Top 5 Local Things to Do and See in London
Urban Adventures is all about experiencing cities like a local. One of our favourite cities, London, is also one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, so it's easy to get lost amongst the big attractions. Here are our top 5 recommendations for local things to do and see in London.
Visit the Markets
London's markets are vibrant, exciting, and full of locals. Whether you're looking for food, antiques, crafts, or clothes, one of London's many markets will be sure to suit your needs. We're partial to Camden, Spitalfields, Leadenhall, and Borough Markets, all of which we visit on our tours. Talk to local vendors and find out what's best at the moment. If the weather's nice, grab some local cheese (we recommend Neal's Yard Dairy near Borough Market), and some other fresh fare, and have yourself a nice picnic nearby!
[caption id="attachment_5430" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Camden Market"][/caption]
Pub Quizzes
Pub Quizzes are legendary in the UK, and most pubs in London will have a quiz night. Every pub's varies, but some offer points for creative team names, and all dole out points for ridiculously obscure knowledge. Grab some mates, order some pints, and put your random facts bank to the test.
Grab a Curry
Curries are everywhere in the UK – sometimes they're even more
common than fish and chips! The East End's Brick Lane is famous
for its curry houses, and for good reason. Some of the best curry in
England can be found in Brick Lane, so no matter which of the dozens of
restaurants you choose, you'll be a happy curry eater nestled amongst
locals.
Find the Music
London's music scene is as diverse as its population, with bands and
artists from all genres and all countries finding a niche in the city. Forget
the big names, big lights, and big arenas, it's the small local venues you
want. Intimate clubs, pubs, and lounges host every type of musical act,
including some fairly well known artists, making for some really unique,
local gigs. Camden is a great area to start, which is home to some
excellent venues as well as some laid-back, popular piano bars if that's
more your scene.
Walk,Walk, Walk
Despite its size, London is an extremely walkable city, and walking is the
best way to see everything you possibly want to see. As long as you have
good shoes and a solid map, you'll be able to meander with the best of
Londoners, ducking into local shops, sampling English fare (pasties and
cheese and pints!), and hit all the iconic stops along the way.
If you're reading this thinking, yes, yes, I know these tips, or I have better tips, then we'd love to hear from you. Urban Adventures is giving away its London business to the person who can best show off London like a local. Create your signature London tour and you could win the chance to run London Urban Adventures for the rest of 2012. Think you have what it takes? Visit urbanadventures.com/london for more information.