As of today, the day I am writing this, I have lived in London for a month. This semester I am studying abroad through IES Abroad’s Oxford Direct Enrollment program, which in the fall, includes a month in London while taking a short course before the Oxford term starts. I’m preparing to leave for Oxford in a few days, which is exciting and ultimately what I came for, but I’m sad to leave this fascinating city. To celebrate my time here, I’ve created a list of my top 10 favorite things I did in London. Disclaimer: this list is based on what I like, so don’t blindly create a London itinerary from it!

10. Yoga class. One of my flatmates and I signed up for a free month of ClassPass (if one of you refers the other, you both benefit) and did a yoga class at a studio about a five minute walk from our flat. It was really nice to stretch out and be active.

9. Green space outside Westminster Abbey. If you walk down the road between Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament from Parliament Square, you quickly encounter this little green space. It is near the Jewel Tower. It’s relatively quiet compared to the rest of the area, and if you don’t mind sitting on the grass, it’s a nice place to have lunch while admiring the architecture. I liked the spot because I love the Houses of Parliament building.

8. Greenwich. Greenwich is a more posh borough of London, with beautiful neoclassical architecture, especially at the Old Royal Naval College. It also features a large park and the Royal Observatory, where you can see the Prime Meridian. I liked taking an UberBoat down to Greenwich and admiring the views along the river. The observatory also had tons of information about the astronomers who lived there, and if you’re a nerd, like me, you can see John Harrison’s H4 clock!

7. City of London walking tour. The big city of London is divided up into boroughs, and in the center, there is one called the City of London. It is mainly the financial district now, but is a cool mixture of new “high-tech” buildings, old buildings, and shops and markets. We had a walking tour for my architecture of London class. I particularly liked St. Dunstan in the East, an old gothic church bombed during World War II that was never rebuilt and now has become a garden.

6. Borough Market. This is mostly because of the internet-famous strawberries and chocolate. I hardly use social media, so I had never heard of them, but my flatmate enlightened me. I thought they were absolutely worth the money and lived up to the hype!

5. Buckingham Palace and St. James’ Park. I had already been to see Buckingham Palace once before, when I came to London with the MU Concert Chorale last year, but it was worth going back. I didn’t go inside, but the palace is still very impressive from the outside. It’s a beautiful area, and although there are quite a few tourists, I still think it’s nice to walk around.

4. West End show. I got a relatively inexpensive ticket to see “Hamilton” on the West End, and it was awesome! I love “Hamilton,” and I’ve even seen it on Broadway, but this performance maybe even topped that one. The Victoria Palace Theatre was also a beautiful building.

3. Warner Brothers’ Studios aka Harry Potter Studios. As a huge Harry Potter fan, this was a must-see for me. It was definitely pricey, but I enjoyed it, especially the large sets. Walking into the Great Hall, Gringotts and, my favorite, Diagon Alley, was amazing.

2. Hampstead Heath, Hill Garden and Pergola. Hampstead Heath is one of the more wild parks in London, with trees and scrubby grass instead of the manicured lawns of other parks. I like both types of parks, but wandering through Hampstead Heath’s forests was just special. Parliament Hill is a nice viewing spot, although not as big as Primrose Hill in Regent’s Park. The Hill Garden and Pergola within Hampstead Heath is definitely worth visiting, though. It is a landscape garden with a beautiful columned terrace, originally designed as a rich man’s private grounds.

1. Hollow Forest and Hollow Pond. This area is part of Epping Wood, an ancient woodland in northeast London that stretches in a long, thin strip up and out of London altogether. I particularly liked it because it was a little closer to our apartment building, but also because it looks totally different than anything else in London. The trees are twisty, and the undergrowth is minimal, so you can really feel like you’re in an ancient wood. Near the pond though, there are reeds and wet areas, and there are also spots that look almost like a plain. Just within this small area of Epping Wood, you can enjoy a variety of beautiful areas, which is why it makes the top of my list.