Leaving London: the top 5 things I need to do

So we probably only have a couple more months left in the UK. I will be so sad to leave London. I absolutely love this city; in fact I think it is by far the best city in the world. As I am not working until we leave, I have the perfect opportunity to get as much out of this beautiful city before I go. Unfortunately the recent weather has made me want to stay indoors and only emerge if we run out of food (which has been happening for the last week or so). But I am determined to get out and about in our big, bad city and soak up as much as I can. So these are my top 5 things I want to do before we get on that plane to the land down under. 

1. Visit as many museums and galleries as I can. The Victoria & Albert Museum has always been my favourite since I was in my early teens, mainly because of the fantastic costume design exhibits they have. They will shortly be opening the newly refurbished fashion galleries with an exhibition called Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950 (from 19th May). I am so excited about going to this and luckily I have roped my Mum into coming with me pretty soon after it opens. I also need to spend more time in the National Gallery (I normally just go there for the cafés or bar) and both Tate Britain and Modern. So best get going soon then...

The Victoria & Albert Museum (Image from the V&A website).

 

2. See a West End show. I haven’t been to the theatre for about four years which is really bad seeing as we live so close to the West End. It’s like everything I suppose; when it’s on your doorstep you don’t really make use of it, but I know when I leave I will kick myself that I didn’t see more plays and musicals (I LOVE musicals – please don’t judge). I really want to see Jersey Boys or Singin’ in the Rain, so I will probably have to again rope my Mum into coming with me.

 

3. Do a London bus tour. I went on a bus tour with my now in-laws when they came over from Australia to stay in London about five or six year ago. To be honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to it as I thought ‘I’ve lived near/in London most of my life, I know all there is to know about it’. Naive I know, but I thought a bus tour was just for tourists. I was so wrong. I think I actually enjoyed it more than my in-laws did as we were not only told about the obvious tourist sites (Big Ben, Bucks Palace, Tower of London etc), but all these amazing stories emerged about little alleyways and hidden streets that you never even notice when you’re a Londoner as you rush around with your head down. It also gave me the opportunity to actually look UP rather than down, and see the beautiful architecture we are surrounded by on a daily basis. I think being in London with Australians (which I did again in January when some of Steve’s family came over for the wedding) makes you realise just how amazing our city is, as you look at it through their eyes. The fact we have pubs that were originally built in the 15th century completely blew their minds, and we had to go in every one we came across (shame). But I digress. I would highly recommend doing a bus tour if you are a Londoner and you have a spare day free, and I am going to make sure I drag the hubby on one before we go (he didn’t come with us when I took his parents all those years ago). 

British Museum taken from Centre Point.

4. Go on a walking tour. I am particularly interested in the tours that take in East London as I very rarely venture there, which is a shame as there is so much history and interesting places to visit. I have always been tempted to do a walking tour from London Walks as they have been recommended to me by many people. I now have the time and a deadline by which to do it... when the weather brightens up a bit. I would ideally like to do the Jack the Ripper one but it takes place at night and I know I would probably freak out, so I think a daytime tour is best for me.  Perhaps I’ll settle on ‘Hidden London’ or ‘The Hidden Pubs of London Town’ (the hubby would definitely come with me for that one!). 

5. Eat at Le Gavroche. This is the spectacular restaurant of Michel Roux Jr that Steve and I have wanted to visit for years, even more so since we saw him on Masterchef: The Professionals. If we can’t get in here we would of course settle for any of the other restaurants on our list: The Ledbury, Dinner by Heston, Pied à Terre, Roux at the Landau...our list is endless. This one might have to wait for our return as it will probably cost at least £100 a head if we want to properly enjoy it.

So there you have it – five things I am determined to do before we leave London. I will blog about each one as and when I do it. For all you Londoners, if you were in my shoes what would be in your top 5 things you would do before you left?