home to a popular tourist market. If you have seen a cartoon about the adventures of a bear cub Paddington, then you should find out this place. It was here that the main character loved to wander and... You can buy anything at the market; the best time to visit is Saturday morning.

Changing of the Guard

Changing of the guard Buckingham Palace– perhaps the main free attraction in London. To see the majestic and beautiful ceremony in all its glory, you should come early, because there are plenty of people willing. Please note that in May and June the changing of the guard takes place every day at 11.30, the rest of the time - on even days.

Hyde Park

Close to Buckingham Palace you'll find the largest of all London's royal parks, covering approximately 140 hectares. Walking through the park, you will find the Princess Diana fountain, the Speakers' Corner, where anyone can stand on the podium and speak, the statue of Achilles and many other interesting places. If you get tired, you can have a picnic overlooking the city and the Thames.

St Paul's Cathedral

The majestic structure, 111 meters high, seems to have been specially created for tourists looking for where to go for free in London. Entry costs £16, but even from the outside the building is impressive. It was in this cathedral in 1981 that Diana Spencer said “I do” to Prince Charles.

Tate Modern Gallery

London's Gallery of Modern Art is one of the most visited art museums in the world. Many exhibits can be viewed completely free of charge. But the most interesting place is the observation deck, which is reached by an elevator. From here you have a gorgeous view of London, with a 360° view.

British museum

Yes, there is an entrance fee, but no one bothers you to admire the building from the outside and enter the huge glass-covered lobby. Here you can see several interesting exhibits for free. One of them is the Rosetta Stone, which provided the key to solving Egyptian hieroglyphs.

London usually closes at 17:00, parks at 21:00, but there are a huge number of entertainment venues and even entire ones where you can spend interesting evenings and nights. There are also special tours.

Theaters and musicals

There are over 120 theaters in London, and you'll notice this from the multitude of theater advertisements on public transport and the number of promoters on the streets handing out booklets and flyers for new plays, shows, etc. Most theaters are located in the city centre, around Shaftesbury Avenue, Strand st. and the West End. The variety of theaters and genres can be surprising. As for Russian-language theaters, there are some. Among the most famous is Victor Sobchak’s Theater Collection Troupe. Also, the London Theater in New Cross stages Russian-language plays. Tickets usually cost from £20.

Bars and clubs

If you prefer to drink fresh beer or something stronger in a noisy campaign and dance with friends, then you can go to the city center, to the Soho district, which is famous for its huge number of nightclubs of all kinds. Other well-known clubbing areas include Oxfrod Circus, Camden Town and Shoreditch. And be prepared for the fact that prices for alcoholic drinks in clubs and bars are quite high.

Evening walks

Weather permitting, evening and night walks around London can be just as enjoyable as theaters and clubs. The most impressive place for evening walks is the South Bank of the Thames. One of the favorite and very popular places for pedestrian tourists is along the embankment along the river from to. At night, everything takes on a slightly different, more interesting appearance and consecrated buildings, bridges and monuments can seem much more colorful than in daylight.

So, we've brought you the most popular types of evening entertainment in London, but there are many other ways to relax during this time. People play bowling, table tennis (by the way, there are tennis bars), ice skating in city parks in winter, boating and much more. In London you can find any activity you like, you just have to search the Internet or ask the locals.

Have a good evening!