Are you ready for a huge post about things to do in London from a person who has been there many times? I'm not sitting at a desk trying to game the search engines by copying and pasteing research.
We are sharing some of what we think is the best of London based on our recent 10 days of intense exploring from early morning to late night, and I lived there for 2.5 years so have plenty of personal experiences and opinions!
You are the one most likely to visit London on a short trip. We travel through local experiences so you can find a few of them on this list.
If you are moving to London and want to experience the city for more than a short time, your best of list would be very different.
I didn't do much when I was in London. London is a top tourist destination because it is a different experience to live in a small town.
London is filled with top attractions, cultural experiences, cool neighborhoods, and surprises.
We walked an average of 10 miles a day. It is one of our favorite cities in the world and we have been to it many times with our family.
We traveled full-time with our daughters for seven years and have visited over 10 countries with them.
Individual posts with more in-depth information are available for many of the London best things to do.
There are some overlap and different recommendations in our top 21 places in London. If you travel to other places in the UK, you can experience cultural experiences that are British or English.
We will share essential things to know before you visit London.
The London Pass by Go City is a great way to save money at many of the paid attractions.
You can either use the card for all the attractions you want to visit, or you can purchase separate tickets for the cheaper attractions.
Our favorite discount card is the London sightseeing pass. They offer entry to top London attractions, as well as quirky local tours and discounts on shopping and eating out. We weren't able to try this one out.
The Harry Potter tour is one of the highlights of London. It was one of the highlights of our time in London.
One hour northwest of London, this backlot tour will take you through sets, props, and interactive exhibits from the Harry Potter film series.
You will be amazed at how they made the scenes. The deep dive into the wizarding world was a favorite among us.
Allow for 3-4 hours. It will give you time to read the stories, ride a broomstick, walk through the forbidden forest, and drink butter beer.
If you want to visit the Tower of London, you need to take the beefeater tour.
When Henry VIII decided that the Tower should be protected by a part of the royal bodyguard, the Yeoman Warders became known as the Beefeaters.
The monarch's bodyguard was part of the Yeoman of the Guard.
The 32 men and women who make up the Yeoman Body are all from the armed forces.
It used to be a Royal residence, an armory, a treasury, and a zoo.
The White Tower, built in the 1070s by William the Conqueror, is the original tower of the Tower of London. It was built in the 1200s and has been there ever since.
There is so much to do here. Soon, we will have a post. You can find a few more pointers here.
The London Eye has some of the best views of the city and is one of the most popular attractions in London.
The Big Ben and Houses of Parliament can be seen from the Observation Wheel, which is Europe's tallest.
You get time to enjoy the experience and take great photos when you sit in the capsule for 30 minutes.
They love their parks. All of the royal parks in London are free to visit and are located in the central tourist area.
They have beautiful gardens, fields for picnicking and sports, lakes with boat rides, tree-lined paths, beautiful views, and many other things.
St James's Park is one of my favorites.
You will most likely visit the London parks when you are in London. There are many parks and gardens in London.
We are going to have a post about parks and gardens in London.
One of the best places to eat in London is the Borough Market, a collection of stalls and vendors selling fresh produce.
You can find strawberries dipped in chocolate, soft local cheese, bowls of Vietnamese pho, sausage rolls or a refreshingly sweet peach prosecco here.
The Leaky Cauldron Pub is one of the filming locations for Harry Potter.
Weekends are busy. It is a quieter time during the week.
Don't miss the coffee from Monmouth.
afternoon tea is said to have begun in England in 1840 by Anna Stanhope. This was a way of satisfying her hunger pains after dinner had been served. Over the years, it became an experience for more than just the wealthy.
The French are said to have begun it. Let's not be involved in that fight.
High tea is named for the high tables it is served on. There are layers of sweet and salty items such as finger sandwiches, macaroons, and pastries.
While you might think you have to drink a lot of tea with it, you can have coffee and it will come with a flute of champagne or a cocktail. We are talking right now.
The standard for afternoon tea is set at the Ritz. The Savoy is a great place to have high tea.
You're going to get that Bridgerton afternoon tea flair at the Lanesborough. We had a science themed high tea at the Ampersand Hotel and it made Kalyra's London for Teens list.
It is possible to experience afternoon tea on a London bus or on a river cruise.
Visitors to London will want to add a high tea experience to their itinerary.
I saw the change of guard at Buckingham Palace when I lived in London.
Check the schedule because we had planned for it on that day.
You can make Buckingham Palace more than just a sticky beak through the gates and a few "I was here" photos.
Buckingham Palace and St. James's Palace are protected by the New Guard during the Changing of the Guards. One of the most popular attractions in London is the precision drill, and it is free.
Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Royal Family.
Chances are you will see the Union flag at Windsor Castle, where the Queen has chosen to live more recently.
There are days and times.
They will be seen all across London and the UK. It is a great experience in Britain.
It is said to have begun during King Henry the VII's reign. Roast beef is said to have been given to the royal guards as a nickname, and they now run the tours at the Tower of London.
On Sundays throughout the U.K., pubs and restaurants are packed full for the roast dinner, which is considered the time for families to get together and share great food.
Modern times allow for Chicken, Pork, Lamb or vegetarian Roast Dinners. A traditional Pub roast can be found at many places.
Green vegetables like cabbage and spring greens, cauliflower cheese, and lots of gravy are typically included. It is customary to serve it with a Yorkshire pudding.
We had a great time at the Edinboro Pub. They have a great beer garden with lots of beers to choose from.
You just have to head to the nearest pub. The pubs we loved in London were listed here.
The Eiffel Tower is to Paris. It's an important landmark.
Big Ben is located at the Houses of Parliament. Everyone calls it Big Ben after Benjamin Hall, who was the first Commissioner of Works when it was finished.
It can be seen from a number of viewpoints in London, including the London Eye and Parliament Square.
There is a square next to the Houses of Parliament. It has statues of some of the most well-known politicians.
Even locals didn't know that one of our favorite London photos was of a man looking out at BigBen.
The important business of running the country takes place in the Houses of Parliament. During certain days and times, you can tour inside. I was invited in for a drink by a friend of mine who worked at the pub. It was fun.
You can take a tour of the Royal Church of England if you cross the road. Since William the Conqueror was crowned here, every monarch has been married here.
Our kids and I enjoyed our self-guided audio tour more than we anticipated.
The sanctuary where weddings happen, the elaborate quire, the tombs of many royals and important people, and the bland Coronation Chair are all included in the itinerary.
The resting places of some of England's finest are located in the Poets Corner.
Walking around the cloisters and gardens gave me a good view of the abbey. Part of the London Pass is this tour.
The Young Royals lived in the area. It is the official residence of Prince William and Kate, as well as their children. It was the home of Princess Diana when she lived there.
Victoria was born here. You can take a tour of her childhood rooms and the King and Queen State Apartments, as well as the magnificent King's State Apartments and Queen's State Apartments.
The views from the windows, the elaborate Kings Staircase and King's Gallery were some of the highlights of the Life Through a Royal Lens exhibition.
There is a memorial to Diana in the most beautiful garden. We had a great time in london.
Use your London Pass to book a tour here.
Covent Garden is one of the most well known places in London.
The central marketplace had its beginnings as a convent garden in the 1500's. By the 19th century it had become the largest produce market in the world. It was relocated in 1974 due to its large size.
It is close to other tourist attractions in London, like Trafalgar Square.
There are so many places to eat and drink. There are performers on the street below the balcony of the Punch and Judy pub.
You can visit the surrounding cobblestone streets and side alleys in the central Covent Garden area.
Lamb & Flag is the oldest pub in Covent Garden and is a great place to go for a family lunch.
The West End of London is home to over 14 million theater goers annually.
Some of the most popular musicals include the Lion King, Les Misérables, and Hamilton. When I lived in London, I watched Les Misérables.
On this family vacation to London, Craig caught up with his rugby teammates from Australia, while Kalyra and I went to see a play in the theater.
The book and movie of the same name are the basis of the musical. The kids in the cast are very talented.
Our teen said it was one of her favorite London experiences, so we added it to our itinerary.
If you're short on time and want to experience more traditional London attractions, then Shoreditch is a great place to go.
You can do a mural tour of the Hip Shoreditch in East London if you have more than 3 days in London.
Street art in the UK is still considered a criminal activity and can be taken down very quickly.
The epicenter of London's street art scene is Shoreditch, and they are fighting back against the label of vandals. The most well-known secret street artist of all time is Banksy.
We couldn't make the tour work with our schedule. It's definitely something to do in London when we come back. You can check it out here.
If you want to experience a high tea in England, you must drink a Pimm's and Lemonade. On a hot summer's day, it's an unofficial drink of London. Is that what? That is a thing?
The very first Pimm's as a health tonic was invented by James Pimm. It was a drink made from gin and herbs and used to aid digestion. The cup was called the 'No.1 Cup' and was a tankard style.
It is a great drink to have with friends as it is often served by the Pitcher and filled with fresh fruit. It has a refreshing flavor. I didn't drink it when I was in London. It was a lot of fun.
If you want to follow our advice, choose a bar, any bar, but if you want a view of the river on a sunny day, go to the Founder's Arms.
We love the English pub experience and had lunch in one almost every day. We went in for a beer.
Almost any pub in London will have a warm and cozy atmosphere. Live music, beer gardens, and beautiful London views can be found at this building.
A menu of traditional English pub meals will be offered by most. Other English favorites include fish and chips, bangers and mash and gravy, and pie with mashed and gravy. Some English peas are also an English favorite.
I was happy to find a few pubs that served fish and chips with no wheat in it.
Along with your pub lunch, be sure to try a traditional English beer. When I was a bartender in London, I could tell you pulling a few of these can make you sore.
This is a unique British device that can be used for traditional beer. The cooler cellar below the bar allows the beer to be pulled or drawn up to the bar and give a lower-carbon beer.
The English think it's a better beer. Craig drank a lot of them to get to that conclusion.
We wanted to walk from A to B.
All the way to Tower Bridge you can see the Houses of Parliament from the south bank. Or the other way around. The distance is 2.5 miles / 4 km.
You can see the Tower of London, Shakespeare's Globe, The Shard, London Eye, and Tate Modern all from St Paul's Cathedral.
You will find popular and famous pubs along the way like The Anchor and The Founders Arms. The sunsets from here are gorgeous.
The Place of Time is located about 40 minutes southeast of Central London on the river.
The history of how the Royal astronomer came up with the current version of time can be found here.
The Prime Meridian is where it all begins. If you have stood with one foot in the west and one foot in the east on your bucket list, you can check it off.
There is a view behind the skyscrapers forming the skyline in front of the river.
It is an example of the modern and ancient worlds that London has evolved into.
Trafalgar Square is a must-visit place in London. The big lions represent the courage of Britain and everybody loves to have their photo taken with them. The kids will love climbing them.
The National Gallery is behind the statue of Lord Nelson, while the square is dominated by it.
It is the center of London and has always been a place for people to gather, whether it is for a protest, a march or to bring in the new year.
The lights around Trafalgar Square are one of my favorites. There are two men and two women holding hands and forming a heart at the traffic lights.
The tallest building in Western Europe is located above London.
The views from the 72nd floor open-air platform make it a popular place to visit. On level 69 there is a viewing platform.
The 243m high sweeping views of London make the Shard View worthwhile. The view of the river from the east to the west was amazing.
I lived in London for two years and didn't see it from this angle. I love this place so much.
If you aim for about an hour before the sun goes down, you can see the golden light views, sunset panoramic views, and nighttime views.
In order to reserve your tickets, you must do so. Also, it will save you money. The attraction is included in the card.
There are more places to see London.
If you want to experience 5-star luxury with these views, you're in the right place. You can check availability and book your stay here.
The best thing to do in London is a canal boat cruise from Little Venice to Camden Markets.
The Regent's Canal runs from Little Venice to Limehouse and empties into the river.
It's a chance for visitors to see a side of London that isn't as well known. The waterways through London have become a tranquil place to walk, paddle, or boat ride.
The 40-minute canal ride will take you along the Regent's Canal, through the Maida Hill tunnel, and past the exclusive neighborhoods of Maida Vale and Primrose Hill, with homes of celebrities.
We traveled from Camden to regents park. There is more information in our full guide.
You have to stop in Camden Town while you are on the canal. It is one of our favorite places to hangout in London.
The Camden Markets and live music scene are what make it a London neighborhood. Many famous artists from around the world have performed here.
There are many things to do in Camden Markets, including the canal boat ride, a Sunday pub roast, and some top pubs for live music.
We did not visit a lot of museums for this trip. We travel a lot and have visited a lot of museums.
London has great museums and the permanent collections are free. One of the best things to do in London is to visit a museum.
It's possible to find a museum that suits any interest. The Vagina Museum is located in Camden.
The National Gallery and the British Museum are noteworthy. We spent an hour in the British Museum and it was great, but I wish it was more.
We spent some time at the Tate Modern and thoroughly enjoyed the artwork on display. If you add this to your London itinerary, you will get a better view of the city.
There is a fascinating historical story to be told in London's cobblestone alleyways. A walking tour is a great way to see the culture and history of a place.
What are you interested in learning? It will be a walking tour.
We did not go on the Jack the Ripper walking tour while we were in London. When I moved to London, I did that. I liked it very much. I agree. It will make you cringe.
When I worked at the pub, I had to walk past one of his killing alleyways to get home. The pace of my legs increased as a result of the chills in my spine.
One of the newest additions to London is the Millennium Bridge. It was opened in 2000 and has a futuristic look.
The dome of St Paul's Cathedral grew in front of your eyes as you walked. There are views of Tate Modern and Tower Bridge to the right of the river.
When it was first opened, an engineering defect caused it to shake and wobble when people crossed it. It had to be closed for two years to be fixed.
Look down. An artist often comes by and creates art out of dried up gum. It's gross, but it's cool.
The London Boys School is on the left as you approach the north side. In the movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the Death Eaters attacked London. They were filming on the bridge.
Tower Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in London. The neo-Gothic turrets and blue suspension cables of London are well known to almost anyone coming to the city.
You can take a walk across Tower Bridge for free and see the Tower of London from both sides.
The Tower Bridge Exhibition is a great place to learn more about the engineering and history of the structure. The attraction is included in your London attraction pass.
When the Tower Bridge raises its arms so boats can pass by, it's a good time to check. You have to book it in advance so you can plan for it.
Tower Bridge usually opens its bascules around 800 times a year. Open times can be checked here.
You can take a river cruise to view it.
You can see London from the perspective of the river.
The Lastminute.com London Eye River cruise is a 40-minute tour on a small open top ferry. There is a landing dock under the Eye.
The commentary taught us a lot about the history of the river and how it has shaped London life.
The cruise will take you past Big Bend, the Houses of Parliament, and many of London's bridges that span the river.
You will learn a lot about the landmarks you will pass, such as the Tower of London, St Pauls' Cathedral, and Tate Modern.
It's a good idea to book a cruise on the river before you go.
You can view more in the cruise. You can follow us over there for more adventures.
One of the most famous cathedrals in the world is St Paul's Cathedral.
There is a rule that St Paul's must be seen from a number of different places in London. That line of sight is being made room for.
Now that you have seen the dome around the city, it is time to see it from the inside and learn more about how it was built.
Standard admission includes an audio guide, but we were on a guided tour. The bodies of Wellington and Nelson can be seen under the dome in the crypt.
The Stone Gallery and Golden Gallery are both located at the top of the dome and offer amazing views of London.
If they can take you to the Harry Potter staircase, please ask the attendants. The "Divination Stairwell" in St Paul's was used as a location for the Harry Potter films.
Even if you don't follow the Harry Potter filming trail across London, I recommend you get your photo run into the wall at platform 934 at Kings Cross.
If you're a Harry Potter fan, it might not work out in your favor.
I had a lot of fun because I was the only one in the family who did it. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I was going to take full advantage of it.
We only had a 10-minute wait. The lines can be long. You can either get there as early as possible or as late as possible. Good luck!
Kings Cross Station is not a lie. It is not platform 934 You can take your photos at the station with the cart going into the wall.
You can find a Harry Potter store here.
If you want to take a photo on the platform, you can either catch a train or ask the guards if you can take a photo.
When I first arrived in London in 1997, I was a broke backpacker with no knowledge of a soul. I was frightened. It reminded me of my journey from there to here and how much I have grown since then. More about that story can be found here.
The Leadenhall Markets in Central London are a must visit if you are headed east towardsLiverpool Street.
The markets were first established in 1321 as a market for butchers and fishmongers, but later became a bazaar in the 1st century.
The interior and cobbled laneways that you see today are from a redesign in the late 19th century.
It was used as the exterior for Diagon Alley in the first couple of Harry Potter films and is one of the reasons tourists come here.
The Lamb Tavern has been open for almost 200 years.
If you are a Harry Potter fan, this is a great place to visit in London.
We didn't do everything in one day. We went to see it if it was in the area we were in.
Walking tours are one of the best ways to see Harry Potter locations. We could have heard more stories if we did this. Doing it ourselves didn't have the same magic and was more like snapping a photo and leaving.
I mentioned a few in this post already, and I will write a separate post on each one.
There are some major places.
You can book your post on the tour here.
You should include a sporting match into your London itinerary if you can time it right.
You can either see a live match at one of the many sporting venues around the city, or from within a pub or outdoor big screen when the big matches are on.
If the English win, it will be an electric experience with the English chanting, singing, and celebrating for hours. If they don't, please help London.
When I lived in a house with people from Australia, New Zealand, South Africans, Irish, and Brits, we used to watch sports at the pub on Saturdays and Sundays.
Wimbledon is located in London. My dad is fond of going to the lords in london. He was able to play on it. Football and rugby fans can be found at Wembley.
There is a mini Times Square in New York. There are a lot of advertising billboards and people taking selfies. I'm adding it for you because it's popular with tourists.
There is a road junction with a statue on it.
You can walk to Piccadilly from here.
Oxford St, the world's biggest high street, is one of the top things to do in London for tourists.
I walked along it many times when I lived in London to get from A to B.
One of the busiest streets in London is Oxford Street. It becomes too much for me.
It stretches from the corner of Hyde Park all the way down to Spurs Court Road and is filled with stores selling fashion, beauty, tech and homeware. Gap, River Island, Selfridges, House of Fraser and Marks & Spencer are some of the brands you can find.
More than 500 restaurants are located on the street and side streets.
Do you need a break from the intense atmosphere of London? There are many great UK destinations that are easy to travel to.
If you want to save money and time, we recommend going by train. The National Express bus service is available.
We took the train from London to Bath for two nights and then took the train to Oxford for two nights. They were both great.
We recommend an overnight stay because it's not as rushed.
There are many places to visit in England close to London. There are a lot of day trip tours available from Get Your Guide.
Are you in need of a place to stay in London?
All the top things to do in London are listed on a single page. PDF itinerary guides will soon be available for you. If you fill out the form, you'll be able to access it. Once the itinerary guides are ready, we'll email you.
What do you like to do in London? In the comments, please tell us what you think. Tell us about your local experiences.
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