London: 10 BEST Things To Do in London

London for me is a very special city. I lived in England for 6 years of my life, so I consider England as my second home. I still fly to London sometimes to visit my friends from school, and you know even after so many years it never stops to surprise me. There are always things to do in London, it is impossible to get bored and it is impossible to see all of them in a week. I tried to make this post for everyone, for people who are first time in London and can’t wait to see the Queen and need a list of London’s must see spots, but also for people who have happened to visit London a few times before and want to explore the other side of it.

There is always so much to tell about a city, that is why I separate my articles into 3 very useful parts:

Part 1: 10 BEST Things To Do in London

Part 2: Best Places to Eat in London

Part 3: Transportation & Accommodation in London

What to see in London?

1. Big ben & Westminster Parliament

House of Parliaments and Big Ben must be the most touristic places to visit in London, but this is because it is absolutely beautiful both from the outside and the inside. You can wander along the bridge and enjoy London views or book a tour online to go inside. However, keep in mind that Big ben itself is on restoration until 2021 so there won’t be much of the clock to see.

2. The Coca-Cola London Eye

Of course this is a must to do in London, take a cab and enjoy a 30 minute ride with panoramic views on all London! You can book London eye tickets online in advance to enjoy a discount. There are also many coupons available online, with discounts up to 50% off. Also my favourite time is to choose a slot 30 minutes before the sunset, so you can see London in both light and darkness.

Price: from £27 (32 €) without discounts

Tip: although you might get a big discount when booking online, I would advise to get the ticket only a few hours in advance, as the weather in London is unpredictable, which can ruin the city views.

3. Museums

Did you know that London is a city full of museums? Not only you can find a museum that interests you, but also there is a big chance that this museum is free. So if you are looking for free things to do in London, make sure to check London’s museums. So as London has nearly 200 museums it was really hard to narrow it down to a few, but here are my personal favourites that are must visit:

• British Museum – this is one of the largest museums in the world with over 8 million art works. Here you can learn about the development of nations and culture through archeological objects.

• National Gallery – this is one of my favourite museums in London, and if you are a big fan of paintings like me you definitely have to visit. There are many beautiful Wester European paintings from artists like Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Van Gogh and Monet. This list can go on as the museum hosts more than 2000 paintings!

Moreover, I just love the area next to the museum, as it is always buzzing with life. You can sit by the fountain with a coffee and enjoy the street musicians there.

• Victoria & Albert Museum – this museum is my second favourite and it is just amazing if you are into art, fashion, design and textiles. It is the largest museum in the world of decorative arts and design fashion, and you can see great pieces there such as McQueens dresses. Their website promises to take you on an incredible journey through 5000 years of human creativity.

• Natural History Museum – this is just a great museum that has not only dinosaur skeletons, but over 80 million items of science specimens. Oh and have you ever watched Night at the Museum? If not, go and watch it right now! And if you are a fan of the movie, then head to the National History Museum website and find out about their upcoming museum events. You might be lucky to attend a party in the museum or even have a sleepover with the dinosaurs (tickets sell out months in advance for that, with an adult ticket costing £185)!

On the same street there is also a Science Museum, which is one of the greatest, interactive museums of science I have ever been to. It is great for both kids and adults and you can get stuck there forever!

• Tate modern – another great museum hosting an international collection of contemporary art from 1900 to the present day.
• Imperial War Museum – although I have not visited this museum, my boyfriend and several friends have found it very interesting. It explores the issues that lead to conflict and wars, as well as demonstrates many tanks and artillery used in the operations.

4. Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace has been the official residence for the UK royal family since 1837. I advise you to come to the palace at 10:30am, so you can watch the Change of Guard. It is really a unique ceremony to watch, which is carried out by real soldiers on active duty from the Foot Guards.

In winter the palace can only be admired from outside, but in summer visitors get a chance to visit The State Rooms inside.

Price for State Rooms (Open 25 July – 4 October, 2020):

Adult: £26.50 (32 €)

Student: £24.00 (29 €)

Under 17 / Disabled: £14.50 (18 €)

5. Markets

Getting lost at London markets might be my favourite fun thing to do in London. And markets are a really big part of any Londoner’s life! You can find many unique clothing from local designers, vintage pieces and great street food.

• Camden town – honestly, it is hard to describe Camden Market in one word, it is very vibrant, arty, trendy and different. It really makes you feel wild and free! It might be one of my favourite markets in London to just stroll around. (Although I would never come here during the weekends, as it gets horribly crowded)

And the best part? The street food! Many great, modern food vendors where you can grab delicious food at reasonable prices. Some of the places even get spotted by investors here and turn into big London restaurants. My absolute favourites are the Chicken Katsu burger and Pasta from Cheese in a Wheel.

• Borough market – this is the most famous food market, which has existed in London since 1014. Here you can find fresh, local produce, craft beer, fresh truffle and amazing street food dishes. The market is best to visit from Wednesday to Saturday early in the morning, as most of the stalls open then.

• Old Spitalfields market – this market is a true hidden gem, with local designers and clothes and delicious unique food, such as this tasty Japanese cream waffles or dutch waffles as you can see on the pic!

6. Panoramic views of London

London is a beautiful city by the river Thames, which effortlessly combines old and modern architecture together. So this is not surprising there are many places from which you can enjoy London’s skyline besides the London Eye.

• Sky garden – Sky garden not only offers 2 bars with stunning views of the city, but also an absolutely free garden with 360 panoramic windows! It is completely free to visit, but make sure to book your spot online a few weeks in advance.

• Hampstead Heath – this is actually a park, where you can climb a hill to enjoy the city’s view for free. If the weather is good, then it is a perfect place for a picnic.

• The Shard – if you are not up for climbing hills, then head to the Shard, which is the highest viewing platform in London. I actually loved the view so much I visited Shard twice, during the day time and during the night.

Price:

Adult: £25 (30 €)

Children: £20 (24 €)

Tip: It is cheaper to book online in advance.

• Emirates Air Line across the Thames – isn’t it just exciting to ride in a cabin above the Thames river? I would recommend doing it at least once just for the fun of it.

Price:

Adult: £4.5/5.5 € (with oyster card £3.5/4.5 €)

Children: £2.3/3 € (with oyster card £1.7/2 €)

7. St Paul’s Cathedral

Tip: I have never visited the inside of the cathedral, but I really enjoy breakfast and SOHO coffee, which has a bar table looking right to St Paul’s Cathedral. The cafe has great coffee, reasonable prices and a stunning view.

8. Angel comedy show

For a fun night out head to Camden Head, where Angel comedy show is hosting stand ups every night. There are usually two shows, with one at 7:30 and another one at 09:30. It is usually very popular with locals, so make sure to arrive early to get your spot. (they usually put a stamp on your hand so you can return later on in the evening)

Price: free

9. Hyde park

If you have time, then make sure to stroll along Hyde Park or enjoy a nice Picnic with famous London squirrels 🙂 It is very central and is easy to reach by metro, and also has several attractions inside such as Kensington Palace.

10. Shopping in London

Of course, how could I not mention that London is heaven for shopaholics. Head first to Harrods, where you can find a gigantic building filled with makeup, clothes, home decoration and delicious food (make sure to try out their fresh produce or grab a few jams and biscuits for souvenirs). There are also many places where they will prepare fresh food for you, although it is a bit on the higher price end, the quality is definitely worth it. If you love desserts make sure to try out Laduree there, which not only sells the best cakes and macaroons, but also has a very adorable cafe.

For more shopping and lower prices than Harrods head to Oxford and Bond Street. Also Regent street is good for shopping, and if you happen to be there before Christmas times you will see the iconic angels there hanging above the roads. Covent Garden is also a good place to shop in, eat and enjoy a local street show of a comedian or a magician.

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Bonus: Here you can download the PDF version of London’s metro map with popular attractions mentioned above.

After doing so many things in London, I am sure you will be very hungry, so click to the next part to find out about the best places to eat in London:

Part 2: Best Places to Eat in London

Part 3: Transportation & Accommodation in London