Things to do in London

Super fast and convenient!No need to book days in advance. I just bought my ticket on Trip.com right when I arrived, and it was issued within seconds. Highly recommend!

My visit to the British Museum was completely transformed by Diana's guide. She didn't just introduce the exhibits; she connected the scattered artifacts into a coherent narrative of world history. From the Rosetta Stone's code and the controversy surrounding the Parthenon reliefs, to the Mesopotamian cuneiform and the historical context behind Oriental porcelain, her explanations were engaging, logically sound, vivid, and insightful. Dry history was no longer just cold text; each artifact came alive with a vibrant background. Her pace was comfortable, and she patiently answered our diverse questions. Three hours was incredibly enriching. Highly recommended! If you want to truly understand the artifacts at the British Museum, you absolutely must see her!

Getting from London to Windsor by bus (702 green line) is very convenient, even without taking the train. Photography is prohibited inside the church and castle. Seeing Queen Mary's Toy House reminded me of the inspiration for many miniature landscape designs in China. I personally think it's well worth a visit. Buying tickets is also very convenient. If you want to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony, enter the castle around 1 PM to find a good spot.

After visiting Windsor Castle and Chatsworth House (Darcy Estate), we then visited Buckingham Palace. If you could only visit one palace in the UK, it would have to be Buckingham Palace. Photography is not allowed inside the royal palaces, as is the case with Windsor Castle, so we could focus on the guided tour. The gift shop after the Buckingham Palace tour has some limited-edition items available only there, making great souvenirs. I bought a Buckingham Palace + Royal Horse Stables combo ticket. The product page stated that visiting the Royal Horse Stables allowed direct entry to Buckingham Palace, but this wasn't actually the case. The State Rooms and the Royal Horse Stables are exchanged at two separate locations, not far apart. However, the ticket exchange and verification are handled by different people, and the verification personnel strictly adhere to the reserved time. The Royal Horse Stables houses the Golden Carriage used exclusively for coronation ceremonies, which is worth seeing; there are also carriages for tourists to ride in and take photos.

Westminster Abbey is honestly not highly recommended unless you want to see the graves of royalty or famous people, like Newton and Hawking, whom we found there. But if you don't enjoy visiting graves, there's no need to go.

The must-see exhibit is the Royal Jewels exhibition. A basic understanding of British history is recommended for a truly worthwhile visit. From here, you can see Tower Bridge and The Shard. It's easily accessible by the Underground.

Much cheaper than the official website, and the entry was incredibly smooth. The Great Dome was absolutely stunning; it was definitely worth the effort to climb up and overlook the east bank of the Thames. I even went to see the Harry Potter staircase from the staff. A truly fulfilling experience.

Having visited the Harry Potter studios in Tokyo before, I was familiar with the earlier parts. The difference was that the London studio included an exhibit on Gringotts Castle, and during our visit, there were some Death Eater performances, which were quite entertaining. Finally, the entire Hogwarts Castle wasn't just an exhibit; it also featured a light and shadow show. If I were to personally recommend visiting the Harry Potter studios for the first time, I'd suggest going to London. Firstly, the language is more familiar to Chinese people, and secondly, there's more interaction. Also, in terms of transportation, it's a 20-minute walk from Uston Station to Watford Junction Station, where there's a free shuttle bus to the studios, which is very convenient.

Traveling with a family member who had just undergone surgery, I initially thought staying in a hotel would be somewhat compromised, but I was completely moved by the thoughtfulness hidden in the details. True quality is revealed in the small things; meticulous service embodies the highest level of hospitality. During check-in, the staff noticed my family member's mobility issues and, without us even asking, proactively moved the room to the closest position to the elevator. They had already padded all the sharp table corners, laid two layers of non-slip mats in the bathroom, and ensured the handrails were at the perfect height for my elderly relative to get up. Throughout the trip, they didn't explicitly emphasize "what we did for you," yet they always appeared when needed: when my family member wanted warm porridge, the kitchen quickly brought out a bowl of perfectly cooked, soft millet porridge, the temperature just right; upon returning from a walk, we found a lightweight folding wheelchair at the door. There was no unnecessary sales pitch, no excessive intrusion. This just-right sense of proportion is the highest form of gentleness and respect; this unassuming care is more reassuring than any deliberate enthusiasm.

For me personally, it was absolutely worth the trip. Everyone needs to reflect on the meaning of life. And I believe that the fate of humanity is inextricably linked to the efforts of scientists. We go to those places precisely so that we can be inspired by others and continue to move forward.