London Districts

July 11, 2023June 24, 2024

Are these London Snacks Heaven or Hell?

London snacks are not to everyone’s taste. You maybe salivating when you read through this list or decide that our snacks are an abomination.

Snacking in London on Traditional British Foods

As one man’s meat is another man’s poison, l will take you through my personal snacks from heaven to hell, in descending order, with one snack that I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole.

1. Marmite

Traditional British Foods. Marmite comes top in my list of London snacks.

During the first world war Marmite was including in a soldier’s rations as it is choc full of vitamins and its treacly appearance looks like something medicinal.

Marmite is an industrial by-product of beer brewing but tastes nothing like beer. It has a distinctive savoury, almost anchovy taste.

A little goes a long way and it needs to be spread very thinly on buttered toast.

You either love or loathe it. The ones who hate it have probably tried to eat it on a teaspoon straight from the jar!

“Marmite. You either love it or hate It” is the manufacturer’s clever advertising slogan to get the masses to rise to the challenge of tasting this tongue tingling spread.

However, I don’t need any persuading….I could wake up in the middle of the night craving English Breakfast tea and Marmite on toast. I’m voting this as the acme of my personal food heaven. And if you want to know where I buy my tea from here it is.

2. Warburton’s Crumpets

Warburton's are famous among Traditional British Foods. — Warburton’s are famous among Traditional British Foods.

A crumpet is a cold rubbery thing and extremely unappetising if eaten cold straight from the packet. Crumpets need to be put through the toaster several times until they are almost crunchy on top.

Butter is then lavishly spread. When the butter has trickled down the bubbly holes and coated the underside, they are ready to be livened up with a slathering of fruity jam like Tiptree Strawberry Preserve.

This is what all sane Londoners enjoy for afternoon tea at home on wintery days.

3. Heinz Baked Beans

Heinz Baked Beans prized among gourmet chefs.

Beans on toast is apparently the dish of choice for Michelin starred London chefs. They come home exhausted after creating gourmet delicacies in their restaurant kitchen and heat up a simple tin of beans until it is bubbling and eat them on buttered toast.

Quick and delicious, beans on toast can be greatly enhanced with a grating of cheddar cheese.

4. McVities Digestive Biscuits

McVities Digestive Biscuits. Nice with cheese, or a cuppa, or both.

Perhaps digestive biscuits are not the king of British biscuits – they are far too plain for that. However, their wheaty, malty taste and crumbly texture make them the perfect accompaniment to a British cuppa.

The chocolate versions are very popular. Milk chocolate or dark chocolate is rippled in the surface of the digestive biscuit.

I like the plain ones which make a tasty snack with a corner of cheddar cheese.

5. Nestle Kit Kat

Nestle Kit Kat. Traditional British Foods in our famous London red.

I remember reading that Pricncess Diana (she was an avid dieter) was quite partial to two fingers of Kit Kat.

This iconic British chocolate biscuit is sold in two finger and four finger versions.

I used to get great pleasure from removing the paper wrapper followed by the thin foil covering.

Snapping the individual fingers apart was also strangely satisfying.

Now in my opinion, the manufacturers have royally screwed things up. They have brought out bizarre flavours like orange, mint and apple pie. What’s that all about? And they have replaced the paper and foil wrapper with recyclable plastic. Nestle, stop interfering with our Traditional British foods!

6. Melton Mowbray Pork Pies

A Melton Mowbray Pork Pie make perfectly portable London snacks.

Pork Pies are one of those things that are almost impossible to make at home unless you are a Cordon Bleu trained cook with a few days of free time. The distinctive hot water pastry needs a deft hand. I won’t tell you how the jelly encasing the sausage meat is made. I’ll give you a clue its something to do with boiling animal feet. (try not to think about it).

Pork pies are one of the most portable of London snacks. Take them to your Ascot picnic. They are welcome in all social circles.

The best place to hunt out this snack is the Ginger Pig in Marylebone or Fortnum and Mason food hall however as we are shopping in the supermarket today, you could look for the Dickinson and Morris Melton Mowbray pork pie with the longest use-by-date ensuring that the thick pastry is at its freshest.

7. Mr Kipling Cakes

Mr Kipling French Fancies. I'm sure these used to be called Fondant Fancies. — Mr Kipling French Fancies. I’m sure these used to be called Fondant Fancies.

Mr Kipling is missing a trick. He needs to bring out a selection of his favourite cakes in one special tasting box.

The top of my personal list would be the Battenberg Cake which comprises lurid coloured sponge covered in a thin layer of jam and encased in marzipan.

I am also partial to a French Fancy, which was popular in the era of Lyons Corner Houses. A square of sponge is topped with a dollop of vanilla faux cream and enrobed with strawberry, chocolate or lemon flavoured icing.

You may also want to try Mr Kipling’s almond fingers or jam tarts.

8. Quality Street

Quality Street. Please put in more purple ones.

British families have bought tins of Quality Street for decades as a Christmas treat. We would watch the Queen’s Speech on Christmas Day while stuffing our faces and fighting over the purple ones with their caramel and hazelnut centres. They don’t put enough purple ones in the box in my opinion and the fruit creams and hard toffee are left to languish at the bottom.

Now that the supermarkets have introduced these smaller cardboard boxes there is no need to wait for Christmas to enjoy them – they make great London snacks when you are on the move as they are individually wrapped.

9. Bassett’s Liquorice All Sorts

Bassetts Liquorice All Sorts an acquired taste in the world of London snacks.

Obviously, you would need to be a massive fan of black liquorice to buy a packet of these chewy, black sweets. Some of these confections have a strange beaded coating in poisonous colours like pale blue. Liquorice All Sorts are something of acquired taste. The weird thing is that whichever one you eat they all seem to taste the same. I’d put them somewhere down the list beneath other old-fashioned British sweets like pear drops and jelly babies. We are here to live dangerously, so buy a packet.

10. Walkers Crisps

The game was over for me when Walker's Crisps introduced their new flavours. We like our Traditional British foods to be just that - traditional and British. — The game was over for me when Walker’s Crisps introduced their new flavours. We like our Traditional British foods to be just that – traditional and British.

When I was growing up crisps came in just one flavour; plain. A small blue twisted paper was somewhere at the bottom containing salt that you sprinkled to your taste.

I then recall the traumatic introduction of the cheese and onion, salt and vinegar and chicken flavours. This is when it all started to fall apart for me.

Then I saw someone set light to a crisp which oozed fats and oils and I knew my crisp eating career was over.

Let us not forget that crisps are part of the standard British lunch meal deal…a sandwich, a bag of crisps and a fizzy drink is lunch for millions.

All those millions of Brits can’t be wrong. Or can they?

My Snack From Food Hell

Pot Noodles

I want to meet the man who invented the Pot Noodle.

I mean who in their right mind would invent a snack of dehydrated noodles and add assorted flavours which come to life with boiling water and then call it lunch.

When I was at University, there was a spotty science student who acquired a bad case of malnutrition by eating Pot Noodles for every meal. In the defence of Pot Noodle, I’m sure that these are intended as an occasional snack and who knows the recipe may now be fortified with micro-nutrients.

Personally, I don’t think I have had a pot noodles in fifty years and I am not about to start now.

These traditional London Snacks can be purchased at all the major supermarkets including Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. Enjoy your London snacks.

April 25, 2023August 20, 2023

Lewes – An Artisan Hub with Woodstock Vibes

Lewes in East Sussex is the perfect day trip from London. Just an hour away by train, you’ll find a town which is infinitely more picturesque than neighbouring Brighton and more accessible than the Cotswolds but with green rolling countryside and historic buildings. Moreover, Lewes is a stone’s throw from the sea at Seaford and near many interesting villages with a Bloomsbury Set connection.

Lewes – A Memorable Day Trip

Lewes, a few decades ago, used to be a pretty but dull, small town with a decidedly lefty vibe. It was home to bearded Sussex University academics who couldn’t face bumping into their Brighton based students while drinking at their local.

Lewes High Street with pretty period houses

However, in recent years Lewes has started to develop a Woodstock buzz with pavement cafes, craft galleries and artisan food shops with its beating heart in the south of the town around the picturesque Harvey’s Brewery.

Lewes Antique Emporiums

Lewes is jam packed with antique emporiums where numerous dealers trade out of a single outlet. Here you will find a genuine English souvenirs like Victorian embroidered English napkins, table cloths, cut glassware, bone handled cutlery, perfume bottles, vases and Sixties toys. Best of all there is no London, or posh store, mark up.

The Flint Owl Bakery Artisan Bakery

Enter the Flint Owl Bakery and you will be dazzled by dozens of freshly baked cakes; each one is a delectable work of art. Popular choices are the fruit and cream meringues and carrot cake. Their selections change daily. At lunchtime you will find quiches and rustic bean salads, artisan toasted sandwiches, home-made lasagne and meaty sausage rolls. On a sunny day, there is nothing more perfect than having lunch in the rear garden, sipping wine and chatting to friends.

The Needlemakers Craft Hub

The Needlemakers is an artistic hub just behind the high street housing dozens of craft shops. You’ll find quirky pottery, vintage finds, books, unique clothing, hand-made jewellery, speciality foods and a vegan café.

Thrifting in Lewes Charity Shops

Thrifting in the half a dozen charity shops is also a great sport…you’ll have a fun few hours rifling through clothes, books and knick-knacks.

Oxfam has the best books and the worst clothes!

Lewes Castle – A Norman Ruin

If schlepping up Castle Hill wasn’t enough exercise, you could climb yet further to the top of Lewes Castle. This Norman castle was built after the Battle of Hastings by William the Conqueror’s supporters.

As you’d expect the castle is now a crumbing ruin but you can enjoy its beautiful gardens which are the perfect place for a picnic.

The Bull House – Home to Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine famed for writing the Rights of Man lived at Bull House at the top of Lewes High Street from 1768 – 1774 and he married the landlord’s daughter. It seems that Lewes had an anarchist and alternative vibe even those days.

The Bull House, Lewes — The Bull House Lewes

The Rights of Man Pub

The Rights of Man pub is named after Thomas Paine’s famous book and almost opposite the Bull’s Head in the High Street is this atmospheric pub. It comes into its own in the evening with several rooms dedicated to dining with dark wood panelling and a small but perfectly executed menu.

“This stylish pub, whose name reflects the fact that Thomas Paine once called Lewes home, is one of the best places to pair local Harvey’s ale with well executed food, albeit with a definite Continental lean. Wood panelling, art deco lighting and a summer terrace makes things feel a long way from the average British boozer”

Lonely Planet

Balmy, Beachy Seaford

The sea with a pebble beach is within a short drive from Lewes. Seaford is a traditional seaside resort with a beach shack café serving drinks and snacks. More energetic types can walk along its pretty white cliffs. The rest of us can breathe in the sea air and marvel at the waves and seagulls while sipping strong English breakfast tea.

Sitting on the beach trestle tables is particularly enjoyable early in the morning on a Summer’s day where locals gather and chat before the holidaymakers arrive.

Artistic Decadence at Charleston House

Charleston was the rented home of the Bloomsbury Set a group of artists, historians, writers and thinkers who used the house as their wartime refuge.

It is where the homosexual Duncan Grant had an affair with the artist Vanessa Bell. Her husband the art historian Clive Bell would visit frequently from London and the economist (and Duncan Grant’s lover) John Maynard Keynes had his own room.

“They lived in squares, painted in circles and loved in triangles”

Dorothy Parker

Inside the house you can marvel at their unique naive pottery and wall decorations.

The garden at the rear of the house is exquisitely planted in its original style – a riot of clashing colours with plants tightly amassed and offset by Vanessa Bell’s mosaics.

There is a café serving huge slabs of home-made cake and a Summer arts festival.

Their volunteer tour guides are particularly fun to talk to – they are as an eclectic bunch of Bohemians as the original inhabitants.

Cake and coffee at the Charleston House Cafe

Village Pubs and Bloomsbury Graves in Firle

Firle village is the final resting place of the Bloomsbury Set…the graves of Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and her husband, Clive Bell can be found in the local church.

St Peter's Church with the Bloomsbury graves — St Peter’s Church with the Bloomsbury graves

When Clive Bell used to visit his wife at Charleston he used to stay here the Ram Inn.

The Ram Inn is still plying a vigorous trade and is a popular dinner spot for Lewes locals. You may also enjoy their breakfast menu which is served until 11am. You’ll find everything from yoghurt, berries and granola to poached eggs with avocado on toast and of course the full English.

Avocado and poached eggs on toast with smoked salmon at the Ram Inn near Lewes

On a rainy day, you can park yourself inside its black painted interior with a crackling fire

Interior of the Ram Inn at Firle near Lewes

And in the summer months you can enjoy the outside terrace which overlooks its picturesque high street.

Before you leave take a stroll through the village to marvel at the quaint cottages many of which have garden produce being sold on trestle tables outside accompanied by an honesty box to leave some change.

Fire near Lewes Village Post Office and General Store

Garden grown produce outside houses in Fire

If you miss breakfast at the Ram Inn there is an amazing mobile cafe on the main road before the turn off that does bacon and egg sandwiches and cappuccino. You can sit on a faux sheepskin covered stool at the side of the van and tuck into your butty while enjoying the country views.

Bloomsbury War Murals at Berwick Church

Berwick Church is home to the original war murals painted by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant making this is a perfect next stop if you are on a Bloomsbury Set pilgrimage. These paintings were commissioned by Bishop Bell in 1941 and are the only example of a traditional village church being decorated by renowned contemporary artists. The murals are now showing signs of flaking and a restoration appeal is currently underway.

Chocolate Box Alfriston with its British Winery

Alfriston is the quintessential Sussex Village. Its high street has beautiful period houses bedecked with plants and interlaced with small private shops…a book shop, cards, a vintage clothes shop with delightful period costume jewellery and the 15^th century The Star Inn. This has recently been acquired by the Polizzi family (Alex Polizzi of the TV Hotel Inspector fame) with its legendary fastidious standards.

If you are planning a romantic weekend there is no finer village to take your beloved to.

The Alfriston car parks start filling up as the hour of afternoon tea approaches. The Singing Kettle which overlooks the village square, has sweet and savoury scones and delicious home-made cakes. Try and grab one their outside tables and you can watch the world go by.

Or if you are into fine dining and wine tasting, you can visit the local Rathfinny Wine Estate and sample their world class sparkling wines while taking in the views out over the vineyards.

The Tasting Room is open for two and three course lunches from Wednesday to Sunday. Their menu changes weekly according the produce in season.

Beddingham – A Walkers and Cyclists Paradise

If you are a hiker, walker or cyclist there is no better base to explore Lewes and the South Downs way than the YHA at Beddingham. Converted from farm buildings, YHA hostel had a multi-million pound restoration before opened by the Queen. The café is idyllic with views of the rolling South Downs. And it is convivial. In the evening grab a bottle of modestly priced wine from the cafe and go to the farm house lounge where you will make new friends with the most fascinating people.

Trains to Lewes

Trains run from London Victoria to Lewes and take approximately an hour.

There is a train from Lewes to Beddingham (for the YHA) and Seaford. Check the timetables.

You can purchase tickets in advance from the Trainline.

Driving to Lewes

If you are driving it will take 1.45 mins to 2.15 mins to drive from London and Seaford, Firle, Berwick Alfriston and Charleston are all within a 15-20 minute drive. There’s free parking in Firle, Charleston and on Seaford seafront with paid parking in Alfriston and Lewes.

If you enjoy green and wooded areas you may want to visit Richmond Park in London.

April 13, 2023August 20, 2023

Fitzrovia Chapel – A Neo-Gothic Glistening Masterpiece

On entering the Fitzrovia Chapel, you feel like you are in an encrusted jewelled box.

The gleaming golden, pristine space is quite the opposite of a a dusty, ancient church. This is in part due to its recent restoration. The chapel was restored by conservation architects as part of a £2m renovation as recently as 2013-2015.

Originally, the chapel was part of the Middlesex Hospital and its services were broadcast on the hospital radio to those who were too sick to leave their beds.

The History of the Fitzrovia Chapel

In the 1700’s London only had two hospitals and there was a huge demand for more infirmaries. Middlesex Infirmary opened in 1740 and it was founded as a charity for the “sick and lame of soho”.

It was called the Middlesex Hospital as London at the time was in the county of Middlesex.

In the 1880’s the hospital board of governors were keen to create a chapel. Up unitil that point, all their religious services were being taken in meeting rooms. The governors commissioned the gothic revival architect John Loughborough Pearson to undertake the project.

Construction began on the Fitzrovia Chapel in 1891. When Pearson died his son Frank took over the project. The resulting design is a tribute to both father and son. Its first ever service was on Christmas Day in 1891.

The Chapel’s Design

Ceiling

The awe-inspiring vaulted ceiling was not part of the original Fitzrovia Chapel design. It was first intended to be open oak ceiling. Frank Loughborough Pearson changed this to gilded mosaics. He adopted the mantra “Does it send you to your knees?” for all of his design modifications.

The Baptistery

The baptistery has a European influence and is similar to other baptisteries found in in Palermo and Venice The surrounding four windows show the soldier saints of Joan of Arc, Saint George, Saint Alban and Saint Martin as a memorial to those who died in the First World War.

The stained glass windows in the baptistery.

The Font

The font is inscribed in Greek with “wash clean my sins, not just my face” which is the same inscription as that used on the font outside the Haghia Sophia in Istanbul.

The font is carved in Verd Antique which is a decorative dark green and mottled white facing stone.

The Organ

The mosaics above the organ show the Latin phrase ‘Gloria in excelsis deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis’ which means ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all men on earth’

The original thirteen stop organ has been removed and replaced with an electric Allen organ. This is occasionally used for weddings and concerts.

The Altar

Fitzrovia Chapel’s has a marble altar. The piscina, balustrade and eagle lectern are carved in alabaster. Near to this, an incision commemorates the lying-in-state of Rudyard Kipling, the poet and author, who died at the Middlesex Hospital.

The Fitzrovia Chapel Today

Today its purpose is to act as a:

Film location
Exhibition space
Wedding venue
Concert studio
Workshop

Marriage Proposals and Weddings

The small redbrick annexe leads into a surprising romantic cocoon making it popular for marriage proposals.

Petals are scattered, candles are lit, a harpsichord or violinist plays. Any lover would be mad to say No when confronted with such a romantic setting.

A proposal may last just an hour but here it will be remembered for a life time.

The intimate venue also makes it perfect for small weddings, even very small weddings of just a handful of people. I see it as the perfect alternative to an elopement. Do people elope anymore? It is certainly much more intimate than a registry office. When I visited, someone who had recently got married at the Fitzrovia Chapel was there to reminisce about her wedding. The chapel clearly held beautiful memories for her.

Book Launches

More surprisingly book authors, including the leading poverty campaigner Jack Monroe, have held their book launches in this opulent environment.

Filming and Recording

The Fitzrovia Chapel has also featured in films and as a recording backdrop for various music artists. As the chapel has not been over used the venue still creates a backdrop buzz.

Fitzrovia Chapel Opening Hours

It is open to to public for reflection or to see the interior every Wednesday from 11am and 4pm.

Entrance is free. There is no need to book an online ticket.

Book in advance for groups larger than 15. Guided tours can be arranged on request and there may be a small fee.

Fitzrovia Chapel Friends Membership

You can become a member for £25 a year and this will entitle you to a programme of members only events.

Details of their exhibitions and cultural programme can be found on their website.

Finding the Fitzrovia Chapel

The address is: Fitzrovia Chapel, Fitzroy Place, 2 Pearson Square, London W1T 3BF

It is just off Goodge Street in Central London. The nearest tube stations are Tottenham Court Road and Goodge Street.

Accessibility

The chapel is accessible to wheel chairs as it is all on one floor. There is a step outside but there is a wheel chair ramp.

Further Information about the Fitzrovia Chapel

More information can be found on the chapel website.

Contact Details for the Fitzrovia Chapel

Phone: +44 (0)20 3409 9895

Email: info@fitzroviachapel.org

If you are visiting London’s churches you may also enjoy this piece on how to photograph the exterior of St Paul’s Cathedral.

April 10, 2023September 17, 2023

20 Free Things to do in London (or Nearly Free) That You’ll Love

This is our no compromise list of cheap and free things to do in London

London is the city of free. We have free museums, galleries, parks and interesting streets and alleyways. Combine this with some exotic, tasty and cheap street food and you are all set to go.

1. Check out the Dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum.

You won’t need to look far to find your favourite dinosaur as there is a massive beast towering above you in the Victorian foyer. In fact, the Natural History Museum is a bit obsessed with these animals as relics, exhibitions, talks and colouring books are everywhere. And best of all it is one of our top free things to do in London.

2. Find the Mummies at the British Museum

Mummies, coffins, funeral masks and all manner of useful objects that the dead took with them into the after-life are displayed in the Egyptian room of the British Museum. Look out for the beautifully engraved inner coffin of the priest Hornedjitef from Thebes 240BC and the mummy of a cat from Abydos AD 1-100.

Egyptian hieroglyphics at the British Museum

3. Explore Modern Art at the Tate Modern

There’s no need to splash a lot of cash when you visit the Tate Modern. This contemporary art museum is housed in the Bankside Power Station. There is an impressive selection of free art in its public galleries which includes works by Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. You can find out more about its top exhibits here.

If you head to the Kitchen & Bar on the 6^th Floor, you can sit on a bar stool and enjoy the majestic view of the River Thames, Millennium Bridge and St Pauls – all for the price of a coffee.

4. Ride on the Top of a Red Double Decker

Forget the touristy and expensive Hop-on Hop-off bus we have a cheaper alternative. Take one of red buses on the 9, 11 or 73 bus routes and see famous London sights for a fraction of the price. The stops and attractions on these routes are explained here. The cost of a day bus pass is currently £6 and you can check out the latest prices and child ticket prices here.

5. Discover Your Inner Foodie at Borough Market

This famous foodie market in London Bridge has all manner of delicacies sold from their more permanent stalls to their food pop-ups towards the rear of the market. You won’t be dining in a lot of elegance…there are a few tables and loos. Bring your wet wipes and paper tissues. Sauce on your chin is never a good look

Our blog post on popular London Snacks may provide you with less foodie inspired ideas that can be purchased at the local supermarket.

6. Feed the Ducks at the Serpentine

This was a favourite pastime for a generation of children growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. Parents would give kids a bag of stale chopped up bread and they headed to the serpentine to feed the ducks while their parents had coffee in the Serpentine Lido café. Why not revive this tradition on a nice Spring day.

7. Watch an Old Movie at the BFI

The British Film Institute (BFI) on the South Bank has Mediatheque. This is a media viewing lab with an archive of 95,000 films and television programmes. Just go in, wait for a booth and they will give you a set of headphones. A happy way to spend a rainy afternoon when you don’t want to walk much. There are plenty of nearby interesting places and cafes all with a view of the Thames.

8. Window Shop at Harrods

Harrods is one of our most outrageously expensive stores but this makes it window shopping heaven. The designer boutiques on the first floor showcase the cutting edge in fashion from Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Versace and Valentino (to name a few).

Their lingerie department is a paradise of totally unwearable intimate apparel and expensive silk kimonos. Just don’t reach for your credit card.

9. Walk with a Londoner

There are many free walking tours in London. Of course these guides make a living from the tips that they receive so we recommend that you tip generously.

One of the best tour guides is Barry Greene from Back in the Day Walks. His tours are reasonably priced and he knows his stuff. Barry is a born and bred Londoner who conducts the most fascinating and well researched walks all over London. I have been everywhere with him from Brick Lane to Kensington. His latest tour of Southall is truly eye opening.

10. Eat Weird Stuff in China Town

If you fancy a tasty morsel that can be held between a paper napkin and licked off your fingers go to China Town. Check out the Pleasant Lady for tasty wraps. The Evening Standard has many more great suggestions in Cheap Eats in China Town for under £10.

Red lanterns in London's China Town — Red lanterns in London’s China Town

11. Listen to Live Jazz at Café Boheme

Get on your toe tapping shoes. Café Boheme is probably on one of the busiest corners in Soho and between the hours of 3-5pm they have a live jazz band playing…these are usually the hippest and most talented jazz musicians on the London scene. You can hear them for the price of a couple of drinks. See their live music schedule here

12. Take a Boat Down the River Thames

There’s no need to pay for a luxury Thames cruise just head to Embankment (near Westminster tube station) and embark on an Uber boat by Thames Clippers and set sail down the river. You’ll down the river past the South Bank, the Globe, the Tower of London and all the way to Greenwich.

After you’ve fortified yourself, strolled in the park or visited to the free National Maritime Museum you can do the journey back. Have a drink on deck and wave at the other vessels. You will pay in the region of £10-20 for a return journey depending on whether you qualify for one of their many concessions.

If you are looking for tips on how to plan a day out in London read our guide.

13. Admire the Deer at Richmond Park

When feel like a break from the great metropolis take a safari to Richmond Park. I prefer to go by car (avoid sunny days at the weekend when the car parks are busy). You can take the tube to Richmond and the 65 or 371 bus.

You will see ancient trees, lakes and a herd of red deer. It’s all on a scale that is breath taking. You almost feel that you are on an African safari. The park is free with several very good value cafés and ice cream vans. Our blog post on Richmond Park will give you more information.

14. Become a Groundling at the Globe

In Shakespeare’s Day, the poor who couldn’t afford the more expensive, covered seats would elect to stand for a performance. The same is true today. Ditch the pricy seats in favour of a £5 ticket and experience the play like the Elizabethan peasants. The groundlings are closely monitored, so you’ve got no chance of sneaking into the seated area, sitting on the floor or leaning against a balcony. Standing means standing. Not many people can last the whole performance and you’ll be at the mercy of the elements but you can leave anytime you like.

15. Ogle the Street Performers at Covent Garden

Covent Garden, our famous fruit and vegetable market of days gone by, now has a new speciality…street performers. You’ll find jugglers, musicians, human statues, theatre troupes. Take your camera and small change for tips.

Our original inspiration for this blog post came when we experimented with going out in London on an extreme budget of just £5 a day. Find out more about it in our post on London on the Cheap.

16. Watch the World go by on Piccadilly

This is great activity on a sunny day when you don’t feel like walking much. Head to Pret or any of the other outdoor cafes on Piccadilly. Get yourself neatly sandwiched between Fortnum and Masons, the Royal Academy and the Ritz. Then sip iced coffee and people watch. You’ll see celebrities, tourists, business men, tramps and people from out of town dressed in their best. When you feel like a break you can visit the free galleries at the Royal Academy. Or take a stroll down St James’s and find the shops with Royal Warrants who supply the King and the Royal Household.

17. Eat a Salt Beef Beigel in Brick Lane

Eating a salt beef beigel at Beigel Bake is like going on a religious pilgrimage. It must be done at least once in your lifetime. And you’ll join the queue with actors, royalty, office workers, police men. They all know a bargain when they see it. You’ll get a massive bun stuffed with salt beef, gherkins and a tingly mustard which you can eat while walking down Brick Lane looking at the menus of the Indian Restaurants,

Salt beef Beigel from Beigel Bake in Brick Lane

18. Check out Graffiti Art in the Leake Street Tunnel

Banksy popularised the Leake Street Tunnel under Waterloo station. It is the only legal graffiti wall in London. Local artists are encouraged to bring their spray cans and paint here. You’ll now find an ever-changing display of street art as new artists paint over existing exhibits. If this is your thing, be sure to check out our blog post on the Leake Street Tunnel.

19. Walk Across Tower Bridge

Before braving this iconic London landmark, I recommend going for a leisurely stroll to St Katherine’s Wharf. Have lunch of a drink overlooking the harbour. This is particularly idyllic on a warm Summer’s day. Then put your tourist hat on and walk over Tower Bridge. It’s a marvel of Victorian architecture. If you are lucky, you’ll see the bridge rise to let a tall ship pass.

20. Visit Temples and Sample Dhosas, Bhagis, Pakoras and Samosas in Southall

Southall is an Asian area in West London. In fact, it used to be so Asian that it was rare to see any other ethnicity. However, it’s recently become a stop on the new Elizabethan line. This will mean almost instant gentrification…new homes and a fast journey time to the City will attract many young professionals. Why not make use of this interim period and stroll around the Indian wedding dress shops?

If you bring a head scarf you can also enter the local temples.

When you want to rest, find Spice Village . This award winning Pakistani curry house. Or do what the locals do when shopping…sample the huge variety of samosas, pakoras, bhagis and other, mostly deep-fried, Indian snacks which are sold outside shops and from food stalls. These are in the range of £1-2 per portion. You can top this indulgence off with an Indian sweet from Royal which is arguably the king of Indian sweet treats.

Additional Resources for Free Things to Do in London

The Londonist produces a weekly newsletter of cheap and free things to do in London. Sign up here.

March 8, 2023June 23, 2023

Kew Gardens in Winter – Ducks and Dappled Light

There is something particularly invigorating about Kew Gardens in the Winter. Everyone enjoys trudging through green and mud, buffeted by cold gusts of air and spotting adventurous crumb seeking ducks.

Kew Gardens in Winter is a Green Leafy, Pine Scented Oasis.

Is it worth Visiting Kew Gardens in Winter? Absolutely! Winter is the optimum time to visit Kew. Any wuss can visit on a balmy summer’s day with a picnic in hand. Or sit on an outside table sipping chilled white wine under a vine covered pergola. But it requires an explorer’s sense of adventure and spirit to go in the Winter when you are going to trudge through puddles, mud and duck poo.

Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage site in West London. It’s a 9 acre site with many different themes and walks. Originally, the home and private gardens of King George III and opened to the public in 1840. Now a famed scientific institute for plant and fungal research.

Kew Gardens Winter Scenes

Green Spaces Are Good for the Soul

Kew Gardens Winter has something for every mood. If today is a day when you want palaces, the breathtaking Victorian palm house, and the Great Walk arrive at Victoria Gate and turn right.

You’ll also find views reminiscent of Constable paintings and a magnificent Orangery which is ideal for coffee with friends.

Kew Gardens in Winter benefits from all round greenery.

But if your instincts are for a woodland walk through a densely forested area with, bark underfoot and the scent of pine turn left at Victoria Gate. The arboretum is home to 14,000 trees and more than 2000 species.

What to Expect at Kew in Winter

January is perfect for visiting Kew. I am no fan of their hugely popular Christmas Lights extravaganza and by January they have removed the twisted tangle of illuminations hidden in plastic flowers, the fake reindeer, the arches of fairy lights.

In the winter months you can survey the vast acreage and with hardly anyone in sight.

Usually there will be a few media types who live locally, in mismatched athletic wear and bobble hats yelling production instructions into their phones while walking at pace, young mothers with their babies strapped close to their bodies using their phones to photograph the still waters with their mirror images of golden foliage and skeleton branches, women of a certain age in ancient ski wear “getting in their steps” and catching up with their walking companions.

But for all the mud and cold, and there is sometimes sun light, green lawns, bulbs peeking through brown earth, alert, inquisitive geese, oblivious ducks and tall trees that made you feel dizzy as you look up. a day at Kew feels like an adventure that is otherwise hard to come by at this time of the year.

Opening Hours

The Kew opening hours vary according to the month and January has the shortest opening hours with the gardens closing at 4pm and the last entry is at 3pm. You can check the opening hours here.

Toilet Facilities

Toilet facilities are dotted around the gardens and are also to be found in each of the cafes. These are heated and well maintained.

Cafes and Restaurants

Victoria Gate is the busiest of the cafes and serves sandwiches, coffees and cakes. It is the ideal location to meet someone as it is right next to the entrance.

The new Pavilion restaurant is more upmarket and has a grill. Their hamburgers and grilled chicken with side dishes are very popular.

The Orangery is a popular meeting spot for locals and has a range of hot cooked food and cakes and drinks. Theres a nice outdoor seating area and picnic tables on the grass.

A newer restaurant is the privately owned The Botanist which has more pricy and mesmerising offerings including an Afternoon Tea on tiered stands with exotic tea choices. There are also comfortable sofas in the conservatory area which are ideal for lounging on while drinking hot chocolate and there is a nice view of the pond and palm house.

Kew Gardens Membership

Many local people purchase an annual Kew membership which costs costs £77 for a single adult for the year. One of the main advantages is that you can take in a family member free of charge. This makes Kew a perfect budget day out if the membership card is used frequently.

Day entry for an adult is currently £10. Check their website for more information. www.kew.org

March 8, 2023June 23, 2023

Traditional British Puddings Are the Stuff of Legends

Traditional British puddings like treacle sponge, jam roly poly, spotted dick, trifle, rice pud are the greatest dishes in the world. If you thought that English food was bland and unappetising. you haven’t properly studied the dessert section of any self respecting London restaurant menu…

The History of Traditional British Puddings

Here’s the low down on how the traditional British pudding came into existence. In days of yore, puddings were bits of bread, foraged fruits and miscellaneous odds and ends that were boiled in sheep’s intestines. Fortunately, our ancestors then discovered that a pudding cloth worked just as well.

Poor families up and down the land filled their rumbling stomachs, after a meagre main course with pudding. These were cheap concoctions of flour, fat, sugar and jam or fruit, steamed for a few hours on top of the stove. To counteract the sticky texture that would cling to the roof of the mouth, puddings were often served with custard.

Another great inventor found that instead of using expensive eggs and cream to produce a vanilla flavoured custard sauce cornflour with artificial flavourings would give a similar result. Custard powder was mixed with hot milk. Eureka, the great British pudding with custard was born.

Custard powder is mixed with milk to form a pudding sauce.

Custard is heated in a saucepan until it is thick.

In the dead of a frozen winter, you may find yourself in a pub, gazing longingly down the menu at the pudding section. Maybe the inn keeper has one of these delicious puds with your name on it…

Spotted Dick with Custard is Such a Traditional British pudding that it is served in the Houses of Parliament.

Spotted Dick is a boiled suet pudding dotted with currants or raisins. The dried fruit are the “spots”. This pudding is also known as Spotted Dog. To avoid hilarity and school boy humour, in the Houses of Parliament it is called Spotted Richard. Dick is an abbreviation of the name Richard. Our politicians can be quite puerile.

Other steamed British puddings are treacle sponge, jam sponge, marmalade pudding and chocolate pudding. All of them are made with the additions of pantry staples such as golden syrup, jam, marmalade and cocoa powder. Prior to the fast food revolution, these puds were not only served in homes throughout the land but also made in gargantuan rectangle tins by school dinner ladies. They served them with a dollop of custard issued with force from a ladle. Some people went back for second helpings!

Traditional British puddings are gaining a resurgence in popularity. They cost pennies to make, freeze well and can be reheated in a microwave for 30 seconds. This means a pretty profit for a restauranteur.

Jam Roly Poly is a Traditional British Pudding Almost Universally Loathed by School Children from the 1950s-1970s.

Congratulate yourself if you see this traditional British pudding on a menu. A Jam Roly Poly (otherwise known as Dead Man’s Arm or Dead Man’s Leg) is a great rarity. Basically, suet (shredded beef fat) pastry is flattened into a rectangle, then smothered with jam, rolled up like a Swiss roll and boiled in an old shirt sleeve. Much beloved by Mrs Beeton (the Jamie Oliver of the 1830s) and dreaded by school children up and down the land.

Christmas Pudding

Christmas Pudding is the most famous of the traditional British puddings. It is is usually served after a heavy Christmas dinner. A lead ball of a pudding that is made months in advance from mixed dried fruits steeped in half a bottle of brandy according to Mrs Beeton. Dark treacle is added before boiling for many hours. This gives the pudding its distinctive dark colour and taste. Traditionally, a 6 pence coin was added to the mixture and was given to the person who found it. You do wonder how many people choked on that coin.

Crumbles

Crumbles come in many different forms, the most popular are apple. Usually it is made with the Bramley cooking apple because it forms a white fluffy puree when cooked. Crumbles may also be made from rhubarb and plum. Restaurants make the most of fruits in season and add a crumble topping of flour, rubbed with butter and sugar. The dish is then oven baked until the fruit is soft and the topping golden.

Bread and Butter Pudding is a Retro Traditional British Pudding that is Making a Come Back.

Thrifty families use up stale bread in this recipe. Bread is buttered and sprinkled with sultanas or raisins before adding an egg custard, flavoured with grated nutmeg. Today you may see restaurants offering a croissant, panettone or brioche bread and butter pudding which enables them to use surplus bakery items from breakfast.

Rice Pudding

Another one of granny’s favourites is a baked rice pudding. A short grain “pudding” rice is baked with full fat milk, sugar and flavoured with cinnamon or nutmeg. The secret to cooking it is to let it cook on a very low heat. I have seen versions made with basmati but these are not retro at all.

English Trifle

A trifle is made using leftover or dried cake. This is doused in a sweet sherry and layered with bruised or squashed fruits, fruit puree or jelly. Followed by a layer of custard and whipped cream. Lurid red jelly and tinned fruit trifles are typical of the 1960s-1980s offerings at cheap hotels and restaurants throughout the land!

Tinned Fruit Salad

Canned Fruit Salad. Where is the cherry?

Tinned fruit salad is a personal favourite although you won’t see this on any menu. It is chopped pears, peaches, grapes and pineapple with a few cherries buried deep in the tin. We used to fight over the cherries as children. Served with a trickle of evaporated milk. If you were lucky you may get thick tinned cream.

So before you scoff at the idea of these traditional British puddings give one of these a try.

Find Out More About Traditional British Puddings

Rice Pudding and crumble are some of the easiest puddings to make at home but if you are feeling adventurous why not try your and at a few others. This is our favourite pudding basin for steaming and it is made by the iconic British brand Mason and Cash.

Traditional British Pudding Recipes

The BBC is a reliable web site for traditional British pudding recipes and some have a modern twist.

More About Desserts on Londonology

If you enjoyed this piece on traditional British puddings you may like to discover more about London’s best dessert (in our humble opinion).

March 8, 2023June 23, 2023

Red Icons – The Cultural Emblems of London

Look around you, London is ablaze with red icons and they are not just any shade of red. They are Pantone 485C…the colour of our London buses, Royal Mail, London Underground, the Union Jack, the Coldstream Guards and the Beefeaters at the Tower of London. What is the cause of this rash of redness?

Why Are Our Cultural Icons Red?

Perhaps the fault lies with our long line of monarchs? Our flag designers? Or our military garment manufacturers?

A famous red icon - the red, white and blue in our Union Jack — A famous red icon – the red, white and blue in our Union Jack

A Red Uniformed Coldstream Guard Outside Buckingham Palace

In fact, we probably need to thank the management of the London General Omnibus Company.

A Bus Company Randomly Chooses Red

In the 18th century, there were several different bus companies who ploughed up and down the streets of London with green, yellow, brown and maroon liveries. Then in 1907, the London and General Omnibus company merged with the Vanguard Motor Bus Company and became the leading bus operator in the capital.

The Vanguard Motor Bus Company took a momentous decision that would shape our lives and photography forever, they decided to paint all their buses a cardinal red.

And we don’t know why!

There were no meeting minutes. It could be because red is a symbolic colour for England but the most likely explanation is that it made the buses easy to spot. Imagine an elderly English gent with failing eye sight (and without recourse to the NHS which was a later 1940s initiative), he needed to be able to spot the bus amongst the dense London smog, get his pennies ready and prepare to board.

“Prior to 1907, it was common to see buses in green, brown, yellow and maroon.

Red Pillar Boxes Were a Red Icon Forerunner

The red of course wasn’t entirely plucked from nowhere, our streets were already littered with Royal Mail pillar boxes which had been in use since 1852.

Then Came Our Emblematic Red Icon – The K2 Red Phone Booth

And after the red buses came the red telephone boxes. In 1924 Sir Giles Gilbert Scott won a competition for the redesign of the red phone kiosk (known as K2). This was famously made of cast iron and smelled of urine – an indelible feature of my teen years spent ringing boyfriends out of earshot of nosy parents.

The Iconic K2 Red Phone Booth designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott

London Underground Creates Yet Another Red Icon

Things must have snowballed from there, as London Underground adopted red for its logo and red for the Central line on the tube map – symbolically, this line goes through the heart of London.

London Underground Adopted the same Colour Red as Buses and Pillar Boxes for its Logo

Then It Was the Turn of One of our Famous Chocolate Brands

And then Nestle used red on the packaging of Kit Kat one of our most famous bars of chocolate

Margaret Thatcher Launches “Buy British” with the Union Jack

In the 1980s, we had Margaret Thatcher as prime minister, who berated us to buy British to revive the failing economy. Companies up and down the country used the Union Jack on their labels to signify British made goods. The Union Jack thereby became a symbol for quality against an influx of supposedly cheaper fruits and vegetables from South Africa and inferior goods from Hong Kong.

The Buy British Campaign Used the Union Jack

Then we had Cool Britannia and punk rock…

Cool Brittania and the Skin Head Movement Used Red British Motifs

…and the England Football Team and some rather nasty right wingers (not to mention the Labour Party with their Red Rose insignia and Red Flag anthem) and before we knew it our streets, our homes, our shops were emblazoned with red, white and blue, billowing in every direction in a dystopian nightmare.

Fast Food Gets on the Red Icons Bandwagon

And just as we were coming up for air, it was the turn of fast food…Wimpy Bars, Coca Cola and then Macdonald’s cheekily turned to patriotism and used our primary red colour for their logos.

Macdonalds Used the same Pantone Red at the Base of its Yellow Arches Logo

The cultural elite thought they were safe from this onslaught until the artists of the modern age started to adopt our red cultural icons for their own purposes…Pop Art was on the bandwagon and our galleries were no longer safe from red.

And as with anything, London tourists got a taste for red; they wanted some of the action, our flags, our buses, our underground symbols, our beefeaters, our phone boxes. Things at this point started getting seriously out of hand as we began to disseminate cheap plastic souvenirs in Pantone Red 485C to all nations of the world.

Tourists Can't Get Enough of Our Cultural Red Icons — Tourists Can’t Get Enough of Our Cultural Red Icons

Even Las Vegas, with enough kitsch of its own, was given the Gordon Ramsay restaurant with its iconic K2 phone booth doors.

Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chip Restaurant in Las Vegas has K2 Phone Booth Doors

And before we knew it the whole world was drowning, not waving or basking, in LONDON RED. And all (in my view) because an unknown person, in an undocumented meeting, decided to paint their London bus fleet red.

If you would like to spot some of our famous red icons, why not try some of these free and cheap sightseeing ideas.

March 8, 2023September 17, 2023

London on the Cheap – How I Changed My Life.

London on the cheap? That is the question. Can you go out for a fiver for a full day of London food and entertainment? This is a story of my £5 a day experiment and how I had a fabulous time and restored my health and sanity. My life was a mess there was no denying it. Suffering from exhaustion and overwhelm, a chance reading of a blog changed me forever…

Events that Led up to Doing London on the Cheap

A London in the Cheap experiment wasn’t in my horoscope but here is how it came about.

My mother had been ill for some years and was now confined to a wheel chair. My father at 87, was a bit doddery but still a practising pharmacist. And I was working 80 hour weeks managing the e-learning output for a large organisation…and managing my investments and properties…think deadlines, mold, damp, repairs, neighbours, tenants. It wasn’t kittens and roses.

And just when it didn’t look as if it could get any more complicated, my father had a fall on a bus sustaining a bleed on the brain. So now I had two parents, both frail and bonkers, and a pharmacy to close down, plus everything else.

On the exact day of my father’s death, the phone rang…I had won a lucrative but complicated project in Sweden, the land where a glass of wine costs £15, the sun sets at 2pm in December and waiting for a bus causes icicles to drip from your nose.

My face was red and puffy from exhaustion. My eyes had shrunk further into my skull. My whole life was subcontracted to cleaners, gardeners, virtual assistants and doctors. And my sole entertainment comprised going to the local pub for lunch on Sunday.

And all of this came at a monetary cost too. I was earning a fortune and spending £21,000 a year on foreign travel, meals away from home and the plethora of other useless things that go with an executive consulting career.

A Blog Post on a £5 a Day Challenge Changed my Life

Late one night I was researching investments, when I fell upon a blog written by a business school professor. She described how she was was paying off £60k of debt by eliminating all unnecessary outgoings with the exception of gym membership and a meagre £150 a month for entertainment. This worked out at a fiver per day.

Her story preyed on my mind. Could this be the key to changing my life? Where would a fiver in London take me?

My plan on how to do London on the cheap took some working out. I would ignore any transport costs. I joined a luxury gym. And I wouldn’t take into consideration any of my existing memberships which were:

In turn this £5 a day challenge became the inspiration for me starting the Londonology bog as I explain in Hello World.

London on the Cheap, or for a Fiver, per Day

That left me with a fiver, or £5 a day, to go out..and as a cup of coffee in London was about £2.50, I was clearly not going to get very far.

But what if I stayed local to my home in West London on one day, used my memberships and took a picnic lunch? My expenses for those days would be zero. Then on alternate days, I would have £11 to spend. This was much more viable. The plan was born.

My “Free” Local Days

My local days didn’t involve much suffering despite all expenditure being (largely) forbidden.

Invariably, I would start my gallivanting, with a trip to the gym where I spurned any form of strenuous exercise and headed straight to a hot foaming jacuzzi alternating with the steam room, solarium, a brief swim and the sauna.

My gym and the jacuzzi where I whiled away my mornings

Sometimes I would swing by Waitrose for a free coffee (it’s shame that they stopped that source of profound pleasure).

Then I would drift between a walk in Kew Gardens…

Kew Gardens in West London is cheap if you have an annual membership

Or a free Tai Chi class overlooking a grand tree lined vista…

Or a trip to Richmond Park to see ancient trees and deer…

I discovered that the Odeon ran a scheme for the over 60s (Odeon Silver cinema) where I could have tea and biscuits and watch a movie for £2…so not zero expenditure but fairly close.

Ultra cheap Odeon Silver Cinema screenings

My “free days” were, in fact, quite a lot of fun!

My First London on the Cheap Adventure

On an overcast day in December 2013, I embarked on my first budget adventure with a well researched plan.

I started at the V&A, where I joined an organised museum tour of the little known Theatre and Performance Collection.

Among the costumes, set designs, advertising posters and oil paintings was the horse from the theatre production of Warhorse. Joey the puppet had starred in over 1,640 shows of the stage adaption of Michael Morpurgo’s book before he retired to the V&A in March 2013.

Slightly exhilarated with my no cost V&A success, I walked on icy pavements to the Serpentine Gallery. I was overawed by the cafe extension, built that year and designed by Zaha Hadid; a cloud like edifice of steel and glass where the undulating roof plummets to the ground at various points. I stopped for a pot of tea with a complimentary lavender shortbread biscuit.

The Zaha Hadid designed cafe at the Sackler Serpentine Gallery

There was an interesting, if not unnerving exhibition, of Klu Klux Klan figures and multilated art in their Contemporary Art Space (free and entertaining).

Walking back to South Kensington, I abandoned my plans for crepes when I saw the welcoming orange awnings of Comptoir Libanais.

I had a late lunch feasting on the Mezze Platter of hummus, baba ghanuj, quinoa, tabbouleh, falafel, labne, cheese samboussek, flat bread and pickles. And to drink, I had rose mint tea which arrived in a steaming Middle Eastern silver tea pot and was a refreshing blend of green tea, fresh mint, rose water and sugar.

I then hopped on a bus to Harrods to see the Christmas windows. It was the year that they were decked out like carriages on the Orient Express. Really, they were a 1920s marvel to behold.

I ended my First London on the Cheap mission with a walk round the Harrods Food Hall which was brimming with Christmas treats – bronze turkeys at £120 and all manner of pricy delicacies.

The total for my exhilarating day out had come to £11.34 including tea at the Serpentine cafe and my mezze lunch at Comptoir Libanais. The theatre tour at the V&A was complimentary, as was entry to the art exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery. Bear in mind these are 2013 prices but this wouldn’t cost much more today.

My “London on the Cheap” plan was not only born but my plan worked!

Fine Tuning My Days Out

Over the coming months, I discovered a few things that helped me to refine my London on the Cheap plan.

The key was lunch for a fiver, a few coffee stops to rest and get a caffeine boost and a well researched plan of things to see and do.

Of course, anyone can get a sandwich on-the-go but I wanted something better and for £5 there’s a surprising range of tasty morsels.

I was bowled over by both Mr Sammy (such a charming man) and his Beigel Bake shop in Brick Lane where I was given the most enormous white doughy bread roll stuffed with huge amounts of salt beef, neon yellow, nose tingling mustard and gherkins for £4.25.

A Beigel Bake sandwich is delicious and perfect when you are doing London on the Cheap.

Then there was Five Guys, where somewhere at the bottom of the menu they advertised a small beef burger for £4.75 and when they asked me what toppings I wanted, I said “All of them!”. This was a gargantuan lunch time treat as they slapped on tomatoes, mayo, lettuce, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, jalapeño peppers, green peppers and ketchup.

And I loved the soup and crumble combination at Cafe in the Crypt under St Martins Church. Each day they brought out a vat of fresh home made soup, hot baked bread and an apple crumble with a jug of custard which was £5.95 (slightly more now).

These days my caffeine fix is taken care of with a £20 monthly subscription to Pret which includes smoothies, cappuccino, hot chocolate and a large range of barista drinks – useful for someone like me who is always on the go. You can have up to five drinks a day at 30 minute intervals.

It is worth noting that Pret does a black filter coffee for a £1 reduced by 25p (pre coronavirus) if you bring your own travel mug.

It's easier to do London on the Cheap if you use the Pret subscription which provides free hot and cold drinks. — It’s easier to do London on the Cheap if you use the Pret subscription which provides free hot and cold drinks.

The easy part was finding things to do. I discovered the key was to research the day before online, find vouchers and keep an eye open for membership based entertainment. I would try and contain my activities within a small area, or on a single tube line, and have some variety between them eg. an art gallery plus a performance or recital.

I still get excited when I find an interesting lunch deal for a fiver. Look at this one that I found yesterday at the famous Poppies which is arguably the best fish and chip shop in town. But honestly, if you are near a market, or street food stall, you can pick up amazing things in the £5-8 range.

By the way be sure to check out our blog post on free and cheap things to do in London as this is a great way to get started.

The key to doing London on the Cheap is to spend no more than £5 on lunch.

So Where is My “London on the Cheap” Plan Now?

Before my great budget project, the only people I really knew were old friends, neighbours and IT work colleagues.

Now my friendship circle is simply magical…amazing, creative people with interesting stories, who I have met on my London adventures. We hoot with laughter and are always booking things for each other and zooming into town.

As I was having such a good time, I would prefer to be out living it up, instead of chained to a desk and a computer, so I retired.

And I no longer look like the walking dead.

Do I still go out for a fiver? No, sadly not. I did it for years and it was the most fun ever but I decided to pay more to properly recompense the fantastic venues, bars and restaurants that are the backbone of my new life. And I like to be out with my friends without feeling financially constrained.

I think back to 2013, the blog that started it all and my chance decision to click on the author’s About page which was the catalyst for my London for a Fiver project. But even 7 years later, going out every day to fascinating places, all for the price of your average office worker’s lunch is definitely achievable.

Me, Today

Happy and relaxed with friends in our opera box at the London Coliseum.

Me following my London on the Cheap experiment in a box at the London Coliseum.

So I implore you dear reader, get off your sofa now and go out. You can go out for free! And you can definitely have the time of your life in London on the Cheap.

March 8, 2023June 23, 2023

A London Winter Packing List Compiled by a Londoner

This is what we recommend as a London Winter Packing List and we also advise on where to shop for the things you forgot. Do you spend your journey to the airport remembering all the things that you forgot to pack? Well you aren’t alone…

What Goes into the Perfect London Winter Packing List?

London can be wet and dreary when you are trudging about on foot and then you find yourself thrust into overheated steamy shops, sipping cocktails in chic hotel bars or spending the night at the theatre. So there is a lot that needs to be crammed into a small suitcase. Here we explain the 15 must haves for a London trip – the perfect London Winter Packing List.

How Not To Look Like A Tourist

Wear dark colours like navy, black and dark grey and only wear one or two colours. Don’t carry a selfie stick or camera. The London look is understated and ‘put together’.

Hannah at Cocobeautea has nailed London style and you may want to check out her blog and Instagram for ideas.

London Winter Packing List Essentials

Outer Wear

It rains a lot in London. You won’t get very far with just a blazer, hoodie or a fake fur coat. So unless you’ve arrived on the one week of the year where no rain is forecast your coat will need to be waterproof.

In the midst of Winter, this may be a full length down filled coat, and in Spring or Summer you may get away with a lightweight Mac or thin padded jacket.

Go to M&S if you haven’t brought this item with you. It’s a mid range shop selling quality clothing and you’ll be able to pick something up in the £40-£100 category. Make sure your coat is labelled as Stormwear…unless of course you are here to buy an iconic Burberry.

There are large M&S stores in Victoria, High Street Kensington, Marble Arch and Oxford Street.

It can get chilly here in Winter so you’ll need a scarf, fingerless gloves (so you can text) and a warm hat.

The leader in high street scarfs, wool hats and gloves is Accessorize. There are branches throughout the West End. You’ll be able to pick up something on trend…be that clashing or co-ordinating. Fortnum & Mason do a nice range of hats. Or you could try the Royal Hatters Lock & Co.

High Street clothes Shops for the Young or Super Stylish:

Zara
H&M
Mango
All Saints
Hobbs

Walking Shoes

Leave your high heels at home, as you’ll need comfortable, easy-to-put-on flats for getting about and travelling on public transport in London in Winter.

For daytime walking, Clarks has a superb quality flat shoes with a grip. Look for Goretex lined leather that makes the shoes waterproof. You may also find what you are looking for at Uggs, just off Piccadilly Circus. Carvela and Kurt Geiger do some ultra chic trainers.

Bear in mind that you are looking for urban walking shoes or chic trainers not hiking boots or scruffy, utilitarian trainers.

Jumpers and T Shirts

The London climate tends to be mild and damp, even in the middle of Winter. Added to that, you will be going in and out of department stores, museums and hopping on and off the tube, so you don’t want to get too hot. It’s best to dress in layers. I would recommend a dark merino wool or cashmere jumper over a cotton long sleeved T shirt. Or you may consider a loose fit jumper half tucked into jeans or trousers. Cardigans are a difficult look to pull off when wearing a coat.

M&S does a good range of wool mix and cashmere jumpers in plain colours and layering pieces like t shirts and vests. River Island and H&M sell nice winter knits.

Evening Wear

If you are going out, you’ll need to be able to switch up your outfit for the evening. For most of the year, I wear black trousers which I have in a variety of fabrics e.g. faux leather, velvet, jeans and suiting. I wear these with an evening top and jewellery for the London theatre and restaurants. I can then add a coat, scarf, gloves and Uggs to stay warm for the tube journey home.

Monsoon does a good range of tops and evening dresses which can work as tunics over black trousers. Also check out evening knits.

Nightwear

I buy all my nightwear in the ultra low cost store Primark. They sell 100% cotton night dresses and pyjamas in the £5 price range which wash well and last forever. Check out their slipper socks for using in your hotel. There is a large Primark on London’s Oxford Street.

Tiger is also good for slipper socks.

Underwear

M&S has made a name for itself as the leading brand for quality high street underwear, bras and socks. Why would you go anywhere else?

Bags

Bags are an emotive subject as many feel that this is where their social status is judged. If you are after a designer bag head to Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty’s or Harvey Nichols.

Kurt Geiger is a UK company focussed on the London Look . Bags are mostly priced bag in the £100-200 category. Their flag ship store is in Covent Garden. For everyday use, I wear one of their leather crossbody bags.

Umbrella

Bring a telescopic, ultra light weight umbrella. London rain can be gusty and travel horizontally!

As there’s a high risk of losing umbrellas in cafes, buses and tubes I’d recommend a cheap, sturdy umbrella from Tiger for approximately £5.

Toiletries and Beauty Essentials

There’s always a huge number of items required to maintain a beauty routine and some you are not able to carry in hand baggage. Tiger will be able to fulfil most of these needs from small magnifying mirrors with suction pads, foot files, emery boards, scissors, tweezers and travel hair brushes – all at very low prices in stylish colourful, Scandi designs.

For really high quality hand creams, in lovely retro metal effect tubes, go to The Body Shop. I always carry a travel size of their Hemp Hard Working Hand Protector which has a nice slightly earthy smell – perfect for chapped Winter hands.

Alternatively, try Superdrug for essentials, it is slightly cheaper than Boots with an excellent range of vitamins and drug store brand makeup.

The best drug store make up brands are:

Bourjois
L’Oreal
Max Factor
No 7 (Boots)

Medicines and Vitamins

When travelling, I bring a small toiletry bag containing all my meds for any past, current or (likely) future illness. I also use 7 day tablet organisers containing my prescription meds and daily vitamins which I carry in both my hand luggage and my carry on.

If you are after medical advice, head to Boots or anywhere that you see the green cross pharmacy sign as they will have a resident pharmacist who will be qualified to advise.

While you are in a pharmacy consider the purchase of these Winter essentials

blister gel plasters
lip salve
anti bacterial hand gel
multi packs of travel tissues

Splitting headache with no pharmacy in sight? Try a newsagent as they have a small range of over-the-counter meds.

Phone Chargers

A couple of small lipstick style phone chargers will get you through the day. You can buy these plus the phone leads in Tiger or most drug stores. While you are there check out their travel plugs.

Electrical Equipment

Most hotels have an iron, hair dryer and phone chargers if you ask at reception.

Looking for specialised camera or phone equipment? Try the vast number of shops on the Tottenham Court Road.

Writing and Drawing Equipment

You may have the urge to document your thoughts and travels the old fashioned way, using a pen and paper, or get crafty, or creative. Tiger does a range of notepads, pens, drawing or craft supplies…you could also try Paperchase and John Lewis.

Things to Buy When You Arrive

Cooking Utensils

If you are here for longer and self catering, you may require utensils or equipment. Most Londoners will buy these from large out-of-town supermarkets like Tesco, Waitrose or Sainsbury’s. If this isn’t an option for you try John Lewis in Oxford Street, Peter Jones in Chelsea and there is a limited range of very basic equipment in Tiger.

Hotel Room Dining and Snacks

On some cold, rainy days in Winter, you may not feel like going out for a meal, or you are preparing for when the urge for a midnight snack strikes. M&S Food Hall in Marble Arch is a paradise of pre prepared food which will cater for every need, from a substantial dinner, to snacks on-the-go, park picnics or midnight morsels. Alternatives are Pret and the Selfridges or Harrods food halls.

A Londoner’s London Winter Packing List

As a Londoner, these are the things that I advise my visiting friends to put on their London Winter Packing List…and I never leave home without my tissues, phone battery charger, paracetamol umbrella and a comfortable pair of shoes.

If you are looking for places to go to that will fully utilise all your wet weather and outdoor clothing look no further than our posts on Richmond Park and Kew Gardens.

March 8, 2023August 9, 2023

A Day Out in London – Plan It With Our Detailed Guide

So exactly how do you plan a day out in London? Here’s how to go from a hum drum day in which you have little to show for it but throbbing blisters to one where you are energised by London in its glory. As they say, “fail to plan and plan to fail”.

Plan a Day Out in London by Finding Your Starting Point

Well in advance of your day out, decide where are you going. The sooner you start to plan the more options you will have. You will be able to book tickets that will be sold out nearer the day and you will have more time for research.

Research London Activities and Restaurants

Your start point is going to be the theme for your entire day.

For example, if you are going to see Buckingham Palace you may decide to have a Royal day. Or maybe a Thames Clipper boat trip to Greenwich could become a maritime adventure taking in the naval museum and the the Cutty Sark. Or the Churchill War Rooms could be the spark for a military history day.

Good places to research your starting points are:

Think of what could spoil your enjoyment like long queues and crowds, rain and bad weather and make contingency plans.

If a heatwave is expected, you may want to postpone a walking tour of Kensington for a trip to the Regents Park Open Air Theatre where you can rent a deckchair and have a picnic and a leisurely stroll of the famous rose garden before a performance. If rain is forecast you won’t want to be on a Thames river boat so consider indoor or covered venues like The Tate Modern and Borough Market.

If you are planning many weeks in advance you can check the average weather and precipitation levels for the month online.

Match your activities to the weather forecast

Is there a Google chart which shows when the venue is less busy? Avoiding busy periods means that you are more likely to get tickets and you’ll spend less time waiting in queues.

Amp Up Your Main Experience

Check the Events page of the venue’s website. By arriving earlier or later you may be able to take advantage of a free guided tour or performance.

Or maybe you could plan your day out in London to coincide with with a Happy Hour at a nearby bar or the pre-theatre menu.

Time your activities to make the most of Happy Hours

Museums and major attractions often have delightful museum shops and cafes.

Read about the main exhibits, paintings or features of the place that you are visiting in advance as this definitely enhances the experience.

Add Additional Activities

Now we are going to look at how to take the day from special to amazing by researching nearby activities which are a different type of experience to your central event. If you have been on your feet sightseeing or at an art gallery, look for concerts, restaurants, cafes and theatres.

TripAdvisor is a useful reference as it has a map function which shows nearby attractions, restaurants and bars.

Put your Day Out in London Plan Together Like a Movie

Once you have your plan, sequence it together in your mind like a movie. What’s is the day going to look like? Imagine the photos that will make up your day.

If you live in London mix things up, don’t just tread a well worn path to your favourite cafe or restaurant.

Be Realistic About Your Time and Energy

When you plan a day out in London, allow for both travel time and downtime. Also allow for things going wrong. Check, and double check, opening, closing and last entry times. Does anything need to be eliminated or saved for another day?

Refine the Plan to Meet Your Budget

Are you getting the most for your expenditure?

Get the most value from your money when you plan a day out in London

It’s about getting the best value for money not about overall cheapness.

Maybe you could switch in some more budget friendly options, or spend more on some aspects of the day for a memorable, luxurious experience.

Save Vouchers and Make a Rough Schedule

Finally, print out anything that you will need like vouchers, tickets etc or photograph them to save to your phone. You will need a record of your London day plan and easy access to it.

Photograph your tickets and vouchers on your phone

Its amazing how your internet signal mysteriously disappears as soon as you arrive at a box office.

I sometimes use Tripit for planning day trips especially if my day includes a lot of time critical events.

With a bit of forethought and research, you can plan a day out in London that is truly amazing.

Additional Information on how to Plan a Day Out in London

If you have enjoyed this guide on how to plan a day out in London why not check out our other blog posts on cheap and free days out in London and planning a day out at Buckingham Palace?