London like a local 

Type London in your search bar and Google comes up with countless trip suggestions and itineraries. From the London Bridge to Madame Tussauds, the elegant boutiques on Bond Street to bargain hunting at Camden, London has endless options to indulge every kind of tourist.

However, the best way to see London, I believe, is like a local. Give a miss to the fast forward guided tours, let yourself be swept away by the massive crowds at the tube, avoid the queues outside the London Eye, climb instead to the Royal Observatory and enjoy the stunning views of Canary Wharf, pig out at the Greenwich food markets and shop for bargains at Camden! By the time you are done with London, you will find that you are not quite done yet, because London is all this, and much more.

Here below my ideas for exploring London like a local.

- Walking Central London

Get off at Westminster Station, follow the directions and the first thing you see as you exit is Big Ben, imposing and massive, right in front of you.

 Walk along the pavement, admire the House of Commons and cross the road to enter the premises of The Westminster Abbey. The Architecture here is marvellous, however, should you desire, it is recommended to avoid the massive entry charge and relax instead in the gardens outside.

 Cross the road and take the Birdcage Walk (see map below) and walk through the very lovely St. James's Park to arrive at the Buckingham Place. Note that this is not a popular route with the tourists and is a more relaxed way to arrive in the palace premises.

Exiting Buckingham palace, you arrive in the gorgeous Trafalgar Square, one of my most favourite places in London, to get a coffee and indulge in some people watching. 

Should the rains make you want to rush indoors, step into the massive National Gallery and admire Van Gogh's Sunflowers. Continue straight ahead from Trafalgar Square and you arrive at 10 Downing Street. The security here is massive, however you can get in few cheeky pictures :)

Get off at Canary Wharf and change over to the DLR. Hop off at Cutty Sark, climb out the station and you will be transported to a completely new place away from the buzz and crowds that define city of London. Here at Greenwich, you see quaint tea rooms, proper pubs and the vibe of a little seaside resort. Ideal as a day trip from London, it is amazing how 15 minutes on the DLR can bring you to a whole new place. 

About a 20 minute walk from the Cutty Sark, is the Royal Observatory Greenwich. It has played a very important role in astronomy and navigation, however, it is best known as the home of the Prime Meridian, and the Greenwich Meridian Time, the GMT. An absolute must do here is standing on the Prime Meridian, because this is where you actually get to be in 2 different places at the same time! The observatory itself in situated on a hill which overlooks the Thames and has stunning views of the Canary Wharf, all for free.

The Baker Street tube station has walls painted with excerpts from the Sherlock Holmes novels and is, in itself, a place well worth a visit. Take the tube now to King's Cross. This is again a place which needs no introduction. The crowds at Platform 9 3/4 are massive and you will find queues waiting to get a photo with the trolley half mashed into the wall. Instead, walk into the Harry Potter store, and marvel at the Firebolt and the Elder Wand, indulge your inner nerd and splurge on Gryffindor jumpers. Then take the escalators to the food court upstairs, grab a bite and look over the magical place where The Boy who Lived, once took the train to Hogwarts.