Highlights of London
- See the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London
- Visit Hyde Park and have "high tea" at Harrods
- Take The Original tour double-decker bus tour of the city to see some famous sites such as Big Ben, The House of Parliament, Trafalgar square, Piccadilly Circus, and the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
- Visit the British Museum
Historical Sites
Tower of London
Built in 1098 by "William the Conqueror" of Normandy, The Tower of London was originally designed to be a fortress as well as a prison. Throughout the years, many British monarchs lived and died at the Tower and today it houses the Royal treasures in a small museum. The entrance price is reduced UKL 3 for ISE Card holders.
Big Ben
In 1834, a fire destroyed the House of Parliament and there was a competition for the best new design which ended up being won by Charles Barry. His design incorporated a clock tower which would contain the largest clock in the world in its day. Though there were many problems with the dimensions of the clock and its functionality, today it is an enduring symbol of London and it actually keeps accurate time!
Buckingham Palace
In 1761, King George III bought what was then "Buckingham House" for his wife the Queen for its convenient location. Over the years, the house was remodeled and expanded and it is currently the official London residence of the Queen. During August and September, the Palace's nineteen staterooms are opened to visitors. Even if you can't enter the Palace, it is always an enjoyable experience to see the "Changing of the Guards" which takes place daily at 11:30am in the forecourt of the palace. The entrance price is reduced by UKL 2 for ISE Cardholders.
British Museum
Sir Hans Sloane, a physician, naturalist and collector was responsible for the creation of the British Museum. Worried that upon his death all of the objects he'd collected throughout his lifetime would be lost, Sloane bequeathed everything to King George II for the nation in return for a payment of £20,000 to his heirs. The museum began in 1753 now holds many antiquities from around the world. The ISE Card is honored here for a discount.
St. Paul's Cathedral
Originally built in 604 AD, St. Paul's Cathedral's humble beginnings were as a small church used to house a bishop. The church was destroyed by fire numerous times throughout the years and rebuilt over and over. Christopher Wren was the architect who completed today's version of the Cathedral in 1708, which took a mere 33 years to finish. The triple-layered dome that crowns the cathedral is the second largest in the world. For a beautiful display of neo-classical architecture, you shouldn't miss St. Paul's.
Activities
Movies
It's always an interesting experience going to the movies in another country and for those who are living and studying abroad, it can be a nice way to relax that's NOT related to seeing the sites. London has many has a variety of movie theatres to choose from. For those interested in a discounted rate, ISE Cardholders will receive £1.50 to £2.50 per show at any VUE Cinema location.
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
For those interested in Shakespeare, this is the perfect venue to see his plays. The Globe Theatre was built as a replica of the original Globe Theatre where Shakespeare's plays originally debuted. Today it is a working theatre with the "standing-room only" cheap section on the bottom and the seats for the old "nobility" on the surrounding balconies. There are also tours of the theatre which begin every 15-30 minutes during opening hours (when plays are not in session). For a map on how to get to the theatre, please click here. With an ISE Card the entrance is only £6.00.
Tour of London by double-decker bus on "The Original Tour"
See London's major sights on an open-top, double-decker bus. Tickets are valid for 24 hours and allow unlimited 'hop on / hop off' travel on any of 'The Original Tour - London Sightseeing' buses. You can customize your own tour by using any or all of the 5 different city routes available. Buses depart every 15-20 minutes from 9:00am 6:00pm daily. The first bus departs at 9:00am. For more information, click here. ISE Cardholders are eligible for a £3 discount off of the regular price.
Places to Stay
Hostels
London has many charming places to stay, but not all of them are within a student's budget. To search for hostels online with full descriptions, photos and availability features, please click here. The $2 reservation fee will be waived when booking through this site.
Places to Eat
London has a wide-variety of restaurants but we recommend finding one that serves "fish-n-chips" if you want an authentic dish. There are also a lot of ethnic choices that are fantastic. One word of advice though, make sure you check the prices before going in or you might be in for a shock!
Getting Around
Train
For those interested in visiting the UK by train, it would probably be a good idea to purchase a Britrail pass. These passes are only valid in Britain. Since British trains do not honor Eurail passes, it can get quite expensive for travelers who choose to pay for each train they ride (unless you don't plan to move around much). Britrail passes are also valid for travel on The Heathrow Express (the train from Heathrow Airport to Central London); the Gatwick Express (Gatwick airport to London) and The Stansted Express (Stansted Airport to London).
Britrail passes may be obtained at any reputable travel agency or by clicking here.
Bus
The National Express provides bus transportation throughout the UK.
Moving On
Train
To get to mainland Europe by train, go to Waterloo station in London and catch the Eurostar railpass which runs underneath the English Channel. If you have an ISE Card you will receive an excellent discount here (ticket prices start at only £27.50 for a trip to Paris or Brussels, for example). To get this rate, click here, or call: 08708 900 092 in the UK.
Boat
For those who prefer the open-air, another fun option to cross the English Channel is on the Hoverspeed, which is a hovercraft boat that speeds across the channel in only 1 hour. These ships leave from Dover on the coast of England. To get to Dover, one can either take a train or the National Express bus from Victoria Station in London. It is 80 miles and takes about 2 hours by train and 2 hours by bus. If you have a Britrail pass, you should be able to use it on the train to get to Dover. For those who don't have a Britrail, the National Express bus fare is £10.50 If you have a "student discount coach card" when purchasing your ticket, the price is only £ 7.50. Click here for further details.
You can order your Hoverspeed tickets online by clicking here. If you are an ISE Cardholder, make sure you put in the code SB-ISD or SB-ISE for a 50% discount.
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