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What to See and Do on a Romantic London Vacation
Years ago, London had a reputation for cold foggy nights, bad food and old, cramped guesthouses with exorbitant rates. We can’t do anything about the weather, but there are definitely much better eating establishments around. And while prices are still on the high side, you can find a decent B&B or small hotel if you look in the right places and try book in advance.
On the other hand, spring and autumn will give you the best mix of weather, availability and affordability. But in the heat of summer, it can seem like ½ of the world is in London on holidays…
Let’s give you an idea or two for some romantic fun in London...
Buckingham PalaceWhen Queen Elizabeth is in town, this is where she stays. It’s a large Palace surrounded by 45 acres of gardens right in central London. Especially in summer, tourists line up by the hundreds to see the fine art collection in the Queen’s gallery, and the Royal Mews stables where her famous horse drawn carriages are readied.
Parliament and Big BenThe signature buildings of London, as seen in many brochures and photos. And just as impressive in real life!
Trafalgar SquareGrab your honey and run through the pigeons in Trafalgar Square – you’re in the heart of London! Double-decker buses and taxis circle the columns, fountains and statues of the square, while people from just about everywhere are walking, talking, taking pictures and just hanging out. It’s almost a Times Square type experience – you really feel like you’re at one of the major crossroads of the world.
London Vacation Bus Tours and Thames CruiseIt’s really worth it to take a couple tours while you’re in London. We did early on our first trip there, and it really helped point out different places and sights for us that we could explore more later on.
Cruise barges make their way up and down the Thames river. We liked the evening cruise, and saw the lights of the city coming on and illuminating the bridges, Parliament, etc. After, it’s not too far to Soho, the place for romantic nights in London with many theatres, clubs, pubs and restaurants.
The British MuseumEven if you only mildly enjoy museums, try to spend at least ½ day at the British Museum. Quite simply, it’s one of the very best in the world! Without going into too much detail, this astounding collection includes the Rosetta Stone, Lord Elgin’s marbles, Babylonian artifacts, Egyptian mummies and more. There’s also some priceless items in print, like the Magna Carta copies, Shakespeare’s First Folio and the Gutenberg Bible.
Hyde Park & Speakers Corner
We planned our Hyde Park afternoon with a visit first to Harrod’s Department Store ( very likely the world’s largest) Give yourself an hour or two to check out all the different items and peculiarities on sale here. It’s a massive place! Then you can buy a nice lunch in the park downstairs in the Harrod’s Food Hall. (Quite a selection too, and reasonable prices.) Then, it’s just a short 5 minute walk to Hyde Park, and a nice shady spot under a tree!
If your London vacation includes a Sunday, the park has a couple added attractions: lot’s of artist’s paintings and other wares on the perimeter along Bayswater Rd, and Speakers Corner (yes, the original) which can be “heard” in the northeast corner, near Marble Arch. Come along and hear some outrageous ranting and raving - it's worth it just to hear the variety in accents! The London Eye
We haven’t been on the London Eye yet, but it’s definitely something we plan on checking out next time. Basically it’s a large Ferris wheel type ride located on the south bank of the Thames ( across the river from Big Ben) It has passenger capsules that give 360 degree views of central London from a height that reaches about 130 meters.
They offer some rather romantic options like a Champagne Flight (35 GBP per person) and even more romantic ( and expensive!) private cabins and the “Pimms and Stawberries” capsule with VIP entry, dinner and so on. Getting Around on the London Underground
Having both driven and used the "tube" in London, I strongly suggest taking the Underground. Fast, cheap, and reliable. If you’ve used subways in other cities, you’ll figure out the London Underground in a snap. One day Travelcards are reasonably priced and very handy.
A car would be an expensive and potentially very frustrating way of getting around. And with the new congestion tax on driving into central London, the Underground just makes that much more sense. London also has very reliable taxis – the famous London black cab! Drivers are generally courteous, knowledgeable and very efficient. London Vacation AccommodationSince hotel prices in London are sky-high, the best option for your vacation budget is in one of London's romantic B&B's.
The differences between a B&B, Guesthouse and small hotel are small. They all offer roughly the same: a room for the night, and usually a full English breakfast in the morning. B&B’s can appear from the outside to be a residence, so sometimes you need to read the signs closely.
There are many areas of London, like around Bayswater or Bloomsbury, where you can find streets lined with B&B’s. In low season, it’s possible to just ring or walk in, see the room, discuss the price and take it. Or just keep going and check next door!
Of course, between the months of April to September, it ‘s best to book ahead.
Finding Flights for Your London VacationLondon Heathrow is an enormous airport, and you'll find airlines and aircraft from almost every corner of the earth here! Look closely at any travel booking you make, and check which airport you're flying into - it could also be Gatwick, London's second largest airport just south of the city, and home to many charter operators.
There are hundreds of cheap flights to London, and hundreds more possible combinations! Some low-fare airlines like easyJet and Ryanair also fly into airports in and around London. Before you start shopping for cheap flights to London, check out the latest advice and tips on getting the best airfare deals online in our Travel Smart and Cheap page. If your holiday plans will include any travel from Britain to Europe , you can get some excellent travel bargains on the Eurostar train from Paris or Brussels to London.
First of all, you get to ride underneath the English channel in the Chunnel, which is an amazing feat of engineering! The travel time between the two cities is virtually the same as flying, when you work out what it takes to get from downtown to downtown. And you see a little bit of Europe and the English countryside from a nice comfortable seat.
More on Romantic London Getaways:London Vacation PlanningVisit London - The Official website for London London Romantic Restaurant Deals Reviews of some of the best romantic restaurants in London
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When’s the best time of year for a London vacation? Well, it does rain a fair bit in the winter, and it can get quite cool. But winter also brings some very cheap travel bargains to England. So if you bring along a wool sweater and umbrella, you can do it. And remember, it never rains in the pub!
Something that will really make you feel like you’re in England: The Changing of the Guard. All the pomp and pageantry you imagined! Check locally for times. It’s usually held daily from April through July at around 11:30 AM, rain or shine.
For a great picture of the two of you, take the sidewalk on the Westminster Bridge, and position yourselves about half-way across on the south side. Then just politely ask the next person strolling by to do your portrait, with Parliament, Big Ben and the Bridge framing your travel-weary but smiling faces!
One worthwhile excursion is the Original London Sightseeing tour by bus. If the weather allows, take the upper deck – you’ll love the views! Terrific commentary too. There’s just so much history packed into the city – it seems around every corner you’ll find British icons, like the former residence of a famous poet, Scotland Yard or the BBC.