Monday 8 April 2019
June is a wonderful month to visit London so be sure to make some time to see the city while you visit!
All study and no play makes for a dull life! For many attending our courses it may be your first time in London. For first timers and even those who have visited before, we’ve put together the insider’s guide to London written by our resident marketing expert!
The big sights
For those who haven’t visited before you’ll want to see the big sights.
Buckingham Palace – situated right next to Green Park and St James’ Park, the Queen’s residence is a must see, along with the changing of the guard. The beautiful Hyde Park is nearby and well worth a visit if it’s a nice day. Sit by the Serpentine with a coffee and watch the world go by!
Tower of London – where many a treason has ended up a head being lopped off, the Tower of London is full of history. From Traitor’s Gate to the cells where royalty were imprisoned; the Beefeaters will tell you all you need to know about London’s tumultuous history. Watch out for the ravens, it’s said that if they ever leave the tower, the country will be plunged into chaos!
The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben – you can hang around outside and take some great photos or else arrange in advance to get tickets to take a tour. Get to see first-hand where the most important decisions in British Government are made.
For those wanting a high-top view of London, then either take a turn on the London Eye or have your ears pop as you rush up 95 floors to the top of the viewing platform at the Shard.
If shopping is your thing then head to Oxford Street for all the high street brands, Covent Garden for something a bit more unusual, Bond Street and Knightsbridge for those with an eye for the exclusive. Camden is the place to go for markets and Portobello Market for vintage and antiques.
Something a bit different
Maybe you’ve been to London before or fancy trying something a big different!
The Churchill War Rooms are the underground nerve centre where Churchill and his team directed WWII. The rooms have been preserved exactly how they were left after the war ended, right down to the coffee stains.
Hampton Court Palace and Gardens, a bit further outside of central London, is probably my favourite place in London. Steeped with history you can lose yourself and almost glimpse Henry VIII and his six wives haunting the corridors.
In England we all love afternoon tea, it’s quite the institution! There are a number of hotels that run afternoon tea which includes sandwiches and a selection of cakes. However the Berkeley Hotel’s afternoon tea is legendary as it is themed on fashion with the biscuits and cakes made to look like designer clothing!
Overlooking the Thames and situated in Greenwich Park is The Royal Observatory. A location that has played a vital role in the history of astronomy and navigation, the prime meridian passes through it, which is where Greenwich Mean Time comes from.
To the downright unusual!
We are all big kids at heart, why not visit Ballie Ballerson and jump into an adult ball pit!
Whistle Punks is London’s only axe-throwing venue. Learn the techniques and see whether you can hit the bullseye!
For those wishing to work on their swing, take a look at Swingers Crazy Golf where you can tackle some interesting holes!
For an interesting experience, Dans Le Noir is dining in pitch black! All waiters are visually impaired and you can take a guess at what you’re eating!
My favourite bar in town has to be Archer Street. In this great little cocktail bar, all the waiters are trained singers and regularly jump onto the tables to belt out classics whilst you enjoy your drinks!