We’re nearing the middle of August and the slightly colder months are becoming more and more visible through the temporary haze of sunshine. Those in the capital are first to despair: festival season will be over for another year, the thermometer will start to show abominably low figures, and then will begin the retreat inside for a long hibernation. But this bleak outlook really shouldn’t be adopted too early. In my opinion, we Brits are generally affected too much by the weather. There should be at least three inches of snow on the ground before any leisure activities, day trips or personal enjoyments are sacrificed.

The bursting metropolis of London can be enjoyed at any time of year, so diverse and full of life as it is. If you’re thinking of a weekend excursion, staying in the city in September may actually be a more enjoyable experience than squeezing yourself along Oxford Street in mid-July. Yes, summer might be sunnier, but you won’t find a space in Hyde Park to sunbathe until everyone’s back at school or the office. To help you out, here are a few ideas for what to do in London during this slightly less friendly season:

Explore leaf-littered paths…

Who says that the outdoors can’t be explored when it’s a little colder? All you need is a different attitude and a warm coat. Instead of picnics outside, embark on a bracing walk and pick up a well-deserved cup of tea on the way back to your London hotels. Kenwood House in North London is particularly good for this, with a friendly tea room next to the picturesque building and Hampstead Heath spread out around it. The amber shades of autumn leaves will have strewn the paths, creating a general aesthetic just as beautiful as that of any other season.

Take in some culture…

The many museums, art galleries and historical exhibitions collated in London can sometimes be neglected when everyone’s outside basking in the summer sunshine. So now it’s autumn, why not check out the edgy installations at the Tate Modern, where everything and anything counts as art. Or, you could peruse the many faces of the National Portrait Gallery near Charing Cross. All of these unique places, with their bounty of interesting artifacts, are ready and waiting to be explored.

Journey to the West End…

You may be mourning the end of the festival season, but aren’t you forgetting that London is home to the best venues in the country, which all produce year-round gigs and shows? The West End dazzles the area around Leicester Square with the bright lights of its multiple theaters. This exclusive section of the metropolis is definitely worth a visit, whether to attend a show, or just to soak up the exhilarating atmosphere. There are also many music venues in this area and all over London – and they don’t stop because of a change of weather.

So, with such a bounty of autumnal entertainment, an off-season excursion to London could be nearly as good as staying at an array of five-star hotels in Rome. Don’t let the change of season get you down. There’s plenty to be enjoyed all year round – all you need is optimism and a healthy imagination.

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(This is a guest post from my friend Greg).

Every few years our family holds a reunion. Normally this is based around a wedding, christening and unfortunately my mother’s funeral. In tribute to her memory we decided to meet up last month and celebrate my parents wedding anniversary. My Mother loved London. She worked and lived there most of her life. Reluctantly she moved away to raise a family but she would drag us kicking to her favorite places when we were kids.

As I actually live in Scotland now it worked out cheaper to fly to London rather than get the train. We found some great flight deals and flew to Gatwick. From there we connected with the Gatwick express train which takes you right into the heart of the underground system.

We looked at several hotels in London and decided to treat my Dad to the five star experience, whilst we stayed in more modest accommodation ourselves. We were more than comfortable in our little B and B’s which, being so close to the underground were never more than fifteen minutes away from each other. London does splendor greater than any city in the world. Our Dad’s hotel looked like a palace covered in marble, crystal and traditional British style.

Since our trip was a celebration of our Mother we decided to do the things she enjoyed most. We went shopping in Harrods and noted (with some satisfaction) that our dad’s hotel was actually nicer. Afterwards we walked to Hyde Park where we took rowing boats across the lake in the glorious summer sun. Unfortunately, I stood up and plunged headfirst into the water. Obviously this was hilarious to watch but not so much fun for me! It was something straight out of a Hugh Grant movie. Luckily London’s shopping is the stuff of legends and I was able to buy new clothes so I didn’t have to go to hotel to change (although I did get some funny looks on the tube).

I come from a very theatrical family and as such we thought it would be fitting to take a trip down to the West End. London theatre tickets may have gone up since my Mother’s day but with so much on offer it was almost impossible not to find something we could afford. We decided that a comedy club would be a great idea. We were in hysterics for the rest of the night retelling jokes and eventually deciding to stay in Grandad’s suite and order room service into the early hours. London is a perfect place to relive old memories but as we discovered, its also perfect to make new ones.

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During my senior year of college I took a semester abroad in London where I not only went to school but interned as well. It was a very exciting time for me. My placement was with the UK’s Court Service. In the complete opposite of American efficiency, the Court Service exists a giant and useless organization. While people call the agency for legal advice they do not staff lawyers and are therefore not allowed to actually give such advice. I know, I know….it doesn’t make much sense. But enough bloviating on that subject, as despite my objections, the internship afforded me an amazing opportunity as I was given direct access to the infamous Old Bailey. The Bailey is England’s largest criminal court and is the final stop for all the country’s biggest criminal cases. During my time there I was able to see countless high profile cases, including the gruesome slaying of two young girls: a huge story by London standards during my time there.

In addition, I was able to travel the country and participate in “charter mark” award ceremonies. Basically, in yet another display of the UK’s propensity to waste tax payer’s money, we traveled the country congratulating various court districts for a job well done and put on shows featuring motivational speakers as well as hosting luncheons. While the award ceremonies themselves were, bluntly, something of a joke the opportunity to travel England and Scotland by train was pretty darn cool and allowed me enjoy the country in a way many of my fellow travel abroad students could not. I saw green hills and the picturesque British country side, small farms and villages, and even enjoyed my first taste of haggis on a train speeding toward Edinburgh. Even more cool than the things I saw were the people I met. Traveling by train brings with it a certain level of intimacy not offered in other forms of travel and I was quick to converse with those on the train and was able to make a few friends along the way – of course, the fact that the train sold wine in abundance helped this cause immensely. Finally, the last really neat thing about traveling the country was that I was put up in fancy hotels as I traveled. Considering I was only 21 at the time, working for the Court Service might just have been one of the more interesting experiences of my young life thus far.

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London has something to offer for everyone whether you are looking for historical landmarks, modern attractions or just want to have a good time. There is literally a never ending list of things to do and see in this cosmopolitan city.

It is easy to get around in London with its fabulous underground transit system called the Tube. The tube can get you pretty much anywhere in the city in a matter of minutes and is reasonably priced, making it a great alternative to trying to brave London’s traffic.

Riding in a London taxi is also a tourist must. They can also be a quick form of transit as taxi drivers normally know the quickest ways around the city during peak times. If you want a more leisurely tour of the city, try a double-decker bus tour. It is a great way to sight-see and is also a big part of London lore.

When visiting all of the numerous famous landmarks and historical sites, it is a good idea to bring along a guide book. It makes the sites so much more interesting if you know what you are looking at. It is also helpful to record all that you see. You don’t want to get home and look at the pictures you took and not remember what you are looking at.

You also want to pack correctly for London weather…which is unpredictable. Depending on which season you are traveling in, it is normally wise to bring an umbrella with you, and a couple of warm sweaters. If you are in London in the summer, make sure to travel with sunscreen and water. Having to purchase water in touristy areas is incredibly overpriced.

It’s a good idea to make an itinerary to ensure you get to see all the major things you want to, but don’t over plan. You don’t want to be rushed. London is a great city to visit. It is especially great during autumn. Hopefully these tips help to get you started.

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