London Calling: A 9-Day UK Itinerary for First-Time Pinoy Travellers

Contributed by Chasing Dreams with Kaye

The United Kingdom has a reputation for being one of the most expensive travel destinations in the world. It is often stereotyped as a destination for the privileged ones due to its high cost of living.

The UK is famous for its century-old castles and palaces, the royal family, Harry Potter filming locations, museums, theatres, old and modern architecture, rich history, and eclectic culture. 

If you are planning a holiday in the UK, I hope this article will help ease your preparations for your UK visa application and planning your day-to-day itinerary. 

Also read: 14 Things to Do in London on Your Very First Visit

UK Visa Application

The only thing that separates you from making your dream trip to the UK happen is getting a visa — and the 14-to-18-hour flight. They say it used to be tedious to apply for a UK visa, but it is now easier and simplified. You don’t need to be nervous about the interview because it is no longer needed. Just accomplish the UK visa online application, get an appointment at VFS for processing and biometrics, and wait for the decision after 15 working days. 

Also read: Visa-Required Countries with Surprisingly Easy Visa Applications for Filipinos

How to get to the UK from Manila

I flew from Manila to London via Emirates. It was an 18-hour flight from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to London Heathrow International Airport with a three-hour layover in Dubai International Airport. I took an evening flight so I could get to the royal land the next morning. 

Though there is a 14-hour direct flight from Manila to London Heathrow via Philippine Airlines, I decided to take a connecting flight from Manila to Dubai, then Dubai to London Heathrow instead. I had to meet my friend at Dubai International Airport, pick him up, and drag him to the UK!

Where to stay in the UK

We booked a room at Chelsea House Hotel in Earl’s Court Gardens. It is part of the South Kensington area in central London. Chelsea House is pleasant and not your typical hotel building; it is more like a Victorian-style London apartment. 

The nearest tube station is at Earl’s Court, and it’s six minutes away from the Chelsea House Hotel. We found out later on that there is a Filipino community at Earl’s Court. There, you can find Filipino restaurants like Romulo Café, Kamayan sa Earl’s Court, Lutong Pinoy, and Jollibee. Since Earl’s Court is a Pinoy community area, the Bank of the Philippine Islands Europe headquarters is located here as well to serve the banking needs of Filipinos in the UK. 

Also read: 7 Gorgeous and Budget-Friendly Airbnbs in London

Getting around the UK

Like I’ve said earlier, a trip to the United Kingdom is no joke. If you really want to experience and explore as many tourist attractions as possible, you have to be wise in planning your budget and itinerary. 

The UK has a very efficient transportation system, with trains, tubes, tube or the Underground connecting you to each place; red double-decker buses, black cabs, ferries, and even Boris bikes are available everywhere. It won’t be a problem getting around the city. 

For hassle-free travel, you might want to avail of the London Pass with Oyster Card. The card package costs about £208 (₱13,450). You can purchase the card online and have it delivered to your home address before your trip. In our case, we had our London Passes delivered to my friend’s UK address for a cheaper shipping fee. 

Oyster Card

Let’s talk about the Oyster Card. Oyster is a pre-loaded transportation card that you can use to ride the tube, the bus, or the ferry. London transportation lets you travel anywhere in the country using the Oyster for a maximum of £7 (₱455) per day per person. So, after you’ve already spent this amount for tube and bus rides for the day, your next rides will be free of charge, if I’m not mistaken. 

If you need to ride a decent car, I would suggest that you book an Uber car instead of riding the black cab because the latter is quite expensive. But really, I encourage you to take the tube or train! It’s the best transportation for exploring London and Greater London, and it will save you lots of quid. 

Next, you must do your research on the locations of the tourist attractions that you would like to visit. It will save you time and money if you group the tourist spots per area or per zone. If you are like us — we swept the whole of London from east to west and north to south — then you will need a London Pass. 

Also read: 7 Ways to Save Money on Transport Fares in London

London Pass

The London Pass gives you access to several tourist attractions. Just present your pass to ticket counters, and they will scan it and you will be given the ticket. It gives you a lot of savings for entrance fees! With a London Pass, fees seem to be discounted as compared to regular entrance fees, too. So, make the most of Your London Pass, maximise your London and Greater London tour, and visit as many attractions as possible! 

Note that there are some attractions not included in the London Pass, such as the Coca-Cola London Eye and Buckingham Palace. Nonetheless, most London attractions are included in the pass. It’s definitely worth buying! 

Also read: London Attractions: 15 Locations to Complete Your English Experience!

Our nine-day UK itinerary

Are you ready for a massive amount of walking and a lot of tube rides? The UK has so many tourist attractions, so as I mentioned earlier, it would be wise to group them together per area or zone, per day. In our case, we were there for nine days, and we visited London, Greater London, Windsor, and Salisbury. 

Day 1: Kensington and Chelsea area

South Kensington

South Kensington is a posh area in London where the middle and upper class people live in classic Victorian-style flats. Our day concentrated mainly on the area of Kensington. 

Upon our arrival, we made the most out of our first day. After checking in at the hotel, we went to my friend to get our London Passes, and explored the Kensington and Chelsea areas. 

Design Museum

This museum covers product, industrial, graphic, fashion, and architectural design. So, if you are into design and arts, you should visit this museum. 

Leighton House Museum

Known for its Victorian and Pseudo-Islamic court design, it is an art museum and the home of late painter Baron Frederic Leighton.

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace is the (former) official royal residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The State Rooms are open to the public; here, you can find Queen Victoria’s childhood gowns, toys, coronation cape, and sceptre. 

Day 2: Buckingham Palace and Borough of Westminster

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence and administrative headquarters of the British monarchs, it is one of the major tourist attractions in the Westminster Borough. During the summer, the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace are open to the public. You can tour the 19 extravagant State Rooms, the Queen’s Gallery, and the Throne Room. 

Westminster Cathedral

This cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church known for its neo-Byzantine architecture. You can go up the Tower Viewing Gallery and see the best views over south and west London. 

Westminster Abbey

This is the church where the royal wedding of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took place. Westminster Abbey is also the official coronation church and the burial site of 17 British monarchs and the Tudors (except King Henry VIII), soldiers who lost their lives during the WWI, poets like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, and Sir Isaac Newton. This is also the funeral site of the late Princess Diana. 

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

Big Ben is London’s most iconic landmark. However, both Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are under restoration; they are currently encased in scaffoldings, and renovation is due for completion in 2021. You still can see these two landmarks when you go sightseeing in the area. 

The National Gallery

One of the largest art galleries in Europe, the National Gallery houses a huge and spectacular collection of artworks and sculptures from Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael, Van Gogh, Michelangelo, and Monet. It is located in Trafalgar Square. 

Trafalgar Square

This public square is located in the Westminster area. You can see Admiral Nelson’s column here. 

Piccadilly Circus, Regent, Oxford, Carnaby Streets

This is London’s major shopping district in the West End. Here, you can find the shopping arcades, cheap to luxury brand stores, and restaurants. Just a reminder: you will do a lot of walking! All you have to do in this area is to shop and dine till you drop. 

Day 3: Tower of London area and Covent Garden

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is often mistaken for the London Bridge. It is an iconic symbol of London, and you should take a photo here, or else you haven’t really been to the UK. (Kidding!) Go inside and discover the stories behind the engineering, the people, the architecture, and the city that built London’s defining landmark. 

Explore the Towers and the Victorian Engine Rooms, and watch the city life unfold from the high-level walkways and glass floor. 

Tower of London

Gaze up at the massive White Tower, tip-toe through the king’s medieval bedchamber, marvel at the crown jewels, and look back at the bloody history and tales. You will also see the exquisite armours from the Royal Armouries collection and carved wooden horses dating back from the 17th century. Go and find the four ravens guarding the Tower! 

Leadenhall Market

This is where the Diagon Alley scenes filmed were filmed in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I truly appreciate this market for its Victorian ceiling design, and the dramatic yellow lights that complement its reddish brown ceiling and walls. It looks very much like the Galleria in Milan, albeit a smaller version. There are shops, restaurants, and pubs to enjoy here. 

Covent Garden Market

Covent Garden Market is a traditional market with clothing stores, jewellery, handicrafts, and antiques. There are also restaurants and musicians performing on the lower ground floor. This market is quite crowded, but you will enjoy shopping and food crawling here. 

Day 4: Museum Day

Royal Albert Hall

One of the world’s most famous stages, Royal Albert is a music hall near Hyde Park. It was opened by Queen Victoria in 1871, and has hosted more than 360 events per year, including classical music, jazz, world music, circus, rock, pop, opera, dance, and comedy events, and even tennis matches. 

Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world’s leading museum of art, design, and performance, representing more than 3,000 years of human creativity. It is the home to grand art collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity. You will also be amazed with the Jewellery Gallery, where you can find the jewels of Queen Victoria including her sapphire and diamond coronet. 

Natural History Museum

This museum is one of the most impressive buildings in London. Discover star specimens such as Hope, a 25-meter blue whale hanging down from the ceiling and one of the UK’s most complete dinosaurs. Other treasures from the museum’s unique collection of more than 80 million specimens can be seen across its many permanent galleries, which include one of the world’s most impressive dinosaur exhibitions. 

British Museum

The British Museum is only the world’s oldest national public museum. Here, you will find vast collections of art, literature, and other artefacts telling the story of human history from Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, spread across three floors. Oh, and let’s not forget how drop-dead gorgeous the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court’s glass roof is! 

Day 5: War Rooms, Wax Figures, Windsor Castle, and the Shard

Churchill War Rooms

Discover the secrets hidden underneath Downing Street! Here, you will find the headquarters of Winston Churchill and his inner circle during World War II. 

Note: Taking photos and videos is prohibited inside the War Rooms.

Madame Tussauds Museum

This is where you will find the famous wax figures of Emma Watson, the Beckhams, Ed Sheeran, Adele, The Beatles, Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth I, and the royal family including Queen Elizabeth II. 

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It has been the home of British Royals for more than 1,000 years and is one of the official residences of Queen Elizabeth II. You will find beautiful paintings from the royal collection, state rooms, and apartments. 

The Shard

London is a large and sprawling city and is definitely worth seeing from high up. The Shard is one of the tallest buildings in Europe, with spectacular views of London skyline both day and night. You can try afternoon tea at Shangri-La’s Oblix restaurant. 

Day 6: Theatre Day, Borough Market, and London Eye

Shakespeare Globe Theatre

Imagine it as it would have been during the Elizabethan era — the centre of London’s entertainment area. Similar to the original theatre that was once put up in Bankside, the Shakespeare Globe Theatre is known for its wooden design.

The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre

Her Majesty’s Theatre is the West End’s classic theatre musical play. I was in awe with the amazing production of the show — The Phantom of the Opera is a must-watch classic if you’d really like to experience the best of the West End shows!

Borough Market

Borough Market is another traditional market in London where you can find lots of cheese, wine, coffee shops, and all sorts of street food. I recommend you drop by and try Kappacasein, a store that sells bread filled with cheese. 

London Eye

Take a 30-minute ride in an observation ferris-wheel situated in the south bank of the River Thames and marvel at the beauty of London from above.

Day 7: Harry Potter Day

St. Pancras Station

A gorgeous train station that connects you to different places in London and in Europe. It looks like a palace in orangey paint and beautiful arches and pointed roofs. 

King’s Cross Station

This is the station where the original Platform 9 and 3/4 is located. You will also find The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 and 3/4 with all sorts of Harry Potter stuff. If you are a Potterhead like me and my friend, you will definitely love shopping here. There are also other shops in the station for souvenirs like shirts and accessories; there are convenience stores in the area as well. 

Warner Brother Studios

WB Studios is located in Leavesden, an hour and a half’s bus ride from St. Pancras. Again, if you are a Potterhead, you will definitely love this studio because it’s like stepping into the magical world of Harry Potter and feeling like a witch or wizard during the studio tour.

Take note that you should connect to the studio’s Wi-Fi for you to have a communication line with your travel buddies in case you get separated within the studio. There are so many tourists coming in, and there is no mobile phone signal inside. 

Day 8: Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a prehistoric and mysterious stone circle monument in Europe. You’ll  need to allot half a day or more if you decide to go here. It is a three-hour bus ride from central London to Salisbury, where Stonehenge is located. Salisbury is in the Eastern part of England and is outside London.

Day 9: Neighbourhood stroll

As much as we wanted to stay longer in the UK, the last day of the holiday finally came. What we did on our last day was stroll around the neighbourhood, do last-minute shopping at a nearby souvenir shop, and have a farewell lunch at the Kensington Hotel. Then, we headed back to the hotel to pack our luggage. 

Our flight was at 7pm, but we headed to the airport at around 3pm to get our tax refunds. The queue at the tax refund booth is crazy long, so make sure to allot enough time for a stop here if needed!

After that, all you need to do is join the queues for the self check-in machines, have your airline tickets printed, and head to the luggage drop-in counters. Then, that’s it! Just wait for your flight and chill at the Heathrow Airport restaurants near departures. 

Also read: How My Scholarship in the UK is Helping Me Achieve My Travel Goals

I guess that sums up my UK trip! I hope I was able to share enough essentials to help you survive and make your dream trip to the United Kingdom efficient and sulit.

This article was written prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read about the UK’s travel requirements here.