We suggest you go on an exciting journey around the capital. In 72 hours you will see the most famous sights of the city on the Thames, which will take your breath away, and our guide will help you to use your time and avoid typical mistakes of tourists. So, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with our guide, which will tell you what you can see in London for 3 days on your own.
How to get from the airport to the center
The capital of Great Britain has 5 airports. Heathrow Airport (Heathrow), the busiest, is located in the west of London. You can leave the airport using the Piccadilly metro line, this is the cheapest way. The Heathrow Express is a 15-minute train ride from the airport to Paddington Station. Paddington is also half an hour away by the Heathrow Connect train. Another option for budget travelers is to purchase a National Express bus ticket. Your stop is Victoria Coach Station. Or use the services of Terravision.
If you want to save on bus tickets, we recommend booking them in both directions in advance on the companies' websites. If you arrived at night, then bus # 9 will help you. The cheapest way to get to the center from the airports of Gatwick (Gatwick), Luton (Luton), Stansted (Stansted) - buses EasyBus. Terravision and National Express bus tickets will cost a little more. To get away from London City Airport cheaply, you can use the Docklands Light Railway or use the Kiwi taxi services.
When you get to the place, we recommend that you take care of the travel card in advance, as you often have to travel by metro. We recommend purchasing a 3 day Travelcard for 2 zones. If you plan to cover most of the route on foot and only occasionally use the London Underground, then the Oyster plastic card is also suitable for you. Also, using this card, a bus trip will cost you much less than if you paid for it with cash.
A nice bonus is the 2FOR1 London discount system for Travelcard holders: if you bought the passes at the National Rail ticket office, the cost of visiting some of the attractions will cost you 50% less if you are traveling together. This will give you two tickets for the price of one to the Museum of Modern Art, London Eye, Madame Tussauds, Tower of London, etc.
Please note that your ticket must be valid on the day you visit the attraction. How to use the 2FOR1 London discount system? It's that simple! You need to go to daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london, register and print the vouchers you need. They, along with the travel card, you will present at the entrance.
Where to stay
The capital of Great Britain has a huge number of accommodation options for tourists.
The most budgetary are the rooms with breakfast, the so-called bed & breakfasts, hostels and private apartments. Apartments can be booked on airbnb.ru. An inexpensive hotel or hostel can be found on Booking.com. When choosing housing, give preference to options that are located near the metro.
So, you were able to get from the airport to the hotel without any problems, had a little rest, which means it's time to get used to the city and enjoy the long-awaited vacation.
1 day
Getting to know the city on the Thames. Don't forget about comfortable shoes and clothes. And also charge your smartphone. There are many kilometers of track and beautiful city views ahead.
Sightseeing tour by bus
Every traveler who decides to visit London is simply obliged to take a sightseeing tour on the famous red double-decker bus (doubledecker). If you do not know English, then the audio guide in Russian will help you. It is noteworthy that you can get off and get on the bus at any stop. This way, you can see the sights along the route and save on transfers.
The ticket is valid for 24 hours and the cheapest way to book it on the website, just do not forget to print it out beforehand. Ticket holders are also eligible for a museum bus tour, river cruise and guided tour. To save on entrance tickets to attractions and get various nice "buns", we recommend purchasing the London Pass. If the audio guide is not important for you, then you can consider a more budget option.
After the tour, we suggest having lunch at the Wetherspoon chain pub. There are many of them in London and finding the closest one will not be difficult. Why do we recommend this particular place? It is delicious here and very cheap by local standards.
Museum of London
Do you want to get acquainted with the history of the city? Then head to the Museum of London. Admission is free for everyone. Open daily. Opening hours: 10: 00-17: 30 (Monday-Saturday), 12: 00-17: 30 (Sunday). The museum is located at 150 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5HN. If you are taking the metro, then you need St. Paul's. We recommend to visit all those who would like to visually trace how the city has changed since the time of the Roman Empire.
British museum
The main museum of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the British Museum, must also be visited.The entrance to the museum is really free, but to visit the exhibitions that are held there, you have to pay. Interesting fact: six cats are officially employed here as a rat catcher. Here you can see unique exhibits from all over the world and most of them have joined the museum's collection under very strange circumstances. That only is the famous Rosetta stone. Address: Russell Street, WC1B 3DG. You can visit it daily. Open from 10 am to 5.30 pm. You can get there on your own by metro, station - Holborn, Tottenham Court Road.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum of Art and Design always welcomes curious tourists who will be able to appreciate the unique collection of more than 4.5 million exhibits. Address: Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL. You can visit for free. The doors are open to guests every day from 10 am to 5:45 pm, on Fri from 9 am to 11 pm.
Science Museum
It will appeal not only to adults, but also to children, because only here you can take part in the fascinating Cockroach Tour. Here you will see the world through the eyes of insects if you visit the museum on weekends. Works daily. Doors open at 10:00. The museum closes at 18:00. If you are taking the tube, then you need South Kensington station. Address: Exhibition Road, London SW7 2DD. If you do not want to spend £ 6 on a ticket, then come after 16:30. The entrance will be free and you will not have to pay for the ticket.
Natural History Museum
After leaving the museum, do not rush to go far, because there is another amazing dinosaur museum, the Natural History Museum, open for everyone. Only here you can see a huge dinosaur skeleton, an equally impressive copy of a blue whale, a giant squid and many other interesting exhibits. Children 10 years and older can take part in a free tour. A useful life hack on how to get to the museum without a queue: everything is simple, go around it on the right along Exibition Road, there is also an entrance there. Address: SW7 5BD, Cromwell Road. Open every day from 10 am to 5:50 pm.
Tate Modern Gallery
It would be an unforgivable mistake to fly to London and not visit the Tate Modern, and you shouldn't miss the opportunity to take part in the free tour. Just come by 11:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:00 and a gallery employee will share some interesting information with you. Trust me, 45 minutes will fly by. Address: SE1 9TG, Bankside.
Westminster Abbey
Did you know that you can attend the evening services at Westminster Abbey to the accompaniment of choir and see it from the inside absolutely free of charge? Did you even know that Westminster Abbey is a working temple? It's not too late to catch up. Just come by 5 pm on weekdays, except Wednesday or on weekends by 3 pm and you will see everything with your own eyes. Address: 20 Deans Yard London SW1P 3PA &.
Harry Potter: Warner Brothers Studios Travel and Tour - £ 76.50
Ticket to the Tower of London and the Royal Treasures Exhibition - £ 24.75
Tower Bridge tickets - £ 9.80
Windsor Castle ticket - £ 22.50
View from Skyscraper Oskolok - entrance ticket and champagne - £ 27.20
Things to do in the evening
If your soul needs to continue after such a busy day, then a party at the Heaven Club is what the doctor ordered. And you're in luck if you head out to the club on Monday, for that day of the week there is a free Popcorn party. All you need to be happy is to print a coupon from the club's off-site.
Would you like to dance? For a quiet and cozy evening, we recommend the Paradise by Way of Kensal Green restaurant! A very atmospheric place that you fall in love with at first sight. Excellent cuisine will delight and impress even experienced gourmets. But keep in mind that they also know how to hum and light up until the morning. If you want silence, come earlier. Address: 19 Kilburn Lane, W10 4AE.
If noisy parties are not for you, and you want to while away an interesting evening, then go to the world-famous West End musicals. You can buy a ticket at a good discount at the Half price tickets booth, which is easy to find when you get to Leicester Square. They arrange sales a couple of hours before the start of the musical.
2nd day
We inspect the city from a bird's eye view.
London eye
Today you will see London in all its glory. For an unforgettable experience, head to the Ferris wheel, the most popular attraction - the London Eye. It is better to buy tickets online in advance. The cost of one ticket is from £ 17, but do not forget about the "Two for the price of one" discount system, which we wrote about above. The Ferris wheel is located near Waterloo and Westminster stations. You need output 1.
Coca-Cola London Eye ticket- £ 27
St Paul's Cathedral
You can enjoy the architectural masterpieces of London by climbing just over 500 steps of St. Paul's Cathedral. Do not forget to visit the whispering gallery under the dome and conduct an experiment, because this place is unique in that if you whisper a word in one part of it, then you can hear it without any problems in another. When you buy your ticket online, it will cost you £ 12.5.
Observation Decks
Thrifty tourists will argue that it is simply a waste of paying that kind of money for a beautiful view, and they will be right. Indeed, in order to see the magnificent panorama of the city, it is not at all necessary to pay money, it is enough to know the places. You can take stunning photos completely free of charge when you get to the observation deck of the Ally Pally entertainment center.
Spectacular city views can be enjoyed from the Waterloo Bridge. Even at night, you will get great photos. Be sure to climb to the top of Parliament Hill to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, worries, problems and enjoy the atmosphere of this place. You can get there from Hampstead Tube Station.
Boat trip on the Thames
Now is the time to go for a boat trip on the Thames. To make the trip not only pleasant, but also useful, immediately after that we will go to Greenwich to see the sights and mark the zero meridian. In order not to waste time, tickets for the boat can be bought on the website. You need the Westminster pier, which can be reached from the metro station of the same name, from where the boats you need leave.
Greenwich
After the walk, take the subway and reach Canning Town, this will allow you to escape the crowds of tourists and enjoy the futuristic structures of the Great Barrier in a relaxed atmosphere or stroll through the Thames Barrier Park, which is located nearby. Now back to the subway to get to the station we need - Greenwich. Tired and your body needs nourishment? Then, without wasting a minute, we go to a British pub that has been opening its doors to its guests since 1837 - Trafalgar Tavern. Sitting at a table, perhaps just at the very same place where Charles Dickens once loved to sit, you can enjoy not only a delicious lunch, but also a view of the Thames.
After a delicious lunch, by law ... you are supposed to explore Greenwich. In general, to do exactly what we came here for. Here you can already do, as absolutely all tourists do, go to Greenwich Park to take a picture on the territory of the Royal Observatory, standing on the prime meridian. The main thing is to get there before closing (17.00).
Well, since you're here, take a stroll down the waterfront to capture the Cutty Sark clipper, which once brought tea from China and wool from Australia long ago. Indulge in the pleasure of shopping for truly original items at the Greenwich Covered Market. Just don't get carried away, because the third day in London we will devote to shopping.
Well, and finally, go down the elevator or the stairs to the famous tunnel under the Thames.
The plan for Greenwich has been fulfilled, which means that you can go to have fun in the best entertainment establishments with a sense of accomplishment. As budget travelers, we continue to seek free entertainment. In the evening, blues lovers should definitely visit the “Aint Nothing But” bar and listen to live music completely free of charge. Also, for a nominal fee, or even completely free, you can enjoy the musicians' play in the “Birthdays” bar.
Day 3
Portobello Market
We go for souvenirs, antiques and vintages to the most visited Portobello market in London in the Notting Hill area. Here you will find anything you want. If you've watched the Notting Hill movie starring the beautiful Julia Roberts, you will easily recognize this place and don't miss the opportunity to drop by the shoe store at # 142, where the travel guide shop was located in the film. Bank cards are not particularly favored here, so prepare cash in advance to pay for purchases. Keep in mind that the street market is only open on weekends, but if you are planning to purchase antiques you can come any day of the week.
Borough Market
Today we will have lunch at the Borough market, so we go down to the subway and reach the London Bridge station. Here you can taste and buy fresh bread, fragrant sandwiches with meat, a ruddy pie with a filling, juicy fruits, a variety of vegetables, and all this at an affordable price for a budget traveler. Please note that the market is only open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 17:00. Address: SE1 1TL, Southwark street, 8.
Oxford Street
No shopaholic will ever deny himself the pleasure of walking along Oxford Street, where over 300 shops are concentrated. Everything you need to take the tube down to Oxford Circus. You can buy inexpensive items at Primark - 499 Oxford Street. Original and colorful T-shirts can be purchased at Lazy Oaf at 19 Fouberts Place. In general, all the shops on Oxford Street are at your disposal.
Chyna town
After your shopping, head off to find Wall 1888 in nearby China Town, where you'll find a giant bowl of rice. It is noteworthy that this bowl is made from glued together 1,888 photographs of China Town. Hint: To find this location you need to turn onto Macclesfield Street from Gerard Street. Now don't miss Horse & Dolphin Yard, this is the yard you need to go to. For dinner, stop by the cozy Leong’s Legend restaurant. You will find it if you return back to Macclesfield street. > End your London trip at the legendary MoS (Ministry of Sound) club, which offers its guests only the best sound and the best tracks from the world's most popular DJs. Entrance fees range from £ 10 to £ 22.
