Head to:
22 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AJ
Entry: Free (but tickets are needed)
This past week we headed to London’s newest viewing platform, and we were not disappointed. It has none of the hustle and bustle of the Sky Garden or the Roof Terrace at One New Change, but the views are considerably better. The space is sparse with a focus on those huge glass windows. We were surprised and amused to find ourselves looking down on a Shard that has never looked smaller, while trying to find our favourite landmarks based on the curve of the Thames was weirdly enthralling.
Tickets are booked up far in advance, so be sure to snag them ahead of time.
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For a Slice of History:
Aldgate High St, London EC3N 1AB
Entry: free
When you live in a city, it’s easy to walk past its historic buildings as they absorb into your everyday surrounds, but peek inside them and you’ll find that the past is rife for exploration. This particular church is still in operation, and its history is as varied as it is fascinating. The first signs of a church here date all the way back to 1125, the original version of this church survived the Great Fire of London, and a bomb fell through the roof here during the blitz in 1941.
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Drink In:
47 Aldgate High St, Greater, London EC3N 1AL
There are drinking holes aplenty in London, but very few have a history quite like the Hoop and Grapes. This pub claims to be the city’s oldest licensed drinking pub in the city, and was built all the way back in 1593. The pub is anything but fussy and inside charmingly crooked walls are adorned with artworks showcasing the Great Fire of London of 1666, which this spot was lucky enough to just escape.
Food is served, and we’re always happy for a hearty pie on a rainy day, but we’ve also enjoyed a happy afternoon here just nursing a beer or two with friends.
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