The Best Things to do in London, England
Are you going to London, the United Kingdom, and are you looking for the best things to do in London, the top things to do in London? Furthermore, are you looking to explore one of the best places to visit in England? Then you have come to the right place, because these are the best things to do in London, England. It is one of the best places to visit in England, so I am sure it is already on your bucket list of top places to visit in Europe!
What you can expect to find in this blog post…
Are you unsure of what to do in London? Well, if you are struggling with where to start, then I understand! It is such a big city, but don’t worry, I have got you covered. In this blog post, I will go into detail about the best things to do in London, for example the best places to have an afternoon tea in London, the best transportation methods in London, where to stay in London, how to get around London, the best areas of London, the best theatres, where to find the perfect skyline view of London, all the best landmarks to visit, etc. Furthermore, I will go into very detailed information about the top things to do in London, the best places to visit in London, the best things to do in London and why London is one of the best places to visit in England.
With its 27 million visitors every year, London is the biggest city in Europe. It is no surprise that this city is so well known and visited because the city has something for everyone to enjoy. The city is divided into distinctive areas of East, South, West, and North London, and all of the areas are unique and offer something different. To explain this further, London is best known for being one of the most multicultural cities in the world, with over a third of the population being born in a foreign country. Therefore you can find cuisines and dishes from all around the world, which also means that you will find some of the best restaurants in the world here – you most definitely will not suffer from boredom when it comes to food in this city!
So… are you ready for a rainy cab ride and afternoon tea? Let’s do it!
Where to stay in London…
The best accommodation, as well as the place to stay, will depend on how much time you have, what your budget is and what type of traveler you are, but don’t worry, I will cover all of these! To list, these are the best places to stay in London for all types of travellers, divided into groups:
The budget-friendly one:
Are you on a budget? Don’t worry, it is possible to travel and stay in London on a budget. There are so many options for you, you will not believe it – even in the center of the city! Here are some of the best options for you:
Now, everyone’s “budget-friendly” will look different, so I will go through a range of different price options – these vary between £10-£60 per night.
- The Z Hotel Gloucester Place (51 Gloucester Place, Westminster Borough, London, W1U7JF, United Kingdom)
The price currently starts at £55 per night (varies slightly, depending on the season), and is located in the center of the city in Westminster Borough. It is one of the best options out there while taking comfort, price, and location into consideration. - The Walrus Hostel (172 Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7RW, United Kingdom)
If you are wanting to meet other people whilst also being on a budget, you should stay in a hostel. The Walrus Hostel is one of the best hostels in London, because of its location, price and comfort. A dorm room bed will cost you around £15 per night (varies slightly, depending on the season). - An Airbnb room a 5-minute walk from Tower Bridge
If you want to stay somewhere that feels like home, has a kitchen where you can make your breakfast, then you might want to consider staying in an airbnb room. This is located right in the center of the city, a 5-minute walk from Tower Bridge, will cost you around £59 per night (varies slightly, depending on the season).
The luxurious one:
Are you not on a strict budget? If you want to stay in the nicest places possible when visiting, and want to get the absolute most out of your vacation, then keep reading! I have some of the most luxurious, hotels in London for you right here…
- The Savoy (Strand, Westminster Borough, London, WC2R 0EU, United Kingdom)
This is probably one of the most iconic places to stay in London… Marilyn Monroe stayed here! And that’s just one of the many iconic names that have stayed in this hotel. You absolutely must stay here, if you are wanting to treat yourself to the fullest. The price starts at £559 per night. - Shangri-La The Shard, London (31 St Thomas Street, Southwark, London, SE1 9QU, United Kingdom)
You probably know about that iconic hotel view of London plastered all over Instagram… Well, that’s The Shard. If you want to have the most magical, incredible view over the city, then you must stay here. The price starts at £620 per night.
The first-time traveler:
As a first-time traveler, you want to try and not stray too far from the center of the city, as this is likely where you will be spending most of your time exploring the landmarks, museums, etc. When visiting for the first time, you want to make sure that you are close to all the top things to do in London, all the main attractions. To list, here are some of the best areas to stay for first-time travellers: Mayfair, Covent Garden & South Bank
The “Londoner”:
If you have been to London quite a few times now, or even if it is just your second time, this section is for you! If you have already experienced all the main attractions and absolute top things to do in London, then don’t worry, I will go through some of the less touristy areas to stay! To list, these are the best places to stay in London for regular visitors: The Angel, Kensington/South Kensington, Dulwich, Belgravia & High Gate
How to get around London…
Getting around London can seem quite overwhelming, understandably, since it is a big city with a big tube map and a lot of buses going in many different directions every minute. However, I promise you, after this, you will feel at ease and ready to go, because I will guide you through how to get around London without feeling completely lost! It will include the tube options, the cab options, the bus options, and more. Let’s get started.
Underground / Overground, the Tube:
The most famous way of getting around is by taking the tube. You may feel a little overwhelmed when you first take a look at the tube map but don’t worry, you will get the hang of it in no time, I promise. You can plan your journey here.
The best way to pay for your trips around the city will be by getting the Oyster card. There are several options when it comes to the Oyster card, you can choose to buy the card and top up as you go, or you can choose a weekly pass. If you are staying in the city less than a week, I would recommend topping up as you go, since the Oyster card stops charging you once it reaches its daily limit of £8. However, if you are staying in the city for longer than 7 days, you should consider getting the weekly pass within the zones you will need since this will allow you to travel anywhere at any time in the zones you chose for the whole 7 days.
DLR (Docklands Light Railway):
The Docklands Light Railway, or DLR, is an automated rail system that covers the docklands area. To explain further, the only real difference between the DLR and the Tube is that the DLR is fully automated and has no drivers. The DLR links the airport to the tube systems so you will likely find yourself on the DLR when arriving and leaving.
Rail Services:
The Rail Services is another form of transportation that you are likely to use when going from the airport to the city center. The rail services link directly to the main airports of London: Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick. In the majority of the time, you will need to pay a separate ticket for going in and out of London, to explain further, this means you probably will not be able to use your Oyster card for journeys with the Rail Services. There are a few exceptions to this though, you can read more about those exceptions here.
Bus:
Did you know that the most used form of public transport in London is the bus? You heard that right, it is not the tube! To explain further, there are over two billion passengers on the buses in London a year. For this reason, the buses can be taken pretty much from anywhere in the city. To pay for a bus ticket, you simply use your Oyster card to check-in at the front of the bus.
Riverboat:
If you want a little bit of a different way of travelling around London, then you should to get a river-boat. It is one of the best ways to get around the city as a tourist, because along the way you stop by some of the main landmarks and thereby discover some of the best things to do in London. There are four routes, starting from the west end of the city in Putney and going all the way to Woolwich in the East of London, so this means that this riverboat essentially gets you from one end of the city to the other. You can also use your Oyster card to get on the riverboat, just like the tube.
Taxis:
This is yet another iconic form of London transportation: the black cab. Taking a black cab in London is an experience in itself. You simply have to wave them down, if the taxi light is illuminated, you’ll know they are available, and once you’ve waved them down, one will show up faster than you can imagine. This is one of the more expensive forms of transport, and not one I would recommend using as a regular form of transportation, though do try it out since this is a wonderful way to get to see the city and to experience the iconic black cab ride!
Wow… now I think we are ready to explore some of the best things to do in London, England. We have got the accommodation and the transportation fully covered now, so let’s start exploring!
The best things to do in London, England
1. Adventure around all the iconic landmarks
Going to see all the iconic landmarks of London is one of the best things to do in London and also are some of the best places to visit in England. These landmarks are some of the top things to do in London, from Big Ben to the Monument to the Great Fire of London, there are so many landmarks in London to explore that this in itself could take up an entire day, if not more! If you are a first-time visitor, start with this one, since these are all of the most iconic spots in London. All of these are worth a visit (and a photo!), and you cannot miss these when visiting London (I will cover museums and galleries later on, keep reading):
- Big Ben
- The Monument to the Great Fire of London
- Tower Bridge
- London Eye
- The Shard
- Westminster Abbey
- Buckingham Palace
- St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Chinatown Gate
- Sky Garden
- The Gherkin (30 St. Mary Axe)
- Covent Garden
- Royal Albert Hall
- Trafalgar Square
- Piccadilly Circus
- Oxford Street
- Palace of Westminster
- Borough Market
- Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
- Barbican Centre
- HMS Belfast
- Kensington Palace
- Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
- Portobello Road Market
- Cutty Sark
If you want a unique experience then you should consider going on the Uber boat in London. If you start your journey in Putney, then you can choose to go all the way to Woolwich, and along the way you will pass by famous places such as Battersea Power Station, Palace of Westminster, London Eye, Big Ben, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and more. To learn more about what you specifically will pass by on this boat trip, click here. The price for going on the boat will be £13 for a single and £26 for a return. More information on prices here.
2. Visit the museums and galleries
London has some of the most famous museums and galleries in the world, the city also has an impressive amount of museums and galleries. Visiting these museums and galleries is one of the top things to do in London, so when you go, make sure you at least squeeze in one of these. I can guarantee that you will not be able to visit them all during your visit, so pick the ones you want to visit the most and save the rest for your next visit. Visiting the museums and galleries is both one of the best things to do in London but some of these are even some of the best places to visit in England. To list, here are a few of the best:
- Tate Modern
- British Museum
- V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum)
- Natural History Museum
- Museum of London
- Tate Britain
- Barbican Art Gallery
- Cutty Sark
- Royal Observatory Greenwich
- Charles Dickens Museum
- Sherlock Holmes Museum
- Imperial War Museum London
- National Gallery
- London Transport Museum
- National Maritime Museum
3. Visit the most eclectic area: Shoreditch
Shoreditch is probably the most eclectic area in London which makes it one of the trendiest areas with the most things to do in London, for instance, its vintage shops, food, drinks, and the famous street art we all know East London for. Despite Shoreditch being a popular spot to visit, it is still not nearly as popular as some of the more central parts of London, and it has just as much to offer as the main parts – just with a cooler vibe! Shoreditch is one of the best things to do in London and even one of the best places to visit in England, so make sure you do not miss out on this trendy area.
When you go to Shoreditch do not skip:
- The Street Art
I mean, really, do not skip the street art in Shoreditch, because it is one of the best things to do in London. To list, here are some of the most iconic spots for amazing street art in Shoreditch:
– Brick Lane
– Great Eastern Street
– Shoreditch High Street
– Bell Lane & Goulston Street
– Cremer Street
– The Seven Stars Yard - The chocolate house: Dark Sugars House
It has something for everyone, trust me! If you are vegan, you are also in luck, because they have quite a few vegan options here as well. - Shop for hidden treasures at the Brick Lane Vintage Market
Are you wanting something no one else has? Something unique and vintage? Then you absolutely must go shopping at Brick Lane Vintage Market.
4. Have the very English afternoon tea
You cannot come to England and not have afternoon tea and cake, it is just impossible. There are so many options in London, and here are some of the best options out there for your afternoon break from exploring the city:
- Drink, Shop & Do
This place offers vegan afternoon tea and is one of the best places to have afternoon tea in London as a vegan because of the many options that it offers. £29 per person. - Brigit’s Bakery
Another place that offers vegan afternoon tea, this afternoon tea includes freshly cut sandwiches, vegan quiche and verrine, panna cotta on coconut rocher, chocolate mousse, and much much more. £50 per person. - Café Forty One
This is London’s only plant-based hotel, and it offers a plant-based afternoon tea. It is located a short walk from Notting Hill and Portobello Market and is an absolute must for vegans traveling to London. £35 per person.
5. Visit the many beautiful churches
London has a wide range of historical churches scattered throughout the city. From the iconic St. Paul’s to the lesser-known Fitzrovia Chapel, make sure you visit some of these beautiful churches when going to London, it is truly one of the top things to do in London. In addition to that, here are some of the most beautiful churches in London:
- St. Paul’s Cathedral
- St. Dunstan’s in the East, City of London
- Westminster Abbey
- Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge
- Fitzrovia Chapel
6. Browse through the markets
London has a ridiculous amount of markets scattered all over the city, I had no idea where to start when I went to London! The ones I will mention are ones I think were the best ones, as well as some recommendations that I have gotten from locals and regular London visitors. To list, these are some of the best markets in London:
- Borough Market
- Broadway Market
- Camden Market
- Covent Garden Market
- Southbank Centre Book and Food Market
- Seven Dials Market
- Maltby Street Market
- Brick Lane Market
- Portobello Road Market
- Greenwich Market
7. View the skyline
London has one of the most famous skylines in the world, and for good reason, it is stunning! When visiting London, you absolutely must go see the skyline from one of the listed below. To list, there are quite a few places to get the London skyline view, but these are some of the best:
- O2 Greenwich
- Sky Garden
- The Switch House, Tate Modern
- Rooftop Cinema Club
- Emirates Air Line Greenwich
- King Henry’s Mound, Richmond
8. Go for a walk or a picnic in the beautiful parks
If you are coming in summer, a picnic is a must! On the contrary, if you are coming in winter, you should go to the parks anyway and just enjoy the nature of the city. London has quite a few green areas, and they are not just parks, they are absolutely beautiful and stunning parks, so make sure you go to at least one of the listed below:
- Hyde Park
- Regent’s Park
- St. James’ Park
- Kensington Gardens
- St. Dunstan in the East
- Greenwich Park
- Hampstead Heath
- Primrose Hill
9. Go to Greenwich for the day
Greenwich is a little out of the way, and for that reason, a lot of tourists don’t even think about going to Greenwich. It is one of the top things to do in London for people who are staying a bit longer than a couple of days. If you are staying more than 4 days in London, I would recommend going to Greenwich. There is so much to do and see in that area of London, and you will not be disappointed!
You can take the Emirates Air Line up to Greenwich from the city center if you want a unique experience and see London from the air. If you want the fastest option, you can go there by taking public transport. You can also choose to go to Greenwich by going on the uber boat as mentioned earlier, this way you will also see some of the main attractions of London on the way, however, the uber boat takes a bit longer than the rest, so depending on your plans, this might not be or it might be the best option for you! To list, here are some of the best things to do in Greenwich, London:
- Take the Emirates Air Line to Greenwich or back into the city
- Visit the Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark
- Explore Greenwich Park
- Marvel at Greenwich Market
- Visit the English Heritage: Eltham Palace and Gardens
10. Visit Hampstead Village and walk up to Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Village and Heath were some of my favourite areas of London. It has a completely different atmosphere compared to the rest of London. If you are wanting a village vibe – something that feels far from the hustle and bustle of city life, then you must go to Hampstead Village. It is everything you imagine English Villages to be; quaint, small, cute, and charming. It is one of the top things to do in London, it is also considered one of the best places to visit in England. When you visit the village, do not miss out on:
- The Holly Bush Pub
- Hampstead Heath
- The village streets
- Flask walk
- Hampstead High Street
11. Go see a theater show in the West End
At the end of your day, after doing all of that exploring, you will be tempted to just go home and sleep, and that is fine too, but one of the days, stay in town and head into the West End and watch a theatrical performance, you will not regret it. It is one of the absolute best things to do in London, and it is a guaranteed win experience!
To list, here are some of the best places to go watch a play:
- The Duke of Yorks Theatre
- Phoenix Theatre
- Palace Theatre
- Royal Opera House
- Lyceum Theatre
- Apollo Theatre
And many, many more places… in addition to that, if you are going in 2022, I would recommend checking out “The Ocean at the End of the Lane” in The Duke of York’s Theatre.
I hope you found this list of the best things to do in London helpful, and that it gave you some inspiration for your trip! If you are looking for more information on London and more things to do such as the best vegan restaurants and cafés, the best areas of London, day-trips from London, the best bookshops in London, etc. then make sure you subscribe to my newsletter! I will be coming out with lots more London content very soon…
Thank you!
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