marblearchbymontcalm - Tumblr blog

[marblearchbymontcalm]

6 Exciting Free Things to do in London

London is an expensive city. But that doesn’t mean it’s not packed with budget-friendly activities to keep costs low! If you’re leaning towards luxury hotel rooms, you can offset the price by choosing to visit the free attractions. Discover the city on the cheap with these top 6 free things to do in London.

Big Ben

Big Ben (officially the Elizabeth Tower) has recently unveiled a brand new look. The statement clock tower has undergone a major restoration project and its new face was revealed in time for 2022. You can visit Big Ben and photograph the landmark from the ground at Westminster Bridge and Parliament Square. Alongside Big Ben, you can visit the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey before walking to Buckingham Palace. All the walking will earn you a treatment in your chosen spa hotel London!

Trafalgar Square

Convenient for guests of the Marble Arch By Montcalm, Trafalgar Square sits at the junction of the Strand, the Mall, and Whitehall. This is where you can visit the iconic Nelson’s Column, the lion sculptures, and the fountains. The Fourth Plinth is refreshed annually with a new piece of modern art that will urge you to open your mind. Last but not least, Trafalgar Square is the setting for the National Gallery – a collection of British and European masterpieces including pieces by Turner and Van Gogh.

Natural History Museum

Most of London’s museums are free to visit. With such a diverse spread of institutes to explore, you can spend a whole week museum hopping and not even get around half of them! While permanent galleries bear no admission, temporary exhibitions do carry a token entry fee. First-time visitors should start with the Natural History Museum. The collection spans the dinosaurs, creepy crawlies, planet earth, and minerals. 

Hyde Park

Following the trend, London’s green spaces are generally free to the public. Containing a lake, lido, gardens, and large areas for walking and picnicking, Hyde Park is one of the largest parks. You can visit the Italian Gardens and Speaker’s Corner before grabbing an economically priced meal at the restaurants near the Arch.

London River Services

While not free, strictly speaking, using the London River Services is a cheap way to get around the city. Piers are dotted along the River Thames from Richmond to the Thames Barrier, with popular stations near the South Bank, Westminster, and the Tower of London. Tap on with your Oyster card to use the service. Although it’s more expensive than the “tube” or bus, it’s much cheaper than taking a touristic river cruise. 

British Film Institute

If you’re passionate about film and media, then the British Film Institute (BFI) is one of the coolest free things to do in London. This archive on the London South Bank contains 11,000 titles across British film and television. You can pick a booth and watch a film of your choice – no price attached! Even better, you can access the collection from your own device and stream films from luxury hotel rooms.

[marblearchbymontcalm]

Why Big Ben is a must-visit in London

The chiming of Big Ben has long been a landmark in the ears of tourists and London locals alike - but what’s its story and why is visiting the giant clock face such a coveted experience among those who visit London?

The Story behind Big Ben

First thing’s first, did you know that Big Ben is actually the name of the giant bell which resides into the tower which the clock face adorns? At 315 foot tall, the clock is used by thousands of tourists every day as they cross over the river Thames, and by endless tourists streaming towards the restaurants near The Arch and heading to their hotel rooms in London.

Big Ben was built as a tribute to Queen Victoria back in the mid-19th century, shortly followed by a few instances where the bell was cracked - highlighting the need to replace the traditional mechanism with a more lightweight one.

Today, Big Ben is a big part of London’s culture and tourist landscape and can be heard and seen from some of the best hotel rooms in London. Take New Year’s Eve, for example, where Big Ben becomes part of an exciting and awe-inspiring firework show for thousands of captive Londoners - many of whom travel to the city and seek out a vast array of London hotel special offers just to be part of this celebration.

Visiting Big Ben

As part of the backdrop of Westminster, seeing Big Ben from street level is something that can easily be integrated into your schedule or tour of London - with our advice being to seek out a number of viewpoints from which to see the clock face and hear the mighty bell inside.

Big Ben underwent a four year renovation program which was completed in 2021, so visiting it now will give you a sense of exactly what it takes to maintain and keep such an integral part of London looking its best.

In order to reach Big Ben while taking in several other sights along the way, start at Marble Arch by Montcalm and proceed in one of two directions. One will take you down Oxford Street and Regents Street towards Trafalgar Square, while the other will take you along the river Thames for a more peaceful route.

Whichever you opt for, make a day of it by stopping in one of the quality London restaurants near the Arch for lunch or dinner, before making your way back to your hotel.

Quick facts to impress your friends and family

Big Ben is made with 312 pieces of glass in each and every clock dial

Big Ben keeps time down to the second

Big Ben is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The bell inside Big Ben weighs more than 13 tons

New year in the UK is marked with the live chimes from Big Ben itself at midnight