London Things to Do

The 2012 Olympics might be a distant memory now, but London‘s Olympic Stadium is set to stay a focal point of the capital’s sporting events, with the park hosting it’s first post-Olympics event -  the London Cycling Festival - in August 2013.

If you’re traveling out to Olympic Park, you have a few choices of how to get there and there are a number of gates to enter the park.

The stations which were expected to be very congested have not been as crowded as feared: London Bridge, Bank, Charing Cross, St Pancras, the Jubilee and DLR lines were busy but flowing well.

Hampton Court Palace is on the edge of London alongside the Thames River, and while famous as the home of Henry, Hampton Court remained an occupied royal palace for many centuries.

Greenwich Park, located in south-east London, beside the River Thames, is the oldest royal park in London, established in 1433 and now forming part of the Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site. Encompassing 183 acres (74 ha) the park is made up of beautiful sloping grasslands including a deer sanctuary home to a herd of Fallow and Red deer; a traditional early 20th-century style Tea Pavilion; and forested hillsides offering sweeping views across the River Thames to St Paul’s Cathedral and beyond.

It’s the oldest royal park in London and was established in 1433. It’s 183 acres (74 ha) of beautiful sloping parkland leading up to the Royal Observatory (home of the Prime Meridian) and Planetarium, including the historic Queen’s House, the Royal Naval College and the National Maritime Museum. Due to the park’s use for the Olympic Games, it will be closed to the public until August 4th.

Crossing Charing Cross Road at Shaftesbury Avenue during rush-hour on Thursday, I found the traffic halted, more police than I’ve ever seen in my life and people lining the kerb. The Olympic Torch was coming past, circling through central London and ever closer to the stadium.

And so today it begins: Opening Day of the Olympic Games London 2012.

So you’re in London, it’s the Olympics and you don’t have tickets. Or you have tickets but only for one or two events. Don’t despair – there are plenty of ways to be in on the action and all for free.

Only about a week to go and things are getting hot up here. Even the forecast for next week is supposed to be sunshine – fingers crossed.

There are more athletes, officials and spectators arriving every day and the Torch draws ever closer to London and the Olympic Stadium. So far the airports, roads and railways seem to be coping with the extra people in town – although some of the buses bringing athletes from Heathrow to the Olympic Village did get lost giving an unexpected tour of the sights of London to the American and Australian teams. Mostly everyone kept their sense of humor though and enjoyed seeing Tower Bridge.

Day 54 of the Torch Relay and it’s getting closer to lighting the flame at the stadium and the beginning of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Despite the summer so far being one of rain, rain and more rain in England – though it is still warm – the crowds have been turning out across the country to cheer. Crowds have watched the Torch go by and celebrated all the Torch Bearers who have ranged from Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, to pop icon Cliff Richard to George Weedon who is 92 and was a gymnast in the 1948 London Olympic Games. Yesterday, the torch visited Windsor Castle where the handover was watched by the Queen and Prince Philip.

The London Eye is one of the most popular things to do in London, even for people who live in this great city. The Eye dominates the city landscape opposite the towers of Westminster and Big Ben and the views when riding the Eye are spectacular.

Here are a few tips on how to maximize your experience.

The City of London Festival starts on Monday, June 25th with the bells of St Mary-le-Bow resounding at midday. There follows a month of great events throughout the city including concerts in venues the public can’t normally visit. Look out for the 50 pianos dotted around the streets which you can sit down and play, and many free events.

My tour of the old city will introduce you to this fascinating area with its atmospheric alleys, vibrant markets, hidden gardens, medieval churches and striking modern architecture. There is something for Harry Potter fans too!

All eyes have been glued to the British capital this year, with the epic Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and the upcoming Olympic games thrusting the city firmly into the limelight. Of course, London has long been renowned for its cosmopolitan population, rich history and trailblazing status in art, fashion and music, but this year the city is set to reclaim its ranking as one of Europe’s most popular destinations.

If you’re joining the masses in London this year, you’re sure to be swamped with sightseeing options, but for those looking to get a taste of the real London alongside checking off their to-do list, here’s the insider lowdown on what, where and how to get the most out of the Big Smoke.