London’s Landmarks: Without Breaking the Bank
If you’re looking for ‘days out near me’ and fancy an adventure in the capital, it’s a good idea to put together an itinerary. Believe it or not, you can enjoy some of London’s biggest landmarks, without breaking the bank. Let’s check out some affordable adventures to enjoy in 2024.
1. London’s Museums
London is home to some of the best museums in the world. One of the most celebrated is the Natural History Museum in South Kensington. This contains a whopping 80 million items and offers five main collections including botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology and zoology. Check out some of the best dinosaur fossils in the UK and don’t miss the 25-metre long whale skeleton known as Hope.
While in the area, you can also pop by the Science Museum where you’ll find all kinds of interactive displays and exhibitions year round. It’s particularly good for families with inquisitive kids. There’s also the ever-popular Victoria and Albert Museum. This showcases over 5000 years of human creativity and includes notorious artwork such as cartoons by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael. These cartoons were designed as sketches for tapestries in the Sistine Chapel.
Most of London’s museums are free to enter and can be explored at your leisure. Whether you’ve a rainy day to kill or a couple of hours, you’re sure to be captivated.
2. Enjoy a South Bank Walk
Family fun days don’t have to mean going to a specific place. Instead, why not take a walk along South Bank and see some of the city’s most magnificent attractions along the way? You can start at Westminster Bridge (looking towards the Houses of Parliament) and continue all the way to Tower Bridge (approximately 2.5 miles in total). En route you’ll see Big Ben, the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern and Southwark Cathedral. Entry to the Tate Modern is free, so you could pop in to browse the galleries along the way.
Just behind Southwark Cathedral (at the London Bridge end of the route) is Borough Market, where you’ll find a buzzing atmosphere and plenty of stalls to browse. Grab a bite to eat, sip a coffee or stock up your food cupboard with some artisanal treats.
3. Tour Theatreland
London’s Theatreland is a bright, vibrant and lively place to be. It’s home to some of the oldest buildings in the UK, with the first theatre built on the site of Theatre Royal, Drury Lane dating back to 1663. The current theatre was constructed in 1812 by architect Benjamin Wyatt and is still regularly frequented by theatregoers.
If your budget allows, you could even catch a show for yourself. There’s something for everyone in the West End, and if you’re visiting London with your family, why not book tickets to see the Olivier Award nominated The Tiger Who Came to Tea? This fun, child-friendly show is ideal for ages three and up, and is well worth adding to your list of ‘family days out near me’. Book your tickets today with KX Tickets.
