If you’re due in London for an event or business meeting and have a few hours to spare, knowing where to go and what to see if you only have a limited amount of free time to spend in the capital can be tricky. For those staying at the Montcalm London City, we’ve created this quick guide to the best attractions to visit for the time-poor traveller. No matter your interests, you’re sure to find something close by that will easily fill the few hours you have to yourself.
Catch a performance at the Barbican
If you’ve been enjoying our event venues London during the day and have a few hours to kill in the evening, the Barbican is easy to reach from the Montcalm London City and hosts a wide range of classical and contemporary performances every week.
A striking building, the residents of London have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this imposing structure with many locals finding the building to be unappealing to the eye. However, there's no getting away from the fact that the Barbican is a hub for the arts and welcomes famous composers and performers from across the globe through the year.
Should you prefer to catch a movie in your spare time in the city, the Barbican also has a large cinema as well as a 2,000-seat theatre and art gallery for you to peruse during your stay.
To reach the Barbican from the Montcalm London City, the best mode of transport is your own two feet as the venue can be easily reached with just a three-minute walk.
Immerse yourself in History at the Museum of London
Fancy a whistle-stop tour of the history of our fine city? Then the Museum of London is only too happy to oblige!
With nine galleries charting London through the ages in exhibitions and visual storytelling, it’s easy to step back in time thanks to artefacts such as a fireman's helmet used to tackle the blazes during the Great Fire of London. You can also get a glimpse of Roman Londoninium, to discover how the city looked over 2,000 years ago.
If you are taking advantage of our hotel packages London, you'll be pleased to hear that not only is this popular museum located just a nine-minute walk away from your hotel, it is also completely free of charge too, so you can keep your bank balance happy during your time in the city.
Take a short stroll to St. Paul’s
If you want to blow away those cobwebs and de-stress after a day of meetings at our event venues in London, then you have several iconic landmarks located right on your doorstep. To make the most of our prime location, why not pull on your comfiest shoes and head out on a walk after the working day is over?
One sport on your stroll not to be missed is St. Paul’s Cathedral. It has been dominating the London skyline for over 1,400 years, however the cathedral you see today is actually the fourth reincarnation of the place of worship. The former building was destroyed during the Great Fire of London in 1666.
Should you have an hour to spare during the day, the interior of St Paul’s is just as impressive as its façade. It is home to several crypts and memorials for notable figures in the history of London. The audio quirks of the whispering gallery where even the slightest sound travels great lengths to reach the other end is also not to be missed.
St. Bartholomew's Hospital
Commonly known as Bart’s, St. Bartholomew's Hospital is a fully functioning hospital which has been caring for patients since 1123 A.D. It was founded by a religious order of monks from the adjacent priory.
Sadly, much of the priory no longer remains, but the part that does still stand is now the hospital church which is open to residents and visitors alike.
The oldest hospital in all of London, the building and the history that goes with it is engaging and interesting, so it's well worth a stroll past when enjoying our hotel packages London at the nearby Montcalm London City. The hospital is located just half a mile away from the hotel.
Charles Dickens Museum
One of the most famous authors of all time, Charles Dickens is synonymous with the city of London.
A writer and social campaigner, visitors using our event venues in London can immerse themselves in a variety of materials by Dickens at the Charles Dickens Museum. Its artefacts include rare collections of works, manuscripts and even a few personal items that the famous author would have used to create his literary masterpieces.
With a regularly updated calendar of exhibitions to showcase the author’s interest in topics such as social reforms, science and even food glorious food, the museum is well worth a visit if you wish to delve deeper into the life and work of the author but have little time to spare during your stay at the Montcalm London City.
Just hop on the number 55 bus at St. Luke's Education Centre, and you'll be in literature heaven in just over 20 minutes.
Shop ‘til you drop at One New Change
Even if you're making a flying visit to London, there's no reason that you can't indulge in a little retail therapy during your stay.
One New Change is home to a plethora of luxury labels and offerings from the best U.K. and international designers with the added bonus of being just a 15-minute walk away from the Montcalm London City hotel. It’s a great spot to splash a little cash if time is tight and you want to refresh your wardrobe.
Located at 1 New Change, London, EC4M 9AF, you won't need to rely on public transport or worry about lugging your purchases back to your hotel across a busy city either. If you're lucky enough to be in the capital on a Friday, a small market takes place at One New Change and is well worth a look if you want to pick up a few gifts or tasty treats to take home.
