I lived in London for 8 years without visiting the Tower / Tower Bridge / Madame Tussauds or anything else similarly extortionate and don't feel like I missed out on anything, lol. The one supertouristy thing that I recommend is (weather enabling) the London Eye. It is wonderful when approached with zen (i.e. ignoring everyone around you)
London Walks: these are awesome, avail yourself of the website (walks.com) immediately. For 6 pounds for 2 hours you can't beat the entertainment. I've done loads and have some faves and some anti-recs, so if you want tips pls ask. Never done their daytrips but they look extensive. Also google: Green Chain walks.
Markets: Camden Market: It's so not alternative cool, it's the same old stuff you'd get in any headshop around the world. Don't go on the weekend (crowds). The Regents Canal is nice to walk along though. Portobello Market: eh, it's okay, if you like West London and all that Notting Hill pretention. Spitalfields Market: this is the one to go to, lots and lots of cool stuff, the whole area (Brick Lane) is nicely buzzing, and the 24 hour bagel places on Brick Lane are cheap and delicious.
Parks: Regents Park: pretty, has flowers and ducks and the Zoo (extortionate, don't bother), you can pretend you're in a Regency novel swanning around the topiary. Hampstead Heath: two thumbs up - view from Parliament Hill is awesome. If you like cemeteries the nearby Highgate Cemetery is amazing, gothic, scary. Greenwich - a full day, take the riverboat, see the Observatory, I like the Maritime Museum but it depends if you are boaty or not. Kew Gardens - lovely but expensive, and also a full day trip.
Random things: Priory of St Bartholomew the Great in Smithfields - my favourite church in all of London (I have lots of church sighseeing recommendations) Wandering about the City proper (the Square Mile) - plot yourself out a circle from the Guildhall. St Pancras Station - longest Champagne bar in the world! Waterloo Bridge - sunrise or sunset, the vista is unbeatable Docklands Light Railway - the skytrain goes through the skyscrapers, you feel like you're in Blade Runner.
Okay that's enough for now I suppose - you seem like you might have a couple weeks to fill so that's probably a good start. Once you have firmer plans, do ask about trains etc - the UK is NOT the kind of place you can get cheap tickets for anything at the last minute. The earlier you book things, the better. Also look in my LJ, I have a London tag for fun things I have did in the past.
pt iii
I lived in London for 8 years without visiting the Tower / Tower Bridge / Madame Tussauds or anything else similarly extortionate and don't feel like I missed out on anything, lol. The one supertouristy thing that I recommend is (weather enabling) the London Eye. It is wonderful when approached with zen (i.e. ignoring everyone around you)
London Walks: these are awesome, avail yourself of the website (walks.com) immediately. For 6 pounds for 2 hours you can't beat the entertainment. I've done loads and have some faves and some anti-recs, so if you want tips pls ask. Never done their daytrips but they look extensive. Also google: Green Chain walks.
Markets:
Camden Market: It's so not alternative cool, it's the same old stuff you'd get in any headshop around the world. Don't go on the weekend (crowds). The Regents Canal is nice to walk along though.
Portobello Market: eh, it's okay, if you like West London and all that Notting Hill pretention.
Spitalfields Market: this is the one to go to, lots and lots of cool stuff, the whole area (Brick Lane) is nicely buzzing, and the 24 hour bagel places on Brick Lane are cheap and delicious.
Parks:
Regents Park: pretty, has flowers and ducks and the Zoo (extortionate, don't bother), you can pretend you're in a Regency novel swanning around the topiary.
Hampstead Heath: two thumbs up - view from Parliament Hill is awesome. If you like cemeteries the nearby Highgate Cemetery is amazing, gothic, scary.
Greenwich - a full day, take the riverboat, see the Observatory, I like the Maritime Museum but it depends if you are boaty or not.
Kew Gardens - lovely but expensive, and also a full day trip.
Random things:
Priory of St Bartholomew the Great in Smithfields - my favourite church in all of London (I have lots of church sighseeing recommendations)
Wandering about the City proper (the Square Mile) - plot yourself out a circle from the Guildhall.
St Pancras Station - longest Champagne bar in the world!
Waterloo Bridge - sunrise or sunset, the vista is unbeatable
Docklands Light Railway - the skytrain goes through the skyscrapers, you feel like you're in Blade Runner.
Okay that's enough for now I suppose - you seem like you might have a couple weeks to fill so that's probably a good start. Once you have firmer plans, do ask about trains etc - the UK is NOT the kind of place you can get cheap tickets for anything at the last minute. The earlier you book things, the better. Also look in my LJ, I have a London tag for fun things I have did in the past.