Are you prepared for essentially the most gigantic submit on issues to do in London from somebody who has lived there and visited a number of occasions? This isn’t me sitting at a desk attempting to sport the Google search algorithms writing based mostly on desk analysis and copying and pasting.
That is us sharing a few of what we expect is one of the best of London based mostly upon our latest 10 days of intense exploring from early morning to late at night time, and, I additionally lived there for two.5 years so have loads of private experiences and opinions!
That is additionally from a vacationer perspective – as you’re the ones almost definitely to go to London on a brief journey. ALTHOUGH, we largely journey by way of native experiences so that you fill discover a couple of of these on this checklist as effectively.
In case you are transferring to reside in London or desiring to expertise London for longer and on a deeper dive into native experiences, your better of checklist can be very totally different.
Once I beforehand lived in London I didn’t do hardly something on this checklist. Native residing is a vastly totally different expertise to vacationer journey – and London is a high vacationer vacation spot for a purpose!
London is jam full of high sights, cultural experiences, cool neighborhoods, and surprises and hidden gems on each avenue, nook, and cobblestoned alley.
We walked on common 10 miles a day to see and do as a lot as we might. It’s one in all our favourite cities on the planet and has been our favourite household journey up to now!
Since we’ve now visited over 10 nations with our daughters, and traveled full-time with them for seven years, that’s a gold badge we’re handing over to England’s capital metropolis. (Right here’s why we beloved London).
For a lot of of those London finest issues to do, we now have particular person posts with extra in-depth info (and extra posts nonetheless to come back).
We even have our high 21 locations to go to in London the place you’ll see some overlap, but additionally totally different suggestions. Some cultural experiences will likely be British or English, so should you’re touring to different locations within the UK, you may expertise them there additionally.
And also you don’t need to miss our London journey ideas submit sharing important issues to know earlier than visiting London!
TOP TIP
Most of the paid sights are on the London Go by Go Metropolis, which is a superb cash saving low cost vacationer card for a choose variety of days or sights.
Relying in your math, you possibly can both use it for all of the sights you need to do, or use the cardboard for the most costly after which buy separate tickets for the cheaper sights individually.
The London Sightseeing Go can be a favourite vacationer low cost card of ours. We love their flexibility and variety with supply entry to high London sights, plus quirky native excursions, and reductions on buying and consuming out. See extra info and get your go right here. We didn’t get to do this one out.
Uncover the Magic at Warner Bros Harry Potter Studios
Excessive on the checklist of many guests to London is the Harry Potter tour on the Warner Bros Studios. It was one in all our favourite issues to do in London with children.
Situated about one hour northwest of London, this backlot tour will take you thru units, props, and interactive displays of the true film settings of the Harry Potter movie collection.
You’ll be amazed at how they created magical scenes from such small, intimate settings. All of us beloved this magical deep dive into the Wizarding World.
Enable for 3-4 hours for the self-guided tour. That provides you with sufficient time to learn the tales, experience a broomstick, stroll by way of the forbidden forest and people scary spiders, and drink butterbeer.
Do a Beefeater Tour within the Tower of London
A go to to the Tower of London wouldn’t be nearly as good with out doing the free 45 minute beefeater tour.
Nicknamed Beefeaters, Yeoman Warders have been guarding the Tower of London since Tudor time when Henry VIII determined that the Tower ought to be protected by a part of the royal bodyguard.
They have been initially a part of the Yeoman of the Guard – the monarch’s private, crack bodyguard who traveled with him in all places.
The Yeoman Physique of 32 women and men are all drawn from the Armed Forces, and will need to have an impeccable document of service and excessive ranks.
They share entertaining and grotesque tales of its macabre historical past from its former years (and I imply centuries) as a Royal residence, armory, treasury, and zoo (thank goodness they stopped that!)
The Tower of London is definitely a fort comprising twenty-two towers however sitting within the center is the unique White Tower constructed within the 1070s by William the Conqueror. The partitions, towers, and moat surrounding it got here within the 1200s and have been there ever since.
There’s a lot to see and do right here. We’ll have a submit coming quickly. For now, you may see a couple of extra pointers right here.
One of the well-known sights in London, with among the finest views of town, is the London Eye on the River Thames.
It’s the tallest remark wheel in Europe and an effective way to see totally different viewpoints of the well-known buildings in London, just like the Massive Ben and Homes of Parliament.
The capsule you sit in strikes slowly sufficient (30-minutes to do a full revolution) that you just get time to benefit from the expertise and get nice pictures.
Go to a Royal Park
Londoners love their Royal Parks. These 5000 acres of high quality inexperienced areas present a gorgeous respite from a busy day exploring town There are eight royal parks in London, lots of that are within the central vacationer space, and all are free to go to.
They’ll have stunning gardens, fields for picnics and sports activities, lakes with boat rides, tree-lined paths, stunning views, wildlife, and lots of could have public occasions, concert events and festivals.
My favorites are St James’s Park, Regent’s Park, Kensington Gardens, Greenwich Park, and Hyde Park.
As you’re most likely on a brief go to to London, these are the London parks you’ll go to essentially the most. However, London is filled with pleasant parks, gardens and squares everywhere in the metropolis!
We’ll have a submit coming quickly on parks and gardens to go to in London.
Store and Eat at Borough Market
The most effective locations to eat in London is the favored Borough Market on the south facet of the River Thames, a group of stalls and distributors promoting contemporary produce.
Whether or not you’re hungry for strawberries dipped in chocolate, mushy native cheeses, bowls of Vietnamese pho, sausage rolls or a refreshingly candy peach prosecco, you’ll discover it right here.
On the periphery you’ll discover pubs, cafes, eating places, murals and some Harry Potter filming places, together with the Leaky Cauldron Pub.
I’ll warn you; weekends are shoulder to shoulder busy. Throughout the week it’s a a lot quieter expertise.
Don’t Miss: Espresso from Monmouth and the candy peach prosecco.
Expertise a Conventional Afternoon Tea
It’s alleged that afternoon tea started in England in 1840, by Anna Stanhope, the Duchess of Bedford. As dinner was served late within the night, this was a approach of satisfying her starvation pains mid-afternoon. It grew to become a modern type of leisure and over time it grew to become an expertise for extra than simply the rich.
Some additionally say the French began it. However, let’s not become involved in that battle.
For now, we’ll have fun the English custom of excessive tea, named so for the excessive tables it’s served on. They arrive in layers of savory and candy gadgets similar to scones with jam and cream, finger sandwiches, macaroons, and pastries.
When you would possibly suppose you’re required to drink copious quantities of tea with it, you may select to have espresso, and lots of will now come served with flutes of champagne or cocktails. Now we’re speaking!
Excessive Tea on the Ritz is notorious for setting the usual for afternoon tea. The Savoy is one other old-school favourite for conventional pomp. We had many suggestions for top tea at Fortnum & Mason.
The Lanesborough goes to provide you that vibrant floral Bridgerton afternoon tea aptitude. Equally aesthetically pleasing – in a vivid and fashionable approach is the Ampersand Lodge the place we skilled our science themed excessive tea, which made Kalyra’s London for teenagers checklist!)
There’s even a unusual expertise like afternoon tea whereas touring on a London bus or on a River Thames cruise
First time guests will need to add a excessive tea expertise to their checklist of issues to do in London.
See the Altering of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
Okay, so technically we didn’t see the altering of the guard at Buckingham Palace on this latest London journey – however I did see it after I lived in London.
We had deliberate for it on the day it doesn’t occur, so, verify the schedule!
That is the way you make Buckingham Palace a bit greater than only a sticky beak by way of the gates and some “I used to be right here” pictures.
The Altering of the Guards is the ceremony the place The Queen’s Guard fingers over duty for shielding Buckingham Palace and St. James’s Palace to the New Guard. The pomp and ceremony of the precision drill and bands enjoying stirring music make it one of the fashionable London sights – and it’s free!
Buckingham Palace has been the official London Residence of the Royal Household since 1837. If the Royal Normal flag is flying it means Queen Elizabeth II is in residence, and if the Union flag is flying it means she’s out of city.
Because the Queen has chosen of late to reside extra at Windsor Fort, her favourite of all her palaces, the percentages are you’ll see the Union flag.
Days & Occasions:
- June – July: Every day
- August – Might: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
- Begins at 11am and goes for about 45 minutes.
Eat a Conventional Sunday Roast
You will notice all of them throughout London and the UK – conventional Sunday Roast. It’s a British cultural expertise to not miss.
It’s stated to have began throughout the reign of King Henry the VII in 1485. The royal guards would eat roast beef each Sunday after church, which is claimed to have given them the identify ‘beefeaters.’ (they now run the excursions on the Tower of London).
On Sundays all through the U.Ok., pubs and eating places are packed full for the roast dinner; it’s thought-about the time for households or buddies to get collectively and share nice meals.
Though Roast Dinners started with Beef, fashionable occasions make room for Rooster, Pork, Lamb or Vegetarian. Many locations will supply a conventional Pub roast or one with a bit extra of a contemporary aptitude.
Usually included are roasted potatoes and root greens, inexperienced greens like cabbage and spring greens, cauliflower cheese, and many gravy. It’s conventional to serve it with a Yorkshire pudding, which is a savory eggy batter poured over beef drippings.
We completely loved our Sunday Roast on the Edinboro Pub in Camden. They’ve a stunning beer backyard and gluten free beer to match!
Simply head to the closest pub to search out one! Listed below are 16 pubs we beloved in London!
See the Iconic Massive Ben
Massive Ben is to London, what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. An unmissable iconic landmark.
Massive Ben is the 13.5 tonne iconic clock tower on the Homes of Parliament. Formally, it’s the Elizabeth Tower, however everybody calls it Massive Ben after Benjamin Corridor, the First Commissioner of Works when it was completed in 1858.
You possibly can see it from many viewpoints in London, together with the London Eye, Westminster Bridge, cruising alongside the river, and our favourite, from Parliament Sq..
Parliament Sq. is subsequent to the Homes of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. It has statues of well-known political leaders together with Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, and Nelson Mandela.
Considered one of our favourite iconic London pictures we captured on our journey – that even native Londoners didn’t find out about – was that of Winston Churchill searching upon Massive Ben.
The Homes of Parliament is the place all of the vital enterprise in working the nation occurs. You possibly can tour inside throughout choose days and occasions. I used to be lucky to have a buddy working there after I lived in London who invited me in for a drink at one of many pub’s inside. It was a cool expertise!
Tour Westminster Abbey
Because you’re at Parliament Sq., let’s cross the highway and tour Westminster Abbey, the Royal Church of England. Each monarch since William the Conqueror has been topped right here and lots of have been married within the abbey as effectively.
I loved our self-guided audio tour of Westminster Abbey greater than I believed I might, as did our children (14 & 10).
You’ll stroll by way of the gorgeous, tiled sanctuary the place weddings occur; the flowery quire; go to the tombs of many royals and vital individuals; pay your respects on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier; and see the tasteless Coronation Chair.
Don’t miss the Poets Nook the place you’ll discover the resting locations of a few of England’s best: Chaucer, Dickens, Tennyson, Kipling, and Hardy.
I additionally loved seeing the angle of the abbey from strolling across the cloisters and gardens. This tour is a part of the the London Go by Go Metropolis.
Tour Kensington Palace and Gardens
Kensington is named the residence of the Younger Royals. It’s the official residence of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (i.e. Prince William and Kate) and their kids. Harry and Meghan lived right here for a time, and most famously, it was beloved Princess Diana’s residence.
That is additionally the place the legendary Queen Victoria was born. You possibly can comply with her Royal footsteps on a tour by way of her re-imagined childhood rooms and the King and Queen State Residences, and the magnificent King’s State Residences and Queen’s State Residences.
I beloved the Life By way of a Royal Lens exhibition sharing the Royal Household by way of images, the views from the home windows, the flowery Kings Staircase and King’s Gallery.
And essentially the most stunning Kensington Gardens with their memorial to Diana and the legacy of her working doing good for the world. We actually loved this London expertise.
E-book a tour right here, or use your London Go by GoCity
Discover Covent Backyard
One of the well-known locations to go to in London is Covent Backyard.
Wander the cobblestoned areas surrounding the central market, which had its beginnings as a convent backyard within the 1500s. It served totally different functions from then, however by the 1800s it had developed into the biggest produce market on the planet. Its overwhelming dimension prompted its relocation in 1974.
It’s also subsequent to different vacationer sights in London, like Trafalgar Sq., Leicester Sq., Soho and the West Finish theater district.
There are infinite eating places and bars and native shops. Performers rotate all day lengthy on the road slightly below the balcony of the well-known Punch and Judy pub (good luck attempting to get on it!).
Don’t neglect to unfold out throughout the central Covent Backyard market space to discover the encompassing cobblestone streets and facet alleys for different secret gems! .
Whenever you want a break, head to Lamb & Flag for a household pub lunch within the oldest pub in Covent Backyard. (this was one in all our favourite London pubs).
See a theater present within the West Finish
London is famend as the most effective locations on the planet for theater. There are over 40 theater venues within the West Finish performing to over 14 million yearly.
There’s a massive number of musicals on supply, among the hottest ones being the Lion King, Depraved, Les Misérables, and Hamilton. (I noticed Les Misérables and Saigon when residing in London)
On this household trip to London, Kalyra, Savannah and I went to see Matilda within the Cambridge Theater in Covent Backyard, whereas Craig caught up along with his previous Rugby teammates from Sydney in Chelsea.
Matilda the Musical is based mostly on the Roald Dahl e book and film. A lot of the solid are younger kids, who’re very gifted. We laughed the complete time!
I’m glad we added this it our London itinerary within the final minute as our teen stated it was one in all her favourite London experiences.
Discover the Murals in Shoreditch
In case you are brief on time and need to expertise extra conventional London sights, then save Shoreditch as a factor to do in your subsequent London journey.
These with longer than three days in London and love exploring fashionable tradition, it would be best to do a mural tour of the Hip Shoreditch in East London.
Avenue artwork within the UK remains to be technically unlawful and regarded a legal exercise, which implies avenue artwork can pop up rapidly, however taken down simply as quick.
Shoreditch is the anomaly and is the epicenter of London’s avenue artwork scene as they struggle again on the vandalism label. Essentially the most well-known secret avenue artists of all time – Banksy has left his mark in Shoreditch a number of occasions.
Shoreditch Avenue Artwork tour – this got here so extremely beneficial to us, however we couldn’t make it work with our schedule. Positively a factor to do in London once we return. Try this Shoreditch tour right here.
Drink a Pimm’s & Lemonade
In case you are coming to England and intend on experiencing a excessive tea, you can’t go on ingesting a Pimm’s & Lemonade. It’s considerably of an unofficial drink of London, particularly on a scorching summer season’s day. (What? You imply that’s a factor?)
James Pimm invented and marketed the very first “Pimm’s’ as a well being tonic within the 1840s. It was a gin-based drink blended with a secret mixture of herbs and different liquids and was used to assist digestion. It was served in a small tankard model cup which was generally known as the ‘No.1 Cup’
It’s an ideal drink to have with buddies because it’s usually served by the Pitcher, ice-cold and stuffed with contemporary fruits. It has a mildly candy and spiced taste and is refreshing. I can’t imagine I by no means drank it after I lived in London. I appreciated it so much!
Select a bar, any bar, however if you wish to comply with our recommendation: When it hits Pimm’s o’clock on a sunny day in London take pleasure in yours with a view on the Founder’s Arms on the River Thames at Southwark.
Have a London Ale + a Conventional Pub Lunch
As we talked about in our greatest pubs within the London submit, we completely love the English pub expertise, and had lunch in a single virtually day-after-day. Nicely, at the least we stopped in for a pint of ale!
Nearly any pub in London could have a comfy, heat ambiance with an unimaginable historic story to inform. You’ll discover low ceilings, creaky stairs, reside music, beer gardens, and exquisite London views.
Most will supply a menu of historically English pub meals. We already talked about the unmissable Sunday roast, however different English favorites to strive are the fish and chips, bangers and mash and gravy, and pie with mash and gravy. It’s possible you’ll even discover some mushy peas – one other English favourite.
And I used to be thrilled to search out a few pubs that had gluten free fish and chips.
Alongside your pub lunch, make sure to style a conventional English ale pulled into the glass by a hand pump. As a earlier bartender in London, I can inform you pulling a couple of of those pints of a night can provide you sore arms!
This can be a uniquely British shelling out gadget that’s particularly applicable for conventional cask-conditioned ales. It permits the casks to be stored in a cooler cellar beneath the bar and the beer to be pulled or drawn as much as the bar and offers a decrease carbonation beer.
The English will inform you it’s a much better tasting beer. Craig agrees and drank loads of them to reach at that conclusion.
Do the Southbank Stroll
We took any probability we might to stroll alongside Southbank to get from A to B.
This South Financial institution to Southwark stroll alongside the Thames begins at Westminster Bridge, wanting in direction of the Homes of Parliament all the way in which to Tower Bridge. Or vice versa. It’s roughly 2.5 miles / 4km in whole.
There are gorgeous views throughout and also you’ll go iconic sights just like the Tower of London, Shakespeare’s Globe, The Shard, London Eye, and Tate Trendy all beneath the omnipresent watch of St Paul’s Cathedral.
Alongside the way in which, you’ll discover some fashionable and well-known pubs like our favorites The Anchor and The Founders Arms. Plus, sunsets from listed below are stunning.
Straddle the Prime Meridian in Greenwich
Head to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, the Place of Time, situated about 40 minutes southeast of Central London alongside the Thames.
Right here you may be taught the fascinating historical past of how the Royal astronomers experimented and studied the celebrities to give you as we speak’s fashionable model of time.
It’s measurement (GMT) all begins on the Prime Meridian. You possibly can verify off your bucket checklist that you’ve stood with one foot within the West and one foot within the Jap hemisphere.
Placing the icing on the cake, is the view behind of the glittering fashionable skyscrapers forming the Canary Wharf skyline in entrance of the Thames.
It’s the right encapsulation of the trendy and historic worlds that London has advanced by way of to develop into this unimaginable metropolis we love a lot.
Go to Trafalgar Sq.
Trafalgar Sq. is among the most well-known locations in London to go to. All people who visits likes to have their pictures with the massive lions, which symbolize the braveness of Britain. Youngsters will love climbing them!
The 52-m excessive statue of Lord Nelson dominates the sq. and the Nationwide Gallery is the gorgeous constructing within the background.
It’s actually the middle of London and has at all times been a spot for Londoners to assemble, whether or not that’s to herald the New 12 months collectively, or protest, rally or march for vital rights and causes.
Considered one of my favourite issues about Trafalgar Sq. are the pedestrian lights surrounding it. They’re LGBTQ site visitors lights that embrace two males and two girls holding fingers and forming a coronary heart, and varied gender symbols together with a transgender signal.
Take within the Greatest View of London from The Shard
Piercing the sky above London is the needle-like construction of the Shard, the tallest constructing in Western Europe.
It’s rapidly changing into a London icon and fashionable place to go to, particularly for the unimaginable views from its 72nd flooring open-air platform. There’s an enclosed viewing platform on degree 69 as effectively.
The Shard View is an costly factor to do in London, however the 244m excessive sweeping London views make it worthwhile. I completely beloved the incredible perspective of the River Thames snaking by way of town east to west.
It was notably transferring for me as I lived in London for 2 years and by no means noticed it from this angle. I LOVE this metropolis a lot!
Purpose for about an hour earlier than sundown so you may expertise the nightfall golden gentle views, sundown panoramic views, and nighttime views when these London lights sparkle.
You could reserve your tickets prematurely. (It can additionally prevent cash). This attraction is included within the Go Metropolis Card. This could be the star occasion of the go!
See 15 extra incredible locations for London views.
STAY:
Wish to expertise 5-star luxurious with these views? The Shangri La Lodge is situated on Stage 34 of the Shard. Every room has floor-to-ceiling home windows offering spectacular views of town, and maintains the theme of Oriental class discovered all through the resort. Verify availability and e book your keep right here.
Discover Regents Canal (cruise or stroll)
The most effective issues to do in London that we haven’t completed earlier than was a canal boat cruise from Little Venice to Camden Markets in North London.
Regent’s Canal is a 9 mile ribbon of water that runs from Little Venice to the the place it spills into the Thames at Limehouse.
It presents guests an opportunity to expertise a quieter facet of London. What was as soon as a busy cargo transportation route has develop into leisurely waterways by way of London providing individuals a tranquil place to stroll, paddle, or boat experience.
The stress-free and picturesque 40-minute canal experience will take you alongside Regents Canal, by way of the 248m Maida Hill tunnel, and previous the unique neighborhoods of Maida Vale and Primrose Hill, with houses of celebrities, and expansive and landscaped again gardens of grand homes.
We additionally walked alongside right here from Camden to Regents Park. We’ve got extra info in our full information on a day trip in Camden City.
Discover Camden City and Camden Markets
When you’re exploring Regent’s Canal, you will need to incorporate a cease off in Camden City. It’s one in all our favourite locations in London for its eclectic, grungy, various model.
It’s a London neighborhood recognized for the Camden Markets and its reside music scene. Many well-known artists from all over the world have performed right here or received their begin right here, or sadly, died right here.
Click on the next hyperlink for our information on issues to do in Camden Markets which incorporates the canal boat experience, a Sunday pub roast, Regent’s Park, and a few high pubs for reside music!
Go to the London Museums + Artwork Galleries
We’re not massive museum individuals, so we didn’t go to many for this London journey. We journey a lot and have visited so many museums that we are inclined to run the opposite approach now.
Nonetheless, on my subsequent go to to London, I’ll plan to go to extra as London has distinctive museums. And, as a bonus, the everlasting collections at London’s museums are FREE. For those who love museums, I’ve little question they’d be the most effective issues to do London.
Yow will discover a museum of any dimension and to go well with any curiosity. We even got here throughout the Vagina Museum in Camden!
Most notable are the Nationwide Gallery and the British Museum. We did spend an hour within the British Museum and it was incredible and I do want it was longer.
The Tate Trendy was one other London gallery attraction we devoted a while for and completely loved the artwork on show. It’s effectively value including this to your London itinerary, if not for the views alone!
Take a strolling tour by way of London’s historical past
Each avenue and cobblestone alleyway in London has a captivating historic story to inform. Considered one of our favourite methods to expertise the tradition and historical past of a vacation spot is to take a strolling tour.
What do you need to be taught? There’ll be a strolling tour for it.
As we have been visiting London with children on this journey, we didn’t do the Jack the Ripper strolling tour. However that was one of many first issues I did after I moved to London. I LOVED it! Sure. It can freak you out.
What freaked me out much more was I usually needed to stroll previous one in all his killing alleyways of a night after my shift on the pub to get residence. The chills in my backbone doubled the tempo of my legs!
Stroll Throughout Millennium Bridge
The Millennium Bridge is among the coolest, more moderen additions to London metropolis. Opened in 2000, it has a warped, futuristic look with magnificent views all spherical.
I beloved the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral rising in entrance of your eyes with every step. And look behind for views of Tate Trendy, and to the fitting for Tower Bridge views, and views of life on each banks of the river.
It’s also referred to as the Wobbly Bridge as when it was first opened an engineering defect brought on it to shake and wobble when individuals walked throughout it. They needed to shut it down for 2 years to repair it.
Make sure you look down. An unknown artist incessantly comes by and secretly creates art work out of the dried-up gum. Gross however cool.
Harry Potter Followers: London Boys Faculty (on the left as you strategy the north facet) was the place Daniel Radcliffe went to high school. Bear in mind when the Dying Eaters assault London within the scenes from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? They have been filmed on the Millennium Bridge.
Stroll throughout Tower Bridge (and see it open!)
One other bridge you’ll need to stroll throughout is Tower Bridge, one other well-known landmark of London. Nearly anybody coming to London is already aware of the elegant fantastic thing about its neo-Gothic turrets and blue suspension cables.
Stroll throughout Tower Bridge free of charge and get nice views overlooking the Thames and again over the Tower of London.
You possibly can head up into the north tower to the (paid) Tower Bridge Exhibition for greater views and to be taught extra of the engineering and historical past. It’s a paid attraction and is included in your London attraction go.
Verify for occasions when the Tower Bridge will elevate up its bridge arms so boats beneath can go by. They do must e book it 24 hours prematurely so you may plan forward for this cool expertise.
On common, Tower Bridge opens its bascules round 800 occasions a yr, that’s round twice a day. Verify opening occasions right here.
Take a river cruise to see it from beneath as effectively.
Do a Thames River Sightseeing Cruise
There’s nothing like seeing London from the angle of its snaking River Thames.
The Lastminute.com London Eye River cruise is a 40-minute round tour of the Thames on a small open-top ferry with guided commentary. The departure touchdown dock is true beneath the London Eye.
I beloved the commentary that taught us so much in regards to the historical past of the Thames and the position it’s performed in London life.
The cruise will take you previous Massive Bend and the Homes of Parliament earlier than turning round to go east passing beneath lots of London’s bridges spanning the river – every with their very own identify and story.
You’ll be taught many tales in regards to the iconic Landmarks you’ll go like Massive Bend, London Bridge, HMS Belfast, The Shard, Tate Trendy, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tower of London, St Pauls’ Cathedral, and Tower Bridge, which you’ll get to sail beneath earlier than turning round to cruise again.
E-book your Thames River cruise forward of time.
You possibly can see extra in our Reel of the River Thames cruise. (Observe us over there for extra enjoyable journey adventures and ideas!)
London River Cruises
Click on on the hyperlinks beneath to be taught extra about these river cruises on the Thames and to e book your journey.
Tour St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral is among the most well-known cathedrals on the planet and one in all London’s most luxurious buildings.
There’s a rule that St Paul’s have to be seen from eight separate locations all through London which is why so most of the fashionable skyscrapers are uncommon shapes. They’re making room for that line of sight!
Now that you just’ve seen that spectacular dome from across the metropolis, it’s time to see it from the within and study this architectural masterpiece from Sir Christopher Wren, constructed after the Nice Fireplace of London between 1675 and 1710.
We visited on a guided tour with Monograms journey, however normal admission contains an audio information. Go to the crypt to see memorials of a whole lot of well-known and nice individuals, together with the our bodies of Wellington and Nelson mendacity immediately beneath the dome.
Sadly, the whispering gallery across the base of the dome was closed once we visited, however this is among the finest issues to do in St Paul’s in addition to the Stone Gallery and Golden Gallery, each on the high of the dome providing unimaginable views of London.
Ask the attendants if they’ll take you to the spiraling Harry Potter staircase. This staircase in St Paul’s was used because the “Divination Stairwell” situated within the North Tower of Hogwarts Fort for the Harry Potter movies, .
Get your photograph at Platform 9¾ Kings Cross Station
Even should you don’t comply with the Harry Potter filming path throughout London, I like to recommend you propose for getting your photograph working the cart into the wall at Platform 9¾ at Kings Cross.
That’s in fact if you’re a Harry Potter fan, in any other case it won’t float your boat.
I used to be the one one in our household who did it and I had a load of enjoyable. The Head Wizard was so cool in exhibiting every individual totally different witchy poses. As this was a as soon as in a lifetime, I used to be not going to carry again!
We have been fortunate to solely have a ten minute wait. Traces right here could be as much as two hours. Get there as early as you may, or later shut to complete time. Good luck muggles.
Simply so you understand, Kings Cross Station is actual. Platform 9¾ shouldn’t be. They’ve a delegated house on the station (not even on the platforms) in your pictures with the cart going into the wall.
There’s a Harry Potter retailer right here as effectively the place you should purchase your fan favorites.
If you wish to see the platforms (the place many scenes have been filmed) both catch a prepare someplace or ask the guards if they’ll allow you to on the platform to take a photograph. Throughout the highway is St Pancreas which is the background setting for the flying automobile scene within the second film.
Kings Cross was my arrival level into London after I first arrived in 1997 as a broke backpacker with an contaminated foot and never realizing a soul. I used to be overwhelmed and scared. I received fairly emotional coming again right here because it jogged my memory of my journey from there to right here and the way a lot I’ve grown! You possibly can learn extra about that story right here.
Go to Leadenhall Markets
For those who’re heading east in direction of Liverpool Avenue then I like to recommend you go to the gorgeous Leadenhall Markets in Central London.
These stunning coated markets have been initially established in 1321 as a marketplace for butchers and fishmongers (Nonetheless historical past says it was the middle of Roman London as a bazaar space within the 1st Century!)
A lot of the ornately embellished inside and cobbled laneways that you just see preserved as we speak is from a redesign in 1881.
It’s now a buying precinct with fashionable bars, cute cafes, boutique shops and a few taverns. One of many causes vacationers come right here is that it was used as the outside for Diagon Alley within the first couple of Harry Potter movies.
The Lamb Tavern is a superb pub right here, in operation since 1790.
Observe the Harry Potter Movie Places Path
There are fairly a couple of places in London the place scenes from the Harry Potter films have been filmed. For those who’re a fan, this is perhaps one in all your favourite issues to do in London.
We didn’t particularly comply with a path or do all of it in at some point. However we knew the place a whole lot of the places have been and, if it was within the space we have been visiting, we made a facet step to go and see it.
The most effective methods to expertise Harry Potter places in London is thru a strolling tour. I want we did this simply so we might have heard extra tales and felt extra linked to every location. Doing it ourselves didn’t have fairly the identical magic and was extra only a “effectively that is it,” snap a photograph after which depart.
I’ve talked about a pair on this submit already (and I’ll write a separate submit on every one quickly)
A number of the main spots are:
- Kings Cross Station & St Pancreas
- The Leaky Cauldron at Borough Markets
- Cecil’s Courtroom and Godwin’s Courtroom, Covent Backyard
- Leadenhall Markets
- Millennium Bridge
E-book your submit on the Harry Potter strolling tour right here.
Watch a sporting match
For those who can time it proper, I extremely advocate incorporating a sporting match into your London itinerary.
You possibly can both see a reside match at one of many many sporting venues across the metropolis, or just from inside a pub, or outside massive display when massive matches are on.
It’s an electrical expertise with a lot fever and pleasure with the English chanting, singing, and celebrating lengthy into the night time … in the event that they win. God assist London in the event that they don’t!
As I lived in a home with Australians, Kiwis, South Africans, Irish, and Brits, you may think about the enjoyable we had on the pub neary each weekend watching cricket, rugby, or soccer.
Don’t neglect London is residence to Wimbledon! Cricket followers might also need to go to Lords (my dad’s favourite factor to do in London. He even performed on it.) Rugby followers at Twickenham, and soccer followers, Wembley (there are much more!)
Get your Selfie at Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is sort of a mini Occasions Sq. in New York. Filled with neon lights, large flashing promoting billboards and folks getting selfies. It’s overrated, however many vacationers adore it so I’m including it right here for you.
It’s only a highway junction with a round house within the center with a statue of Eros on it.
From right here you may simply stroll to Piccadilly, Leicester Sq., Shaftesbury Avenue, the curving Regent Avenue, and Covent Backyard.
Procuring on Oxford Avenue
Surprisingly excessive on many guests’ checklist of issues to do in London is to go to Oxford St, the world’s greatest excessive avenue (that’s Essential Avenue for non-UK individuals).
Possibly it has no attract for me as I walked alongside it scores of occasions whereas residing in London to get from A to B.
Oxford Avenue is among the busiest streets in London, particularly on a weekend, so be ready for shoulder rubbing. It simply will get too intense for me.
It stretches 1.5 miles from the nook of Hyde Park all the way in which all the way down to Tottenham Courtroom Street and is stuffed with shops promoting vogue, magnificence, tech and homeware. You’ll discover manufacturers and department shops similar to Hole, River Island, Primark, Selfridges, Home of Fraser and Marks & Spencer.
There are additionally greater than 500 eating places alongside the road and facet streets.
Take a day journey from London
Want a break from the depth of London? There are a lot of incredible UK locations which might be straightforward day journeys from London.
We advocate going by prepare as it’s cheaper and simpler than automobile rental. You possibly can additionally do the Nationwide Specific bus service.
We caught the prepare to Tub from London for 2 nights, and then Oxford for 2 nights in the course of our London journey. Each have been incredible.
As an alternative of a day journey, we advocate an in a single day keep, so its not as rushed.
Different high locations to go to in England near London embrace Windsor, Stonehenge, Brighton, Cambridge, and the Cotswolds. Yow will discover a choice of day journey excursions from Get Your Information right here.
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Supply: Breaking Travel News