Are you visiting London this month? Here are some tips for you!

London is the most popular European city for Italians. Are you planning to visit London for your winter holidays, and maybe stay there for New Year’s Eve? Well, here is some advice for you, especially if it’s your first time in the city.

– First of all, travel by tube. The tube is the fastest and cheapest way to travel in London. To save time and money, get an Oyster Card: it is rechargeable and you can get it at any Visitor Centre or tube station. (For more information about Oyster cards https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/where-to-top-up-and-buy-tickets) If you travel by tube, it’s a good idea to avoid the most crowded times of the day, which are from 8 to 9 am and from 5 to 6 pm. And mind the gap!

– If you prefer travelling while seeing the landscape, you can rent a bike – if the weather permits – or go for a Hop-on Hop-off bus. With Hop-on Hop-off bus tickets, a ferry ticket on the River Thames is often included. Remember to pack warm clothes, as temperatures in winter can go from 2 to 10 degrees.

– Don’t be disappointed if you won’t be able to see the Big Ben in its full splendour. The iconic tower is being refurbished for maintenance, so at the moment you only get to see its clock. Moreover, since last year the bells have been silenced to renovate all the components – and to prevent the workmen from going deaf!

– The Globe is a reconstruction of the theatre where Shakespeare and his Chambelain Men used to perform his most famous plays. Now the Globe is alive and functioning and, as it is an open-air theatre, its season goes from May to August. In any case, here you can find information about this season http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/v/globe-theatre. Are you planning to visit in winter? You can still have a guided tour of the theatre.

– At Christmas time, do not miss the festive Christmas markets on the Southbank, or the Southbank centre for the Winter Festival. If you feel athletic, there’s a big ice-rink in Canary Wharf while, if you’re cold, well, there’s plenty of tea in London! Hyde Park celebrates Christmas big time with its Winter Wonderland: there are markets, but also family activities, a Giant Observation Wheel and the biggest ice-rink in the UK.

– If you want to stay in London for New Year’s Eve, remember that to watch the fireworks you need a ticket and, as you can imagine, the city during that night is particularly crowded.
Plan your journey in advance as the spaces in the centre are limited -they are probably sold out already. If you haven’t made it, you can still enjoy your night watching the fireworks from another location – like a cruise in the Thames – or forget about them and celebrate at one of the numerous parties across the city (there’s also a Bunga Bunga party in Convent Garden if you’re interested). You can find more information here https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/whats-on/new-years-eve/things-to-do-on-new-years-eve-in-london

– London is quite big and full of iconic sights, so to make the most of your trip it’s important that you do some research and planning before you leave home. If the point of your journey is to improve your English while having fun, have you considered a study abroad trip? Contact the International House closest to you for all the information about a study abroad programme in the UK.