London is full of world-class things to do, see and experience and it's fast. It can be hard to know where to start when there are so many options.
You can take advantage of free entry at top art galleries and museums, learn about the city's history, or see a West End show. Some of the best things to do in London are listed here.
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The Tower of London is a great place to start a trip to London. The tower is home to the world's largest diamond, a dazzling array of armor and weaponry, and a sense of ancient history.
You will need at least half a day for exploration if you get here early. To avoid standing in line, head straight to the crown jewels when the doors are unlocked. Join a Yeoman Warder's tour to learn more about the life and times of this fortress-Palace.
London has a rich and fascinating history of black people. There is a growing desire to acknowledge, own, and celebrate. You can begin your journey by taking one of the 12 walking tours in central London. You can eat some of the delicious local Caribbean cuisine and see many of the city's finest Black artists at 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning.
If you want to get your bearings and see a lot at the same time, you can walk along the south side of the Thames. Right by Big Ben is where you'll get off at the tube. You can take a look at the Houses of Parliament from the bridge. If you're traveling with kids, the South Bank is a great place to go and it has a lot to offer. The big wheel takes 30 minutes to complete a full turn, at its peak reaching a height of 135 meters. Don't wait in the lines to book tickets.
Some of London's top sights can be found further along the South Bank, including the Tower of London and Shakespeare's Globe theater. There are pubs, restaurants, dairies, bakers and gourmet food stalls at the market.
London used to be the capital of an empire that ruled over half the world's Muslims, so it's no wonder that the city has a lot of Muslim cultures. There are over 115,000 Islamic items in the British Museum's Albukhary Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum's Jameel Gallery. Try a fiery curry along East London's Brick Lane, or head north for London's most authentic Anatolian dishes, if you're a fan of Middle Eastern cuisine.
The Tate Modern is a huge shrine to modern and contemporary art and is located on the RiverThames. The Bankside Power Station is where the gallery is located. The enormous Turbine Hall used to house the power station's electricity generators and is now home to large-scale installation art.
The permanent collection is free, and the gallery's ziggurat extension, the Blavatnik Building, opened in 2016 provides 60% more exhibition space and a new (and free) view of London. Installation and performance art are being pushed in exhibition spaces.
The heart of the country's royal and religious life has been located at the abbey. The majority of the structure is from the 13th century and is a mix of architectural styles. 17 monarchs are buried here, and 16 royal weddings have been held here, the most recent being that of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011.
The oldest door in the UK, Poets' Corner, is one of the highlights. If you want to join the line first thing in the morning, be aware that the crowd is almost as strong as the abbey.
The British Museum in Bloomsbury is the most visited attraction in Britain. It is crammed with such an array of treasures, you can probably spend your entire trip navigating the vast and hallowed collection of artifacts, art and age-old antiquity. You can take a free eye-opener tour. Take in the highlights by walking through the Great Court and seeing the glass and steel roof designed by Norman Foster.
Three world-class museums are located within steps of each other in a wealthy neighborhood. The Victoria & Albert Museum is home to the world's leading collection of decorative arts, and you can spend days there. There is a blue-whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling.
When the museums open their doors into the evening and offer music and food, it's a good time to check in advance to see if any "Lates" are running. At the Natural History Museum, there are occasional sleepovers called Dino Snores.
Without a glimpse of what the Royals are up to, no trip to the capital would be complete. The easiest way to see a bit of ceremony is to watch the Changing the Guard, a tradition that dates back to the 19th century. It starts at 11am and it is recommended to get there for 10:15 if you are tall. You can visit the palace in August and September if you want to, while the Queen is in Scotland.
Buckingham Palace was built in 1723 for the Duke of Buckingham and was purchased by King George III in 1836. The State Rooms are a small part of the palace's 775 rooms and can be seen on a tour.
London's urban parkland is a great place to see locals at ease and in their element. If you want a central London setting, a royal palace, deck chairs, boating opportunities, open-air concerts, art galleries, magnificent trees, and a granite memorial, you can't go wrong with Hyde Park.
London would be like Paris without its cafes and pubs. London's Pub culture is a part of the city's DNA, and the best place to see locals is at the pub. Pubs have become the go to place for a good night out in the capital. They're popular for family-friendly lunches. The best restaurants are not the only ones that compete with the best gropubs.
Soho, a densely packed warren of after-dark delights, is the place to go for an evening out. Since the 1980s, Soho has been a hub for London's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer community. The French House, Bar Termini, Yard, and the White Horse serve old-school beers.
One of the best places in the world to see a theater performance is London. The West End is home to some of the best musicals in the world. The Lion King and The Book of Mormon are not family-friendly. Hamilton is the hottest ticket in town at the moment. You should book your tickets in advance.
The Elizabethan-style experience at Shakespeare's Globe is perfect for people who like Shakespeare. You can get a standing ticket if you are one of the groundlings who watch from the open-air yard before the stage. The theater is a triumph of authenticity, right down to the nail-less construction, English- oak beams, original joinery and thatching.
How to spend a perfect weekend in London is one of the things you might want to check out.
If you eat dainty sandwiches and drink tea, you will feel like an upper class person. The classic experience can be found at Claridge's or the Ritz, or in the summer at The Goring. slots can be booked out on weekends and in the peak season, so pre-booking is a good idea.
The article was first published on March 19th.
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