London Things to Do

If you’re looking to get away from the mass of people coming to London for the Olympics, here are a few options.

Beaches:

1) Southend-on-Sea, Essex

This is a lovely seven-mile stretch of beaches not far from London, with the pick being Shoeburyness East Beach because of its windsurfing area, grassy headland and long sand beach. Southend has the world’s longest leisure pier, The Southend Pier. The train from Liverpool Street Station to Southend takes about an hour.

One of the most challenging parts of the London Olympics for spectators may be getting around the city. London’s transport system is generally very efficient and with the added pressure on the bus and tube system, it will be a good idea to plan ahead so that you are sure to have plenty of time.

Harrods Department Store, in Knightsbridge, opened in 1849 when Charles Harrod had a grocery store here on Brompton Road. Harrods has grown to have 330 departments selling luxury goods over seven floors. Its motto is “All Things for All People” which sums up the store pretty well: you can get anything you want at Harrods and carry it away in one of their famous green shopping bags, or buy one of their long-lasting branded totes.

With such wonderful parks dotted all over this huge city, one of the best things to do on a sunny day in London is pack a picnic basket and head onto that green grass with the squirrels and pigeons as company. Many of London’s original food markets have now become more about antiques, bric-a-brac and cheap clothes, DVDs and souvenirs but some continue to thrive and farmers’ markets have sprung up to fill the gaps.

HURRY! Multi-day tours from London on sale for 3 days only! Get 50% off Multi-day Tours through English countryside, including the Cotswolds, Bath, Oxford, Wales, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and Southwest England. This deal is only available for 3 days – so hurry! You must book by April 19th, 2012 to SAVE 50%! This exclusive offer is available on travel from May to September, 2012 on all scheduled departure times and dates. This offer is available for new transactions only and cannot be applied to any existing booking.

Just beyond the financial center of London lies the East End. Once home to all sorts of criminal shenanigans, these days the area is full of artists, cafes, galleries and very interesting little streets and markets. One of these is Columbia Road.

2012 marks 50 years since The Beatles first single was realeased, Love Me Do on October 5th, 1962. This was also the year that they signed to EMI records and Ringo joined the band. 1962 was a landmark year for a band that went on to change music.

The Beatles began their career in Liverpool in England’s North but they soon moved to London, the city synonymous with their fame and Beatlemania. London was also the home to the Swinging Sixties which The Beatles famously kicked off with their musical and fashion innovations. Although there were rumors of a reunion for the 2012 London Olympics these have been pretty well quashed but here are a few suggestions of what to do to mark the anniversary.

It’s just one of those things: when you’re walking in one of London’s huge parks, you think of all the people who have been here before you, and it always turns my mind to the days when people got around on horseback. I’ve always wanted to ride a horse around Hyde Park or Richmond Park, and it’s actually not that difficult to organize. Many stables offer riding lessons for both adults and children, intensive learn-to-ride-in-a-day courses, and also morning and afternoon ‘hacks’ which are a ride around the park for those who have been on a horse before.

The upper reaches of the Thames River were once the playground of the rich and landed who built large elegant riverside houses. Of course the grandest and earliest of these is Hampton Court Palace, but there are many smaller houses.

For the sixth week of our Viator’s 2011 Ultimate Holiday Giveaway, we’re giving away tickets to one of our most popular London tours!