If you are looking for the “best things to do in London”, you have come to the right place. In this guide, I have covered more than 20 amazing things to see and experience in one of the most iconic cities in the world.
London is a city that never gets old. No matter how many times you visit, it always has something new to offer. Personally, I have visited three times and still feel like there is so much more to explore.
From historic landmarks to vibrant markets and world-class entertainment, London truly has something for everyone. So let’s dive in and explore the best this incredible city has to offer.
A Big Bus Tour or the Red Double Deckers
If you’re visiting London for the first time, spending half a day on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour is one of the best ways to get to know the city.
Big Bus tours cover the city’s major attractions, provide information in various languages, and let you hop on and off at any stop you choose. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, the regular red double-decker buses run on many of the same routes and cost significantly less.
A standard bus fare is about £1.75. Crossing any of the Thames bridges from the upper deck of a double-decker bus is one of London’s simple yet memorable experiences that stays with you for a long time.
Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard
Buckingham Palace is one of the three official residences of the monarch, the other two being Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The palace contains a total of 775 rooms, including 92 offices and 188 staff bedrooms, and it is located in the very heart of London.
During the summer months it is opened to the public, when the State Rooms can be viewed with timed tickets. If you visit outside those months, the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside the palace is free to watch, and it’s an activity worth setting aside time for in the morning.
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Tate Modern
Tate Modern is housed in a former power station building on the South Bank and is one of the most visited modern art museums in the world.
Its permanent collection (permanent collection) is free to enter, and the building itself is also worth seeing, especially its large Turbine Hall where large-scale installations are displayed. It’s still worth visiting even if you’re not particularly interested in contemporary art.
The British Museum
The British Museum houses over eight million antiquities and artifacts, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of human history in the world. I’ve been here several times, but I still haven’t been able to see everything properly.
Here you’ll find Egyptian mummies, the Rosetta Stone, ancient Greek and Roman artifacts, and much more spread across dozens of galleries. The best part is that general admission is completely free. Plan to spend at least three hours, and during busy times book a free timed-entry ticket in advance.
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The London Eye
The London Eye is located on the banks of the River Thames and is one of the city’s most popular attractions. Each glass capsule takes about 30 minutes to complete a full circle, during which, on a clear day, you can see beautiful views of Westminster and beyond. Standard tickets currently start at around £29 online, while on-site they can cost up to about £39.
Booking online in advance saves you both money and time. If you plan to see multiple attractions in one day, combo tickets that include a Thames cruise along with the London Eye can be a better choice.
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a busy street intersection and public square in London’s West End, and it’s one of the liveliest areas in the entire city. The large advertising screens here give it a Times Square–like atmosphere, while the surrounding streets are filled with restaurants, theaters, and bars that stay open late into the night.
If you’re looking for a place to stay, staying near Piccadilly Circus makes it easy to walk to Soho, Covent Garden, and the West End theatre district, which are considered some of the best areas to live in central London.
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Walking the South Bank and Taking the River
215 miles long, The Thames is England’s longest river and the main route connecting most of London’s famous landmarks. You can walk along its banks, cycle, or take one of the many ferries and river cruises that operate on this route to travel on the river itself.
“The view of Tower Bridge and the City skyline from the river is one of the best ways to see London.”
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London’s Markets
There are so many markets in London that you could spend your entire trip just exploring them. Borough Market, located near London Bridge, is the most famous, offering fresh food, top-quality produce, and a fantastic atmosphere.
Camden Market is a large collection of vintage clothing, street food, and independent stallholders.
Maltby Street in Bermondsey is a relatively small, more local market. In the East End, Brick Lane is famous for its secondhand clothes and some of the city’s best bagels.
If you’re coming in December, all these markets are filled with Christmas decorations and seasonal foods. Honestly, it’s one of the best times of the year to visit London.
Big Ben and Westminster
Elizabeth Tower — which most people still call Big Ben after the bell inside — was built in 1859 and, at over 316 feet tall, towers above the Palace of Westminster, where the British Parliament sits. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most photographed buildings in the world.
Walking across Westminster Bridge provides one of the best vantage points, while a Thames cruise offers a beautiful view from the river.
Free public tours of Parliament are available year-round on weekdays and on other days during the parliamentary recess. If it’s on your list, it’s best to book in advance.
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Tower Bridge and the Tower of London
Tower Bridge is what people often mistake for London Bridge, and it’s far more spectacular than its neighbor. It was built between 1886 and 1894 and spans over 240 meters across the Thames. Even today, it opens several times a year to allow tall ships to pass through. You can walk across it for free, or pay about £12 to £14 to visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition, where you get access to the glass walkways between the two towers and down to the Victorian engine rooms below.
From here you also get direct views of the Tower of London, HMS Belfast, and The Shard.
The Tower of London was founded in 1066 by William the Conqueror, and for nearly a thousand years it served as a royal palace, prison, mint, and fortress. The Crown Jewels collection alone is extraordinary—over 23,000 gems, including the Imperial State Crown.
Admission is about £34.80 per adult if booked online in advance. The Yeoman Warders lead guided tours throughout the day that are not only entertaining but also historically informative. You should allow at least two to three hours here.
Hyde Park and London’s Parks
Hyde Park spans 350 acres in the heart of the city and is one of those places that, despite London’s busy life, truly offers a sense of tranquility. The Serpentine lake runs through it, the Diana Memorial Fountain is nearby, and in the northeast corner is Speaker’s Corner, where public speeches and debates have been held for over a century.
In winter, the park hosts Winter Wonderland, one of Europe’s best Christmas events. It runs from mid-November to early January and features markets, an ice rink, and a circus. The adjacent Kensington Gardens and St James’s Park are also well worth a visit if you have time.
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The Natural History Museum
Admission to the Natural History Museum’s permanent galleries is free; however, on busy summer days it’s best to book a free timed entry ticket in advance. Special exhibitions carry a separate fee—in 2026, the “Our Story With Dania” experience costs approximately £10 to £20.
This museum houses over 80 million specimens related to natural history, geology, fossils, and zoology. The blue whale skeleton suspended in the main hall is one of the most impressive exhibits I’ve seen in any museum.
You should allow at least three to four hours here. The Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum are nearby; both are free to enter, and it’s best to visit them on the same day.
Westminster
Westminster, as a neighborhood, contains more history within its boundaries than most entire cities. The Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, St. James’s Park, and Oxford Street all begin within a short distance of one another.
Westminster Abbey — where British monarchs are crowned and many royal figures are buried Admission to Westminster Abbey—where British monarchs are crowned and many royal figures are buried—is about £27 for adults, which includes a good audio guide and access to the royal chapels and Poet’s Corner. Walking around the entire area on foot in the morning is one of the best activities to do in London.
The Shard and Sky Garden
The Shard is London’s tallest building, standing 310 meters tall, and it is the most prominent feature of the city’s modern skyline. The “View from the Shard” observation deck is located at approximately 800 feet, from where, on clear days, you can see beautiful views stretching far beyond the city.
Currently, this attraction is undergoing improvement works until mid-June 2026, and to account for the impact on the experience, ticket prices have been reduced by 41%.
During this time, step-free access between some platform areas and floors is affected, so be sure to check the current facilities before booking. A free alternative is the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street — advance booking is required, but admission is completely free.
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Covent Garden
Covent Garden began as a fruit and vegetable market and is now one of the most vibrant areas of the West End. The Royal Opera House, St. Paul’s Church, covered market stalls, street performers, independent restaurants, and great shopping are all just minutes away from each other.
The performers in the piazza here are truly of a higher caliber than typical street performances—musicians, acrobats, and comedians who draw large crowds. Whenever I come here, I’m sure to see something unexpected.
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The Cutty Sark and Greenwich
Cutty Sark is one of the last surviving Victorian tea clippers — built in 1869 and once counted among the fastest cargo ships in the world. It sits in a dry dock at Greenwich, slightly raised so you can walk underneath it and view its fully copper-clad hull from below.
The surrounding area is also worth seeing. The Royal Observatory, where Greenwich Mean Time was established, sits on a hill nearby, and from there the views across the Thames toward Canary Wharf and the City are stunning. Greenwich is considered an excellent half-day trip from central London.
HMS Belfast
HMS Belfast is moored on the River Thames near Tower Bridge and is one of the few remaining major warships from World War II. It played a key role in the D-Day landings and also took part in sinking the German battleship Scharnhorst.
It was decommissioned in the 1960s and has been open to the public since 1971. Now its nine decks are available to visitors—including the operations room, engine rooms, and gun turrets. This experience lets you feel naval warfare in ways that glass-encased exhibits simply cannot.
Admission for adults is about £20.
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square was built in 1805 to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar. At its center stands Nelson’s Column, which is 169 feet tall, surrounded by four bronze lions. The square serves as an important gathering point for various events, celebrations, and everyday civic life throughout the year.
Its northern side is home to the National Gallery, which houses over 2,300 paintings—including works by major artists such as Vermeer, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Turner, and Monet. Admission is completely free.
It is one of the world’s great art museums and is often underappreciated simply because it does not charge an admission fee.
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The London Underground
The Tube is 163 years old and still carries millions of people every day across the city on 270 stations and over 400 kilometers of track. It runs 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights and covers almost the entire city — some lines run underground and some run above ground.
You can use an Oyster card or a contactless bank card, and both have a daily cap so you don’t overpay. An off-peak journey between Zones 1 and 2 costs about £2.80. Avoid paper tickets because they’re quite expensive per trip and not cost-effective.
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Chelsea Football Club
If there’s a home match during your visit, watching Chelsea play at Stamford Bridge can be one of the best evenings you spend in London. The atmosphere in one of Europe’s most competitive football leagues is truly electric—something you can’t experience just by watching on screen. Tickets for big matches sell out quickly, so be sure to check the fixture list before your trip.
If a match isn’t available, stadium tours also offer access to the dressing rooms, pitch, and museum during the week. If Chelsea’s schedule doesn’t work out, Arsenal, Tottenham, and West Ham are also good alternatives.
What to Eat in London
The food scene here has changed dramatically over the past twenty years and is now truly counted among Europe’s best. Start your day with a full English breakfast at a local café—eggs, sausages, back bacon, grilled tomatoes, and toast, all prepared just right.
It’s also essential to grab fish and chips from a good fish and chip shop, not a tourist restaurant but an authentic spot. Beyond British fare, the city’s diversity has made Indian, Bangladeshi, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cuisines throughout London truly outstanding.
Brick Lane for curry, Borough Market to sample various dishes, and a pint and meal at a traditional pub — these three things complete the London food experience better than any restaurant list.
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