Your Ultimate Guide To London In 2022

It's natural to get pretty rattled after looking up "what to do in London", and scrolling through pages upon pages of sights, museums, events... Yikes almighty, where do you even begin?

So, after traveling around London for just under a month in April, 2022, here is my condensed guide to what you need to get amongst! Trust me when I say, London is insaaaane. So listen to The Clash and let's get you on your way to appreciate one of the coolest cities in the world 🤩

Where to stay 🏠

Hostels in London are so so fun! There is a tonne to choose from! A few good ones are: 

1. Wombats City Hostel London

This is one of my fave hostels ever. The rooms are tidy, the showers don't scream gangrene, the kitchen is fab and the bar is LIT. The hostel is centrally located as well - super close to the Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and City Hall. 

2. Generator

Housed in an old police station, Generator has a huge common area, a bar, and a restaurant (no common kitchen though). It’s a short walk from Regents Park, Covent Garden, and the British Museum.

3. Clink78

Fun fact: Clink78 is housed in an old courthouse building in King’s Cross where The Clash once stood trial. Some of the rooms are even former jail cells! There’s a huge downstairs kitchen/bar area and heaps of unique events, like solo traveler meet-ups and DJ + Bingo nights. 

✨ But for real, there are that many unreal hostels in London! Just choose one in a location and price that suits you! 

How to get around 🚂 

Easy answer! The underground! If I can work out the underground train system, anyone can! Not to mention, there are tonnes of buses too! Transport in London is immaculate. 👏🏼

Sights to see 🏰

1. Tower of London

This is a secure fortress, royal palace, and infamous prison where you can explore 1000 years of history. If you don't wanna pay admission to go inside, just take a pic from the outside -- it still looks unreal.

2. Tower Bridge

You can take a pic in front of it, walk across it, or pay to enter the Tower Bridge Exhibition - where you can learn about Victorian engineering and enjoy unreal panoramic views across London.

3. Big Ben

The iconic Big Ben was under conservation for ages, buuuuut it is finally open again with its original iconic prussian blue clock hands! 

4. Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey was initially built by Henry III in 1245 and is now one of the most important Gothic buildings in England. It's not free to go inside, but it's pretty worth it as it contains a treasury full of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles, books, and various other artifacts.

5. Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is just a classic, ammi right? You can watch the guards with their funny hats marching around and take a pic with Lizzie's stomping ground.

Museums and galleries 🎨

1. The British Museum

The first time I went to The British Museum, I was level 10 hungover and almost vommed near the Rosetta Stone. 😮‍💨 I went back another day because I had to experience this insaaaane museum less scat. With two million years of human history and culture, and some of the world-famous objects like the Parthenon sculptures and Egyptian mummies, this is a free museum that you can't miss.

2. The National Gallery

This gallery houses 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900, for free. You'll see works by Leonardo Da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh and Jan van Eyck here!

3. V&A - Victoria and Albert Museum

Another insane, free museum that explores historical and contemporary art and design from all over the world, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. 

4. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

If you're into Shakespeare, you need to suss out Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition to explore his work and playhouse! 

Markets and Shopping 🛍️

1. Borough Market

If you're looking for somewhere to eat, head to Borough Market. It dates back to the 13th century so you can guarantee that it'll be good. 😉

2. Portobello Markets

Portobello Markets in Notting Hill, are insannneee. The main day is a Saturday, where you'll find food, retail, and a hell of a lot of second-hand clothes. If you're like me and only have a small backpack, beware. The temptation to buy a million 70s jackets is high.

3. Covent Garden

Covent Garden is so sweet and is filled with restaurants, bars, markets, and boutiques.

4. Camden Market

No two days are ever the same at Camden Market. You'll find vintage fashion, handmade jewelry, unusual gifts, and eye-catching accessories here.

Day trips 📅

1. Salisbury

About an hour and a half to two hours away from London, Salisbury is where you'll find the stunning Salisbury Cathedral, which is considered by many to be one of Britain's most beautiful buildings. From here, you can bus it to Stonehenge as well!

2. Greenwich

Greenwich is a lovely, small place in London, England. You can visit the Queen's house, go to the Royal Observatory, or suss out The O2, a large entertainment district.

3. Cambridge

Cambo has the famous uni, museums, quirky vintage stores, botanical gardens, and a lot of rooftop bars if you fancy a cocktail. 

4. Brighton

Brighton is the Byron Bay of England. In just one hour on the train, you'll find the beach, funky shops, and the iconic Brighton Pier. 

5. Windsor

Windsor is rich in history and has a tonne of listed homes and designated conservation areas. Windsor Castle is a must. You could also visit a haunted Tudor mansion.

6. Oxford

Oxford is like Cambridge's sibling. It also revolves around a prestigious university. Oh, and it oozes Hogwarts vibes as numerous Harry Potter scenes were filmed across Oxford's colleges! 

What else you could do ⚽

1. See a play

There are a tonne of plays in London's West End. From Les Miserables to The Book of Mormon, you'll find something that tickles your fancy. 

2. Watch the footy

Repeat after me. Don't call it soccer. Do not call it soccer. Footy fans will tear you apart. Catch a game of footy if you can nab cheap tickets. There are tonnes of stadiums around London! 

3. Hyde Park

If you're craving some nature, head straight to Hyde Park and relax in the greenery. With over 300 acres of space to explore and discover, Hyde Park is one of London's most treasured green spaces and the home to a variety of great attractions.

So there you have it! Your ultimate guide to one of the most fun cities in the world! Have a bangin' time (and don't go to The British Museum hungover. It's awful 😂).