10 Alternative Things To Do in London

You're in London, but done Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street and Portobello Market but still want some more?

Here's a few more ideas of Alternative Things To Do in London as I actually made this bucket list for myself.

You're welcome.

Guide to Instagram Famous London's Secret Mews

It's no secret that London has endless thing to offer. There are always some new things to do and it will never stop. I've spent almost half of the 2012 in the city, but still I didn't manage to conquer every single thing! It happened as well to Mary, my Airbnb host last summer said that even she's been living in the Big Smoke for 15 years, she said "There is always something new to do!"

Afternoon tea in sketch London

I forgot when and where did I find this gem, was it on Instagram or was it on Tumblr or when I was blogwalking from here to there; I just fell in love instantly.

Postcards from London

London Travel Diary

London is my favorite city in this entire world. Well, it's a public secret. 

Other than my favorite city, London is also one of the city I've keep coming back to..... well, not that often like every other month, since the tickets are hella expensive, and actually last time my parents allowed me to go back was because I will most probably off for clinical years next year (fyi, I'm a medical student), so we all know that there won't be any time to play around during those hospital-based period since I also want to graduate as soon as possible.

So, back to topic again, we all know that London has so many things to offer. Like, literally, there are ALWAYS things happening. I don't think you will ever have enough time to explore London completely. Even my AirBnB host, Mary, who has been living in the city for 15 year and has done so many things, said that, "Things always surprise you when you're in London."

And yes, I agree with that in any aspect. From Southbank summer food trucks which I just discovered this summer to the ridiculously expensive price of a small apartment in Zone 3. Wow.

And this time, I want to tell you a bit a few thing I've done in the city last summer which has a big amount of difference since that was my first time visiting in summer. Noticed a lot of greenery...

I walked around London for adorable houses, mews and facades.

I went to Columbia Flowers Market on Sunday Morning. So happy.

I finally went up to Sky Garden. 

PS: Free admission!!!

My friend and I rented bikes.
We were cycling around for about five hours and it was one of my happiest moment of my life, like honestly.

I finally went to ride The Eye.

I visited Warner Bros Studio for the third time in my life.

I used to live in South East London four years ago, but have never visited Greenwich - and this time, I regret why didn't I go there during those time especially in autumn?

Greenwich is like an adorable countryside-looking neighbourhood which reminded me a lot like where my aunt living in Glouchestershire.

The Shard. We spent 20 GBP for this. I don't know if I should be happy or annoyed.

Edinburgh Travel Diary

This was my first time in Scotland.

Postcards from London

London: First Time

I'm right now busy in the middle of exam weeks and writing and complaining how fat I am, then this morning I scrolled through my pictures and felt like I need to do some throwback post on this blog because why not. I will never move on from this city and I don't even think I could do that.

Favorite spot of mine.

 London's skyline from my apartment in Balham

You can say that this trip was my first solo trip ever. I flew to Paris all by myself (wandering around Dubai Airport alone too), strolled through every corner in Paris then took a eurostar from Gare du Nord to St. Pancras bymyself and for the first time ever too took a LONDON CAB, you know the black one, that could ripped your wallet off and knocked the door of my also very first AirBnB apartment.  (there were so many first time ever, I'm so glad)
And I really love AirBnB oh godness! It really gave you the idea of being a local even it was just for a week. My host was a middle-aged British woman who was really lovely and kind.

No proper breakfast at hotel because why not setting off to Old Spitafield Market and had an English scone there while absorbing the beauty of the market and sitting with the freezing weather?

That day in the afternoon I finally met up with my old London friend whom I spent my 18th birthday and new year with: Happy. Yes her name is Happy and we both were so happy for finally seeing each other again after two freaking years!!!
It was so annoying that she grew a lot taller than I do.

Aaaand we went straight for lunch in Nando's! Because why the hell not! I miss Nando's roasted chicken very much I cried.

Quoting Pete Wentz: "In all my London's dreams, it rains Nando's."

We went to St Paul after lunch just because I really needed to go to Millenium Bridge, idk why. It was so fun that we laughed and talked about so many random things together. As we walked across the bridge with so many photosesion, we decided to go to Tate Modern. It was my first time there and I liked it a lot.

I present you to my ol London pal, Happy.

Anyway, there was one funny moment when we walked back toward St Paul Station, we were laughing and talking and gossiping about the strangers around us in our mother language, then we didn't notice the guy who past by us with his bicycle. Then in all of sudden, he stopped by infront of us and greet us, like: "are you guys talking in Bahasa Indonesia?"
and we were like, "yes?" and he responded in Bahasa "aku seperti mendengar kalian berbicara dengan bahasa dan tidak bisa menahan untuk menyapa kalian" and we were so surprised hearing him talking in bahasa and we laughed so hard together. Then yeah, we chat for a while and he told me that he was living in Yogya for three years and he couldn't wait to go back there because he missed every single of Indonesia (ironic isnt it? while I'm dying to move out to England and he just wished he could go back to Indo). After a while, we waved goodbye and exchanged "have fun for the trip" and "thank you for stopping by" we finally left.
It was funny and I felt so glad, everytime I went for a trip there are always so many interesting strangers I met along the journey which made my trips even more unforgetable and precious, and I always count them all as a blessing.

London: a Perfect Day

How do you describe your perfect day?

Being with your lover a whole day? Shopping 'till the drop with your girlfriends? Sunbathing by the beach? Or anything else do tell me.

 Well, if you ask mine. It's simple enough.

Well, first of all; waking up in one of the most memorable city in the world and walking to the window and seeing all those pretty houses along Sudbrooke Street that almost made me cry that THIS IS NOT A DRILL. I'm happy, so so so so happy to be back here after two years.

It was such a sunny day, it really was. I decided to walk around my neighborhood instead of taking a bus to the tube station which called Clapham South and my neighborhood here is the cutest one ever. Well, not as cutie as Nothing Hill, but still, I'm so happy to see those houses.

Then I got on the tube and went towards Embankment because I'm such a tourist as hell.
Speaking of that, actually one of my favorite spot here is Embankment Pier and why is that? Because there's this footbridge where you can see that whole view above. IT IS really pretty. You know, if it's not winter, I believe I will spend hours here.

Somewhere around Charing Cross Road

This was just across The London Eye, before I met a creepy guy who wanted to join my solo nostalgic tour BUT HE WAS TOO CREEPY then I left him under the BigBen!

Before I went to Green Park, I walked to Trafalgar Square first and found myself at the Waterstones across it and I forgot if it was already there two years ago??? I didn't remember. Especially when I found out it is HUGE; three floors with Costa at the second floor. And there are such an endless stacks and piles of new books and books and travel books and all. I spent an hour there without ended up buying anything because I remember I still have six days left in this beautiful city. 

Well then, I walked to Green Park, just strolling around with my camera on because yeah I'm that major tourist as hell they didn't know I used to live here two years ago ehehe. Then all of sudden I nearly cried just because I feel so so so happy, eternally grateful and blessed I have no idea this city I've been praying for and dreaming of is finally infront of my eyes and exactly under my nose.

I still remember how this park and Hyde Park were totally white with snow last time I was here. 

The time when a bird didn't even allow me to take a picture with this beautiful lake.

OKAY. Here's the real picture of them.

I walked along the lake and just thinking about everything, like: I don't want to go back to Indo, you see? I don't want to. Never. I want to be here, forever and always. This is home. Well, you know when you feel like home, where your heart actually is. Mine is here. And I don't care about the uni back there, I don't frikkin' care. I'll go to uni here, Imperial or King's College and find myself in my tiny pretty appartment in Hamsptead Heath and all. I just love everything about this city and this country and the lovely people here and even Paris didn't have that charm to replace London as my favorite city.

Somewhere around Holland's Park

That famous red telephone box

 AND this where I realized I was walking toward Chelsea and Kensington and ended up spending hours in Natural History Museum! Yes, the museum Paddington Bear and Night at The Museum 3 took place. I really really really love this neighborhood and every apartment seemed pretty expensive which surely would cost you a fortune to be able to live there.

Museums in London are my favorite places, why? Because it's free. And beautiful. And calm. Well, not that really calm. It was on monday and there were few groups of Elementary students coming as well, and you know WHAT they are the most cutest kids evaaa I ever met *british accent*!!!! 

You see, with those typical English school uniform, blonde little boys and girls, and also I found a few little girls wearing hijab and also the kids from various races and it was indeed so beautiful, you see? They get along together whatever the hell their backgrounds are. Unity in diversity. Oh wait, that's Indonesian motto, but it worked here too.

So yeah, that's how I decribed a perfect day for myself. Just strolling around in my favorite city and spending hours in the museum. So, how do you describe yours?