Thinking of getting airline tickets to London UK? Well, you are not alone. London is one of the world’s most-visited destinations. In 2015, the city was host to over 65 million visitors and it had 138,769 hotel rooms.
We spoke to Paul, a travel aficionado in London to understand the best things to do in London like a Londoner. Here are the local tips that would help you to discover the best of London.
The Underground
Popularly known as the Tube, the Underground provides the most convenient way to travel around the city. In the shortest time span, the incredible transport system connects two points of London. The best way to know the route of the Tube is to collect a map of it from any underground station.
Escalators are there to add to your convenience. For those who want to ride the escalators while standing have to keep to the right and the rest who want to walk up or down the escalators have to keep the left.
The Electric Cinema, Notting Hill
Love movies? If you answered yes, then The Electric Cinema, Notting Hill is a place you shouldn’t miss. The interior and the comfort of this cinema hall characterized by traditional Hollywood glamour décor is all set to take you by surprise. You enjoy your film in the comfort of a cozy couch or soft leather seats.
If you aim to enjoy a blockbuster, then Paul recommends confirming your movie ticket in advance to avoid disappointment.
Address: 191 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2ED
Nearest Underground Station: Notting Hill Gate
The Breakfast Club
Contrary to its name, the restaurant chain serves food every time of the day. Though there are many of its outlets there in London, one in Spitalfields is the most recommended one. For an unforgettable experience, plan a dinner at The Breakfast Club with your loved ones to unveil the extra dose of surprises. Savor on your favourite meals and drinks as well. An underground bar/lounge awaits you.
Address: 12-16 Artillery Ln, London E1 7LS
Nearest Underground Station: Liverpool Street
East London Nightlife
London presents a range of elegant and vibrant nightlife options to choose from. From rooftop bars to beer gardens to DJ bars to the best traditional pubs – the list goes endless. Lost Vegas at Queen of Hoxton and Skylight London and Bussey Building are some of the best rooftop bars where you enjoy your favorite cocktails while having the great views of the city from their terrace. You are likely to witness special events like film nights and live gigs.
Paul talks highly of Madison Restaurant. The place, overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral, is favorite of Londoners as it serves the dual purpose of bar and restaurant. Madison serves its guests with the best of British and Mediterranean flavors. The bar sits on the rooftop. Meals start at £26.00.
Museum Lates
London is home to several museums and galleries that are ready to entertain you late into the night. Packed with talks, performances, workshops, films, DJs, food and drink and more, the museums usher you in a world that you wouldn’t have imagined. Barbican (until 10 pm every Thursday), British Library (Occasional), British Museum (Fridays), Camden Arts Centre (Wednesdays), Design Museum (On selected Fridays) and Handle House Museum (Thursdays) are a few of your options.
Local Parks and Lidos
Whether you have booked your plane tickets to London UK in the winter or summer, the greenery of London will make you think of the intelligent environmental-friendly development of London.
Around 47% of the city’s landscape is covered by green spaces. Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Richmond Park, St James’s Park and Victoria Park some of the most-visited parks in the city.
The parks are inhabited by native as well as exotic plant and flowering species besides a wide range of fauna. London presents the best alternative to beaches in the form of lidos or outdoor pools such as Hampstead Heath, Brockwell Lido, and Chariton Lido. In the winter, some of the lidos are shut down, so inquire about the openings in advance.
Music Festival
London is a cultural hub of the US. Particularly, if you visit in Summer, you are most likely to have lovely encounters with a series of exciting and eclectic music festivals like British Summer Time, Lovebox, Wireless Festival, Sounds Like London (June), Citadel Festival, Meltdown Festival (June), Field Day to name a few. Watch performances by big names and up-and-coming talents both with locals.
How to Reach London
Availability of multiple airports including London City (LCY), Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Luton (LTN), Stansted (STN) and Southend (SEN) provides enough options for you to book cheap flights to London.
However, it doesn’t mean, you should wait for the last-hour to reserve your flight tickets. If you are inclined to getting
low-cost flights to London, you must book in advance and be flexible about airports and airlines you choose. Heathrow (LHR) is the busiest airport, not only in the UK but also in the world. So there is little chance to find cheap return flights to London connecting the airport unless you are an early bird.
