Where to go in London in the evening? Where to see the real London? Do a beer tour. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter

It's time to think about what to do in the British capital. Although it is considered an extremely expensive city, you can find cheap or even free entertainment here.

1. Take a trip to the past in the house of Dennis Severs

An 18th-century building known as the "Dennis Severs House" is located on Folgate Street, in the Spitafield area. The former owner restored the housing in such a way that each of the 10 rooms is reminiscent of bygone eras of English history - Georgian and Victorian. Passing from one room to another, going up and down the creaky stairs, you can take a trip into the past. The rooms are furnished with original period furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries. At the same time, there is no feeling that this is a museum, the house seems inhabited: there are half-eaten dishes on the dishes, glasses are filled with wine, a frock coat is casually thrown over a chair, the smell of a dinner being prepared comes from the kitchen and voices are heard. Excursion to weekdays costs £7, on Sundays £10.

2. Enjoy art at the National Gallery

The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square will allow you to plunge into the world of painting. Here are paintings by Rubens, Titian, Monet, Rembrandt, van Gogh, Raphael and many others - from representatives of the Middle Ages to those who worked at the beginning of the 20th century. And best of all, it's all free! And in between viewing pictures, you can have a bite to eat in the local cafes.

3. Climb the belfry of Westminster Cathedral

Westminster Cathedral (not to be confused with Westminster Abbey) is located on Francis Street. An 83 m high bell tower adjoins the remarkable building in the Byzantine style. This is not only architectural masterpiece, but also an excellent observation deck, located at an altitude of 64 m, offering an extensive view of London. From here you can see: St. Paul's Cathedral in the east, Battersea power station in the south, in clear weather - city parks, Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial. The cathedral itself can be entered for free, but to climb the bell tower, you need to pay 5 pounds.

4. Take part in fife-o'clock

In between shopping, walking around the city and visiting museums, you should definitely stop and drink a cup of English tea. Not only is it a must-have London ritual, but it's also a blessed respite from a dizzying run through the bustling British capital. You can join the tea party in almost any hotel in London, such as Claridge's on Brook Street, Brown's Hotel on Elbemarle Street or Berkeley on Wilton Place. You can eat for 30-40 pounds sterling.

5. Refresh in the pool

Having appeared in the 1920s and 30s, London's outdoor pools immediately became a popular place to relax on sunny days. They are often adjoined by cafes and children's playgrounds. Pools are scattered almost throughout the city. The most famous are the 50m London Fields Lido in Hackney and the 90m Tooting Bec in Wandsworth. The ticket price is £4.30.

6. Pour out your soul in Speakers' Corner

Inspired speakers, meddlesome provocateurs and preachers gather in Hyde Park every Sunday. Since 1872, in Speaker's Corner, it has been allowed to talk about anything, freely proclaim and defend any ideas. The only rule is to avoid obscene language.

7. Explore the hidden rivers of London

Tourists are often unaware that underground rivers lurk beneath the surface of London. For example, one of them, Tyburn, flows directly under Buckingham Palace, and Walbrook - under the Bank of England. As the city grew, the rivers became buried under houses and street slabs. Walbrook was "walled up" in the 1460s, Tyburn and Effra - in the XVIII-XIX centuries, when the city's reservoirs became sources of dirt and disease. In addition, Londoners were seriously afraid of floods.

8. Choose the perfect scent for you

A bastion of classic British style is Penhaligon's perfume shop in Covent Garden. The consultant draws up a perfume profile - selects the perfume or cologne that best matches the image of the visitor. This service is free, but rarely anyone leaves empty-handed. You can make a gift for yourself or a loved one for 80-110 pounds.

9. Take a walk on the lake

During the summer, boating lakes are open to the public in many parks. The most famous lake is the Serpentine in Hyde Park. But there are others - in Regent's Park, Alexandra Park, Greenwich Park, Battersea Park and others. At the same time, you can admire the local birds, especially the herons. In Hyde Park you can rent a boat for £10 an hour.

10. Enjoy the silence in Postman's Park

Postman's Park is located in central London, not far from St. Paul's Cathedral. Created on the site of an old cemetery, today it is best known for the memorial to the Heroic Sacrifice. There are tablets with the names of people who died in the name of saving others. For example, one of them says: “Lee Pitt, copier operator, 30 years old. Rescued a boy who was drowning in the Thamesmead Canal, but, unfortunately, he could not save himself. June 7, 2007".

11. Go on a romantic date

London lacks the touch of romance that Paris has, but there are plenty of places to go on a date. For example, at the Harvey Nichols’ bar in Knightsbridge, you can participate in a master class in mixing cocktails. Brixton Ritzy is one of the best Picturehouse Cinemas. lovers thrill it is recommended to visit the haunted house in Hampstead, where poet John Keats used to live, or dine in pitch darkness at Dans Le Noir restaurant.

12. Ride a double-decker bus

London's Routemaster double-decker buses were decommissioned in 2005, but today they can still be driven on two historic roads: routes number 9 (from Kensington to Trafalgar Square) and number 15 (from Tower Hill to Trafalgar Square). Buses run during the daytime. The fare is the same as in regular public transport.

13. See the layout of the future of London

New London Architecture is a conference forum that discusses the building projects of the future. It takes place at The Building Center on Store Street in Camden. Some galleries are open to the public and entry is free. Here you can see, for example, a 12 m long model of central London on a scale of 1:1,500, as well as smaller copies of Olympic venues.

14. Climb the Great Fire of London Monument

The Great Fire of London continued for four days- from 2 to 5 September 1666. At this time, 13,500 houses, 87 parish churches, including St. Paul's Cathedral, most of the government buildings burned down. 80% of city buildings were destroyed. In honor of this event, a column more than 60 m high was erected - a monument to the Great Fire of London. For £3, you can climb the spiral staircase to the top and admire London from a bird's eye view.

15. Discover the Wiltons Music Hall

The Wiltons Music Hall is the oldest in the world. Its deliberately shabby interior takes the visitor back in time. Events related to the world of theater, music, cinema and cabaret take place here. There is also a bar where musical groups perform almost every Monday, which you can listen to for free.

16. Visit Highgate Cemetery

Karl Marx, Douglas Adams, John Galsworthy and Michael Faraday are just a few of the famous names buried in the prestigious Victorian cemetery. His West Side extremely popular with tourists. Overgrown with ivy and wild flowers, this romantic and gloomy place can be taken for an hour's walk, accompanied by the stories of a guide, for £7. Various animals are found in Highgate Cemetery, including foxes. The doors of some crypts are tightly boarded up - there used to be a belief that some of the buried became vampires. On the new, eastern part, you can walk unaccompanied.

17. Go to a performance at the Little Angel Theater

Tourists with children are recommended to visit puppet show The Little Angel Theater in Islington is one of the oldest in the UK, operating for over 50 years. Here they not only give performances, but also make puppets. The productions involve not only local but also foreign actors.

18. Pay a visit to the extravagant home of Erno Goldfinger

Hungarian architect Erno Goldfinger's modernist home, built for himself in the 1930s, is located on Willow Street. The concrete building was initially hated by Londoners, but now its author has become a hugely popular figure. You can get into the house-museum only at certain hours and only in the warm season. The ticket costs £5.30. It houses furniture designed by Golfinger, as well as works by Henry Moore, Bridget Riley, Max Ernst and other artists.

19. Buy an umbrella from James Smith & Sons

James Smith & Sons is the oldest umbrella shop in Europe. It is close to the boutiques on New Oxford Street. The shop opened in 1830 and has not changed its location since 1857. The design of shop windows and interior is almost untouched by time. It sells elegant umbrellas for men and women, as well as walking sticks, starting at £30. The store has a portrait of Jonas Hanway, the first Londoner to use an umbrella.

20. Visit the Bank of England Museum

The museum, located in the East Wing of the Bank of England, in the heart of the City, is open to the public free of charge on weekdays. Here you can look at the collection of banknotes, coins, documents, paintings and sculptures. The most notable exhibit is a real gold bar weighing as small as a small child.

21. Look at the anatomical theater

Few people know about the existence of the Museum of the Old Anatomical Theatre. It is on St. Thomas Street near The Shard skyscraper. At this place 150 years ago, operations were performed in primitive ways without anesthesia, and most often patients died. Guides tell terrible stories about how experienced surgeons of the century before last amputated limbs with a deft stroke of a knife, and beginners used saws and wire cutters for this purpose. The museum houses the original trepanation and amputation instruments, as well as human organs "pickled" in formaldehyde, including lungs blackened by London smog. The cost of the tour is £5.90.

22. Buy a bouquet at the flower market

Every Sunday from 8 am to 3 pm Columbia Road is taken over by florists. And the street - one of the few in London, which consists entirely of shops - turns into an oasis of roses, lilies, tulips and other flowers. Some vendors grow their own plants, others buy them from abroad. The price of one bouquet - from 5 pounds sterling.

23. Go to a sale

Throughout London, sales of household items “out of the trunk of a car”, the so-called “car boot sales”, are arranged every now and then. For example, every Sunday there are sales on Battersea Park Road. You can get there for 0.5-5 pounds, depending on the time. Usually a lot of people come, the sale place is equipped with everything you need - tents with snacks and toilets.

24. Sit in a bar on the roof of a high-rise building

A good view increases appetite

Despite the fact that the London climate does not allow open-air bars to be kept all year round, drinking establishments are open on the roofs of some buildings during the warm season - Aqua Spirit (Regent Street), Vista (Trafalgar Square), Queen of Hoxton (Kurten Street). road) and Coq d'Argent (Poltry).

25. Stay late at one of London's museums

Some of the major museums and galleries in London are open at the end of the tour. Bars work here, guest DJs perform, and various events are organized. Such opportunities are available, for example, at the Science Museum on the last Wednesday of each month, at Tate Britain, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum on the last Friday of each month.

26. Take a ride on the river tram on the Thames

Water transport is popular in London. On it you can quickly and relatively cheaply get into Right place. With Thames Clippers, a day pass costs £12. There are convenient tourist routes, for example, from Tate Modern to Tate Britain or from the London Eye over London Bridge to the O2 area.

27. Admire the art collection at the Queen's Gallery

The Royal Collection is one of the largest art collections in the world. Over the course of 500 years, the crowned heads of Great Britain have preserved more than a million masterpieces of art. Part of the Royal Collection is the Queen's Gallery, located on the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Various events and exhibitions are regularly held here. In 2012 it will be possible to look at drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, diamonds and photographs of Queen Elizabeth II over the past 60 years. An adult ticket costs from £9.25.

28. Go to a free concert at St. Martin-in-the-Fields

St Martin-in-the-Fields is London's most famous parish church. It is located in Trafalgar Square. Among her parishioners are the inhabitants of Buckingham Palace, including members of the royal family. Even among Londoners, few people know that this church gives free concerts on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Mostly young musicians perform here.

29. Walk along the treetops in Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens is the Royal Botanic Garden in Richmond. Here you can find 50 thousand species of plants, among which are ferns, orchids, cacti, palm trees, tropical water lilies, limes, chestnuts and oaks. The garden contains lakes, greenhouses, walking paths, pavilions and museums. You can view all this beauty from a bird's eye view by climbing the 18-meter Xstrata Treetop Walkway.

30. Visit a designer clothing sale

One-time designer clothing sales take place in different places throughout London all year round, but most often - in the building of the old town hall in Chelsea. Regularly featured brands include Orla Kiely and Aubin & Wills. Discounts on their clothes sometimes reach 70% of the recommended retail price. You can find cheap deals for children.

31. Try Curry

Since the 1940s, immigrants from the former colonies of the mother country have come to London and brought with them recipes for exotic dishes, one of which is curry. This spicy dish of vegetables, stews and legumes has long been an integral part of the British culinary tradition. You can try it in the so-called "Banglatown", on Brick Lane, where the life of immigrants from Bangladesh is concentrated. There are many restaurants here. Another popular place is Tayyabs on Fieldgate Street (Whitechapel).

32. See Tower Bridge being raised

Tower Bridge is raised about 1,000 times a year, but these events are not subject to a strict schedule - it all depends on when exactly the ships will sail. Exact time can be found on the TowerBridge.org.uk website dedicated to the bridge.

33. Watch the Changing of the Guard

The changing of the guard takes place at Buckingham Palace daily at 11:30 am, except Sundays from April to July. The ceremony lasts 45 minutes, sometimes it is canceled due to bad weather. Usually a large crowd of spectators gathers, so it is better to come to the palace in advance, for example, at 10:45.

34. Walk through the Greenwich Pedestrian Tunnel

The Greenwich Foot Tunnel, which lies under the Thames in east London, was refurbished in 2012. At the exit from it you can get to the Maritime Museum and the Observatory. Photographs are not allowed in the tunnel, as flashes can cause seizures in epileptic patients.

35. Walk by candlelight at the Sir John Soane Museum

The 18th-century house, owned by the architect Sir John Soan, contains antiques from different eras. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday, but in the evening on the first Tuesday of every month there are special guided tours - by candlelight. It is recommended to come to this event in advance, because there are always too many people who want to get inside, and only the first 200 people in line receive tickets.

36. Enjoy cocktails and views at the Paramount Bar

View of London from the Paramount Bar

The Paramount Bar & Restaurant is located on floors 32-34 of the Center Point skyscraper on New Oxford Street. It is worth coming here not only to try a cocktail, but also to admire the view of London from the huge floor-to-ceiling windows. Entrance is free, but you need to notify about the visit in advance.

37. Participate in the London Festival 2012

In connection with the Olympic Games, there will be many events in London, but most of them will take place as part of the London 2012 festival. Concerts, theatrical performances, book fairs, art exhibitions, shows for children and more will be held in different places in the British capital.

38. Watch a show at The Scoop Amphitheater

The Scoop is an 800 seat outdoor amphitheater. It is located in More London - an area on the banks of the Thames next to Tower Bridge. Throughout the summer, there will be many cultural events that you can attend for free - concerts, film screenings and theatrical performances.

39. Walk through the Royal Parks

Five of the nine Royal Parks in the capital are located in the heart of London. These are St. James Park, Green Park, Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Walking along them, you can understand how unexpectedly luxurious and relaxing central London can be. A walk through five parks will take about three hours. Here it is worth seeing not only the lush vegetation. Regent's Park, for example, has an outdoor theatre, zoo and sports fields. Ceremonial parades are held in St. James Park, and there is also a lake with pelicans.

40. Solve riddles in the London archives

To learn more about London's history, visit the London Metropolitan Archives on Northampton Road. This center hosts regular tours and exhibitions. Collections of historical documents are also open to the general public. In the center you can find a collection of microfilms, a library that includes 100 thousand books, geographic Maps and genealogical sources.

41. Eat in Brixton Village

With the opening of Brixton Village off Atlantic Road in South London, the gastronomic climate has dramatically improved. The shopping arcade houses a dozen inexpensive eateries where you can taste delicious and original dishes. For example, Bellantoni’s serves dishes Italian cuisine, KaoSarn - Thai, Mama Lan - Chinese, and in the Relay Tea Room you can try different types of tea.

42. Explore Eltham Palace

The majestic Eltham Palace in the Art Deco style of the 14th-16th centuries was royal residence, and in the 1930s, wealthy spouses Stephen and Virginia Courtauld lived here with their pet, a lemur named Ma-Jong. The interior of the house is decorated in an eclectic style - it has elements of medieval and modern styles. Visitors will be interested to look at the achievements of technology - telephones in special booths, gas fireplaces, built-in wardrobes, as well as old works of art. The palace can be visited for £9.60.

43. Go to the spa

Many luxury hotels in London offer spa treatments. In one of them, Four Seasons in Park Lane for an hour-long back or facial massage starting at £99. The elegant rooms have a relaxing atmosphere: in a dimly lit room, you can enjoy herbal tea while listening to pleasant music. Down the same street, The Dorchester Hotel gives visitors a fresh look from movie stars, so it's a great place to pop in before a social event. Espa Life at The Corinthia Hotel (Whitehall) is also considered one of the best spa rooms.

44. Remember your childhood in the toy museum

Pollock's Toy Museum is a quiet place in Fitzrovia filled with vintage toys. Here are collected Board games, mechanical toys, puppets, teddy bears, dolls made of wax, wood, porcelain and fabric, dolls in costumes of different nations, as well as doll houses. An adult ticket costs from £3.

45. Visit the London Canal Museum

Little known to tourists, the London Canal Museum is located on New Wharf Road. Archival films and exhibits are collected here, telling about how the canals were built, how the builders lived and how the capital's arteries work.

46. ​​Check out the floating bookstore

World on the Water is London's only floating secondhand bookshop. The barge goes through Caiden Lock, Angel, Hackney and Paddington. It not only sells books, but also organizes musical performances and poetry competitions.

47. Learn to cook sweets

The owners of the William Curley store in Belgravia not only sell sweets, chocolate truffles, caramels and cakes, but also show how to make sweets. You can learn how to make truffles and caramel for £75-85, and for pastry for £90.

48. Take a beer tour

Fuller's beer is sold in pubs all over London. But you can not only try it, but also see how it is made - in a brewery located in Chiswick. During a 1.5-hour walk, employees answer questions from visitors and enlighten them about the intricacies of the production of barley drink. At the end of the tour, adult guests participate in a tasting. The cost of the tour is £10.

49. Look at the mayor's carriage and other exhibits of the Museum of London

Since the 13th century, there has been an annual ceremony during which the mayor of London solemnly drives through the city to swear allegiance to the monarch. From the 18th century to the present day, the mayors of the capital travel in the same gilded carriage. Those who missed the ceremony can look at the famous wagon at the London Museum. Other valuable exhibits belonging to different eras - Roman, medieval and modern are also stored there.

50. Reconnect with nature at Mudchute Urban Farm

City farms are scattered throughout London. The largest of them is Mudchute with an area of ​​13 hectares, located on the Isle of Dogs. It is open all year round, but most best time to visit - spring and summer. Here you can meet ordinary farm animals, as well as llamas. The local riding school is also popular. The entrance to the farm is free.

51. Leave half pay at Burlington Arcade

Burlington Arcade is an indoor arcade in the heart of Mayfair that houses expensive shops. Opening in 1819, it became the first shopping arcade in the UK. Paying homage to Burlington Arcade's rich past, contemporary vendors sell classic jewelery and timepieces, antiques and leather goods.

52. Take the kids to the workshop at the National Gallery

Every Sunday at 11 am and 2 pm National Gallery children from 5 to 11 years old are given free drawing lessons and master classes in applied art. Classes are so popular that all seats are filled an hour before the start, so you need to come here in advance. Children are allowed only when accompanied by an adult. Lessons last 80 minutes.

53. Visit the Whitechapel Bell Foundry

Whitechapel Bell Foundry is the UK's oldest manufacturing company. Bells have been made here since 1570. This factory produced Big Ben, the largest clock tower bell in the Palace of Westminster. The Whitechapel Bell Foundry is still open and hosts tours throughout the year for bell ringers. The ticket costs £12 and the tour lasts 90 minutes.

54. Ride the "ghost bus"

One of the creepiest sights in London is the black double-decker "ghost bus". Nearly every day between 7:30 pm and 9:00 pm, it departs from Northumberland Avenue near Trafalgar Square and passes various places marked by some terrible event. In particular, it passes Whitehall and Fleet Street, where the notorious demon barber Sweeney Todd was operating. Admission for an adult costs £18. The tour, during which the guide tells heartbreaking stories, lasts 75 minutes.

55. Watch a performance in the West End

You can't be in London and not see at least one performance in the West End. This item has long been mandatory in any tourism program. Here they give different performances - from the classic "King of Llyr" to "Othello" in the hip-hop style. Tickets for popular productions typically cost between £19 and £34.50.

56. Conquer the summit at Castle Climbing Center

The imposing rock climbing center in north London looks like a castle, but is actually a Victorian building. Classes here are suitable for both experienced climbers and beginners. One visit costs £12.50.

57. Play table tennis at the Book Club

The Book Club on Leonard Street in Shoreditch, London has become a mecca for ping pong lovers. The owners of the club provide guests with a table for the game and necessary equipment. The competition reaches its peak on Tuesdays at 19:00. People come here not only to play table tennis, but also to taste Tasty food listen to music and just chat.

58. Taste expertly made cocktails

According to connoisseurs, London has long surpassed New York in terms of making cocktails. It is in the British capital that the most unusual and incendiary drinking mixtures are created. You can try them in different places, for example, at the Worship Street Whistling Shop in Shoreditch, Purl in Marylebone, American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, London Cocktail Club in Westminster and others.

59. Look at the mummified English philosopher

Jeremy Bentham - English sociologist, lawyer, founder of utilitarianism, one of the trends in English philosophy. After his death in 1832, his body was preserved and transferred to University College London. It is still kept in a glass-enclosed booth in this educational institution on Gower Street. The mummified corpse and the philosopher's clothes are identical, but the head is made of wax - the students stole the real one.

60. Visit Olympic Venues

Naturally, it is worth visiting the venues of the Olympic Games. Guided tours travel company Blue Badge Tourist Guides in 28 languages, including Russian. Eat hiking from Bromley-by-Bow station, tours of the three main Olympic venues and an introduction to activities in Greenwich Park.

61. Visit the Poor School Museum

In the Victorian era in London there were charitable educational institutions for the poor, the so-called "ragged schools" (ragged schools). Today one of them houses a museum. Children can not only visit the expositions, but also go to a demonstration lesson every first Sunday of the month. It is worth remembering that in the 19th century, teaching methods were very different from modern ones. For example, a “cap of shame” could be put on a disobedient student. Entrance to the museum is free.

62. Admire the peacocks in Holland Park

Peacocks roam freely in Holland Park in Kensington. These birds add mystery and elegance to a well-groomed city garden. They are especially good during the mating season, when the males open their magnificent tails. At this time, peacocks wandering in search of a partner can be found not only in the park, but also on the nearby streets.

63. Buy something cheap at the Frank G Bowen Auction House

The Frank G Bowen auction house is located in Leytonstone. Here, lost items are sold under the hammer, whose owners could not be found. Since this place is located near the city center, and the assortment of goods is diverse, it is not surprising that there are a lot of visitors. In that auction house you can make a bargain, for example, buy a bicycle for 10 pounds. The auction usually presents different things: from clothes and cosmetics to equipment and vehicles.

64. Visit the refurbished Kensington Palace

After a two-year restoration, for which £12 million was spent, Kensington Palace appeared before the public in all its glory. The luxurious interior was made to look even more dazzling, and additional showrooms were opened. At the exhibition dedicated to Queen Victoria, you can hear amazing stories from the life of a monarch. The renovated garden is also worth a visit. There are also shops, cafes, terraces and walking paths. Tickets cost £14.50 and children under 16 are free.

65. Walk around the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

The St Pancras Renaissance is a luxurious five-star hotel located on King's Cross. The building is not like other hotels. The design combines the features of classic and contemporary styles. This hotel is called a national treasure and the pride of London. Guided tours are provided by Royden Stock and tickets cost £20. During the day, the price includes tea, coffee and pastries, in the evening - a glass of sparkling wine.

66. Go to a floating puppet show

The Puppet Barge is a barge anchored on the Grand Union Canal that houses a puppet theater. This place is popular with families, but the intriguing performances are interesting not only for children, but also for adults. Performances based on Aesop's fables, works by William Shakespeare, Federico Garcia Lorca and others are given here. An adult ticket costs £10, a child ticket is £8.5.

67. Take a needlework lesson at Drink, Shop & Do

Drink, Shop & Do in King's Cross is a bar, shop and learning center rolled into one. Here you can learn how to make papier-mache crafts or fold origami while sipping cocktails for free. Drink, Shop & Do sells stationery, jewelry and household items. Many of them are handmade by London craftsmen and artists. The interior of the establishment is constantly changing, as its hostesses love to rearrange.

68. Feel Inspired During High Tea At Attitude London

Every Sunday, the gospel choir performs on the 29th floor of Milbank Tower in Pimlico. The ticket costs £49. As for the menu, they serve different types of bread, meat with bones, vegetarian dishes, pies, ice cream, teas and coffees. From here you can get to the observation deck, from where a 360 ° view of London opens up.

69. Feel like a circus performer

Not everyone can afford to give up everything and go wandering along with a traveling circus. However, the basic tricks can be taught at the Circus Space Academy in Hoxton. Courses include trapeze, acrobatics, tightrope walking and more.

70. Marvel at the originality of trendy designer bars

New bars are popping up all the time in London, but few of them remain consistently popular with the capital's designers, stylists and other fashion experts. Among them are Zenna with plush seats and otherworldly lighting located in Soho, VOC in the style of the 17th century in King's Cross, as well as Ruby & Sequoia in Notting Hill, Dalston Superstore in Dalston, Paramount in Soho and others.

71. Walk through the places of Jack the Ripper

A lot has happened since the enigmatic Jack the Ripper brutally murdered five women in 1888, but his memory has not faded. The area of ​​crime is concentrated in a small corner of the East End - Whitechaple. Today, excursions are held here, during which the guide tells different horror stories about the legendary assassin. Routes vary. Some start at Whitechapel station, then history buffs follow Durward Street, where the body of the first victim, Polly Nichols, was found, and then to other places, including Spitafields Markets and Brick Lane. At the end of the tour, it is recommended to look into The Ten Bells pub. According to rumors, some of the victims of Jack the Ripper were its regular visitors.

72. Have fun in a floating cabaret

Tucked away on the south bank of the Thames between Vauxhall and Battersea, the Battersea barge houses a cabaret with a warm and relaxed atmosphere. There is a bar that serves a variety of dishes, including traditional British dishes, and also provides visitors with a large selection of wines. On Fridays and Saturdays, incendiary parties are held on the barge. Live music is played in the cabaret, the organizers invite DJs and various performers.

73. Visit the house of John Keats

John Keats is the third (along with Byron and Shelley) great poet of the younger generation of English Romantics. He managed to make a great contribution to literature before he died of tuberculosis at the age of 25. Today, his home in Hampstead is open to the public. Many personal items are stored there, among which is an engagement ring given to him by his beloved Fanny Bron.

74. Try pie and mashed potatoes at A. Cookes

A. Cookes on Goldhawk Street serves traditional English dishes such as meat pies, mashed potatoes, puddings and fried eels. Meals are cheap and you can take them with you. The establishment was founded by Alfred Cook in 1899 and has been owned by the same family since 1934. A. Cookes is closed on Sundays.

75. Eat a bagel in Brick Lane

Brick Lane is home to two adjacent 24-hour convenience stores that sell London-famous bagels. They are served with different toppings such as salmon, corned beef or cheese and cost only £2-3. Judging by the reviews of enthusiastic tourists, this is one of the best places to satisfy your hunger in London.

76. Admire the Royal Stables

At Buckingham Palace there is a stable that houses a 4-ton gilded carriage that has been used during the coronation ceremonies of all British monarchs since 1821. Usually a visit to the stable lasts about an hour, and there are also audio tours lasting 45 minutes. The entrance ticket costs £8.25.

77. Walk around the London Wetland Center

London Wetland Centre, located in Barnes, attracts wildlife enthusiasts. 200 species of water birds live here. There are walking paths, for those who wish, organize free tours. The entrance ticket costs £10.99. For £45, experts give lessons about animals and birds. In addition, under the supervision of the custodian of the center, it is allowed to feed the birds.

78. Greet new residents of Madame Tussauds

Wax figures of William and Kate, the Earl and Countess of Cambridge, have appeared in Madame Tussauds on Baker Street. They look exactly like the day they got engaged. You can also look at sports stars, musicians, politicians and other celebrities. The entrance ticket costs 30 pounds sterling.

79. Learn a lot at a free lecture

Founded in 1597, Gresham College has been giving free public lectures for over 400 years. Professors of commerce and finance, theology, law, astronomy, rhetoric and other sciences share their experience with everyone. Gresham College is London's oldest university educational institution. You can find him in Holborn.

80. Learn how to mix cocktails

A small bar on Colebrook Row is one of the most popular in London. Here you can try cocktails and learn how to mix them during master classes. Ingredients include bourbon, tequila, gin, champagne and whiskey. One session costs £40.

81. Experiment with ice cream at Chin Chin Laboratorists

The Chin Chin Laboratorists Café in Camden has something special for its patrons: it is the first establishment in Europe to use liquid nitrogen to make ice cream. The special dish is Rambutan & Rose, a sherbet made from the exotic nephelium fruit, rose water and lime zest.

82. Sing under the ukulele in karaoke

Those who are tired of the usual karaoke should try to sing songs to the live music of the KaraUke band playing the ukulele, the national Hawaiian instrument. They perform in different parts of London on one Thursday of every month. KaraUke doesn't have as big a repertoire as a karaoke machine, but they can prepare a few songs if asked in advance.

83. See justice in action

Open hearings are held at the Royal Court of Justice, which are open to all who wish to attend. Every time considered different cases, the process is exciting and allows you to get acquainted with the intricacies of the British judicial system. The courthouse itself is remarkable, resembling a fairy-tale palace.

84. Watch the closing of the Tower

The Key Ceremony is a traditional ritual in which the Keepers of the Keys close the Tower of London. This has been happening every night for 700 years. Tourists are allowed to attend the ceremony free of charge. This action is popular, so it is better to come to the Tower in advance. Some dates are booked months in advance.

85. Plunge into the magical world of Harry Potter

All the Harry Potter films have already been shot, but the scenery and props remain. They are kept at Warner Bros. Today, everyone can look at them during the tour. There's Hagrid's motorcycle, a stuffed giant spider Aragog over 5m wide, character costumes, and more. Visitors can walk along the pavement of Diagon Alley, look at the crockery on the dining room table at Hogwarts, and the books on the shelves in Dumbledore's office. The main exhibit is a 1:24 scale model of Hogwarts. It was used during the filming of the exterior of the building in the first six films. Admission is £21 for children and £28 for adults. There is also a fan shop selling everything from candy to replicas of Dumbledore's robes.

86. Look at the tallest sculpture in the UK

The almost completed ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture is located at the Olympic Stadium in East London. It is the tallest building in the country. It contains two viewing platforms with 360° views of the 100 hectare Olympic Park and Stratford. The sculpture, designed by Anish Kapoor, has already been compared to the Eiffel Tower.

87. Shop at Selfriges Department Store

Selfriges is the most famous department store in London, located on Oxford Street. A personal consultant will help you navigate the abundance of goods. For example, a stylist can choose the right clothes from the latest collections. Such assistance is free, but you should count on large purchases.

88. Buy cheap things

There are many charity shops in London, as they call shops that sell second-hand items and donate proceeds to charity. In them you can find different goods, even comes across designer clothing, which is several times cheaper than in expensive boutiques, or even completely new things in excellent condition. With any luck, you can find a cocktail dress for under £20. There are such shops, for example, in Pimlico (Sue Ryder Cancer Care, Hospices of Hope, Oxfam, Fara, Trinity Hospice), in Highgate (RSPCA, Mind, Green Room, Cancer Research, Oxfam), on Galloway Road (Sense, Scope , British Heart Foundation), in Clapham (British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research, Trinity Hospice, Age UK, Save the Children) and elsewhere.

89. Get lost in the maze

The Hampton Palace of Justice has had a labyrinth since about 1700, with many bizarre twists, unexpected turns and dead ends. Its area is about 1400 m². It is the oldest surviving hedge maze in the UK. He is so famous that he is even mentioned in Jerome K. Jerome's book "Three Men in a Boat, Not Counting the Dog."

90. Imagine coffee shops of the past

Coffeehouses have existed in London since 1652, when the first establishment of this type was opened on St. Michael's Alley. According to contemporaries, at the beginning of the 18th century there were more than 3,000 coffee houses in London, but today's historians believe that there were only 550 of them. Each had its own unique style. For example, the walls of Don Saltero's were decorated with stuffed animals; in Lunt's one could not only drink coffee, but also shave at the barber and listen to lectures on the abolition of slavery at the same time; there was even a floating coffee shop, Folly of the Thames, where dances were held. Today there are audio tours that tell about the history of London coffee houses.

91. Immerse yourself in the world of celestial bodies in the observatory

in Greenwich royal observatory there is a unique 28-inch refractor telescope, built in 1893, which is the largest in the UK and the seventh largest in the world. On dark winter evenings, visitors look through it at the same constellations that so fascinated astronomers in the 19th century.

92. Tasting wine at The Sampler

Shop window The Sampler

The Sampler is a shop-bar on Old Brompton Road where you can buy wine to go or just taste different varieties. This establishment is good because it makes elite drinks available to the masses. Here you can order a small portion of wine for only 30 pence. Takeaway drinks cost between £10 and £200.

93. Eat what they give in the "dinner with no alternatives"

There are countless cafes and restaurants in London, where visitors can order whatever their heart desires. Recently, eateries of the opposite type have begun to appear, with a limited menu of 1-2 courses. Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecôte restaurants in Marylebone and the City, for example, serve green salad with walnuts, steak sauce and fried potatoes. And all this for £21. The only choice guests can make is how the steak is prepared. Burger & Lobster in Mayfair serves, as the name implies, only steaks and lobsters, accompanied by salad and fries. A serving costs £20.

94. Make shoes in I Can Make Shoes

Dalston has a workshop called I Can Make Shoes where you can make the shoes of your dreams or simply refurbish old shoes. Training courses last from several hours to several days, after which you can take on any job, from making sandals and ballet flats to fashionable stilettos. The owners of this workshop proved that making shoes is easy.

95. Join the owls at the London Zoo

During daylight hours, the zoo is mostly owned by families with children. However, in June and July there are adult-only events on Friday nights. The show starts at nightfall: there are performances in the aquarium, a cabaret opens in the amphitheater, spirits are served in the bar, and picnics are organized on the lawns. The entrance ticket costs 25 pounds sterling.

96. Go down to Churchill's bunker

In Westminster, there is a combat post for monitoring the operational situation, from where Winston Churchill gave orders during the Second World War. The bunker remained in the same form as it was left in August 1945. Personal items used by the British Prime Minister are stored here: telephones, documents and even cigars.

97. Sit on a bench in Richmond Park

Quiet and spacious, Richmond Park is full of unexplored corners. One of its most unusual sights is a bench erected in memory of the singer Ian Dury. It is equipped with solar panels and a headphone jack. By connecting to the player, you can listen to the musician's songs, including Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.

98. Get new knowledge in the Frontline club

Frontline - a club in Paddington whose members are prominent journalists and other media workers mass media. Exhibitions, lectures, training seminars and debates are regularly held here. Everyone can attend them. The entrance fee is usually £150, and seats must be booked in advance.

99. Explore art in the East End

On the first Thursday of every month, over 100 galleries and museums across East London are open late. The program includes guided tours of art exhibitions, concerts and performances. If you're lucky, you can treat yourself to beer for free. A free bus follows the route.

2017-01-17 22:26:49

uhhhhhh have you got an answer?

Intestine Slave

2017-10-31 13:21:42

I am often asked where can I go in London in the evening - eat, listen to music, take a walk, just relax? How often tourists find themselves in expensive and absolutely tasteless eateries near the main tourist routes - Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, etc. But in London there are a huge number of original, traditional, refined and simply interesting places where you can relax in the evening. Here is my personal selection.

1. Traditional English tea ceremony

It seems to me that every person who comes to London should definitely get to "afternoon tea" - a traditional English tea ceremony. By the way, it can be ordered at any time of the day. All famous old London hotels hold this ceremony. The best - in the oldest and most famous hotels in London - Ritz (http://www.theritzlondon.com/), Dochester (www.thedorchester.com/), Claridges (www.claridges.co.uk/). During the tea party, you will be served sandwiches, scones (traditional English buns) with jam and cream, various cakes and, of course, delicious English tea (you can also order champagne). Ceremony setting (ancient English hotel, traditionally dressed waiters playing the piano) - amazing. You will see a real English tradition, try what the British really eat for tea and just have a great time in an atmosphere of English luxury! Of course, I don't go to "afternoon tea" every Sunday, but I often take visiting friends and relatives and the experience is unforgettable for everyone. You can book a tea ceremony on the website of each specific hotel. Also on the site www.lastminute.com often sell tickets for this event with big discounts.

2. Vintageenglish pub

This is where you can really feel the real English atmosphere. The pub is the second home for the English. People come here not just to have a drink. Families often come here for Sunday lunch, friends meet here, deals are made. Of course, when you come to London, you just have to try a real English beer (or Aile) in an English pub. There are several old English pubs in London, and many of them are fighting for the title of the oldest (it is not known for certain which of them is the oldest). In the Covent Garden area, I advise you to go to a pub Lamb&Flag(33 Rose St, WC2), which is located in a Tudor building (15th - 17th centuries) and has been an official pub since 1623. There is another interesting pub nearby City of York(22 High Holborn, WC1) - a drinking establishment has been standing on this site since 1420. If you find yourself in the City of London area, then I strongly advise you to go to a cult place Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese(145 Fleet St, EC4). This pub was frequented by celebrities such as Charles Dickens and Samuel Johnson. The pub looks like nothing has changed since it was rebuilt in 1667 (it burned down in the Great Fire of London in 1666). And if you decide to go to St. Paul's Cathedral, then there is another old pub very close to it Ye Olde Watling(29 Watling St, EC4). It is said that this pub was opened specifically for the workers who built St. Paul's Cathedral under the direction of the famous architect Christopher Wren. After all, the previous version of the cathedral burned down in a fire in 1666.

3. London's oldest jazz club Ronnie Scotts (http://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/)

The best jazz musicians from Great Britain, Europe and America perform here. The club opened in 1959 and was the London equivalent of the famous jazz clubs of the 40s and 50s. New York. Now amazing jazz concerts are held here, but keep in mind that tickets must be bought in advance (it is almost impossible to buy tickets at the entrance). The club has a real jazz atmosphere - small tables, subdued lights, excellent food, but you can't see the smoke from cigars (in London it is forbidden to smoke in public places). Ticket prices are very reasonable - 40-60 pounds per person (food is paid separately).

4. Walk along the South Bank of the Thames in the Southbank Center area (http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/)

If the weather is good, an evening walk along the south bank of the Thames is a great way to spend an evening. The walk can be started by simply crossing Westminster Bridge (at the British Parliament and Big Ben). On the other (south) side of the Thames is a beautiful embankment, where fairs, festivals, concerts are often held, where it is always noisy and fun. There are a lot of delicious restaurants and just eateries. The walk can be combined with a visit to the Southbank Center itself. This is the center of contemporary art, where exhibitions, concerts, art symposiums are often held. And in the summer on open area The Southbank Center opens its own bar where you can drink a traditional English summer Pimm's cocktail and enjoy a great view of London.

5. soho entertainment district

Soho is the entertainment district. Here are the best clubs, bars and restaurants in London. The best thing to do is to just walk around Soho and choose a place to your liking. There are no pretentious clubs here, and unless you are drunk as hell, they will let you in almost everywhere. Keep in mind that Soho is also famous for its gay clubs, and if you are not one of them (at least according to the bouncers standing at the entrance), you may be politely told that "you do not belong here." Soho is bordered by the West End musical district, Chinatown and Covent Garden. The nearest tube stations are Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Tottenham Court Road.

Photo: flickr.com by Aldo Villalon

In order to see the British capital from all angles and learn all the most interesting about it, it is far from always necessary to have large banknotes in your wallet. London offers a lot of ways to have a great and extremely budget-friendly time. ride on cable car, see the panorama of the city and visit unusual excursions - the ZagraNitsa portal has collected 10 ideas for you for an interesting and economical pastime in the capital of Great Britain!

Check out the Tate Modern restaurant

And enjoy the beautiful view. You can dine for up to 20 pounds in many metropolitan establishments, but where else can you watch such an amazing landscape outside the window, if not in a restaurant? Another argument in favor of such a holiday is that the entrance to the gallery itself is free. As a result, you will join the art and have a good time afterwards.

Go on an excursion

We are not talking about the fact that upon arrival in London you definitely need to buy a ticket for banal excursions like walking around or immediately running to (although getting to know iconic places the capital is also worth). But there are plenty of other original tours in London that will be even more exciting than going to Buckingham Palace. For example, a walk through the habitats in the capital of ghosts and a tour dedicated to Jack the Ripper. Well, if you are interested in seeing where the entrance to the Ministry of Magic is located in London, go on tours of the Harry Potter filming locations. On the London Walks website, tours cost around £10.

Take a ride on Emirates Air Line

For 4.5 pounds, fans of extreme sensations can ride the Emirates Air Line passenger cable car. It will not only take you across the River Thames from the Royal Docks to Greenwich Borough, but will also give you a beautiful view of the city.

Check out the flea market on Portobello Road

Do not be afraid and immediately imagine a market where untidy migrants are trying to foist a completely unnecessary product on a tourist. Swap meet on Portobello Road is one of the most famous in the world, and even famous personalities living in London do not disdain them. Here, at a ridiculous price, you can grab valuable antiques or designer clothes.

Drink a traditional English ale in a traditional English pub

Pubs and beer are an integral part of English culture, and not visiting at least one of them while in London is akin to a crime. Even in a city that has been around for hundreds of years and seen Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens, you can order a pint of delicious ale or lager, a hearty snack (prefer traditional fish and chips) and keep within a 20-pound budget. As a bonus to such pastime - acquaintance with English culture and local mentality.

Ride on the Thames

A walk along the most famous river of Foggy Albion is not only an opportunity to relax after a busy city tour, but also a great way to get to know the capital's sights (or see them again). Paying 18 pounds for a ticket, you can drive under the famous one, see Westminster Abbey, Shakespeare's Globe and the lights of Canary Wharf. The main thing is to choose a sunny day for a walk!

Before you close the door of your rented house behind you and set out to explore the streets of the great capital, take a look at our short log book, which we have compiled based on our own experience.

What to Avoid

Yes, yes, do not be surprised: you can enjoy the view of the historical fortress (and especially the sea of ​​ceramic poppies) at a distance, but there is always a colossal queue nearby.

Local showbiz and nightclub hub with a 19th century Shakespeare statue in the center and the Odeon cinema to the east. The square is covered with indistinct clubs and crowds of young people, and Shakespeare himself is better to read than to look at him - and even in the company of dolphins.

Main shopping street in London; it is difficult to find so many people in one place even on Red Square on New Year's Eve.

What to see

Naturally, there are always a lot of people around, but the architecture is absolutely amazing and worth it to get lost in the crowd of Japanese.

Yes, you will have to stand in a long queue, but the view from above is gorgeous, plus while you are walking to the wheel, you can appreciate the beauty of the Thames embankment. It is better to buy tickets in advance - you can do it here.

Walk from Trafalgar Square through St. James Park to Buckingham Palace. You will like the road more than the palace itself (quite a boring thing). You can reward yourself for the kilometers traveled in The Clarence pub (4 Dover Street) - be sure to try the iconic fish and chips there (one serving is enough for two).

The iconic Borough Market, in the London Borough of Southwark, is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 5 pm, on Fridays from 10:00 to 18:00, and on Saturdays from 8:00 to 17:00 (on Sundays in London almost nothing works at all). This is one of the oldest and largest food markets in the whole city (and maybe the country), where you can always grab fresh burgers, tapas or sandwiches. Be sure to try coffee at Monmouth Coffee (2 Park Street) and lunch at Wright Brothers Oyster & Porter House(11 Stoney Street) - it's all in the same place, near the market.

Where to drink

Well, you can open a separate magazine about pubs in London, so we'll only tell you about the ones we've been to. We will assume that you have already looked into The Clarence, now remember the new names: The Pontefract Castle(73 Wigmore Street) and The Walrus and The Carpenter(45 Monument Street): Both are owned by Nicholson's and both serve excellent steaks. At the Walrus and the Carpenter, try pork sausages with signature sauce, and at the Pontefract, creamy puree with fish steak and lamb burger.

There are a couple of pubs in the Chelsea area, notable not only for their quality cuisine, but also for the atmosphere of universal peace and timelessness: this The Anglesea Arms(15 Selwood Terrace) and great The Pig's Ear(35 Old Church Street). In the latter, pork subperitoneum is highly recommended.

Where to spend a stormy night

You can devote every evening of your stay in the British capital to visiting London gentlemen's clubs (unless, of course, you get tired of the evening attention of Romanian, Slovak and other virgins). We recommend that you check in the two biggest ones: and Secrets.

Stringfellow's clubs, headed by the famous London rake and thunderstorm of local moralists Peter Stringfellow, are two of the friendliest establishments: the title one in Covent Garden (16-19 Upper St Martin's Lane) and the Angels in Soho (201/203 Wardour Street).

Secrets is the largest chain of gentlemen's clubs in London, run by another night tycoon, Stephen Less. There are 7 of them in London, but you should definitely visit two: Secrets Covent Garden (51 Parker Street) and Secrets Euston (34/38 Eversholt Street) (the latter, by the way, had a big, big reopening at the beginning of this November: the owner revealed to us that spent more than 2 million pounds on it). If the craving for elastic Eastern European female bodies does not fade away, you can also look at The Gaslight of St. James's (4 Duke Of York Street) - the girls are also good there, and the local hostess Melanie will do her best to make you spend the evening as pleasant as possible. Just hurry: next year, Melanie will retire and hand over control to the daughter of the great Paul Gascoigne - Bianca Gascoigne.

Of the bars, we note Nightjar, which took third place in the list of the best bars in the world this year (in our opinion, Nightjar, 129 City Road): a vintage place with live music (blues, jazz - even rumba, damn it!) And extremely quickly shakes the mind a cocktail card divided into four eras: Pre-Prohibition, Prohibition, Post-War, and Special.