Navigating London
Whether you have been in London for a few months or years, there is always something new to learn about the magnificent city. Living in London has many exciting benefits as the city itself has a variety of exhilarating things to do and places to see. If you have not had a chance to fully embrace the city, then you are in for a surprise. Whether you just hit the weekend or are taking a short staycation in the city, there is always time to discover new areas to fall in love with. With that being said, there are a few key things to keep in mind before you plan your weekend or holiday ahead. Contact us to learn more about rental flats in london
1. The Commute
Living in the city for a while you may have already noticed that many people tend to leave their cars at home. If your commute to work or school is doable by foot, you might have yet to discover the wonders of London’s transportation system. London has an outstanding number of different public transportations. Whether you choose to commute by bus, train, the underground or even by taxi, public transportation is highly accessible and all around the best way to travel throughout the city as well as out of the city. There is, also, always the option to walk if you are close enough to your next destination, that is. While on the subject of transportation, another great reason to leave your car behind is the fact that there are limited options when it comes to parking spaces. There are only so many car parks, especially in the city, so, it would be best to not travel in your own car. Traveling on your bike, however, will give you more parking options.
2. Everything in London is Hidden – So Be Prepared for the Hunt
While London can, in fact, be a very exciting city within itself, it is much more difficult to find the cooler hang-out spots that many people outside of Londoners would expect. Yes, it’s true, everything trendy is most often hidden; therefore, you should always be thankful for those friends that like to throw out some good recommendations. With that being said, what are some of these hidden gems that every Londoner should know about?
Secret Bars:
- Looking Glass Cocktail Club – step through the looking glass mirror in Shoreditch and find yourself in a lavish lounge bar
- Basement State -located in Soho
- The Mayor OF Scaredy Cat Town – the coolest secret basement bar and lounge located in Shoreditch
- Opium – a secret cocktail bar located just in the heart of Chinatown.
- The Natural Philosopher – is known to be one of the best secret cocktail bars in all of London and is located in Hackney, just off Hackney Road.
- Old Mary’s – a secret cocktail bar located in the beautiful neighborhood that is Notting Hill. The basement of The Mitre is truly a site that needs to be visited every now and then, by Londoners and visitors alike.
Secret Restaurants:
- Brat – located in Shoreditch
- Little Blue Door – located in Fulham
- Rochelle Canteen – located in Shoreditch
Another great thing about these secret bars and restaurants is the fact that they are, well, a secret, meaning they are also a great escape from the usual large crowds in London. With that being said, be sure to look for a few of these secret locations and only share them with your closest friends.
3. Getting by With a Little Help from Your Friends
It is true when people say that newly-living in London is not always the easiest thing in the world. As we have already covered above, London is an expensive city to live in, and, although public transport is easy and reliable, it is extremely packed due to the fact that almost everyone in town – and out of town – is using it. Therefore, it is important to have a good support system with you. This is especially nice for the first few days of being in a new city, whether it is London or anywhere else in the world, having a group of friends or relatives around definitely helps make the transition easier and altogether run smoothly. It is also nice to have a place to stay in for the first few days before deciding which flat you want to rent out. This is especially true since it is important to always check out the neighborhood before officially deciding on a space.
4. The Social Scene in London is Hard to Compete With
London offers a large variety of pubs, theaters, happy hours, and, as we now know, many secret cocktail bars and restaurants. In addition to all of this, the city of London also offers a large variety of art museums and galleries as well as comedy clubs and so many more artistic scenes for those of us who love to dabble in this kind of scene. To make things even better, the museums in London are also free. Yes, free! Some of these free museums and art galleries include, but are not limited to:
- The British Museum
- Imperial War Museum
- The National Gallery
- Victoria & Albert Museum
- Tate Britain
- Tate Modern
Of course, there are so many more amazing, free things to do and see in London. If you have not left your flat to navigate through the city and fall in love with the multiple sights, the time is now.
