If there’s one thing we love, it’s combining travel with live music (aka music tourism), and this one magical weekend in London delivered both in the best way. It was Mike’s first time ever in London, so we planned our trip around seeing Dark Star Orchestra live at the iconic Alexandra Palace. From Harry Potter vibes to pub hopping and late-night Dead jams, here’s how our adventure went down.
Getting to London on a Budget
We flew Ryanair into Stansted Airport and booked our flight home out of Gatwick with Wizz Air. London has several airports (Stansted, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, and City), and being flexible with arrival and departure points is one of our go-to travel tips for saving money.
After landing, we took the Stansted Express train toward Finsbury Park, followed by a short Underground ride to our hotel, The London Manor Travelodge. Convenient, budget-friendly, and just a few tube stops from all the action.
Odd note about this hotel though: they don’t include WiFi, so plan accordingly and download some movies offline to watch in your hotel room.
Day 1: Harry Potter and the Grateful Dead
We’re big Harry Potter fans – I was actually one of the first people in the US to get the books, proudly reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone before it was ever released in the Americas.
So naturally, we wanted to include a little magic in our weekend, making our first stop was Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station.
If you follow signs towards Platform 10, you’ll see a crowd gathering to snap a photo with the luggage trolley halfway through the wall. Scarves for each house are provided, and the photographers will help you pose for the perfect shot. You can buy prints in the shop, but most people just ask a person in line to take a phone pic.
Next up: food.
We headed to The Breakfast Club in Angel (a neighborhood we knew nothing about but ended up loving). The brunch was excellent, and wandering the surrounding streets post-meal was unexpectedly charming.
Since we were in town for a concert, we always make it a point to figure out transportation before showtime. That meant Mike’s first ride on a double decker bus: a highlight of the trip and our new favorite way to see the city. The bus accepts payment using smartphone wallets, making it very easy to hop on whenever you need a ride.
Night 1 at Alexandra Palace: Grateful Dead Music in North London
Time for the show! Alexandra Palace, affectionately called Ally Pally or The People’s Palace was the perfect venue for Dark Star Orchestra. Getting there was a breeze: the double decker bus dropped us off right near the venue, with a scenic stroll through the nearby grounds on the way in.
Pro tip: Ally Pally hosts events across several venue spaces, so double-check your ticket for the exact entrance. We got off one stop early the first night, but it gave us time to explore the beautiful palace.
The Phoenix Bar is located on site and serves drinks as well as some food, although prices are on the steeper side. Still, it was a fun place to hang out with fellow Deadheads before the music started.
One of our favorite surprises? A large mosaic-style art piece in the East Court featuring photos of people enjoying the palace – a very cool, community-focused touch.
Day 2: London Pubs and More Music
Day two was all about pubs and more music. Our two stops were Twelve Pins and The Priory. The Priory is a great spot for a pint before the show, just a short walk from Ally Pally and one of the few places we found with pints under £5. Plus, it’s dog-friendly!
This time, we got off at the correct bus stop, giving us more time to relax before the show. On the way home, we opted for a faster route: took the bus to Wood Green station and hopped on the Tube, which was quicker and less crowded than our all-bus journey from the night before.
How do you navigate London’s public transportation system?
Google Maps is our favorite way to navigate public transit in new cities. Set your departure time and date ahead of time to plan out your route at the end of the night.
Last Day: Borough Market & Double Decker Bus Views
Our flight didn’t leave until the late afternoon, so we squeezed in one more London classic: Borough Market. Located near Tower Bridge and the Thameslink station, this market is packed with food stalls, vendors, and locals and tourists alike. It reminded us of Time Out Market in Lisbon, just more crowded and with more food options.
Of course, we had to end the trip with one last double decker bus ride: the views of the city are unbeatable, even from the top deck on a grey day.
We’ll be back in just a few days for another round of Grateful Dead tunes—this time with Bob Weir, the Wolf Bros, and the Royal Philharmonic at Royal Albert Hall. If you’re heading to that show, keep an eye out for us – we’ll be handing out some stickers and good vibes all weekend!
Check out our concert tips section of our blog or head to our YouTube for more live music and life abroad.
ICYMI above: get even more details and insights into traveling to London to see Grateful Dead music here:
So Long, London!