Falling In Love With London Again: Five Ideas For Jaded Londoners

Oh it's wonderful how London keeps changing, isn't it? But sometimes it can feel exhausting to keep up.  Reading Time Out or the Londonist can be enough of a reason for a little lie down and a cup of tea.  

As we love exploring London at SharedCity we've put together some ideas especially for people or are feeling old or jaded by the city that never stops.  We like simple ways of seeing London in a fresh new way and love to find people and places that help us feel the tingly sensation of butterflies over again and again.

1) Living London - Finding like-minded people to meander the streets of London with can reactivate your love of the city.  Saira set up LIving London with precisely a mission to do this and she runs occasional free walks to explore hidden gems she has discovered.

2) Street Art Tours - It's become a hipster mecca and in someways a pastiche of itself but the street art (formerly known as grafitti) around Shoreditch is second to none and worth checking out on artist led tours.  There are many tours like this now, but these are the original and best.

3) Treasure Trails - Download a trail map and set off to discover more about a bit of London that captures your curiosity. If you complete your mission and submit your answers you can win a prize. The list of trails keeps growing, check here for more info.

4) Communal Singing - Lift your spirits by joining a choir. London City Voices doesn't need you to demonstrate your singing prowess, you can just turn up and sing your heart out. The choir meets several times a week in different locations across town. 

5) Get High - No, not that kind of high, silly. High as in In places where you can hop in an elevator in order to gaze down lovingly on the maze-like streets and ant-sized people. For cheaper ways to do this than tickets to The Shard, try booking a free ride up to the Sky Garden or splashing out on a coffee at the Duck & Waffle near Liverpool Street for the incredible views.

Why London Is Less Scary Than You Think

Local news stories in London are full of shootings, stabbings and terrorist plots and if you believe everything you read, parts of London are no-go areas.  But our brilliant tour guides live in and visit places frequently namechecked - like Peckham, Harlesden and Brixton - and they are actually wonderful neighbourhoods you will be welcomed in.  Here are the facts:

1) For homicide rates in big European cities, London ranks below Amsterdam, Glasgow, Belfast, Brussels & Berlin. 

2) Westminster, where all the big touristy sites are, is actually the number one crime hotspot in London. 

3) Many of the crimes reported in these areas are tied to local domestic problems and won't affect you as a visitor.

4) Businesses in less visited parts of London are often friendlier as they want (and need) your custom and want you to come back with friends.

5) You can bag a bargain in neighbourhood shops and market stalls in Harlesden, Peckham and Brixton. Buy up fresh veg, meat and fabrics when you visit.

Check our next tour dates here.

Why Would A Londoner Go On A Tour?

You might wonder if you will learn anything new from following a tour guide around the streets of London as tours might be something you only do on holiday.  Or perhaps you think tours are for tourists who know nothing about the city.  But here are five reasons why going on a tour is definitely something every Londoner should consider:

1) You are stuck in a rut: If you've lived in London a while it's easy to fall into a routine of visiting the same places time and time again.  You might live in a wonderful neighbourhood or simply find it easier to stick to what you know.  You might have been visiting the same gym, cafe, bar or park for months or even years.  London is so big that it often makes more sense to play it safe but it's good to break the routine and see what else the city has to offer.

2) You are falling out of love with London: When you first moved here it seemed that London was the most exciting city in the world and your eyes shone happily as you discovered a new hotspot, cute neighbourhood, or quirky shop. but gradually the work, the weather, the tube have worn you down and you are starting to think London ain't so great.  Well, a tour of a new neighbourhood can rekindle the flame of love and show you why London is an utterly brilliant city. 

3) You are bored of your friends:  Your friends might be busy today or far away or doing the same thing all the time but here's the good news: you don't have to.  While it can be nice doing things on your own occasionally, it's good to join other likeminded or more adventurous people who want to challenge themselves and explore London.  And a tour offers a safe and easy way of hanging out with new people and learning new things.

4) You are new to London and want to see it all: Maybe you've taken a picture of Big Ben and hung out with the pigeons in Trafalgar Square but now you are hankering after seeing more of the 'real London' and you'd like to meet some 'real Londoners'.  Our tours introduce you to some of the most intriguing neighbourhoods of London and give you a chance to explore, ask questions and find out what London is all about.

5) You want to fill your weekend: After a busy working week, sometimes the weekend arrives too fast and you haven't had time to make plans.  For some this can be a great time to relax at home, but for others an empty weekend can feel rather lonely.  The only answer is to get out and do something and a tour is brilliant way of engaging lightly with other people and learning new and interesting stuff. Our tours are small groups and friendly too.

Click here to see the next tours available.