On a Budget? - Get a Birdseye view of London for free from the Sky Garden

The Walkie Talkie Building

When you're traveling your money doesn't seem to go as far as you think it will,  things cost more than you expected, you eat out more than usual and the admission prices to attractions can, at times, seem prohibitive.  Many people have a tight budget but want to squeeze in as much as they possibly can from it.  That's why I highly recommend getting tickets to London's Sky Garden.  Located on the 35th to 37th floors at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street popularly known as the Walkie Talkie building the observation lounge and deck offer wonderful views over London,  and the best thing is it is free. Admission is by ticket but there is no charge for them.

For anyone on a tight budget this is a great opportunity to see London from above.  

Tropical garden

It is important to book ahead, Sky Garden releases free tickets each Monday and suggests you book 3 weeks in advance. Your ticket allows you 1 hour in the Garden.  It is possible to get a walk up ticket but you are taking a chance that you won't be admitted if bookings are full. In comparison London Eye currently costs 25.50 pounds per person for advance tickets or 33 pounds on the day and The Shard costs 28 pounds per person or 37 pounds on the day.  I have been on both the London Eye and up The Shard and, yes, the views are wonderful with The Shard's being twice as high and the most spectacular  nevertheless  the views from the Sky Garden are also excellent.

HINT: Make sure you get to the entry in good time. Your bag will go through airport style scanning which can mean there is a queue although we had no problem. 

My son, daughter in law, two grandchildren and I went up to the Sky Garden on our recent trip to London.  We loved the views, soaking them in in all directions. My grandchildren were in awe and we were able to point out various landmarks to them. 

Tower Bridge and just to the left The Tower of London

St Paul's Cathedral left of centre. Photos were taken on a zoom lens.

                      

Grandson and son with The Shard behind

We found a corner table inside where we sat to eat our lunch and sip on wine while viewing this magnificent city.  The Sky Garden management didn't seem to mind that we took our own lunch, but drinks must be bought there. For those feeling a bit flush or just wanting a longer more leisurely experience there are two bars and two restaurants on the 36th level. If you make a booking for a restaurant you have automatic access to the Sky Garden. After lunch we made our way up stairs to the highest level passing through lush tropical gardens on the way - hence the name Sky Garden, (don't expect flower beds). At the highest level you get views in a different direction and then make your way down stairs on the other side.  It is a very efficient way to move people - up one way and down the other.

Photo shows the observation lounge and outdoor terrace
 Photo by The City of London

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Sky Garden and I am sure you will too. It's such a worthwhile experience for no cost, very budget friendly.  

Sky Garden is located near the Monument tube station.  

Tickets can be booked @ Skygarden.london

Wombling Around Wimbledon

If you are a child of the 1970s you will, no doubt, have watched the TV show The Wombles of Wimbledon. I well remember it as my children were avid watchers when they were young.  Despite many trips to stay with my son in London I had never visited Wimbledon so decided that since I had a free day I would go and explore it. All the way there on the train from Strawberry Hill the theme from the TV show was running through my brain, oh dear. 

The train arrived at the lower part of Wimbledon, a modern business centre, but my aim was to get to Wimbledon Village and the famous common so I walked for a pleasant 20 minutes up the steep hill.  You can take a bus but I preferred to walk.  The village is lovely with plenty of independent shops and cafes and since the world famous Wimbledon Tennis Championships had completed only a few days previously most were decorated with a tennis theme. I enjoyed strolling both sides of the street admiring the inventiveness of the displays, here are just a few.

Interestingly, Wimbledon is the only place I have ever seen that has special lights on crossings for horses and there were plenty of horses walking through the village giving it a delightfully rural feel.

I had a coffee and snack at a cafe on the High Street to fortify myself before heading to Wimbledon Common. Now this was a big surprise. At 1140 acres it is vast and beautiful.  It's real name  is actually  Wimbledon and Putney Commons but it is hard to know where one starts and the other ends. I have no idea why but for some reason I imagined the common as a big open park so to find that 495 acres of it is thick woodland, with walking paths winding through it, was wonderful,  just the sort of place I love. 

I found a seat overlooking a pond and spent a short while happily contemplating nature before setting off to continue my walk. There were very few people around however I had a chat with a passing man who told me about a windmill further into the common so I set off to find it.

I passed  through a wide open area of grassland, known as The Plain, and part of the common, on my way.

 

Unfortunately the windmill was not open for visitors so could only be viewed from the rear, still good to see nevertheless.  It was in this windmill that Baden Powell wrote his rules for the Boy Scouts in 1908.  Beside the windmill is the London Scottish Golf Club, a cafe and friendly horses graze nearby. There is also a conservation information centre where nature lovers can learn more about the common.

  I rested a while before making my way out to the road and catching the bus back to the village then walking back down the hill to catch the train home.  I highly recommend a visit to Wimbledon Common, especially if you love nature. 

It is the largest heathland in London and a haven for many different birds, insects and small mammals.  It is just a short trip from the heart of London too. I was really tired and happy at the end of the day, my fitbit said I had walked 17,568 steps, around 13kms, so it was high time for a rest.  Oh, and I never saw any wombles whose job in the TV series was to clean up the litter on the common but, pleasingly, I never saw any litter either.