The Wanderers in conversation with Minaxi Mistry

Everything the guide books or tourism websites won’t tell you about the place.

One little known fact/trivia that everyone should know about when travelling to London

That the London Underground Tube service is excellent, efficient, and the fastest and easiest way to get around the City

What is a must buy when in London?

English Tea!

One take-away after a visit to London? 

British pomp and pageantry – no one does it quite like the British.

What is your advice to first time travellers?

Purchase an Oyster Card, it’s the fastest, smartest and most cost effective way to pay for travel around the City.

One thing to definitely pack when travelling to London

Jumper / Umbrella as you can never predict the down-turn in temperature

One activity anyone travelling to London should not miss.

Hop On / Hop Off Red Bus – excellent way to see all the amazing sights properly with guided information

Where should anyone, travelling to London, definitely get their picture taken?

Buckingham Palace

Which is the best place to get a panoramic photo?

By Big Ben / Westminster Abbey

Best place to enjoy sunset/sunrise?

London Bridge

Most romantic place to take a special someone to?

Duck & Waffle located on the 40th Floor of the Heron Tower – the highest restaurant in the UK !

Best place to have local food?

Any good old fashioned London Pub

Your favourite local dish and drink that you would recommend?

Traditional Fish & Chips served in newspaper and a refreshing Gin & Tonic

One place only the locals would know?

Camden Lock Market for it’s sheer funkiness and eccentricity……you will see sights here of the wackiest people that you will only ever see in London

The best pub and best place to catch up for a drink?

The Royal Standard of England – 900 years old making it the oldest Freehouse in England.  Wonderful food, dog friendly and very cosy.

A local festival you feel more travellers should come and see?

Trooping Of  the Colour Parade is the celebration of the Queen’s official birthday in June. You can watch it for free as it marches past Buckingham Palace and down The Mall, but the real spectacle takes place on Horse Guards Parade, where the Queen will take the salute from one of her Household regiments

The things guide books will not tell anyone about London?

How Expensive just about Everything is in London from Food to Accommodation to Travel Expenses

Is there any particular month you would not recommend travel to London and what would that reason be?

January / February as it can be quite depressing – dark, dismal days

In one sentence,  London is innovative, dynamic, and outrageous, with history and culture leaking from every brick and individual style around every corner.

It’s a supremely cosmopolitan city , with excellent restaurants, quirky pubs, avant-garde shops, unparalleled museums – most of which are now free – superb theatre and attractions and a blitzing nightlife.

Born in Lancaster in the North of England (near the Lake District) in the UK, Minaxi Mistry moved to London when she was 6 years old.  All her education and working life has been in London so she is definitely a Londoner through and through – accent and all.  For the last 25 years, she has worked in a sales capacity and always in the Travel Industry which she absolutely adores. Minaxi  has travelled extensively and her aim is to still travel lots more as nothing makes a person richer and wiser and gives more of a thrill than Travel!