A canal boat and bridge in London's Little Venice

Things to do in Angel London

By Ian Packham

The north London neighborhood of Angel manages to do something most city areas aren’t able to – successfully combine the stylish with the down to earth. This is what has made pretension-free Angel a magnet for creatives from British television stars to chart topping acts.

Named after a now-lost pub – The Angel Inn – this part of London may lack the big ticket attractions like St Paul’s Cathedral and The View from the Shard but you miss out on Angel at your peril. Why? Just take a look at these top things to do in Angel London and the surrounding area!

Regent’s Canal

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Reappearing in Angel after disappearing under the streets of north London for around half a kilometer, Regent’s Canal slips silently through the neighborhood close to several small community parks and gardens. Footpaths and sidewalks follow it all the way to its eastern end at Limehouse but even the shortest walk gets you under the skin of this well-to-do yet still quirky part of London.

What’s more, with plenty of pubs on the route there are various options for enjoying views of the tranquil canal side and some conversation over a pint.

Upper Street

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Vying against Caledonian Road to be Angel’s most desirable address, Upper Street is more than a main thoroughfare. Stretching north from Angel Underground station, it’s often the first road in the neighborhood visitors see, and doesn’t disappoint.

If you’re hungry there’s a world of options to choose between, with Mexican, Vietnamese, modern British and European cuisine just some of the choices. But if shopping is more your bag, there’s also plenty you won’t find anywhere else thanks to the independent boutiques of what Charles Dickens once called the ‘devil’s mile’.

Emirates Arsenal Stadium

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Soccer fans can get their fill of the action with an Emirates Arsenal Stadium Tour. Having been one of north London’s top teams for more than a century, there’s certainly a lot to take in at The Arsenal’s new 60,000 seater stadium.

As well as standing pitch side you’ll have a chance to take in the exhibits and nostalgia of yesteryear at the club museum. Renovated in 2016 and updated with the latest achievements and important signings, the only way better to get a sense of what the club means to the area is to return on the day of a big match.

Little Angel Theatre

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Performance spaces aren’t hard to come by in Angel, with even the local library doubling up as a live music venue. However, few are able to charm its audiences quite as well as the Little Angel Theatre.

One of the top things to do in Angel London with children, this puppet theater is aimed primarily at under 12s. Basing many of its productions on children’s books old and new, it also hosts various fun days and clubs to get kids away from their screens and thinking creatively.

Postal Museum

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‘Going postal’ may be slang for having an angry outburst, but its origins surely have nothing to do with the Postal Museum, covering everything from the world’s first pre-paid postage stamp – the penny black – to how a modern letter can get from A to B in under 24 hours.

The highlight of any visit has to be a ride of the mail train. A network of underground tracks entirely independent of the Tube, this miniature railway was once a vital cog in the postage chain. Today it provides visitors with 20 minute rides beneath the streets of Angel.

Union Chapel

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If you’ve been brought up with the sober singing of the Church of England it can initially feel a little strange heading to a functioning church to see a band. Hear the notes bubble around the vaulted ceilings and you’ll soon understand why this has become a leading live music venue despite its relatively small size.

Elton John, Patti Smith and Beck have all performed here in the past, with ticket sales going to the structures upkeep and charitable foundations.

Sadler’s Wells

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Another performance space with an incredible pedigree, Sadler’s Wells has existed in various forms since 1683 – the current 1500 seater auditorium is the sixth to bear the name.

Although predominantly known for ballet, the company welcomes in many of the world’s top dance troupes as well as performing its own productions, meaning its possible to enjoy a night of everything from Andalusian flamenco to local break dancers.

Camden Passage

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Turn off of Upper Street and into Camden Passage and you’ll go back a couple of centuries to Georgian London in a pedestrianized road that has managed to survive the ravages of redevelopment and the Blitz to become an area so well known for its antiques dealers it rivals Portobello Road.

Whilst some of the former antiques stores have been turned into galleries, cafés and clothing boutiques this only increases the reasons to make this one of the things to do in Angel London. Plus, there are still more than enough antiques available at the covered Pierrepoint Arcade Market on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays to complement the Thursday and Friday bookstalls.

Victoria Miro Gallery

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Situated in a former warehouse space beside Wenlock Basin – a dead end in Regent’s Canal – the Victoria Miro Gallery is one of London’s small private galleries. No less impressive because of that, its focus is on contemporary art. Representing both established and new faces from around the world, it’s a place where you can see works by the likes of Chris Ofili and Grayson Perry – both Turner Prize winners – even if you have no intention of buying.

Discover London’s Angel with Go City

With its independent spirit and pubs lining Regent’s Canal, London’s Angel neighborhood has a very different vibe to Greenwich or the areas around the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. From antiquing to stadium tours the things to do in Angel London are many and varied as we’ve hopefully shown.

Travel with Go City and you can take advantage of all this diversity and make huge savings on entry to many of London’s top attractions! Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest.

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Aerial shot of London's Westminster neighborhood
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Things to do in Westminster London

Often used as a descriptor for all the goings on in the British parliament, the Westminster neighborhood of London is actually a city within a city. One of the richest areas of the capital financially, historically and culturally, it’s an area jampacked with sights, from the grandeur of Buckingham Palace to bronze and stone statues of giants from the country’s past. As a tourist, you’re probably going to spend at least a day here, so don’t forget to check out all the great things to do in Westminster London before hitting the thoroughfares of The Mall or Petty France. Meet with Big Ben Occupying one of few areas of the Thames riverbank in central London not directly accessible to the public, the Houses of Parliament are a symbol of democracy throughout the world. Showing off the pomp and financial power of the Victorian era – when the complex was rebuilt after a massive fire – Big Ben has to be one of the most snapped structures in the world. In fact, to be strictly accurate the name doesn’t refer to the tower but to its largest bell. Its structure was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee – that’s 60 years on the throne. The parliamentary chambers have witnessed many historic moments, including several important speeches by Sir Winston Churchill, the country’s wartime leader. The underground lair protected by secrecy and thick steel girders where the government sought sheltered office space during the London Blitz can be explored at the Cabinet War Rooms a few hundred meters away. But if it’s hundreds of years of history you’re keen to discover, Westminster Abbey should be the next on your list of things to do in Westminster London. Forming a loose triangle alongside the Houses of Parliament and Cabinet War Rooms, its origins predate the Norman Conquest of 1066. Since then it has seen the coronation of every British monarch except two. The simple wood coronation chair is almost lost in this celebration of monarchy and nationhood. Walk amid royalty Cross into St James’ Park and you’ll be treading the same path that royalty has since at least the sixteen hundreds. At the park’s southern end is Birdcage Walk, once the location of a long-disappeared royal aviary. However, some of the park’s most popular residents remain its pelicans, whose generations have waddled their way around the lake for almost 400 years since first being gifted by one of the Tsars of Russia. At its western end St James’ links up with Green Park on the opposite side of The Mall, and Buckingham Palace – official residence of the British monarch. A short route through the palace gardens is open to the public over the summer as part of tours to the state rooms. Two further royal residences just around the corner can be admired from afar. Clarence House has provided homes for the late Queen Mother as well as the Prince of Wales. Next door’s Saint James’ Palace is the oldest of central London’s remaining palaces, although you’ll need ambassadorial credentials to take a look inside. Make time for the museums in Westminster No such career choice is necessary to enjoy the spectacle of the red frock coats and bear-skin hats of the Household Cavalry and their allied foot troops at the Changing of the Guard outside of Buckingham Palace. About as dramatic a way to switch shifts as it’s possible to get, it takes place every day in the summer and several times a week over the winter with music, marching and plenty of horsemanship on show. To learn more about the division responsible for the protection of the head of state – Queen Victoria endured numerous assassination attempts – there’s the Household Cavalry Museum. Situated between Whitehall and Horse Guards Parade, visits not only allow a peek into 350 years of history but also the chance to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony from a very special vantage point. Attached to Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s Gallery is open throughout the year, displaying important artefacts from the Royal Collection. These include gilded silverware purchased by George III and paintings by Van Dyke, official artist to King Charles II. The works of more modern artists can be seen at Mall Galleries just off Trafalgar Square. Home to the Federation of British Artists, it’s also a major player in the contemporary figurative arts scene. Spend some time by the Thames Although it’s partially blocked off by the Houses of Parliament, the River Thames shouldn’t be forgotten about. For one thing, almost diagonally opposite Big Ben is Westminster Millennium Pier, where Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing cruises arrive and depart on their way to the Royal Museums Greenwich further east. The Thames path is a pleasant place to explore at any time of year, with each season giving something different to an area of riverside as stuffed with monuments and landmarks as any part of London. They include memorials to the Battle of Britain pilots of World War Two and, within Whitehall Gardens, William Tyndale – a leading figure in the protestant reformation. The Thames path also provides an ideal spot to capture shots of the London Eye or eat and drink in barges converted into restaurants and bars. But wherever you end up in Westminster you’ll never be far from the government ministries you’ll recognize from the movies. Many stretch along Whitehall, a major thoroughfare connecting up Parliament Square with Trafalgar Square, where there’s the National Gallery and Nelson’s Column. On Whitehall itself, the war dead are honored at the Cenotaph, and the prime minister’s office at 10 Downing Street can be peered towards through the security gates. Uncover all the things to do in Westminster London A neighborhood which basks in the historic, cultural and political, Westminster is a part of London no visitor is going to want to miss out on. It’s home to the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace, but beside the buildings of state are side streets with churches and verdant squares leading to yet more opportunities to understand the British capital in greater detail. Is it possible to get too much of a good thing? Not in Westminster. And not when traveling with Go City. Our passes provide visitors of all ages with incredible savings on admission to many of the top attractions in London and beyond. So, when you’re thinking about the things to do in Westminster London, make sure Go City becomes a part of your plan!
Ian Packham
Paddington bear at London's Paddington station
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Best things to do in Paddington London

Paddington is often thought of as a pocket of north London dominated by its railway station – the arrivals point for the Heathrow Express – and St Mary’s Hospital – the top pick for royals in labor. But disappear down its neat grid of side streets and you’ll discover a well-to-do neighborhood of charming squares, small cafés and Paddington canal basin. These are just a few of the things to do in Paddington London, with the full range of activities and attractions detailed below. Relax in a pleasant square Once an unpromising piece of real estate between Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Paddington rail station and the traffic jams of Westway, Sheldon Square has been converted into a stylish place to relax alone, with the family or in a group of travel companions. Taking a modern amphitheater form, its stepped banks are carpeted in grass for impromptu picnics, whilst around it you’ll find a growing selection of more formal places to eat and drink. Sheldon Square is one of the neighborhood’s newest public spaces, but elsewhere there are those that date right back to its Georgian foundations. One such space is Norfolk Square Gardens. Ringed by three – and some four – star hotels, its mature trees offer up plenty of shade in the summer months for those looking to enjoy a few minutes absorbing this little bit of paradise in the heart of London. Search out public art These small areas of greenery aren’t just home to trees, plants and urban foxes though. They are also worth exploring for their collection of public artworks. St Mary’s Terrace contains three steel cut outs honoring very different Paddington residents. The first is of Michael Bond, creator of Paddington Bear, and the second dedicated to Mary Seacole – a British-Jamaican nurse who helped convalescing soldiers in the Crimean War alongside Florence Nightingale. A clear demonstration of London’s diversity, the third is to Alan Turing – played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the movie The Imitation Game. Breaking the Nazi enigma code, and inventing the modern computer, he was prosecuted for being gay in 1952 and died two years later of cyanide poisoning. His image is soon to appear on the new form £50 note – should you be lucky enough to ever see one. If you’re arriving by train, look out for the statues of engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Peruvian national Paddington bear at the station. Fans of the latter’s antics will be delighted by the station’s dedicated store too. Explore Paddington basin A dead-end offshoot of Regent’s Canal given a new lease of life, Paddington basin dog-legs south from Little Venice to just outside the station and hospital. A mix of offices, shops and apartments, the basin has a number of attractions and things to do. Having checked out the floating pocket park that sits at the nearest end of the basin, it’s only a short walk to GoBoat London. Renting out small craft to explore the canal in more detail, trips make for an interesting alternative to a sightseeing cruise on the Thames. If you’re up for being a little more physical, you can also take to the water by stand-up paddleboard. Head to the region on Wednesday or Friday lunchtimes, or Saturdays at 2 PM and there’s the bonus of seeing the Rolling Bridge unfold itself, alongside the Fan (or Merchant Square) Bridge fulfilling its crossing function at the same times. They form crossings close to Darcie & May Green, a canal boat turned Aussie restaurant with decoration by Peter Blake. One of the UK’s most important pop artists, he’s best known for creating the cover art for the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album. Other nearby narrowboats serve up fresh shellfish – though not sourced from the canal, whilst the Cheese Barge is ready and waiting to serve up all manner of dairy-based dishes! Head back in time It’s not as well-known as the London Transport Museum or Benjamin Franklin Museum, but the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum more than makes up for this in the way it’s dressed up – as if the Nobel Prize winning scientist has just stepped out for a cup of tea. His discovery of penicillin in 1928 – on a petri dish he hadn’t washed up probably – can be honestly said to have changed the world and saved millions of lives, being the first antibiotic to ever go into production. Travel out of Paddington to Notting Hill to the west and you’ll be able to check out the famous blue door from the Hugh Grant film of the same name before scanning the stalls of Portobello Road Market. The world’s largest antiques market with over 1000 stalls, there’s also sections for fashion, vintage gear and fruit and vegetables. Visit Little Venice Back on the canal side, Little Venice is as pleasant as it sounds. Apparently named for its watery nature some time in the 1800s, it seems a world away from the busy thoroughfares that otherwise cut their way through parts of Paddington. Whether it’s an hour enjoying the antics of the canal barges from Rembrandt Gardens or soaking up the atmosphere with a coffee at a waterside café, Little Venice is the place to do it. Quirky things to do in Paddington London include paying a visit to the Puppet Theatre Barge, a 50 seat floating auditorium with shows aimed at both children and adults. Drift away from the canal side in order to visit St Mary’s Church. Dating to the Georgian era, it predates much of the Regency architecture for which Little Venice is known. Consecrated in 1791, it witnessed the marriage of William Hogarth, with the churchyard now a public park after the burials were reinterred at Mill Hill. Deciding what things to do in Paddington London Travel with Go City and you can uncover the many things to do in Paddington and London’s other neighborhoods whilst making substantial savings on visits to many of their top attractions. With so many attractions to choose from it can be difficult to know where to start – and end – but this guide should provide you with enough ideas to keep you busy whatever your interests!
Ian Packham
Atrium and whale skeleton at the Natural History Museum London
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Things to do in Kensington London

Leafy Kensington is one of London’s most affluent neighborhoods. Although it lies a short distance west of the landmark buildings lining the River Thames, it still has lots to entice the casual visitor. Things to do in Kensington London include exploring the collections of three of the British capital’s most important museums, heading behind the scenes of life as a royal at Kensington Palace and paying a visit to one of its most famous stores – Harrods. Looking for inspiration for a day in Kensington? Check out our guide to the home patch of Dusty Springfield and Freddie Mercury. Spend a day on Exhibition Road South Kensington is synonymous with museums, with the half kilometer length of Exhibition Road the location of three of the great national collections. If you’ve seen the movies Paddington, The Eternals or even the 1975 Ustinov classic One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing, you won’t need any introduction to the Natural History Museum. Its exhibits include dinosaur skeletons, the taxidermy creatures of Blue Whale Hall and biological samples collected by Charles Darwin on his world-changing expedition to the Galapagos Islands. Step next door to the Science Museum and you’ll encounter Watson and Crick’s original model demonstrating the structure of our DNA, Wells Cathedral Clock – one of the oldest in the world – and the biplane aircraft in which Amy Johnson became the first woman to fly solo from Britain to Australia in 1928. The Victoria and Albert Museum is dedicated to the decorative arts, and provides a permanent home to sculpture by Rodin, handwoven carpets from the Middle East and landscape paintings by Constable. If you need a place to rest your feet, the museum has the first and oldest museum café anywhere on Earth! Snoop around a royal’s bedroom Kensington Palace has been the residence of members of the royal family since the 17th Century. It has provided a home to Queen Victoria (before her accession to the throne), Diana Princess of Wales and latterly Princes William and Harry. One of London’s Historic Royal Palaces, visitors are able to see the lavish King’s State Apartments, their counterpart for the queen consort and the Jewel Room – although the gems held here pale into significance compared to the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. Its gardens can be toured independently of the palace and run without interruption into neighboring Hyde Park. Little ones are sure to enjoy the wooden pirate ship that’s the centerpiece of the Diana Memorial Playground, whilst the Italian Gardens and Peter Pan statue – appearing as if by magic one night in 1912 – should also be added to any list of things to do in Kensington London. Tour the Royal Albert Hall But the royal epithets don’t end with Kensington Palace and Gardens. The southern boundary of the gardens is occupied by the OTT Albert Memorial, opposite the concert hall that also bears the name of Queen Victoria’s consort. Recognized as one of the world’s top performance spaces, the Royal Albert Hall has a 150 year history that includes surviving bombing during the Second World War and appearances from everyone from Mohammad Ali to Adele. Used for the BBC Prom concert series since 1941, taking a tour of the Royal Albert Hall provides access to the usually private royal suites, backstage area and gallery. Delight in Kensington’s contemporary art scene Getting their name from Hyde Park’s Serpentine boating lake, the Serpentine Galleries are renowned for their temporary exhibitions, spread between two historic registered buildings connected by the park’s bridge. During the summer months, its artwork even extends to a pavilion constructed just for the season designed by some of the biggest names in architecture. Previous pavilions have been shaped by Zaha Hadid – whose other work includes Guangzhou Opera House and the London Olympic Aquatic Center – and Frank Gehry – the man behind Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum. Even more style can be enjoyed at Kensington’s dedicated Design Museum. Tucked into the southern extent of Holland Park, head to its upper floor for the permanent collection of this former European Museum of the Year. It demonstrates how design affects our lives without us even noticing and features almost a thousand objects from original London Underground maps to iMac computers. Treat yourself to afternoon tea At this point in your visit to Kensington you’re probably ravenous. A perfect excuse – not that one is needed – to participate in one of Britain’s quaintest – and oddest – of traditions. Afternoon tea has been a staple at fashionable London dining tables since 1840. Keeping people well fed in the long hours between lunch and dinner, it has grown from a light snack to a social occasion, and isn’t just a bone china cup full of swirling tea leaves but a full-on eating fest incorporating sandwiches, savory tarts, cakes and scones. For that extra special treat, book a table at the Harrods Tea Rooms. As one of the most prestigious department stores in the capital, the kitchen staff have had plenty of time to perfect their offerings – over 125 years in fact. But if budgets don’t stretch quite that far – even with Go City savings – Kensington High Street has a good number of alternatives, from Italian cafés to Middle Eastern restaurants and the exquisite artistry of the food served at Japan House. Bringing you the best things to do in Kensington London Because of the huge range of things to do in Kensington London it’s very likely that you’ll spend some time of a London itinerary amongst its national institutions and millionaire’s townhouses. Instead of rushing from place to place, be sure to take your time, enjoying its parks, museums and historic structures. Travel to Kensington and London’s other neighborhoods with Go City and you’ll make incredible savings on many of its top attractions. What you do with the money you save is entirely up to you, though we’re sure you agree that Harrods’ afternoon tea sounds mouthwateringly tasty!
Ian Packham

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