Eight days in London, and the three things I would do again

Eight days, one Oyster card, and far more walking than I planned for. If you only take three things from this, take these.

1. Start at Borough Market, but go early

By eleven it is shoulder to shoulder. At half nine the traders are still setting up and will actually talk to you. The cheese toastie queue is worth it exactly once.

2. Walk the South Bank end to end

From Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge is about an hour at a slow pace, and it is the single best orientation walk in the city. Do it on the first evening and the rest of the trip makes more sense.

3. Hampstead Heath beats every paid viewpoint

Parliament Hill gives you the whole skyline for nothing. Bring a coat — it is always colder up there than it was at the station.

Getting around: contactless on your phone works on every tube, bus and overground train. Do not buy a travelcard.