When you get to visit London, you need to do it the proper way. Sure, put some of the fun attractions on your list and make sure that you tick off the big ones such as the London Eye or Madame Tussauds. But if you want to see London the proper way, you need to live like a local while you do it. If you are in love with experiencing the culture and food and meeting the locals when you visit new places, you need to employ the same tactic in London.
Sure, you could go for the high-end hotels that you’ll find on Park Lane or in the centre on Oxford Street, but furnished apartment rentals in London are so popular now because people want to really immerse themselves in the culture of the city. If you want to see London like a local and feel like a true Londoner while you travel, skip the cliched things to do and check out these things below instead.
- Go for afternoon tea. High tea in London is one of the most civilised and historic things that you could do while you’re in the city. If you want to get a true feel for British tradition, this little ditty was introduced in England in the 1840s by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford. It was considered as a mini meal in the late afternoon, and it always has sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes and pastries and a range of different flavors of tea. True Londoners have done this at least once, and if you want to be truly fancy head to the Ritz for high tea.
- Book a show on the West End. Musicals, comedy stand-ups, dramatic plays – it’s all here on the West End in London. You could stroll through Chinatown with a pot of take-out noodles, while you wait for your theatre show to begin. The true flashing lights of London are right here in the Savoy Theatre down the West End.
- Down to Soho. If you truly want to see London like a local, heading down to Soho is one of the best places to find live entertainment, pulsing nightlife and interesting food. There are amazing Korean restaurants here as Wellers open air bars that are open until late night. The tiny restaurants that are tucked around in the little alleyways are a real draw for those who want something original.
- Enjoy the parks. London may be known as the big smoke because of its city vibe, but there’s nothing quite like lounging in Hyde Park on a Saturday afternoon. If you manage to head to London either when it’s during the winter wonderland, or through the summer months, you’ll find so many activities and people to look at and things to do just in Hyde Park. Its vast expanse means that you could go from one side of London pretty much to the other just by walking right the way through it and it split into two pieces, that’s how big it is.