Things to do in London

Things to do in London

There are some amazing events and unique experiences to be had in London, for any age group and on any budget. Read on to find out more about things to do in this great capital...

London always emerges as one of the top cities in the world to visit and it's not hard to see why.

There are so many interesting things to do here, from visiting ancient museums, art galleries and famous landmarks, to shopping in camden market or browsing in Harrods. Go to the theatre, walk along the Southbank or in one of the famous parks, or take a boat along the river. There are always great events on and of course in 2012, London hosts the Olympic games.

So many places are accessible by foot, and there are even special walking tours available which guide you through the streets in a particular route. If it's raining, then take the underground or hop on the bus.

Top 10 things to do in London

Whilst there are plenty of things to keep you occupied in London some sights simply stand out above the rest and, if you’re not a regular visitor to London, you’ll want to see as many of these as possible. So without further ado we present the top ten sights to see:

10. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
The Globe theatre is a name which sits at the pinnacle of English literature. The Globe was originally built in 1599 by the acting company that William Shakespeare belonged to. The original was destroyed by fire in 1599, rebuilt in 1614 and demolished in 1644. The modern reconstruction opened in 1997 and is the best place to see Shakespeare’s plays in the country. Whilst the building is a reconstruction it is modelled on the original with wooden stalls and an oval pit leading up to the stage. The theatre manages to retain the feel of authenticity and for all literary fans it is one of the best things to do in London.

9. Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar square was built in 1805 to commemorate Admiral Nelson’s victory over the French at the battle of Trafalgar. Whilst this victory represents one of the most important moments in history for the British people it is the architecture and splendour of the square that draws the crowds. The current architectural design was completed in 1845 and at centre stage is Nelson’s column. The column stands at just over 51 metres with a statue of Admiral Nelson himself at its peak. Surrounding the column are fountains and 4 plinths containing statues. The site now plays host to festivals throughout the year as well as political demonstrations and rallies.

8. Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, also called The Collegiate Church of St. Peter, is a Gothic church that was built in 960 as a monastery. The site has since played host to a variety of churches and the present Gothic church was built in the early 18th century. The architecture is spectacular; but it is the intricate links the abbey has with history that really make this site so important to British culture and identity. Since 1066 the Abbey has been the coronation site of the Kings and Queens of England and it has been the site of 16 royal weddings.  This rich history makes it a fascinating experience and one well worth repeating.

7. St. Paul’s Cathedral
The site of St. Paul’s cathedral is one of the oldest in the country; with the first recorded monastery being built on the site in AD 604. The cathedral in its present instantiation was built in the Baroque style in the late 17th century by the noted English architect Sir Christopher Wren. For over 300 years the building was the tallest in the capital thanks to its 111m high dome, the largest in the world to this day. The cathedral still acts as a place of worship with daily services. Even if you are not religious the ambience and acoustics make the cathedral well worth a visit and it is steeped in history – having been the funeral site of Winston Churchill and Lord Nelson as well as the wedding location for many royal weddings, including Prince Diana’s.

6. The London Eye
The London eye was designed by David Marks and Julia Barfield as an entry for the London millennium landmark competition held in the 1990’s. The eye took five years to complete and nestles gently against the banks of the Thames. The 25 minute ride is well worth the queues as at the topmost point you can see for 25 miles in all directions. This panoramic view across the city is a fantastic way to take in the true complexity of London and provides incredible views of Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and more.

5. The British Museum
The British Museum is one of the best things to do in London simply because it offers such a diverse experience of history and culture from around the world. The museum, founded in 1753, holds one of the largest collections of world culture in the world all centred around the impressive Great Court rooms. The treasures on display in the museum include the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian artefacts and preserved mummies, ancient Greek statues and objects; as well as prehistoric artefacts dating as far back as the stone age.

4. The Tower of London
The tower of London has long been one of the most imposing sites in all of London. Built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror the tower has served a wide variety of purposes including – palace, prison, court, arsenal, jewel vault and, of course, as a place of execution for traitors and criminals. This has given the tower a rich history and one that is, more often than not, steeped in tales of blood and ghosts. Whilst the buildings and history are a fantastic attraction the crown jewels are what draw people in and they are a testament to the history and culture of the UK.

3. Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge was built in 1894 and for over 50 years it was the most important and used bridge in the city. The bridge’s two towers served as housing for the steam engine rooms that operated the drawbridge mechanism; allowing Victorian shipping to pass through at, in those days, very regular intervals. Now you can visit the engine rooms and learn about the history of the bridge as you walk along the raised walkways of the Tower Bridge exhibition.

2. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
Big Ben and the houses of parliament are not only stunningly beautiful, thanks to the elegant Gothick style coupled with the location by the Thames, they are also central to the country’s history and culture. The oldest surviving part of the site was built in 1097 and parliament has been the centre of government since the 16th century. Prior to this the houses of parliament were the palace of the reigning monarchs.

1. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has been the state home of the royal family since 1887 and remains one of London’s most precious treasures and greatest sights. The palace was originally built as a townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham in 1705 and had been in private ownership for over 150 years prior to that. The palace is opulent in every sense with grand hallways, ballrooms and dining rooms comprising large parts of the 77,000m2 of floor-space.   The long boulevard leading up to the gates of the Palace through the sprawling St. James Park only adds to the grandeur. Infrequent tours within the palace are available; though their irregularity can make it difficult to book.

Other things to do in London

Whilst the top ten list we presented above showcases London’s most popular sights it is by no means exhaustive of the delights London has to offer. The city has enough to keep all kinds of traveller occupied; whether you have a penchant for shopping, open spaces, culture or history. With that in mind we take a quick look at some of the other best things to do in London.

Fun things to do in London

If you’re looking for entertainment more centred around families then you’ll most likely want to look for some fun things to do in London in between the historical site seeing. Whilst the sights in our top ten represent some great days out for the family many people will want something else to keep the kids amused, so we’ll take a quick look at the fun tourist attractions London has to offer.

Firstly, we recommend Madame Tussauds and the planetarium. These two, side by side, attractions are incredible fun for all the family with Madame Tussauds featuring hundreds of wax models of famous figures from history and modern day celebrities. The often slightly eerie wax models are great fun and likely to keep your little ones entertained whilst still keeping you interested. The next door planetarium offers a fantastic show of the stars and planets under a huge dome. The show itself runs for around 20 minutes but is a fantastical journey through the universe.

If you want something a little more adventurous the London Zoo and the London Aquarium are great places to get a little closer to nature – whilst staying firmly in the hub of London. London Zoo features a fantastic array off animals, from elephants and lions to snakes and spiders, whilst the London aquarium features sharks, octopi and sea turtles amongst a myriad of smaller but beautiful sea life.

Cheap things to do in London

If budget is an issue and you’re looking for cheap things to do in London don’t fear as the city offers fantastic opportunities for cheap and free days out.  A lot of our top ten is free and walking around the city, in itself, provides ample opportunities to experience the rich culture and history of the city. However, if you’re looking for cheap things that are a bit more extensive don’t worry we’re here to help.

The best free sights London has to offer are the museums. Thanks to government legislation all of the capital’s largest museums are now free to the public. The natural history museum contains the world’s most impressive collection of dinosaur remains, as well as days’ worth of other exhibitions, and is free for all visitors (though donations are gratefully accepted). The science museum is one of the best places to take a family as it’s also free and has thousands of rooms of interactive displays featuring everything from mathematics to rockets. The art museums of the capital are also largely free; with the Tate modern being amongst the most impressive with its huge collection of artwork and fantastic large installations in the turbine room.

Outside of museums London offers some fantastic parks to stroll around with Greenwich in particular providing stunning views across the city. If you want a cheap way to see the sights then jump on a normal bus and get whisked around the city; saving a lot of money over the tourist buses.

 

Cool things to do in London

If you’re more interested in the chic and trendy side of London then there are plenty of cool things to do in London that will get you away from the typical tourist sights. Top of many people’s lists is shopping; with Carnaby Street representing 60’s cool with its fantastic shops and buzzing atmosphere. For more chic shops Oxford Street features the world’s best designers whilst Camden is tailored for those with more alternative tastes.
               

However, shopping is by no means the extent of cool things worth doing in London. The city boasts a diverse music and nightlife scene with clubs and bars open into the late hours. For cool clubs you can’t beat Fabric with its electronica and hip hop themes and a very diverse crowd. The area around Camden plays host to many of the best nightclubs in the capital. If you’re looking for something trendier then the waterfront offers everything from Jazz clubs to swanky restaurants.

London really is a city of diversity and life with a general hubbub to rival any city in Europe. There’s a little something for everyone here and if you come once you’ll be sure to want to come back again and again.