Places to Visit Before Leaving London

With only two more weeks here in London, it is the final stretch to get in as much British-ness as we can. Finals and move-out are stressful and time-consuming, but it is definitely worth it to not sacrifice enjoying the end of your time abroad. So, I have compiled a list of places not-to-miss here in London that you could go to on your next study break!

1. Covent Garden 

This is my favorite area of London! Covent Garden itself is a large collection of stores inside this beautiful semi-outdoor building. There are so many lovely restaurants and places to shop. In the lower levels of the Covent Garden building, there is often live music that is tons of fun. Right now, everything is decorated for Christmas, with disco balls, a Dolce & Gabbana Christmas pop-up, and my personal favorite Christmas tree in London! While you are there, I recommend visiting Covent Garden Crepes, which is a pink crepe cart on the south side of the square!

2. Brick Lane

Brick Lane is a trendy area on the eastern side of London, close to Shoreditch and the Liverpool Station. I have never seen so many thrift and vintage stores full of things I would actually wear—hope you have room in your suitcase!

3. Westminster

After three months of living here in London, I assume you have made it to the Westminster area; however, if you have not, you cannot miss this! Even if you have visited, I definitely recommend visiting it again. Westminster is the epitome of what I imagine when I think of London, complete with Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and more. It is so beautiful and rich with culture. I also recommend hitting St. James Park while you are in the area; it is pretty, and features a collection of pelicans gifted from the Russian ambassador every year!

5. Grand Union Canal

Suggesting you visit the Grand Union Canal is incredibly vague: it is so long and goes through so many areas! It is definitely a worthy place to see though; so much greenery, variations of ducks, and the cutest houseboats. If you are looking for an area close to campus, head northeast past Kings Cross and you will hit Word on the Water, a bookstore on a boat! Head a little further west, and you could go to the part of the canal that flows through Regents Park and the London Zoo; you can see some of the animal enclosures from the canal! Head even further west, and you will hit Little Venice, which is just such a beautiful area with tons of houseboats.

6. Trafalgar Square

This area, though often incredibly busy, is very worth your time. The center of it has two huge fountains surrounding a statue. At the northeast end of the square is the National Gallery, and you definitely should not miss it! It is a free museum (like most museums here in London) and has a huge variety of art. From the balcony of the National Gallery, you get a stunning view of Trafalgar Square, with Big Ben and the London Eye in the distance. 

Right now, there is a very cute Christmas market happening that I definitely recommend visiting. There is also a Christmas tree—courtesy of Norway—that leaves a bit to be desired, but the area is definitely still worth a visit.

8. The Borough

The Borough is an area that I had not spent much time in until a couple weeks ago, but you definitely do not want to miss it! In the area is the Tate Modern museum, which is massive and full of very strange modern art (and is free!). There is also Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the outdoor area of which is closed for the season, but is still a fun part of history to be able to visit! As you walk a little further east, you get into Borough Market, which is full of delicious places to eat (I recommend Bill’s on Clink Street for some delicious pub food in a non-pub setting).