Things to do in London, UK

London is an exciting and dynamic city with anendless amount of attractions and experiences. So if you find it confusing or hard-pressed to cover everything in your short trip to London, this list of top things to do in London will get you hit some of the city’s top highlights. And yes, it caters to all no matter you’re traveling to this iconic city for the first time or a frequent traveler.

1. Spend time at the Legendary Westminster attractions

Westminster is one of London’s 30 plus boroughs and comprises the vast parts of the Greater London. Hosting some of the city’s most celebrated historical attractions and sights, at this iconic neighborhood - you’ll never have to think what to see or do. This includes:

• More than 1000 year old Westminster Abbey
• The clock tower of Big Ben (also known as the Elizabeth Tower)
• The Houses of Parliament
• Westminster Cathedral
• Trafalgar Square with the lion statues
• Parliament Square featuring the statues of world leaders like Winston Churchill and Suffragettes Milicent Fawcett
• And most importantly, the Buckingham Palace

You can further wend your way through its many verdant parks including St. James’ Park, Green Park, Victoria Embankment Gardens, and of course the extensive Hyde Park (which is unmissable). Many dining venues, ranging from the high end Michelin starred spots to the delightful cafes, bars etc,also cluster the region.

2. Relax at Hyde Park

Tracing its roots back to 16th century, this Royal Park is one of the most visited London attractions. As mentioned earlier, you’ll find this in Central London and is biggest of all four parks that are connected to Kensington Palace. This charming space spans 350 acres (approximately 140 hectares) and boasts of thousands of lush trees, along with several stunning floral gardens, a meadow, and a large lake.

Marvel at its awe-inspiring Rose Garden, visit the Italian Garden, walk down the elegant Jubilee Greenway Walk, check out the Serpentine Pavilion, and of course discover its many hidden tunnels. Looking for more activities? Take a paddle boat cruise, feed the squirrels and birds, and add a session of cycling, skating, swimming etc, among others. The park is open on all days from 5AM to 12AM.

3. Ride the London Eye

Chances are that you’ve already seen this exemplary London structure in many postcards, images, documentaries etc. So once in London, don’t miss to see and experience this Ferris wheel in real too. Opened in 1999 to celebrate the arrival of new millennium, it’s not only the biggest of its kind in the whole of Europe, but also one of the largest cantilevered observation wheels in the world.

It has overall 32 capsules, representing each of the city’s boroughs. Once you board this giant wheel, it will spin for about 30 minutes to complete a rotation. Surely, this would feast you with the most marvelous 360 degree views over the city skylinecovering Westminster sights, Thames River and beyond. The touch screen tablets installed in every capsule gives you a better understanding of the sights that you come across during the ride.

4. Watch the Changing of Guards at Buckingham Palace

Seeing the Change of Guards has been a popular London activity since the 17th century. It takes place at Buckingham Palace and is nothing but the prestigious and traditional handover ceremony where the Queen’s guards that are presently on duty are replaced by the new guards. The colorful guards attired in classic red tunics and black bearskin hats plus the energetic parade band and music - all make it a sight to behold! The best part is that it’s free to watch. So don’t pass on this experience, particularly if it’s your first time trip to London.

5. Come face to face with your favorite World Leaders

No preface is probably needed for Madame Tussauds Museum which allows for a very up-close look at your favorite celebrities, athletes, entertainers, politicians, all-time favorite leaders and more. The museum has locations all over the world, so it’s very likely that you’ve already visited one of them. So what’s special about Madame Tussauds in London?

Well, it’s the world’s first Madame Tussauds Museum (where it was first presented on Baker Street in 1835 and then shifted to its current location in 1890s) and hence is steeped in history. It has over 400 life-size wax replicas which lets you strike some incredible, quirky pose with the members of Royal Family and of course, all your favorites including Nelson Mandela, Marilyn Monroe, Barack Obama and more.

6. Take in The View from The Shard

If you’re wondering what to see in London beyond its historical and timeless attractions, head up to The Shard which has remained the tallest building of both UK and the Western Europe since 2012. The 95-storey structure soars for over 1000 feet where its glossy architecture is certain to take your breath away. For a closer view, you can choose to dine at one of its many restaurants or more ideally take to its viewing platform, The View. Being the highest standpoint in the whole of London, you can look forward to catch up with the most sweeping city vistas that stretch for over 40 miles.

7. Learn all about the region’s iconic past

London is often acknowledged as one of the world’s distinguished cultural capitals. Experience it for yourself as you visit some of London’s top museums. One of the must-sees among them is British Museum. With a jaw-dropping 18.5 acre space, it’s the Britain region’s largest museum and has on display one of the largest collections of arts and artifacts from past –Egyptian Mummies and Parthenon figures are just a few of them.

Placed in Trafalgar Square, National Gallery is another museum that you shouldn’t miss. It has over 2000 paintings collected from as early as 13th century, among others. Victoria and Albert Museum, National History Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich, Science Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern, Take Britain, and Churchill War Rooms are other popular museums and galleries that follow the list.

Majority of these museums allow for free entry.

8. Sample the tradition of Afternoon Tea

Whether you’re a foodie or not, this delectable experience should be top on the list of must experiences in London. For those who are not aware, this gastronomic tradition dates back to 1800s and its origin is attributed to the Duchess of Bedford. It comes in the form of a light meal and is mostly served between 3PM and 5PM. To try this quintessential English tradition, you can drop into one of the city’s many graceful dining venues such as Ritz London, Fortnum and Mason, The Savoy and Café Royal. You can expect to savor different types of sandwiches, pastries, cakes, breads, scones, jam, and obviously classic teas on your afternoon tea session.

9. Enjoy the Warner Bros Tour

This is for Harry Potter fans! Yes, there is no better way to experience the Wizardry World of Harry Potter than with this unique tour. Know what it’s like to trace the footsteps of young wizards at Hogwarts University and explore the many iconic elements of this classic movie in real, from relishing the Butterbeer to the props that depict some of the film’s iconic moments, scenes and characters. You’ll get to see the recreation of the mysterious Platform 9¾ and even the actual Hogwarts Express steam engine.

10. Go on a Thames Cruise

The approximately 350 kilometers meanders through southern England and has had always remained staple to London’s history and unprecedented growth. Apparently, a London holiday will be incomplete without exploring this historic river. Take a relaxed sightseeing cruise across the Thames to see London’s many impressive sights (including the Tower Bridge, London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and Houses of Parliament) from a distinctive standpoint. You can further make it super exhilarating with Thames Rockets, Thamesjet or a high speed RIB cruise. Now if you wish to soak up the charm of the Thames as well as attractions that surround it in its entire splendor, it’s highly recommended to take a helicopter tour.

Conclusion

The above list covers almost all of London’s both classics and modern sights. But depending on your holiday duration, you can add more experiences, maybe an exclusive shopping tour, the Sky Gardentour, or be part of some weird yet thrilling attractions with a Paranormal Activity Tour. So what’s the wait for now? Pre-plan your holiday, get your UK tourist visa, and just get down to strike off all your favorite London attractions.