10 Great cheap things to do in London

Unfortunately summer is finishing (sorry I didn’t mean to depress anyone), the sun is hiding and the summer plans are over. Outdoor cinema and opera, a day at the swimming pool or a bbq in the park are some of the plans that we have been proposing over the summer. But surely you have already discovered that London is a city very rich in possibilities which offers thousands of alternatives, even when the weather is not so good… If you have run out of ideas but you’re tired of the routine (going to the same pub, going to a cinema to watch the latest release), here there is a list of the best great things you can do in the city:

Bohemian trip with FirstThursdays

As you may know, one of London’s greatest attractions is the large number of museums, galleries and other cultural institutions that the city has, which are great attractions for tourists, who like the fact that they are free.

In London you can find the oldest public museum in the world (the famous British Museum) or the most controversial graffiti hidden in an alley in the legendary borough of Brick Lane. A wide range of possibilities that includes thousands of galleries and artists’ studios, characteristic for its fascinating avant-garde activity where you will find exceptional exhibitions.

 

Escaping from London: Destination, Canterbury

A few days ago we published a Post talking about our one-day-trip in Oxford. We enjoyed a lot escaping, at least during a few hours, from this stressful city. We needed to repeat the experience before the summer ends so we planned everything and, taking advantage of a sunny day, we left London. Destination: Canterbury.

Canterbury is located in the South East of England, 100 km away from London (if you draw a straight line in the map) or less than two hours by National Express Coach. It belongs to the county of Kent and it is famous because it is the main religious center in the UK and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Church of England (Canterbury is to Anglicans the same that Rome is for Catholics). Its cathedral is impressive. It was an important center of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages (which continues today) and became famous in Geoffrey Chaucer´s play “The Canterbury Tales”.

Oxford: the perfect getaway

As you could see, those who follow us on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram last Saturday we made a one day getaway to Oxford. This town is world famous for its impressive and respected university, the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although it is unknown the exact date of foundation, there is evidence of academic activity since the 1096, so it has almost a century of history. A century in which its colleges have seen pass through its corridors to twenty-six prime ministers of the country and such notable personalities as Oscar Wilde, JRR Tolkien or Stephen Hawking.

It is the perfect place to immerse yourself in British culture and get away from the big city, walking through the beautiful gardens and discover the buildings that host the brightest minds in the country.

Get lost in the Neighbourhood

Si en cualquier ciudad o pueblo el verano es la época del año propicia para disfrutar de las calles, de largos paseos, de cerveza en las terracitas, etc, aquí en Londres se convierte en la única época en la que posible, a menos que seas nivel avanzado en aclimatación, o que esa cerveza se convierta en unas cuantas que te ayuden a entrar en calor. En esta entrada os proponemos disfrutar de las calles de un barrio londinense que sólo existe durante el verano. Se trata del  Neighbourhood Festival, y aunque no sea un barrio propiamente dicho, sino un festival de verano, des  de aquí le adjudicamos el honor de ser el barrio más inteligente de la ciudad. Este espacio lúdico abre sus puertas hasta el 8 de septiembre en el Southbank Centre.

A lo largo del verano,  este festival celebra lo que significa vivir en un vecindario y formar parte de una comunidad, invitando a todo aquel que se acerque a compartir sus experiencias, talentos y energía. Para ello, el Southbank Centre se transforma y recrea las calles de un barrio convencional, vivo y lleno de actividades para todos sus públicos.

If in any city or town summer is the proper time of year to enjoy the streets, long walks, a beer in terraces, etc., here in London becomes the only time when it is possible, unless you are in the acclimatization advanced level, or that beer becomes a few to help you get warm. In this post we intend you to enjoy the streets of a London borough that exists only during the summer. This is the Neighbourhood Festival, and even if it is not an actual neighbourhood, but a summer festival, from here we ascribe it the honor of being the smartest neighborhood of the city. This space is open until September 8 at the Southbank Centre.

Throughout the summer, this festival celebrates what it means to be a community and to live in neighborhoods. They invite people to share their experiences, talents and energy. For this the Southbank Centre is transformed into a neighbourhood, full of life and activities for all audiences.