30 Best Things To Do in London

You could visit London several times and still not fully know it. Charming neighborhoods, magnificent museums, street markets, monuments that are World Heritage Sites, bucolic parks? London has more than a hundred tourist attractions, 9 million inhabitants and 35 million tourists a year. Here is a selection of what you have to see and do in the city.

Located in the center of political and religious power in England for over a thousand years, the Whitehall and Westminster district, these two attractions are one of the must-see in London.

Westminster Abbey is known as the "Church of the Royal Family" for serving as the pantheon of British monarchs and the site of their coronations since 1066. There is a lot to see at Westminster Abbey so don't make the mistake of overlooking it on your visit to London. In fact, I recommend you book tickets to Westminster Abbey in advance because of its high demand.

The Palace of Westminster, a World Heritage Site, houses the Houses of Parliament, where today the politics and the future of the country are still decided and where you can see the tower where the greatest symbol of London is hidden, Big Ben, the bell that gives time to its great clock. Check the types of tickets for Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey opening hours and Westminster Abbey ticket prices.

Admire London from the sky aboard one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world, located in the heart of London. Its inauguration in 2000 earned it the title of 'Millennium Wheel' and its 135 meters high made it the tallest in Europe and, until 2006, in the world.

The London Eye is the best place to enjoy an amazing 360ºpanoramic view of the city and take as a souvenir the best photos of its skyline and some of its wonders, such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's Cathedral, in the 30-minute ride aboard one of its 32 glass capsules (one for each neighborhood of London). If you want to see the city illuminated, do not rule out going on the London Eye at night; the experience will leave you speechless.

Check the types of tickets for the London Eye, London Eye opening hours and prices of the most famous Ferris wheel in London and book your ticket for London Eye as soon as possible. This is one of the most popular attractions in the British capital, so you may be interested in combined tickets for the London Eye and a Thames River cruise or combined tickets for Madame Tussauds and the London Eye; it is a way to save a few pounds that will be much needed on this trip.

In addition to the London Eye, if you are not afraid of vertigo and you are attracted to strong emotions the best place to see London from almost the sky itself is the viewpoint of The Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, which with its 310 meters high has changed the skyline of the city.

Want to know how to climb the panoramic observatory of this imposing skyscraper? In the post The Shard tickets you will find all the details to get your tickets. And if you want to know more, you can also read this post about The Shard restaurant. Do not hesitate, book tickets for The Shard for your trip and enjoy the best views.

Booking tickets to the Tower of London is another must-do. This historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London is officially Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress. A truly incredible London landmark.

Built in 1066, this portentous Norman medieval fortress has served in its more than nine centuries of life as a center of uninterrupted power in British and European history and that is why it was declared a World Heritage Site. The tour of its architectural ensemble, consisting of more than seven buildings and areas of interest, everything there is to see in the Tower of London will not take you less than 3 hours and you will discover the fascinating story of how it has changed its function over the years.

Check out the types of Tower of London tickets, Tower of London prices and places to eat after your visit to the Tower of London.

Get ready to have a scary time with a night tour of London that will show you the less 'pretty' side of the city of London through its blackest history and places like the Tower of London and its bloody tower, the first Psychiatric Hospital, the Plague Pits, the haunted areas of the East End and the stories of how and where one of the most famous serial killers in history, Jack the Ripper, operated.

There are many options, but I recommend you opt to book a ghost tour of London. Check all the information here.

Built in 1894 over the River Thames, booking a guided tour of Tower Bridge is another unforgettable plan. It is the most famous bridge to see in London and owes its name to its proximity to the Tower of London.

You can access this stone drawbridge and see the operation of the steam engine that raises it and climb to the top and walk on a glass walkway while enjoying great views of the city. Also, if you go with children you can book a guided tour of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge for children.

London has many charming neighborhoods, but Notting Hill is also well known for movies like Mary Poppins, which sang of its bustling Portobello Market, or for the film of the same name, starring Julia Roberts. It is a delight for a Saturday morning stroll, when all the stalls of Portobello Street are set up among its beautiful colorful houses. And if you want to learn all about its history, book a personalized tour of London.

You also can't miss booking tickets for St Paul's Cathedral, which is the second largest cathedral in the world. It impresses with its great dome and its 111 meters high to which you can climb and get magnificent views of central London or descend to its crypt, where the remains of Nelson or the Duke of Wellington rest. Without a doubt, visiting St Paul's Cathedral is something you must do before leaving London.

If you love getting to know cities by getting lost in their streets, book a historical bike tour in London and discover the history of the city through places like Covent Garden, the Great Fire of London Monument, St. Paul's Cathedral or Tower Bridge. I leave you here linked the article I have written on Top 10 Tours and Excursions in London.

You must also book tickets for Buckingham Palace, which has been the official London residence of the British Royal Family since the 19th century and is now inhabited by Elizabeth II and is home to lavishly decorated chandeliers, elegant furnishings and treasures from the royal collection throughout rooms such as its Throne Room, where photographs are often taken at royal weddings.

You can visit Buckingham Palace as part of the attractions included in the London Pass or learn more about it with a palace tour.

If you want to make your experience more top notch, you have to opt for a visit to Buckingham Palace with the changing of the guard ceremony. It is one of the most typical things to do in London. It is a very colorful military parade at the main entrance of the palace where you will see regiments of guards on foot and on horseback accompanied by an orchestra that entertains the ceremony with music.

Those who perform the changing of the guard in London are a special section of the British army called the Queen's Guard (the red uniform with the huge fur hat) whose mission is to protect the head of state, that is, Queen Elizabeth II.

If you want to know all the details about this curious spectacle, do not miss the article How to see the Changing of the Guard and Buckingham Palace in London.

Another way to get around London is aboard one of its many tourist buses, which you will see circulating around the city center at all hours. If you book a seat on the tourist bus in London, you can admire the city from the heights, comfortably seated and get on and off (his famous "Hop on-Hop off") as many times as you want in each of its hundreds of stops along all that can and should be seen in the wonderful metropolis of London.

There are several tour bus companies, including Big Bus Tours, the City Sightseeing, The Original Tour, Vintage Tour and Golden Tours, associated with Big Bus with the London Pass.

All of them work in the same way and include physical guides or audio guides in several languages, although they differ in their routes and number of routes, in prices, which are always cheaper if purchased in advance and online, and in certain services and offers included.

Another must is to visit the parks of the British capital. And what better way than booking a bike tour of the parks of London.

Hyde Park is the largest and most famous park in the city and you can walk between a huge lake, various monuments, a rose garden and the gardens and Kensington Palace, whose interior can also be visited.

Tours of Harry Potter's London. For true fans of the most famous magic saga in history or for anyone who wants to have a good time, especially if you are traveling with children, booking tickets to the Harry Potter Studios is one of the most fun things to do, whether visiting the real places that inspired the stories of the Harry Potter saga or buying Harry Potter souvenirs in specialty stores.

Are you still hungry for more? How about booking tickets to the Harry Potter Studios Park? Just do it in advance so you don't run the risk of finding Harry Potter Park tickets on the resale market.

In this attraction you will be able to walk through Hogwarts Castle or the Forbidden Forest as if you were inside the movies. And, if you're wondering, getting to Harry Potter Studios from London is quick and easy so don't hesitate!

Inaugurated in 1759, it houses a large collection of key works in the history of mankind, from the Rosetta Stone in its Egyptian Room to the marbles of the Parthenon in Athens or a Moai from Easter Island. I recommend that if you do not want to miss any detail, book a guided tour of the British Museum because it is very difficult to cover it on your own, unless you are an art expert.

It is one of the most popular squares to see in London and where you can admire the Nelson's Column of 50 meters high built in honor of this admiral and the victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. To get there comfortably, I recommend that you book a tourist bus London Big Bus.

Booking a Thames river cruise is another must-do plan, at least once to see another perspective of the city. These comfortable Thames river cruises have different possibilities, from the simple one-hour tour to more premium ones such as a Thames cruise with dinner included.

There are Thames river cruises for all price ranges. You can also take a flexible ticket that lasts a day and allows you to get on and off the boat as many times as you want during the day, allowing you to move comfortably from end to end of the city while resting from long walks.

Located near Buckingham Palace is one of the Royal Parks of London and the most loved by its citizens because of the beauty of its gardens and its fun children's areas. Remember that you can book a bike tour of London's parks.

London has some great museums but if you book a guided tour of the Natural History Museum you will be truly impressed. It exhibits spectacular recreations of all the species of the earth highlighting its mind-blowing scale reproductions of dinosaurs and an amazing skeleton of a blue whale.

If you book your ticket for the London night tour bus you will arrive at this small square at the intersection of several streets. Very popular for its bustling life as a meeting point for locals and outsiders, is characterized by its large video screens, neon advertising signs and the famous fountain with the sculpture of Eros. A spectacle for the senses starting at dusk.

From Piccadilly Circus you can reach one of the most famous shopping streets in the city, Oxford Street.

If you are lucky enough to have a long trip ahead or you have already visited London on previous occasions, you can take advantage of your trip to discover other wonders within walking distance of the capital. There are excursions from London for all interests and with several modalities to go only to one place or take advantage of the day visiting several of them as is the case of the excursion to Stonehenge and Bath.

If you book an excursion to Stonehenge from London, you can discover the most famous and mysterious megalithic complex on the planet with 5.000 years old, visiting Stonehenge on a tour from London; the renowned and picturesque university towns of Oxford and Cambridge; the medieval Warwick Castle and its wonderful gardens or the home of the British royal family for over 900 years, Windsor Castle -

. If you prefer, you can tour the bucolic English countryside of the Cotswolds; one of the most beautiful cities in the country, Bath; and discover the Magna Carta in Salisbury or where Shakespeare was born, in Stratford-on-Avon. You can get to these places by alternative bus or train transport, but there are some guided tours that will be more instructive, very comfortable and even cheaper than going on your own.

Stonehenge from London, a must-see visit

If you ask my opinion, if I have to choose an excursion, it is Stonehenge. Because of the historical value of this complex, getting to Stonehenge from London is worth it either on your own or with an organized tour. There are many things to do in Stonehenge that will leave you with a good taste in your mouth, but without a doubt the best is to visit Stonehenge during the summer solstice. If you can choose the time to visit Stonehenge do not hesitate because the experience will leave you speechless.

Exercise, fun and places to see is what this bike tour of London offers you, where you will learn about the history of the city and more than 12 of its main attractions, such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, the street performers of Covent Garden or Trafalgar Square.

Booking tickets for Madame Tussauds is another plan to take into account. It is known as "London's favorite tourist attraction" and one of the best to visit with the little ones thanks to its amazing wax reproductions of 250 of the most popular characters in the history of cinema, politics, music, sport or show business.

And now, in addition to everything there is to see at Madame Tussauds London, there are several immersive experiences about Sherlock Holmes, Star Wars, Marvel and the history of London aboard the Spirit London Ride. Check the types of tickets for Madame Tussauds

To get a different souvenir of the city of London you must visit this picturesque and popular neighborhood that houses the largest market in the city with over 1,000 stores and street stalls where you can eat while listening to live music.

If you dive around the area you will surely find some of those secret places in London that do not appear in any guidebook. And if you're thinking about it, you can also get there comfortably with your ticket for the London sightseeing bus.

Of course, you must also book a guided tour of the National Gallery. This renowned art gallery houses an impressive collection of paintings by such geniuses as Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Velázquez and Goya, among many others.

If you know a little about the history of the city of London, you will already know that it has more than one dark episode... You're probably familiar with the characters of Jack the Ripper or Sweeney Todd, but have you ever heard of the Gunpowder Plot or the Great Fire of London?

If you buy tickets for the London Dungeon Museum you will find interactive shows that will tell you about all these events and other equally chilling ones. Read all the information about the London Dungeon Museum and get ready to be scared inthe dungeons of the English capital.

Are you traveling to London with children? Do you like animals? In either case, a visit to the Sea Life Aquarium is a great choice to complete your trip to London.

This is not only the largest aquarium in England, but also has themed areas, interactive activities and an amazing glass tunnel from which you can see the more than 500 species that live in the Sea Life Aquarium. Of course, it is a very demanded plan so it is advisable to book tickets for Sea Life Aquarium in advance.

Who hasn't heard of London musicals? If you buy tickets for one of the musicals in London you will live an experience you will hardly forget.

Among the best musicals in London's West-End you have some of the most famous ones like Les Miserables or The Phantom of the Opera. If you can afford it, do not hesitate to sign it up as one of the plans for the London night: the show is worth it and for many of them you will not even need to know English, as the music and the staging will transmit you more than words.

Although it may not seem like it, it is possible to eat well in a city as expensive as London without going broke even if you are looking to eat near the London Eye or eat near The Shard. Being one of the most cosmopolitan cities on the planet, the gastronomic offer is very varied and there are restaurants accessible to all budgets.

So you do not fall into the typical "tourist trap" in the article the best food tours in London I give you a list of 10 great restaurants where you can enjoy eating during your trip. You will see options for all tastes! Also, another option to take into account is to book a food tour in London.

If you have seen the famous movie Shakespeare in love you will get an idea of what you will see on this visit to the reconstruction of the original Elizabethan theater where Shakespeare's most famous plays were performed and where you will learn about playwriting in 16th century London, including the experience of afternoon tea.

When we arrive in a new city we can't wait to get to our hotel, drop our bags and visit things. Unfortunately before that there is a rather cumbersome thing to go through: the airport. London has four airports and all of them are far from the center. Do you know how to get from Stansted airport to the center of London, from Luton airport to London, from Gatwick airport to the center and from Heathrow airport to your hotel in London?

You will not be short of public transport, but my advice is to hire a private or shared transfer in advance. The advantage? Not having to wait for your arrival and move with maximum comfort.

When is the best time to go to London? This is a difficult question as every season of the year has its charm; whether you go to London in summer, winter, spring or autumn you will find that the city has its charm.

However, seeing London at Christmas is one of my favorite options because of the decorations that dress the city at this time and the many festive activities you will find there. In any case, if you are not convinced the most useful thing to do is to take a look at these posts in which I tell you what to do in London in each of the months of the year:

• London in January.
• London in February.
• London in March.
• London in April.
• London in May.
• London in June.
• London in July.
• London in August.
• London in September.
• London in October.
• London in November.
• London in December.

Finally, if after reading all that London has to offer you have been overwhelmed and have doubts about how to make the most of your stay, I recommend you to visit these posts about what to see and do in London according to the days you are going to spend in the British capital. Have a good trip!

• What to do in London in 1 day.
• What to do in London in 2 days.
• What to do in London in 3 days.
• What to do in London in 4 days.
• What to do in London in 5 days.
• What to do in London in 6 days.
• What to do in London in 7 days.