WHAT’S NEW IN LONDON IN 2021
As of today (2 August 2021) fully vaccinated travellers from EU and USA don’t have to quarantine when arriving in England. Whether you should come over is another debate…but it definitely makes a visit to London a tiny bit more realistic this summer. If you decide to visit, it’s worth checking the requirements before booking as they keep changing.
Between the pandemic and the various protests over the last 18 months, things have changed, just like everywhere else. And today I’m sharing the biggest travel related ones that might make a difference to your vacay.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Public transport prices have increased. A bus ride will now cost you £1.55 (instead of £1.50) and the daily cap for contactless and Oyster has gone up to £7.40 (vs £7.00).
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Big Ben / Elizabeth Tower is still under construction and wrapped up – the refurbishment is scheduled until 2022, so you still have to wait a bit longer before taking that iconic photo.
The observation wheel formerly known as the Coca-Cola London Eye has rebranded and is now called the lastminute.com London Eye. It still does the same thing though – shows you London from above for way too much money.
There is a new tourist attraction in town! The Marble Arch Mound…but you won’t be able to climb it and enjoy the views from the top, as it closed after only two days because it was more rubbish dump than the oasis they envisioned. To be continued.
The Geffrye Museum has reopened after a 2-year refurbishment and has rebranded as Museum of the Home… you can visit it and get a glimpse of rooms and gardens throughout the centuries.
FOOD & DRINKS
Listing restaurants, coffee shops and hotels that have permanently closed would take forever, but in terms of tourist favourites, you’ve got the Ace Hotel in Shoreditch, Cereal Killer Cafe in Brick Lane and Camden Town, Hung’s in Chinatown and Ansel Dominique Bakery in Belgravia.
Also, I know you must have missed Pret sandwiches, but don’t forget to support the smaller and independent restaurants, coffee shops and accommodations as well. Some of my favourites are The Black Penny in Covent Garden, Bubala in Spitalfields and Iris & June in Victoria.
Will you be coming to London this summer or are you going to wait it out?
