London Travel Tip - Sky Garden

London, England is overflowing with amazing places to visit, activities to do, and areas to explore. Like so many cities, there is never enough time to do it all, which means you need to figure what few things are a must do for you. As I said in a previous post, I usually have a few must do's, a few more nice to do's, and the rest are just those places you stumble upon. 

A place in London I would recommend you consider putting on your Must Do List is Sky Garden. It is best described as London's Highest Public Garden and provides some amazing views of the city. The best part of all? It's free. 

You will need to plan your visit ahead of time because a ticket is needed, and a limited number of tickets are available each day. Typically, you are able to book a ticket up to three weeks in advance. More information about the booking process can be found on their website HERE.

Sky Garden is located at 20 Fenchurch Street, and it spans three stories at the top of the commercial building some have nicknamed "The Walkie Talkie." The space includes lovely and exquisite gardens that visitors can wander through. The area also includes a bar and two restaurants. Lastly, it provides 360 degree views of the city of London that are simply spectacular. 

We visited Sky Garden during the first half of our trip and later in the afternoon. Although the ticket does state you have one hour, I did not observe anyone coming around and throwing people out after an hour. When we arrived, we started by sitting at a table to relax and enjoy a drink before venturing to the windows to check out some of the views. After some time, we walked up the stairs and to the other side to take in more views as well as to sit and relax some more. It was a great way to end a day in London and to see the city from above.

Why Sky Garden? There are other options out there for views of London. One is The Shard, which is twice the height of 20 Fenchurch Street. However, the Standard entry fee for one adult is £25. London is an expensive city, so spending £25 just for views of the city is a lot of money especially if you're on a budget. Sky Garden offers views just as spectacular for free, so before your trip to London, make sure to book your tickets for Sky Garden. It will not disappoint.

Ditch the Travel Itinerary!

I love to travel. I love exploring and discovering new places, new cultures, new customs. 

In my day to day life, I am a planner. When you work two jobs, it’s hard not to be. With limited free time, I have to be a planner to make the most of each day.

When I travel, I am less planner and more let’s see where the day takes me. Don’t get me wrong, I make some plans, but you also won’t find me traveling with a “Clipboard of Fun”. Sorry, Danny Tanner.

I understand the desire to plan every minute of the day when you’re traveling, especially to some place new. You want to try and see everything. You’re spending a lot of money, and you don’t know when you’ll be back. I have traveled like this in the past. Did I enjoy my trip? Yes, but I usually came back needing a vacation from my vacation. Also, I’d sometimes start my trip exhausted and overwhelmed solely from all the planning. 

The first time I traveled and loosened up my desire to do it all, I enjoyed it, and I didn’t feel bummed that I missed some things. Now, I travel with a loosely planned itinerary. I know where I am sleeping each night, have a list of a few must do’s and things I’d like to do if possible, and maybe some restaurant ideas. I’ll also research ways to get around the area and what to pack. Other than that, I just enjoy, explore, and see where the day takes me.

In all honesty, some of my favorite memories of past trips are the things that weren’t plan. The areas we stumbled upon, the nights spent just having a couple pints at a pub we passed on our way somewhere, sitting around a champagne and pizza bar and being entertained, and just wandering around and taking photos.

In October, I traveled to Scotland, and on our last day in Edinburgh, we ventured over to Dean Village and the Water of Leith Walkway. An area we discovered when looking at Google Maps in the morning. We spent the next hour or so exploring the area, taking photos, and chatting with some locals. It ended up being one of my favorite parts of my vacation, and I got some great photos too.

The views when walking around Edinburgh never ceased to amaze me.

Dean Village was a successful grain milling area for over 800 years

The plants and old buildings throughout the area created stunning views.

Given its history, you are likely to stumble upon an old mill stone while exploring Dean Village.

I couldn't stop myself from taking countless photos showing off the plant life and timeless buildings.

St. Bernard's Well along the Water of Leith Walkway

So, here are my travel tips today:

1. Stop planning every hour, every minute of each day of your trip - some of the best memories cannot be planned, and you'll have time to sit back, relax, and enjoy.

2. Don’t be afraid to just explore - you never know what you may stumble upon.

3. Talk to locals - no one knows the area better than they do.

What are some of your travel tips? What’s one of your favorite vacation memories that happened because you just stumbled upon it? Comment below.

Until next time, have a magical day!