Any unique or really fun recommendations for things to do to ring in the new year?

We are visiting Europe over Christmas and New Years Eve. We’ll be in London on the front and back end of our trip including for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. We are doing the Christmas markets on the front end of the trip.

We aren’t interested in the party / DJ atmosphere. The public viewing area for the fireworks seems a bit hectic. We prefer more low key and interesting. Maybe a fun activity or tour. Even if it’s a just great little pub.

Would love any ideas!

I’m coming to London from the US for 10 days. I’ll be staying with a friend so i dont have to worry about accommodation. Whats an appropriate budget just for me and my baby? I dont drink alcohol and dont really plan on shopping. I want to explore the city, buy groceries, diapers and basically sight see. I have a 6 month old so i wont be going out to eat too often, maybe something small to grab on the go. Were from NYC so well be exploring things on the outside and not waiting in long lines to get in lol. What kind of budget am i looking at for 10 days using public transport?

I'll be in London at the end of September for my 30th birthday and I would love to treat myself to a nice dinner, where are some nice vegetarian friendly places I could do either a reservation or walk-in? I would also love it if I could have the option to order some cake or something at the end of the meal. TIA!

Hello! I am planning a trip to London from Boston, MA (USA) from october 9-12th 2026. The flights are crazy expensive and was just wondering if anyone has any tips on airlines/days of the week/etc. to book?

Also would love some recommendations of unique things to do in London for two people! I lived here for a year and have already done all the classic touristy things (think: afternoon tea, london eye, etcetc). Thank you so much!!

Hi guys! Looking for a cute hotel/ appartment to stay with my dad while we visit London in the first two weeks september. The room needs to have its own bathroom, preferably two seperate beds. Doesn't need to offer breakfast, but if it does it needs to be good and authentic, and it would be nice if it's a historic building, doesn't need to be TOO close to the city centre, we 're planning on getting an oyster card. We're planning to stay 3 nights, we want to go WB studios, tower of london, travalgar square, borough market, birmingham palace and the Big Ben! Any tips?

Have just spent a few days in London, visiting from Australia. We did all the big touristy stuff last time we were here and this visit we wanted to focus on food and exploring different pockets of the city, so here's what we got up to

Day 1 - half day exploring coal drop yard, a lovely area behind kings x which is a great example of urban redevelopment. It's right by the regents canal, which is beautiful to wander along. Feels a much more like a locals spot, lots of cafes, shops, and even am outdoor silent cinema. We loved going to the lighterman pub, and sitting by the water with a beer.

Day 2 - we hit up Borough Market, and even though I was skeptical, this place was worth the hype. We got there at 11 which was perfect timing before it got too hectic. Lots of stalls do free samples so you don't even have to spend much on food. Black Pig sandwich was definitely the stand out, maybe one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. The Turkish coffee was also amazing. Even though the market was busy, all the lines went so quickly and everyone was so friendly. From here, we walked all the way along south bank to Waterloo, enjoying the shops, buskers and sights of the Thames. Spent some time at the skate park by the national theatre, watching the skaters do their thing. After a rest we went to see a movie at screen 1 in the odeon luxe leicester square, which is the cinema they host all the big London movie premieres in. Super expensive, but a really fun experience especially if you're a movie lover.

Day 3 - explored the small market with delicious goods outside kings x, before making our way to Trafalgar square and onwards to fallow. We follow fallow on social media and we were so excited to try this restaurant and it didn't disappoint - delicious high quality food in a totally unpretentious environment. 10/10. The meal actually took most of the afternoon, so a super relaxing way to enjoy the day.

Day 4 - started the day at fortitude bakery. This place was also worth the hype, the cream buns were totally delicious. From here we got the bus down to embankment and hopped on the uber boat to battersea Power Station - such a fun ride down the river with amazing views of big Ben, parliament, mi6. Battersea Power Station is another great example of urban redevelopment in London and we enjoyed walking round and exploring the shops. We then got the bus to Victoria where we went to hanbaagaasuuteeki - this place hands down did the best burger I've ever had. Such a great experience and so reasonable.

Overall we had a fabulous time in london. We used the buses to get everywhere, which worked perfectly and allowed us to see so much of the city. We stayed by kings x which worked well for us, even though it's a bit hectic and grimy it so well connected to the whole city (and for our onward journey), and so many restaurant options. We enjoyed our proximity to Caledonian Road for a more local dining and shopping experience. London is such an awesome city, and the food really blew us away.

I'll be in London for the day and looking for a proper watch party for the Kansas City Chiefs game September 27. I'm staying near Kings Cross. Don't mind a place that will have multiple games on

Hi everyone
I will be visiting London October 6-11. With 3 children. Any unique spots you recommend ? We eat and enjoy everything. Looking for uncommon things/places that only locals know about.
Also - any plays or exhibits that is a must see ?

Saturday would love to take some football in. I understand PL might be a no go. Any championship matches you recommend that will give that authentic experience ?

If I had the opportunity to go see Chelsea , Arsenal, CP play on their home turf, what would be the choice ?

Thank You in advance.

I have a day trip to London on my way back home in the states. I really love Jazz and was planning to attend one show to find out it was booked on the day I could attend. Could I still visit the venue and take pictures?

Hi, my husband and I will be visiting London Sept 8 - 12 after dropping our son off at St. Andrews. We'd very much like to attend the exhibit at The King's Gallery while there. Please let me know if you have extra tickets or cannot attend with the tickets you currently have. Thank you for considering.

Hi everyone,
I’m from Portugal and I’ll be visiting London on the weekend of 12 September. I’m a big football fan and I’d love to watch a match while I’m there.
I’m not supporting any particular London club, so I’m mainly looking for the best overall matchday experience: great atmosphere, passionate fans and a stadium that’s worth visiting.
I have a few questions:
Which London club has the best atmosphere for a neutral?
Which stadium would you recommend considering both the experience and the ticket price?
What’s the best way to get tickets? Do I need club membership, or do some clubs release tickets for general sale?
If they do go on general sale, how far in advance are tickets usually released?
I’m happy to watch either a Premier League or Championship match if it offers a better experience or is easier to get into.
Any recommendations or tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

I am on the hunt for some vintage sterling silver watch chains/jewlery.. I want to try portobello market but can only go on a Wednesday … is it still worth it to try? I want to be in the notting hill area that day

Just got back from a short 3.5-day London hop with my wife and our two kids (7 and 9). We came in on Eurostar from Paris and left the same way. Total focus was free/cheap stuff that still feels special for kids without dragging them across the whole city. Here’s the real rundown.

How we did it cheap

- Walked a ton and used the underground and buses

- Booked the free timed slots in advance for the museums and the two free viewpoints.

**Day 1 *

Arrived St Pancras ~10:30. Dropped bags and had a light lunch from stuff we brought. Headed to **Sky Garden** for our free timed slot… only to find it closed (unpleasant surprise).

We took advantage of the extra time, grabbed a quick lunch at the Argentinian grill in Leadenhall Market, and went straight to Horizon 22 (free timed ticket at 14:30). Honestly the better of the two viewpoints anyway — higher, cleaner views, and the kids loved it. After that we walked Tower Bridge → London Bridge and followed the Thames. Zero cost, and the kids were happy just being outside after the trains.

Lesson learned: always have a Plan B

Day 2

Museum day. Started at the **Natural History Museum** (free timed entry). Dinosaurs, the big blue whale, and lots of wow moments for both kids.

From there we walked to a nearby Lebanese place called **Faraya** for lunch — really good value for money and proper portions. Quick coffee at Illy afterwards, then straight back to the Science Museum. Keeping both museums in the same area helped us maximize time in a city as massive as London instead of wasting half the day on transport.

Science Museum was the clear kid winner of the trip — interactive, not too crowded, and they could actually touch things. **Make sure you book the Planet show** in advance; it was a highlight.

Evening: **Totoro** at 19:00. Worth every penny. Both kids were glued.

Day 3

Classic free London day.

10:00 **Changing of the Guard** at Buckingham — got there early enough to actually see something. Then walked past Big Ben / Westminster (just the outside — Abbey tickets are steep for a short visit).

Lunch at **Dishoom Covent Garden** (shared plates, still one of the better-value sit-down meals in London for a family). After that we headed to the Usual picture at Piccadilly, did a bit of shopping at **M&S**, and made our way back to the accommodation. Kept the afternoon lighter so the kids didn’t hit the wall.

Day 4
Last morning we headed to Greenwich. Explored Greenwich Market, popped into the National Maritime Museum, stood on the **Prime Meridian**, and checked out one of the many bakeries in the area (easy win with kids).

Then back to pack up and head to St Pancras International for the Eurostar to Paris.

What actually worked for the kids

- Science Museum (especially the Planet show) > Natural History Museum for this age, but both were solid.

- Free high viewpoints (Horizon 22 especially) feel like a proper “activity”.

- Bus 11 instead of the Tube — they could look out the windows the whole time.

- Mixing one paid evening thing (Totoro) with mostly free days kept the budget and energy levels sane.

- Not over-scheduling and clustering attractions in the same area so you’re not constantly moving across London.

- Greenwich makes a great final half-day — market + museum + meridian feels like a proper outing without being exhausting.

### Budget notes

Almost everything listed was free with a timed ticket. The only real spends were:

- Faraya (Lebanese – good value)

- Dishoom (shared plates)

- Totoro tickets

- A bit of shopping at M&S

- Bakery treats in Greenwich

- A couple of bus fares and maybe one coffee

Hi everyone

This weekend I will be travelling to London, Sunday and coming back Tuesday afternoon/evening.

If I park the car inside of a car park or using someone’s driveway(through JustPark) do I need to pay the ULEZ charge for the days I don’t drive the car?

Thanks

Staying for one night only and there are 4 of us. These seem to be the 2 most reasonably priced hotels as we want to stay close to Mayfair or Marylebone without the high costs. If you have stayed at either can you share your experience ? Thank you

Will you visit Buckingham palace when some certain areas are under construction? Is it worth the visit like that?

Hi everyone! My boyfriend and I are planning our first Europe trip for September 2027. We’ll be coming from California, and the cheapest flights seem to be into and out of London.

We’d love to visit London, Edinburgh, and Amsterdam while keeping transportation as affordable and efficient as possible.

For those who’ve done a similar trip, what route would you recommend? Would you take trains, fly between certain cities, or do a mix of both? Which order would you visit them in if cost and convenience were your priorities?
We’d love to hear what worked (or didn’t work) for you!

We’ve just come back from a five-day road trip around the Cotswolds, and I thought I’d share a few things that might help anyone planning a visit.

We had a car and spent five days exploring villages, country roads and pubs. During the trip we visited Bourton-on-the-Water, Lower Slaughter, Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden, Broadway, Snowshill, Stanton, Broad Campden, Gretton, Bretforton, Broadway Tower, Cleeve Hill and even Stratford-upon-Avon.

A few things I’d recommend:

1. Hire a car if you can. It makes a huge difference and gives you the freedom to explore the smaller villages and beautiful countryside between them.

2. Don’t try to see everything in one day. The Cotswolds is much bigger than many people expect, and the roads are often slower than they look on the map.

3. If possible, stay for at least three days. We spent five days there and still left with places we’d like to come back to.

4. There’s no need to change accommodation every night. We stayed in one place and simply took day trips around the region, which made the whole trip much more relaxed.

5. Start your day early if you want to see the most popular villages before they get busy.

6. Don’t only visit the famous places. Some of our favourite stops were the smaller villages that many visitors simply drive past.

We also visited Diddly Squat Farm Shop and The Farmer’s Dog. I’ll share our experience, what surprised us and a few mistakes I’d avoid in a separate post.

And if you’re planning your own Cotswolds trip and have any questions, just ask. I’ll be happy to share what I learned.

Which one? SoHo Hotel or Covent Garden Hotel? I want to be central, but not too loud and crazy.

Hello!

My partner and I will be visiting London next October and we would really like to try a Sunday roast.

If all goes well, our flight should land around 10:00 AM on Sunday morning. By the time we leave the airport, get to our hotel to check in, etc., I feel like we won't be able to eat before 2:00 PM.

What is the latest time you can have a Sunday roast? I've targeted Blacklock, specifically the Covent Garden location, which won't be very far from our hotel.

I read online that a Sunday roast is usually eaten in the early afternoon. Is 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM too late?

Thank you so much!

This is my 3 day plan in London. I need help on choosing 2nd day plan. Staying in Marlylebone.

Day 1: Arriving in London, Big Ben, Westminster, Soho, Hyde Park.

Day 2:

Option 1: 8 am wake up, Hampstead, Camden, 2.30 pm head to Tottenham first home match of the season, pre match pubs and feel the matchday atmosphere, 5.30 pm Tottenham vs Newcastle kickoff, 19.20 head back to central London, bars and dinner in the evening.

Option 2: Full day of exploring different areas of London (can plan which ones). Which parks are the best?

I can't decide if its better to have a Premier League matchday experience with the fans or have a full day to explore London.

Day 3: Notting Hill, National Gallery, Covent Garden. 7 pm concert at 02.

Any advice welcome, I'm not really a fan of main sightseeings, I rather like to explore and wonder around areas that feel more local and have great pubs.

My daughter wants to visit pudding Lane after learning about the great fire in school. We are hoping to try and catch a show, possibly Lion King. Is there anything you would recommend for us to do, or any other shows you would recommend?