Planning a trip to London? Check out this list of the most essential sights and best things to do in London.
London is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world and it isn’t that hard to understand why. In London, you’ll find some of the world’s largest museums, world-famous sights, delicious food options, endless shopping opportunities, and an extremely fascinating history.
If you’re planning a trip to London, check out this list of the very best and most essential things to do in London.
Table of Contents
Essential things to do in London:
1. Big Ben
It’s probably no surprise that the world-famous bell tower is a must-see sight in London. You simply can’t have been to London without seeing the impressive landmark of the city.
Most people who travel to London mistakenly believe that the bell tower is called Big Ben, but it’s’ only the largest bell inside the tower that is called Big Ben. The official name for the bell tower is Elizabeth Tower, but I must admit that it’s much easier just to call it Big Ben.
Official site: https://www.parliament.uk/bigben/
2. London Eye
The London Eye is a big Ferris wheel on the Thames and is also one of the best things to do in London. With an impressive height of 135 meters, the London Eye was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world until 2006. Today, however, it’s still the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe and the view from the top is amazing!
Only surpassed by The Shard, the London Eye has the second-highest vantage point in London. A ride in the famous Ferris wheel takes about 30 minutes, so there’s plenty of time to enjoy the panoramic views overlooking London’s most popular sights.
The queue for the London Eye is usually very long, but you can skip the queue by ordering a fast-track ticket from home. The ticket is a bit more expensive than a standard ticket but you’ll, in turn, save a lot of time by not having to stand in line for an hour or even more.
Admission: £ 31.00 for a standard ticket for adults, £ 27.50 for children from 3-15 years, and free for children under 3 years. When booking in advance online, prices start from just £ 24.50 for adults and £ 22.00 for children. / Official site: https://www.londoneye.com/
3. Borough Market
Borough Market is a true food paradise with more than 100 different stalls selling everything from fresh produce to ready-made meals to go. Here you can buy everything from fish, meat, cheese, bread, and vegetables, etc. But there’s also ample opportunity to buy some delicious takeaway food such as Thai food and Mexican food.
The selection is huge, and you should definitely not deceive yourself into tasting some of the delicious food. The atmosphere is quite cool, and it’s nice to walk around between the colorful stalls with the appealing scent of spicy food from the pots.
Admission: Free to visit. / Official site: https://boroughmarket.org.uk/
4. Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is one of the most important landmarks in London and one of the most famous bridges in the world. Inside the impressive bridge towers, you’ll find the Tower Bridge Exhibition.
Learn about the history of the bridge and see the original steam engines that controlled the bridge in the old days. It isn’t exactly the most exciting exhibit, but instead, you should take the elevator to the top of the bridge. The lift takes you up to a height of 42 meters above the River Thames. The views of London from here are absolutely stunning!
The two footbridges at the top of Tower Bridge hold a piece of glass floor where you can look directly down the road and the river below you. It’s an insanely creepy thing to do in London, but it’s fun too. While it’s safe to walk on the glass, it’s probably not a thing to do in London for people with a fear of heights.
Admission: £ 10.60 for adults, £ 5.30 for children from 5-15 years, and free for children under 5 years. / Official site: https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/
5. Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is the heart of London and the British capital’s answer to Times Square in New York. This is where all the big neon signs are lit up, but far from as much as in Times Square. It’s a busy place with lots of life, entertainment, and happy days.
The busy traffic lights next to the square connect many of London’s major streets such as Regent Street and Piccadilly. When standing in the square surrounded by large neon signs, hectic traffic, crowds, and street performers, you’ll immediately feel the bustle of the big city.
6. Tower of London
The Tower of London has played a major role in English history. It has served as a royal residence, prison, execution site, zoo, treasury, and much more. The building is on the UNESCO World Heritage List for good reasons. It was built about 900 years ago and is thus the oldest palace, prison, and fortress in all of Europe.
A visit to the Tower of London is like stepping back in history to a time of power, violence, and torture. One of the most exciting exhibits in the fortress is the Crown Jewels, Britain’s most precious treasure. The Tower of London is one of the best things to do in London if you’re interested in English history.
Admission: £ 25.00 for adults, £ 12.50 for children from 5-15 years, and free for children under 5 years. / Official site: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/
7. Oxford Street
Oxford Street stretches for 2.5 kilometers and is a true shopping paradise with more than 300 shops. It is one of the most important shopping streets in London. The shops on the street involve large international chains, but also smaller specialty shops. There’s something for everyone and it’s easy to spend hours on this popular street in London.
If you only have time to go shopping once during your trip to London, you should seriously consider doing so on Oxford Street!
8. Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster is also called the Houses of Parliament and is home to the British Government. The Parliament is one of the largest Gothic buildings in the world and houses more than 1000 impressive rooms. If you want to see some of the many rooms, you can join a guided tour on selected days.
A guided tour of the parliament is probably mostly an experience for those who are interested in politics. The Palace of Westminster is really just an essential thing to do in London by looking at it from the outside. The Gothic building is extremely impressive and sits beautifully over the River Thames.
Admission: Prices start from £ 18.50 for adults and £ 7.50 for children from 5-15 years. However, there’s free admission for one child per. adult and children under 5 years. / Official site: https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/
9. Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds is a wax museum with more than 300 wax figures of famous and royal people from all over the world. Visit the museum to hang out with Barack Obama, One Direction, Michael Jackson, Princess Diana, Justin Bieber, Adolf Hitler, and many other celebrities.
The museum also has a spooky horror room in the basement with torture instruments and infamous killers such as Jack the Ripper. When visiting the museum, you can also take a taxi ride through London’s history and watch Marvel Superheroes 4D movies.
Madame Tussauds in London is the original and opened its doors more than 200 years ago, just in a different location. It is definitely one of the most popular things to do in London with kids.
Admission: £ 34.00 for a standard ticket for adults, £ 27.00 for children from 3-15 years, and free for children under 3 years. When booking online, prices start from just £ 31.50 for adults and £ 24.00 for children. / Official site: https://www.madametussauds.com/london/
10. British Museum
The British Museum is one of the best and most popular things to do in London as it’s one of the largest and most important museums in the world. Inside the museum, you can immerse yourself in the history of mankind for millions of years.
The British Museum is huge, and the collections consist of more than 7 million objects from all over the globe. The galleries are divided into different themes and you can discover Egyptian mummies, Greek sculptures, and much more.
I highly recommend visiting the British Museum, even though you may not be that interested in museums. As with many other popular museums in London, admission is free. So why not give it a try?
Admission: Free to visit. / Official site: https://www.britishmuseum.org/
11. Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is one of the most important churches in England and has been the center of several major royal events, including the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Many famous and royal Englishmen are buried and commemorated in the church.
Westminster Abbey is very beautiful and is decorated inside with several large paintings, textiles, and important sculptures. The Gothic Church is almost 1000 years old and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Westminster Abbey is clearly a must-see attraction in London – if not inside, then at least from the outside.
Admission: When buying tickets online, the price is £ 18.00 for adults and £ 7.00 for children. /Official site: https://www.westminster-abbey.org/
12. Hyde Park
Hyde Park is the most popular park in London and is a lovely oasis in the middle of the noise of the big city. The park is connected to Kensington Gardens, located on the other side of the great lake, The Serpentine.
Together, the two parks are one of the largest city parks in the world and are London’s answer to Central Park in New York. Hyde Park offers lots of exciting events year-round, including Winter Wonderland, concerts, and performances. On your walk around Hyde Park, you’ll probably come across lots of cute little squirrels or birds.
Admission: Free to visit. / Official site: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde-park
13. Harry Potter and Warner Bros. Studios
Warner Bros. Studios is behind the creation of the Harry Potter movies and is one of the best things to do in London if you’re a fan of the popular wizard. Here you’ll be able to get behind the camera and step into the famous movie scenes to learn about the creation of Harry Potter.
While visiting Warner Bros. Studios, you can take a ride in the original Hogwarts Express, walk through the Great Hall, see Dumbledore’s office, try out various simulators, meet magical creatures, and much more.
Admission: £ 47.00 for adults, £ 38.00 for children from 5-15 years, and free for children under 5 years. Please note that you must book your tickets online in advance. / Official site: https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/
14. Saint Paul’s Cathedral
This beautiful cathedral is more than 300 years old and is one of the largest churches in Northern Europe. St. Paul’s Cathedral has hosted major royal events such as the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana as well as the Queen’s anniversary. Many famous people are buried in the church crypt which is also full of memorials in honor of heroes.
For the best view of the church, I recommend crossing the Millennium Bridge from the other side of the River Thames. The view of the church’s huge dome is stunning from the bridge.
Admission: £ 17.00 for adults, £ 7.20 for children from 6-17 years, and free for children under 6 years if there’s one adult per. child. / Official site: https://www.stpauls.co.uk/
15. River Thames
The Thames is the great river that runs across London. It is almost impossible to avoid during your trip to London and you’ll surely pass it at some point. However, remember to slow down and enjoy the view of the water for a while.
Something very popular is to go on a boat trip on the Thames. From the water, you’ll most likely experience London in a completely different way. There are countless different boat trips, but most of them sail past Big Ben, the London Eye, and other major sights in London.
16. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is Queen Elizabeth’s residence and is one of the best things to do in London as well. If the queen is at home, the royal flag flutters at the top of the castle.
During the summer it is possible to enter Buckingham Palace and experience some parts of the castle. When visiting Buckingham Palace don’t miss Changing the Guard on selected days at 11:00 AM. Find the times for the guard change right here.
17. Trafalgar Square
Surrounded by beautiful buildings and museums, Trafalgar Square is a wonderful meeting spot in London. On Trafalgar Square, you’ll find a large pillar with Lord Nelson, several fountains, lots of pigeons, and entertainment from street artists. In addition, the square often hosts exciting events.
Trafalgar Square is well worth a visit if you’re planning on visiting the National Gallery anyway.
18. Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum in London has more than 80 million objects and is best known for its dinosaur skeletons. Inside the museum, you can discover a fossil of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a simulated earthquake, millions of insect species, colorful diamonds, learn about the earth’s natural forces, and much more.
The Natural History Museum is definitely one of the best museums in London and it’s even free to visit. However, it isn’t free to visit selected exhibitions, but there’s still plenty to explore without paying a penny.
Admission: Free to visit. / Official site: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/
So that’s all on this list of the best things to do in London. What are your favorite things to do in London? What are you looking forward to on your trip to London? Feel free to leave a comment.
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