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(This is a two-part article series that’ll give digital nomads a comprehensive guide about the city of London. Find out the important considerations that’ll help you truly enjoy what London can offer.)
There’s a wealth of adventure and opportunities awaiting digital nomads in London. To fully enjoy what the city has to offer, it’s important to consider a couple of factors.
In part one of this article series, you got an overview of London and what you should expect when you visit. From the appeal to the people, cost of living, healthcare system, visa requirements and transportation – you have the basics that’ll help you plan your stay in the city.
Now, it’s time to focus on how you can maximise the whole experience. London has a lot of things to offer and each side of the city brings a different kind of experience. If you want to fully enjoy the very soul of the city, you have to know when to visit, where to live, work, socialise and explore.
In this article, you’ll get a guide that’ll help you fully immerse yourself in everything London has to offer. Pay attention to these considerations because they’ll guide you in finalising your plans to experience the very essence of London.
6 Considerations Before Visiting London
If you want to immerse yourself in the very heart of London, you need to come prepared. From choosing the best time to visit and discovering the perfect neighbourhood to explore – you need to plan this. There are so many beautiful places to work, socialise and exercise. You want to understand your options well so you can get the experience that you’re looking for.
May it be a cultural, artistic or outdoor experience, you need to ask yourself 6 important questions.
When to Visit
If you ask anyone who’s ever been to London, they’ll say it’s cold and gloomy. No matter what season it may be, you need to expect rain to fall anytime. So if you have plans to go around the city, always carry an umbrella or raincoat to keep yourself dry. If you have specific activities or places to visit in mind, you should consider the 4 seasons in London so you can choose the best time to explore them.
The winter season is between December and February and the temperature ranges from 5°C to 9°C. If you’re going need the River Thames, it might feel colder because of the high wind speed. It doesn’t always snow but don’t rule it out when you’re walking about. During this season, expect to have shorter days and longer nights with rare sunlight. Because of the Christmas season, you’ll see various markets and retail activities – it’s a great season for shopping.
The spring season is between March and May. The temperature is still cold and ranges from 6°C to 18°C. You’ll love this season because the flowers at the parks are starting to blossom. It’s the ideal time for exploring parks. Of course, this is London so expect more rain during this season.
The summer season is between June and August with a warmer temperature that ranges from 13°C to 23°C. The summer days in London are quite long so expect the sun to set as late as 9 pm. It is during these times when events and festivals happen. Just a warning – there’s always a chance of a heatwave happening so keep an eye on the weather news. Make sure the home you’ll rent during your stay has a fan or AC installed to help with the hot summer days.
The autumn season is between September to November. The temperature ranges from 7°C to 20°C. You’ll love walking around London during this season because of the falling leaves and the yellow-gold colours of the foliage and trees. Feel free to explore the outdoor hotspots and hiking trails in the city. Again, rain happens during this season so bring your gear to keep yourself dry.
Where to Work
You have a lot of choices if you want to work in London. Most short-term rental properties, especially the ones managed by City Relay offer free WiFi connections. Some even have functional workspaces for you to use.
Of course, if you want to find co-working spaces so you can meet other people, you have several options to choose from.
Hart Shoreditch is one of the best spaces to work and it’s open from Mondays to Sundays from 8 am to 4 pm. It’s quiet during the day so you can get a lot of work done here. It’s also right in the centre of Shoreditch where art festivals and vintage boutiques abound. You can get some shopping and exploring done after work.
If you have plans to explore Soho, you can stop by 21Soho to get some work done. It’s also a comedy club so if you stay long enough, you might catch the scheduled show for the day. This place is open from Mondays to Fridays, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
In case you prefer to work in a cafe, check out Cafe Nero. They offer free WiFi and you can enjoy a cup of coffee and a sandwich or two while you work. Another option is Pret-a-Manger which offers free WiFi and sells coffee and food.
Libraries can also be a great option as a workspace between 10 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday. There’s a Victorian building called the Bethnal Green Library that offers free WiFi. It’s beside the Bethnal Green Tube station so it should be easy to go to.
If you’re near South Bank, you can go to BFI Reuben Library. They have 24 workspaces and they even have public computers you can use. They are open Monday to Friday from 10:30 am to 7 pm.
The Westminster Reference Library near Piccadilly Circus is another option. It’s open on weekdays from 10 am to 8 pm. You can also go to the British Library. Although the WiFi is not free, you can meet a lot of entrepreneurs and small business owners here. The library is open from 9:30 am to 8 pm on weekdays.
Where to Explore
Once you’ve covered the places to work, what about the places to explore? Well, London won’t run out of new places for you to visit. It’s brimming with cultural and historical landmarks.
Hyde Park is a famous place in London where you can enjoy green spaces. It’s a great spot to just sit back and relax. It’s the go-to place of the locals when the sun is out in London.
Buckingham Palace is another place you should visit. It used to be the weekday residence of the late Queen and Prince Philip but it’s also a museum during the day. Visiting the palace allows you to see the State Rooms, King’s Gallery, etc – with an audio tour provided by the Prince of Wales himself.
The London Eye is also a must-visit in London. You can go to the South Bank and ride the London Eye to get a great view of the city. There are also restaurants and bars in the area that you can explore. You’ll also love the street performances – making the place incredibly exciting.
Like the London Eye, the Big Ben is another tourist hotspot. It’s one of the iconic landmarks – with the clock tower and big bell. It was built in 1843 and took 15 years to complete.
The London Zoo is a place that’ll take you back to your childhood days. If you love animals, this is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. You can even stay long enough to watch the animal shows and interactive events.
If you want a cultural experience, you can visit China Town. It feels like being transported in China. Here you’ll get authentic Chinese food and glimpse the Asian culture at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and China Town Heritage Centre.
If shopping is what you want to do, Camden Market has hundreds of stalls filled with arts and crafts, clothing and good food. The place is also right along the canal and offers a variety of musical events. You also have Portobello Market with its vintage clothing, food delights and various artefacts.
There are other places you can visit like the Covent Garden, Soho, Oxford Street and many more. Feel free to do your research so you can schedule your trips during your stay in London.
Where to Exercise
Part of a digital nomad’s lifestyle is time for exercise and recreation. Fortunately, London has several facilities and natural parks for you to use. Regent’s Park and Hyde Park are great for jogging and cycling. The sights are incredible enough to allow a leisure stroll daily. Most of the big parks also have outdoor gyms – with the occasional workout routine that’s open to the public. You can search Project Awesome in London. It’s a fitness movement that meets 3x a week – usually early at around 6:30 am. It’s a great option to stay fit while meeting new people.
If you’re more of a night person, research the London Friday Night Skate. This event gathers skaters every Friday at 8 pm near Hyde Park. The group skates within central London. The Friday group are mostly intermediate and advanced skaters so you’ll have to keep up.
Where to Socialise
The social scene in London is both diverse and vibrant. Whether you want a thriving nightlife or you’re more into outdoor adventures, there are several opportunities and places for you to socialise and meet new people.
The bars and pubs in London are mostly overflowing with local patrons. There are rooftop bars, cosy pubs, cocktail bars, breweries and traditional pubs. If you don’t know where to start, go with Soho first. It offers a variety of nightlife activities like live music, clubs, etc.
If you’re into daytime socialising, head to the coffee shops. You can even get some work done while you’re at it. Search for networking events to enrich your professional career. There’s nothing like a good connection with the local business people to expand your digital career.
Ask the locals for great tips for socialising. Some of the best spots in London are the hole-in-the-wall venues. It’ll give you an incredible experience as a local.
Where to Stay
Once you’ve gone through all the activities you want to do and places you want to visit, it’s time to choose the place where you’ll stay. Choose the right neighbourhood that suits the type of experience you want to have.
Notting Hill has several high-end boutiques and Victorian townhouses. It turns into a shopper’s paradise on weekends – thanks to the Portobello Market. Check out this property on Notting Hill.
Ealing, on the other hand, will give you a taste of the suburbs with its large spaces, gardens and minimal traffic. It comes complete with a shopping centre at Ealing Broadway.
Kingston is best if you want to stay away from the crowd. It’s near the River Thames and Richmond Park so it’s ideal for digital nomads. There are restaurants, cafes and shops overlooking the river so it’s a great spot for you to stay.
Camden is where the action is. It’s not just because of the Camden Market. You’ll also enjoy the nightlife, festivals, street performers and concerts. The street food is also interesting as you’ll find options from different cuisines.
Brixton, on the other hand, is a popular spot for digital nomads because of its affordable rental prices. You’ll find a lot of tech startups in the area – making it a great place for you to expand your network and connections.
Peckham is another affordable neighbourhood for digital nomads. It’s a haven for young ones with nightclubs, cafes and markets. You’ll feel right at home here – thanks to the various ethnicities who’ve come to make Peckham their home in London.
If you’re looking for accommodation options, take a look at some of the properties that City Relay manages across London.
Stylish One-Bedroom Flat in Notting Hill
Convenient Euston London Apartment
Let City Relay Help You Enjoy London
London is an incredible place for digital nomads. It offers an endless opportunity to work, explore and connect with other people. Make sure you consider the factors outlined in this guide and the previous article so you can plan an enriching stay.
Whatever you choose in terms of when to visit, where to work, explore, exercise and socialise, it’s best to figure out where you plan to stay first. This will allow you to finalise your itinerary. You can plan what to do each day so you can make the most out of the short stay in London.
City Relay manages hundreds of London rental properties. We’ll make sure your stay in London will be convenient, comfortable and complete with everything you need.
Give us a call so we can help you find the perfect haven for your stay in London. We’ll make the whole experience an unforgettable one.
