England

London is the best city in the world, there – I said it! The English capital has an array of fantastic sights, free museums, royal palaces, historic churches and fun tourist attractions that was surely make your visit a successful one. And I should know: I used to live there! London is one of the most visited city in the world, so wait times can be brutal. Don’t waste time by joining the tourists in the queue at these busy tourist attractions. In this article I’ve included my best tips on how to avoid waiting in line, the best times to visit and how to save money on the most popular London tourist attractions. Enjoy your trip!

Cheap hotels in London: it sounds contradicting, I know, but it doesn’t aways have to be the case. Trust me: I lived there, and have stayed in more than a handful of hotels all across the city. Sure, you have to be realistic and make some small compromises on quality or location: there just aren’t any award winning hotels in the heart of London for only 50 bucks a night. But this is the same anywhere, also in Amsterdam or Paris.

However, if search well and book on time, you will be able to find some great budget hotels in downtown London. Since I get asked quite a lot about cheap hotels in London, I’ve put together this article. All the hotels on this list are centrally located (or easily reachable), travelers have rated them with a 7 or higher, and they are under €100 a night (which is a real bargain for London terms). Keep in mind that rooms in London are generally quite small (but why would you spend a lot of time in your room anyway?:-). 

Is there any destination as great as London? I think not. But hey, I’m biased: I lived there, and still visit two or three times a year. I never understood people that were in love with London: it isn’t as grand as Paris and lacks perhaps a clear identity upon first sight. But then it happened to me: on my second visit I wandered around the city, stayed away from the big landmarks, and… I fell head over heels in love. Suddenly I understood why London was so well loved: it has to do with its vibe, its energy.

London is whatever you want it to be. It allows for quite and relaxation in one of the many parks or cafes. It allows for culture in one of the high class (free) museums, or grand musicals on West End. It has world class food: from Michelin star restaurants, to that cute local-owned curry shop in a shabby area. London has both majestic Vistorian-era mansions (in West), and the edgier hipster parts with street art (east). You can have a romantic date with stunning views over the skyline, or go to a morning rave.

London is the greatest city in the world. It has room for everyone, from any culture. No matter who you are, you will blend in and find your tribe. It is the best example of multi-culturalism I know. When I lived in London I would walk past loud singing from a Nigerian church, on my way to a gentrified coffeeshop that sold 20 pound bouquets of flowers and sat opposite an arthouse cinema.

Just writing this ode to London makes my heart yearn for it. London really, above everything else, is a feeling. I highly recommend going beyond the traditional highlights and discovering London as I love it. This list is the ultimate London bucket list: it lists everything you should do in the city. It lists all the areas, highlights, castles, viewpoints and other things you should do and visit while you’re there. At least 85% of these tips have been tried and tested by me, the rest are a collection of tips by my London friends and some themed experiences you may love.

I present to you: the ultimate London buckletlist! Print it out and bring it on your trip with you! :)