London is a city of unlimited opportunity. It’s impossible, even as Londoners, to take advantage of everything that the city has to offer. Whether you choose to spend all of your time in the city itself, or are keen to venture into the rest of the UK or even Europe, our list below will give you inspiration for making the most of your free time.
With great connections to the rest of the country, as well as the European mainland, why don’t you take your London adventure even further afield?
As soon as the weather heats up, British people flock in their hoards to the nearest seaside town to spend the day lounging in a deck chair and eating fish and chips. For a few pounds, you can take a train from London directly to Brighton, where you can dip your toes in the sea and explore the eclectic vintage shops, or to Southend-on-Sea, where you can walk on the world’s longest pier.
London’s well-connected rail and bus network means that you can travel to almost any part of the country easily and quickly. Popular destinations for tourists travelling from London are Stonehenge in Wiltshire and the historic city of Bath, both 1 hour 30 minutes by train. If you’re feeling brave, you could also get a train or an overnight coach to Edinburgh in Scotland!
Thanks to budget airlines, travelling to the continent is easier than ever before. For until £20 each way, you can travel from one of London’s airports to any city of your choice – whether that’s Dublin, Paris, Rome or Berlin - with typically less than 2 hours flying time. Or opt to take the Eurostar from King’s Cross St. Pancras!
Please note, if you are a non-EU national wishing to travel to Europe during your stay, please consult our Advice and Counselling service to find out if you need to apply for a Schengen visa before travelling.
For me, my #QueenMarySummer was the best experience I have had in my life. You get to know so many people and learn so much about the culture. It was amazing!— Jovanna Montano from Mexico, International Business
