How to Make the Most of Lockdown in London with a Staycation

The world may have come to a standstill; what were once queues for the theatre, galleries and museums have morphed into hour-long queues for supermarkets, pharmacies and post offices. Yet despite this, London still has plenty to offer - even during a pandemic. We’ve compiled a list of all the best activities for your very own London staycation so you can make the most of everything from the renowned Royal Parks to globally-recognised landmarks. Now, don’t worry, there’s no need to get out of bed for all of the exploring we’ve planned for you, thanks to an array of virtual tours. But if you do fancy getting out and about, whether by hopping on your own bicycle or using one of the famous Boris bikes to tour a capital which looks more like an empty film set than its usual bustling self, now is a good time to get the city to yourself. Londoners - fun as they are - are not renowned for their slow walking, offering help with directions nor letting people pass. So, as they say, get on yer bike, and get exploring.

You can explore more than 5,000 acres of beautiful green spaces right in the heart of the capital during your London staycation. From Richmond Park - home to herds of Red and Fallow deer - to Hyde Park which was described by Charles Dickens as “the park, par excellence”, take your pick from ten different sites which are perfect for a gentle stroll, or even a slightly more exertive bike ride.

No London staycation would be complete without a nod to the country’s Royal Family. Nestled between St James’s Park and Green Park, Buckingham Palace is the London residence of the monarchy. Stand at the grand wrought iron gates, take a selfie (if you must) or instead take a look at the famous Guards - sporting their traditional red tunics and bearskin hats - and catch them as they change over. Even during the pandemic, the historic ritual is still taking place, albeit with reduced times. If you fancy seeing all this, as well as the Throne Room and Grand Staircase from the comfort of your bed, you can always opt for a virtual tour of the Palace instead.

Now is the perfect time to make the most of the lack of crowds and see what London has to offer - from up high. During your London staycation you can explore what’s always been right in front of you and take in the panoramic landscapes and beautiful vistas from a variety of viewing points. Take your pick from the likes of Primrose Hill and Hampstead Heath north of the city, or venture to south east London and climb to the top of the hill in Greenwich Park and marvel at Maritime Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Never managed to get round to seeing Big Ben, the London Eye or Anish Kapoor’s famous sculpture, Orbit, in the Olympic Park? Well, tut tut, but you’re in luck - now is the perfect time to avoid the throngs of people usually gathered at the famous sites, and take them in for yourself. If you fancy something a little bit more romantic, cast yourself as the lead in the film version of your life. Take a twilight stroll beneath Tower Bridge as it lights up the surrounding area with its magical lights and have the whole city to yourself. The suspension bridge is currently closed during the pandemic, but the park beneath it is still open, and just as romantic.

Yes, okay, the city may not be as well known as Paris for its cheese fetish, but there is no reason why you can’t indulge during your London staycation? Why compromise on delicious, artisan food just because of a lockdown? Cue: the capital’s multitude of restaurants and business owners who are adapting their trade to bring their food - or, specifically, cheese - straight to your door. The Cheese Bar, famed for its cheese conveyor belt in its Seven Dials premise - is just one of many such businesses, but cheese-obsessed Londoners are getting their fix with the company’s ‘self-isolation survival kits’, thanks to its bright yellow cheese truck. As their motto goes, ‘have cheese, will travel’.

The so-called Boris Bikes, an initiative the current Prime Minister takes credit for thanks to his previous role as Mayor of London, is a capital staple that is here to stay. Despite being rebranded from their traditional blue colour and turning red thanks to a sponsorship deal with Santander, the bikes are still affectionately known as ‘Boris bikes’ by Londoners. Find your nearest docking station for a cheap way to explore a city on lockdown all to yourself and see how many of the city’s 33 bridges over the Thames you can cross.

Billingsgate Fish Market is the UK’s largest inland fish market and the best place to buy fresh, high quality produce. The market was formally established more than 300 years ago but has been going for even longer. The infamously coarse language of London’s fishmongers made "Billingsgate" a byword for crude or vulgar language, but that didn’t stop the likes of the writer George Orwell from working there in the 1930s - nor the infamous Kray twins 20 years later. Social distancing measures have been imposed on the world famous fish market, to ensure it continues to operate safely, meaning that the likes of fresh plaice, skate, cockles, lobsters and oysters are still up for grabs.