CheapOair Afternoon Escape- London Calling!

In no particular order, some of the things I love about London-

London Bridge at Dusk

1. Big red tour buses.

2. The sidewalk corners that all say “LOOK RIGHT!” so that silly little tourists like me don’t get smashed by on-coming traffic.

3. Anything with “Mind the Gap” written on it.

4. Castles

5. Palaces

6. Cathedrals

7. Buildings older than the entire United States.

8. Kebab street vendors

9. Seeing places I’ve read about in literature my entire life.

10. The accents.

11. That KFC is so popular there, and that they call it KFC and not Kentucky Fried Chicken. And the KFC near the Tower of London that boasts 100 types of beer. And that KFC there serves beer.

12. Pubs

13. Ordering bangers and mash and nobody looks at me funny.

14. Red phone booths (and the overwhelming urge to make phone calls from one to my friends and saying, “LONDON CALLING!” when I do.)

15. That downtown London looks a lot like downtown New York City- Starbucks, Gap, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, etc all over the place. But somehow, they are just cooler in London!

16. Cheap summer deals to London.

17. All the songs I can sing that include London in it- London Bridges (the children’s tune), London Bridge (by Fergie), London Calling (the Clash), Werewolves of London,Foggy Day in London Town, and on and on and on!

London on a budget in the summer!

*BREAKING NEWS* A study has revealed that airfares to London have dropped by 20% in comparison last year for travel during Memorial Day!

London is the capital city of England located along the River Thames in south eastern England. It a fascinating modern city filled with old-fashioned charm.

London is considered to be one of the most expensive cities in the world. So just imagine the high prices in the summer? Not to worry here are some tips to travel to London on a budget in the summer!

Your biggest expense is going to be your accommodation in London. It is notorious for small rooms at big prices!

General tips that apply to getting cheap hotel rates in London.

Book Early! Now is the time to book your hotel room. We are 2-3 months away from the peak travel season. Many hotels are now offering great early bird hotel deals.

Do your homework! Rates are always going to be cheaper mid week in comparison to the weekends even in the summer!

London Attractions

Many of the major London attractions offer discounts when you purchase tickets online. If you book tickets to the Tower of London online you get a £1 off. The ever so popular London Eye also offers a discount of 10% if you book your tickets online. These discounts may not seem like a lot but when you convert that into USD at various attractions it adds up to a lot

Tip: Aim to go on the London Eye just before sunset for a spectacular view of London.

Free Attractions!

London, fortunately offers an abundance of free attractions.

Art Galleries are such as the Tate Modern, National Gallery,

Museums are also free British Museum, V&A, and Natural History Museum

Royal Parks are beautiful and free. St James Park has a superb view of Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, has the Diana Memorial Fountain and the Peter Pan statue.

Westminster Abbey. Worshippers are able to enter for free. The service that I would recommend would be the Evensong. It is where the Abbey Choir sings. It is on Monday, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 5pm. There is also a 3pm service on the weekend.

South Bank – My favourite place in London. The walk down the River Thames offers you some of the best views of great London landmarks such as Big Ben and the London Eye. Keep a look out for the Dali’s surreal statues.

Trafalgar Square – Provides you with a great photo opportunity of the Big Ben and is right near the National Gallery.

Changing of the Guard – No visit to London is complete without seeing this traditional ceremony. This happens at 11.30 each day in the summer. Just make sure that you get in early so that you get a good spot!

Wimbledon on a budget.

There are ground passes available on the day of play. Be prepared to line up for tickets, but it is definitely worth it. Just remember that they only accept CASH. 6000 are available daily.

Price ranges from £20 (Week 1 of play before 5pm) it does go down as the tournament continues as the number of matches played on the outside court decreases.

Centre court tickets to Wimbledon for only £5!

Yes, you read that correctly and it is possible!

There is a little known fact that there are Ticket Resale Kiosks. So once you are inside the grounds you are able to get tickets to centre court through this scheme.

People that no longer want their tickets or have to leave unexpectedly put their unwanted tickets back for sale. The money raised from the sale of these tickets goes to local charities. I was able to score centre court tickets to the Mixed Doubles Final and Men’s Double Final for £5!

Shopping in London

There are plenty of shopping opportunities in London. Department stores line Oxford Street and Regent Street. Into labels then head to Bond Street and along the Burlington Arcade. Harrods and the boutiques of Knightsbridge are surely a must see, even if it just for a browse. For antiques and curiosities, visit Camden and Portobello Market, or Chelsea’s Kings Road.

Tip: Brick Lane Markets offers everything you heart could desire for a budget! It is particularly well known for strange but charming items! It is located at the northern end of Brick Lane and along Cheshire Street in East London. It operates every Sunday from around 4am to 2pm.

Local Lingo

Bollocks – expression of disbelief, or regret
Fancy – to desire someone or something
Loo – Toilet
Bevvy – Alcoholic drink
Biscuit – cookie, quite different to the American version.
Chips – French Fries
Crisps – Potato Chips
Cuppa – A cup of tea
Nosh – food
Scone – pron. “sk-awn,” not “sk-own” biscuit.
High-street – Main road or main street through somewhere
Alight – disembark
Bob’s your uncle – there you have it
Concessions – discounts
Knackered – very tired
Porkies – lies
Queue – pronounced “cue” a line of people

Getting to London

For the latest airfares to London check out CheapOair Europe Deals.

Tip: Do not forget to use the Coupon Code: ‘FLIGHTS10′ to receive $10 off your flight.

Top Free Things to do in Europe

Europe has always been a fascinating destination for tourists. Whether you are a solo traveler or on a family vacation, a chance to see some significant attractions for free in a destination like Europe should never be missed. So, check out the list of top free things to do in your favorite European cities.

Paris

• Breathtaking views of Paris: As visit to the top of Eiffel Tower might involve not only a lengthy line, but also a hefty price. So, the base of Sacre Coeur atop Montmartre is a better option for a better view of Paris at no charge. You will pay a small fee to ascend the basilica (by foot), but the views from the top of the steps leading into the cathedral are breathtaking.
  

  Notre Dame Cathedral

• Notre Dame Cathedral: This is one of the magnificent structures in Paris, you can see and praise without spending a penny. Generally regarded among the most beautiful buildings on earth, the Notre Dame Cathedral is worth a visit.

• Fashion Gawking in Paris: Window shopping does not cost anything. So, visit the Rue de Faubourg St. Honore or the nearby Avenue Montaigne to see the latest fashions and the best shoppers in action.

Amsterdam

• Rijksmuseum Gardens in Amsterdam: Though most of the famous Rijksmuseum is closed for extensive renovations, you can visit museum’s gardens where a free printed guide will point out some art treasures that cannot be seen elsewhere at any price. Garden is not open on weekends.

• Free Ferry ride in Amsterdam harbor: Though Boat rides in Amsterdam can be pricey; a short ride to Amsterdam’s older part is free. The Free ferry service is available behind the Central rail station.

Rome

• Roman Forum: This was the central marketplace in ancient times, and it is well worth the time to wander the area and imagine what life was like in those days.

London

• London’s Changing of the Guard: The Queen’s Guard in London changes in the Forecourt inside the gates of Buckingham Palace at 11.30 a.m. every day during the summer months and on alternating days in the winter. Although it’s free to view, you might want to invest some time to get there early enough for a good vantage point.

• Tate Modern and Borough Food Markets in London: Situated alongside one another, these two markets in London are exciting place to visit. Tate Modern offers interesting art, while the markets are a fun place to browse on Fridays and Saturdays.

• Westminster Abbey: There are admission fees for Westminster Abbey, but those who choose to worship here can see the inside for free. Evensong is at 5pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, plus at 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. These are your opportunities to hear the Abbey Choir perform.