Lucent London: A Guide for Everyone Visiting London

Love food? Come to London. Love shopping? Come to London. Love travelling? Come to London. Love architecture? Come to London. London, the city of lights, love and luxury has something to offer to every travel enthusiast. The city, dotted with innumerable tourist spots is a delight for every kind of traveller. No matter where you come from, no matter how much money is there in your pockets, you will be able to find something that touches your heart and would stay with you as your talisman until your dying-day.

Tower Bridge, London, UK by siddhu2020

When to visit

Spring and summer (somewhere from April till August) are normally considered to be the best times to visit this magical city. Though even during this time layering in clothes is advised. Personally though, I love the British winter- when you can actually feel the spirit of London dwelling in every nook and corner of its streets.

What not to miss

The city definitely deserves leisurely visits to many of its endowments. However, there are a few things that are blasphemous to miss. If you are on a scheduled trip, make note of a few things that ought to be visited. There are always the guided tours, but again personally, I prefer discovering a city at my own pace. Do the basic background research but then let the city itself make you discover her. Be impulsive; turn a street you don’t the destination of. Eat everywhere- from the most delectable restaurant to small eateries to roadside kiosks. Let the city guide you where to go next. But even among these, the must-dos include the following-

• It would be a sacrilege to come from London without visiting the abode of the Queen- the Buckingham Palace. Experience the royalty first hand. The State rooms in the palace are open to visitors during a few months of the year.

Buckingham Palace & Queen Victoria Memorial, London, UK by shining.darkness

• If looking for a good time to able to appreciate all that the city offers, take a walk along the embankment form the London Eye to the Tower Bridge.

• Go up the London Eye (preferably at night) to get a spectacularly breathtaking view of the city.

• A bit hidden jewels of the city include the Churchill War Rooms and markets like the Borough Market, Spitafields, and Portobello etc.

• If you’re with the love of your life, the Kew Gardens are not to be missed at any cost. The entire city is spotted with several fascinating gardens. But the Kew Gardens, the royal botanic gardens, is the best place for a couple to spend a quiet, blissful evening.

Temperate house at Kew Gardens, London, UK by Heather Cowper

• When in need of a little solitude, choose to walk by yourself in the Hyde Park- watch life go by and sit around for a little introspection and retrospection.

• For the shopaholics, London brings in some special gifts. The Selfridges, the King’s Road and Notting Hill/Westbourne Grove bring you the best of fashion, interiors and technology. Shop around and have fun!

Moving around the city

The amazing transport facilities in the city make it easy to move around at any time of the day and even at night. My personal favourite being the feet, I always prefer walking around the city to take in the true flavour of the place. There are also the options of the 8000 buses, the trams networking 39 stops around the city, the black cabs and the underground tubes. If your budget allows, you can always go for a little luxury like hiring a Bentley chauffeur in London.

Tags: buckingham palace, england, kew gardens, London Eye

Category: Cities, Cities