Many parts of London are still small areas and villages contained in a larger city. Some of these iconic neighborhoods, such as Notting Hill and Hampstead Heath, enable you to turn a corner and leave the city behind. Because of this, one of the best ways to discover London is by foot. London Walks, one of England's highest-rated tour companies, offers guided tours of much of London, with each tour starting from an easy-to-find London Underground Station. Whatever your interests, from historical London to Harry Potter, these guided tours are informative, and, of course, cheap. If you want to go alone, there are many resources to give yourself your own guided tour of London. City Walks: London (www.amazon.com/City-Walks-London-Adventures-Foot/dp/0811845621) includes 50 cards that each offer a map and commentary on a specific area or event in London's history. You can also download guided tour podcasts from several websites that allow you to conduct your own tour on your own time.
London Walks
PO Box 170
London, NW6 4LW
011 44 (0)20 7624 3978
www.walks.com
Many of London's museums are free to the public, covered by taxes or private funds. All these accept donations, but none of them charge a fee. These are perfect for the budget traveler. One excellent example is the Royal Air Force Museum. The Royal Air Force still flies today, but this museum focuses on the entire history of the Force, especially the heroic flights of the Battle of Britain. See more than 80 restored aircraft, historical and interactive exhibits, and even try out your skills in a flight simulator. Other free museums in London include the Bank of England Museum, which focuses on the financial history of the city, the Geffrye Museum, which depicts the life of the middle class over the last 400 years, and Sir John Soane's Museum, which houses curios from all over the world.
RAF Museum London
Grahame Park Way
London, NW9 5LL
011 44 (0)20 8205 2266
www.rafmuseum.org.uk
One of the best things about London is how much there is to see for free. An excellent example is the Speaker's Corner, located at the northeast corner of Hyde Park. Here, as long as they remain within the law, speakers are allowed to address any issue. With the politeness of the British, everyone takes turns, and you may hear rants covering everything from communism to neo-colonialism to religion. Two of the most famous ceremonies in London happen in public and are free to watch. The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace takes place to music daily at 11 a.m. as one guard changes place with another after an inspection and a procession. Another fascinating historical event is the Ceremony of the Keys, where the gate of the Tower of London is locked by the Chief Yeoman Warder, in full traditional garb. This occurs at seven minutes before 10 p.m., as it has for almost 700 years. This event is free, but tickets do need to be ordered in advance, sometimes by as far as two months. You can order tickets at www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/WhatsOn/ceremonyofthekeys.aspx.
