Feel Like a Local in London
Out of all the large European cities I have visited, London was the town that most surpassed my expectations, and the reason is simple. Even though London is one of the busiest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world, I was still able to do what I love best on my five days there: to feel like a local.
However, I am sure that my planning and selection of activities to do in London is what made this possible. Even though my family and I did many of the classic tours in the English capital, factors like the location we chose to stay and the less touristy activities were critical for that local experience.
So, if you want to see London like a local and have experiences without crowds of tourists bumping into you, here are the things you should plan:
Feel Like a Local in London – South Kensington’s quaint streets
Stay in a less touristy neighborhood and feel like a local
If you want to mingle with locals in London and feel like a local too, you need to stay where they are. That’s why on our trip there we stayed in the neighborhood of South Kensington, a district west of Central London.
Although this area is known for its density of museums and cultural landmarks, which of course attracts tourists, South Kensington is not very central so it is not a favorite for those looking to be in the middle of the hustle and bustle of London.
In this neighborhood, we were able to have breakfast at bakeries where Londoners were buying their warm bread, and had dinner surrounded by locals with their family and friends chatting about their day. So fun!
Besides that, we were walking distance from places like Kensington Palace, The Royal Albert Hall, Serpentine Gallery, and Hyde Park. Not to mention that we had train stations and bus stops steps away from our hotel, which made our logistics to and from central London very easy.
Need help finding where to stay in London? Get in touch!
Feel Like a Local in London – Charming streets and neighborhoods of London
Wonder through the most beautiful streets and neighborhoods of London
This was by far our favorite of all the activities. Prior to our trip, I selected the most beautiful streets and the most quaint neighborhoods of London, and we just let ourselves get lost in them.
In this note, I would like to point out that we were very mindful of the locals’ privacy and made sure not to be evasive on their privacy.
In other words, if you decide to do this activity, be a good tourist and please don’t be loud, peek in windows, or sit in the front steps of houses without permission. This is a serious problem in cities like Paris and Venice and by no means I would like to encourage that in London or anywhere else.
Just enjoy the moment, the walk, and allow yourself to feel like a local.
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Feel Like a Local in London – Kensington gardens
Enjoy a picnic at one of London’s amazing parks and feel like a local
London is known for gloomy days and unpredictable weather. However, I have to say we were very lucky in that sense during our 5 days there. Sunny and warmer days gave us and the locals a chance to fully explore London’s amazing parks.
Our favorite was Hyde Park, since it was right in front of the beautiful Kensington Palace, where the unique Diana Memorial Playground and the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain are located.
This made the perfect spot for a picnic followed by a swim. Yep! My daughter joined the local kids and jumped right in the river-like fountain.
Of course I couldn’t pass up the chance of wetting my toes in such special waters. In sum I can say, no doubt this was one of the most memorable and frigid experiences we have had.
Feel Like a Local in London – Westminster Abbey interior
Visit Westminster Abbey on a Sunday and feel like a local
If there is one thing that makes me extremely emotional, it is hearing beautiful music in a beautiful setting. So, when planning my visit to Westminster Abbey, the incredibly beautiful Gothic abbey that has been the coronation church since 1066, I also had its world-renowned Choir in mind.
I have to say I don’t usually attend mass when I’m on vacation abroad, but this certainly was no ordinary mass and girl, was I emotional!
Being surrounded by locals in one of the most beautiful churches in the world and listening to that extraordinary choir was one of the highlights of our trip to London and an experience I’ll always carry in my heart.
Also, the entrance is free if you attend mass, so you get the best of both worlds.
Feel Like a Local in London – Leadenhall Market in London
Eat and shop at Leadenhall Market
One of the best ways to feel like a local in London is by eating and shopping at one of their many markets. Now, if your goal is also to stay away from crowds and many other tourists, choosing the right ones is critical.
Although we had an incredible time at the Borough Market and the Covent Garden, since they are some of the most famous and more centrally located markets in London, they are also very busy and crowded.
On the other hand, the charming Leadenhall Market and its quieter hallways was where we felt like locals.
Besides being one of the most beautiful markets in the city, this covered market is one of the oldest in London, and it has been the setting of many movies, including Harry Potter. How cool is that?
And although it is also centrally located, its regulars are business people from the financial district nearby on their lunch break. So if you want a nice lunch around locals and without other tourists around, this is the perfect place.
Feel Like a Local in London – Views from The Garden at 120
Visit The Garden at 120
No doubt, one of the most popular and best attractions of London is Sky Garden. In fact, it was my five year old’s favorite place in the British capital and she still randomly talks about it.
But, this is also the typical busy place that you need to book in advance and that you can expect to be surrounded by other tourists.
In contrast, The Garden at 120 is also a very beautiful rooftop garden but it is still a hidden gem in London. On our visit there, we shared the whole space with two hands full of people and even with some locals taking some time off their busy days.
TIP: The Garden at 120 is very close to Sky Garden and to Leadenhall Market, so you can even combine the three on one day.
Need help planning your day-to-day London itinerary? Let me handle it for you.
Feel Like a Local in London – Double Decker s around the city of London
Ride a double decker like a local
Public transportation in London is impeccable and although we used the train a lot, in many cases it made more sense to catch a bus. And there is no better way to feel like a local in London than riding a Double Decker.
To be honest it is so fun and easy you will probably do it multiple times. You can either scan your credit card or the London Pass as you enter the bus, and voila!
Just head upstairs, enjoy the view and the ride, and take this as a chance to chit chat with the locals. I have to say I was impressed with how friendly and polite Londoners were.
Feel Like a Local in London – UberBoat on Thames River.
Ride the UberBoat
So, you are probably familiar with Uber and their cab like services. But, did you know in London you can also ride an UberBoat?
This is such a great option to mingle and feel like a local in London because they use it as much as the tourists.
Not to mention that the UberBoat is also a great alternative if you just want to have the boat experience in the Thames river (which by the way, is a must) but don’t really feel like spending hours on a tour.
They even have a bar at the boat! Cheers to that!
Feel Like a Local in London – The Churchill Arms Pub in London
Enjoy a Happy Hour
As we rode the UberBoat back to our hotel on a Friday evening, we couldn’t help but notice how alive all the bars by the shore of the Thames River were. Not with tourists, but with men and women in their work outfits having some cold drinks after their busy days.
But this is not just a Friday type of local activity. Londoners really enjoy a night out in pubs or rooftops, so be sure to include that on your itinerary if you want to feel like a local in London.
Our favorite spot was The Churchill Arms. Not only did they have an amazing decor but also a super cool ambiance, and a great variety of beers at the perfect temperature (we are very picky about that). Not to mention their unpredictable menu which also included delicious asian dishes.
TIP: The Churchill Arms is quite popular and gets very busy, so I highly recommend booking a table in advance.
Need help finding where to stay in London? Get in touch!
When I thought of London I pictured a gloomy and chilly place with cold people. For this reason the British capital was not at the top of my bucket list. After having visited it, I can say with an open heart that I was very mistaken.
Although the sunny and beautiful weather helped, I would easily return to this incredible city even during the fall or winter seasons.
Londoners were some of the nicest and warmest people I’ve met, and I am convinced that having chosen activities where I could mingle and feel like them is what made my trip there extraordinary.
These were the perfect activities for me and my family, but perhaps your travel style and the purpose for your trip is completely different than ours. If this is the case, get in touch and let’s plan your London trip together. You will feel like a local, and see the British capital your way!
