We have written several articles in our London Guide about popular bus routes in the public transportation system in London. But, today we would like to share with you a very different bus route, one that is available during November and December at which you can witness the most beautiful Christmas lights all across London.
Lots of people come to London before Christmas to visit the traditional Christmas markets and to do some Christmas shopping. But, considering the size of the city and the fact that tourists often don’t know the best ways to manuver the city, it can often be hard to discover all the areas and all the beautiful buildings and areas worth taking a closer look at. But, several companies in London are trying to help you with this by arranging bus trips taking you to the most popular and beautiful areas in London for those in love with beautiful Christmas lights.
At the tour referred to above, you can travel with a traditional London Double-Decker. The trip starts by London Eye and from there the the trip takes you cross several bridges, close to beautiful parks, and of course you will see buildings such as the Buckingham Palace, the Marble Arch, the Royal Courts of Justice, and many others. You will also see the Regent Street Christmas lights and other key sights, including Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, London Eye, Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
You can see the full route of the Christmas lights bus in London below.
This is a guided bus tour, so if you join the tour, you will listen to a guide tell you funny and interesting stories about the places you visit and see from the bus. It is important to understand that this is a bus-tour that lasts for approximately 90 minutes, but during times with heavy traffic, it might last even longer. Do not forget that this is not a hop-on hop-off bus, meaning that you have to stay on the bus for the entire ride.
The earliest bus trips normally start around 16.30, and the last buses leave around 21.00.
This is one of many programs ideal for an interesting afternoon or evening in London in both November and December.
Bus number 11 in London runs between Fulham Town Hall and Waterloo Station. There are several bus routes in London ideal for sightseeing, but this is definitely one of the best bus routes if you want to see London from the top of a double decker.
Before you board the bus, you need to have a plan on how you want to pay for your ticket. There are several options, and here you have the best solutions.
Contactless Payment: The easiest way is to use a contactless credit or debit card. Just tap your card on the yellow reader when you board the bus. Your fare will be automatically charged to your card.
Oyster Card: You can also use an Oyster card, which is a prepaid travel card. You can buy an Oyster card at any Tube station, Oyster Ticket Stop, or online. Top it up with money at these locations or online.
Travelcard: You can buy a Travelcard for unlimited travel within certain zones for a day, week, month, or year. Travelcards are available at Tube stations, railway stations, and Oyster Ticket Stops.
If you use an Oyster Card, do not forget to validate it as you board the bus. If you use a travelcard, do not forget to validate it before you use it the first time.
What can you see from the top of bus number 11 in London?
As you travel with bus number 11 in London, you can see lots of fantastic buildings and historical monuments. Here you have some of the most famous sights.
Big Ben: You can catch a great view of Big Ben and its iconic clock tower as you ride past it on bus 11.
Westminster Abbey: Westminster Abbey with its beautiful Gothic architecture is easy to spot from the top of the bus.
London Eye: The London Eye stands tall and impressive, offering a glimpse of the giant Ferris wheel when you drive towards Fulham Town Hall (and not the other way).
Tower of London: The historic Tower of London, famous for its rich history and the Crown Jewels is easy to discover as well from the bus, especially if you travel in the direction of Fulham Town Hall.
Westminster Cathedral: As you pass by, you’ll spot the striking Westminster Cathedral with its unique red-and-white striped facade.
Victoria Station: Bus 11 takes you right by Victoria Station, one of London’s major transport hubs bustling with activity.
If you leave the bus, you can easily walk into the St. James Park, and after you have walked through the park, it is easy to visit Buckingham Palace.
These are some of the fantastic sights and attractions you can see as you travel with bus 11 in London. Would you like to read about another bus route that will let you see fantastic attractions in London? We can warmly recommend that you travel with bus number 9, maybe the most famous bus route in London.
The full route of bus number 11 in London.
Here you have the full list of stops for bus number 11 in London.
There are many cities in Europe where they place large screens outdoor and whoever is around can sit in the grass and watch the different matches. That isn’t really so in London, meaning that you need to book a table in some sort of sports pub or bar or other outdoor club if you want the same experience. So, where should you go if you want to watch the European Championship in football with lots of other people in London?
There are lots of places you can go, and if you are satisfied with just anything, just do a quick search for sports bars in London. You will find them all around the city. But, do not forget that these are packed during big sports events, so it is wise to reserve a table before you arrive. Here you have the names of a couple of great sports pubs and bars in London.
Some great sports-bars and pubs in London.
Greenwood Victoria (170 Victoria St, London SW1E 5LB, United Kingdom)
Belushi’s by London Bridge (161 Borough High St, London SE1 1HR, United Kingdom)
Bar Kick Shoreditch (127 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JE, United Kingdom)
Broadleaf (25 Old Broad St, London EC2N 1HN, United Kingdom)
MatchPint (several locations in London)
These are a few names that are great for those who want to watch sports live together with others at a sports bar or a pub in London. But, are there any bigger venues for those who want even more excitement and joy?
Places where you can watch the European Championship with hundreds of others.
If you want to watch the matches at big screens in big halls with hundreds of other people, then you should visit “Boxpark.” There are three “Boxparks” in London and in these you can watch the matches with hundreds of others. There are three of the kind in London and you need to book your ticket in advance if you want to have a guaranteed spot. All the places are sold out for England’s matches already, but if you are interested in watching other matches, like Spain vs Italy during the group stage or any other group stage match, you can buy tickets in advance that will guarantee you a spot.
It is possible to reserve a free ticket, but you will only be allowed entrance with such a ticket if it isn’t full by the time you arrive. In other words, if the pay-tickets are sold out, your free reservation ticket will no longer be enough.
No entrance is allowed for kids under 16, and the cheapest entrance tickets with reservation, including one drink, starts from £8.
The three boxparks in London are located at the following addresses:
Boxpark Shoreditch: 2 – 10 Bethnal Green Road , London E1 6GY.
Boxpark Croydon: 99 George St, Croydon, CR0 1LD
Boxpark Wembley: Olympic Way, Wembley, HA9 0JT
The last in the list is located in front of the famous Wembley Stadium, giving you a chance to see the fantastic stadium before/after you have seen the match you are interested in during the European Championship in football.
You can buy your ticket for the different matches at https://boxpark.co.uk/. There are different tickets for the different matches, so you cannot buy one ticket and stay around all day!
Can I watch the football matches during the European Championship in my hotel room?
If you want to watch the matches on your own in your hotel room with a cold drink or while ordering something from room service, that is also possible. BBC and ITV are responsible for broadcasting the championship in the United Kingdom, which means the streams are free and available on most TV’s you will find in all sorts of hotels and apartments in London.
You can stream the matches on the BBC and the ITV website if you have a computer, or you can watch the tournament online on TV channels worldwide. The Budapest Guide has a detailed guide describing how you can stream the entire championship live on Hungarian TV, so if you don’t mind the commentators speaking Hungarian, then you might find those instructions useful.
We are really tired of England being close to winning international tournaments, but then failing somewhere along the road. In 2021, they got all the way to the final, but they didn’t succeed winning the penalty shootout against Italy. This time they managed to calm us all down by losing against Iceland in the last friendly match before the tournament, but Harry Kane said that it might serve as a booster to the team, showing them how they need to fight like lions if they want to have a chance at winning the tournament.
What do you think? Can England go all the way to the top in Germany? The three group stage matches of England will be played at the following times:
June 16, 20:00 – England vs Serbia (this is gonna be a tough one).
June 20, 18:00 – England vs Denmark (yet another tough match).
June 25, 21:00 – England vs Slovenia (supposedly the easiest group stage match, but who knows)
We hope England will finish the group stage with nine points, which again will give them a great entrance to the knockout stage.
People from all around the world are eager to learn more about how they can watch BBC iPlayer and ITVX online. These are the streaming services of the two fantastic TV networks in the United Kingdom, producers of some of the best TV series in the world, and live broadcasters of big events such as the Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup, the European Championships in football, Super Bowl, and lots of other events. But, how can you access these streaming services if you are located outside England?
As a London Guide, our main goal is to inspire you to visit and experience the city with your own eyes. And suppose you are located in the United Kingdom. In that case, you will also surf the Internet with an IP address in the United Kingdom, giving you access to all the content on BBC iPlayer and ITVX immediately. Of course, there are some TV series on ITVX that require you to have a subscription, and to watch such content, it isn’t enough to have an IP address in London (or elsewhere in the United Kingdom). But, if you are stuck somewhere and all you can see is a message on the BBC website telling you that “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK“, then these instructions will help you fix that.
BBC only works in the United Kingdom.
If you try to watch content on ITV (ITVX), you will see a message giving you very similar information.
You cannot access ITVX outside the UK.
If you have seen any of the messages above, you probably understand that you have a problem. But, what is the solution?
Solution 1: Come to London!
Book a flight and come to London. The city has fantastic attractions, great activities, magnificent hotels, and lots of delightful food waiting for you. Does that sound tempting? You can find a lot of information about all the great programs waiting for you in London here in our London Guide. But, if that sounds both complicated and expensive, use solution number two instead.
Solution 2: Use the VPN services of NordVPN.
This is a much easier solution, but unfortunately, it will only take you virtually to the United Kingdom and not in real life like we described in solution number one. What is it all about? A VPN is a tool that encrypts your information online and hides your real location. Instead, you will surf using an IP address at a location provided by the VPN provider. So, as you connect to a NordVPN server in London (or elsewhere in the United Kingdom), you will receive an English IP address, and websites, forums, streaming services, hackers, and everyone online will believe that you are in the United Kingdom. What is the consequence?
As you visit the BBC iPlayer or ITV websites, you will no longer see the error messages above. Instead, you can stream the live streams of the TV channels and watch programs on demand. Sounds cool?
If you use the link above, you will get a nice extra discount at the services of NordVPN.
Now you follow these steps!
The NordVPN website will look something like this with a special discount available if you use the link above,.
You do not need a password manager or cloud storage from VPN to stream BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel4 or other streaming services in the UK abroad, but they are very good and useful services if you need a password manager or cloud storage in addition to the VPN.
When your subscription is in order, download NordVPN to your computers, telephones, tablets, or smart TVs. You can also download NordVPN as a browser extension in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox, so it is very easy to use no matter how and where you want to use it.
When the application is installed, log in with your user credentials. Now you can connect to a server in the United Kingdom which will give you an IP address in the UK. If you want to check your IP address after you have connected to a VPN server in the United Kingdom visit https://whatismyipaddress.com/.
I can now see that I have an IP address in London, United Kingdom.
Now it is time to visit the website of BBC iPlayer or the ITV website. Both websites require you to register a free user to access the live streams or the programs available at the different streaming services. You must register using a ZIP code in the UK during the process. Suppose you don’t know any ZIP codes in the UK. In that case, you can use the ZIP code of any hotel or bar in London (or elsewhere), for example, HA9 0JT which is the zip code of Boxpark Wembley, a great place in London if you want to see live sports together with hundreds of others while eating and drinking and having a good time!
After you have finished registering your user, confirm your email address, and find the content that you are looking for. You can now watch both ITVX and BBC iPlayer, all across the world!
April is a special month in London. The city wakes up from its winter slumber, and there is joy in the air, much caused by sunshine and warmer temperatures. If you’re wondering what to do in London this April there is no need to far. This article will give you information about the weather and we will describe some ideal activities that you should try if you come to London in April.
What is the weather like in April?
April brings milder weather to London. It’s not too hot and not too cold, with temperatures usually ranging from 8°C to 14°C (but it can be much warmer during daytime if the sun is shining). Even though it can be warm, you should always have an umbrella nearby, because few people travels home from London without getting wet due to rain-showers once or twice.
Recommended activities in London in April.
Go for a walk and explore the different parks in London.
1. Hyde Park: Take a stroll through Hyde Park and see spring unfold. With its vast green spaces and blooming flowers, it’s the perfect place to relax and walk in a green environment.
2. Regent’s Park: Head to Regent’s Park for a peaceful escape from the stress of the city. Don’t miss the stunning Queen Mary’s Gardens, where you’ll find a beautiful display of roses in full bloom.
3. Victoria Park: If you’re looking for a family-friendly day out, Victoria Park is the place to be. With playgrounds, cafes, and a lake with boats, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Sightseeing Bus Tour
Hop on a sightseeing bus and embark on a journey through London’s iconic landmarks. From the majestic Tower Bridge to the historic Houses of Parliament, you’ll get a bird’s-eye view of the city’s most famous sights. It is cool to travel with the number transportation buses in London, but if you want to learn more about what you actually see, a hop-on hop-off bus is a perfect solution.
Visit the British Museum if its raining!
When it starts to rain (it will), visit the British Museum for a journey through history. Explore ancient civilizations, marvel at priceless artifacts, and learn something new with every step. If you’d rather watch paintings, then the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square is a magnificent option. There are so many museums to choose from. For more ideas and suggestions, look at our page about the different museums in London.
Buy tickets for a boat trip on the River Thames.
Buy tickets for a boat trip on the River Thames in London. During such a trip you can see London from a different perspective. Such a trip gives you a chance to travel past landmarks like the Tower of London, the famous bridges, the Parliament, and many other sights as the boat floats along the majestic River Thames.
Day Trip to Oxford
If you want to see something else than London, a day-trip to the historic city of Oxford will be a fantastic option on a sunny April day. The city has fantastic attractions and activities, and here you have five suggestions for activities we can recommend.
Visit the famous University of Oxford: Walk through the historic halls of one of the world’s oldest universities. Marvel at the stunning architecture and rich history of colleges like Christ Church and Magdalen.
Visit the Ashmolean Museum: Discover treasures from around the world at the Ashmolean Museum. From ancient artifacts to modern art, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Travel on the River Cherwell: Take a leisurely punt down the scenic River Cherwell. Enjoy the beauty of Oxford’s picturesque surroundings.
Buy a ticket and go to thetop of the Carfax Tower: If you want to get a good view of the city of Oxford, you should buy a ticket so you can visit the top of the Carfax Tower. It’s the perfect spot for capturing unforgettable photos of the city.
Go shopping at Covered Market: Wander through the bustling stalls of Oxford’s Covered Market. Taste delicious food, visit unique shops, and feel the lively atmosphere of this historic market.
Enjoy a musical or some other cultural event in a theater!
End your day with a visit to one of London’s famous theaters. From amusing musicals to thought-provoking dramas, London’s theater scene has something for everyone to enjoy. You can read more about musicals and other theater performances in London right here.
The Lion King is a very popular musical that can be seen in London.
April is a fantastic month for visiting London.
London in April is a magical time to visit. With its mild weather, blooming flowers, and endless activities, there’s never a dull moment in this vibrant city. In other words, start packing your bags, find some good shoes for walking, bring an umbrella (or put aside money to buy one in London), and get ready to explore everything that London has to offer!
If you want to learn more about temporary activities in London such as concerts, festivals, exhibitions, and other programs, look at our London calendar to find out what’s on in London in the coming weeks and months.
