Last month I had the opportunity to travel to London. I spent four days in a guest house on Brick Lane located in the East End of London. I was supposed to spend a few days there with my girlfriend but unfortunately, her passport expired and her flight had to get pushed to a later date. Luckily, my friends Sam, Jada, and Ghina were free to join me. I took the National Express bus from Nottingham to London which was about a three-and-a-half-hour journey. Taking the bus is a much more affordable way to travel throughout England. The price of the bus was £12 whereas a train would have cost £30 to £40. As a student, I highly recommend travelling by bus. However, the prices do fluctuate depending on the time of travel. If taking the train to experience a shorter journey be sure to book in advance. The ride to London was smooth but once I arrived I had to navigate the underground. 

Underground

The bus dropped me off at the Marble Arch. This nineteenth-century structure was designed by John Nash to be the formal approach or cour d'honneur of Buckingham Palace and to honour British triumphs in the Napoleonic Wars. The Arches sits right beside Hyde Park which I did not have the opportunity to explore much of but I recommend it if you are in the area. The underground station Marble Arch was right across the street. You will lose reception on the underground so I advise taking a picture of your route on google maps before entering. Once underground, purchasing a ticket at the kiosk was straightforward. You can purchase a single-use ticket for £6.50 or a day pass including bus travel for £14.50. As well, if you are staying in London for more than three days, it’s worth purchasing an oyster card for £7 and loading funds onto it. It works just like a presto card. As well, you can tap on and tap off the underground with a contactless card, which most of us have. However, be mindful of the foreign currency exchange your bank may charge. Due to this, I believe the oyster card is the most cost-efficient. As always when boarding the tube mind the gap!

Accommodation

I stayed at the Brick Lane Guest House which was similar to AirBNB. The room had a large double bed, shared bathroom, personal shower, and provided towels, toiletries, tea and coffee. It was ideal for my three-day stay. If travelling alone, hostels are your cheapest option. However, if travelling with someone, an AirBNB is cheaper than most hotels. The room including taxes and fees was £85 a night.

Buckingham Palace

My first morning in London, I took the underground to Buckingham Palace and watched the changing of the guard which is hosted in three locations. You can also watch this event at St James’s Palace and Wellington Barracks. Since 1837, Buckingham Palace has been the London residence of the British Royal Family and today serves as the administrative head office of the Monarch. Tours of Buckingham Palace cost £90 for students. I recommend seeing the changing of the guard in front of the building as a free experience that still takes place on palace grounds. I arrived only five minutes before it was scheduled and there was a large crowd. About five lines of people waited at the gates with others sitting on raised platforms farther back to see over the crowds. If this is something you are interested in, I suggest going early unlike my ever-rushed self. The changing of the guard ceremony is when soldiers currently on duty, known as the Old Guard, shift with the New Guard. It was a very British event. Despite the crowds of people, I was able to see most of it take place. 

Museums 

I visited both the Natural History Museum and the British Museum. Both museums had free entry. You were not permitted to bring in any large baggage such as a carry on so when visiting drop off your luggage first. The Natural History Museum was spectacular. Once you enter the grand building, you are greeted by a huge blue whale skeleton hanging from the arch ceiling. The British Museum holds the Rosetta Stone which was used to translate Egyptian hieroglyphs. Unfortunately, at the time of our visit, the stone was not on display. I recommend a visit to both museums however if I had to pick a favourite, it would be the Natural History Museum. 

The Views

Once my friends arrived, we went to Tower Bridge. This is a must-see especially at sunset. During the day, as students we paid £8 to climb the 206 steps to the top. The bridge was not as high as I predicted but the views were gratifying after the climb, and it had a glass floor. You can also pay to go up Big Ben but at the time of our visit, it was closed. However, for both monuments, it is worth just seeing in person. Once my girlfriend arrived, we went up the London eye which had the best views of the trip. I am terrified of heights and just looking at the ferris wheel had me questioning why I bought tickets. However, once on the ride, it was smooth and very secure. Not being exposed to the elements added a false sense of security and I was able to enjoy the views without fully panicking.

Is it Worth It?

London overall was a great experience. The city is busy and energetic so be prepared for large crowds of people. London is an expensive city but there is lots to explore even without spending money on tours. As a bucket list item, I highly recommend a trip. Cheers!