sandy456

The Best of London (a different list)

The following is a tentative list of the best of London (compiled through personal research done on the internet). Here are the results. If you live in London, or consider yourself an expert on the city please add, or edit items to the list. It's in desperate need of a local's personal knowledge. Once complete, it should help visitors to London know exactly where to find what they need and want. PLEASE only respond to this thread if you're interested in helping to edit or contribute items to the list. Thank you.

GENERAL:
london bridge/lifting schedule (see the bridge lift to make way for boats underneath) - special times only.
westminister abbey is free between 6-8pm wednesday or during free organ recitals
st pauls cathedral is free after 430 or during Choral Evensong
buckingham palace changing of the guard vs whitehall changing horseguard (which is better, and easier to photograph)?
what are the best royal parks in london?

also...
temple area
guild hall
no 11 bus ride for a view of the sites
Neal's Yard near Covent Garden

FOOD:
whitechapel area for arab food
tooting for indian food
bricklane currey
free food at Hare Krishna Temple at 10 Soho Street 1230-100 mon-sat
borough market food
cheapest supermarkets: Aldi/Lidl, and Asda/Tesco

VIEWS:
view from highgate
view from primerose hill near
regents park
Woolwich free ferry view
Oxo tower view, South Bank centre Waterloo station
Greenwich observatory view
Thames Flood Gates view
Brockwell Park view
sunset at south side of hampstead heath
sunset at waterloo bridge

ETC...
easyeverything internet cafe (best internet cafe)
get VAT refund form if shopping in UK (when you leave the country the tax should be awarded back to you).


CRITERIA for LIST:
-memorable/dramatic scenery & landscape photography. Where to find the best (viewpoints, city views, panoramas, skylines, sunsets, etc..)?
-the unique outdoors, hikes/hilltops/lookouts, and amazing views.
-lovely/charming streets, cute villages, and magnificent/attractive architecture
-authentic/unforgettable "local" travel experiences (i.e. non-typical, interesting/special experiences (full of original character), and unique only to the local area)).
-the best freebies
-and/or anything else off-the beaten path.

Thanks again...

janisj

don't have time to read your whole list just now. But it doesn't get off to a very good start.

The very first item is incorrect. London Bridge does not lift, It is <b>Tower Bridge</b> that you are talking about -- a whole different bridge . . . . .

And your 2nd and 3rd items are a bit misleading. The Abbey and St Pauls are indeed free during those services - but you can't view them/wander around to see the bits other that where you are sitting.

sandy456

so when, or how can i see wesminister cathederal or st pauls for free?

Josser

It is free if you go to a service and you can go into the cloisters for free.

However, why not just pay your fee and help to stop the place crumbling into dust?

This is from the website:

The Abbey never charges people who want to worship. But we do rely almost entirely on paying visitors and tourists for our income. The costs of running the Abbey and maintaining the historic buildings are covered almost entirely from these admission fees - Westminster Abbey receives no funding from the Crown or the Church and only occasional project support from the State

Cholmondley_Warner

free food at Hare Krishna Temple at 10 Soho Street 1230-100 mon-sat&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;

Please don't do this. This is primarily intended for the homeless and destitute. If you eat there, someone else can't.

And you didn't mention the dinosaurs in Crystal Palace park. They're great.

janisj

Sandy456: Do not confuse Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Abbey -- totally different places (and religions for that matter)

You can see Westminster Cathedral for free - but that is not the bldg you are thinking of. Though it is worth a visit.

You cannot &quot;tour&quot; Westminster Abbey for free. So just pay your money - the fees pay a <b>tiny</b> % of the money needed to maintain the bldg. They used to just ask for donations, but most people were too cheap to donate anything. So now they charge. (it was embarrassing to see quarters and dimes in the donation tub)

thursdaysd

Is this supposed to be a list of the &quot;best&quot; (however defined) sights, or those that are free? And what do you mean by &quot;temple area&quot;? Are you referring to the Inns of Court?

thursdaysd

Ah, just realized this is the poster who was trying to get around the immigration regulations to stay longer in Europe and the UK on practically no money. Suspect this is an effort to find out how to live cheaply in London.

sandy456

No, it's a list on how to visit London (with little or no money),

where to see the nicest views
where to eat for cheap,
and the rest of the criteria is listed above.