12 Reasons to Love London

I have been lucky enough to travel to London five times now. But even still, after each visit, it only reminds me that this city takes years to fully discover. Every visit reveals something new to appreciate, a hidden corner waiting to impress or yet another favourite site to see. I love London. If it wasn’t so crazy expensive I’d probably live there. But since that is a dream yet to be realized, I’ll settle for visiting her every opportunity I get. Here are my top 12 reasons to love London!

It’s the Perfect Mix of Old and New

I love how London can feel so cutting edge and modern, while still maintaining its incredible history. One time, we stayed within walking distance to a section of the ancient Roman wall and it took my breath away. Standing next to this old defensive wall, I could take in the new city skyline with the London Eye, the Shard, the Gherkin, etc. I love how you can stand amidst all the flashing lights and crowds of say Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square and within a short walk find an old, quiet cobblestone street. It’s simply the perfect mix.

The Banks of the River Thames are Picturesque

Yes, many cities have a lovely river that runs through it but there’s something special to be said about the River Thames. Especially if you catch it early in the morning as the city awakens. I especially love walking the South Bank from the National Theatre past the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe, and over to the London Bridge.

There’s No Shortage of Theatre, Art, Dance…

One of the reasons I always want to head back to London is because I know there’s great theatre to see. We spend so much time in the West End and for good reason! But I always make sure to view some dance at Sadler’s Wells and to check out the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square too. There’s always so much to see in the way of arts & culture.

Every Museum is FREE

One of the best is the British Museum which houses some of the world’s most incredible artifacts. But really, all of London’s free museums are impressive in their own right. The Tate Modern is definitely one of my favourites but next time I go, I have a goal to make it to the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum (where I’ve heard they have an excellent tea room – also on my bucket list).

Pubs A’Plenty

It would be impossible to imagine London without its pubs – it’s so much a part of the culture. I absolutely love seeing all the Londoners standing around outside with their pints, laughing and having a great time. And they serve more than just beer! Pubs are usually a pretty good bet for grabbing a delicious meal too. But regardless if you’re hungry or thirsty, I head to a traditional English pub for the atmosphere above all else.

Green As Far As the Eye Can See

London is a huge city but did you know that almost 50% of it is covered in green space? It is actually the “greenest” city in Europe. Which means, you can spend entire afternoons wandering through Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens or better yet, grab a sandwich and sit in any of London’s smaller garden squares (those that aren’t restricted to the block’s residents that is). Another great idea? Grab a Barclay’s Bike and have a nice ride through the parks.

They Have St. Paul’s

I will always remember the picture of Lady Diana walking up the steps of St. Paul’s with her incredibly long train trailing behind her. This place is beautiful and one of my favourite spots in London (the walk up from the Millennium Bridge is the best!). And the views from the top of the dome are spectacular. Not to be missed!

All Day Markets Are The Bees Knees

Tourists always hit up Portobello Road Market, whereas Camden Markets offer a bit more for everyone. But my favourite is hands down Borough Market because of the bustling atmosphere and delicious food. This market has been around for 1000 years (!!!) and it’s still one of the top places to grab gourmet delights and some of the best coffee I’ve ever had!

Mmmmmm

Speaking of delicious food, London makes my tastebuds happy. Yes there are many top dining options but I also love London for the “everyday” sort of food. Besides hitting up the market, I’m obsessed with Pret a Manger, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s – such great places to grab heathy lunches and snacks that won’t deplete the wallet. I also love coffee crawling (like a pub crawl but with coffee). Check out this epic list I found!

I Can Shop Till I…

drop. Quite literally from exhaustion and because shopping in London can be fairly pricey! But if you don’t want to scour the very well priced Primark on Oxford Street, there’s plenty of window shopping that can be done. Even a walk through Harrod’s is fun whether you buy something or not. This past visit, I popped into & Other Stories and I could barely restrain myself from spending all my savings. Enter at your own risk ladies. Oh, and make sure to add Carnaby street to your must visit as well!

Their Parliament Buildings Are So Much Cooler Than Mine

And I don’t ever need to go inside. The outside views are more than enough!

So Many Sites to See

Westminster Abbey…Buckingham Palace…The Tower of London…Covent Garden…there are so many sites to take in. And those are just the big ones. On my next trip, I’d love to discover some of these secret places that the Sunday Chapter wrote about. That’s the thing about London…you can never just visit once…

Do you agree with my reasons to love London? Happy travels everyone! xo