Hey all. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. I knew I wanted to write about our London trip last summer since starting this blog, but wasn’t how to go about it. Also, considering there are quite literally hundreds and thousands of things history to do in the city, you have to pick and choose what goes on your itinerary. There are some places you’ll almost certainly visit. Therefore, we’ll discuss in this post 5 things history to do near London’s major attractions.

1. The British Library (King’s Cross)

Walk from King’s Cross: 7 min

Nearest tube station: King’s Cross

What do Florence Nightingale and The Beatles have in common? Both have original works on display at British Library’s Treasures Gallery!

King’s Cross is the busiest and probably most recognizable tube station in London. It should be in your itinerary for your trip. Especially those Harry Potter fans for a Platform 9 and 3/4 photo op.

While you are there, head out the door, pass St Pancras International Station, and head to the British Library. The Treasures Gallery is as it says. Besides Florence Nightingale and the Beatles, here are just a few things you’ll see:

The Codex Sinaiticus, one of earliest manuscripts of the Bible with a complete New Testament;

One of the first copies of the Magma Carta from 1215;

Original sheet music from Beethoven and Handel;

Original anatomical illustrations from Michelangelo;

Pages from Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook;

An original Gutenberg Bible;

Shakespeare’s First Folio;

Manuscript of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.

You’d pay a pretty penny to see all this and more, right? The amazing thing is the Treasures Gallery is completely free! And unlike many of the other places in London, you do not need to reserve entry either. You can just walk in.

This should be a must for any history or free stuff admirer visiting London. The time requirement isn’t great either. You can see the highlights in under an hour. It is the best bang for your buck in the city.

2. Churchill War Rooms and Museum (Westminster Abbey)

Walk from Westminster Abbey: 6 mins

Nearest tube station: Westminster

A trip to London would not be complete without a visit to Westminster Abbey. It has been crowning Kings and Queens since William the Conqueror in 1066. Poet’s Corner is where literary giants such as Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, and Jane Austen lie. It is an absolute must see.

Just a short walk away is another can’t miss for any World War II enthusiast: The Churchill War Rooms and Museum.

Winston Churchill is one of the most iconic figures in British and world history. He galvanized a nation to resist the onslaught of Nazi Germany. Churchill orated some of the most famous speeches of all-time. He even won a Nobel prize for literature.

At the Churchill War Rooms, you get to head underground to see where the “British Bulldog” himself led wartime efforts. After a period of disuse, the rooms have been restored to what they looked like during World War II. Churchill not only worked there, he ate and often slept there too. And he was not alone. There was a whole team of hundreds doing what they could to keep Britain in the fight.

The museum gave me Harry Truman Presidential Library vibes. Churchill and Truman had completely different personalities, but both of their careers spanned the world wars and Cold War. Very captivating stuff for those interested in military history.

It does come with a price. Adult admission is $42 while ages 5 to 15 are $21 and under 5 is free (much of the stuff in London offer greatly reduced prices for youth). Included is a free audio guide that works really well. You can also opt for a guided tour by a real person at an additional fee.

It is a unique experience and gives you a different perspective on such a transformational period in our world’s history. Time commitment is 2-3 hours depending on how in-depth you are with museums.

3. Charles Dickens Museum (British Museum)

Walk from British Museum: 17 mins

Nearest tube station: Russell Square

If historical artifacts are your thing, then a stop at the British Museum will undoubtedly be included on your itinerary. Unfortunately, I did not make it here somehow. It was on my itinerary, but mid-trip we changed plans to visit the Harry Potter studio in Watford. I can’t say I regretted it as the HP tour was phenomenal, but it was still unfortunate the British Museum got knocked off.

Actually, the afternoon HP studio tour bus left from the same tube station as the British Museum. There just wasn’t enough time to visit both on the same day and give the British Museum justice. If you find yourself in the same conundrum, the Charles Dickens Museum is great alternative in the area.

I love Dickens’ work so there wasn’t a chance of me missing out at visiting the museum. It is a bit of a walk from the major attraction as compared to the other places on this list, but less than 10 minutes from the nearest tube.

The museum is located in the actual apartment where Dickens lived during his time in London. It is here where he wrote Oliver Twist. The museum is set up to look as it did when Dickens occupied it. It has some of the original furniture from Dickens’ time too.

In a stroke of bad luck and poor planning, the actual museum was closed when I visited. As a silver lining, the first floor curiosity shop (gift shop) was open. I got a chance to see some cool stuff and chat with the shop employee. The museum takes about an hour to see and admission is a reasonable $16 for adults and $9.75 for 5 to 15 year olds with under 5 free.

To be able to visit where one of the most famous authors of all time lived and worked is something not to pass up. Throw in the small money and time commitment and the Charles Dickens Museum is worth adding to your itinerary. Just don’t show up when they are closed!

4. Monument to the Great Fire of London and George (Borough Market)

Walk from Borough Market: 9 mins (Great Fire Monument), 3 mins (George)

Nearest tube station: Monument

Borough Market was one of the first places we went in London. It is a must stop for foodies. The paella place is a great show and even better food.

Just a few steps away, take the chance to wash down that amazing food with a pint at a historic pub. The George Inn (or just George) was built in 1676 and is London’s only remaining galleried inn. The pub also makes an appearance in Dickens novel Little Dorrit, one of my favorites.

When we were there, a group of football supporters (soccer fans in America) were doing some pregame celebrating. It made for a fun experience. The only cost is your pint, if you are old enough of course.

Just on the other side of the Thames across the London Bridge you’ll find the Monument to the Great Fire of London. Commonly known as “The Monument,” the column was designed by world famous architect Sir Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke. It was built between 1671 and 1677 to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666.

The Monument stands 202 feet (61.57 meters) tall, which is the exact distance between the column and the site in Pudding Lane where the fire began. Visitors can climb 311 steps to a viewing platform at the top, which offers panoramic views of London. An inscription on the Monument details the events of the fire and the subsequent rebuilding efforts.

We did not climb to the top, but I did make it a point to visit The Monument. My inspiration came from a visit to Chicago the previous summer. We stayed near the Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station, which miraculously didn’t succumb to the city’s own great fire.

Though the great fires were catastrophic to both cities, they did provide a wake up call to officials at each that building standards needed to improve. London’s monument is just a block from the tube, is free, and requires very little time commitment. Take the chance to learn about a significant event in the city’s history.

5. Apsley House (Hyde Park)

Walk from Hyde Park: 2 mins

Nearest tube station: Hyde Park Corner

Hyde Park is a well met green space in the heart of London. We took a morning there and found it a great relief from the hustle and bustle of the city. The kids especially loved seeing the ducks, geese, and swans on the Serpentine.

At the southeast corner of the park you will find Apsley House. This was the London residence of the Duke of Wellington after his victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. The house is often referred to as “Number One, London,” due to its original address being the first house on the road leading out of London.

Much like Churchill, Wellington is a larger than life figure in Britain. The pair also share the common thread of being military leaders who went on to serve two stints as prime minister. A major difference is that while Britain and the US were steadfast allies during Churchill’s time, the two countries were at war during Wellington’s. In fact, Wellington’s brother-in-law, Edward Pakenham, died at the Battle of New Orleans fighting against Andrew Jackson’s forces.

Check out Visiting Chalmette: 7 Interesting Things About the Battle of New Orleans for more about Pakenham.

Inside Apsley House resides a collection of paintings as well as memorabilia relating to the Duke’s military campaigns. In another stroke of bad fortune, the house was closed for maintenance during our visit so we were relegated to just viewing the outside. Admission is reasonable so you’ll just have to let me know what you think!

Fun fact: The Duke of Wellington was replaced as prime minister the first go around by Earl Grey. You could say Wellington just wasn’t the government’s cup of tea!

Bonus – Sherlock Holmes Museum (Abbey Road Studios)

Walk from Abbey Road: 6 mins plus tube stop

Nearest tube station: Baker Street

This is a bonus for two reasons: 1) Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character; 2) It is not a realistic walk from Abbey Road Studios. However, all Beatles fans will be making a stop by Abbey Road to see the famous studio and maybe even try to recreate the album cover of their apt-named Abbey Road record.

Getting to Abbey Road almost certainly will require the tube. If coming from the south as most visitors would be, the tube stop right before the one for Abbey Road is Baker Street. Here, at 221b Baker Street, you’ll find the Sherlock Holmes Museum. If you read the books or watched the movies or tv show, you’ll know that is where Sherlock and Dr. Watson resided.

It’s a fun, guided visit with a neat curiosity shop. Once again, the time commitment isn’t much though it is $25 for adults and $18 for 5-15. In the end, to fans of Holmes, visiting is elementary.

That ended up being longer than I planned. There is just so much I want to share about that trip. So how about we continue next time? Until then, make sure to check out Some Helpful Tips For Your Trip to London. Cheers!