Best things to do in London

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Insider tip: In England, and by extension in London, everywhere that sells alcohol to drink on site must provide free tap water.

So if you don’t want to pay for drinking water, you can ask for tap water when you’re offered still or sparkling in a restaurant.

It doesn’t always taste great – and actually it sometimes tastes pretty awful – but at least it’s free.

Read more: How to get to London: Your trip planning guide

Best things to do in London

London is a city that’s crammed with things to do, whether you’re into arts and culture or want to immerse yourself in nature.

For first time visitors, I’ve shared some of the most popular tourist spots below.

For ease, they’re split between unmissable spots (iconic places where you’ll want to get as many photos as you can) and the best attractions (interesting places that tourists love).

Five unmissable spots in London

1. Buckingham Palace

As the official London residence of the King, Buckingham Palace hardly needs any introduction.

But because it’s a working royal palace, it’s not open year round, so you’ll have to plan your visit carefully if you’re hoping to go inside.

Each summer the King decamps to another royal residence in the UK and this is when Buckingham Palace opens to visitors.

Alternatively you can try to book one of the exclusive tours held at other times of the year via the official website, or get your photo taken outside instead when it’s closed.

Tickets cost £20.50 while tours start from £65.

Note that even when the palace is open you’ll only be able to see a handful of rooms via a designated route, as well as parts of the garden, so you won’t need more than half a day here.

Address: London SW1A 1AA

2. Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben – officially the Palace of Westminster and Elizabeth Tower – are London landmarks best viewed from the South Bank or Westminster Bridge.

You can go inside too, and there are separate tours for the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

Most tours run on Saturdays but when Parliament is in recess, you can also book tours during the week on the official website.

Prices start from £21 – or free if you’re a UK resident.

Address: London SW1A 0AA

3. British Museum

With some eight million items in its collection, and just 1% on display at any one time, the British Museum is a treasure trove of artefacts from around the world.

You could spend hours or even the whole day here, and it’s often very busy because entry is free.

So during busy days such as the summer holidays, you may want to book a free timed slot to skip the queue.

While visiting, look out for interactive areas where you get to actually handle some of the artefacts.

Address: Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG

4. Borough Market

Originally a wholesale market selling fruit and vegetables, Borough Market has in the last couple of decades transformed into a foodie hub bursting with street food stalls, cafes and restaurants.

You can still buy very good quality produce here, though at a premium that prices out most Londoners.

For visitors, it’s easy to get lost in the throng so consider booking a guided tour with tastings* to make the most of the experience.

If you do want to visit on your own, it’s open Tuesdays to Saturdays – try to avoid the lunchtime rush though.

Address: London SE1 9AL

5. Hyde Park

As one of London’s biggest parks, Hyde Park is deserving of at least half a day of your time.

During the summer it hosts British Summer Time at Hyde Park*, a series of open air concerts drawing big names like Andrea Bocelli and Taylor Swift.

And in winter the annual Winter Wonderland* sets up its fun fair, ice rink and Christmas market.

It’s lovely at any time of the year though, and you can spot colourful parakeets, wander around lovely English gardens and enjoy a picnic by the cool waters of the Serpentine.

Address: London W2 2UH

Five top attractions in London

1. The London Eye

Although there are Ferris wheels all over the world, the 135m London Eye* was the world’s biggest cantilevered observation wheel when it opened on New Year’s Eve in 1999.

I’ve been on it a couple of times – once even doing a live interview in one of the pods – and the view is amazing.

Arguably you can get similar views for free in other parts of London, and the tickets are pretty expensive, but it’s such an iconic part of the skyline that it’s still one of the city’s most popular attractions.

If you’re not sure, you can get tickets on the day, although there can be a long wait and the London Eye recommends you pre-book your tickets.

Ticket price: From £29 | $38.08 | €34.50. Book here*.

Address: Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB

2. Tower of London

A Unesco World Heritage Site, the Tower of London is a historical landmark like no other.

Since 1066, it’s been a fortress, palace and prison among other things, so coming here is a bit like walking through the annals of time.

I think it’s one of London’s best value attractions.

You get to see centuries-old buildings of course, but also the actual Crown Jewels that are used in royal pageantry.

Don’t miss the ravens that “guard” the Tower, and do go on the free guided tour with the Yeoman Warders who care for them.

Ticket price: From £34.80 | $45.68 | €41.43. Book here*.

Address: London EC3N 4AB

3. Royal Observatory, Greenwich

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, is the home of Greenwich Mean Time, marked by the Prime Meridian Line.

This is the line from which all time zones are calculated.

So in a way, if you have your feet on either side of the line, you’ll have one foot in history and one foot in the future.

The slightly gimmicky tourist draw aside, the Royal Observatory is also a place for keen historians and budding astronomers to learn about time and space.

Ticket price: From £20 | $26.25 | €23.81. Book here*.

Address: Blackheath Avenue, London SE10 8XJ

4. Madame Tussauds London

Madame Tussauds* has expanded into a franchise with outposts in a few different cities around the world.

But London was where this wax museum was first founded in 1835.

Today there are over 150 waxworks of celebrities, including of course the royal family.

Get your camera ready because this place is made for photos.

Ticket price: From £29 | $38.08 | €34.50. Book here*.

Address: Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LR

5. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

It might surprise you to learn that the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Dating back to the 18th century, it has one of the most significant plant collections in the world and is a gorgeous place to explore all year round.

But it’s also involved in research and conservation, and hosts regular events – it’s well worth timing your visit with one of these.

Ticket price: From £20 | $26.25 | €23.81. Book here*.

Address: Richmond TW9 3AE 

My favourite spots in London

As a resident, obviously I’m not going to be visiting the Tower of London or Madame Tussauds all the time.

But if you’re looking to experience London like a local, here are some of my favourite weekend hangouts.

Richmond Park

I love getting out in nature and Richmond Park is one of my favourite places to do it within city limits.

At 2,500 acres, it’s the biggest of London parks and is home to herds of red and fallow deer, a legacy from when the park was a royal hunting ground.

Friends of Richmond Park offers free guided tours several times a year.

You could also try this guided bike tour* (from £55), which includes bike hire.

Shakespeare’s Globe

This theatre on the South Bank isn’t the original Shakespeare’s Globe of course but the experience it offers comes pretty close.

The yard is still standing-only, and tickets are only £5 for these.

The downside is you have to stand up for two or three hours while the show is on, with the interval the only time you’re allowed to sit down.

You’re also exposed to the elements so if it rains, it’s a rather miserable experience.

If that’s not for you, you can also book one of the seats*, which are under cover.

Even if you’re not a fan of Shakespeare, it’s worth seeing a show.

While the productions are faithful to Shakespeare’s works, there’s always a modern twist to them.

Victoria and Albert Museum

Located next to the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) houses some amazing pieces of decorative design as well as major temporary exhibits, usually themed around fashion.

My favourite section is the one on furniture on the top floor.

Not only do you get to see some elaborately decorated chairs and cabinets, you can also read about the processes that go into making them.

Is there a museum pass or city pass? 

Most of London’s museums are free but other attractions can be expensive.

There are some attractions passes* that might save you some money though.

Merlin Pass

Some of London’s (and the UK’s) most famous attractions are owned and operated by Merlin Entertainment, and if you want to visit a few of them, you might find it cheaper to buy a Merlin Pass.

If you’re only visiting London then the Merlin Magical London 5-in-1 Pass* is your best option.

You’ll get a pass that’s valid for 90 days and includes entry to Madame Tussauds, the London Eye, SEA LIFE, Shrek’s Adventure! and the London Dungeon.

It costs £60 so if you’re planning to visit three or more of those five attractions, you’re already making a saving.

If you’re visiting other parts of the UK, or if you think you might want to revisit some of these London attractions, you might want to get an annual pass*, which starts from £99.

The annual pass gets you into all of the Merlin attractions in London and around the UK, including theme parks like Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures.

Go City London Pass 

The London Pass* is the most well known and most widely available attractions pass.

With it, you can access over 90 attractions, including big hitters like the London Eye and Madame Tussauds.

The pass works slightly differently depending on which package you buy.

The most widely available option is the credits package*, which starts from £104 a day, and you can get packages valid for up to 10 days.

This buys you a set value in credits, which you can then redeem against entry to different attractions.

Essentially you’re buying a gift card for less than the face value. It’s not unlimited use but you’re unlikely to hit your credit limit with normal use.

If you buy your pass directly through Go City*, you’ll have two different options.

The Explorer Pass lets you choose packages ranging from three to seven attractions, with prices starting from £74 per pass.

Or you can get the Unlimited Pass for £114, which actually gives you unlimited access to all of the attractions included in its portfolio.

Turbopass London City Pass

A less well known option is the London City Pass from Turbopass*, which starts from £108.19 per day and is valid for up to seven days.

Again, you’ll get entry to many of London’s top attractions like the Tower of London and London Zoo.

With this one, you can visit as many of the included attractions as you like, although you’ll only be able to enter once.

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