Save time by combining high tea and a sightseeing bus<\/h2>\n![\"b](\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1-2-1.jpg\")
Photo credit: Candice May<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHigh tea in England is a tourist\u2019s right of passage \u2013 and so is checking sites like Big Ben and Westminster Abbey off that bucket list. If time is tight, combine the two and book yourself on the B-Bakery afternoon tea bus tour!<\/p>\n
Arrive hungry and climb onto the vintage red bus, decked out with the coolest diner-style d\u00e9cor and cool tunes you grew up listening to blaring from the stereo. Take your seat at your table and as the bus sets off on its 90 minute tour of London, start tucking into your multi-tiered cake stand, with everything from mini quiches and scones with clotted cream to lemon meringues, eclairs and chocolate cupcakes. Hot and cold beverages are included too, or make it a special occasion and bring your own bubbles along. Don\u2019t forget to look up from your sugar-reverie to soak in all London\u2019s most popular sites including Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Hyde Park, Downing Street, Big Ben and more.<\/p>\n
Book your B-Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour<\/a> online before you head to London!<\/p>\n![\"b](\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/b-bus1-2.jpg\")
Photo credit: Candice May<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSwap pub culture for experiential meals<\/h2>\n\n
Beer and a steak pie at a charming old pub certainly has its appeal, but London is quickly becoming known for its experiential restaurants too\u2026<\/p>\n
At Circus Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, sip on cocktails from vintage tea cups while you watch performers dance, contort, throw flames and fly through the air, and that\u2019s just before the starters arrive. In an intimate setting everyone has front row, and while the exciting pan-Asian dishes on the menu\u2013 designed for sharing \u2013 will delight and satisfy your taste buds in no time, the sparkling atmosphere and cabaret acts will have you lingering long after your dessert bowl has been licked clean, wondering what\u2019s up next.<\/p>\n
Book your table at Circus restaurant and bar<\/a> now.<\/p>\nHop on a helicopter for an angels\u2019 eye view of the city<\/h2>\n![\"helicopter](\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/heli1.jpg\")
Photo credit: Candice May<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSure a helicopter flip over London isn\u2019t cheapest thing you\u2019ll ever do, but certainly one of the most worthwhile. Every visitor to London should seriously consider splurging on a short sightseeing helicopter flight over the city that\u2019ll have you marvelling at the iconic buildings from above, the sheer size of London and the winding river Thames. Feel the exhilaration wash over you and your stomach dance in excitement when your say goodbye (if only for a short time) to your earthly worries and fly away into the breathtaking London horizon.<\/p>\n
Read more about London sightseeing helicopter flights<\/a> and book yours now.<\/p>\n![\"helicopter](\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG-20170918-WA0025.jpg\")
Photo credit: Candice May<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGet your adrenalin pumping on the ArcelorMittal Orbit slide<\/h2>\n![\"arcelormittal](\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/slideq.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Arcelormittal Orbit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nLondon may not seem like the obvious choice for adrenalin junkies, but aside from dodging the hustling commuters when navigating the Underground, there are other plenty of other thrills to be had.<\/p>\n
Why not visit Stratford and dare yourself to take a ride down the ArcelorMittal Orbit slide? A 178 meter high sculpture and observation tower in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, enjoy the sweeping views of London before making your descent \u2013 down the world\u2019s tallest, longest and fastest tunnel slide! A 40 second ride from top to bottom, feel the adrenalin pumping through your veins as you twist, dip, drop and circle the sculpture 12 times (most likely screaming), as you wind your way to the bottom.<\/p>\n
You can book your ticket for the ArcelorMittal Orbit slide<\/a> online or at the entrance.<\/p>\nNever say \u201cNo\u201d to a London show<\/h2>\n![\"kingsman](\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0807-1-scaled.jpg\")
Photo credit: Candice May<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nLondon has always been known for its world-class theatre productions, and whether you\u2019ve watched plenty of shows over the years or none to date, seeing a play or musical in the West End is guaranteed to delight! Marvel at the talented cast of children starring in Matilda, sing along to your favourite Disney songs during Aladdin and wow over the set of Phantom of the Opera. Spoilt for choice, dozens of productions will have you struggling to choose between them, so if you\u2019re not too fussy, visit the TKTS booth in Leicester Square where you can buy heavily discounted theatre tickets on the day of the show!<\/p>\n\n
Start your day on a high at Aqua Shard<\/h2>\n![\"london](\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HLZD0911.jpg\")
Photo credit: Candice May<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOn the 31st<\/sup> floor of the Shard (London’s tallest building) you\u2019ll find the elegant Aqua Shard Restaurant and Bar, with breathtaking views of the London skyline, plush booths, private dining rooms, a 3 story high atrium bar and window-side tables which overlook the city, removed from the hustle and bustle of daily life 31 floors below. Open for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner, Aqua Shard has a large and varied menus with plenty of surprises awaiting even the most blas\u00e9 of foodies.<\/p>\n![\"aqua](\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/shard31.jpg\")
Photo credit: Candice May<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe saying goes that you pay for what you get, and between the setting and cuisine, it\u2019s a whole lot. It may come as a surprise to you then to find out that breakfast at Aqua Shard is pretty reasonable, with hot meals starting from around\u00a0\u00a39 \u2013cheaper than many a pub fry up! Well worth the visit, Aqua Shard is the perfect setting for a business breakfast or a special brunch or- if you want to indulge- relish the sunset over London in the cocktail bar before taking your seats for dinner among the twinkling city lights.<\/p>\n
Book your table at Aqua Shard<\/a> today!<\/p>\nShop until you shouldn\u2019t<\/h2>\n![\"camden\"](\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/camden3.jpg\")
Photo credit: Candice May<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIt\u2019s easy to get carried away with London\u2019s eclectic and exhaustive collection of high end boutiques and cheap as chips retailers. If you do want to do some shopping in the UK, consider making a list of the stores you want to visit before you arrive, or you\u2019ll spend your whole trip traipsing from chain store to chain store, scared of missing a sale or some speciality item that you can\u2019t find at home. In London you tend to walk a lot, so be careful not to buy more than you can comfortably carry (or more than you can fit into your suitcase for that matter). Top shopping spots include Carnaby Street, Oxford Street, Covent Garden and definitely pay a visit to Camden if you’re looking for quirky or alternative wear.<\/p>\n
Ready to experience the old favourite and new exciting things to do in London?\u00a0 Find your direct flight to London with Virgin Atlantic<\/a>, British Airways<\/a> or Emirates<\/a> Airlines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
High tea in England is a tourist\u2019s right of passage \u2013 and so is checking sites like Big Ben and Westminster Abbey off that bucket list. If time is tight, combine the two and book yourself on the B-Bakery afternoon tea bus tour!<\/p>\n
Arrive hungry and climb onto the vintage red bus, decked out with the coolest diner-style d\u00e9cor and cool tunes you grew up listening to blaring from the stereo. Take your seat at your table and as the bus sets off on its 90 minute tour of London, start tucking into your multi-tiered cake stand, with everything from mini quiches and scones with clotted cream to lemon meringues, eclairs and chocolate cupcakes. Hot and cold beverages are included too, or make it a special occasion and bring your own bubbles along. Don\u2019t forget to look up from your sugar-reverie to soak in all London\u2019s most popular sites including Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Hyde Park, Downing Street, Big Ben and more.<\/p>\n
Book your B-Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour<\/a> online before you head to London!<\/p>\n Beer and a steak pie at a charming old pub certainly has its appeal, but London is quickly becoming known for its experiential restaurants too\u2026<\/p>\n At Circus Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, sip on cocktails from vintage tea cups while you watch performers dance, contort, throw flames and fly through the air, and that\u2019s just before the starters arrive. In an intimate setting everyone has front row, and while the exciting pan-Asian dishes on the menu\u2013 designed for sharing \u2013 will delight and satisfy your taste buds in no time, the sparkling atmosphere and cabaret acts will have you lingering long after your dessert bowl has been licked clean, wondering what\u2019s up next.<\/p>\n Book your table at Circus restaurant and bar<\/a> now.<\/p>\n Sure a helicopter flip over London isn\u2019t cheapest thing you\u2019ll ever do, but certainly one of the most worthwhile. Every visitor to London should seriously consider splurging on a short sightseeing helicopter flight over the city that\u2019ll have you marvelling at the iconic buildings from above, the sheer size of London and the winding river Thames. Feel the exhilaration wash over you and your stomach dance in excitement when your say goodbye (if only for a short time) to your earthly worries and fly away into the breathtaking London horizon.<\/p>\n Read more about London sightseeing helicopter flights<\/a> and book yours now.<\/p>\n London may not seem like the obvious choice for adrenalin junkies, but aside from dodging the hustling commuters when navigating the Underground, there are other plenty of other thrills to be had.<\/p>\n Why not visit Stratford and dare yourself to take a ride down the ArcelorMittal Orbit slide? A 178 meter high sculpture and observation tower in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, enjoy the sweeping views of London before making your descent \u2013 down the world\u2019s tallest, longest and fastest tunnel slide! A 40 second ride from top to bottom, feel the adrenalin pumping through your veins as you twist, dip, drop and circle the sculpture 12 times (most likely screaming), as you wind your way to the bottom.<\/p>\n You can book your ticket for the ArcelorMittal Orbit slide<\/a> online or at the entrance.<\/p>\n London has always been known for its world-class theatre productions, and whether you\u2019ve watched plenty of shows over the years or none to date, seeing a play or musical in the West End is guaranteed to delight! Marvel at the talented cast of children starring in Matilda, sing along to your favourite Disney songs during Aladdin and wow over the set of Phantom of the Opera. Spoilt for choice, dozens of productions will have you struggling to choose between them, so if you\u2019re not too fussy, visit the TKTS booth in Leicester Square where you can buy heavily discounted theatre tickets on the day of the show!<\/p>\n\n On the 31st<\/sup> floor of the Shard (London’s tallest building) you\u2019ll find the elegant Aqua Shard Restaurant and Bar, with breathtaking views of the London skyline, plush booths, private dining rooms, a 3 story high atrium bar and window-side tables which overlook the city, removed from the hustle and bustle of daily life 31 floors below. Open for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner, Aqua Shard has a large and varied menus with plenty of surprises awaiting even the most blas\u00e9 of foodies.<\/p>\n The saying goes that you pay for what you get, and between the setting and cuisine, it\u2019s a whole lot. It may come as a surprise to you then to find out that breakfast at Aqua Shard is pretty reasonable, with hot meals starting from around\u00a0\u00a39 \u2013cheaper than many a pub fry up! Well worth the visit, Aqua Shard is the perfect setting for a business breakfast or a special brunch or- if you want to indulge- relish the sunset over London in the cocktail bar before taking your seats for dinner among the twinkling city lights.<\/p>\n Book your table at Aqua Shard<\/a> today!<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to get carried away with London\u2019s eclectic and exhaustive collection of high end boutiques and cheap as chips retailers. If you do want to do some shopping in the UK, consider making a list of the stores you want to visit before you arrive, or you\u2019ll spend your whole trip traipsing from chain store to chain store, scared of missing a sale or some speciality item that you can\u2019t find at home. In London you tend to walk a lot, so be careful not to buy more than you can comfortably carry (or more than you can fit into your suitcase for that matter). Top shopping spots include Carnaby Street, Oxford Street, Covent Garden and definitely pay a visit to Camden if you’re looking for quirky or alternative wear.<\/p>\n Ready to experience the old favourite and new exciting things to do in London?\u00a0 Find your direct flight to London with Virgin Atlantic<\/a>, British Airways<\/a> or Emirates<\/a> Airlines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Swap pub culture for experiential meals<\/h2>\n\n
Hop on a helicopter for an angels\u2019 eye view of the city<\/h2>\n
Get your adrenalin pumping on the ArcelorMittal Orbit slide<\/h2>\n
Never say \u201cNo\u201d to a London show<\/h2>\n
Start your day on a high at Aqua Shard<\/h2>\n
Shop until you shouldn\u2019t<\/h2>\n