We visited London for 3 days and had a blast. You can see a lot just by walking around. We did our research before we arrived so we could maximize our stay. Since we stayed outside London, in Greenwich, we were able to see other sights that tourists would otherwise not think to visit if crunched for time.
If you only have 3 days to see London. here are some things to so, most of them for free. I hope this helps you plan your next trip across the pond. How to Travel to London will be in a separate post. Stay tuned.
1. Visit Hyde Park. It is the largest of four Royal Parks that form a chain from the entrance of Kensington Palace through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. We entered the park by the Buckingham Palace entrance and found ourselves right smack at The Rose Garden. The parked smelled of perfume!
As you walk further in the park, towards Kensington Palace, you will get to the Serpentine Lake where you can rent a canoe and paddle along beside the swans.
2. Visit Kensington Palace, the former residence of Lady Diana and where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge now resides.
3. Take pictures in front of stores adorned with flowers. Check out these colorfully adorned store front. Peggy Porschen Cakes is a popular Instagram spot for pictures. It is near Victoria Station.
In Notting Hill, check out Churchill Arms Pub in all its flowery facade. They were not open when we came. It would have been nice to sit and drink with the locals.
And here are some more. A bakery, a florist and a boutique.
4. Have an Afternoon Tea on a Bus Tour. Or have a bus tour with an afternoon tea. Either way, Brigit’s Bakery bus tour was a blast. The food was delicious and the servings were more than we could finish. We brought back some in cute take home boxes. If you are crunched for time, just hit two birds with one stone with a Bus Tour and Afternoon Tea combo.
5. Watch the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. The event starts at 11 am daily. Get there early so you can get a prime spot across the street from The Palace. Check out the Ultimate Guide to the Changing of the Guard in Buckingham Palace.
6. Visit Greenwich outside London. This is where we stayed. As soon as we arrived, we went and had lunch at Greenwich Market. It was a busy place with vendors selling local and international cuisine. We had Peruvian today. We visited Greenwich Park and saw see the Queen’s Orchard and the Maritime Museum. We hiked up to visit the Royal Observatory and stood over the Prime Meridian. This is a line in the geographic coordinate system where longitude is defined to be 0°. From atop the hill, we had our first glimpse of the London skyline.
London Skyline as seen from the Royal Observatory.
7. Walk the South Bank of the River Thames and enjoy the street performances, ride the London Eye, catch a glimpse of Big Ben or simply enjoy people watching.
8. Take the Ferry from London to Greenwich to see the city from the River Thames. It was such a treat to pass under the London Bridge and the Tower Bridge.
9. Visit Notting Hill from the movie of the same name with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. We loved the beautiful row houses in pastel. It reminded us of the houses in Burano, Italy. The houses were more vibrant in color there but these were just as pretty.
10. Take a pic by the iconic red telephone booths. Beware! Some of them are used as urinals.
11. Ride the Tube. This is how Londoners call the subway. It is very easy to navigate. Find out how to secure an Oyster card before you arrive in London here.
12. Ride the iconic black taxis.
13. Have some authentic Fish and Chips. It is simply cod or haddock fried and served with large slices of potatoes. The fish is large enough to be shared.
14. Visit Princess Diana’s memorial Fountain. If you can, get in the water and enjoy a picnic at the park
15. Walk to Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and on to Covent Garden. Ralph enjoyed the street performances while I shopped the vintage market, tasted English tea and shopped for tea cups.
The museums in London are free to get in. However, we had no time to visit any on this trip. On our next trip, visiting the British Museum, Natural History Museum, Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral are first on the list. We would also like to visit Borough Market. I have heard so many great things about this place. Lastly, taking in a show or two on the West End is on the list.
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XOXO,
Joy
Joyous Serendipity 
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