About a month into my first term here at the London School of Economics, I was told by a friend that I appeared to be permanently side questing. Referring to my endeavors as side quests, the colloquial term for smaller, plot-neutral adventures contained within a larger journey, perfectly encapsulates what I am trying to do with my time in London. While academics and the university experience continue to be the main plot line, I know there is much to be gained from spending a year in one of the largest and most diverse cities in the world outside of educational pursuits. I am voraciously experience-hunting.
The balance between student and adventurer is a fine one, and over the recent weeks I have narrowed down the perfect outing to fit three criteria.
1. Can be done in a flexible time frame
Whether it be a night out or a morning stroll, the perfect side quest is one that can be worked into your schedule without too much difficulty. While weekends are perfect for more time intensive trips, there are plenty of things that can be done within the confines of classes and work during the week.
2. Is within the student budget
It is no secret that London is expensive. As a result, it's crucial to find affordable experiences whenever possible. Social media can be the perfect place to find cheap opportunities all across the city, with travel accounts posting the best deals and events around. Luckily, London has an incredibly affordable and reliable public transit system, making most parts of the city accessible at low cost. The double decker bus system is stellar, with buses coming within minutes and unlimited rides within an hour for only £1.75. Furthermore, this rate is capped at £5.25 per day, so you are only charged for your first three hours of travel within a day, making hopping around the city incredibly easy.
3. Can be done solo or with friends
Thankfully, London lends itself brilliantly to this category. There will be times to adventure with friends and times to explore solo, and both are equally valuable! Traveling around a new city alone can be nerve wracking, but it can also be the fastest way to get your bearings and become familiar with the various unique boroughs of London and the public transit between them.
To save the future quester some time, here are my favorite side quests so far in London:
1. Borough Market
At the top of the list sits my favorite place in all of London thus far. Borough Market, located just south of the Thames, is a hub for all things food. Cuisines from all across the world are represented in the winding maze, with a bustling atmosphere of people and street noise from the bridge that it is tucked away under. It is open every day of the week except Mondays, making it an incredibly flexible option to grab a unique breakfast, lunch, early dinner, drink, or snack from.
However, the market is potentially most famous for its dessert options. While their chocolate covered strawberries have taken the internet by storm, arguably one of the best vendors in the market is Humble Crumble, a single serving crumble counter. They offer unique seasonal flavors alongside tried and true classics.
If you want to get settled into the tea drinking culture of the UK, Borough Market also has you covered. Within the market you will find Tea2you, a specialty tea shop that proudly boasts having been visited by both Prince Harry and King Charles. They even do tea tastings, where they will walk you through the proper process of tasting teas and the various types they hold within their store.
2. Shakespeare's Globe
If you are willing to stand for a few hours, Shakespeare's Globe is one of the most fun and affordable options for theater in London. For only £5, you can join the Groundlings, or the standing audience members at the Globe and watch some contemporary, interactive Shakespeare. As a standing audience member you are directly in the middle of the action, from fight scenes taking place in the middle of the audience to actors borrowing hats from members of the crowd. If you make it to the front of the Groundlings you can even lean on the stage during the performance, and have an increased chance of being directly interacted with by the actors. At my first show I was handed an apple by a performer on stage in the middle of a scene.
3. The London Film Festival
In the fall, the British Film Institute hosts the London Film Festival, with galas and screenings all across the city. They sell a limited number of young adult (under 25) tickets for £5, making it an incredibly affordable way to see some of the newest films hitting the screen. If you don't manage to snag a £5 ticket, there are a large number of £10 tickets available in the days leading up to the screening, giving plenty of options to still attend for a reasonable price in beautiful theaters across London. Attending a gala style screening is the perfect excuse to dress up for an evening, and you may even get to walk across a red carpet.
4. Self Guided Tours
The Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and many more iconic landmarks across London have self guided audio tours. These tours are perfect for a group or solo trip, as they allow you to take in the buildings at your own pace. Whether you have all day or only an hour, these tours allow you to control the speed and duration of your visit, while getting the most out of your trip with detailed discussions of the location's history and significance.
5. Brick Lane
Brick Lane, home to one of London's many cultural diasporas, is known for its street art, vintage clothing shops, and curry houses. It is a vibrant area with plenty of heaving restaurants, bars, and stores, and is perfect for a night out to explore some of the local flavor of London. It is also home to Dark Sugars, a Ghanaian chocolate shop with rich hot chocolate topped with chocolate flakes, making for the perfect drink and photo op.
6. Christmas Lights
As the UK does not have Thanksgiving to buffer the transition between Halloween and the holiday season, with the last month of fall comes the beginning of Christmas. More specifically, various London streets begin to bring out their festive lights just as the weather begins to chill. All across central London, the annual light switchings begin as early as November 2nd, accompanied by incredible festivities. The lightings are a sight to behold, and places like Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Covent Garden can all be visited in relatively quick succession due to their close proximity to one another.
7. Photo booth at Coal Drops Yard
At Coal Drops Yard, a marketplace a short walk from London's famous King's Cross Station, there is an old style photo booth that prints out classic four-frame black and white photos. It is not the cheapest of souvenirs at £8 per photo set, but it is a fun way to have a physical memory of your time in London and a perfect excuse to stop by King's Cross' iconic Platform 9.
8. Bath
An hour and a half train ride outside of London you will find the old Roman city of Bath. Bath is one of only two cities that are deemed in their entirety to be world heritage sites. The city is proud of its heritage site status, and keeps its ancient buildings in beautiful condition. There is something incredible to see everywhere you look in Bath, including museums containing the remains of ancient Roman artifacts and gorgeous bustling high streets of golden limestone. It is no wonder that it has been the set of countless movies and tv shows, all the way from Les Miserables to Bridgerton.
This list is nowhere near exhaustive, and gives just a taste of the incredible things the city of London has to offer. There are plenty of resources online and on social media to find fun things to see and do within the city. The Instagram account @secret.london in particular has a vast number of suggestions of places to go and things to see in all parts of London.
Studying abroad is the perfect opportunity to soak in the local culture and immerse yourself in the place you are studying. You do not have to trade academic success for the opportunity to adventure, or vice versa. Both are equally important parts of the experience, and can be embraced to the fullest. Happy adventuring!
Freya Blackmore
Academic Year 2023
GW England - London School of Economics (GW Study Program)
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
Political Science Major