I’m a sucker for big, bustling cities. Getting lost on a busy, winding street, navigating a new metro system, watching people busily moving to and from work and home, debating which of the hundreds of restaurants to eat at – these are all things that I love.

London has all of this and more. It’s a beautiful, dynamic city that is full of history and culture. I had the pleasure of visiting a couple of times – first on a quick layover returning from a high school trip to Greece, and second for a slightly longer stay at the tail-end of a backpacking trip that took me and a friend all across continental Europe.

To some up London in a few paragraphs is not easy, but let me share some of my highlights.

First of all – the museums and art galleries are a must. Now I’m a total art and history junkie; my undergraduate degree was in Art History, so I love museums. London has some of the best, so even if you aren’t a big gallery-goer, do me a favor and check out these two.

1. Tate Modern

The Tate has one of the best permanent collections of modern art. On top of that the special exhibits do not disappoint, and can range from Turner’s pre-impressionistic work, to Malevich’s Suprematism. The space itself is open and airy; I remember walking through the doors and coming face to face with a towering installation piece that spanned three floor of the lobby space. You can easily spend half a day here.

2. National Gallery

This one can take a full day to get through, but remember, you can see as much or as little as you want. Some great master works here that span the ages, from van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait to van Gogh’s Sunflowers.

Oh, and here’s the best news – admission to public museums and galleries in London is FREE. So no excuses.

Other recommendations/highlights include…

High Tea at one of London’s posh hotels. Brown’s Hotel or The Ritz are good, but pricey choices. There are cheaper options too, so you can determine how much you would like to pay for those cucumber sandwiches and scones with clotted cream.

A ride on The Tube – London’s metro system. The sprawling system gets you pretty much anywhere you want to go in the city, and is easy to navigate and quite affordable too. A double-decker bus ride is also a fun way to get around the city and the big red bus will remind you that you really are in London.

Walk around. I know this might sound obvious, but there are many great neighbourhoods in London and I would argue that all are best explored on foot. Camden Town is a fun place to explore and shop, you can go shopping on Carnaby Street too, and it’s also worth a walk by some of the iconic sites: Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and others.

Stopping at a pub, or two, or three. In fact why not find a different one every night? Try ones that are a little bit off the beaten path – you’ll find a more local vibe if you venture into London’s more residential neighbourhoods.

A visit to Hyde Park; a beautiful refuge in the middle of the city. I recommend packing a picnic (PIMM’s anyone?) and relaxing with a book for an hour or two.

What to read?

For Context.

The London Encyclopedia by Christopher Hibbert, Ben Weinreb & Julia Keay

London has a lengthy history; one that is not easily summed up in one easy-to-read book. However, the London Encyclopedia does a good job in trying. This book is more a reference book than a historical account of the city; however, it provides a strong sense of context by incorporating photos and artwork, as well as references to prominent figures in London’s history.

For Fun.

NW by Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith has been labeled one of the best young authors in England, and with good reason. I read her third novel On Beauty while travelling through Europe on this very trip, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I picked up NW last summer, and was immediately immersed in London culture. Smith unravels a story of four Londoners from the Northwest (hence, the title). The characters are connected in youth, and the story follows each of their separate paths as they grow up and navigate life in in the city. The author’s style is unique and somewhat challenging to grasp at first, but the characters come to life as the book unfolds and you find yourself surprised and often conflicted by the paths each of them take. Overall a great snapshot of a London neighborhood that may not be on your tourism hit-list.