Museums
If you have your heart set on seeing London’s famous landmarks, be prepared to spend some serious cash. However, there are several museums that are simply magnificent and their admissions are completely free of charge.
The Tate Modern, located on the South Bank, is an edgy modern art museum that houses original Andy Warhol’s and Jackson Pollock’s. Admission is free, but they do have an exhibition charge for temporary displays.
The Wallace collection, located in a historic London townhouse, displays numerous 18th century French paintings, furniture, and a jaw-dropping armory collection. One of the better-known paintings in the Wallace collection, and in my opinion, a piece worth seeing, is The Swing by Jean-Honore Fragonard.
The British Museum is famous for its stunning Greek architecture and boasts the “widest collection of world cultural history,” says Pat Stevens from Londonvacationguide.com. Make sure you snap a picture of the British Library’s old Reading Room, located at the center of the museum. Despite the Reading Room’s new location, just a few blocks away at St. Pancras, the famous original is still in the British Museum.
Entertainment
Theatre is a big part of London culture and it’s worth splurging on any number of the famous West End productions. I would suggest getting half-priced tickets from the TKTS booth in Leicester Square.
The Globe is a wonderful place to soak up some authentic British theatre. I bought groundling tickets at the Old Globe for 5 pounds, and although my feet ached at the end of the night, I got to see Shakespeare up close and personal. Another great place to visit is the National Theatre, a non-profit theatre company that offers many kinds of free entertainment to their patrons, including live music and art exhibitions.
Don’t Obsess, Enjoy!
This is the most important tip I can give travelers; don’t let your budget dictate your trip. For a lot of people, traveling to London will be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so enjoy it! Even if that means charging a few items to your credit card.
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Also Read: Rome - by Aleksandra Mesaros
All photos in this story courtesy of Aleksandra Mesaros