The rugged charm of London

Priceless impressions

London is a city where you can get lost, found and lost again. There are so many tourist attractions in it that spending a weekend among crowded London streets can be like a constant gallop from one monument to another. It is no different when it comes to clubs and the intensity of the city's nightlife - you can lose the sense of reality from the fast pace of fun. On the other hand, it is known for a long time that the British (not only from London) like to go to Poland on crazy weekends, where it is much cheaper and the offer is just as rich. Especially the inhabitants of Krakow know this well.

If, on the other hand, we, tourists from Poland, want to spend the weekend in London, we should plan our stay well. It is impossible to get to know all the attractions in such a short time, but after the first trip, there will certainly be more, so you can enjoy sightseeing.

London fast

The architecture of London is a specific combination of modernity and splendor of historic palaces reminding us of royal power at every step. One of the most famous is the palace complex of the Tower of London , surrounded by a dry moat bed and several rows of walls. In the past, it served as a prison, from which there was allegedly no escape, today the fortress with a stronghold, the White Tower and a treasury are a great attraction of the city - both due to the architecture of the buildings and the ravens being the symbol of the tower. They are such an important element that a special Ravenmaster is assigned to care for them.

There is no person who would not know the imposing building of the most important seat of monarchs. The 18th-century Buckingham Palace, the residence of the Queen and her family, impresses with its grandeur, beautiful interior and the number of apartments. Here you can really feel tiny. The Royal Palace is undoubtedly one of London's most important tourist attractions. Right behind it is the former residence of Princess Diana, Kensington Palace - now the home of Prince William and Princess Kate.

Anyone who has already visited this beautiful city knows that it is not too cheap. A large part of the attractions require an admission fee and sometimes these are fees of a dozen or even several dozen pounds, as is the case at the Madame Tussaud Wax Museum - All inclusive ticket costs £ 45.00. One must also pay for the opportunity to see one of the most beautiful panoramas of London. It extends from the London Eye capsule, also known as the Millennium Wheel. This 135-meter-high observation wheel on the south bank of the Thames is the largest Ferris wheel in Europe. Every year, it is visited by about 3.5 million tourists, which is not surprising given the unforgettable views that can be seen from the top. A full wheel spin takes 40 minutes, and ticket prices start up to £ 17.28 (volunteers can purchase a special offer. For example, the cost of a ticket for £ 40.00 includes tasting 5 types of wine).

Those for whom the wheel height is not enough can visit the Shard London Bridge , one of the tallest skyscrapers in Europe. It measures almost 310 meters and has 72 floors, and its viewpoints will fully satisfy every tourist. The Shard briefly enjoyed the first position on the list of the tallest skyscrapers in the continent. At the end of 2012, it was overtaken by the Moscow Mercury City Tower (339 m), where finishing works are still underway.

Walking for free

Tourists who want to get to know as many attractions as possible, and at the same time not go bankrupt, will find many places in London that can be seen completely for free - including the famous Nothing Hill district, known from many movies. While in the city, you definitely have to go to one of the royal parks. There are several of them in London and each of them is noteworthy, but the largest of them - Hyde Park , deserves special attention. Londoners love to rest in it, it is also popular with tourists. The area of the park is divided in half by Lake Serpetine, you can walk there for hours without rush. On the other hand, it is not entirely a quiet and peaceful place - it hosts many concerts and various types of outdoor events. In 2012, Madonna performed here, previously Londoners had the opportunity to participate in a concert of such stars as Bon Jovi (2011) or Depeche Mode (2006).

Anyone can be an artist here, and if not an artist, then at least a speaker listened to by the crowd. For those wishing to take the opportunity to become a street orator, visit the Speakers ' Corner. Located in a park near the Marble Arch, it is a place of total freedom of speech. At one time, Włodzimierz Lenin and Karl Marx spoke to the people in the Speakers' Corner, and now their place can be taken by anyone who has such a need. You can talk about anything but insulting the English queen.

Where to stay

Those interested in accommodation in close proximity to the attractions of London can stay at the all-year-round Abbey Wood Caravan Club Site campsite, which costs from £ 6.90 to £ 9.90 for a stand, and from £ 6.10 to £ 8.00 for an overnight stay. The second recommended place is the superbly equipped Crystal Palace Park (Crystal Palace Parade, SE19 1UF), offering tourists Wi-Fi and a host of other amenities. The prices are similar to those of the predecessor - an adult will pay from £ 6.20 to £ 8.00 per night, while a parking space costs from £ 6.80 to £ 10.00.

As you can see, it is not cheap, but the above-mentioned campsites offer the people staying there a full range of attractions, and also - or perhaps most of all - a very good location in the city itself. You can relax on them and easily get to the center, and this is probably the most important for those who want to get to know London as much as possible. The bustling city full of tourists is a great destination for many excursions. The weekend is definitely not enough to get to know them well, but it is definitely a good start.