The Sherlock Holmes series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

This is not only a literary classic; the stories about the legendary detective are also a great way to travel back to Victorian London. Nowadays a lot of Sherlock Holmes-themed sites are open to visitors in the city, including the Sherlock Holmes museum on 221b Baker Street and Sherlock Holmes Pub (besides being a bar and a restaurant, the pub has a secret – a complete recreation of Holmes and Watson’s study and sitting room with a large collection of objects from the books and adaptations). Organized Sherlock Holmes tours take you to some of the iconic places featured in the books, as well as in the many movie adaptations.

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

A trip to London might be a good reason to re-read this classic if you haven’t done it already or even a better reason to read for the first time. Written in Dickens’ sarcastic style, the novel paints a portrait of London’s society and its problems in the mid 19^th century, following the story of the orphan boy Oliver.

This is actually the first book in English literature in which the main character is a child. Over 90 London locations featured in the tale are now yours to explore (check this website for some ideas).

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Wolf

A novel about one day in the life of Mrs. Dalloway – a high society woman living in post-WWI London. Though the story is technically about the protagonist walking the streets of London in the morning, preparing for a party in the evening, some thought-provoking issues are covered – like depression and mental illnesses, faith and doubt, and existential crisis. Aside from its strong thematic content, this masterpiece is full of London history and paints a literary landscape of the city.

Absolute Beginners by Collin MacInnes

London, 1958. A teenage photographer lives in an attic flat in West London and is determined to turn his last year of adolescence into a “real rave: In the smoky jazz clubs of Soho and the coffee bars of Notting Hill the young and the restless – the absolute beginners – are revolutionising youth culture and forging a new carefree lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll.”

The novel describes the lives of the city’s Caribbean immigrants, poor English people, homosexuals, and drug addicts. It covers the themes of the emerging new youth culture, jazz music, racial tensions and describes the development of what would be later called mod subculture – famous in London in the 1960s.

In 1986, a movie based on the novel was made, with a theme song of the same name by David Bowie. The song would become one of Bowie’s most successful singles.

London: The Biography by Peter Ackroyd

Moving on to some non-fiction books, you can’t miss the ultimate portrayal of London described by Peter Ackroyd in his work London: The Biography. It covers pretty much everything needed to bring the city to live in the reader’s mind: history, fashion, food, and lifestyle.

Londoners by Craig Taylor

Craig Taylor is an English journalist and writer who spent five years exploring London and meeting its citizens to gather the stories of “the days and nights of London now – as told by those who love it, hate it, live it, left it and long for it.” The book consists of more than 80 interviews with people of different occupations, races and social classes, who together create the vivid atmosphere of the city.

Walk the Lines: The London Underground, Overground by Mark Mason

Mark Mason walks the whole length of the London Underground and shares everything he comes across on the way through all the stations – curious facts, insight information, interesting conversations and different points of view. Because “the only way to truly discover a city, they say, is on foot”.

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If you’re new to London, whether you’re moving there or just visiting, here are all the wonderful ways you can travel around the city:

Cycle Around the City

With low-emissions travel high on the agenda for many city dwellers, bicycle hire schemes are now more popular than ever. In London, you can hire Santander cycles for as little as £2 a day simply by picking it up from a docking station. This is perfect for an occasional visitor to the city as it’s a great way to travel to see the sights.

However, those who do the daily commute may prefer something more convenient. You may see people around the office or in public spots carrying bags bearing the name Brompton. Well, these bags hold compact folding bikes that are specifically designed for city living! They’re small and practical, light enough to be taken into homes, offices and bars when folded. Plus, they’re fully customisable to suit all your commuting needs.

Soar Above London in a Cable Car

For a form of travel that’s completely different, you can choose to travel across London by Emirates Air Line, which is a cable car link across the River Thames. You can use it as transport across the river, or simply hop on and enjoy the completely unique views that you’d never experience from a bus or a taxi.

The 1km line crosses from the Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Victoria Dock. So, if you’re heading to a convention at ExCel London, why not take the scenic route and admire the breath-taking views over the city? And if we still haven’t won you over… You can even use your Oyster card for a discount fare!

Hop on the Thames Fleet

London is famous for it’s river, so why not travel through London on the Thames! Tourists can book onto hop-on, hop-off River Roamers – a high speed fleet that takes passengers around all of London’s best sights. You can hop off at any of the 17 piers including London Eye, Westminster, North Greenwich and Battersea Power Station. If you’re looking for a way to mix it up on your daily commute, what better way to do that then sail through the iconic Tower Bridge on your way to work?

MBNA Thames Clippers have a number of routes on the River Thames too, whether you’re heading for a day out at Tate Modern or you need to travel between Putney and Blackfriars, or you have a meeting at Canary Wharf.

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The legendary Glastonbury festival, held at the end of June, features one of the world’s best live music line-ups, as well as a host of comedy, theater, cabaret and other performances.

Location

The festival is located in the southwest of England near a small village called Pilton, six miles east of Glastonbury town. There’s not much to see in Pilton, but the town of Glastonbury itself offers plenty of landmarks worth checking out if you need a break from the madness and mud of the festival. The church of St. John the Baptist, the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, the George Hotel and the Pilgrim’s Inn are among the iconic town’s must-see spots.

Glastonbury town center.

Line-up

Every year, the festival features a mind-bending line-up of some of the world’s biggest pop, rock, dance and hip hop artists. Over the past five years these grounds have been host to Muse, U2, Pharrell Williams, The Rolling Stones, Kanye West, Skrillex, Lana Del Rey and many, many more. The star line-up draws a lot of attention, with the number of visitors each year ranging from 120,000 to 140,000 people.

Sunday evening at Glastonbury.

Accessibility

The fastest way to get to the festival is by air, with Bristol International Airport the closest major hub in the region. A bus link from the airport takes you to Bristol Temple Meads railway and bus station. From there, you can catch regular buses and trains to the special station by the festival ground. If you’re considering going by car, be advised that a car pass for the festival costs £45.

A view over the Glastonbury skyline.

Costs

This year, the ticket price for the festival is £238 plus a small booking fee of £5. That covers the whole festival, as you can’t buy tickets for separate days. Every festival ticket includes a camping pass, with caravans also welcome at campsites. If you prefer to stay indoors, the city of Glastonbury offers plenty of accommodation during festival time, with hotel prices ranging from £50 to £150.

Because of its huge popularity, the 2017 edition is already sold out. Featuring acts such as Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran and Major Lazer, Glastonbury is sure to be a memorable start to the summer for those lucky enough to go. However, you can get your foot in the door for next year’s festival if you’re prepared to plan early. Don’t worry, we’re sure the 2018 line-up will be just as spectacular! More information here.

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