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A trip to London essay

A trip to London essay 13 models

A trip to London essay , contains all the information you want to know if you want to go on a trip to London and know the tourist places and how to reach it ; we will offer you a trip to London essay contains all the important information you are looking for to help you on your trip to London.

A trip to London essay

London is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and one of the most popular tourist destinations from all over the world every year. Here you will find a trip to London essay that contains all the information you need about this wonderful and picturesque city.

London is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world because of the famous tourist attractions that attract many tourists.

The average number of visitors per year is about 19.1 million visitors according to the statistics of 2017, making it one of the most visited cities in the world, The UK and its largest city, located on the banks of the Thames in the south of Britain, is also known as the Fog City and has a long history dating back to the Roman era.

Tourism in London;  

Top landmarks in London ;

Big Ben , Westminster, is one of the most famous sights in the city and, rather, in all of Britain. It is located opposite the Parliament and Big Ben marks the heaviest five bells of 13.5 tons in the famous clock tower of Westminster Palace.

Al Shard Tower Bridge , a skyscraper located in the Southwark area of ​​London, was the tallest building in Europe until October 2012 and is 310 meters long and is currently the highest building in the European Union.

The Tate Madern Museum , located near the Thames, is a magnificent cathedral that imitates modern architecture and was formerly a power station. Many contemporary artists such as Rachel Frieda, Martin Kiebenberger, Mark Rothko and Kandinsky worked to create it in its current contemporary form.

Borough Market,  you will experience a great experience while shopping in these markets where you will discover British culture through its markets, popular cuisine, and delicious dishes along the Thames through various food stalls.

The famous London Eye , a large wheel that you can ride in its vehicles to see the entire city of London and enjoy the magnificent view from the top of the city, is 135 meters long, located in the gardens of Jubilee on the south bank of the River Thames.

Tips for visiting London:

Do not use the subway to take you inside the city unless necessary because you will miss seeing many of the sights and places you might be interested in.

It is better to walk to sightseeing in London or to travel by bus, it is less expensive and you can get to know the city better.

Divide the days of your visit to the places you want to see in the city.

It is not advisable to visit all the attractions on the same day and spend the rest of your vacation in the hotel or not know what to, do plans every day and how you will spend in this wonderful city.

Avoid staying at a hotel far from the city center because it is cheaper; because you will spend the same amount if  not more on the back and forth transportation.

It is better to book in advance through the Internet, it is cheaper to avoid long queues behind tourists to book your place in hotels, the zoo or museums.

Why I Want to Visit London Essay

I would like to visit London with great hope because it is a cosmopolitan city. It is considered an important tourist destination because it contains hundreds of attractions.

But of course, I am not interested in everything, but in one thing in particular, which is the British Museum. I would like to be a tour guide when I grow up. It is my ambition to work in this museum.

I will not find a more suitable museum than the British Museum, as it is one of the richest museums in the world. It contains a culture that dates back to two million years ago.

We find that this museum includes 10 different sections, whether for antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance.

In addition to a large library that includes a very large collection of archaeological books that contain information about many tribes and antiquities that are not present in the museum. What makes it a destination for every lover to learn ancient and modern history.

Trip to London essay

It is good that I was able to go on a trip to London before the whole world was infected with Corona disease. It was good that my family and I made a trip a few years ago and were able to visit London. And this was because I wanted to go there and see all the sights of the city.

I think that the best way to understand the essence of a city is to visit it and discover it for myself. London was the focus of my attention because of its many mentions in school books or the external environment for me. So I loved going there. So I asked my father, when the time was right, that I would go and wander and discover it. This is what happened.

I can remember a lot of details like staying at a hotel (Doubletree by Hilton London). It’s on Bibs Street. I liked the location of the hotel very much because it is located near the Holborn tube and Russell Square, which enables you to reach all the tourist areas in London and also easily return to Heathrow Airport.

The location of the hotel helped us a lot in going and coming back to all areas. Including Regent Street, Soho, Oxford Street, Hyde Park.

We were also able to reach the British Museum easily through the metro station. It is an easy and fast means of transportation for us. I liked it very much.  It is great to travel to many places with one means of transport, it makes you feel that everything is connected to each other.

We were also able to visit a lot of wonderful restaurants and famous markets and wander around them and see the nature of the area and the various means of living.

So it was a great experience for me and I was able to benefit a lot from it and learn a lot about London as I wanted to know.

When I think about taking a trip to London, my thoughts crowd which places to start visiting, and this is due to London enjoying all the elements of tourism, where historical tourism, cultural and artistic tourism, in addition to scenic landscapes, gardens, parks, and high-end shopping places, and I decided to start my journey with a visit Tower Bridge, which connects the two banks of the River Thames, was opened by King Edward VII and his wife on June 30, 1894, and it is one of the important landmarks in the city of London, and it allows crossing the River Thames, taking into account not to affect the expansion of the transport movement

My trip to London essay

I will tell you about my special trip to London. Last year my dad told me let’s go abroad for summer vacation. We chose London because we had never been to it before

When we arrived we went to the hotel and entered to put the luggage and rest from the travel. London is the capital of the United Kingdom and therefore its largest city. People know it as the city of fog, and this is because of the presence of thick fog surrounding it.

Because of the fog, the sun does not appear easily. It is located on the River Thames, which gives it an enchanting beauty. It includes a huge number of libraries and huge museums, such as the British Museum.

We went on a wonderful tour around the city, where we visited museums and churches. And we saw the magnificent palaces such as St. James Palace and Buckingham Palace.

I want to visit London essay

I love to travel a lot and have gone on trips either with school or with my family to different countries. This year, I studied in the history class about the landmarks of London.

I visited London before, I enjoyed a lot of the breathtaking views of London and the ancient architecture that is found in different areas of it.

So I would very much like to visit London soon and walk around for a few days to fully explore it. I also like to listen to the dialect spoken by the townspeople. I like that very much from some of the actors I follow.

I am trying to prepare myself for the next year and save some money so that I can fulfill my dream of visiting London. I really hope I can achieve this next year and gather some interesting information about it and discover it fully.

Essay about a place i would like to visit London

I would love to visit London one day. I’ve read a lot about London’s tourist attractions, but what attracted me the most was Oxford Street. I would very much like to visit this street and discover the experience of wandering and seeing the interesting sights in it. I find that very exciting and interesting.

Oxford Street contains more than 300 shops, and the most distinctive thing in these shops is the shops that launch the latest fashion for clothes, or the John Lewis group of stores, which are interested in providing the latest modern exhibits at the beginning of the season which they have only before everyone else.

I would very much like to visit it next Eid and buy some gifts for the parents. I wish that would happen.

I would like to visit London essay

Undoubtedly, there are many people who would like to visit London and I am among these people. I find it wonderful to visit London and get to know their famous landmarks .

London is famous for its many strange cultural movements and phenomena, as it is one of the important centers of influence in the United States, which has a population of 8,278,251  according to the latest study of 2018.

London is known for its uniqueness in art, education, commerce, entertainment, fashion, healthcare, professional services, tourism, transportation, and transportation. Which makes London an important and fruitful destination for anyone who wants to expand his horizons, acquires many skills and develops in many aspects.

Therefore, I would very much like to visit London and learn some skills that may benefit me in the future, such as designing costumes or working in theater or television. That would be very cool.

London sightseeing essay

Everyone can visit London for tourism. But one thing is for sure in London, it is not easily accessible to tourists. It is not possible to see all the attractions of London in just a week or ten days, but it takes much more than that. London contains many important and unique attractions, which need days to cover before moving on to other landmarks.

Including Westminster Palace, you can’t stop in front of the palace and say I saw it, let’s continue the road, there are many details and information, such as that it is also called the Houses of Parliament. It is a Victorian Gothic building. It includes the two houses that make up the British Parliament.

This palace was the royal residence in London, and was burned down in 1834. A small part of the old palace has been saved.

There were several projects put forward with ideas for the construction of the new palace, winning the project of architects Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin. In the year 1847. To be completed, the construction of 1,200 rooms, 11 courtyards. 3.5 km of trails.

While standing in front of the building, you can see the luxury, and the peaks and statues of kings are reflected in the river.

Such details and many more can not only be ignored, but every place fascinates and attracts you to learn more about it, such as, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, British Museum, National Gallery, St. James’ Park, Hyde Park, Tower of London, Imperial War Museum.

And many other archaeological and tourist attractions. Which makes this city in a state of constant activity and a lot of sightseeing tours here and there.

M trip to London short essay

There is always an unforgettable summer holiday, which is special and beloved to us that we will remember for many years, and perhaps it will remain engraved inside us for a lifetime.

What can I say, my family does not tend to travel a lot due to the constant and unstable working conditions. My father works hard to provide for the needs of the house, and my mother also works as a teacher in a school. Vacations never go together, and there is always a circumstance that requires my dad to return to work for it.

So it was amazing to book a flight to London this past summer vacation. Where my father took advantage of the opportunity to hire a new employee with him at work and took a vacation, and we all went on a short vacation for a week to London,

I was so surprised and excited to go, we boarded the plane after waiting 3 hours in the waiting room at the airport, I couldn’t believe I got on the plane and heard the sound of the engines.

I joked with my father and told him, “Dad, you can no longer cancel the trip, if someone asks for work, now officially we are going to London.”

We all laughed, and indeed we arrived in London and headed to the hotel. We changed our clothes and quickly embarrassed to walk around and see the streets, famous shops and shopping.

I liked a lot of products, and I saw many new fashion models of the year that have not been released yet in other markets.

It was amazing seeing  the famous London landmarks and wandering the gardens and bridges. It was a great trip and I am so glad I and my family were able to do it.

My visit to London essay

From my visit to London I learned a lot  about London and how it was in the ancient centuries and how London is now. I was able to see a lot through museums and exhibitions that display the ancient history of London, and I was able to learn from it the following.

The lands of London witnessed many wars, both from the Romans and others. The Roman occupation continued until the fifth century, followed by the continuous Viking attacks and wars, which continued until the year 886.

The city of Wessex was founded by King Alfred the Great, and witnessed a great prosperity in the economy and politics, despite that there were many conflicts with the Danes, until London was founded and the formation of the true picture of it, from economic and political orientations.

It sought to expand in the regions and establish many neighborhoods and regions to be contemporary with the bright, powerful and great London.

Essay about trip to London

Undoubtedly, I enjoyed a lot when I went on a trip to London a few years ago, before the spread of the Corona epidemic and the closure of travel, air and sea flights.

As soon as you board the plane and take off, you feel fear, happiness and great enthusiasm, waiting to reach the city you are heading to.

As soon as we arrive in London and reach The Ambersand Hotel and see the wonderful exterior design of it in gray and white with many windows overlooking the front, you feel that it is a palace and not a hotel.

After sitting a little and changing our clothes, we headed to the center of London and sat down to have tea and breakfast with my family, it was a very nice and elegant place.

After that we went for a little walk in Kensington Park, and I found the silence and quiet very wonderful in the morning, with seeing many famous monuments such as museums and many other amazing things .

In the following days, we went shopping and went to many museums and famous areas such as the London Eye, and we also went to see the London studio, and we were able to see a lot of scenes depicting, and some great actors.

It was a great experience and a beautiful trip. I was very pleased with my visit to London and I hope to return soon.

My First Visit to London Essay

The best day of my life was when I went on a trip to London for the first time with my friends. We had just graduated from high school and were about to start college. We were all so excited to be starting a new chapter in our lives and to see one of the most famous cities in the world.

We arrived in London on a Friday morning and checked into our hotel. We were all exhausted from the long flight, but we were also eager to explore the city. We decided to start with a walk around Buckingham Palace. We were amazed by the size of the palace and the beauty of the gardens.

After that, we went to see the Houses of Parliament. We listened to a tour guide explain the history of the building and the British government. We were also able to see Big Ben, which is one of the most iconic landmarks in London.

In the afternoon, we went to the Tower of London. We saw the Crown Jewels, which are some of the most valuable jewels in the world. We also learned about the history of the Tower, which was once used as a prison and a place of execution.

In the evening, we went to see a show in the West End. We saw a musical about the life of Queen Victoria. It was a spectacular show with amazing music and dancing.

We spent the rest of the weekend exploring other parts of London, such as the British Museum, the National Gallery, and Oxford Street. We had so much fun together and we made memories that we will cherish forever.

This trip was so special to me because it was a celebration of my success and the beginning of a new chapter in my life. It was also a chance to spend time with my friends and create memories that will last a lifetime.

I will never forget the day I went to London. It was the best day of my life.

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London as a Place for a Tourist Vacation Essay

Introduction, works cited.

Saying that London is one of the most beautiful cities in the world is saying nothing about it. I have been going to this city since I was two years old and there were some years when I visited it four or five times a year; despite this, I will never stop getting amazed by it every time I get there. London is the best place for me and my Kuwaiti friends to spend a vacation in because this city is full of sights and nice places to visit with its shops and department stores offering goods for any taste; apart from this, a vacation in London can help non-English speakers, such as the Kuwaitis, perfect and sophisticate their English.

To begin with, London offers its visitors a number of sights the beauty of which is sometimes impossible to describe. Its parks are absolutely amazing; they are so diversified that one visit to London will not suffice if a person wants to see at least a part of them. London has a number of parks which are absolutely amazing. I can state for sure that none of other cities in the world has so much green and open space. There is at least one park in every part of London; at this, it does not matter “if it’s just a small pool with surrounding trees or a park like the magnificent and slightly wild in appearance Richmond Park” (“London Parks”).

The most prominent, perhaps, is Hyde Park which all the visitors go to play tribute to Princess Diana. The park is 360 acres in size and one can rent a boat to paddle in the lake there. There are also St. James’ Park, Primrose Hill Park, Alexandra Park, Regents Park, Syon Park, and an incalculable number of other parks. Theme and adventure parks are also numerous. A visit to any of them will become the greatest fun day a person could ever have.

Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon are the most famous adventure parks in London, though the others are no less great. It is impossible to leave London without visiting Westminster Abbey, seeing Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, and having dinner in Covent Garden (Porter’s English Restaurant would be the best choice) (Moore and Porter 243).

London’s ancient buildings strike the visitors with their mysteriousness and one cannot stop wondering what hides between those old walls and columns created by famous architects and visited by no less famous people. So, visiting London is the best way to spend a vacation because after leaving the hotel one gets into a real fairy-tale where the sights whizz by and the memories about them remain in the mind forever.

Moreover, London is known as a city of shopping this is why doing shopping there is one of the duties each of the visitors is expected to fulfill. Shopping becomes a special entertainment in case the weather is not suitable for sightseeing. I for one adore London weather, though most of the visitors find it rather gloomy. I adore London for its rains for they are a rare occurrence in Kuwait where the weather is sunny hot.

Shopping is the best way to have fun during rainy days in London. The main shopping areas “center around Oxford Street and Regent Street, while Knightsbridge is home to stores stocking even more upmarket goods” (“London Shopping”). Major international and British brands can be found at these shops, but the visitors who look for specialist items will find them in Covent Garden. New Bond Street is for those who search for exclusive shops, while Hatton Garden is the best place to buy jewelry and watches.

Those who are interested in music, especially in rare cuts, will feel like in a dream in Soho where a great number of independent music shops offer the music items of all the possible genres. Therefore, the rainy weather of London is perfect for those who cannot imagine their lives without shopping and who are interested in goods which cannot be found anywhere but in London.

Finally, London is a great place to visit for Kuwaitis in particular because they can meet their nationals there and perfect their English speaking skills. Most of the Kuwaitis speak English well enough, but being in the natural environment will make their English absolutely great. British English is nothing like American English; it is like a song where all the words acquire special meanings. London natives sound so beautiful that all the visitors, regardless of their native language, get British accent because it is impossible not to wish resembling this mysterious language. London is full of people of different nationalities; the Kuwaitis are also numerous there this is why my friends will find London even more attractive and friendly.

Though the population of London is extremely diverse, most of people speak namely English there. This is the best place to improve spoken English because nothing except the communication with a native speaker can make your language richer. The communicative skills get improved after spending several days in London and the excitement, which speaking to the natives (who are, by the way, unbelievably sociable and polite) brings, stays with the visitors for a long time.

What is even more important is that learning English in such a way is entertaining rather than difficult or boring like some of the classes may be. Natural environment allows imitating not only language, accent, and even slang of the native people, but even some of their gestures and facial expressions. This makes the process of learning entertaining and favors the acquisition of knowledge. Thus, a vacation in London is especially useful for the Kuwaitis because English speaking environment can help them make their English even better.

In conclusion, London is indeed the best place for a vacation, especially for people whose native language is not English, such as the Kuwaitis. Ordinary, theme, and amusement parks of London will bring joy to all the visitors; they strike with their beauty and variety offering a number of ways to have fun. Shopping in London will satisfy the needs of even the most exigent shoppers. London shops and department stores not only ensure the visitors with an access to a wide range of goods, but open their doors for the buyers who look for something exclusive and provocatively expensive.

Lastly, a visit to London is extremely useful for the non-English speakers who can improve their English speaking skills, perfect their English, and adopt the beautiful accent of the true English language. I really doubt that there is at least one person who will find a vacation in London boring because it is the best place to have fun and to learn simultaneously.

Moore, Jennifer and Porter, Darwin. Frommer’s Europe. New York: John Willey and Sons, 2006.

“London Shopping.” London Guide. 2008. Talking Cities. Web.

“London Parks.” Life in London. 2009. London for Fun. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 30). London as a Place for a Tourist Vacation. https://ivypanda.com/essays/london-as-a-place-for-a-tourist-vacation/

"London as a Place for a Tourist Vacation." IvyPanda , 30 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/london-as-a-place-for-a-tourist-vacation/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'London as a Place for a Tourist Vacation'. 30 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "London as a Place for a Tourist Vacation." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/london-as-a-place-for-a-tourist-vacation/.

1. IvyPanda . "London as a Place for a Tourist Vacation." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/london-as-a-place-for-a-tourist-vacation/.

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IvyPanda . "London as a Place for a Tourist Vacation." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/london-as-a-place-for-a-tourist-vacation/.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — My Favorite Place — Why London Is My Favorite City

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essay in london

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Essay on London Trip

Students are often asked to write an essay on London Trip in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on London Trip

Planning a london trip.

When you decide to visit London, making a plan is key. Choose the places you really want to see. London has famous spots like the Big Ben and the London Eye. Pick a time when the weather is nice, usually in the spring or summer.

Traveling in London

Getting around London is easy with buses and the underground trains, called the Tube. Buy a travel card to save money. The Tube map will help you find your way.

Must-See Attractions

Don’t miss the Tower of London and the crown jewels. See the guards at Buckingham Palace. Museums are free, so you can learn a lot without spending money.

Food and Fun

Try fish and chips, a classic London meal. Parks like Hyde Park are great for picnics. At night, the city lights up, and you can watch a play in the famous theater district.

Shopping and Souvenirs

Visit shops at Oxford Street for gifts. You can buy toy buses or a model of the Big Ben. Remember to take lots of pictures to show your friends.

250 Words Essay on London Trip

Planning a trip to london.

When you decide to visit London, the first thing to do is to choose the places you want to see. London has many famous buildings, parks, and museums. You can make a list of the top spots like the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and the British Museum. It’s a good idea to look at a map and see where these places are. This way, you can visit several places that are close to each other on the same day.

Getting around in London is easy because of the buses and trains. The underground trains, called the Tube, are fast and run to many parts of the city. You can get a special card called an Oyster card to pay for your rides. It’s cheaper and more convenient than buying a ticket each time.

Seeing the Sights

When you’re in London, you’ll see lots of old and beautiful buildings. The Tower of London is a castle with a long history, and you can learn about the kings and queens of England there. For a great view, you can go on the London Eye, which is a big wheel that lets you see the whole city from the sky.

Fun Activities

London has fun things for everyone. If you like animals, you can visit the London Zoo. For those who love stories, there are plays in the theater district, called the West End. You can also eat different kinds of food from all over the world in London’s restaurants.

A trip to London is exciting and full of adventures. Remember to take pictures and enjoy every moment of your visit!

500 Words Essay on London Trip

When you think about traveling to a new place, it’s like getting ready for an adventure. London, a big city in England, is one of those exciting places to visit. Before you go, it’s a good idea to make a plan. You can look at a map and decide which places you want to see. There are so many things to do in London that you might want to make a list. This list could include famous buildings, parks, and museums.

Famous Places in London

London is known for its amazing sights. One of the most famous is the Big Ben clock tower. Even though it’s being fixed right now, you can still see how big and important it looks. Another must-see is the London Eye, a giant wheel that lets you see the city from high up in the sky. If you like history, the Tower of London is a place where you can learn about the kings and queens from long ago.

Museums and Parks

If you enjoy looking at old things and learning, London has some of the best museums. The best part is that many of them are free. The British Museum has treasures from all over the world, and the Science Museum makes learning about how things work fun. After visiting museums, you might want to relax in one of London’s parks. Hyde Park is a big green space where you can walk, play, or just sit and watch the ducks in the pond.

Seeing a Show

London is also famous for its plays and musicals. In a place called the West End, there are theaters that have shows every night. You can watch a story unfold on stage, with actors wearing colorful costumes and singing songs. It’s an experience that you’ll remember for a long time.

Food and Shopping

Trying new food is part of the fun when you’re traveling. In London, you can find food from all over the world. Fish and chips are a classic British meal you might want to try. Shopping in London can be an adventure too. You can visit big stores like Harrods or explore outdoor markets where you can find all sorts of interesting things.

Traveling Around the City

Getting around London is easy because of the Underground, also known as the Tube. It’s a train that goes under the city. There are maps in every station to help you find your way. Riding on the famous red double-decker buses is another fun way to see the city.

A trip to London is like opening a book with lots of different stories. There’s something for everyone, whether you like history, art, nature, or just having fun. By the end of your trip, you’ll have your own stories to tell about the wonderful time you had in London. Remember to take lots of pictures so you can show your friends and family all the amazing things you saw and did on your London trip!

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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What to Include into a Descriptive Essay about London

descriptive essay about london

You should probably start with the basic information about the city – the fact that it is a capital of Great Britain, its approximate population, geographical position and so on – however trivial it all may seem to be, your descriptive essay should be complete, so don’t omit any facts just because you think they are not all that interesting.

Then you should probably mention some landmarks of the city’s history – in fact, a descriptive essay doesn’t necessarily presuppose reciting the place’s past, but in case of London it would be really hard to describe it in its modern condition without paying due attention to what made it the way it is now. You’d want to mention that it dates back almost two thousand years and was founded as Londinium during the Roman rule. Other notable episodes of the city’s history are also worth mentioning, for example, the Great Fire and the Great Plague. However, don’t focus on them too much – after all, your main interest lies with the city in its modern state.

There is, however, a lot to be said about it as well. You will gain greater success if you specialize a little bit, because it is really hard to encompass all the factors in one little essay. For example, you may pay special attention to the ethnic composition of current London population and the size of different religious and cultural groups present there. Or you may follow a well-trodden path and elaborate upon famous historical buildings and places of interest, such as the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and others.

In addition, it is useful to keep in mind that it would be a futile attempt to cram all the information you have on London into one essay. It is hard even with simpler subjects, and in case of such a well-known and ancient city it would be utterly impossible.

Paper title: Descriptive Essay: “Visiting California”

Academic level: High school

Discipline: Geography

Paper Format: MLA

Paper title: Descriptive Essay: “Cultural Life and Traditions of Scotland”

Discipline: Culture

Paper Format: APA

Paper title: Descriptive Essay: “London”

Academic level: College (1-2)

Discipline: English -101

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May 13, 2024

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Print or web publication, london without its landmarks.

A mournful silence in the Stage City

Lex McKee (Flickr/lex-photographic)

Jan Morris, the Welsh historian and travel writer who died last month at 94, once opened an essay about London with a description of the flight path by which her plane arrived in the city. The essay, titled “The Stage-City,” originally published in 1978 in Rolling Stone , appeared later in Destinations , a collection of her travel essays. After passing over “a drab sprawling mass of housing estates, terraces and industrial plants,” Morris comes to the River Thames, and familiar landmarks begin to appear: “The Tower of London squats brownish at the water’s edge. Buckingham Palace reclines in its great green garden. The Houses of Parliament, of all famous buildings the most toylike and intricate, stand like an instructional model beside Westminster Bridge.”

If Morris were an ordinary writer, I might have said that starting a travel essay in this manner, with an enumeration of the destination’s most familiar landmarks, would be a tired and obvious gambit. But Morris wasn’t an ordinary writer—who else could have described the Tower of London as squatting brownish?—and, more important, the familiarity of these landmarks was precisely the point. These places are, as Morris says, “part of the whole world’s consciousness […] reflecting the experience of half mankind.”

Not long ago, I made my own descent into London. I was moving away from the East Coast for the first time, having graduated from college months earlier in a stumbling, well-intentioned Zoom ceremony. Now I was flying to England to start graduate school. I didn’t know when I would return. As our plane tilted leftward and we began to wing down toward the city, I raised my window shade, allowing a slant of afternoon light to come streaming into the cabin. I wanted to know if our plane would follow the same path as Morris’s, over all the landmarks I knew by heart. But the world outside the window was shrouded in a dense fog; I could scarcely see the wing of the plane. Imagining myself somehow cheated—why should Morris get a glorious arrival, and not I?—I lowered the shade and closed my eyes until we touched down, feeling that I might have been arriving in any city in the world, as if this were not a new place but a non-place, a gray and numbing repetition of everywhere else.

I started reading Destinations in April, as I finished my senior year from my parents’ house in Maine. I felt cooped up, stunted, and I hoped that the essays might bring me some vicarious sense of escape. I’d been struggling with depression for a few months. For me, depression often seems to drown everything in uniformity, as if every place and every day were the same as the last; when life first went into lockdown, it was suddenly as if the outside world matched my interior one. Of course, this wasn’t actually true. I had much to be thankful for: my family was healthy and secure, unlike so many others in the pandemic. Nor, speaking objectively, could that time be described as uneventful, between the daily devastation being wrought by the virus, and the injustices of a brutal and racist policing system. But for me, in those early, dazed weeks of April lockdown, the days truly felt indistinguishable. Photographs from cities around the world showed the same empty streets that I saw out my window. Interactions took on a generic quality. What else was there to talk about but the virus? And what could anyone possibly say about it that we hadn’t heard already? Perhaps worst, in the midst of so much to be mourned and fretted over, I found myself unable to feel much of anything at all.

Morris’s essays became my consolation in the crushing sameness of those days. I read and reread them. Like all good travel writing, hers is a celebration of difference, a masterly display of differentiation—viewed through Morris’s eyes, no place or time is like any other. Her essays take on far-flung places at distinct moments: Panama in the midst of discussions over the U.S. treaty in 1975; Delhi under the rule of Indira Gandhi; Cairo during the Israeli-Egyptian peace negotiations. Though Morris always seems to visit a place at a dramatic moment in its history, her writing is hardly journalistic. She’s there to capture a particular atmosphere, a feeling in the air, an energy in the eyes of the people on the street.

Morris judges the places she visits with an almost self-parodying degree of authority, as if only she could sum up the true spirit of a city or country with a few brash, broad strokes. The resulting assessments are never predictable, and are always entertaining. Consider her view of Los Angeles in 1976, not as a haven for smug sophisticates or vapid elites, but as “a city of hard workers.” It reminds her of “the guild spirit of some medieval town, where the workers in iron or lace, the clockmakers and the armorers, competed to give their city the glory of their trades.” She is often at her best when casting a critical eye, as she does when arriving in Istanbul:

For Istanbul does possess, as you can feel from the deck of your ship, the arrogance of the very old: like the rudeness of an aged actor whose prime was long ago, whose powers have failed him but who struts about still in cloak and carnationed buttonhole, snubbing his superiors. … It is only when you get closer that you realize the illusion of it, just as you observe, if he leans too close to you on the sofa, the creases of despair around the actor’s mouth.

I read these words and felt, for a brief moment, filled with hope about the possibilities of different places, of life going on and on around the world. I began to think that if I could get away from where I was, I might shake off the November of the soul that had come over me.

I exited Heathrow into a drizzling London afternoon and was promptly almost hit by a bus. I’d forgotten that when crossing the street in England, I’d need to look right rather than left. I briefly toyed with a fantasy of acting like a true tourist, taking a taxi directly to Buckingham Palace or the Tower of London and seeing what I could of them from the outside. I was brought back to reality by an enormous banner hanging over the airport sidewalk. It read: ALL TRAVELLERS FROM THE UNITED STATES REQUIRED TO SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS.

A friend of mine was letting me stay in his London apartment for my isolation period, after which I’d be allowed to move into university housing in Cambridge, about an hour’s train ride from the city. He was out of town, but he’d left his pantry and fridge stocked with food so I wouldn’t need to go to a grocery store. The apartment was a single tiny room on the fourth floor of a brick building in Hoxton. The windows looked out onto an empty parking lot. I didn’t leave for two weeks.

I cooked lavish meals for myself and tried to eat them slowly; I tuned in to an online yoga class, twice; mostly I slept. I often thought about Morris’s version of London. She called it “The Stage-City” not because of its theaters, but because she felt it was engaged in a constant performance of its own spirit. In her eyes, London itself was a stage:

The histrionic art is the London art par excellence—the ability to dazzle, mimic, deceive or stir. Look now, as you step from the restaurant after dinner, across the blackness of St. James toward Westminster. There is the floodlit Abbey, that recondite temple of Englishness; and there is the cluster of the Whitehall pinnacles […] and riding above it all, high over the clockface of Big Ben in the Palace of Westminster, high in the night sky, a still small light, all alone, burns steadily above the city. It is the light that announces the House of Commons, the mother of all parliaments, to be in session below. There’s theater for you! There’s showmanship!

I had no illusions, of course, that the reality of the place would ever be as stirring or romantic as Morris made it out to be. But it didn’t matter. Alone in that apartment, I felt as if I had missed the closing of the theater doors, and was trapped in an empty lobby, straining to hear a snatch of the performance. On days when it wasn’t raining, I opened the window in the hopes of hearing other people’s voices, a morsel of London conversation. But the only sound was that of the cars driving by, hidden from view.

Finally, my quarantine came to an end. My classes were starting the following day, so I was leaving London without having had the chance to see it at all. I woke early and called a car to take me and my embarrassing amount of luggage to the train station, then came out from the apartment blinking in the glare of a bright October morning. When the car came, I asked the driver if he had any recommendations for things to do in London, already planning for when I would make the trip back down to see it properly.

“All the things you’re supposed to see are overrated,” he told me. “Don’t do those. Just wander and see it that way. You’ll enjoy that.” I nodded, disappointed.

When we’d been on the road for a few minutes, the driver pulled over. He was, he informed me apologetically, diabetic. He needed to stop and buy a snack. Once I’d assured him that this was okay, he rolled the windows down and disappeared into a grocery store. I sat watching the people hurrying by on the busy sidewalk, most of them masked, their eyes blank. It occurred to me that people-watching isn’t nearly as riveting when you can’t see people’s faces; not even Morris, I thought, would be able to find the words to salvage this scene from such bleak uniformity. Beyond the sidewalk, through an iron-grilled fence, I could see children running around in a playground attached to a church.

After a few minutes, I became aware of a change in the frantic energies of the playground. The children had hushed and withdrawn to the laps of their parents on the park benches. All seemed to be waiting. Through the gaps in the fence I saw a woman pointing something out to her child, though what it was exactly was obscured from view. I got out of the car and walked over.

A line of small boys, clad in black robes and top hats, was emerging from the church into the playground. Each wore a dark silk mask and clutched a binder at his side. They carried such a solemn air about them that at first I thought they were a group of very small adults. There were around 20 of them, the youngest only eight or nine, the oldest probably 14. They arranged themselves neatly into a two-ringed circle, six feet apart. Then they removed their masks, and it became clear to me—as I’m sure it was already to everyone else—that they were going to sing.

I prepared myself to hear a hymn, something stern and Anglican, possibly in Latin. I was wrong. The song began with a solo from a young soprano, a red-faced boy, singing a piercing and desolate and seemingly wordless melody. After a few measures, more voices joined in, and then the rest, the melodies folding back on themselves and repeating. It didn’t sound like church music. It was modern, atonal, with an aching dissonance that never resolved itself. The language sounded vaguely Swedish. At the center of the group stood a conductor who seemed hardly older than I. He spun in a slow circle, giving attention to each section of the singers. They sang quietly, and not perfectly, but with such forceful and earnest sadness that I wondered what it was these boys might be mourning, and then, at a loss for any answer, found myself mourning along with them. I didn’t feel hope—I felt grief. But it was a shared grief.

The song ended as abruptly as it had started, and the onlookers clapped quietly while the choir filed back into the church. The driver was leaning against the fence beside me, wearing an expression of wonder and sadness.

“Don’t see that every day, do you?” he said quietly, passing me a sleeve of cookies.

“You’re right,” I said. “I don’t.”

For more tributes to Jan Morris, see “ Kindness, Always Kindness ” by Bruce Falconer and “ Experience Everything ” by Simon Winchester.

Charlie Lee  is an assistant editor of Harper’s Magazine . He lives in Brooklyn, NY.

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Essay writing examples

Sample essay on my visit to London city

London is the most beautiful and historical city in United Kingdom. I have always been obsessed with London since I was just a teenager. I used to imagine walking down to its streets to witness the architectural and historical beauty of this city. It has a quite rich British culture which it has kept preserved for so many years. I felt the need to explore it but didn’t know from where I should start. So, I shortlisted a few places out of all of its amazing and historical places because of the exceptional aspects they have.

Museum of London

I started from ‘Museum of London’ about which I knew a little before as well. I had an idea that it is a charitable institution which is funded by a lot of organizations. But after visiting it, I came to know what stunning and architectural masterpiece it actually is. It holds a huge history of British culture. It will show you off London in different ages and time eras, from the prehistory time to today modern times with its legendary exhibitions. It has a collection of up to 1 million objects to show to the world. If you really want to know more about the history of London, the Museum of London is a must visit for you.

London Museum

After that, I visited “Big Ben”, the longest tower of London which has a height of 320 feet. It has been the palace of Westminster previously. It has four clocks which are facing each other across 23 feet. It is undoubtedly a distinct central point of parliament which looks even more exuberant when the sunlight turns its structure into golden relief. It is basically famous for its massive bell which weighs more than 13 tonnes. There are different theories present based on its name and history. However, it was renamed as Elizabeth tower on June 2012 in remembrance and honor of Queen Elizabeth.

essay in london

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge in London is another stunning place which was first opened in 1894. People around the world know it for its Gothic style and pale blue lines. If you are lucky enough, when you visit this place, the bridge will be open for the ship to pass. That moment, you can have a look at its advanced mechanics and architecture. Tower bridge exhibitions are usually arranged to display films and photos to explain how it was built. It is said that it took eight years of efforts by major contractors and labors to build the tower bridge. Two massive pillars got sunk into the river in order to support the construction. And over 11,000 tons of steel was used to prepare its walkways. The use of rare Portland stones was to give it a more unique and exuberant appearance.

London Bridge

Brunel Museum

The next day I decided to pay a visit to another historical place which was the Brunel Museum. It has more Brunel family projects than any other country in this world. River Thames has also been one of its latest projects. If you personally pay a visit to it, you would know why it took 18 years and costs of many lives to get built. You can also get into its shaft to see how it served the tunnel. Its history is a really fascinating part of its whole construction which tells about the conditions in which the workers worked to construct it more than 185 years ago. It consists of a gift shop from where you can buy books regarding its history and enjoy reading it while sitting in a café. The café serves delicious afternoon tea, light bites, and a lot of English and Turkish food.

If you are a shopaholic and want to get the best of the best things which are nowhere else to be found, go to Topshop flagship store. It was founded in 1964 and since then it has been a fashion brand for the youth. Its first independent shop was, however, opened in 1970. After which, a brand for men also came into existence named as “Topman”. It is more like a small city which consists of everything from shopping outlets, wig-fitting, and tattooing to ‘print your own pattern facilities. I can bet that there is nothing which you won’t be able to find from here. So start roaming around its basement all the way up to the accessories, where you can also get cold juices and cupcakes to get the fuel for your well-spent day.

Greenwich Market

Since I am too much into arts & crafts, my next stop was Greenwich Market. It has a strong association with the royal time period. It was a birthplace for Henry, Mary, and Elizabeth. Today, it gives preference to the traders who want to manufacture their own products. You will find all of the new and fresh products there. You can’t think about buying something a week later or so because the manufacturers keep refreshing their collections and stalls. On weekends, there are a huge number of arts & crafts, and food stalls. I also found different food styles there which included Spanish, Mexican, Ethiopian, and so many more. I also got a chance to eat chocolate smothered fruits and freshly baked cakes. They were so delicious that whenever I talk about them, they make my mouth water again.

essay in london

Theme Parks

There are also different theme parks in London which offer great entertainment through its thrilling rides and wild animals, be it real or mystical. At London Dungeon, you can take a scary yet wonderful 90-minute ride which takes you 1000 years back in the history of London. There are also other interactive plays going on in which different theater actors can surely cause an impact on you with their mind-blowing performances.

london ride

Since I had a fun and entertaining time in exploring the historical and cultural places of London, I want everyone who goes there makes sure to explore it the best way they can. There are more than these mentioned places which would give you numerous chances to start off with a thrilling journey of London’s History.

Above example essay could be really useful for the preparations of college exams and English testing exams like IELTS and TOEFL.

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Posted on Published: 30th August 2023  - Last updated: 13th February 2024 Categories London Travel Tips

By: Author Julianna Barnaby

One Day in London: The Best Way to See London in a Day

One Day in London: The Best Way to See London in a Day

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Planning to spend one day in London and not sure where to start? Don’t worry – it’s a tough task but we have you covered with this step-by-step itinerary – everything you need to know to tackle London in a day.

We’re going to start this guide by being brutally honest with you here – seeing London in a day is no easy feat.

This crazy city that we are proud to call home can be overwhelming – 8 million people call it their home also and 20 million people visit annually. It’s busy, large and can be a bit confusing if you’re visiting for the first time. Our London bucket list alone is enough to keep you entertained for about a year.

That all sounds like a lot to deal with – and it would be… if it were not for a little secret.

You can tackle a day in London, seeing many of the city’s biggest sights without breaking a sweat… if you just know how.

Sure, you could run around in a blind panic, trying to see everything in different parts of the city, visiting all the museums, stuffing in as much as possible.

But (there’s always a but).

We can guarantee that you would come away from the whole experience a) exhausted b) with only the vaguest idea about any of the places that you’d encountered in your whirlwind tour of the city. That’s the silly way.

The smart way is to focus on a relatively small area of central London with the biggest concentration of sights, all in walkable distance of each other and taking the time to enjoy them all. That’s what this one day in London guide does.

What’s more? If you want to take things at an even slower pace, simply cut out a thing or two. Simple.

One Day in London Itinerary

Wondering what you can do in London if you only have one day? This cool itinerary takes you to the city’s highlights.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Alright, alright – we know you want to feast your eyes on Buckingham Palace and who are we to deny you? The monarchy’s official London residence is a pretty good place to start your London one-day trip.

The imposing Georgian palace isn’t the fanciest building in London, but even we’ll admit that it is pretty impressive – in no small part thanks to its gargantuan size.

The palace is monstrously large: it contains no fewer than 775 rooms, counting 52 bedrooms (and an additional 188 bedrooms for staff… because the Royal Family are so extra about everything).

You can’t actually go inside for most of the year, but they do open the State Rooms for 10 weeks in the summer and a couple of other dates throughout the year to enable you to witness the truly OTT (dare we say it… garish) decor – including the thrones – up, close and personal.

Buckingham Palace is also one of the main locations for seeing the rather cool Changing of the Guard – a formal procession marking the changing of the Royal Guard.

It’s brilliant – the guards are accompanied by a full brass band and it’s rather cool watching a tradition that has been going for centuries. The Changing of the Guard takes place daily at 10.45am during the summer months, and on alternate days for the rest of the year.

Book tickets to see the state rooms

Read More: The Changing of the Guard: What You Need to Know Before You Go

St James’s Park

St James Park

St James’s Park is a hop, skip and a jump away from Buckingham Palace and our favourite of the Royal Parks.

St James’s Park is the prettiest park in central London – with a large lake, willow-lined banks and gorgeous flower beds that somehow always seem to be in bloom all year round. It’s the kind of park that is just made for leisurely picnics and chitchats, all in the shadow of the royal palace across the road.

You can take some time out here if the weather is nice, otherwise we’d say just stroll through – towards Westminster, the political heart of the city.

Top Tip: If you stand at the top of the park with your back to Buckingham Palace (the cheek!), you can see the whole of the park, framed by a few landmarks in Westminster and the South Bank (including the London Eye) – one of our favourite views in central London.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

World Heritage Site Westminster Abbey is one of the most striking churches in London (the other is St Paul’s Cathedral, which unfortunately we’re not going to have time to visit today).

What do you get when you combine Gothic architecture with centuries of history? Answer = one hell of an impressive building.

Interestingly, Westminster Abbey is not a cathedral as is often thought. It’s a “Royal Peculiar” meaning that it’s directly responsible to the monarchy – that explains why it’s so closely connected with royal events.

You know all the Royal weddings you watch on TV (if you bother to watch, we don’t) – most of them happen here. Same for all coronations and many state funerals.

Westminster Abbey isn’t all about the royals though. It doubles up as the burial site of some of the UK’s most important historical and literary figures, including Charles Dickens, Stephen Hawking, and William Wilberforce.

There’s even a section called Poet’s Corner that… kind of does exactly what it says on the tin, except quite a few novelists are buried there too

Buy Tickets for Westminster Abbey (Complete with Audio Guide)

The Houses of Parliament + Big Ben

Palace of Westminster

You barely have to stretch your legs to get to the next spot on our 1 day London sightseeing itinerary – none other than The Houses of Parliament (to which the clock tower Big Ben is attached).

If you had more time in London, we’d suggest visiting inside Parliament – either on a guided tour , or just to the public galleries to watch a debate in process (one of our favourite free things to do in London ) but time is, sadly, of the essence, so we’ll have to move you along to our next destination.

The London Eye

London Eye

We have a real soft spot for The London Eye for many reasons. First of all, we remember the pomp and circumstance surrounding its opening in the year 2000 – back in those long lost days when it was called the Millennium Wheel.

Secondly, one of our team worked there for several of their college and uni holidays, meaning they’ve ridden, stared at, talked about and directed people to the damned thing enough times to have it ingrained in their mind.

Do we recommend that you go on it? Yes! It should go straight (and we mean straight) to the top of your list of best things to do in London for a day. Don’t even think about skipping it.

The London Eye is not the cheapest London sightseeing spot but on a clear day, the views that you get from it are beautiful – you can even see as far as Windsor Castle 25 miles away.

The wheel rotates super-slowly, so you have plenty of time to take in the ever-changing views (and a lot of photos we’re sure) during your 30 minute ride.

Book tickets for The London Eye here

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square

Time to cross back over the River Thames via Golden Jubilee Bridge to head to another of London’s biggest landmarks – Trafalgar Square. Every city has its main square and Trafalgar Square just so happens to be London’s.

Personally, we think the square itself is a bit overrated – the hodgepodge of architectural styles and random statues dotted all over the place are charming enough but not crazy beautiful. Do we still think it’s worth visiting? Totally.

Swing by the famous lion statues (here’s a fun fact – the sculptor Edward Landseer had never seen a lion when he was commissioned to make the statues so he had to wait for a lion at London Zoo to pass away so he could use it as a model for the statues) and take a peek at the famous statues -not forgetting Nelson’s Column in the middle of the square.

Keep your eyes open and you’ll even see an old Tardis-style building that used to double up as a police watchpoint and holding station – leading it to be dubbed as Britain’s smallest police station.

Now it’s crunch time people.

Trafalgar Square is flanked by the National Gallery and, next to that, The National Portrait Gallery.

If you’re into art our suggestion would be that you spend the rest of the afternoon exploring at least one of them and then pick up at the West End Show / Theatre Point .

The National Gallery contains over 2,300 works dating from the 13th century to 1900 – with a broad range pieces of leading artists including Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Leonardo da Vinci’s The Virgin on the Rocks.

The National Portrait Gallery is smaller but no less mighty – with a collection of 215,000 works to discover. Entrance to both museums is free.

If you have decided to skip the museums (there’s always a next time right?) then it’s time to march on with the London one-day tour.

Read More: Insider’s London: Trafalgar Square

Spend Some Time in Covent Garden

Covent Garden

Covent Garden Market tops many a list of what to do in London for a day. Sitting at the heart of theatreland, it’s a lively part of the city, with lots of cool bars , pubs and restaurants and things to do.

You should visit the famous Apple Market. It’s a beautiful covered market – but we wouldn’t bother to go shopping here: most of the independent shops are long gone, replaced with many of the same brands you’ll find all over the world. Yawn.

Much more charming is the pretty little Cecil Court – a 17th century alley lined with bookshops that’s rumoured to have inspired Diagon Alley in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books.  

See if you can find quirky Neal’s Yard – accessed via two small passages that open up into a cool courtyard filled with brightly coloured buildings that bring some sunshine to even the greyest London day. It’s a refreshing haven of independent businesses – shops, restaurants and bars, in an area that’s increasingly dominated by large brands.

After that, if you still have time, walk over to Somerset House – a former Thameside royal palace that is now one of London’s leading cultural and arts venues. It’s free to enter and the striking courtyard is one of my favourite places to chill with a nice coffee in central London.

Read More: The Covent Garden Area Guide

West End Show (Or a Play at the National Theatre)

National Theatre

We maaaay be prejudiced, but we’ll come out and say it. London has one of the most exciting theatrical scenes in the world and you absolutely should book a ticket to see a play or a West End show while you are in town.

Personally, we favour plays over musicals but go and see whatever catches your eye – this is your one day in London and you want to make it count.

There’s a whole other post we’ve written about London’s numerous theatres and what they’re showing so you should go and check that out.

In the meantime, you can always have a browse on Ticketmaster for tickets to most of the big shows (including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I and II – still one of the hottest shows in town) at the West End Theatres.

Your other option is to pick an “Off West End” play – basically a play or show taking place at a venue that isn’t in the tiny London area defined as the West End. That covers a hell of a lot of brilliant venues including The National Theatre and The Young Vic , two of our favourite theatres in London.

The National Theatre is probably the easiest to fit into this London one-day trip as it’s only a short walk away from Covent Garden (albeit on the other side of the river), though the Young Vic is only about another 15 minutes further). The National also stands out for having not one but three theatres inside – meaning you can take your pick of which play to see.

Whichever way you swing it, a trip to the theatre has the benefit of a) making you cultured AF b) immersing you into the full London experience during your 1 day in London.

Drinks and Dinner in Soho

Bob Bob Ricard

That’s it! Your hard work is done (we wouldn’t blame you if you took the time right now to give yourself a congratulatory pat on the back, we certainly are) – all that’s left for you to do is to have a few drinks and dinner in buzzy Soho. Let’s face it, drinks and dinner are a breeze compared to the rest of your epic day in London.

Soho is bursting with options when it comes to places to drink and places to eat (don’t believe me? We suggest you check out our Soho bar guide , where we painstakingly rated and reviewed all of the best bars in the area – the things we do for this blog).

Ultimately where you end up depends on what you are looking for. If you’re up for a blow-out night, we would recommend drinks at Disrepute or Swift Bar followed by a meal at Bob Bob Ricard – you know, the one with the press for champagne booths and to die for food.

Alternatively, Yauatcha is the hottest place in town for delicious dim sum (yeah, we know you traditionally eat it for lunch but we are renegades and we don’t play by those kinda rules).

Read More: Cool Things to Do in Soho

Disrepute Soho

If you want something a little more budget friendly, then Bodega Negra serves banging Mexican food (and some killer cocktails), Flat Iron dishes up perfectly-cooked steaks and Pizza Pilgrims hawt and freshly-made pizzas – all at reasonable prices (well, by London standards anyway).

After that, if you still have a little life in you, Soho is also home to one of London’s best jazz clubs – Ronnie Scotts (oh and endless clubs if you really want to go large or go home – these days we personally go home).

Just like that, you’re done – we hope you’ve enjoyed your day in London. Time to retire to bed to get some beauty sleep.

If You Have More Time… A Few Other Places You May Want to Consider Adding to your London Trip

  • The Tower of London
  • Tower Bridge
  • Museum Mile in South Kensington with the Science Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum and Natural History Museum (you can check out my Kensington guide here)
  • Borough Market
  • The Tate Modern and/or the Tate Britain
  • The British Museum

One Day in London: Where to Stay

If you only have one day in London and you want to know where to stay – our advice is to stay centrally. That means Covent Garden, Westminster or Soho if possible.

Yes, the prices are high but it means that you are able to walk to all of the places on the itinerary and base yourself in the heart of the action so no time is wasted during your short trip.

Covent Garden

The Henrietta London - Best Hotels in London - the full London Travel Guide. Affordable Hotels I Luxury Hotels I Quirky Hotels #luxury #london #traveldestinations

Our favourite hotel in Covent Garden is the absolutely gorgeous The Henrietta , mere metres from the Apple Market. The decor is beautiful, service is slick and you’re located right in the centre of London.

Check rates and availability on Booking.com or compare rates on Tripadvisor

Ham Yard Hotel - Best Hotels in London - the full London Travel Guide. Affordable Hotels I Luxury Hotels I Quirky Hotels #luxury #london #traveldestinations

Gone are the days when Soho used to be the seedy heart of central London. These days its all chic bars and stylish restaurants – with a few chic hotels thrown into the ring for good measure.

If you love boutique hotels with personality and bags of style, plump for Ham Yard Hotel – which offers arty rooms, its own bowling alley, spa and rooftop terrace in the midst of Soho.  

Westminster

Westminster has the bonus of being a bit quieter than the West End locations, though, as a rule, the prices are just as high (and sometimes higher).

You have a real pick of hotels to choose from here – The Conrad London St James is a great high-end option favoured by many a politician, while The Nadler is a stylish but reasonably priced option nearer to Victoria.

Check rates and availability for the Conrad London St James on Booking.com or compare rates on Tripadvisor

Check rates and availability for The Nadler Victoria on Booking.com or compare rates on Tripadvisor

Read More: The Best Areas to Stay in London

King’s Cross

King’s Cross has the bonus of being a bit less expensive than staying in the other areas in our guide while still not being too far away from the action. Given that the area is a bit of a transport hub, you’ll have plenty of options for getting around the city, as well as out of it when it comes time to leave. 

You’ll also be about a 30-40 minute walk away from the locations in our one day in London guide should you want to stretch your legs. 

For a bit of an up-market stay, choose The Standard . This plush (and highly trendy) hotel boasts stylish rooms that put the C in comfort. Then, on the top deck, you’ll find Decimo, a high-end Spanish restaurant with 360-degree views of London and some rather excellent food. 

For something a little more budget-friendly, try out The Alhambra . This hotel offers double rooms for around £127 per night and doesn’t sacrifice on the things that you’d want from your stay. Rooms come with all the regular amenities, clean linen, towels, TVs and free Wi-Fi and en suite bathrooms. 

The only issue might be that the rooms aren’t so big – but that doesn’t matter too much when you’ve got such an action-packed day on your hands. 

Check Rates and availability for The Standard on Booking.com or compare rates on Tripadvisor Check Rates and availability for The Alhambra on Booking.com or compare rates on Tripadvisor

Read More: The Best Airbnbs in King’s Cross

How to Visit London in One Day: Practical Tips to Help You Plan a Day in London

Best way to see london in a day.

The best way to see London in a day is to put on some comfortable walking shoes and follow this one day itinerary. If you’re unable to walk long distances, you may want to consider the hop on hop off Big Bus Tour .

What to Pack

Pack comfortable walking shoes and an umbrella.

You cover a lot of ground on this itinerary and the last thing you need is to be wearing shoes that look great but cut your feet to ribbons the moment you move. Repeat the mantra. Comfort is king. Comfort is king.

As for the umbrella… well I’m sure London’s reputation for rainy weather precedes me so we don’t need to say anymore on that.

Best Ways to Get to Central London from The Major Airports

Gatwick airport.

Gatwick is super-easy to get to central London from. Simply make your way to the train station and get a train to central London (destinations covered include London Victoria, London Bridge, Blackfriars and Kings Cross / St Pancras).

Top Tip: Do not bother with the Gatwick Express – it’s way more expensive and the trains to central London from Gatwick are pretty fast anyway.

You have a few options for getting to central London from Heathrow. The fastest is probably to take the Heathrow Express, which, unlike its Gatwick counterpart, saves enough time to make it worth the expense – it terminates at London Paddington. You can also get a normal (non-express) train to Paddington too.

Heathrow is also connected to London via the Underground (a.k.a. the tube), so you can hop on and make your rather slow way to central London this way.

Using the tube does have the added benefit that the Piccadilly Line (which is the line that Heathrow is on) takes you to much more central locations – including Covent Garden, so you can get into the heart of the city without having to change.

As Stansted is basically the arse end of nowhere, they have you pretty firmly in their grip when it comes to ways to get into central London.

You can get the so-called Stansted Express (which takes 45 minutes to get to Liverpool Street – we struggle to see how there’s anything express-like about it) or you can get a coach.

Both are a bit of a drag but take around 45-50 mins in total.

Again, another “London” airport that’s about as close to London as Paris (yes, we’re exaggerating a bit). Catch the airport bus to the train station and hop on a train to central London or get the coach. Again, your options are fairly limited here.

How to See London in One Day – Recommended London One Day Tours

We have outlined all the things that you need to know to cover what to see in London in one day but I know that sometimes it’s still nice to take a tour. If you do want to take a one day London tour, here are a couple of options that you should look at.

  • London – Top 20 Sights Walking Tour (Includes Entrance to the London Eye)
  • Sights and Tastes of London Walking Tour

Harry Potter Self-Guided Walking Tour 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

We’re big fans of Harry Potter at London x London and needless to say we’ve charted all the film and book locations you can find in the capital. On top of that, we’ve concocted a walking tour that will take you round all of them in an afternoon. If the world of witchcraft and wizardry appeals to you more than the world of the muggles, you might want to check it out. 

Read More: The Ultimate Self-Guided Harry Potter Walking Tour of London

Literary London Self-Guided Walking Tour 

We’re massive fans of London’s wider literary history too – and boy is there a lot of history. Many of the world’s greatest writers from Orwell to Dickens have lived in London and left their mark for you to see. We’ve also got a self-guided walking tour of the city’s literary past for any bookworms who don’t want to see the big tourist spots (it also involves a few pub stops). 

Read More: The Ultimate Self-Guided Literary Walking Tour of London

What to do in London in a Day: Map

Click here for a Google Map of all the destinations featured in this guide.

Looking for more London tips and guides? Check these out…

  • 2 Days in London – What to Do and What to Skip
  • London Visitor Map: Interactive Map of London
  • The Ultimate London Bucket List
  • Unusual Places to Visit in London
  • Sightseeing in London – London’s Biggest Landmarks and Attractions
  • The Best Bus Tours of London

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We delve into the cool, interesting and quirky spots that make London such a dynamic city, telling you the best things to do, eat and drink along the way. 

Tired of the same old dull suggestions? Want to know where to find London’s secret bars, tastiest eats and weirdest finds? We provide practical guides that help you do just that.

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There are several types of writing at university: notes from lectures or texts, project work, blogging or journal writing. At LSE, you will very likely be asked to write an essay at some point. Here are few things to think about to get ready for writing an academic essay.

An essay is your written response to a question or topic (that is usually set by a course teacher). For the vast majority of questions you'll encounter, there is no “right” or “wrong” answer. In a good essay, the writer takes a position and proposes an argument to justify the position. This is part of writing "critically", where you

  • explain your understanding or interpretation of an idea or issue,
  • take a clear position, with respect to a specific idea or issue,
  • support your position with sound evidence, referring to research, theories, and scholars' work in your field,
  • compare, contrast, and evaluate others’ views and indicate whether you agree with these views or challenge them, 
  • draw conclusions and recognise the implications of your conclusions. 

Two important things to think about as you write essays are the question itself and the structure of your response.

Question the question!

Analyse the language of your essay question/topic carefully in order to interpret it thoroughly and think about what you're being asked to do. 

  • Read every single word of the question carefully. Avoid taking questions and statements at their face value and jumping to conclusions about what a question might mean.
  • Note key technical terms or phrases in the question that could have different interpretations in the your field of study.
  • The instruction “discuss” is common at LSE. It means write about a topic in detail, taking into account different issues or ideas. It does not mean write everything you know about the subject.
  • Having a position does not mean that there is a clear cut “yes” or “no” answer. “It depends” is OK too!  Your essay could be about what it depends on, how you know, and why that is interesting

Mind your structure!

In your essays, try to present a clear, logical argument that flows in a coherent and convincing way.

  • First, let your reader know what you’re doing and what you have to say concisely (introduction). Then, say what you have to say, building each element carefully and in detail (body). Finally, re-iterate what you had to say and give some indication of why it is interesting or important (conclusion).
  • Remember that you are trying to make a point by building an argument.  A logical argument that conveys a clear point is quite different from a general description that simply repeats ideas you have encountered in your reading.  Beware of this difference! 

Want to learn more about writing at university? Check out LSE LIFE's Moodle page .  Moodle is an online platform where many of the resources from your courses can be found. If you don't have your LSE user account set up yet, select the Login as Guest option. 

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Sample Essay on My first visit to London

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I have always looked forward to travelling to London. This is because of the exciting stories I had heard from my friends. From the stories, I heard that London accommodated the best museums and other historical places.  I decided to plan to take this trip before the first year of my college was over. Because of the college program, I had to schedule the visit to late October. This trip took four days including the flight periods. Before traveling , I bought the travel card via online. I ensured I had paid for my return ticket. This timing turned out to be perfect. Other than this plans, I went through the global map. I located one of the fair and modern hotels where I would spend the holiday. I ensured that I also had sufficient cash. After confirming my reservation, I took the trip.

I arrived to this desired city on a fine Monday. Before heading to the tube, I collected my luggage from the claiming point at Heathrow. The hotel was in the neighborhoods of Earl’s court station. I chose the hotel because I had heard that it was fair and offered most of the desired spaces in the room, such as a kitchenette, flat screen television, and microwave. I was surprised when I reached the hotel room and realized that they also offered large bathrooms for great towel tacks so they remained warm all through. I also liked to prepare the foods when I came in. there were no restaurants, gyms and food services within the premises. Therefore, I ensured that I had prepared a great and heavy breakfast. Lunchtime found me in most of the tours. I, therefore, used to eat heavy lunch too. One of the best places I had my midday meal was at the Crypt near St. Martin’s church. On this particular day, I ate chicken, potatoes, gravy, cabbage, and root vegetables.

I got the orientation around the hotel. I came to realize that there were great road network covering every area of the region. These included the Earl’s road, Cromwell, and the Brompton roads . The great museum that had natural history was located east of Cromwell road. There were the Victoria museum and the Albert museum. All these had great information for me. However, due to the tight schedule, I missed visiting these places.

I was able to go round London. I saw the beautiful Hyde Park and the Piccadilly Circus. I managed to do river cruse at the Westminster Bridge. How glorious was it to view the beautiful Belfast, Globe Theater, Tate modern, and the Tower of London. It was exciting crossing the Millennium Bridge, London Bridge, the Tower Bridge, and the Waterloo Bridge. I got the chance of visiting the Hyde Park on the last day. I saw many war memorials, the Wellington Arch, and the Wellington statue on a horse. Across the street lay the magnificent Apse House and the residence of the earliest Duke of Wellington. Part of the house was still resided by the present Duke although it is a private residence. As I toured the house, I saw various historical ornamentals such as the Caravaggio’s art and China swords and weaponry as they were displayed. I desired to take pictures of the artillery. This was however against the policies.

As the touring ended, I realized there were several places I desired to visit. I could not manage to keep up with the limited time I had for the trip. I came to conclude that London is a region that demands more than one trip. I also appreciated the fact that the town was modern and had few tourist activities. This had mostly experienced in majority of these contemporary towns. I wished to have extended the trip. I promised myself to take another trip to London the following year. I am happy that I first went to this great region. It was a revelation as to rich background the Americans and the Britons have.

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essay in london

London, 1802 Summary & Analysis by William Wordsworth

  • Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
  • Poetic Devices
  • Vocabulary & References
  • Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
  • Line-by-Line Explanations

essay in london

"London, 1802" is a sonnet by William Wordsworth, one of the most influential English Romantic Poets. The poem praises the famous 17th-century poet John Milton and suggests that England would be better off if it modeled itself after Milton and the values of his era. Wordsworth composed the poem in 1802, shortly after returning to London from France, where he witnessed the aftermath of the French Revolution. Comparing France's somber social landscape to England's boisterous, care-free atmosphere, Wordsworth composed "London, 1802" as both a critique of his country and a celebration of its former glory.

  • Read the full text of “London, 1802”

essay in london

The Full Text of “London, 1802”

1 Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour:

2 England hath need of thee: she is a fen

3 Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen,

4 Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,

5 Have forfeited their ancient English dower

6 Of inward happiness. We are selfish men;

7 Oh! raise us up, return to us again;

8 And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.

9 Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart:

10 Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:

11 Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,

12 So didst thou travel on life's common way,

13 In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart

14 The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

“London, 1802” Summary

“london, 1802” themes.

Theme The Past and Societal Decline

The Past and Societal Decline

  • See where this theme is active in the poem.

Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “London, 1802”

Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters:

essay in london

altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness.

We are selfish men; Oh! raise us up, return to us again;

And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.

Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart: Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,

Lines 12-13

So didst thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness;

Lines 13-14

and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

“London, 1802” Symbols

Symbol John Milton

John Milton

  • See where this symbol appears in the poem.

Symbol The Natural World

The Natural World

“london, 1802” poetic devices & figurative language.

  • See where this poetic device appears in the poem.

End-Stopped Line

Personification, “london, 1802” vocabulary.

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

  • See where this vocabulary word appears in the poem.

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “London, 1802”

Rhyme scheme, “london, 1802” speaker, “london, 1802” setting, literary and historical context of “london, 1802”, more “london, 1802” resources, external resources.

A Reading of the Poem — Listen to a clear, slow, and concentrated reading of "London, 1802."

Preface to Lyrical Ballads — Read Wordsworth's "Preface to Lyrical Ballads," an essay that greatly influenced the trajectory of Romantic poetry.

The Industrial Revolution — Watch an informative BBC documentary about the Industrial Revolution and its impact on England.

More Information about John Milton — Learn about John Milton's life, his writing, and how he influenced the course of British literature.

Wordsworth's Life and Work — Read an overview of William Wordsworth and his life as a Romantic poet.

LitCharts on Other Poems by William Wordsworth

A Complaint

A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal

Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802

Expostulation and Reply

Extract from The Prelude (Boat Stealing)

It Is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free

I Travelled Among Unknown Men

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey

Lines Written in Early Spring

My Heart Leaps Up

Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent’s Narrow Room

Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood

She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways

She was a Phantom of Delight

The Solitary Reaper

The Tables Turned

The World Is Too Much With Us

Three Years She Grew in Sun and Shower

To a Snowdrop

We Are Seven

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DR MARK PORTER

The early signs of bowel cancer that you can’t afford to ignore

Alarming symptoms such as coughing up blood or finding a lump in your breast trigger surprisingly different responses. Alarming symptoms such as coughing up blood or finding a lump in your breast trigger surprisingly... Alarming symptoms such as coughing up blood or finding a lump in your breast trigger surprisingly...

Labour wants to depress its way to victory, claims Sunak

Prime minister defends 14 years of Tory rule

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the former Tory MP Natalie Elphicke into his party

Labour resists calls for investigation into Elphicke lobbying claims

President Biden’s plan involves re-industrialising parts of the US economy through building domestic green industries, electric vehicle supply chains and chip manufacturing

Labour in pole position for US green trade deal, says ex-Biden adviser

Esther McVey praised Rishi Sunak for policies that have meant fewer overseas students have chosen to come to British universities

‘Common sense’ minister bans rainbow lanyards in civil service

Members of the Just Stop oil breakout group Youth Demand target the Labour Party headquarters in London

Just Stop Oil should be banned like terror groups, report says

Government-commissioned report recommends crackdown on disruptive protests

The volume of plastic waste being created each year is estimated to have doubled globally since 2000

The solution to the global litter crisis? Plastic that eats itself

Brazil, which is battling higher temperatures and lower rainfall, produces a third of the world’s oranges

Orange juice prices more than double as Brazil harvest falters

Chris Bryant has begun immunotherapy

Chris Bryant: Skin cancer has spread to my lung

The Labour MP and shadow minister Sir Chris Bryant has said his skin cancer has returned, this time to his lung, less... The Labour MP and shadow minister Sir Chris Bryant has said his skin cancer has returned, this... The Labour MP and shadow minister Sir Chris Bryant has said his skin cancer has returned, this...

The finding of the negative link for young women was consistent with other research on cyberbullying and linking social media to depression

The internet is good for you (unless you’re a young woman)

Using the internet has a strong link to positive wellbeing, except for young women, a global study has found. The... Using the internet has a strong link to positive wellbeing, except for young women, a global... Using the internet has a strong link to positive wellbeing, except for young women, a global...

A day in the life of police in Britain’s knife crime capital

With their sirens blaring and blue lights flashing, Inspector Colin Gallier and Sergeant Myles Duce of West Midlands police are racing to apprehend a man allegedly carrying a knife and know they are against the clock. They had been en route to an... With their sirens blaring and blue lights flashing, Inspector Colin Gallier and Sergeant Myles... With their sirens blaring and blue lights flashing, Inspector Colin Gallier and Sergeant Myles...

Inspector Colin Gallier, head of the Project Guardian team, with a meat cleaver recovered from an arrest

Good pregnancy care ‘the exception not the rule’

Research has suggested that one does of the measles vaccine is not enough to fully protect children

One dose of measles jab ‘less effective in children born by caesarean’

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Fatal crash does not mean cyclists need regulating, says James May

The authorities will track those who protest against the Tiananmen Square massacres in 1989, the report alleges

China ‘terrorising students in UK and threatening families back home’

Lieutenant Roger Grosjean was a double agent during the Second World War

Did MI5 ask my mother to seduce my French double agent father?

The Severn at Ironbridge will be one of 27 sites that the Environment Agency will start monitoring

CLEAN IT UP

Water quality checks at new wild swimming areas

Nato forces are taking part in exercises in preparation for war with Russia

Russia targets British soldiers’ mobile phones

British soldiers have been warned about Russian agents spying on their mobile phones as they conduct major land and... British soldiers have been warned about Russian agents spying on their mobile phones as they... British soldiers have been warned about Russian agents spying on their mobile phones as they...

Absence rates are 22 per cent higher among people who are overweight but not obese

Obese people twice as likely to be off work

Obese people are up to twice as likely to take time off work, a study has revealed, fuelling a crisis that is... Obese people are up to twice as likely to take time off work, a study has revealed, fuelling a... Obese people are up to twice as likely to take time off work, a study has revealed, fuelling a...

photography

News in pictures

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Marco Fuerst and Marco Waltenspiel, two Austrian skydivers, jumped from a helicopter 3,000 feet above London…

Secret papers reveal Hamas plan to set up base in Turkey

Hamas planned to establish a secret base in Turkey and other terror cells elsewhere to co-ordinate attacks against Israeli targets in neighbouring countries, including Nato members, according to files captured by the Israeli army in Gaza and seen by The Times. The printed document titled... Hamas planned to establish a secret base in Turkey and other terror cells elsewhere to co-ordinate attacks against Israeli targets in neighbouring countries, including Nato members, according to files captured by the Israeli army in Gaza and seen by The Times. The printed document titled... Hamas planned to establish a secret base in Turkey and other terror cells elsewhere to co-ordinate attacks against Israeli...

Mass protests fail to hinder ‘Kremlin-style’ law in Georgia

The suspected pro-government thugs who attacked Dimitri Chikovani, an opponent of Georgia’s divisive “foreign agent” law, were waiting for him when he got out of his car outside his home in Tbilisi, the country’s capital. Video from CCTV cameras shows the assailants kicking and punching Chikovani as he lay defenceless on the ground, before... The suspected pro-government thugs who attacked Dimitri Chikovani, an opponent of Georgia’s divisive “foreign agent” law, were waiting for him when he got out of his car outside his home in Tbilisi, the country’s capital. Video from CCTV cameras shows the assailants kicking and punching Chikovani as he lay defenceless on the ground, before... The suspected pro-government thugs who attacked Dimitri Chikovani, an opponent of Georgia’s divisive “foreign agent” law, were...

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Cohen’s credibility is crucial. It is also in doubt

Michael Cohen lied to Congress, to a New York district court, to the Internal Revenue Service and to his bank. He put his wife at risk of jail by having her sign, over several years, a joint tax return that understated his income by $4 million. He went to jail for fraud and perjury. The role of Cohen, 57, as the... Michael Cohen lied to Congress, to a New York district court, to the Internal Revenue Service and... Michael Cohen lied to Congress, to a New York district court, to the Internal Revenue Service and...

The most hyped film at Cannes? An interview with Messi the dog

Messi became famous with his role in the film Anatomy of a Fall

Philippines accuses China of building military base on disputed islet

Vinod Khosla has said that he regrets buying the property near Half Moon Bay in California

Tech billionaire suffers setback in battle to keep his beach private

Peter Sellers and Elke Sommer in A Shot in the Dark: Safety agencies are trying to stop a return to the bad old days of French driving

Calm down and drive like a woman, Frenchmen told

Bishimbayev’s sentence has been called too soft by women’s rights activists

Former Kazakh minister gets 24 years in jail for beating wife to death

Fedez was kicked out of a club in Milan before the incident occurred

Rapper denies sending AC Milan ultras to beat up fitness guru

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How Putin’s offensive on Kharkiv leaves Ukraine with few good options

The historic emergence of two separate cicada broods is occurring in tandem with a growing interest in entomophagy — the practice of eating insects

Cicadas are the latest food trend — but are they really safe to eat?

One recipe suggests having them with kimchi. Another recommends pairing them with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. A third... One recipe suggests having them with kimchi. Another recommends pairing them with a crisp... One recipe suggests having them with kimchi. Another recommends pairing them with a crisp...

Tom and Anne-Elisabeth Hagen, pictured on a skiing trip in the 1980s, were married for half a century

Grieving husband or suspect? Tycoon’s ‘hell’ over wife’s abduction

In the days, weeks and years that followed the disappearance of Anne-Elisabeth Hagen, Norwegian police scoured every... In the days, weeks and years that followed the disappearance of Anne-Elisabeth Hagen, Norwegian... In the days, weeks and years that followed the disappearance of Anne-Elisabeth Hagen, Norwegian...

A new era for Catalonia? Separatists suffer worst results since 1980

The separatist leader and fugitive from Spanish justice Carles Puigdemont has not yet thrown in the towel, despite defeat in Sunday’s regional elections. Although his Junts per Catalunya party came second to the Socialists, he insists he could... The separatist leader and fugitive from Spanish justice Carles Puigdemont has not yet thrown in... The separatist leader and fugitive from Spanish justice Carles Puigdemont has not yet thrown in...

Salvador Illa, right, with Spain’s Socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, led the party to victory in the election in Catalonia. However, the separatist leader, Carles Puigdemont, left, insists he could still lead the regional government

Nepali and British climbers break records for Everest ascents

Elon Musk suggested Australia was acting as a global “Soviet censor” in trying to block the content

Elon Musk wins court battle to show Sydney church stabbing on X

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The protests in Georgia explained

There have been weeks of unrest in Georgia since the country’s government announced that it was backing a new law to... There have been weeks of unrest in Georgia since the country’s government announced that it was... There have been weeks of unrest in Georgia since the country’s government announced that it was...

Tine Wiechmann performs a Taylor Swift song at the service in Heidelberg

Sunday service for Swifties aims to attract young churchgoers

“Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby,” the priest said solemnly. Some in the church, especially those in... “Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby,” the priest said solemnly. Some in the church... “Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby,” the priest said solemnly. Some in the church...

Her stepmother is the vice-president. She just wants to knit

Kamala Harris’s stepdaughter Ella Emhoff is almost as thrilled with my first row of stitches as I am. “Fantastic work!” she beams, admiring the knitting needle I hold aloft. About a dozen of us are sitting in the courtyard garden of The Standard... Kamala Harris’s stepdaughter Ella Emhoff is almost as thrilled with my first row of stitches as I... Kamala Harris’s stepdaughter Ella Emhoff is almost as thrilled with my first row of stitches as I...

Ella Emhoff is riding a booming trend in crafting

US election

Cohen worked with Trump for a number of years. The former president will not be pleased to see his former “pit bull”

Michael Cohen: Trump’s pit bull fixer ready to turn on former master in court

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Why more and more black voters are putting their faith in Trump

Donald Trump gestures to the crowd at the rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, which is estimated to have attracted between 80,000 and 100,000 people

Trump calls Hannibal Lecter a ‘wonderful man’ at New Jersey rally

Michael Cohen, left, paid Daniels $130,000 to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump

Why is Trump on trial? The Stormy Daniels hush money case explained

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IN maps and CHARTS

Who will win the White House? Latest polls and predictions

Turnout vital in Biden-Trump rematch

We must roll out red carpet for next big idea

William Hague

As Denmark and Taiwan show, with the right environment a handful of innovators can revitalise whole economies

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melanie phillips

Eurovision’s anti-Israel mob behaved like brats

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giles coren | notebook

An Apple a day keeps the doctor away? Not these days

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jawad iqbal

This long wait for compensation adds insult to injustice

Harriet Walker | notebook

From Pret to vapes, why everyone’s going big on ‘little treats’

What was your last “little treat”? A takeaway coffee or croissant? I have a friend who can’t leave museums without a fridge magnet, and another who, on an evening commute, likes to savour what she calls a “solo gin in a tin”. My husband happened... What was your last “little treat”? A takeaway coffee or croissant? I have a friend who can’t... What was your last “little treat”? A takeaway coffee or croissant? I have a friend who can’t...

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libby purves

We’re the masters here, not the machines

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tomiwa owolade

A person’s colour is no clue to their opinions

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emma duncan | notebook

My robot lawnmower has driven me wild

elisabeth braw

Flag of convenience newcomers make a mockery of system

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Leading Articles

Breach of Trust

A parliamentary report paints a damning picture of National Health Service maternity services. Radical reform is needed to make them fit for the 21st century

Secret Craving

China’s appetite for sensitive western military and civilian material is insatiable

End of the Rainbow

The equality, diversity and inclusion industry needs to be culled

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bureaucratic barriers to building houses

Sir, Emma Duncan presents an informative but polarised perspective on what she sees as the “stifling regulation” of the UK building sector (“ We need to axe red tape to get Britain building ”, May 10). Energy efficiency regulations may well... Sir, Emma Duncan presents an informative but polarised perspective on what she sees as the... Sir, Emma Duncan presents an informative but polarised perspective on what she sees as the...

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Daily Universal Register

UK : The King officially hands over the role of colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps to the Prince of Wales at the Army Aviation Centre, Middle Wallop, Hampshire; Mental Health Awareness Week begins; the British Book Awards are held in London. Netherlands : The World Hydrogen Summit, an annual three-day conference looking at the latest advancements in hydrogen technology, begins in Rotterdam. World : United Nations office on drugs and crime releases this year’s World Wildlife Crime Report.

On this day

In 1943 General Alexander (later Earl Alexander of Tunis) announced the surrender of Italian and German forces in Tunisia; in 1973 tennis stars Bobby Riggs and Margaret Court faced off in the Mother’s Day Massacre in a challenge match. Riggs belittled women’s tennis, but had the court resurfaced to slow the game to his advantage. Court lost 6-2, 6-1. On September 20, 1973, Billie Jean King took up the Battle of the Sexes challenge, beating Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 to a $100,000 prize. He had stated: “A woman’s place is in the kitchen and the bedroom — and not necessarily in that order”; in 1981 Pope John Paul II was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt by a Turkish gunman while he was entering St Peter’s Square, Vatican City; in 1989 student protesters began a hunger strike in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. Martial law was declared on May 20; in 2018 the actress Margot Kidder died at the age of 69. Kidder was best known for playing Lois Lane in four Superman films opposite Christopher Reeve.

Nature notes

Nature notes

Near the summit of the hill were two benches and a dog bin, the grass around them worn away by feet. The bare soil, unshaded by any vegetation, was warmer than the soil elsewhere, and this made it the perfect habitat for a tiny predator. The green tiger beetle is a vivid, iridescent green with creamy yellow spots on its long wing cases, big eyes and strong jaws; its long legs mean it can move fast in pursuit of other small invertebrates, but to do so it needs warmth from the sun. The same goes for its larvae: these develop in shallow burrows in unshaded soil that act as pitfall traps, allowing the larva to prey on whatever falls in. Melissa Harrison

Melissa Harrison

Birthdays

Birthdays today

Luciano Benetton , co-founder of Benetton, 89; Baroness Boycott , editor, The Independent (1998), The Express (1998-2001), 73; Joe Brown , singer and guitarist, A Picture of You (1962), 83; Lord (Anthony) Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony, justice of the Supreme Court (2009-17), Master of the Rolls and head of civil justice (2005-09), 81; The Rt Rev Peter Collins , RC bishop of East Anglia, 66; Lord (John) Cope of Berkeley , deputy chairman and treasurer, Conservative Party (1990-92), 87; Gareth Davis , chairman, M&C Saatchi (2021-23), 74; Eileen Diss , theatrical designer, six-time Bafta winner, 93; Michael Dobson , chairman, Berkeley Group and Sienna Investment Managers, 72; Evelyn Boscawen, Viscount Falmouth , owner of the Tregothnan estates, Cornwall, 69; Prof Dame Jane Glover , director of opera, Royal Academy of Music (2009-16), 75; David Hill , musical director, Bach Choir, chief conductor, BBC Singers (2007-17), 67; Prof Kathleen Jamie , poet, the national poet laureate of Scotland (makar), The Morrow-bird (2021), 62; Harvey Keitel , actor, Reservoir Dogs (1992), 85; Jonathan Klein , co-founder and chairman, Getty Images (2015-20), 64; Carrie Lam , chief executive of Hong Kong (2017-22), 67; Dame Andrea Leadsom , Tory MP for South Northamptonshire, minister for public health, 61; Richard Madeley , broadcaster, Richard & Judy (2001-09), 68; Dame Natalie Massenet , founder of Net-a-Porter, 59; Scott Morrison , prime minister of Australia (2018-22), 56; Samantha Morton , actress, Minority Report (2002), 47; Jeffrey Evans, Lord Mountevans , lord mayor of London (2015-16), 76; Robert Pattinson , actor, The Batman (2022), 38; Selina Scott , former TV presenter, 73; Tim Shipman , political commentator, The Sunday Times, 49; Casey Stoney , footballer, England women’s team (2000-17), 42; Zoë Wanamaker , actress, My Family (2000-11), 75; James Whale , radio and TV presenter, 73; Keith Williams , chairman, Royal Mail, 68; Stevie Wonder , singer-songwriter, 74.

Anglo American dismisses improved £34bn bid from BHP

A sweetened £34 billion takeover approach from BHP for its rival Anglo American has been rejected by the FTSE 100 mining group as “highly unattractive”. BHP submitted a revised all-share approach for Anglo last Tuesday, the Australian group has revealed but, as with last month’s initial £31... A sweetened £34 billion takeover approach from BHP for its rival Anglo American has been rejected by the FTSE 100 mining group as “highly unattractive”. BHP submitted a revised all-share approach for Anglo last Tuesday, the Australian group has revealed but, as with last month’s initial £31... A sweetened £34 billion takeover approach from BHP for its rival Anglo American has been rejected by the FTSE 100 mining group...

Elliott reaps reward as it retreats from Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust

It was billed as potentially one of the most aggressive sighting shots against a FTSE 100 company. In March the New York-based activist investor Elliott Advisors disclosed that it had quietly built a 5 per cent stake in Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (SMT). Elliott’s reputation for ferocity and opportunism has been second to none. It... It was billed as potentially one of the most aggressive sighting shots against a FTSE 100 company. In March the New York-based activist investor Elliott Advisors disclosed that it had quietly built a 5 per cent stake in Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (SMT). Elliott’s reputation for ferocity and opportunism has been second to none. It... It was billed as potentially one of the most aggressive sighting shots against a FTSE 100 company. In March the New York-based...

Mark Penn, chairman and chief executive of Stagwell, takes a Noah’s Ark approach to acquisitions: “No more than two of a kind”

Clinton aide’s marketing empire has its tanks on Europe’s lawn

Mark Penn, the American founder of Stagwell, made a merger offer to Sir Martin Sorrell’s company last year. The proposal for S4 Capital, his former boss’s marketing group, was not made public and only revealed last month. The first approach was rebuffed and Penn is understood to have made a series of sequentially... Mark Penn, the American founder of Stagwell, made a merger offer to Sir Martin Sorrell’s company... Mark Penn, the American founder of Stagwell, made a merger offer to Sir Martin Sorrell’s company...

‘Superfans’ offer rich pickings for music industry

Taylor Swift fans in Sao Paulo, Brazil

GameStop shares surge as ‘Roaring Kitty’ returns

Sir Ben Elliot, pictured with his wife, Mary-Clare Winwood, set up the lifestyle support company in 2000

Quintessentially posts another year of losses

Insurance, such as that sold at Lloyd’s of London, is a key export for the British services sector

At your service: Britain relies on key sector to generate exports

Nadhim Zahawi recently announced that he was stepping down as an MP at the next election

Zahawi named as new chairman of Very Group

Fever-tree mixes it up with challenge to aperol spritz.

Fever-Tree is teaming up with one of the leading makers of French rosé wine as it seeks to grab a slice of the lucrative spritz market from Aperol. The mixers group, which is best known for its range of upmarket tonics, will uncork a pale pink... Fever-Tree is teaming up with one of the leading makers of French rosé wine as it seeks to grab a... Fever-Tree is teaming up with one of the leading makers of French rosé wine as it seeks to grab a...

Tim Warrillow, the co-founder and chief executive of Fever-Tree, with Jeany Cronk, a co-founder of Maison Mirabeau

City’s revised forecasts show economy racing ahead

Warrington is one of many councils that have put money into unusual investments in response to less funding by central government

Council changed rules to allow investment in ‘junk bond’ fund

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Council funding is a numbers game in which everybody is losing

Less than two weeks ago, some us in England went to the polls for this year’s local elections. Reflecting the... Less than two weeks ago, some us in England went to the polls for this year’s local elections. Less than two weeks ago, some us in England went to the polls for this year’s local elections.

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MARKET REPORT

Analysts gain influence as market awaits real news

On the brink of a big week of corporate earnings and economic news, with BT Group, Vodafone, Burberry and easyJet all... On the brink of a big week of corporate earnings and economic news, with BT Group, Vodafone, ... On the brink of a big week of corporate earnings and economic news, with BT Group, Vodafone, ...

Take stronger action on Vodafone and UAE, urges Robert Buckland

A former lord chancellor has urged the government to strengthen measures to address national security concerns raised by the ownership of a stake in Vodafone. Sir Robert Buckland has called for an independent committee to oversee the risks of the... A former lord chancellor has urged the government to strengthen measures to address national... A former lord chancellor has urged the government to strengthen measures to address national...

Vodafone already has a national security committee to oversee sensitive work

Business parks deserted as hybrid workers opt for city centres

Arm, which licenses its chip designs and collects royalties, has been expanding into the data centre market

Arm ready to flex its muscles with AI chips

More people are taking out mortgages that will last beyond the state retirement age

Ultra-long mortgages ‘threaten retirement crisis’

Real pay over the past two years had been suppressed by a sharp increase in inflation

Wage rises in past year ‘have matched growth since 2008’

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The Times Enterprise Network

Providing inspiration and advice for entrepreneurs on how to run and grow their businesses

Georgina Fraser has just been appointed to CBRE’s strategy group. She is concerned by polls suggesting millennials wish to step away from their careers

What makes millennials steer clear of the top job?

The government’s free childcare scheme has been dogged by question marks over supply

Childminders key to meeting early-years demand

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How we can help young workers stuck at home since the pandemic

Logan Naidu: “We estimate that we meet about 70% of the best graduates coming into the Square Mile, doing some of the best jobs”

how i made it

I had an epiphany: there had to be more to life than just making money

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Expert Tips

I want to hire a contractor but what should be in our contract?

recruitment

Every office could use a skills guru

About six in ten UK staff undergo some form of training at work each year, ranging from mandatory certification and compliance courses to upskilling for a new role, and experts estimate that the UK training market is worth approximately £7 billion. Training and skills development is proved to increase the human capital in the national labour force, narrowing skills gaps... About six in ten UK staff undergo some form of training at work each year, ranging from mandatory... About six in ten UK staff undergo some form of training at work each year, ranging from mandatory...

Technological advances mean guidance on new skills is going to be even more important

SIX FROM THE BEST

I still spend more time in the field than I do in the boardroom

Guy Singh-Watson is founder of Riverford, an organic vegetable box company which grew from humble beginnings to... Guy Singh-Watson is founder of Riverford, an organic vegetable box company which grew from humble beginnings to 70,000 deliveries a week. The activist recently launched the #GetFairAboutFarming campaign calling for supermarkets to adopt better business practices to safeguard the future of British fruit and veg farmers. Guy Singh-Watson is founder of Riverford, an organic vegetable box company which grew from humble beginnings to 70,000...

Fury’s father left bleeding after headbutting Usyk team member

It may not chime with the stereotype but Tyson Fury was the voice of reason during a chaotic and violent afternoon in the Riyadh Hilton. His father, John, had just shocked bystanders after he had headbutted a young member of Oleksandr Usyk’s entourage during heated exchanges between the two teams on the mezzanine level. It was the sort of bewildering thuggishness that... It may not chime with the stereotype but Tyson Fury was the voice of reason during a chaotic and... It may not chime with the stereotype but Tyson Fury was the voice of reason during a chaotic and...

Fury appeared to clash heads with a member of Usyk’s team

British boxer, 29, dies after first professional fight

A British boxer has died after his first professional fight in London last night. Sherif Lawal, 29, collapsed and... A British boxer has died after his first professional fight in London last night. Sherif Lawal, 29, collapsed and lost consciousness after being struck on the temple by Malam Varela, a Portuguese fighter, during the fourth round of their middleweight bout at Harrow Leisure Centre. The referee, Lee Every, began a... A British boxer has died after his first professional fight in London last night. Sherif Lawal, 29, collapsed and lost...

The sight of water cascading down the stands and the walls of the away dressing room was met with derision on social media

Theatre of streams: leaky Old Trafford gives Ratcliffe another headache

Wood, centre, is set to play a key role for England in Australia, where he could be joined by the likes of Stone, left, and Lawes

Elizabeth Ammon

The seamers battling to fill void left by Anderson and Broad

Ten Hag’s side did not force a save of quality against Arsenal at Old Trafford, where water cascaded through the roof during a downpour after the final whistle

MARTIN SAMuel

Being happy to escape a hiding shows just how low Man United have sunk

Towards the end of the second half, claps of thunder and flashes of lightning pervaded the area around Old Trafford. Towards the end of the second half, claps of thunder and flashes of lightning pervaded the area... Towards the end of the second half, claps of thunder and flashes of lightning pervaded the area...

Cane took the armband in 2020 and has one of the lowest win records in recent All Blacks history

Captain Cane axed as All Blacks set to start new era under Scott Barrett

New Zealand, new era. The All Blacks will be under entirely fresh leadership when they tackle England this summer... New Zealand, new era. The All Blacks will be under entirely fresh leadership when they tackle... New Zealand, new era. The All Blacks will be under entirely fresh leadership when they tackle...

premier league

‘I scored and thought: bloody hell, this could be the worst move of my career’

Many Tottenham Hotspur supporters will find themselves in the strange position of not wanting their side to win — or even draw — a match, at home to Manchester City on Tuesday night, because it would leave the league title in the hands of their rivals Arsenal. Yet, they have been here before. Back in May 1999, Tottenham were in a similar predicament on the final day of... Many Tottenham Hotspur supporters will find themselves in the strange position of not wanting... Many Tottenham Hotspur supporters will find themselves in the strange position of not wanting...

Ferdinand, second left, celebrates sheepishly with Iversen, Freund and Dominguez after giving Spurs the lead

Postecoglou: I don’t understand Spurs fans who want us to lose

Ange Postecoglou has said he does not understand any Tottenham Hotspur supporter who wants them to lose to Manchester... Ange Postecoglou has said he does not understand any Tottenham Hotspur supporter who wants them to lose to Manchester City. Should Tottenham beat City on Tuesday night, it would leave the Premier League title in Arsenal’s hands, with Mikel Arteta’s team guaranteed to lift the trophy if they defeat Everton on the... Ange Postecoglou has said he does not understand any Tottenham Hotspur supporter who wants them to lose to Manchester City.

Pulling after her F1 Academy triumph in Miami

Abbi Pulling interview

From Lincolnshire to Miami: meet Britain’s latest record-breaking driver

Murray is out of contract with Head, which he has long been associated with, and is now trialling a new manufacturer

About to retire, nearly 37, but Murray is changing racket

Wander was elected to the ECA board in September, with 777 using his appointment as an example of why he would be a fit and proper owner of Everton

Europe’s elite clubs want prospective Everton owner removed from board

The floundering takeover bid of Everton by 777 Partners has suffered another blow after it emerged that the company’s... The floundering takeover bid of Everton by 777 Partners has suffered another blow after it... The floundering takeover bid of Everton by 777 Partners has suffered another blow after it...

Farrell’s Saracens remain the title favourites but have work to do to earn a home semi-final

STUART BARNES

If anyone can spoil Farrell’s season finale, it’s Ford

Exeter Chiefs’ victory against Harlequins was no surprise. The style and margin of it? Now that is another matter. Exeter Chiefs’ victory against Harlequins was no surprise. The style and margin of it? Now that... Exeter Chiefs’ victory against Harlequins was no surprise. The style and margin of it? Now that...

County championship

After 593 days and 18 matches, Gloucestershire finally end winless run

Gloucestershire have completed their first County Championship victory in 593 days, a barren run that spanned 18 winless matches. Since getting the better of Yorkshire in September 2022 — by which time their relegation to the second tier had... Gloucestershire have completed their first County Championship victory in 593 days, a barren run... Gloucestershire have completed their first County Championship victory in 593 days, a barren run...

Gloucestershire’s players could finally celebrate after Singh Dale, No 39, took the decisive wicket

rick broadbent | John McDermott interview

The boxer who ‘beat’ Fury – sliding doors moment that changed a life

McIlroy began the final round one shot back but won by five strokes after going eight under in eight holes around the turn

McIlroy storms to victory before return to scene of last major triumph

Thomas was left on the verge of tears after carding an 82 in his opening round at Royal Liverpool

pga championship | justin thomas interview

‘I’ve watched Tiger’s Valhalla win 100 times – I know the commentary by heart’

Gloucester players show their disappointment after conceding 14 tries at Franklin’s Gardens

Gallagher Premiership

Insulting, sensible or self-defeating? Gloucester’s 90-0 ‘humping’ debated

City target miedema after arsenal decide to let her leave.

Manchester City are interested in signing Vivianne Miedema, the Women’s Super League’s all-time top goalscorer, after Arsenal announced that she will leave the club at the end of the season. It is understood that Miedema, who is in a relationship... Manchester City are interested in signing Vivianne Miedema, the Women’s Super League’s all-time... Manchester City are interested in signing Vivianne Miedema, the Women’s Super League’s all-time...

Miedema, left, will no longer play alongside her partner Mead, right, but wants to stay in England

Game in numbers

Maguires, Arsenal’s title déjà vu, and Luton’s scoring form of champions

Teams used to experiment at the top of the order with players such as Swann, left, but now the position is left to specialists, such as Buttler, centre, and Head

Elgan Alderman

From sacrificial lamb to explosive stayer: evolution of the T20 opener

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ASK PROFESSOR TANYA BYRON

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First night reviews

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Michael Matus is a suitably larger-than-life Toby Belch

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The Baldwins (James and Sophie with their children, Luca and Amelie) started a family when they were living at this three-bedroom property in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire

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ask the experts

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What to watch: your TV and streaming guide

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What should you watch next?

In case you missed it

The man of many aliases: Nick Alahverdian, Nick Alan, Nicholas Brown and Arthur Brown — or Arthur Knight, as he insisted he was to Marc Horne. A judge ruled he was Nicholas Rossi, a US fugitive

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Births, marriages and deaths

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Court Circular

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London and Checking Out Me History – Comparative Essay + Feedback

Below, you’ll find a comparative essay of the poems from the AQA Power and Conflict Poetry collection, specifically the poems “London” + “Checking Out Me History”. This is a borderline L7/L8 A/A* Comparative Essay Example with teacher feedback at the end.

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Basic Descriptive Writing  +  Advanced Descriptive Writing  

AQA English Language Paper 2 

Compare the way poets present negative emotions in London by William Blake and another poem of your choice.

London by William Blake, is a poem criticising how the poor people are left to suffer. Whereas Checking out me History by John Agard, voices the lack of consideration given to aspects of history which are important to understanding British identity within minority communities. Both poems illustrate the negative emotion of anger and how the disenfranchised within society have very little power.

Blake uses a regular rhyme scheme of ABAB to create his poem. This simple rhyming is unbroken throughout the poem and echoes the relentless misery suffered in the city. Likewise, Agard also uses simple rhymes when describing British school topics and this is to make them seem familiar. However, when reciting elements of Caribbean history, Agard uses a mixture of regular and irregular rhymes, and short and long lines suggesting he is breaking the confining structure of the Education system. Both poets use the natural, pleasant feeling of rhyme to disturb the reader into recognising what ‘appears’ to be normal, is unfair on others, therefore highlighting the poem’s negative feelings.

Agard uses colloquial language to celebrate inclusion of identities. He repeats the phrase ‘Dem tell me…’ to provide the speaker with a cultural identity of someone who isn’t represented by the school Curriculum. The phonetic spelling of ‘Them’ leaves the reader without doubt that the speaker is of Caribbean descent. The imperative use of the word creates the negative feelings associated with school and how rules are enforced. On the other hand, Blake uses formal language in his poem to reach out to those in power to enact change “Every black’ning church appals” the verb ‘to appal’ is one likely used by the people in power to describe the behaviour of poor people, yet Blake uses it to criticise institutionalized religion. The adjective ‘black’ning’ illustrates a tarnished and corrupt church failing in their duty to support those in need. Blake’s formal language unites the reader in their plight whereas; Agard’s binary of ‘Dem’ aligns the reader with the speaker’s negative feelings by showing their perspective and not focusing on their hopeless condition. Both poems use language to present negative feelings, but Blake present a poor to be pitied and not the identity to be celebrated in the more empowered ‘Checking Out Me History.’

London by William Blake – Poem Analysis

Checking Out Me History – Summary and Analysis

Agard uses imagery of light to show a contrast to the negativity. Toussaint L’Ouverture, a hero from the Haitian revolution is described as a ‘beacon’ and Mary Seacole, a ‘healing star’ and ‘yellow sunrise’. These warm images suggest hope within the desperate situation of war and freedom fighting and emphasises the binary of ‘light and dark’ emphasising the ‘them and us’. In contrast, Blake focuses on bleak imagery to illustrate how everything is affected by the neglectful treatment of the poor and nothing pure or innocent remains. The metaphor ‘mind-forged manacles’ presents a hopeless situation comparing the poor’s entrapment to a life of poverty with the way others are trapped by their thoughts and attitudes. These manacles have not been forged in a literal blacksmith’s, but in the minds of people. Blake’s imagery unsettles the reader into improving the way they view the poor. On the other hand, Agard’s hopeful, light use of imagery illustrates that people can overthrow oppression.

Checking Out Me History is a contemporary poem published in 2007 whereas, William Blake’s London was written in 1794. Blake wrote two volumes of poetry which explored the state of the human soul. London comes from the ‘Songs of Experience’ collection which explored how society had been corrupted. Blake held radical political views for the time ‘Runs in blood down palace walls’ suggests a reference to the French Revolution where the people overturned the Monarchy. Blake’s negative feelings and anger reflect radical views held at the time. In contrast, John Agard is writing at a time when people have an amount of freedom, but are still restricted by people in power and denied access to fair representation. Agard references historical figures such as Mary Seacole ‘she travel far/ to the Crimean War’ to emphasise how far we’ve come on the road to equality, but shows anger that we are still not there by illustrating our lack of focus on these figures in Education by naming her white British counterpart ‘Florence Nightingale and she lamp’ who is regularly drawn to in reference to the Crimean War. Blake’s poem is secured within a specific historical period whereas Agard’s draws on history to suggest change in the present.

To conclude, both poets illustrate their anger within the poems and direct it at people in authority; those who hold power. Blake uses anger to shame his readers into changing their attitudes toward the poor and accepting responsibility. Agard uses negative feelings of power to align the reader with his perspective. Both want society to change and suggest their anger will not be dissipated until change happens for one and all.

EXAMINER FEEDBACK:

  • Clear intro with a good detailed point of comparison that shows awareness of context. 
  • The approach of comparing techniques is perhaps not entirely helpful, the structure of the essay would be better if the student started with comparing / contrasting ideas to do with the question, then using the techniques to back up their analysis. 
  • There’s a clear shape to the essay including a thesis, separate middle paragraphs and a conclusion. 
  • The AO2 analysis is very thorough and precise, often considering words and the effects of techniques in detail .

AO1 L4-L5 9/12 

  • Clear, explained response to the task and whole text. 
  • Effective use of references to support the explanation.
  • Needs a little restructuring to achieve a higher level – paragraphs should explore topics rather than techniques. 

AO2 L5-L6 11/12 

  • Examination of writer’s methods with subject terminology used effectively to support consideration of methods .
  • Examination of effects of writer’s methods to create meanings.
  • Precise application of themes and context .
  • Thoughtful consideration of ideas/perspectives/contextual factors shown by examination of detailed links between context/text/task.
  • Could go into further precise detail to achieve even higher – sometimes the context points are underdeveloped and quickly skipped over, although they are precise and accurate .

25/30 83% Borderline L7-L8 grade

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29 of the best cheap (or absolutely free) things to do in London

London montage against plain blue sky with River Thames in foreground

Editor's Note

London is regularly cited as one of the most dreamed-of destinations to visit in the world, and for a good reason. Weather aside, it's a place crammed with rich heritage, culture, charm and some incredible hotels and restaurants. But popularity like this comes at a cost — literally.

If you're visiting London, you won't be the first person in the world to realize the city isn't always cheap and cheerful. That being said, there are still plenty of inexpensive ways to experience the U.K. capital if you know where to look.

From enjoying green spaces and natural wonders to exploring the city's many free museums and art galleries, you can easily create a jam-packed London itinerary without shelling out hard cash. This will help keep your travel costs low or allow you to save money for a specific paid excursion.

Let's take a look at some of London's best freebies, or at least super-cheap activities to enjoy while you're taking in the sights.

Related: The complete guide to flying to London on points and miles

Watch the iconic 'changing of the guard'

changing of the guard.

Peeking at Buckingham Palace through its gates is completely free (alas, touring inside is not), but if you really want to make the most of a trip to see the home of the royal family, you should time your visit so you can watch the changing of the guard, a ceremony which takes place on the palace forecourt outside.

Weather permitting, you'll get to witness a bit of the pomp and circumstance the British royal family is known for. There's a musical accompaniment to the King's Guard coming off duty as the new soldiers take their place. Obviously, it's a popular activity for London visitors, so arrive early to secure a good viewing spot.

Opening times: Usually Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 11 a.m.; schedule here Nearest Tube station: St. James's Park, Green Park or Knightsbridge Learn more: The Household Division website

Reach new heights at the Sky Garden 

The Sky Garden

It's totally free to take in the 360-degree views of the capital from its highest public garden. It sits inside the "Walkie-Talkie" building on 20 Fenchurch St.

To enjoy the viewing terrace and the gardens themselves (which feature an array of Mediterranean and South African plants), book tickets in advance. If you want to keep the activity completely free, you'll have to avoid Sky Garden's restaurant and bar offerings.

There are a few more free attractions within walking distance: Monument to the Great Fire of London, St. Dunstan-in-the-East Church Garden designed by Christopher Wren, Leadenhall Market and the iconic "Gherkin" building.

Opening times: Weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nearest Tube station : Monument Learn more: Sky Garden's official website

Walk along the Tower Bridge

A walk along the bridge is free

Tower Bridge has been a solid icon of the London skyline since it was first built in the late 1800s. If you want to go inside its towers or stroll along its glass walkways, you'll have to pay to enter. However, it's free to marvel at the bridge's height and beauty just by walking across it.

You'll see plenty of landmarks en route, including the Tower of London and the (slightly murky) River Thames that the bridge crosses. The Tower Bridge also makes an excellent backdrop for any wish-you-were-here photos you might post on Instagram.

Opening times: Always open Nearest Tube station: Tower Hill or London Bridge Learn more: Tower Bridge's official website

Find a gem at Portobello Road market

The market is known for its antiques

There's almost always something exciting happening at Portobello Road market, but busy Saturdays are easily the best time to visit. The stalls specialize in antiques, vintage and secondhand finds, and a few edible treats. To keep things free of charge, you'll have to stick to browsing, not buying.

If you can't make it on a Saturday but want to shop for clothes, there are plenty of stores dotting Notting Hill's standout street. They include antique treasure troves, retro clothing spots and gems like The Portobello Print and Map Shop. Since the 1940s, this area has been known as a hub for antiquing.

Opening times: Monday to Saturday. Times vary from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Thursday) and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Friday and Saturday). Nearest Tube station: Ladbroke Grove Learn more: Portobello Road's official website

Admire art in The National Gallery

essay in london

Want to see masterpieces from the likes of Vermeer, Cezanne, da Vinci, Monet and van Gogh for free? Head to London's iconic Trafalgar Square and step inside The National Gallery to admire a sensational collection of European art spanning multiple centuries.

Expand your knowledge by perusing a range of free temporary exhibitions, too. Examples of past exhibitions include "Turner on Tour," "Discover Manet & Eva Gonzalès," and "Gainsborough's Blue Boy." Note a select few temporary exhibitions do charge.

Opening times: Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Fridays Nearest Tube station: Charing Cross or Leicester Square Learn more: The National Gallery's official website

See street art in Shoreditch 

There's plenty of street art in Shoreditch

Shoreditch, a hip neighborhood in East London, offers a different kind of art: street art. Look around, and you'll find colorful murals on the sides of buildings, collages on billboards and unexpected designs along the walls. It's completely free to admire this art, though some companies also offer walking tours around the area.

Once in Shoreditch, you won't be far from Brick Lane — a narrow street stretching through Bethnal Green and Spitalfields, famous for its curry houses and vintage shops. Brick Lane offers plenty of things to do, such as sampling food truck offerings, playing junkyard golf and visiting the record shop Rough Trade East. Of course, those activities will cost you, but it's still worth looking around.

Opening times: Always open Nearest Tube station: Liverpool Street or Shoreditch High Street Overground

Related: The best hotels in London

Visit the Natural History Museum

Inside the Natural History Museum.

Admission to the Natural History Museum, one of London's most fascinating museums, is free. Booking a time slot in advance is essential during busy periods. Once inside, you can explore its vast collection of skeletons and rare artifacts that chart the course of the Earth's history, from prehistoric dinosaurs and giant sloths to modern mammals and marine life.

The building in South Kensington is also a point of interest. If you've never been before, expect to spend up to several hours here poring over the different displays.

Opening times: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. Nearest Tube station: South Kensington Learn more: Natural History Museum's official website

Get out in nature at Walthamstow Wetlands

Walthamstow Wetlands

If you think it's impossible to visit a nature reserve in the middle of London, think again. OK, it's not quite in the middle of London, but it's on the edge of Walthamstow in East London, not far from Tottenham.

Free to walk through, the wetlands offer several walking (or running) trails overlooking the water. The reserve provides a gorgeously green escape from the hustle and bustle of the busy city, especially during the warmer months. It's a year-round haven for birds, with species including grey herons, kingfishers, peregrine falcons and tufted ducks. The on-site Victorian Engine House is now a visitor center and cafe.

Opening times: Daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nearest Tube station: Blackhorse Road or Tottenham Hale Learn more: London Wildlife Trust's official website

Go landmark- and statue-spotting

Wellington Arch

Jaunt around central London long enough and you'll see many statues and landmarks. If you're looking for ways to keep yourself entertained without pulling out the credit card, challenge yourself to a scavenger hunt of the city's most iconic landmarks as well as its more unusual or whimsical figures.

Just a few examples you could go looking for include:

  • Marble Arch
  • Wellington Arch
  • Boadicea and Her Daughters statue on Victoria Embankment
  • Queen Alexandra Memorial on Marlborough Road
  • Sherlock Holmes statue on Marylebone (near the supposed site of Baker Street)
  • Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens
  • Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens
  • Amy Winehouse statue on Chalk Farm Road

Opening times: Varies (some always open) Nearest Tube station: Varies, depending on which you'd like to see

Feel stylish at the V&A Museum

Inside the silver gallery at the V&A

Expect to find exhibitions and displays devoted to art, design, fashion, textiles and all things creative at the beloved Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington (commonly known as the V&A).

Its offerings vary from the Raphael Cartoons tapestry designs to a photography exhibit of Julia Margaret Cameron's work. An ongoing metalwork exhibition also contains gold, silver and Bronze Age items. To see what's on display during your visit, take a look at the official website. Or, poke your head in and check it out — it's free.

Opening times: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., with a late close at 10 p.m. on Fridays Nearest Tube station: South Kensington Learn more: V&A Museum's official website

Try the Tate Modern or Tate Britain

The Tate Modern

The two Tate galleries offer two very different types of art. Luckily, admission is free for both. As its name suggests, Tate Modern focuses on modern art and unusual materials as well as film, video and performance.

Tate Britain has several collections, including a walkthrough of British works by artist J.M.W. Turner and others ordered by date and an exhibition.

Opening times: Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nearest Tube station: Southwark (Tate Modern) and Pimlico or Vauxhall (Tate Britain) Learn more: Websites for Tate Modern and Tate Britain

Check out the Barbican

The Barbican Estate is an example of Brutalist architecture.

The Barbican complex is a must-visit if you're interested in the residential Barbican Estate's world-famous Brutalist architecture. Luckily, you can admire it for free. Or, you can enjoy the Barbican Centre, which houses a library, cinema, cafe, restaurant, shop, and various art and design exhibitions or installations — some of which are free.

Opening times: Daily from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., though the estate is always open Nearest Tube station: Barbican Learn more: Barbican's official website

Mosey along the Parkland Walk

The Spriggan along Parkland Walk

You can find the Parkland Walk, one of London's longest nature reserves, along what was once a railway track. As you stroll the 4 1/2-mile trail (which is broken into sections), you'll pass Muswell Hill and Crouch End and through to Stroud Green and Finsbury Park — areas you may not usually get to visit.

There are plenty of trees and wildflowers on this stroll, as well as local art; you'll see the Spriggan sculpture peering down at you from an archway and picturesque views over North London neighborhoods. It is especially lovely in the sunshine.

Opening times: Always open Nearest Tube station: Highgate or Finsbury Park Learn more: Friends of the Parkland Walk's website (for useful maps and directions)

Climb to the top of Primrose Hill

Primrose Hill.

Once you climb the short (but steep) grassy route up to the top of Primrose Hill in Regent's Park, you can enjoy great views over the city. Again, you'll likely get the best views on a clear or sunny day, but it's even worth the tiny trek when the skies are gray.

The neighboring residential area of Primrose Hill is very pleasant and peaceful — think candy-colored townhouses, with a street of on-trend cafes, boutiques and upscale grocery shops. Over the decades, Primrose Hill has been home to plenty of British stars and A-list actors, so it's no surprise that it's a pretty nice place.

Opening times: Daily from 5 a.m. until dusk Nearest Tube station: Chalk Farm

Learn at the Science Museum

Interested in space? The history of aviation? Medicine? Math? Mechanics? Look no further than the Science Museum. Spending a day here will entertain and, hopefully, teach you a thing or two about how all of that works.

Near the Natural History Museum and V&A, the Science Museum is also free to explore. Check out numerous galleries (such as "Exploring Space," about humanity's journeys beyond Earth), some temporary galleries (such as a COVID-19 vaccine exhibition, a tour related to clockmaking and an area devoted to science fiction) and some interactive galleries.

Opening times: Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nearest Tube station: South Kensington Learn more: Science Museum's official website

Chill out in Hyde Park

Hyde Park is one of London's many green spaces

Parks are plentiful in the city, so you won't struggle to find green space. However, some parks are a little more special than others. Hyde Park sits ideally between Buckingham Palace and Kensington Gardens. It's a convenient place to stop, sit and enjoy some people-watching before ticking more attractions off your London bucket list.

There are some points of interest in the park, too, including several statues. The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain is a trickling, meandering tribute to the late princess, and it was first unveiled in 2004. Meanwhile, the Rose Garden is best seen blooming in early summer. There's also an adventure playground if you're traveling with children.

Opening times: Daily from 5 a.m. until midnight Nearest Tube station: Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Marble Arch and Lancaster Gate all surround the park Learn more: Hyde Park's official website

Step back in time at the British Museum

Inside the British Museum

The British Museum takes visitors on a journey through 2 million years of human history, art and culture — not just in Britain but all around the globe. Galleries showcase histories and artifacts from Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, South Asia, Africa and Europe across the centuries.

The museum is free, though you must book a ticket to secure a slot. As with the Natural History Museum, you'll want to set aside a good chunk of time to fully take in the exhibits on display.

Opening times: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours until 8:30 p.m. on Fridays Nearest Tube station: Holborn, Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street or Russell Square Learn more: British Museum's official website

Follow the footpaths along Regent's Canal 

Regent's Canal, seen by Victoria Park

Step aside, Amsterdam — London has a canal, too. The nearly 9-mile Regent's Canal stretches through a huge swath of the city. It's ideal for travelers who want to save money by exploring the city on foot.

A stroll along the canal will take you from Paddington's "Little Venice" area past Regent's Park, Camden Market, Islington and the King's Cross area. There's even a London Canal Museum in the King's Cross area. Admission is 6 British pounds (about $7.50). The path will take you all the way to Hackney and Victoria Park, then finally down to the Limehouse Basin and River Thames.

Opening times: Always open Nearest Tube station: Paddington is a possible starting point for the route, as is Camden Town, King's Cross St. Pancras, or Limehouse DLR stop Learn more: Canal & River Trust's website

Wander around Hampstead Heath 

Parliament Hill viewpoint at Hampstead Heath

Head to North London to visit one of the city's most idyllic green spaces and one of its highest points. Check out the cityscape from Parliament Hill viewpoint, or enjoy a leisurely walk past nature ponds and through woods. There are also dedicated walking trails here.

Visit the free Golders Hill Park Zoo or enjoy playgrounds and sports facilities. There are also natural swimming pools for both men and women (though they charge a fee for entry and have specific opening times).

Opening times: Always open Nearest Tube station: Hampstead, Golders Green, Hampstead Heath Overground or Gospel Oak Overground Learn more: Hampstead Heath's website

Browse Covent Garden

Inside the market at Covent Garden

If you can resist the urge to splurge on clothes, jewelry, technology, books and other treats, then roaming around the famous Covent Garden is free of charge.

Expect Covent Garden to be buzzing with both locals and visitors, as it's one of London's best-known shopping destinations. Keep an eye out for the beautiful Royal Opera House and the colorful alleyway Neal's Yard. If you do want to spend on something to eat, stop at the street food hot spot Seven Dials Market.

Opening times: Always open (but shop/market opening times will vary) Nearest Tube station: Covent Garden Learn more: Covent Garden's website

Smell the flowers at Columbia Road Market

Columbia Road is famous for its flower market each Sunday.

Market fans will find plenty of stalls to peruse in all corners of London, but for one of the city's prettiest and most fragrant markets, head to Columbia Road in East London.

Within walking distance of Hackney and Shoreditch, Columbia Road is a narrow street lined with independent shops (selling records, quirky gifts and even outfits for dogs), cafes and pubs. The area blossoms on Sundays as florists gather to sell bouquets, unusual succulents, houseplants and herbs. Arrive early, though, as it is pretty much guaranteed to be packed.

Opening times: Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nearest Tube station: Hoxton Overground or Bethnal Green Learn more: Columbia Road's website

Explore the Horniman Museum and Gardens

South London's Horniman Museum and Gardens is an excellent free activity if you've already hit up London's major free museums. You'll need to take a train to reach it, but it's a nice escape from the well-trodden tourist areas.

Known for its anthropological and natural history exhibits and a vast collection of musical instruments, the museum is certainly eclectic. The gardens are gorgeous, spanning 16 acres; they include a picturesque Victorian conservatory and a dedicated nature trail. The Horniman is also home to the Butterfly House and an aquarium, though both require a small entry fee.

Opening times: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (museum) and 7:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (gardens) Nearest Tube station: Forest Hill Overground Learn more: Horniman Museum's official website

Go neon in God's Own Junkyard

neon lights

In Walthamstow, East London, there is an art gallery and shop called God's Own Junkyard. Practically every inch of it is completely covered by huge, glowing neon signs emanating a vibrant pink hue throughout the room. A museum of sorts for all things neon, it's an Instagrammer's dream, and it's just as eye-catching as it looks on social media. Signs are for sale, too, and there's a cafe/bar.

If you fancy more art, take a short bus trip or a 20-minute walk down the road to the free-to-browse William Morris Gallery. It's devoted to 1800s textile designer William Morris and his dainty floral designs. Also, look out for the lengthy outdoor market along Walthamstow High Street.

Opening times: Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., though opening times may vary Nearest Tube station: Walthamstow Central Learn more: God's Own Junkyard official website

Admire the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park

waterfall in park

Holland Park in West London is full of serene areas, and the Kyoto Garden is one of the best. It's a perfect spot for when you want a moment away from London's hustle and bustle.

Expect green spaces, colorful Japanese maple trees, a tranquil waterfall and a koi pond in this peaceful part of the park, which the Japanese city gifted to London in the early 1990s. Visit during springtime, ideally April, to see cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Opening times: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nearest Tube station: Holland Park

See the Crystal Palace dinosaurs

Two of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs

South London's Crystal Palace Park is a must for dinosaur-mad youngsters or anyone with a penchant for historic curiosities. It's home to some very special sculptures of dinosaurs and extinct animals, which are on display on mini islands around the park.

According to the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs , these statues date back to the mid-1800s and were the first attempt at creating full-scale models of the prehistoric creatures. Naturally, they were seen as pioneering at the time. They don't look like dinosaurs as we know them now, but that is ultimately part of their charm.

Opening times: Open daily from 7:30 a.m. (9 a.m. on weekends) to 8:30 p.m. Nearest Tube station: Penge West Overground or Crystal Palace Overground Learn more: Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

Ascend to Alexandra Palace

building exterior

For an excellent panoramic view over London — with the Shard and Gherkin jutting into the distant skyline — walk up to the stunning Alexandra Palace in North London. "Ally Pally" itself is an entertainment venue, with a newly renovated East Court installation space free to enjoy. It also boasts a surrounding park, a garden center and an ice rink (which is sadly not free). There are plenty of places to eat or drink as well.

Although it was named for Queen Alexandra (then Princess of Wales) when it was first built in the 1870s, Alexandra Palace was originally intended to be an entertainment space rather than a royal residence. It has served other uses over the years, including in 1936, when BBC broadcast the world's first regular high-definition TV service from the site.

Opening times: Park is always open; East Court daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nearest Tube station: Wood Green Learn more: Alexandra Palace's official website

Spot London's best blue plaques

The blue plaque at the former flat of Diana before she became Princess of Wales

If you plan to keep costs low by exploring on foot, look out for blue plaques as you walk. You'll spot them on buildings and houses all over Greater London. They highlight the birthplaces and former residences of historically significant people.

There are almost 1,000 plaques across the entire city. Search for any figures that might interest you on English Heritage's website. A handful of notable plaques include:

  • Charlie Chaplin at 15 Glenshaw Mansions, Brixton Road
  • Jimi Hendrix at 23 Brook St., Mayfair
  • Diana, Princess of Wales, at Flat 60, Coleherne Court, Old Brompton Road
  • Mary Seacole at 14 Soho Square, Soho
  • Agatha Christie at 58 Sheffield Terrace, Holland Park
  • Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst at 50 Clarendon Road, Notting Hill
  • Oscar Wilde at 34 Tite St., Chelsea
  • Bob Marley at 42 Oakley St., Chelsea

Opening times: Always open Nearest Tube station: Varies Learn more: English Heritage's website

Try street food at Borough Market, Camden Market or Broadway Market

borough market

London's many glorious street food markets sometimes pop up on lists of "free things" to do. As long as you don't make purchases, it's free to browse the stalls at Borough Market, take in the aromas at tourist hot spot Camden Market or enjoy the Saturday bustle at Broadway Market in London Fields.

You can take in the atmosphere and see what's on offer. You may even find a free sample or two. However, if you're a foodie (or it's just lunchtime and you're hungry), opening your wallet may be hard to resist. Expect an array of cuisines, junk food creations and even homemade sweet treats.

Opening times: Varies; market opening times Nearest Tube stations: London Bridge (Borough Market), Camden Town (Camden Market), Bethnal Green or London Fields Overground (Broadway Market) Learn more: Websites for Borough Market , Camden Market and Broadway Market

Play games at Novelty Automation

Novelty Automation is known for its unusual arcade games

This hidden gem in Holborn is technically free. However, it might be difficult to walk inside the arcade, take a mere look at its undeniably unique and satirical gaming machines — all designed by engineer Tim Hunkin — and leave without buying a single token. After all, a token only costs 1 pound (about $1.25).

Opening times: Varies from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday), 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Thursday), 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Sunday) Nearest Tube station: Holborn or Chancery Lane Learn more: Novelty Automation's official website

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Guest Essay

Europe Is About to Drown in the River of the Radical Right

A close-up photograph of the European flag, on an indoor standing flagpole, with just some people’s hands peeking out from behind it and also pointing at it.

Ms. Ypi, a professor of political theory at the London School of Economics, wrote from London.

Europe is awash with worry. Ahead of parliamentary elections widely expected to deliver gains to the hard right, European leaders can barely conceal their anxiety. In a speech in late April, President Emmanuel Macron of France captured the prevailing mood. After eloquently warning of threats to the continent, he pronounced the need for a newly powerful Europe, a “Europe puissance.”

As I watched the speech , I was reminded of Niccolò Machiavelli’s comments in the opening pages of “The Prince,” his seminal 16th-century treatise on political power. In a dedication to Lorenzo de’ Medici, the ruler of the Florentine Republic, Machiavelli suggested that politics is in many ways like art. Just as landscape painters imaginatively place themselves in the plains to examine the mountains and on top of mountains to study the plains, so too should rulers inhabit their domains. “To know the nature of the people well, one must be a prince,” Machiavelli wrote, “and to know the nature of princes well, one must be of the people.”

Here was a politician grappling with the first part of Machiavelli’s sentence, an officeholder trying to comprehend the lay of the land. What is power in contemporary Europe, and how should it be exercised by the European Union? Mr. Macron answered in princely fashion, showing awareness of both the finite nature of every political community — Europe is “mortal,” he said — and its cyclical vulnerability to crisis. He concluded with a passionate defense of European “civilization” and urged the creation of a paradigm to revive it.

Yet for all his aspirations, Mr. Macron neglected the second half of Machiavelli’s sentence: that people also form views on their rulers, which rulers ignore at their peril. Mr. Macron brushed aside the many Europeans who feel the bloc is aloof and inaccessible, describing their disenchantment as a result of “false arguments.” The dismissal was no aberration. For decades, the leaders of the European Union have overlooked the people in the plains, shutting out the continent’s citizens from any meaningful political participation. This exclusion has changed the contours of the European landscape, paving the way for the radical right.

When Machiavelli reflected on the crises of his time — among them conflicts between major European powers, discontent with public officials and the collapsing legitimacy of the Roman Catholic Church — he turned to the Roman Republic for inspiration. When there is skepticism about values, he wrote, history is our only remaining guide. The secret to Roman freedom, he explained in the “Discourses on Livy,” was neither its good fortune nor its military might. Instead, it lay in the Romans’ ability to mediate the conflict between wealthy elites and the vast majority of people — or as he put it, “i grandi” (the great) and “il popolo” (the people).

While the inherent tendency of the great, Machiavelli argued, is to accumulate wealth and power to rule the rest, the inherent desire of the people is to avoid being at the elites’ mercy. The clash between the groups generally pulled polities in opposite directions. Yet the Roman Republic had institutions, like the tribunate of the plebs, that sought to empower the people and contain the elites. Only by channeling rather than suppressing this conflict, Machiavelli said, could civic freedom be preserved.

Europe has not heeded his advice. For all its democratic rhetoric, the European Union is closer to an oligarchic institution. Overseen by an unelected body of technocrats in the European Commission, the bloc allows for no popular consultation on policy, let alone participation. Its fiscal rules, which impose strict limits on the budgets of member states, offer protection for the rich while imposing austerity on the poor. From top to bottom, Europe is dominated by the interests of the wealthy few, who restrict the freedom of the many.

Its predicament, of course, is not unique. Businesses, financial institutions, credit rating agencies and powerful interest groups call the shots everywhere, severely constraining the power of politicians. The European Union is far from the worst offender. Still, in nation-states, the semblance of democratic participation can be sustained through allegiance to a shared constitution. In the European Union, whose founding myth is the free market, the case is much harder to make.

The transnational character of the bloc is often supposed to be behind Europeans’ dislike of it. Yet those who resist the current European Union do not do so because it is too cosmopolitan. Very simply, and not unreasonably, they resist it because it fails to represent them. The Parliament for which Europeans will be voting next month, to take one glaring example of the bloc’s lack of democracy, has little legislative power of its own: It tends to merely rubber-stamp decisions made by the commission. It is this representative gap that is filled by the radical right, turning the problem into simple binaries — either you or them, the state or Europe, the white worker or the migrant.

It is perhaps surprising that the bloc’s democratic deficit has become a rallying cry for the radical right, but it explains much of its success. A recent poll , for example, showed that Europe’s citizens are much more concerned about poverty, jobs, living standards and climate change than they are about migration. This suggests that the appeal of the radical right lies less in its obsessive hostility to migrants than in its criticism of the bloc’s failures to address people’s everyday concerns. European politicians could seek to remedy that by changing institutions to improve citizens’ bargaining power and make them feel heard. Instead, they prefer to give stern lectures.

The radical right may be on the rise in Europe, but it does not have to be this way. Politics is always at the mercy of fortune. Yet fortune, as Machiavelli emphasized in “The Prince,” is like a river whose overflow can be prevented by building dikes and dams. If European politicians are increasingly trapped in emergency management, it’s because they have failed in the first task of politics worthy of the name: to diagnose the causes of crisis, to explain who is represented and who is excluded and to defend those whose freedom is endangered.

The politics of the people presented by the radical right may be narrowly ethnocentric, but it is the only one on offer that speaks directly to people’s disillusionment. Our modern princes may choose to look away. Yet as long as the radical right continues to dominate the terms of mainstream debate, while its historical roots are discreetly ignored, no appeal to European values will stop the river in which we’re all about to drown.

Lea Ypi ( @lea_ypi ) is a professor of political theory at the London School of Economics and the author of “Free: Coming of Age at the End of History.”

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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Trump's hush money trial

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Michael Cohen testifies in Trump hush money trial

By CNN's Kara Scannell, Lauren Del Valle and Jeremy Herb in the courthouse

"We needed to put a spin on this," Cohen testifies about Trump calls after "Access Hollywood" tape release

Michael Cohen said that he was still in London on October 8, when he had several calls with Hope Hicks, including one call that Donald Trump joined.

Cohen also spoke separately to Trump that day, he said.

Cohen recalled stepping out of dinner with his family and friends in London to take the calls with Trump.

There were two calls, according to the phone logs. They have been entered into evidence.

Prosecutors are showing call records with the calls: one lasting 4 minutes, 19 seconds and one lasting 7 minutes, 46 seconds between Trump and Cohen.

"He wanted me to reach out to all my contacts in the media. We needed to put a spin on this. The spin he wanted put on it was that this is locker room talk, something that Melania had recommended or at least he told me that’s what Melania had thought it was and use that in order to get control over the story and to minimize its impact on him and his campaign," Cohen testified.

Cohen says he wanted to "ensure" Trump would be protected

Steve Bannon forwarded the email from the Washington Post seeking comment on the "Access Hollywood" tape to Michael Cohen. According to the email, Cohen responded to Bannon, "Please call me."

"It’s all over the place. Whose doing damage control here?" Cohen wrote.

Cohen says he wanted to "ensure" that things were being taken care of properly and that Trump would be protected.

Prosecutors show Washington Post email asking Hicks for comment on "Access Hollywood" story

Prosecutors are now showing a Washington Post email to Hope Hicks seeking comment on the "Access Hollywood" story.

Donald Trump leans forward to look at the email on his screen.

Prosecutors have previously shown this email chain to jurors during Hicks' testimony.

Hicks, once a longtime trusted aide in Trump’s inner circle,  testified on May 3 in the trial after being subpoenaed.

Trump is done reading papers and has resumed sitting back and closing his eyes

Donald Trump is done reading his papers and has returned to sitting back in his chair with his eyes closed as his former fixer Michael Cohen is testifying.

Cohen says he learned about "Access Hollywood" tape in phone call from Hope Hicks

Michael Cohen said he was in London for his daughter's birthday and wedding anniversary when he became aware of the "Access Hollywood" video.

"I received a phone call," he said. "from Hope Hicks."

More background: On October 7, 2016, The Washington Post  released an "Access Hollywood" video  from 2005 in which Donald Trump uses vulgar language to describe his sexual approach to women with then show host Billy Bush.

Fallout from the "Access Hollywood" tape  prompted Trump’s inner circle to do damage control  of any more potentially bad press like an alleged affair story from adult film star Stormy Daniels, according to prosecutors. 

Cohen says he never played the 2016 recording with Trump for Pecker

Michael Cohen says there was never a need to play the recorded conversation with Trump for David Pecker.

"I told him I could, but I just never played it," Cohen says.

Remember: Cohen said he recorded the September 6, 2016, call with Donald Trump  in part to make sure Pecker remained loyal.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville: Trump is going through "mental anguish" in courtroom

From CNN's Eva Rothenberg

Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville told reporters Monday that Donald Trump is being put through "mental anguish" in his hush money trial and criticized the court for calling the former president "Mr. Trump" instead of "Former President Trump."

"That courtroom is depressing," said Tuberville. "This is New York City, icon of our country, and we got a courtroom that is the most depressing thing I've ever been in. The Republican candidate for president of the United States is going through mental anguish in a courtroom that's very depressing."

Tuberville also called Michael Cohen a "convicted felon" and "a serial liar."

Ohio Republican Sen. JD Vance, who also spoke to reporters outside the courtroom, said Cohen's testimony should not be believed by any reasonable juror.

Cohen says he had "quite a few" conversations with Trump about the McDougal issue

Michael Cohen says he had "quite a few" conversations with Donald Trump about the Karen McDougal issue, in person and on the phone.

As far as conversations with Dylan Howard and David Pecker of AMI, Cohen testifies, "also a substantial amount."

Cohen explains why David Pecker told him Trump no longer had to pay $125,000

Michael Cohen is testifying that David Pecker told him the Karen McDougal cover on Men's Health magazine had sold more copies than they had anticipated, and they had a second cover coming.

"He felt it was even for the $150,000, it was an excellent business deal," Cohen says of Pecker.

Cohen said: "David Pecker contacted me and stated it was no longer necessary to have Mr. Trump pay the $125,000."

"He told me to rip it up, forget it," he says of Pecker.

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News | Politics

Laurence Fox loses deposit after failing to become London Assembly member

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Laurence Fox has lost his £5,000 deposit after securing just 0.5 per cent of votes in his attempt to become a London Assembly member.

Mr Fox had already been barred from taking part in the London mayoral elections after submitting invalid nomination papers .

But the actor-turned-right-wing political activist did manage to correctly submit his papers to be a candidate for the London Assembly. 

Mr Fox polled just 0.55 per cent of the 2,493,805 votes cast for the London-wide assembly members.

He received 13,795 votes, below the five per cent threshold required to have his deposit returned.

The Reclaim Party founder has been the subject of several high-profile controversies in recent weeks.

essay in london

Mr Fox was ordered to pay out £180,000 in libel damages to a drag artist and a charity boss after he referred to them as paedophiles on social media .

A social media post by Mr Fox is also being investigated by police about an “upskirting offence”.

The now-deleted tweet, posted on Tuesday, featured a compromising image of Narinder Kaur, a broadcaster who appears regularly on Good Morning Britain and GB News . The post remained on Fox’s account until it was deleted on Thursday.

The broadcaster is seeking legal advice following the post.

London Elects, the impartial organisation that oversees the City Hall elections, said in March that Mr Fox’s application to stand in the mayoral election was “not valid”.

At the time he claimed he had been deliberately blocked from standing.

In 2021, Mr Fox received 47,634 first-preference votes, putting him sixth out of 20 candidates. He was eliminated after the first round of voting and lost his deposit after failing to reach the threshold of five per cent of votes cast.

Mr Fox has said he had been “cancelled” as an actor after expressing controversial views on numerous subjects.

In the 2021 mayoral election, he stood on an “anti-woke” platform and broke with the consensus of encouraging uptake of the covid vaccine as he called for lockdown to be lifted.

He was sacked by GB News last September after questioning who would want to “shag” a female journalist . 

Ofcom ruled the episode of Dan Wootton Tonight had broken broadcasting rules.

Sadiq Khan admits he had 'no plan B' if he'd lost mayoral election

Sadiq Khan admits he had 'no plan B' if he'd lost mayoral election

Mayor earns more than Prime Minister as salary rises to £160,000

Mayor earns more than Prime Minister as salary rises to £160,000

Revealed: How the Tories blew the London mayoral election

Revealed: How the Tories blew the London mayoral election

Enter the AXA Startup Angel competition to win £25,000

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