Short City Breaks: London – Stopover to Adventure
On your way to an African Safari, a tiger watching expedition in India or even a hike and bike holiday in Italy, why not stop over in London, a perfect beginning or end to your adventure travel holiday. With endless activities, lovely parks and attractions geared to the entire family, London is an amazing destination packed with adventures waiting to happen.
Starting out, the best way to get a broad overview of the city is on the open air, double decker hop-on-hop-off bus. These buses provide easy transportation with the opportunity to stop, get off and see the sights as you go along, and hop back on at your convenience.
London’s multitude of museums provides a fun and educational experience, with over 70 of these providing free admission. With so many museums from which to choose, the question is which to pick when time is short. The Natural History Museum has countless attractions to mesmerize all ages. Youngsters find it fascinating, with its dinosaur skeletons, its discovery trails and crafts workshops. Hands-on exhibits include, among others, a Human Biology gallery, a Creepy Crawlers exhibit, an Earth Hall and a science centre.
Housed in a 200 year old warehouse recently turned museum, the London Museum at Docklands reveals the city’s long history as a port, and the story of the Thames River and the docklands throughout the ages, beginning in Roman Times. Exhibits include replicas such as one of a 19th century port, and the sugar slavery, showcasing London’s involvement in international slave trade. The museum is a hidden treasure with its unusual displays, re-creations and tours. Another museum gem is the London Transportation Museum, housed in Covent Garden. With live models of the city’s various means of transportation since 1800 – buses, trams, trains taxis, as well as an interactive ‘futures’ gallery, this museum is a wonderland for children. Follow a trip to the museum with a walk around Covent Garden with its antiques and crafts shops, and its entertainers including outrageous juggling and mime acts.
Plan on visiting the Tower of London, which provides a full education into medieval times in the city. This ancient fortress, with its gruesome association of legendary figures who were imprisoned or executed here presents the best ‘haunted house’ in Britain – ghoulish headless torsos, phantoms, icy blasts and clanking chains meet you throughout. The Jewel House offers one of the best attractions in the tower, with the crown jewels of stones set in robes, swords and crowns.
London offers a vast variety of public parks, as well. Three of the best for family fun include Kensington Park, with its pirate ship; Regent Park housing a zoo, and Hyde Park, where fishing and boating is popular. Before leaving London, however, the London Eye is not to be missed. The world’s highest ferris wheel at 135 m. (443 ft.), it provides a 30 minute slow-moving ride with panoramic vies of the city and afar.
For your short city breaks, London offers a myriad of accommodations, from exclusive hotels and apartments to basic inexpensive lodging to meet the needs of every age and type of traveler. The city presents a great stopover destination on your way to that adventure travel holiday or to relax at the end of your expedition.