You made it. You are studying and living in London. Now, many people will want to visit you: friends, relatives, people who you hadn’t heard from for years but suddenly remember you have a flat in London. They will all probably want you to be their guide in the city. Having people coming over can be stressful as it demands quite a lot of organisation and some extent of imagination to devise nice tours. Here are a few tips that could help you make their stay unforgettable:
Plan just the right amount of tourist stuff
Your family and friends will probably be disappointed if you don’t show them some (stereo)typical London attractions, despite how sick of them you might be. Here is a list:
The London Eye
This famous London attraction will give you an amazing view of the city.
How to make it more exciting?
As long as you’re not afraid of heights, it should be pretty enjoyable. However, be aware of a FREE alternative: Sky Garden. The money saved might be worth convincing your guests to change their plans.
Buckingham Palace
What is more stereotypical than Buckingham Palace? Yet, it’s a must-do for people coming to London for the first time.
How to make it more exciting?
Let your visitors take pictures of the building and guards, then take them to one of the nearby Royal Parks for a relaxing walk. You can start with St James Park and continue with Green Park into Hyde Park.
The Tower of London
Another site related to royalty. At least one of your guests will certainly want to see the Crown’s jewels!
How to make it more exciting?
Try to catch a tour guide! Besides knowing the most peculiar anecdotes about the Tower of London, most guides are hilarious. However, if your visitors don’t speak English, going for a tour with a guide might not be the best idea. But, if you can’t have a guide, why not be the guide? It’s time to show off what you have learned as a Londoner!
Trafalgar Square
One of the most iconic squares in London and always a busy spot with street performers, protests and sometimes even West End music!
How to make it more exciting?
Take this occasion to go to the National Gallery and explore the famous works of art from Vermeer to van Gogh. Also, Nelson’s statue is even more majestic at night because of the way it is lit up.
Bonus: Afternoon Tea
Nothing involving food can be boring for guests or Londoners alike. But you can give it a twist by taking afternoon at the top of Shard (The Shard’s Peter-Pan-themed afternoon tea is probably the fanciest option) or during a cruise on the Thames.
London’s different facets
Now that you’ve been through all the tourist stuff, try to give your family and friends an idea of the true London, the one you’re experiencing in your everyday life.
You can try to show your relatives and friends some hidden streets that you particularly like, underrated restaurants or cafes that you’re fond of and cute little bookshops where you spend all of your pocket money. London is a multifaceted city with various atmospheres depending on where you are and, to me, that’s one of its strengths. You should show that to your visitors. To do so, take them outside of Zone 1! Notting Hill, Camden, Hampstead, etc have very different ambiences from Covent Garden, Westminster or Mayfair, and that’s great!
Finally, there are some activities that you can do with your friends but not necessarily with your family and vice versa.
If you are with friends…
Go clubbing! If they (or you) are not really into clubbing, maybe they’d like a musical better. There are plenty of good options to choose from and it’s not hard to find some affordable seats!
If your parents are visiting you…
Have a fancy dinner. Why not try one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants or a Michelin restaurant? If you want to try fancy British cuisine, The Ivy is very nice. What’s more, apparently it’s not rare to meet celebrities in the one situated in Covent Garden. You could even plan an Opera night and go to the Royal Opera House after/before the restaurant. If you do so, remember to book your own tickets using your Young ROH account to get £25 seats.
