We know it’s possible to take your motorhome to London. Parking at one of the campsites outside the Low Emissions Zone and getting the tube in. However, as the celebrations for my birthday and our wedding anniversary were a bit quiet due to running commitments, we decided to treat ourselves. Leaving Zagan in his storage space (he’ll be off to sunny Scotland in a wee while), we splashed out on advanced train tickets (£50 return for both of us) and a tiny apartment in Kensington (£75 a night and probably smaller than Zagan) to enable us to explore London’s free and cheap offerings.
We enjoyed wandering around looking at statues (sometimes having to play guess who)
Little did when know when we booked our trip back in August that we’d be arriving at a very interesting time. We don’t do politics on this blog, just facts, as we believe each person is entitled to their own opinion. So while we were down there, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was about to prorogue Parliament to enable a Queen’s speech the following week, and Extinction Rebellion had taken over the streets around Westminster in setting up a sea of Decathlon tents on the roads in protest. This not only made huge areas car-free, so we could wander along the roads – something you can’t normally do, but with all the music, drums, whistles and shouting it gave the capital a party feeling with a slightly edgy feel as hundreds of police mingled among everyone.
Extinction Rebellion must have taken over the Brexit Protest as I don’t remember Plant Based Food being part of the referendum!
So with a bit of research a few days before we left, we managed to bag a free tour of the Houses of Parliament, a free look out over the city from the Sky Garden observation deck and several hours of wandering around free (you can give a donation) art galleries and museums. From here on I’ll let the photos tell the story.
Big Ben was hiding, but the police were highly visible – stopping and searching folks on Westminster Bridge as we walked to our Houses of Parliament tourTesting out one of the Commons benches Rees-Mogg style while we wait for the tour to start (of course you can’t sit on the actual benches unless you are an MP).No photos allowed in the best bits of the tour, so here are the windows behind the sinks in the House of Commons loos – made me realise I was inside that building I’ve seen on the telly!Spotted in the souvenir shop – I wonder if this will be reduced in price after 31st October when he retires – Orhderrr!After our tour we walked up the street to No 10. The police had closed the road directly outside Downing Street so the Prime Minister could get in and out. Extinction Rebellion closed the rest of the road, with a mass of tents, as these protesters took up position right outside the gates.Just outside Horse Guards Parade we saw some guards on horses – now I know how it got its name!We walked alongside a band of drummers marching the closed streets up to Trafalgar Square where Extinction Rebellion had recruited the lions to their cause, and taken over the entire square.A stroll along the river brought us to the Tate Modern, where after a bite to eat in the cafe we had a nose at some of the artwork taking in works by Picasso, Dali, Monet and Pollock. I think this work by Artist Yinka Shonibare was my favourite. He’d filled a room with brightly coloured books, writing the names of first and second generation immigrants to Britain on each one, as well as people who opposed immigration. As with all the work in there, I’m sure it had deeper meaning, but I just loved the look of it.We caught the lift to the observation deck at the Tate Modern, which I think was my favourite thing about the whole place!No trip to London is complete for us without a walk over the Millennium Bridge while humming the theme tune to The Apprentice (we haven’t watched it for years, but this is what they used to do in the opening credits)We tried to order (free) tickets for the Sky Garden (at the top of the walkie talkie shaped building) but it was fully booked. Then we found out you could just rock up between 10 and 11am or 2 and 4pm and go in if there was space – so we did and there was! The views from the observation deck were even better than the Tate Modern, but there was a sheet of glass in the way, which was good because it stopped the breeze but wasn’t so good for photos.After all the sightseeing on Tuesday (we walked the distance of a half marathon) we started Wednesday with a nice jog around Hyde Park. We met up after our run at the Diana Memorial Fountain.After lunch with a friend we spent the rest of the day in the The Natural History Museum and Science Museum as they were both right on our doorstep. We love the NHM, the main entrance is just jaw dropping – literally if you are a whale! The exhibits were great, but the building itself is also a star of the show.The Moon exhibit at the Natural History Museum. It’s huge and just out of arms reach, but you can walk around and even lie right underneath it.
So that was our couple of days in London. We barely scratched the surface, but were both well and truly shattered by the time we got home. The total cost for the three-night trip was £400 which includes trains, accommodation and food. It was certainly worth a visit an we won’t be leaving it so long before we go again.
Ju x
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Looks like you had a great trip! I never realised the Tate Modern was free, so I’ll definitely be visiting next time we’re in London, cheers for the tip.
P.s if you’re heading to Edinburgh whilst on your Scotland trip, It’s worth visiting the National Museum of Scotland. It’s free of charge, but we left a donation it was that good!
Emirates Air Line (cable car over the Thames near Canary Wharf) is pretty cheap. Get yourself a MyWaitrose card and a reusable coffee cup and get a “free” coffee in Waitrose with any purchase – hint even with the cheapest item. Lots of free food samples in Borough Market ( not far from Tate Modern ). Loads of other freebies by signing up to emails from Pitcher and Piano, Greene King etc. Use O2 priority for a free cafe Nero coffee on either Tuesday or Wednesday each week.
Looks like you had a great time. I always find it amazing what you can do for free in London with a little bit of planning.
Looks like you had a great trip! I never realised the Tate Modern was free, so I’ll definitely be visiting next time we’re in London, cheers for the tip.
P.s if you’re heading to Edinburgh whilst on your Scotland trip, It’s worth visiting the National Museum of Scotland. It’s free of charge, but we left a donation it was that good!
Emirates Air Line (cable car over the Thames near Canary Wharf) is pretty cheap. Get yourself a MyWaitrose card and a reusable coffee cup and get a “free” coffee in Waitrose with any purchase – hint even with the cheapest item. Lots of free food samples in Borough Market ( not far from Tate Modern ). Loads of other freebies by signing up to emails from Pitcher and Piano, Greene King etc. Use O2 priority for a free cafe Nero coffee on either Tuesday or Wednesday each week.