Situated in the heart of central London with academic excellence that is second to none, LSE is close to many of the world’s famous and historical destinations. So close that it takes only a 15-minute walk or lower from the Old Building of LSE to reach each one of the following places. This blog will introduce you to five fantastic destinations that you can explore within just a stone-throw away during your term time.

1. The National Gallery

Home to hundreds of old paintings, including Vincent Van Gogh’s famous Sunflower, the National Gallery locates at Trafalgar Square and offers free entry for everyone. So you can spend a couple of hours immersing yourself in a series of paintings drawn by talented and revered artists back in the day. Other pictures not to be missed include the Arnolfini Portrait, the Rokeby Venus, and the Hay Wain. For the fan of Mr Bond, you might notice that this place appears in ‘Skyfall,’ where James Bond meets with Q to collect his cool gadgets for the mission.

2. The British Museum

The world’s famous museum is filled with countless items and artefacts from around the globe. As with the National Gallery, the British Museum also offers free entry to its visitors, with some separately-sold tickets to the limited-time special event. The museum is enormous and may take more than half a day to finish every room. The popular artefact is, of course, the mummy from the Egyptian era (bonus point if you can find the ‘cat’ mummy). Other than that, other artefacts and items are also a joy to see. Don’t forget to walk up the stairs and take a picture of the main foyer, as shown below.

3. Covent Garden

A beautiful piazza that features multiple shops, restaurants, and shopping retailers, Covent Garden is another famous destination for tourists and Londoners alike. The centre of the piazza may display special art decorations from time to time. While the outer edge of the piazza is where several skilled and talented performers put on their spectacular performances that leave you wondering how they did it. Covent Garden will undergo a major makeover during Christmas time, turning the whole area to a festive vibe with a giant Christmas tree at the front.

4. St. Paul’s Cathedral

Standing out as London’s most iconic building, St. Paul’s Cathedral was rebuilt in the 17th century by Christopher Wren, one of the most important historical figures of the UK. St. Paul’s features an elegant giant dome with captivating interior architecture. A ticket is needed before entry with a student discount available, and it is recommended that you climb the circular staircases all the way to the dome gallery, which offers a 360-degree spectacular view of the London skyline. Another thing to do is walk across the nearby Millennium bridge and look back to take in the sight of St. Paul’s vista as it is fully visible from the other end of river Thames.

5. Riverside of Thames

While there are no specific places, in particular, you can take a walk along the river Thames to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy a good view on a nice day. You can begin your walk from the Temple tube station, which is just 5 minutes away from LSE and head towards the Millennium bridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Or you can head in the opposite direction to the Embankment garden and have your own picnic in the park; if you have energy left, you can continue walking to the Westminster pier where you can see the famous Big Ben.