After a frustrating couple days being stranded in Madrid because of an air traffic control strike, we finally went to the airport and asked, "Where can we go tomorrow morning and come back Sunday?" The answer, London.
I have always been interested in visiting London but I heard that it was very expensive and grey. This happens to be true on both accounts, however, this last minute change in destination turned out to be a beautiful adventure.
Half my fun of travelling is planning the trip. I love doing my research, reading blogs and reviews, watching videos, and figuring out the best way to see and maneuver a new city. Because London was a last minute change, I didn't get to go through my planning process and you know what? It turned out to be OK.
First lesson learned:
GET AN OYSTER CARD
We learned this the hard way and paid an insane amount for our first Tube ride. With an Oyster card you can put credit on it and you are charged less than a general one-way ticket. This will save you A LOT! Trust me now, thank me later!
London is completely filled with historical, literary, magical, whimsical, haunting relics that date from early history to present day. Some of these are free to visit:
The British Museum
The Royal British Library
The National Gallery
The Imperial War Museum
The Changing of the Guard (get there early and grab a spot nearest the gate to the palace)
Platform 9 3/4
This is to just name a couple that we visited but there are many, many more. Not to mention that by just taking a walk around the city and you can see all the iconic buildings of London.
Second lesson learned:
That being said, if you want to any sites that are not free, be prepared to pay a pretty pence for entrance. We invested in the London Pass and it was completely worth it.
The pass seemed a bit expensive up front but we planned out our day the night before and we headed out in the morning on a mission. Using the London Pass we were able to enter:
The Tower of London
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
The Churchill War Rooms
Boat tour of the River Thames
Free transport via the hop on, hop off tourist bus
We ended up using up all the credit that was allowed on the one day pass! Note: there is a limit to how much you can use the pass. I feel like we got our money's worth, though.
Third lesson learned:
If you want to go see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you must book tickets in advance. This was a sad realization for me. Because this trip was last minute, there were no available tickets to go to the Warner Brother's Studio. So, FYI, book those tickets ASAP.
It wasn't a total loss, though. We headed over to King's Cross Station to find the magical Platform 9 3/4. This platform, by the way, is not actually found between train platforms 9 and 10 but in the station next to the Harry Potter shop. If you wait in line you can have your picture taken with your house scarf. In my opinion, this is probably the best (and cheapest) Harry Potter souvenir you can walk away with.
Fourth lesson learned:
London is way more awesome than I thought! I know it sounds silly. Everyone knows London is awesome. Look at the music, literature, history, and culture that comes out of London and you know it's a pretty wicked city, but experiencing London and all it has to offer is an amazing adventure.
I've always loved London too. And I also pass on the tip that the museums are free, to anyone who will listen! It's just such a cool thing, and different from the other big cities around the world that tend to be on the same list as London. And some of the museums are really best in the world, collection wise. I hope you get a chance to go back again!
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