Program for visiting London in Russian. What to see in London in one day
And all you need to do is pack your bags? Then this article is for you!
We will tell you how to save money in the capital of Great Britain, have a good rest and not get into trouble.
Essential mobile apps in London
Citymapper. This mobile application will show you all the ways to get from point A to point B. It contains maps of the metro and trains, and reports in real time about breakdowns or delays of transport.
Google translator. Without further ado - necessary at every step.
Ever.Travel. Ready walking routes. The application will help you plan your travel days by making a plan for sightseeing.
So as not to get tired of hiking, book a sightseeing tour on that same red double-decker bus.
Santander Cycles is a bike rental app. If you have a positive attitude towards this type of transport, be sure to rent. The city of London is created for cyclists; they are full participants in the movement.
For £2 you can use your bike all day, as long as you change transport every 30 minutes. We advise you to link your bank card to the payment application in advance and go with a guide to.
The nuances of life in London
Do not expect to buy medicine here; take everything you need from home.
In advance, or upon arrival, buy an adapter for sockets.
Don't bring an umbrella. The rains here during the season are not prolonged; if necessary, buy them locally or use a raincoat.
Mark and Spencer Simply Food.
You can conveniently and safely get from the airport to the hotel by taxi, the main thing is to order a car in advance. If you are an experienced driver, rent a car. , and the car will be waiting at the airport.
London public transport
See the link for the bus route diagram, and below the article you can download key routes in central London.
Communications and Internet in London
There are scammers everywhere, even in London
These tips will help you avoid getting into unpleasant situations:
How to save on entertainment and avoid queues?
Do you want to ride the longest and highest tunnel slide in the world? Visit the famous Kew Gardens and visit Madame Tussauds? How about seeing the city from or from the windows of a double-decker London bus?
If you have grandiose plans for the sights of the capital, then take advantage of the profitable London Pass.
In order not to waste time and not come up with entertainment on the spot, we always advise planning your trip in advance. This also includes purchasing tickets to popular destinations from home. And the most best option- a pass there, bypassing hours-long queues.
But don't neglect the neighboring skyscraper - Walkie Talkie. Here you will visit the incredibly beautiful Sky Garden observation deck. You can enter the sky gardens for free if you reserve a place on the website.⠀
Where to eat?
Grocery stores:
UK currency. Lb
A pound is not a dollar, or even a euro!
Don't forget to convert prices into your currency. £20 for a cute notebook is inexpensive, but 1645 rubles - you need to think carefully.
Use our tips and you will arrive in London prepared for new experiences and adventures!
It's difficult to write about London. We hear so much about this city from school as part of studying English that by the time we travel to the British capital, we have accumulated a huge list of attractions that need to be visited, so advising anyone is simply a lost cause. I will skip the standard recommendations about the Tower and the British Museum, and will talk about those places that are usually tucked at the end of guidebooks, but are definitely worth a visit on a solo trip.
Visit the prime meridian
Tourists rarely reach Greenwich, and the area itself is considered one of the few areas of modern London where native residents of the capital live. Those who like to explore the life of the locals should step away from the park and walk along the nearby streets to see how on a lazy Saturday morning the British, despite the gloomy weather, sit outside the cafe and drink coffee, holding The Daily Telegraph in their hands.
Museum fans should go to the Greenwich Observatory, where they will tell you about chronometers, astronomical clocks, and even “time balls.” And then just go for a walk in the park: there are few tourists, so the walk will be much more pleasant and calmer than in the same Hyde Park.
Go to a musical
For some reason, going to a musical is a mandatory part of the program in New York, but not everyone goes to London productions, and yet the main author of the most famous musicals, Andrew Lloyd Webber, is British, and his creations were first realized in the British capital. However, the most iconic musical is not the creation of the famous composer or even any other English production, but Les Misérables, which has been on the West End stage for more than 30 years.
When you come to any musical, don’t be surprised by the choice of actors: the British advocate diversity in everything, so Jean Valjean is easily played by an African-American, and Fantine is played by a Chinese actress.
Browse for curiosities at the Notting Hill Flea Market
On Saturday, you should definitely go to the Notting Hill area, where from morning until five in the evening the famous flea market Portobello Market. Here you can find antiques, young designers trying to make a name for themselves, philatelists and numismatists, and farmers with their trays of cheese and other foodstuffs - you only have time to look around so as not to miss anything. While walking around the market, don’t miss the full-fledged shops, often hidden behind hastily laid out counters.
And be sure to just take a walk around the area, especially Lansdowne and Westbourne Grove.
Eat street food at Borough Market
After visiting Tate Modern, there is no need to rush back to the City, no matter how the Millennium Bridge beckons you. Instead, take a stroll through Southwark to Borough Market for some tasty, inexpensive food. Borough Market attracts delicacies and the best farm produce from across Britain, but it comes with a price tag to match. But ready-made food, which is sold here in trays and corners, will be very cheap, and most importantly, it will be delicious: here you will find Indian tandoori, Vietnamese noodles and traditional English meat pies, which you are tempted to wash down with Pimm’s with fresh cucumber.
The market is open on Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 17:00, on Friday from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Saturday from 8:00 to 17:00.
Walk through unknown museums
London is rich in museums: for archeology lovers there is the British Museum, art historians should rush to the National Gallery, and fans of the history of fashion and applied art should definitely visit the Victoria and Albert Museum. But no less interesting are the less popular museums, among which I especially remember the Design Museum and the John Soane Museum. The first one does not have a permanent exhibition, but there are amazing large-scale exhibitions (that’s how I got to the Paul Smith exhibition). The second was once the home of the architect John Soane, who was an avid collector of antiques and art, so the museum is outlandish both in terms of architecture and the exhibits on display (entrance to the museum is free, by the way).
Watch a movie in an unusual place
Since 2007, London has had a very unusual format for watching films - Secret Cinema. The point is this: you buy a ticket to an announced film (the date is known in advance), but you will only find out where you will watch the film a couple of days in advance, when you receive a secret message. It could be anything: the roof of a house, a hospital or a bunker. There is also the Tell No One format, when you buy a ticket without even knowing what awaits you directly - a film, an opera or a concert.
All information about upcoming events, as well as buying a ticket, can be found on the website.
Leading museums like the National Gallery or the Victoria and Albert Museum are completely free to enter, so you can safely plan a visit without breaking the bank.
All museums have free WiFi, which makes it possible to do without an audio guide.
In British pubs it is not customary to drink inside, especially if outside the window good weather, so feel free to grab a pint of beer and take a seat at the narrow counters outside (if you can find a seat, of course, because even on a weekday, jacket-clad Londoners occupy the local pubs).
If you don't like to walk or plan to actively use public transport, then it makes sense to buy an Oyster card: with it, trips will be much cheaper.
Every Monday evening there are free stand-up shows in the Stratford End Theater bar.
Harry Potter fans should get to King's Cross Station, where near the entrance they decorated a wall with a trolley driving into it and the treasured inscription "Platform 9 3/4".
One of best views opens to the city from observation deck skyscraper Sky Garden, where you can get absolutely free by making an appointment on the website.
Useful sites:
Visit London - Official guide to London. This is mainly information for tourists, useful information you have to look for it, however, you also come across wonderful lists like “101 secret places in London.”
Secret London - a wonderful blog from locals, with tips on bars, restaurants and other activities in the British capital.
iknow.travel - a site on which I look for useful information from Russian-speaking locals when planning any trip, in the case of London it is simply a storehouse of useful recommendations.
London Inheritance - a site for those interested in the history of London.
Theater Monkey - scary as the plague, but terribly useful site for theatergoers, where you can find information about all productions and discounts on tickets.
Just Opened — a food site that talks about all the landmark openings in the city’s restaurant life.
Bonus: schedule by day to get everything done
For the first independent trip to Britain, where the main point of visit is London, it is worth allocating ten days, of which the first six days (including the day of arrival) are for exploring the capital itself, and the others for trips around the surrounding area. Based on my trip, I can recommend this schedule:
Day 1.
Arrival, accommodation and half a day for walking in the Westminster area. What you will see: Buckingham Palace (without entering), Westminster Abbey, St. James's Park, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square.
Day 2.
Museum day. What to see: National Gallery (free), British Museum (free), John Soane Museum (free). Walk through Soho, Chinatown and Bloomsberry. Harry Potter fans can walk to King's Cross Station.
Day 3.
Walk around the City. What to see: St Paul's Cathedral, Sky Garden, Fleet Street, 30 Mary Ax Tower (aka the Gherkin), Spitalfields Market. In the evening to a musical.
Day 4.
Let's explore South Bank. What to see: London Eye (I wouldn't spend money), Tate Modern (free), Millennium Bridge, Southwark Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe Theater (excursion paid), Millennium Bridge, Borough Market, Design Museum (paid). In the evening, head back to the Southbank Center for a great spot overlooking the Thames.
Day 5.
In the morning on Portobello Road to the flea market, from there on foot through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park Victoria and Albert Museum (free).
Day 6.
We're going to Greenwich. What to see: Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory Greenwich and Prime Meridian, Royal Nautical College.
Day 7-10.
Trips around the area, which I will talk about in the next post.
Tatiana Solomatina
A week in London
Guest post
It so happened that I ended up in London at the beginning of February, and this is a very serious test. You can talk as long as you like about the terrible weather in England, but as they say, it’s better to see and feel once... Dank climate: damp, windy and rainy. All the delights at once - when you leave the house, the cold penetrates to your bones, no matter how warmly you try to dress. This makes adjustments to travel routes and forces you to stop more often to warm up and drink a cup of hot coffee or tea.
I am an independent traveler, so I planned everything myself and did not depend on anyone. I had 7 days to see London, not a lot of money and a great desire to get to know the capital of Great Britain better. I can honestly say that I really liked the first acquaintance, I had thoughts of coming again and taking a more thoughtful walk around the city. There is so much more I want to see.
I must say right away that London is a very expensive city. Very! Especially for tourists. If you walk along tourist places, then such a walk around London is an expensive pleasure. Entrance fees cost from 16 to 25 pounds, which you will agree is quite expensive. I can advise you to choose a few places that are significant to you, and you can’t imagine London without visiting them. Otherwise, you should prepare for serious financial expenses. But this is relevant for independent tourists, if you are traveling with a group, some problems will not affect you, because you already know which excursions are included and what you need to see.
We landed at Heathrow unsuccessfully. No, there was nothing wrong with the plane. But a flight from Bangladesh arrived right in front of us and at passport control we stopped dead in our tracks. Each of the Asians carried a pile of documents. It looked like they were all going to study at Oxford or Cambridge, or receive a million-dollar inheritance. The officers at passport control, most of whom were also not born Anglo-Saxons, understood this very well and checked the papers with the utmost corrosiveness. There are a lot of Sikhs among the officers. For the eyes it is quite an interesting sight, the shape and the twisted turban on the head. After suffering for almost an hour, receiving luggage and purchasing ticket, I headed to the center.
The Oyster card can be used to pay for travel on the tube, bus, tram, walks along the Thames on the KPMG Thames Clipper, and even commuter trains. Buying a card will significantly lighten your wallet, but your transport movements will no longer depend on paper tickets. On the London Underground you won't have to worry about which zones you're traveling through. For any transport, the lowest fare is charged. Once a certain amount per day is debited, the rest of the trips will cost nothing. For an Oyster card this amount is even less than a Day Travelcard. You can buy it from kiosks at tube stations, Heathrow Airport and information centres. You can pay by card and top up your balance in cash or by card. The security deposit for the card is £5. When leaving London, you can return the card at the ticket office and get the deposit back along with the remaining balance. I put in £50 straight away, plus a deposit of £5. I’ll say right away that I spent almost everything in a week. Yes, transport in London is not the best budget option. Just the trip from Heathrow to the apartment where I lived, which is practically the center, cost 11 pounds.
I want to say right away that I rented a room from a girl. The apartment is cozy, although the room is small, I liked it. The most important thing is the location, 5 minutes from the metro and close to the center.
The hostess was a vegetarian, which is understandable in principle, since she is a second generation ethnic Indian. But I had no intention of frying the pieces of beef. A couple of sandwiches for breakfast, with English tea and delicious fragrant honey, was enough for me. I did my shopping near my house in a small supermarket. Judging by the assortment of the supermarket, the British either do not cook at all or eat only semi-finished products. But I found very tasty grain bread and Cheddar cheese there, which I bought for breakfast. It’s also impossible not to mention the excellent lightly salted salmon, which I really liked, as a light dinner with a green salad. The hostess is a very pleasant and sociable girl. Even with my modest knowledge of English, we understood each other, she gave me some practical advice on what to see and where to go in the evening.
Since, in principle, I was not going to sit at home, I got up early, had breakfast and immediately left for the center. Having walked around and seen enough, she returned in the evening tired and happy with the day. I also tried to have dinner at home. This significantly reduces costs, which was important to me. As English restaurants, this is still a disappointment. To put it simply, it’s expensive and tasteless. And this is not just my opinion. Friends who had been to London more than once were interviewed. If it’s important to you, then I recommend small eateries, of which there are a sea all around. A very large selection for vegetarians and lovers of organic products. Well, among coffee shops, Italian coffee houses are the leaders for me. Where you can drink great coffee and even have a snack if you want.
Since it was very cold and I wanted to see a lot, I took a tourist bus. There are several tour buses operating around London, so take your pick. I took the Hop-in Hop-off and did not regret it. The excursions are recorded by professional announcers with musical accompaniment. You will hear historical facts, urban legends and jokes. In general, you won't be bored. The excursions are recorded in different languages, including Russian. There are guides on certain routes; in such cases, the tour is in English. This is very good for those who want to improve their language skills.
The ticket is valid for 24 or 48 hours, during which time you can freely leave the bus and board any other one on the same route. Stops are located at the main attractions. But there are some conventions. Buses operate from 10 am to 7 pm. You won’t be able to drive the entire route and see all the sights in detail. The interval between buses is approximately 40 minutes in winter. Time is wasted waiting, so you won't be able to use buses instead public transport. Along with your ticket you will be given a route map and headphones. In winter, it is very cold on the second floor of the bus. You can't stand on the bus, but you can take pictures and admire London from the height of the second floor of the bus. In winter it gets dark early, so after 16:00 it will be difficult to enjoy the views from the bus window. You can buy a ticket on the company’s website, from the driver, or from travel agencies, which are plentiful in the center. My ticket also gave me the right to travel along the Thames on a river bus, which was also very useful. And I was lucky when I decided to take a ride along the Thames - the sun came out. The walk along the river lasts about 40 minutes. It’s not the season in winter, there are practically no queues anywhere, and where there were, it wasn’t more than 10 minutes long.
If in summer you can get around almost all of London on foot, the city is amazingly oriented for pedestrians and walking around London is a pleasure, then in winter the weather is not conducive to long walks. Of course, you have to walk a lot, the shoes should be comfortable, but in small steps. We looked at the monument and went in to warm ourselves. We reached another attraction and froze again. If you get to London in good time years, then I recommend that you take a walk and walk around the city. Take a walk near Regent's Park and look at the expensive mansions and ancient buildings. The area is quite touristy, with famous red telephone booths and impressive Royal Mail cabinets. All this retro, which tourists are so fascinated by, really looks appropriate and not deliberately. Once again reminding me what Moscow could have been like if it had not been demolished, rebuilt and torn apart, squeezing profit out of every scrap.
Go to any pub in the evening, drink beer, choosing at random from numerous varieties. The ability of the British to be proud of what others would prefer to forget is also very interesting feature. In one of the English pubs there was an inscription that the criminals next to the scaffold drank their last glass of beer here. Visit the oldest toy store, even if your children are grown. Hang around the five floors dedicated to the joy of children, it's worth it. Maybe your inner child will want to buy a teddy bear...who knows. Admire the gloomy severity of the Tower, the splendor of the royal gardens, the splendor of London's shops in Piccadilly. Don't forget to throw twopence into the Thames, I did this on the water bus next to the famous Tower Bridge.
If I simply looked at the London Eye and other attractions, such as Madame Tussauds, Westminster Abbey without going in or buying tickets, then I could not help but go to the Sherlock Holmes Museum. The museum is located at 221 Baker Street. This address is known to everyone who at least once in childhood heard about the great detective. Not every literary hero can boast of his own museum.
The literary hero lived at a fictitious address; at the time of writing the work, such a house did not exist in London. But then, when Baker Street was completed, the company that occupied part of the building was forced to hire a separate employee to handle correspondence addressed to Sherlock Holmes. The museum was opened in 1909 and was located at number 239. A company called 221 Baker Street was organized to hang a sign on the house. Later, city authorities legalized the name, and the museum received a postal address. If you want to write a letter to the great detective, the museum will receive it.
The museum, housed in a late 19th century Victorian tenement house, was furnished based on descriptions from the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The main entertainment for tourists is taking photographs in the living room.
You are allowed to sit in an armchair by the fireplace and try on Watson's bowler hat, or the famous cap of Sherlock Holmes.
There is a souvenir shop on the ground floor of the museum. Admission is free. It is in the museum of souvenirs that you will find a photograph of Russian actor Vasily Livanov, who was awarded in 2006 for his contribution to art. There you can also see photos of Rina Zelenaya and Vitaly Solomin. It took me 10 minutes for a leisurely inspection and photo, the rooms are tiny. In one of the rooms there are wax figures of heroes. I hung around in the store for another 10 minutes. It was winter and there were very few people. In the summer there is a queue of an hour long wait. If you don’t want to see the museum, you can just go into the store and look at the souvenirs; interestingly, the sellers are dressed in historical costumes.
If you go downstairs you can get into the historical toilet... It is free, but otherwise the prices for everything are steep. I tried on the cap, took a photo with the pipe, but didn’t buy anything. It’s mostly tourists from Japan who buy it; I can’t imagine wearing a cap on the streets of Moscow, but a keychain for 17 pounds is too much. A ticket to the museum can be bought in the gift shop and costs £15. The museum is located next to the Baker Street metro stop, where at the exit there is a monument to the great detective, with whom you can and should take a photo. There is an arrow on the pedestal indicating the direction to the museum, from the metro exit to the right.
At the traffic light you need to cross to the other side and walk straight for 5 minutes. Next to the museum is the Beatles store. Come in, you won't regret it. Take a look, you might want to buy some souvenirs. At the same metro station, just to the left, is the Madame Tussauds museum. I didn’t go inside because I’m not a big fan wax figures, I’ve already visited one of the museums once, and that’s enough for me.
But there are several places where you simply must visit, and it will be free for you. One of these places is the National Gallery. This is exactly the place that simply needs to be visited. Even if you have little free time, even if you are not a fan of museums and don’t understand anything about painting. This is one of the most significant museums, which was founded on the collection of a native of Russia. And the collection of paintings deserves your attention and admiration. You can rent an audio guide and listen to information about the paintings in Russian. The gallery is very large, there are more than 2500 paintings and almost every one is magnificent. To be honest, I will go to London again precisely to wander around National Gallery. Of course, walking around museums for a long time is tiring, but you can always leave and come back the next day. All museums in London are free. You can donate if you want, but it's up to you.
It is also very exciting to visit the British Museum. This is a paradise for those who love Egypt and mummies. Everything that could be stolen from the tombs of the pharaohs is all here. But you also need to have strong nerves, since mummies are a rather difficult sight. I can recommend the Victoria and Albert Museum. Take a look, you'll like it. Of course, you also need to visit the Tower and take a photo with the London Eye, a Ferris wheel that was built to celebrate the new millennium and was due to be demolished after 5 years of existence, but fit into the city landscape so much that it became an integral part of London. As one of the symbols of the city, it is filmed a lot, no less often than the famous Piccadilly Circus. London Eye capsules are almost transparent and offer a 360-degree view. The floor is closed, which adds comfort at height. The cabin accommodates 25 passengers. It seems very light, but weighs about 10 tons. There are a total of 32 capsules in the wheel, just like the suburbs of London. If you want, you can go for a ride, but this is not a pleasure for everyone, I just watched and took pictures from the side.
Since I really love the Doctor Who series and am a fan of the Harry Potter series, it was interesting for me to look for places that I associate with these characters. If you are also interested, then London is just a museum under open air, where there are a lot of places that are mentioned in the Harry Potter books, or in the Doctor Who series. There are even separate routes for Harry Potter lovers, not to mention the fact that you can visit the museum, which is located outside the city. But I left that for the next trip.
Visit Chinatown, and if you like Chinese cuisine, then you definitely need to come here. My friend came to visit me for 2 days and we had an unforgettable Chinese-style lunch. The Peking duck was delicious along with other Chinese dishes. It seems, why go to a Chinese restaurant in London? But believe me, it's very tasty. And yes, I never decided to try fish and chips... Well, I can’t bring myself to eat French fries and deep-fried fish... Simply because my stomach will remind me of itself later. But you need to visit pubs, the more, the better. In an English pub, especially, people don’t sit, but stand and talk, and drink very, very much... During the evening, we usually pass through several pubs, drinking a glass in each... I can say that the only ones who ordered small glasses of beer were my friend and I, the bartender asked again and took out mugs from somewhere under the floor, apparently they were not popular, everyone around was drinking from large mugs.
And one more interesting observation: when girls go to a pub, they basically ignore the weather; I myself saw flocks of girls and women in light dresses and barefoot sandals walking from one pub to another. For me it was beyond my comprehension. And one more observation: the curvier the girl, the shorter the skirt. In general, English fashion is merciless. Very, very amateurish. Although everyone looks more or less decent on the street, in the store the strange combinations and colors make your eyes pop. And if you like something, it is usually accompanied by a price tag with wild numbers in pounds, and most likely Italian brands.
I also wanted to say about the apartment in which I lived. The sink and bathroom cannot leave anyone indifferent. Like us, the British do not wash their hands under running water. To begin, they plug the sink drain, draw water, and wash their hands with soap. Then remove the stopper and dry your hands with a towel. However, they do not rinse their hands. Using the same principle, they wash and wash dishes without rinsing. But, as my landlady told me, they are now building houses with not 2 taps, but one mixer. But there are still very few of them and the British adhere to traditions.
That's my whole story. For myself, I decided that this was my first visit to the UK, I really want to fly again and explore in more detail the places that interested me. I hope that I was able to interest you in my story and that you liked it.
Natalya Sadova (Moscow region)
Kharlova Diana
Project Manager:
Istomina Tatyana Alexandrovna
Institution:
MBOU Secondary School No. 21 named after the Hero of the Soviet Union Alexander Dmitrievich Yudin, Severodvinsk
During the individual research paper in English “Travel to London” The author achieved the goal of studying various sources of information and getting acquainted with the main attractions of London, finding out interesting facts about the capital of Foggy Albion.
More details about the work:
Author of a finished research paper English language project “Trip around London” talks about the history of London, gives the main characteristics of the city, makes a list amazing facts about London, provides a description of world-famous sights and streets of London.The student research work and regional studies project “Travel to London” describes the history and development of the most outstanding museums and theaters located in London and important not only for English but also for world culture. The student developed a questionnaire to determine the level of awareness of schoolchildren about the history and sights of London.
Introduction
1. City of London.
2. Interesting facts about London.
3. Sights of London.
4. Questionnaire about London.
Conclusion
Application. Text of the speech to defend the English language project “ Traveling around London»
Introduction
Studying English language from the second grade, we always knew that London is the capital of Great Britain, it is big and interesting city, which has many beautiful buildings, parks and monuments. Last year in class we met some interesting facts about the life of this city.
And this year we will study historical facts. But what is interesting in the English capital? Why do thousands of tourists strive to visit this city every year? It was these questions that made us want to find out more information about London and then tell our friends about it.
Purpose of the study: study various sources of information, get acquainted with the main attractions of London and interesting facts, and also create a poster - a game called “ Traveling around London».
Project objectives:
- Study literature that will give you an idea of the city of London.
- Find out what 6th grade students know about London.
- Introduce your classmates to interesting facts about London and talk about its attractions.
- Create a game called " Traveling around London”, which can later be used in English lessons as a visual aid.
City of London
London(English) London[ˈlʌndən] (i)) is a city, the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Administratively forms the region of England Greater London, divided into 33 self-governing districts.
City name. The name London comes from the Roman city of Londinium, the origins of which remain unclear to this day. The word is believed to be pre-Roman, borrowed from the local population.
City population. The population is 8.4 million people (2013), the second largest city in Europe and the largest in the European Union.
City location. Located in the southeast of the island of Great Britain, on the plain of the London Basin, at the mouth of the Thames near the North Sea.
London was founded by the Romans shortly after their invasion of Britain in the summer of 43. By 1700 London had become largest city Europe. In 1707, London acquired the status of the capital of Great Britain, a new state created through the unification of England and Scotland.
London boroughs. London is divided into 33 self-governing boroughs. The most famous areas are the City, Westminster, West End and East End.
Transport in London. Buses are operated by private operators. There are about 700 routes. One of the symbols of London is the red double-decker bus.
London Underground is the oldest in the world, it was opened in 1863. It consists of 11 lines, with a total length of 402 km, and 270 stations. Closes at night.
Water transport. City water route system London River Services served by private operators. River services on the Thames operate from 22 passenger piers from Hampton Court in the west to Woolwich in the east.
It should also be noted that water transport walks along the River Thames. The Thames is the legendary river of Great Britain. It was above it that unique and completely different from each other were located bridges, which became the decoration of the city.
In total, you can count 30 bridges across rivers in London; in the center of the city there is the famous Tower Bridge, as well as the Millennium Bridge, Chelsea Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Vauxhall, Lambeth, London Bridge and Westminster Bridge. Let's look at some of them.
Westminster Bridge
It was built back in 1862 and is currently oldest bridge capital of Great Britain. For more than 150 years, it practically does not require repairs.
In addition to its historical value, the popularity of this bridge is explained by the fact that it offers excellent views of other attractions. For example, from here you can see another symbol of the capital of Britain - the famous Big Ben, and also Westminster Abbey.
Vauxhall
The first iron bridge with tram traffic, which appeared in 1816. The bridge is very impressive in its appearance - it stands out with its red and yellow color, and there are interesting sculptures on its supports.
Waterloo
The opening of this stone bridge took place in 1945, and this name was given to it in honor of the Battle of Waterloo, which was victorious for England. If you want to see the entire center of the capital, then you need to go to this bridge! It will offer a magnificent view of the City, which is the business center of the city, and of Westminster Abbey. You can also see the Ferris wheel, also called the London Eye.
Streets of London
London is a huge city with more than a thousand streets.
Titles London streets They also come from the famous buildings of the city that were located on them or to which the streets led. For example, Greet Tower Street in the City leads to the Tower. A London Wall runs along the ancient wall that once surrounded the city.
Many streets of the British capital were given names geographical features. So, Fleet Street named after the Fleet River, which flowed here until the 18th century, and then was enclosed in a pipe. Water Street leads to the banks of the Thames.
Streets and areas of London received their names from the names of large owners of houses and land. Let's say Covent Garden located on a site that was owned by Westminster Abbey. A Skinner Street runs through land owned by the Furriers' Company.
Baker Street
The street was named after the builder William Baker, who laid it in the 18th century. Originally a residence for the upper class, Baker Street today is primarily home to commercial and retail properties.
Piccadilly
Piccadilly(eng. Piccadilly) - one of the widest and busiest streets in historical center London - Westminster. It runs from Piccadilly Circus (in the east) to Hyde Park (in the west).
Name " Piccadilly"received from the mansion of Robert Baker, who at the beginning of the 17th century made a fortune selling fashionable collars -" picadils"(piccadill) - rigid collars with jagged edges and a wide cord that tightens at the edges.
Oxford Street
Oxford Street- this is the favorite and most common place not only for London, but also for European fashion connoisseurs. Every day thousands of tourists and local residents they come to the busiest street to buy fashionable things.
Oxford Street features not only several dozen of the world's most popular brands, but also hundreds of lesser-known, but quite fashionable shops. In contrast to the astronomical prices of Regent and Bond Streets, Oxford Street has fairly affordable youth prices. More fashionable is western part streets and prices there tend to be higher than in the main eastern part.
In addition to the streets with interesting names in London there is a lot beautiful parks. The basis " Green London» make up Royal Parks. There are eight of them in total, and the most famous and largest of them are located in the city center. This - Hyde Park, Green Park, St James's Park, Regent's Park and
Kensington Gardens
They are called royal not only because they are royally luxurious, well-groomed and beautiful, but also because of their historical origin.
In the old days, not far from populated areas city authorities deliberately left significant green spaces intended for walks and, above all, for trips royal family to hunt.
Elena Chistova and Olga Grigorieva came up with an educational project for adults, Vacation&Education, in which there is a minimum of boring study and a maximum of adventure. During your 11-day trip to England you will learn English. But new words and knowledge will be acquired not at the desk, but in pubs, museums and in conversations.
Especially for PRTBRT Olga and Elena gave useful tips about the city and compiled two walking routes around London for us: the main one with the sights and the second with canals, a park and markets in Camden.
UK visa
It is better to start preparing your trip in advance. The first thing you will have to deal with is a British visa, it is more complicated and more expensive than a Schengen visa.
Some tips:
- Carefully read the questions in the application form: the visa application form is complex, even filling it out and collecting documents takes a lot of time. It is best to submit documents a month before your planned trip.
- Finance. All cash receipts must be confirmed by certificates, sponsorship letters and documents. When answering questions about money, all amounts must match (the embassy will actually count all your numbers and certificates with a calculator).
- All submitted documents must be translated into English. It is not necessary to order a professional translation - you can translate it yourself, through an online translator. The main thing is to translate everything, even abbreviations on stamps, and so that everything is clear. A notary's seal is not required.
- Air tickets have not been required at the embassy for a long time, and paper photos were canceled this year.
- Now you are being filmed right on the spot, and you are also asked to say your first and last name into the camera.
Transport in London
If you don't want to leave all your money on the London Underground, be sure to purchase at the box office transport card Oyster Card - it will become your best friend while you conquer the city: you can use it to pay in the metro, buses, trams and commuter trains. The only category of buses that are not covered by Oyster are open-top tour buses.
In the center, some stations are located so close to each other that it is better to cover this distance on foot.
Where to eat (and drink) in London
- At the markets. There are several well-known ones, such as Camden Market and Borough Market, as well as hundreds of local and farmers' markets. At the markets you will always be offered to taste the products, so do not deny yourself anything.
- Marks & Spencer are the best, but not fast food snacks. Buy here - eat in the park.
- Waitrose supermarket. The store's loyalty program offers its visitors free tea or coffee, for which you do not need to make any purchases from them.
- Mobile apps for check-ins - Drinki App or Match Pint, track offers from pubs and bars and feel free to claim a free cocktail or beer for your check-in.
Camden Market
London sights
All museums and galleries in Britain are free. The only exceptions are commercial (Madame Tussauds, Sherlock Holmes), theaters and public entertainment (such as the London Eye). We recommend buying tickets in advance online, it will cost a few pounds less.
Force majeure
Lost? Ask the taxi driver! When hired, taxi drivers take a city knowledge exam. The police and passers-by will also be happy to help you, the main thing is don’t be shy.
Did you leave something on the train? Call the lost and found office in the direction you were traveling. All information on the link.
Don't be afraid of anything, the British are not as cold and prim as they are described.
Routes around London
Classic and perfect
This route is not easy, but it will allow you to see almost all the sights in one walk. And, of course, take a lot of good photos.
We start from Trafalgar Square and walk along Whitehall, which smoothly flows into Parliament Street, and it stretches all the way to Big Ben. Your route has just begun, and you have already seen Trafalgar Square, Royal Horse Guards, the Prime Minister's apartment on Downing Street, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.
Trafalgar Square
Sit on a bench on The Queen's Walk, sit among funny trees, listen to street musicians and watch the huge queue of tourists to look at London from above.
The Queen's Walk,
Take a breath and move on. We walk along the Thames, meeting along the way street performers, musicians, book stalls, the National Theatre, art shops, sand figures, soap bubbles, sweet peanut sellers, pubs and cafes. We go to Tate Modern (if you still have energy, you can walk a little further and see Shakespeare’s Globe Theater). Then we climb the Millennium Bridge and, to the sounds of musicians, snacking on sweet peanuts, we go to St. Paul's Cathedral.
Millennium Bridge
Crossing the Millennium Bridge, it’s as if we find ourselves in another world, because you are in the City - this is the historical core of London, formed on the basis of the ancient Roman city. In the Second world war This part of the city was badly damaged during the bombing, but the City was rebuilt, and now it is a major business and financial center of the whole world. It also has special historical privileges: the City has its own police force, the monarch can enter the territory only with the permission of the Lord Mayor; Since 1695, it has been vested with the rights of a separate city, it has its own government (12 governors).
View of the city from the London Eye
The Monarch requires a permit, but you can cross the Millennium Bridge without any problems and head (after visiting St. Paul's Cathedral, of course) along Cannon Street, observing the clerks in suits, trainers and on bicycles.
Go to the Monument metro station, there is a bulky high-rise nearby - you need the Sky Garden. There was a lot of fuss during construction (no one approved of it), and in the end it was allowed only on the condition that a free garden for walks and relaxation would be created for the townspeople in this building. You can get there by pre-booking free tickets on the website. The best part is getting to the Sky Garden at sunset.
By the way, the route is not over yet. We leave the Sky Garden and in a couple of minutes we find ourselves at the Tower - one of the oldest buildings in England and one of the main symbols of Great Britain. As the Duke of Edinburgh wrote in his book dedicated to the 900th anniversary of the Tower: “Throughout its history Tower of London was a fortress, a palace, a repository of royal jewels, an arsenal, a mint, a prison, an observatory, a zoo, a place that attracts tourists.”
We go again to the Thames and see the last attraction on this route - Tower Bridge, large and majestic. There are even sometimes exhibitions inside its towers. Walk with importance across this 126-year-old drawbridge.
Next, I suggest you go to any good pub (and there are many of them), order yourself something to eat and drink and breathe out - you have seen the main attractions of great London, places familiar from childhood from books, films and songs.
The route is romantic and carefree
Camden Town
Camden Town is located in north-east London and is one of the most inspiring places in the British capital.
The country's most famous flea market is located here; on weekends, up to 100 thousand lovers of antiquities and unusual things flock here. In fact, there are even several markets: Camden Lock Market, Camden Canal Market, Inverness Street Market, Camden (Bute Street) Market and Camden Stables Market. The oldest is Camden Canal Market (existing since 1972). When in London, be sure to stop by here for stylish shopping and exotic food.
Camden Canal Market
Camden Lock Market
Legends say that Amy Winehouse herself worked as a designer at the market, sewing and selling clothes. Her presence is particularly felt in this area: it is home to one of her favorite pubs, and the house where she was found dead in 2013. Last year, a life-size sculpture of Amy with a rose on her head was installed at the market.
Next, tired of the noise of the market, we will head along the canal to the Little Venice area. Yes, here you will see boats that look magical and stunning. In fact, the British often use them as summer cottages and come here to relax on weekends.
Amy Winehouse Monument
