In January 2020, I was the envy of my family and friends when I travelled to London on what, essentially, amounted to a free trip. And I think they’ll be been more envious when I explain all of the fun things I did, and how the trip was funded by gambling with an online casino site.
Going on Holiday with Online Casino Winnings
There was no great trick to winning. I’m a regular player with online casinos and, once in a while, luck can go your way. In this case, I was playing slot games at the UK’s favorite Lucky Nugget Casino when the symbols lined up in my favour. When playing at the casino site, I noticed the first three symbols appear on the same payline. Then I saw a fourth it was a thrilling wait for the fifth to land in the sequence.
With video slots, it’s all about staying patient and managing your funds to allow for a number of spins to be played out. I wasn’t especially familiar with the slot in question, so I was shocked to see that I had matched five of the most popular symbols in the game. The winnings went well into four figures and all I could think about was how I needed a holiday.
I was shouting and screaming at my laptop when my fiancée and our collie ran into the room to check on me. “We’ve won, we’ve won!” I shouted, pointing at the screen. My fiancée then saw the amount and began celebrating. Naturally, our dog didn’t have a clue what was going on but was happy to jump up and celebrate with us. As avid Harry Potter fans, we were eager to spend the funds on flights to London where we could explore an array of iconic sights.
Top Sights in London
In 2019, more than 40 million people travelled to the UK and over half went to London. This incredible city remains a tourist hotspot for those of us who are drawn to the historic sights, bus tours, free London walks and delicious cuisine.
Coming in at the top of our list of London attractions was the regal Buckingham Palace. Situated in the city of Westminster, Buckingham Palace has been home to the British Royal family since 1703. After strolling up the Mall on a bright January morning, we arrived in time to see the changing of the guards at 11:30am. And it was a special treat to see the Royal Standard flag flying in front of the palace to show that the Queen was in residence.
While in Westminster, there were several other sites that we had the privilege of seeing. These included crossing Westminster Bridge and waiting to see the bridge being raised, waiting beside Big Ben for the clock to boom, and going to visit the Houses of Parliament and Number 10 Downing Street, which is traditionally home to the current Prime Minister of the UK.
My fiancée enjoys shopping and so we had to spend a day – and some online casino winnings – in Oxford Circus and Piccadilly. Fortnum and Mason is well worth a visit if you enjoy spending a little extra on delicious food and drink. Meanwhile, Jermyn Street will appeal to the fashion-conscious, as this area is a hub for tailors and designers. Oh, and those who are young at heart should definitely swing by Hamleys’ toy store on Regent Street. When it comes to five-star shopping, Harrod’s in Knightsbridge is another must-see, even if the price tags aren’t so easy on the eye!
London Walking Routes
The Greater London area measures 607 square miles and there’s an incredible amount to see. For tourists who aren’t intimately familiar with the city, this can result in failing to discover all manner of hidden gems. Acutely aware of our limitations, we decided to explore several free London walking routes dotted throughout the city. Along the way, we got to see pass by historic attractions while discovering welcoming pubs and eating in charming cafés.
London is bisected by the River Thames and several historic bridges have been constructed over the years to cross this 215-mile waterway. I find that bridges can offer incredible views of a city’s riverside architecture, which is why we chose to go on a bridges walk that crossed London Bridge, Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge.
We also appreciated going on a cultural walk that took us through the South Bank and Waterloo to explore the Borough Market, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern. In search of history, we also went on the Nautical Walk through Greenwich, which is recognised as a world heritage site for its association with London’s maritime heritage. Along the way, I recommend seeing the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark and National Maritime Museum.
What we also enjoyed about the walking routes is that they could be quite laid-back. For instance, we went on the Ripper Walk through the East End, where we saw the Whitechapel locations where victims of Jack the Ripper met their end in the 1880s. I can also recommend going on a walk of the riverside pubs, including the likes of the Mayflower, Angel, Prospect of Whitby and Dickens Inn. This route is perfect if you like to take lots of breaks!
My Favourite London Food
London is a melting pot with cuisines from all over the world. You can spend an entire holiday in London and you won’t even need to eat any traditional dishes if you don’t want to. Personally, I relished the opportunity to eat some London grub and enjoyed a few servings of fish and chips and all the trimmings, including bread and butter, mushy peas, tartare sauce and even a pot of tea to wash it all down!
Admittedly, fish and chips sounds like an obvious recommendation. For anyone who wants a more local delicacy, then let me recommend dining in one of the many pie and mash shops dotted throughout the East End. You can meet the locals and order a delicious pie filled with beef and gravy, or whatever else is available. On the side, you can have pie and sauce. For the bravest palates, I think it’s fun to try jellied eels, which have long been a staple of the local cockneys.
It’s incredible to think that this holiday all started with a lucky spin of a slot game. However you can see London, I can wholeheartedly recommend going. I hope my recommendations help you decide what to do on your getaway!