Things to do in London with your London Travelcard

There is so much to do in London with the flexibility of a London Travelcard, from museums and gardens to theatre and sports – the capital city has something for everyone!You can buy your Travelcard when booking train tickets with MyTrainTicket; if you’re starting your journey within the Network South East area, you’ll often be able to get a Travelcard included with the train ticket – much cheaper than buying it separately! You can save even more with a Network Railcard – one third off most Standard Adult fares within the Network Railcard area.

London is only 50 minutes away by train from where MyTrainTicket is based, so we’re regular visitors! Here are a few of our favourite things to do in London:

Covent Garden – Standing with a beer on the balcony of the Punch & Judy in Covent Garden, watching the street performers, is a perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon in London. You could also wander around the Apple or Jubliee markets and listen to the live music often played outside the Crusting Pipe in the heart of the Old Covent Garden Market. If this doesn’t take your fancy, then the London Transport Museum hosts a wealth of displays and exhibitions throughout the year and is well worth a visit.

Shopping – Whether you have money to spend, or just like to wander, Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street have it all! You can spend hours looking in Selfridges, Liberty of London and House of Fraser – then find yourself in one of the many excellent restaurants and bars in the area.

Leicester Square – A brilliant spot for a bit of people watching! Tourists flock from all over the world to go to Leicester Square – boasting the cinema with the largest screen and greatest number of seats, fabulous street entertainment, bars and restaurants and a buzzing atmosphere. If you enjoy a bit of movie mania, visit on a film premiere night – see how many celebrities you can spot.

Camden – Open 364 days a year, Camden is home to London’s most popular open-air and indoor markets, each having its own distinctive flavour. With souvenir, craft and gift stalls, alternative fashion shops, vintage clothing and antiques, Camden is suitable for anyone and known to have a great vibe. You can also enjoy sipping a pint at one of the riverside pubs.

Borough Market – Great for celebrity spotting and shopping as if you’re on the continent, Borough Market is famous for its bustling market stalls. A lot of the stallholders grow their own produce, bake their own bread and rear their own animals, which means that you can be assured of the provenance and quality of the produce.

London Zoo – So you’ve walked around the shops, visited the markets and need something to entertain the kids – how about taking them to London Zoo? We all know that zoos are just as much fun for the adults as well as the kids! At London Zoo you can visit Gorilla Kingdom to meet the monkeys and educate yourselves at the same time.

Soho – Soho has long been known as the entertainment district, this vibrant area comes alive at night and has a diverse range of bars, restaurants and theatres. But make sure you visit Soho during the day too, as there’s lots to see. Don’t miss out a visit to the Hummingbird Bakery – with yummy cupcakes, brownies and cakes, you’ll never want to leave!

Wine tasting – If you want to learn about wine, enjoy discovering new wine or simply like the tasting, then visit Vinopolis, opposite Borough Market. With a large selection of wines from all over the world, the venue makes a great place for a party, hen night or just a good night out.

National History Museum – One of London’s greatest and biggest attractions, the National History Museum is definitely one of our favourites. With giant dinasours, The Earth Today and Tomorrow gallery and the lowdown on our nearest relatives, the museum is fascinating for both adults and children. Make sure you leave plenty of time to look around – you don’t want to miss the best bits, and it’s free!

Hop-on, hop-off bus tours – The best way to see London has got to be a hop-on, hop-off London Sightseeing bus tour. Founded 60 years ago, The Original Bus Tour is now the largest and most popular sightseeing bus operator in the world.  If a bus doesn’t take your fancy you can always cruise down the River Thames on a boat; City Cruises operates sightseeing cruises, lunch cruises and evening dinner & dance cruises all year round.

Musical and dinner – Getting dressed up to go to a musical, then grabbing a late dinner afterwards is a brilliant way to soak up the capital’s glamorous after-dark atmosphere. When it comes to theatre in London, you are spoiled for choice, whether you like world famous musicals, operas, ballets and dance performances or prefer to watch a play by a first-time playwright.

Live music – There are great live music venues throughout London, such as Koko, Boogaloo, Electric Ballroom, Windmill, Brixton Academy, Roundhouse as well as the more famous venues; for example, O2 Arena and Wembley Arena. If you’re up for something different how about Punk Rock Karaoke at the Garage!

Christmas lights – If you haven’t got a car, jump in a London black cab and drive around the city looking at the Christmas lights. London hosts a spectacular array of Christmas decorations and lights every year; Harrods is one of our favourite sites to see decorated for Christmas, and whilst you are there you can pop in to see Father Christmas.

Lastly, however old you are, London’s famous Hamleys top shop on Regent Street is always a favourite!

See how many you can tick off our list and remember, travelling around London is easy – especally with a London Travelcard.

Cheap train tickets to London from UK citiies

Even if it seems a long distance to travel, train tickets to London can be really cheap if you buy Advance tickets. Here are a few examples:-

Newcastle to London from just £16.85* – that’s a saving of £104.15 off the price of an Off-Peak ticket

Glasgow to London from just £21.00* – that’s a saving of £104.70 off the price of an Off-Peak ticket

Manchester to London from just £26.00* – that’s a saving of £50.30 off the price of an Off-Peak ticket

Sheffield to London from just £12.50* – that’s a saving of £69.70 off the price of an Off-Peak ticket

Norwich to London from just £8.00* – that’s a saving of £39.00 off the price of an Off-Peak ticket

The above fares were sourced on 24th July 2013 for 11th September 2013.

Remember, Advance tickets are available up to 12 weeks before travel. Look for trains at off-peak times for the best fares. Why not start planning your trip now?

*Price based on cheapest available one way Standard Class Advance ticket, excluding £1.50 booking fee per transaction. Based on payment with a debit card and ticket collection from a self-service ticket machine at the station (free of charge).