5 of the Best Areas of London to Explore this Summer
A sojourn in London is rich in explorative possibilities; just when you might think you have sampled all of the UK capital’s main attractions, something else could pop up to your pleasant surprise.
Of course, you could pore through many tourist handbooks in your attempt to learn what part of London you ought to visit next. However, your mind could too easily settle back on the obvious choices. Take the initiative this summer by exploring London yourself – starting with these spots…
Hampstead Heath
This is the large and aesthetically pleasing public park in Hampstead, a village-like area where you can soak up culture and indie music, as Harper’s BAZAAR reveals. However, the park warrants dedicated attention, as it evokes the tranquility of countryside despite its central setting.
With its more than 30 ponds and strong diversity of wildlife as noted by Wanderlust, the Heath is one of London’s most organic areas – not least due to its size, which spans over 791 acres.
South Bank
Even little elements of South Bank’s sunset look, like the glowing Victorian lampposts and dramatic lighting over the Palace of Westminster, could take your breath away. Just imagine how much your excitement could bubble, then, when you start sampling the more headline tourist attractions.
These include the huge Ferris wheel that is the London Eye, from where you can stroll south to find the Imperial War Museum. Enjoy the sights while walking along the wide, quiet path near the river.
Southwark
You would only have to journey east from South Bank to come across Southwark, which is populated with many of the capital’s best-known draws. Those include Tate Modern for arty types or, if you would favour instead seeing stage thespians, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
Don’t forget to take occasional breaks from all of that culture to nutritionally replenish. For your convenience, Rough Guides points out the succulent food awaiting at Borough market towards Southwark’s southeast, where you could also collect morsels on Bermondsey and Maltby streets.
Covent Garden
If you have casually passed through Covent Garden on occasion, the mere mention of the place probably brings to mind the bustling piazza with its buskers and street entertainers.
However, there’s much more to Covent Garden than them! Head north of the piazza and you can find high-end fashion shops on Long Acre, Floral Street and Neal Street. Covent Garden is also centrally located in London, making it relatively easy to get both to and from.
Shepherds Bush
This is another place to which you can easily travel, thanks to an abundance of public transport connections – including underground rail and generous bus routes. Once you are in this part of West London, you could explore Shepherds Bush Common, a tree-lined section of open grass.
Another advantage of focusing on Shepherds Bush Common is that, from there, you could readily reach the Dorsett Hotel, Shepherds Bush accommodation.
This 4-star Hotel combines heritage and contemporary features in housing 317 rooms across eight storeys. You can easily book your stay through this Dorsett outpost’s website.