So you missed last December's huge concert of Led Zeppelin in London in what was one of the toughest concert tickets to obtain in a while? End of the world? NO!
Yeah, that may have been your only shot at seeing Led Zeppelin live, but it isn't your last chance to travel to England for some live entertainment. England is a great city for concerts, sporting events, theater, etc. as well as being a great place to relax, enjoy a vacation, and see some memorable sites.
If you can afford it (I know it is VERY expensive), get over to London and have a great time! London has something for everyone.
If you are a fan of theater, there is no better place on the planet for theater than London. London theater is first rate, and there are many bargains to be found at discount theater booths on the day of the show for those of you who make last minute decisions. If you want great seats you can always order them in advance from a ticket broker, but great seats are nearly always available. I personally reccomend The Phantom of the Opera (spectacular!), but the choices are nearly endless. Theater tickets in London are a great option.
You may want to catch some sports action when you are in London. Obviously what you can see will depend on what time of the year you are in London. You might be lucky enough to catch an NFL game now that the NFL is sending a game to London every year (The NBA will have a game there in October as well). Wimbledon is probably the most famous atheletic event in London and tickets are surprisingly easy to acquire for the first rounds. However, if you are wanting tickets for the later rounds you will probably need a ticket brocker to acquire your Wimbledon tickets.
Another wildly popular sport in London (and indeed of England and Europe) is soccer (as we call it). The English Premier League has popular teams all over England, and London has a few of the popular teams in Arsenal and Chelsea FC. The excitement at a Soccer game in London rivals the wildest atmosphere at an American Football game and the experience will be unforgetable even for those who are only marginally fans. Catching a Premier League game in London would be a great option!
The London concert schedule is loaded with world famous acts at a number of different venues. The O2 Arena is the hottest new venue in London and plays host to the largest acts to hit the city, including the Led Zeppelin show last December. It is a very modern interesting design, and the interior and acoustics are outstanding.
Some of the shows hitting the O2 this year include Celine Dion, Neil Diamond, Michael Buble, James Blunt, Nickelback, etc. If you want to see a popluar show while you are in London (perhaps that is the sole reason for your visit), the chances are that the show will be at the O2.
While the O2 is the most popular concert venue in London, it is by no means the only one. Earls Court (Rod Stewart recently), Wembly Arena (Def Leppard, Matchbox Twenty, Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, etc.) , and Royal Albert Hall (Feist, John Fogarty, etc.), all host major concert events in London. London is the scene of many smaller events with intimate exciting settings. Royal Albert Hall is a particularly fun theater, however due to the small capacity the shows do sell out frequently.
While you are in London, don't neglect erperiencing the City. Go see all the main tourist sites: The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, British Museum, go up on the London Eye, etc. There is so much to do an see. See as much as you can. And take a lot of pictures, you won't regret it. And make sure you bring yourself home some nice souvenirs from your trip. Maybe some fine china from the Queen Victoria Collection?
Make sure you go to a Pub or traditional English Restaurant and have a pint and get some great English food. Most of the time the food in the true pubs is less than stellar, but the experience is great. Get something traditionally English like Fish and Chips or Shepherds Pie, and finish it off with some "pudding" for dessert. The English are also known for GREAT roast beef...but don't get it at a pub. Everything comes with peas--accept it. They English are not known for their food like Italians or French, but it has a character of its own nonetheless.
London has a great public transporation system so getting around the city and making to the different sites as well as your big event shouldnt be too much of a challenge. The underground (subway) system is convenient and reliable and the bus system is also reliable. The British railway system is also a great way to see sites outside of London.
And if you get the chance, take a some trips to the areas surrounding London. Easily visited in day are the ruins of Stonehenge and the nearby town of Salisbury, Canterbury, Bath, Cambridge, etc. Stonehenge and Salisbury is a great trip, and I personally reccomend the town of Oxford which is about 30-45 minutes bus ride from London.
Oxford is a BEAUTIFUL city. Walk through the city visiting the various colleges, stroll through the beautiful parks (at their best in spring and early summer), and spend some time in beautiful and historic Radcliffe Square. Make sure you stop and have a drink at the Eagle and Child pub, the favorite stop of JRR Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and their friends when they were were professors at Oxford.
So there you have it. Want to see Celine Dion in London? What to watch The Phantom of the Opera on the original London Stage? Does watching a match in the English Premier League interest you? Have you always wanted to watch the best tennis players in the world at Wimbledon? Stop putting it off! Plan a trip, it will be well worth it and you have memories for a lifetime. And there is no need to learn a new language!! Even better! If you need help acquiring tickets to your big event, Circle City Tickets has experience in providing premium seats to events in Europe.
Make your next vacation unforgetable.
