Quote:
Originally Posted by AJF_41
I'm heading to Paris and London in 6 weeks. First time in each country.
Any places you think I should or shouldn't check out - - or decent places to eat??
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I've only been to Paris for a long weekend, so I didn't get to see many things outside the major sights.. but, I lived in London for 4 months, so I can run on for days with things to do.
Here's my list of London favs (outside the major touristy stuff):
-Portobello Rd market on a Saturday morning for fresh fruit/veggies
-Spitalfields market on Sundays (Brick Lane is around the corner..great food)
-Camden market - great clothes, and good food as well..and quite cheap.
-Kensington palace gardens.. follow Kensington Park through to Hyde park..great walk. Also, visit Speakers corner in Hyde Park on a Sunday morning.
-Primrose hill in Regents Park
-Greenwich (you can straddle the Prime Meridian and be in two hemispheres at once! Okay okay..touristy and cheesy..but it's a must do)
-Since you'll be there in the summer, hit up an outdoor cafe on James St
-DON'T go looking on the internet for the "best pub" or some garbage like that. Wander off the main drags (Oxford St and other High Streets) and find a little neighborhood pub.
-I don't know how old you are, but if you're a student, go see a show. Most shows save the first few rows of seats on weekdays for students and heavily discount the prices day of. ($40-$60 per ticket usually)
-Save money by grabbing breakfast/lunch from a grocery store (Sainsbury's, Tesco, Somerfields). They all have cheap sandwiches, croissants, etc.
-If you want good bars, go to Soho or the East End. Avoid tourist traps like Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square - bars and clubs there have at least a $20 cover charge, and they're filled with Americans.
-Wagamama noodle bar. Awesome food; mad cheap. All over London.
-If you'll be there a while, take a train out to some of the other popular places: Brighton beach is a great day trip, as is Oxford or Cambridge, Bath, Canterbury, Leeds, Windsor..or if you're feeling ambitious Edinburgh, Scotland is about a 4 hr train ride away.