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London on the cheap
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Big Ben clock face, Westminster, London, courtesy of visitlondonimages/britainonview
As a teenager, I managed to hop the puddle and attend an English boarding school in London. I fell in love with the city, a love affair that has lasted to this day. And why not? Most Americans get a bit dreamy-eyed when contemplating the prospect of a visit to the “mother ship.” London is so magical, so jam-packed with exciting things to see and do, and….so expensive. At least, that’s what many Americans assume. So they shake their heads sadly, thinking that a trip to London for them is about as dim a prospect as winning the lottery or singing in an opera.
But you don’t need a lot of money to have a good time in London. Especially now, with the exchange rate better than it’s been in years, London is surprisingly affordable. So many things in London are downright cheap, and many more of them are free.
So what can you do in London that doesn’t cost a king’s ransom? Your options are nearly limitless. One of my favorite activities in London is touring museums. London’s museums are varied and filled with the most wondrous stuff, and most of them are free for the touring. (No wonder a recent poll of 279 American Express travel agents named London as the most popular international destination for families!) Here’s just a sampling of the wonders that await:
• The British Museum. You can easily spend a day or two wandering through galleries laden with such unique curiosities as Egyptian mummies of cats, and such important artifacts as the Rosetta Stone. But the British Museum isn’t a stuffy place reeking with relics. Far from it. Last month (February 2009), its Samsung Digital Discovery Centre opened, to offer free workshops for families using the latest Samsung digital equipment. Using cutting-edge technology, kids visiting the museum can perform such magic as bringing ancient Egyptian wall paintings to life, and making films about the sounds of time passing.
• The Natural History Museum. Think Natural History Museums are boring? Think again. At the entrance to the Visions of the Earth exhibition, visitors are dwarfed by towering walls adorned with a map of the solar system before riding a giant escalator through a model of the Earth’s core.
• Science Museum. This wild and wonderful place is home to some of the most fascinating exhibits you’ll ever find anywhere. Currently it features a Japanese car design exhibit, set against the backdrop of Japan’s unique culture. In the course of a day exploring the Museum, you can trace the story of the space rocket, discover the world of steam engines, and dive into a magical 3D underwater adventure, courtesy of the Imax cinema. Wallace & Gromit fans will not want to miss the special exhibit “A World of Cracking Ideas” which runs from March 28-November 1, 2009.
London has it all. But my most important recommendation to you is not to try to do it all. My advice is to leave plenty of time just to kick back and savor each moment in this most magical (and surprisingly economical) of cities. Feed the ducks in Kensington Gardens, ice skate in the indoor rink near Queensway tube station, and pet the rays in the London Aquarium. Walk the streets that Dickens walked, window shop on exclusive Bond Street, watch the motley assortment of people, soak up the cosmopolitan ambience. You’re sure to have a jolly good time, and you might even fall in love!
Author’s note: This is the third in a three-part series on Spring Flings in London. You can read the first part here, and the second part here.
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