9 things to do on a tag-along trip to London

A few weeks ago, I spent nine days in London, England tagging along on Steve’s business travel. We had visited London together once before for a long weekend, which freed me up to do things a bit less touristy this time. So, based on my experience, here are some recommendations if you’re planning a week-long London trip.

Rent an Apartment

For a week’s stay, we almost always use Airbnb to rent an apartment. This gives us the freedom to cook some meals and makes it comfortable for me to keep up with my work and clients back home. The biggest bonus is getting a sense for a particular neighbourhood. You really start to feel like a local after a few days. We stayed in the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Leathermarket, which had a good mix of pubs, grocery stores and restaurants. It also had a lovely little garden park we walked through every day.

Use the Underground or a Santander Bike

These two transit options are relatively inexpensive and also allow you to experience London from a local’s perspective. I found the underground to be accessible and fast and using Google maps, very easy to navigate.

The Santander bike share program is also a great option. For £2 a day, you can take a bike and cycle for 30 minutes before having to dock it at another Santander station (to avoid a charge of another £2). We used them a few times for commuting, but if cycling London’s streets are a bit too much adventure for you, use them in one of London’s fabulous parks. You can find the list of stations here or use the mobile app.

Visit The Clink Museum

I passed by this museum by chance while walking one day. I took a couple of hours one weekday afternoon to visit and it was well worth the £7.50 admission. There were only a few others there and I learned quite a bit. For example, the prison was nicknamed “the clink” based on the sound of the blacksmith banging the manacles in place around a prisoner’s wrists.

Actually, it was pretty gruesome, but at the same time fascinating. As you walk through the dark and gloomy building, you’ll see recreations of prison cells and innumerable devices used to torture suspected criminals and prisoners.

The museum has a peculiar vibe in that it covers very serious subject-matter but also tries to make the experience “fun.” At the end of the visit, you can have your photo taken behind bars, which, of course, I did.

Visit the V & A Museum

London’s major museums are free. FREE! We visited a few this trip, but the one that really stood out for me was the V & A Museum. It boasts 3,000 years of artifacts from around the world. I really loved the fashion section of the museum and the “What is Luxury?” exhibition. Because I did this visit solo I could linger in exhibits Steve would have found less interesting. If you’re into design, you’ll want to spend hours here.

Visit a Park

London’s parks are a lovely respite from city life. Go for a walk, run, or get on a Santander bike and enjoy.

One of my favourite spots is the Princess Diana Memorial fountain in the southwest coner of Hyde Park. I love that the fountain winds around and is a mix of still and turbulent waters – apparently designed that way to reflect her life experience. I also think it’s wonderful that kids wade in the fountain and interact with it, unlike a statue or another kind of monument.

I also think Speakers’ Corner Sunday mornings is a must-do. It’s located on the northeast corner of Hyde Park. Here, anyone with something to say can climb up on his or her soapbox and hold court. It’s a celebration of free speech and has seen orators such as Karl Marx and George Orwell. We’ve done this both times we were in London. Have to say the first time was more dynamic, with numerous speakers having their say. There were only two speakers this time around. Hope this tradition is not dying out.

Take in a Local Event

We were fortunate to be visiting London during Pride in London. We knew we had to attend the parade. How often do you get to experience an event attended by a million people?

The parade took place the day after the United States Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in that country so it was especially poignant. We are always up for attending a local event because these are often unique experiences you won’t find elsewhere.

See a Show

You’re in the land of stupendous live theatre. Go see something! This is what we choose to see:

Alice’s Adventures Underground – This is an interactive adult theater experience that I found simply magical (there’s a kids’ version as well). The show follows the basic storyline of Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. Early in the proceedings, audience members are asked to either “eat something” or “drink something” offered to them. You’ll go in a different direction depending on which you choose. Steve and I took different paths so had a slightly different experience, although we met up again in the middle. This was super fun! The sets are amazing and you really feel part of the story as you wander through various rooms and interact with the actors. There are no photos allowed inside, but trust me, it’s well worth taking in.

The Play That Goes Wrong – We got half-price tickets for this West End show and thoroughly enjoyed this uproarious tale of a production that goes horribly, horribly wrong in every way possible. Sets crumble, actors get knocked out and yes, hilarity ensures. Pure fun and lots of laughs.

Take an Unseen Tour

Unseen Tours is an award-winning social enterprise that offers tours of London neighbourhoods led by homeless, formerly homeless, and the vulnerably housed.

You might think this sounds grim, but it’s just the opposite. We took a fabulous tour of Camden with our guide Mike. We got an insider’s look at this popular neighourhood, known for its alternative music scene, from someone who knows the area inside and out.

The tour took us beyond the colourful, if somewhat gritty, storefronts popular with tourists to the posh Primrose Hill neighbourhood tucked just behind it where many celebrities live. You can’t imagine two areas more different from each other. Mike laced the tour with personal stories including brushes with fame while reflecting upon the many changes to his neighbourhood over the decades. Mike’s engaging and entertaining storytelling made this tour top-notch.

He also shared how he unwittingly fell into homelessness after losing his job as a senior manager during the 2009 financial crisis. Mike was very matter-of-fact about it even as he recalled how he couldn’t fathom becoming homeless at the height of his career. While sharing what must have been a desperate and dark time in his life, Mike managed to convey hope and optimism, as well as gratitude for the opportunity with Unseen Tours.

If you’re going to do a walking tour of London, make it an Unseen Tour for a unique and uplifting experience that also contributes to an outstanding initiative.

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