Low Cost London

Cutting Costs in London

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Finding the bargains isn’t always easy but there are some handy tips that are worth considering for a cheaper trip to London:TRAVEL BY TRAINOne is that some of London’s big attractions offer two for one or reduced price tickets if you travel by train – that is an overground train, not the tube. All you need to show a valid train ticket for travel on that day. As London also has quite an extensive overground network, it can pay dividends to buy a one day ticket (rather than using the Oyster card). Check out this website for details: http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/ TRAVEL BY BUS – OR FOOTThe beauty and the disadvantage of London’s tube system is that it is ...Read More

Finding the bargains isn’t always easy but there are some handy tips that are worth considering for a cheaper trip to London:

TRAVEL BY TRAIN

One is that some of London’s big attractions offer two for one or reduced price tickets if you travel by train – that is an overground train, not the tube. All you need to show a valid train ticket for travel on that day. As London also has quite an extensive overground network, it can pay dividends to buy a one day ticket (rather than using the Oyster card). Check out this website for details: http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/

TRAVEL BY BUS – OR FOOT

The beauty and the disadvantage of London’s tube system is that it is extremely convenient. However it is also expensive. If you have to take the tube, consider investing in a pay as you go Oyster card (available to purchase before arrival from: www.visitbritainshop.com) as single journey costs are less with the card. However buses are a lot cheaper than the tube and if you have the time, a much better way to see the city.

In addition, getting an A-Z or printing a few maps of central London will reveal that getting around on foot is pretty easy as many attractions are close together. The centre of London is flat and if you focus on one small area of the city on each day rather than trying to cover too much ground it will make for a more manageable and hopefully cheaper holiday.

PACKED LUNCHES

Many supermarkets offer decent lunch deals with packed sandwiches, crisps, drinks and other snacks. Taking advantage of supermarket deals rather than overpaying at tourist attraction restaurants should make a difference to your budget. Making a packed lunch in the morning will obviously save more although it’s not always the most practical holiday option. Obviously if the weather is bad, enjoying a picnic lunch can be a little harder to do but it will definitely save you a lot of money over the course of a week or two.

BOOK AHEAD

If you have the time, research places and events online and see if they offer cheaper tickets. Lastminute.com is a good starting place for London events although they don’t always necessarily have the cheapest tickets on offer. For theatre shows, it is also worth trying Ticketmaster and looking at mid week shows. It is rarely worth waiting until the day of to buy tickets. If you are unable to buy in advance, check out the half price and discount theatre ticket stand in the middle of Leicester Square (www.tkts.co.uk). Also look at Time Out London and other local publications for upcoming events.

DON’T PAY FOR TOILETS!

Train stations and key tourist locations are notorious for charging unsuspecting tourists (and locals!) to use the toilet. It may ‘only’ be 50p but why spend anything to spend a penny? While they may not like it, popping into a department store, concert hall, pub or even a cinema to use the bathroom is a good way to avoid wasting precious holiday money on a toilet trip. Read Less

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Walkers Quay Jenny Wren Boat Cruise

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Attraction | "Camden to Little Venice by Boat"

Camden Boat Cruise Photo - Walkers Quay Jenny Wren Boat Cruise, London, England

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Camden Town is synonymous with loud and lary teenage shoppers and its weekend markets draw such large crowds that even the tube station can’t cope with the numbers. It is therefore a surprise that one of London’s most relaxing trips can be found in the heart of the market.At Camden Lock, canal boat cruises depart for Little Venice, traveling the short distance up Regents Canal to Little Venice. To be honest, you could probably walk the tow path faster but for a guided tour, and a different perspective, floating along for 45 minutes isn’t a bad way to see the area. The canal boat cruises leave from Walkers Quay but tickets are purchased just inside the Inspiral Café at the bridg...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on September 3, 2011

Walkers Quay Jenny Wren Boat Cruise
250 Camden High Street
London
020 7485 4433

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Columbia Road Market

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Attraction | "The Sunday Flower Market"

Columbia Road Flower Market Photo - Columbia Road Market, London, England

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There is no disputing the popularity of this Sunday market. Apart from the floral explosions from the outdoor market stalls, the pretty row of Victorian shops are an added attraction. The boutique retailers and cafes are housed in shops that were originally built in the 1860s and many used to serve as upholstery shops. There is no nearby tube station but the closest (Old Street) is only a fifteen-minute walk and there are buses that pass close by along Hackney Road and Kingsland Road. The flower market is open from 8am – 3pm every Sunday. While you would imagine that the ideal time to visit would be on a warm, sunny day, the crowds that gather are often so great that it makes e...Read More

There is no disputing the popularity of this Sunday market. Apart from the floral explosions from the outdoor market stalls, the pretty row of Victorian shops are an added attraction. The boutique retailers and cafes are housed in shops that were originally built in the 1860s and many used to serve as upholstery shops.

There is no nearby tube station but the closest (Old Street) is only a fifteen-minute walk and there are buses that pass close by along Hackney Road and Kingsland Road.

The flower market is open from 8am – 3pm every Sunday. While you would imagine that the ideal time to visit would be on a warm, sunny day, the crowds that gather are often so great that it makes enjoyment almost impossible. I have been to the market twice and on a slightly chilly, rainy day, the street is much emptier, making it easier to walk around and enjoy the shops as well as the floral displays.

The eclectic mix of goods for sale includes furniture, sweets, beauty, chemist, café, art, clothes, antiques, jewelry, gardening tools, seafood, gifts, pottery and perfumes. There is barely a chain name in sight which is a rare treat. Most of the shops are small with traditional, hand-painted signs, adding to the modesty and artistic flair of Columbia Road.

In the past, plants were brought by handcart from gardens in Hackney and Islington but now many of the stallholders grow their own plants. On sale are a huge variety of flowers, plants, shrubs and even trees. Banana trees, roses, lilies, grasses, olives, orchids and an array of herbs including rosemary, coriander and Moroccan mint can be found although what’s on offer is obviously dependent on the season.

The stalls usually line the sides of the street, creating a narrow middle channel on busy days and bargains can be found close to 3pm when vendors try to clear their tables.

It is an event to experience even if you have no need or intention of buying a bouquet or a tree. The quietest time to go is right at 8am or on a bad weather day. Most of the shops open on Saturday too but to get a real sense of the spirit of Columbia Road it is only fitting to go on a Sunday. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 29, 2011

Columbia Road Market
Columbia Road
London, England E2

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Dennis Severs' House

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Attraction | "Inside the Amazing Mind (and house) of Dennis Severs"

Dennis Severs' House Photo - Dennis Severs' House, London, England

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On the edge of East London’s fashionable shopping areas of Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market is a hidden house that, in my opinion, is one of London’s top attractions. Fortunately not many people know about it. I imagine no two visits would be the same and the experience is so consuming that I would readily go again. Dennis Severs is the late owner of 18 Folgate Street and is the creator of what lies within. An American Anglophile who once ran horse-drawn carriage tours around Hyde Park, Severs moved to the Georgian terraced house in 1979 and gradually brought each room to life through smell, sound and sight. We arrived at 18 Folgate Street on a Sunday afternoon. A group of fo...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on August 29, 2011

Dennis Severs' House
18 Folgate Street
London, England

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Highgate Cemetery

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Attraction | "Life and Death on Highgate Hill"

Highgate Cemetery Photo - Highgate Cemetery, London, England

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One of Highgate’s biggest attractions is its beautiful Victorian cemetery where some 53,000 graves are spread over 37 acres of leafy land. It opened in 1839 during the reign of Queen Victoria and is split into ‘East’ and ‘West’ sides. It is still a working cemetery and is home to some distinguished people.The East Cemetery is the more accessible of the two. There is a small, cash-only, entry fee (£3 per adult as of mid-2011) and visitors can roam around at will. A map is available to purchase to help visitors locate the graves of likes of Douglas Adams and George Eliot although the lack of detail on the map is quite incredible and doesn’t necessarily make it easier to find who you’re looki...Read More

One of Highgate’s biggest attractions is its beautiful Victorian cemetery where some 53,000 graves are spread over 37 acres of leafy land. It opened in 1839 during the reign of Queen Victoria and is split into ‘East’ and ‘West’ sides. It is still a working cemetery and is home to some distinguished people.

The East Cemetery is the more accessible of the two. There is a small, cash-only, entry fee (£3 per adult as of mid-2011) and visitors can roam around at will. A map is available to purchase to help visitors locate the graves of likes of Douglas Adams and George Eliot although the lack of detail on the map is quite incredible and doesn’t necessarily make it easier to find who you’re looking for. Fortunately little help is needed to find the cemetery’s most famous resident, Karl Marx, as his tombstone overshadows just about every other in the area.

The main paths through the cemetery are well kept but others are not much more than a muddy trodden track. The real beauty of the cemetery is that nature has, for the most part, been able to take its course and grave stones jostle for space amongst the trees and ivy. It is now a Grade 1 listed park and it is easy to see why, especially when the fragility of some tombs is all too evident. It is also a good place to spot wildlife as birds, squirrels and hedgehogs scuttle about under the watchful eyes of petrified angels.

Other notable people buried at Highgate include Beryl Bainbridge, Michael Faraday, Sir Ralph Richardson, the parents of Charles Dickens and Russian journalist Alexander Litvinenko, who was allegedly poisoned in London in 2006.

The East Cemetery is open from 10am on weekdays (11am at weekend) and closes at 4pm. Entry to the West Cemetery is by guided tour only and advance booking is strongly recommended on weekdays as tour times are limited. At the weekend tours are more frequent and run hourly between 11am – 3pm and are an hour in length. I have yet to tour the West Cemetery and will post an update when the time comes. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 17, 2011

Highgate Cemetery
Swain's Lane
London, England N6
+44 20 8340 1834

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Jameson Cult Film Club

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Attraction | "Whiskey Cocktails and Horror Films"

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While this activity is clearly a sponsored one, the Jameson Cult Film Club has been running for a few years now and given that it is free to those who attend, it deserves a mention. You have to sign up online to receive email notices of when and where film screenings will next take place and once announced, you then have to register your interest. If the application is successful, members receive an email back within a couple of days with a ticket for two people to attend the screening. I have been to a total of three Jameson Film Club screenings and while they have their pros and cons, the ticket usually entitles two people to a free film screening, two or three free Jameson’s cocktail dr...Read More

While this activity is clearly a sponsored one, the Jameson Cult Film Club has been running for a few years now and given that it is free to those who attend, it deserves a mention. You have to sign up online to receive email notices of when and where film screenings will next take place and once announced, you then have to register your interest. If the application is successful, members receive an email back within a couple of days with a ticket for two people to attend the screening.

I have been to a total of three Jameson Film Club screenings and while they have their pros and cons, the ticket usually entitles two people to a free film screening, two or three free Jameson’s cocktail drinks and a packet of popcorn.

The first screening I attended was at Bethnal Green’s Rich Mix Cinema. The date happened to be St. Patrick’s Day but rather than going with an Irish theme, event organizers went for a zombie hook instead and the horror genre is one that they have stuck with since. At their screenings I have seen ‘Shaun of the Dead’, ‘Colin’ and ‘Amityville’. The last two films played at The Chapel in Islington at Halloween, which was slightly more fitting than St. Patrick’s Day.

While The Chapel is a fantastic venue for live music, the acoustics for films are frankly rubbish. For ‘Colin’ it didn’t matter as there’s virtually no dialogue, but for ‘Amityville’ any conversations between characters were muffled and disappeared into the stone walls before they could reach my ears. While this was a bit of a letdown it was not too difficult to work out what is going on in the film and to a certain extent the film is somewhat secondary to the overall experience.

Waiting outside The Chapel, actors impersonate characters from the film, helping to entertain even before you get inside the venue. Seating is open so it pays to start queuing about half an hour before the venue opens so you can get a decent place. In the Rich Mix this is less of an issue because it is a functional cinema but at The Chapel there are a few seats that have restricted views.

Each ticket holder gets two drinks coupons and these can be exchanged at the bar for pre-prepared different cocktails. I’m not a whiskey drinker. In fact I would go so far as to say that I quite dislike whiskey, but blend it up with some ginger beer and a twist of lime and I’ll happily drink the stuff for the rest of the night.

After the coupons have been used up you do have the option to purchase additional drinks but quite often a third free drink coupon is handed out to audience members after the film as an enticement to get people back to the bar. Thereafter it is a pay bar only and not surprisingly, the whiskey is never in short supply.

The Film Club also runs events in Manchester and Ireland. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 25, 2011

Jameson Cult Film Club
35-47 Bethnal Green Road
London, England

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Kenwood House

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Attraction | "Art, Music and Room to Roam"

Kenwood House, Hampstead, London Photo - Kenwood House, London, England

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NB. Kenwood House will be closed to the public from Winter 2011 – Summer 2013 for repairs and restoration.Overlooking a small patch on the north side of Hampstead Heath is the well-worn and well-loved Kenwood House. Operated by English Heritage, entry to Kenwood House is free to the public and the house and grounds offer a full day out for adults and children. Compared to many stately homes, Kenwood is modest in size but houses its own art collection and boasts a Rembrandt self-portrait. Built in the early 17th century, architect Robert Adam was charged with remodeling Kenwood in the 1700s. Shortly after, George Saunders added two wings plus offices, kitchen buildings and brewe...Read More

NB. Kenwood House will be closed to the public from Winter 2011 – Summer 2013 for repairs and restoration.

Overlooking a small patch on the north side of Hampstead Heath is the well-worn and well-loved Kenwood House. Operated by English Heritage, entry to Kenwood House is free to the public and the house and grounds offer a full day out for adults and children.

Compared to many stately homes, Kenwood is modest in size but houses its own art collection and boasts a Rembrandt self-portrait. Built in the early 17th century, architect Robert Adam was charged with remodeling Kenwood in the 1700s. Shortly after, George Saunders added two wings plus offices, kitchen buildings and brewery to the side of the house. The brew house is now a popular restaurant, serving breakfast, hot and cold lunches and towering jam and cream-filled scones.

We visited on a chilly January day when the house is open from 11.30am – 4.00pm. Families are asked to leave pushchairs outside and although the rooms are large and uncluttered, viewing the art and rooms at Kenwood probably doesn’t make for the most exciting activity for young children. However it doesn’t take too long to make a cursory tour and the grounds outside are great for kids so parents could take turns.

Handy laminated leaflets are placed in each room to explain the subjects of the artwork in each room. Upstairs the collection continues with cabinets of exquisite shoe buckles, miniature portraits, striking black iron jewelry and additional canvases.

As well as the small art collection, the grounds at Kenwood demand an hour or two of exploration. In the immediate garden area, there is a continuation of the art exhibition thanks to sculptures by Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Reg Butler.

Footpaths meander down to a tranquil pond framed by a fake white bridge and usually occupied by a real duck or two. The pond forms part of the staging for Kenwood’s famous summer concerts, which take place in the open air and allow spectators to enjoy picnics in front of the house. The musical acts vary year to year but concerts take place every Saturday night from late June to August.

A short walk from the Brew House restaurant is a viewpoint where, mist permitting, visitors can identify key London buildings including St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Gherkin. From here, Hampstead Heath sprawls out for 790 acres and is a paradise for energetic children, dogs, kite-flyers and hikers. Be warned that in winter, areas of the Heath get quite boggy after rain or snow and although there are some paved paths boots are a good option.

While Kenwood and Hampstead are best enjoyed on a warm summer’s day, the restaurant and art collection are worth a visit on any day of the year. As from Winter 2011, Kenwood House will be closing for renovations for about a year. The cracked paint and musty woodwork are definitely in need of some attention and it will be nice to see Kenwood restored to a condition befitting the art and fine rooms within it.

Reaching Kenwood House and the north of Hampstead Heath is a little challenging, as there are no nearby tube stations. The 210 bus stops outside Kenwood House and runs between Finsbury Park (via Archway) and Golders Green tube station. Otherwise visitors can take the tube to Hampstead and walk uphill to the heath. From the top of Heath Street it is about a 30-40 minute walk to Kenwood either across the heath or along Spaniards Road. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 25, 2011

Kenwood House
Hampstead Lane
London, England NW3 7JR
+44 20 8348 1286

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London City Hall

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Attraction | "A Visit to the Mayor of London’s Headquarters"

London City Hall Photo - London City Hall, London, England

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It was by accident last year that I discovered that the London City Hall, home to the Mayor of London and headquarters of the Greater London Authority is open to the public. In recent months, public access has sadly been cut back and it is now only open from 8.30am-6.00pm Monday to Thursday (until 5.30pm on Friday) and for the London Open House weekend.As you enter, bags, keys, loose change and mobile phones have to be handed over for security screening. The City Hall stands, or depending on your view, slouches, beside the magnificent Tower Bridge, directly across the river from the Tower of London. Given its proximity to such tourist magnets it is refreshing to find that the City Hall has...Read More

It was by accident last year that I discovered that the London City Hall, home to the Mayor of London and headquarters of the Greater London Authority is open to the public. In recent months, public access has sadly been cut back and it is now only open from 8.30am-6.00pm Monday to Thursday (until 5.30pm on Friday) and for the London Open House weekend.

As you enter, bags, keys, loose change and mobile phones have to be handed over for security screening. The City Hall stands, or depending on your view, slouches, beside the magnificent Tower Bridge, directly across the river from the Tower of London. Given its proximity to such tourist magnets it is refreshing to find that the City Hall has a free entry policy.

Gravitating first downstairs to a sprawling satellite photograph of London we had fun bumping behinds with other locals, nose to the ground trying to locate their house. We then turned around and headed up and didn’t stop until we got to the tenth floor. Somehow we dodged the security personnel telling people to take the lift up (the procedure being that visitors should take the lift up and walk down). I’m not completely sure why as the ramp wasn’t at all busy and was wide enough for people to pass. From the purple Assembly Chamber we rose skyward, admiring the views out and in all the way.

Designed by Norman Foster and opened in 2002, the core of the City Hall is made up of one long spiral which will not only remind you of the rubbish paper cut-out decorations you used to make as a kid, but will also leave you pining for a set of wheels for the trip down.

On the top floor we ventured into what it known as "London’s Living Room". The room is essentially an open space, which allows access to a balcony that follows the perimeter of the building almost full circle. From here you get quite exceptional views of Tower Bridge, the Thames and the gardens directly below.

As we tumbled back down to earth, we came upon another, final gem of the City Hall – a minute art exhibition, featuring work from notables Tracy Emin, Anish Kapoor and Yinka Shonibare, who’s well-placed "Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle" sat high on a plinth overlooking the Thames.

It is rather unfortunate that the weekend openings have had to be curtailed. The City Hall is a wonderful building to explore and also seemed to serve well as in its multi functions as art gallery, museum, viewpoint and café.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 22, 2009

London City Hall
The Queen's Walk
London, England
+44 020 7983 4100

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Notting Hill Carnival

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Attraction | "West London Meets the Caribbean"

Notting Hill Carnival Photo - Notting Hill Carnival, London, England

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Europe’s largest street festival takes place in West London every summer during the last weekend in August. Being that it is a bank holiday weekend, festivities run across Sunday and Monday and music and parades are concentrated around Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Grove, close to Notting Hill. The carnival began in 1964 as a local West Indian festival but has now grown into a full sized carnival, attracting over a million visitors each year and staffed by more than 40,000 volunteers. Festivities begin with a steel band competition on the Saturday but the full parades don’t take place until Sunday (which is ‘Kids’ Day’) and Monday, which is the main parade and is often a lot busier, louder...Read More

Europe’s largest street festival takes place in West London every summer during the last weekend in August. Being that it is a bank holiday weekend, festivities run across Sunday and Monday and music and parades are concentrated around Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Grove, close to Notting Hill.

The carnival began in 1964 as a local West Indian festival but has now grown into a full sized carnival, attracting over a million visitors each year and staffed by more than 40,000 volunteers. Festivities begin with a steel band competition on the Saturday but the full parades don’t take place until Sunday (which is ‘Kids’ Day’) and Monday, which is the main parade and is often a lot busier, louder and livelier.

Giant sound systems are hoisted onto floats and pump out music as the trucks travel at a crawl along Great Western Road, Chepstow Road and then onto Westbourne and Ladbroke Grove. Admittedly, some of the floats lack the splendid decoration that most people would expect from a Caribbean Carnival but the people on board and traveling alongside usually manage to carry an infectious energy with them as they dance and sing through the streets.

The carnival has its roots in historic parades that took place to welcome the abolition of slavery. As a celebration of personal freedom and freedom of expression, those who do more than drive around with a couple of over-sized speakers definitely don’t shy away from dazzling costumes and bare flesh.

Besides the parade, stalls line the way selling food and drink. Traditional Caribbean dishes such as jerk chicken and curried goat can be sampled and there is rarely a shortage of drinks either on the street or at one of the many pubs in the area. Before the carnival, rows of portable toilets are brought in to deal with the influx of people and although they are rarely pleasant, it is reassuring to know that you shouldn’t have to be caught short on the carnival route.

While the bands take to the streets from around 9am, the parade doesn’t complete its procession until 9pm and most of the activity seems to take place in the afternoon and evening. Hardcore revelers shouldn’t find it too difficult to continue the party on late into the night but for those who prefer to be a spectator and don’t want to get too caught up in the action, it is sensible to leave the area by late afternoon.

Travelling to and from the carnival is a little challenging. Ladbroke Grove tube station closes completely and some stations are exit only or close early so it pays to plan beforehand how you will arrive and depart. Although Notting Hill tube station is open during the carnival it is usually very crowded and best avoided.

Every year there are reports of violence and criminal activity at the carnival. Unfortunately there will always be people who use the event for negative actions but for the most part, Notting Hill carnival is a sunny spirited social gathering, bringing together thousands of people who are happy to sing, dance, lose themselves in the parade, try some exotic street food and have a good time. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 25, 2011

Notting Hill Carnival
Various venues throughout the city
London, England W11
+44 (0)20 8964 0544

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Parkland Walk, Local Nature Reserve

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Hotel | "The Parkland Walk "

The Parkland Walk Photo - Parkland Walk, Local Nature Reserve, London, England

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Away from the city smoke and noise is a leafy trail that runs through Crouch End. This gentle four-mile walk is ideal for children, dog walkers and railway aficionados.The north of London is blessed with green, open spaces. Hampstead Heath is one of the largest in the city and further north and east are Waterlow Park and Queens Wood in Highgate. London may be better known for its parks but there are also many public footpaths worth investigating. One such trail is the Parkland Walk, a 4.5 mile / 7.2km track that runs between Finsbury Park and Highgate. A final stretch continues on to Alexandra Palace and its park for far-reaching views over London. The trail is a nature reserve...Read More

Away from the city smoke and noise is a leafy trail that runs through Crouch End. This gentle four-mile walk is ideal for children, dog walkers and railway aficionados.

The north of London is blessed with green, open spaces. Hampstead Heath is one of the largest in the city and further north and east are Waterlow Park and Queens Wood in Highgate. London may be better known for its parks but there are also many public footpaths worth investigating.

One such trail is the Parkland Walk, a 4.5 mile / 7.2km track that runs between Finsbury Park and Highgate. A final stretch continues on to Alexandra Palace and its park for far-reaching views over London. The trail is a nature reserve and open only to walkers and cyclists and is accessible year round. The path follows what used to be part of the Northern Heights railway line, which ran from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace until 1954.

Steam trains once ran between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace and there were plans to electrify the line and make it a part of the London Underground system. The outbreak of World War Two halted the development and when the war ended, the Northern Heights railway instead remained an overground line for steam trains and eventually fell into disuse.

After years of neglect, the rails were pulled up and eventually the way was cleared for the opening of the Parkland Walk. A few reminders of the railway can be found along the trail. At Crouch End, an abandoned platform is now overgrown with weeds and trees and at Highgate the trail dead-ends into the derelict overground station. It is at Highgate that walkers have to leave the trail of the railway line and either cut through Queens Wood or walk along Muswell Hill Road as far as Cranley Gardens to rejoin the trail. The Friends of the Parkland Walk www.parkland-walk.org.uk website provides a map although bringing an A-Z map is advisable as there aren’t many good landmarks en route.

In 1990, the Parkland Walk was declared a Local Nature Reserve and most of the trail has been left for nature to take its course. Graffiti artists are in evidence where old railway bridges remain but for the most part, the path remains unaffected. Wild flowers have taken over where tracks once lay and animal life has replaced local commuter traffic. Hedgehogs, foxes, butterflies, birds, squirrels and rare deer have all been spotted in the Reserve.

Access to the Parkland Walk can be found at many sites along the route although the easiest starting points are at Highgate and Finsbury Park, reachable by the Northern and Victoria and Piccadilly lines on the London Underground. Helpful signs have recently been erected along the trail, indicating those roads, which connect with the trail. These are: Holmesdale Road (near Highgate tube), Northwood Road, Milton Park, Stanhope Road, Crescent Road, Crouch End Hill, Crouch Hill, Blythwood Road, Mount Pleasant Villas, Stapleton Hall Road, Florence Road, Upper Tollington Park and Oxford Road for Finsbury Park tube.

The trail can be accessed at any time of day and there is no entrance fee. Much of the path is flanked by trees and embankments obscure it from general view. In addition there are no lights so it is not a recommended route to take at night. It is also unpaved so boots and waterproofs may be required on wetter days and during the winter when the path can be reduced to a soggy, leafy mulch.

In the summer, taking a picnic to enjoy in either Finsbury or Alexandra Park is a great way to round off the walk. Alternatively, Crouch End has numerous cafes, bakeries and restaurants and also makes a great stopping point along the way. There are also no less than four supermarkets on the Broadway, enabling walkers to pick up a picnic en route. Or for more thirsty travelers, there are also plenty of good pubs to choose from. Read Less

Parkland Walk, Local Nature Reserve
North London
London

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Tate Modern

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Attraction | "A Celebration of Art and Architecture"

Tate Modern Photo - Tate Modern, London, England

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Even those with little or no interest in art, modern or otherwise, should make the effort visit the Tate Modern near Borough Market. Opened in 2000, this soaring museum is an architectural as much as an artistic wonder. Entry to the main galleries is free, with charged tickets for special exhibitions only. The museum was created from the skeleton of a disused power station and its soaring chimney tower and vast interior turbine hall are as much a part of the art as the exhibitions themselves. The power station was built between 1947 and 1963 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, also responsible for Battersea Power Station further up the river. He is also the designer of England’s famed ...Read More

Even those with little or no interest in art, modern or otherwise, should make the effort visit the Tate Modern near Borough Market. Opened in 2000, this soaring museum is an architectural as much as an artistic wonder.

Entry to the main galleries is free, with charged tickets for special exhibitions only. The museum was created from the skeleton of a disused power station and its soaring chimney tower and vast interior turbine hall are as much a part of the art as the exhibitions themselves.

The power station was built between 1947 and 1963 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, also responsible for Battersea Power Station further up the river. He is also the designer of England’s famed red telephone boxes. Despite the efforts of erecting the power station with some 4.2 million individual bricks, other, cheaper methods of generating electricity were popularised and the Bankside Power Station was closed in 1981.

Around the same time, the existing Tate Britain museum near Pimlico was beginning to expand and needed a new space and thus the seeds were sown to create the Tate Modern on the South Bank.

The colossal turbine hall has welcomed ingenious installations by Anish Kapoor, Doris Salcedo and Ai Weiwei, all of which are free to the public. Elsewhere, past exhibitions of Miro, Gaugin and Rothko have been ticketed but it is possible to view (for free) the odd Picasso, Warhol, Rodin or Waterhouse on some of the upper floors.

In addition to viewing the artwork, the views inside and out are notable. Viewing spaces into the turbine hall from the upper floors are impressive and from the café, visitors can access a small terrace with views of the Millennium Bridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral directly opposite.

Visiting the museum and some of the surrounding attractions can easily take a day. Besides St. Paul’s, the Tate Modern is close to the Globe Theatre, Borough Market, London City Hall and the Tower of London. Despite being an art museum, the atmosphere is a lot less stuffy than most galleries and is therefore a more enjoyable experience for children too. If you check ahead on their website they detail upcoming family events and there is a family zone on level 3 which is open daily and free to visit. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 3, 2011

Tate Modern
Sumner Street
London SE1 9TG
+44 20 7887 8000

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Waterlow Park (Lauderdale House)

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Attraction | "Waterlow Park & Lauderdale House"

Waterlow Park Photo - Waterlow Park (Lauderdale House), London, England

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A brisk walk up Highgate Hill from Archway tube will eventually lead you to the lovely Waterlow Park, which provides the southern bookend to Highgate High Street. Rather bizarrely, Waterlow Park doesn’t show up on Google Maps and while it is tiny compared to neighbouring Hampstead Heath, it is definitely significant enough to be marked on a map.There are three ponds in the park, all fed by natural springs. It is the abundance of water, clean air and far-reaching views that has attracted Highgate’s predominantly wealthy residents both past and present. At the top of the park, the Earl of Lauderdale resided in a house that now bears his name and the house and adjoining terraced g...Read More

A brisk walk up Highgate Hill from Archway tube will eventually lead you to the lovely Waterlow Park, which provides the southern bookend to Highgate High Street. Rather bizarrely, Waterlow Park doesn’t show up on Google Maps and while it is tiny compared to neighbouring Hampstead Heath, it is definitely significant enough to be marked on a map.

There are three ponds in the park, all fed by natural springs. It is the abundance of water, clean air and far-reaching views that has attracted Highgate’s predominantly wealthy residents both past and present.

At the top of the park, the Earl of Lauderdale resided in a house that now bears his name and the house and adjoining terraced garden are open most days to visitors. Originally built in 1582 for London’s Lord Mayor Sir Richard Martin, the Lauderdale family was resident in the mid-1600s. The last private owner was another Lord Mayor, Sir Sidney Waterlow. By 1883 Lauderdale House lay empty and the man who would give his name to the park donated the house and its 29 acres of land to the council for public enjoyment.

Lauderdale House is now run mainly as an arts and education centre. They have a wide range of exhibitions, fairs, concerts and activities that run throughout the year so it is worth checking ahead to find out what’s on. There is also a café, open daily except Mondays, where tea, cake and other snacks can be enjoyed.

Waterlow Park is best entered from the top entrance on Highgate High Street (directly opposite the Cote restaurant). From here, you can walk down to the ponds while catching glimpses of the Gherkin building and its nearby landmarks along the City of London skyline. There is an open play area for children as well as an odd large patch of concrete that never seems to be well used but is probably an ideal spot for youngsters to learn to ride a bike, skateboard or any other wheeled toy.

The park’s sloping lawns make it ideal for sledding in the winter and picnicking in the summer. Dog walkers and pram pushers can usually be found in large numbers as the paved paths make it an easy park to get around. Benches dedicated to the memories of the deceased line the walkways and provide perfect resting places for tired, weak or just plain lazy legs. Quite often people will sit to read a book or just enjoy the view. It’s usually quite a quiet park and is a good place for contemplation and meditation.

At the top of the park are six tennis courts. Courts have to be booked one week in advance and paid for on the day with the cost at £7 / hour. For the younger crowd, the playground near the bottom of the park is a popular place and there are usually a healthy number of ducks in residence at the ponds to chuck bread at (although I have a feeling that the RSPB or others concerned with duck diets might not encourage human-donated meals).

At the very bottom of the park, close to the Swain’s Lane entrance is the Highgate East Cemetery. If you go up to the fence and peak through the leaves and headstones you can usually see the oversized head of Karl Marx’s tombstone in the distance. Entrance to the East Cemetery is next to the Waterlow Park entrance at the bottom of Swain’s Lane and there is an entry fee but once inside, visitors can roam around at leisure. The West Cemetery is directly opposite and is by guided tour only.

Leaving Waterlow Park by the southern gate on Swain’s Lane will take you downhill to a small grouping of shops and restaurants next to Parliament Hill Fields (including Kalendar) and then further still to Kentish Town. Exit via the north gate opposite Cote and you can continue on up Highgate High Street and stop at one of many great pubs, which include The Flask, Red Lion and Sun and The Prince of Wales. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 17, 2011

Waterlow Park (Lauderdale House)
Highgate Hill
London, England

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