I have visited London a couple of times and really liked it. Everyone is very kind, the city is clean, and there is a lot of history. London is also a great spot to start or end a trip, as it is very easy to get to and the Heathrow Airport often has great flights to/from America. England is also an English speaking country, so no language barrier during this trip!
Fun fact - you can take the Chunnel (or Channel Tunnel) to/from London and Paris, which is a fast underground train that takes between 2 - 2.5 hours. Purchase tickets online!
As always, beware of pick pockets. Make sure that you always have your valuables in a safe place, and be aware of your surroundings. The best pickpockets are quiet and quick.
The great thing about London is that it is a very walkable city, but also offers great public transportation. The Tube is a very clean and easy-to-understand metro system that runs through the city. If you need help, find a help-desk!
Typically, I will *asterisks my favorites/highly recommended places below but I honestly think this entire list is full of must-see's and must-do's.
Stays:
Clink 78: A hostel I found on HostelWorld. Very nice but kind of outside of the city, so I believe we took public transportation to get downtown.
Food:
Afternoon Tea: You must have an afternoon full of tea and finger foods! What better way to experience London? I have linked a few highly rated spots, as I have never done this myself.
Shopping:
Oxford Street: One of the main & most popular shopping streets. Great to walk around.
Lush Spa: The largest lush store in the world, a whole 3 stories high. They have items and services that are limited to just this location, so I highly recommend checking it out.
Carnaby Street: Another very famous shopping street.
Piccadilly Circus: One of my favorite areas in London. It is said to be the "Time Square" of England. It's fun to walk around while enjoying the shopping and dining.
Borough Market: One of the largest and oldest food markets in London. Very fun to walk around trying the food and meeting small business owners.
Sights/Activities:
Free Walking Tour: I always recommend to sign up for a free walking tour whenever you visit a new city - there are plenty of tours to choose from! I have seen ranges from 20 to 120 minutes, so you can choose what best fits your schedule. You truly see so much of the city and learn things you wouldn't otherwise know about the area.
Jack the Ripper Tour: A unique tour that is very popular in London. If you are into serial killer stories/murder mysteries, this one is for you!
London Eye: The giant famous ferris wheel in the center of London. I highly recommend purchasing tickets online (I believe they are around $30 a person) as you may not get on it otherwise. It takes 30 minutes to ride the entire wheel as it goes very slowly. Keep in mind that each pod is huge, and you will be with about 20 other people during your ride. The absolute best way to see all of the city.
Tower of London: An Historic Royal Palace located in Central London. You can book tickets online and walk through the indoor/outdoor palace. Very cool and unique experience.
Abbey Road: The road made famous by the Beatles album cover in 1969.
Covent Garden: A shopping and entertainment hub. Another beautiful place to walk around, eat, and shop.
Stonehenge: One of the world's most famous landmarks, located less than 2 hours from London. I highly recommend booking a tour online that includes round trip transportation. I have listed a bunch of tour options, but you can also do your own research as well!
Harry Potter Tour: If you are a Harry Potter fan, there are many famous spots located around the city. You can take an official tour, or you can go and find the places yourself.
Big Ben: One of the most famous landmarks in London. Great place to get a photo. I also recommend getting pictures in the phone booths (when in London, right!?).
London Bridge: People always confuse this bridge with Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge is the massive one, which is great for photo ops. London Bridge is the smaller one that is parallel and down the street.
University of Oxford: One of the most prestigious universities in the world. You can walk around yourself or take a tour. Fun activity and a fun reason to buy a shirt!
Buckingham Palace: Obviously if you visit London, you have to see the changing of the guards. It takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 10:45 am to 11:00 am. It is really cool to see and it's free! This event also happens at St James’s Palace and Wellington Barracks.
Westminster Abbey & St Paul's Cathedral: Both beautiful churches to visit!
Windsor Castle: The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.
Soccer Game: England loves their Futball and why not get in on some of the action?! I highly recommend making it to a game if you can, or at least sitting at a pub and enjoying the culture and experience.
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