Top 10 Things to Do in London

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London is the capital of England as well as one of the top cultural and financial centers in the whole world. The city has a long and storied history going all the way back to Roman times. London is a must visit destination for anyone going to Europe. Check out below for the top 10 things to do in London.

#10. Take in Some Nature at Hyde Park

In addition to being one of the best things to do in London, Hyde Park is perhaps the most famous park in the city. The park has seen many famous events over its history including the Suffragettes.^[1]The Crazy Tourist – 25 Best Thing To Do In London (England)

In addition to its storied history, Hyde Park is also a beautiful park to visit. It has two large bodies of water. The most famous of the two is the Serpentine. In the lake, you can take a paddle boat and watch the swans. Additionally, Hyde Park is one of the best places in London to go for a run with a lot of well kept running trails and paths. Hyde Park is a great place to go to get some fresh air in the middle of busy London!

#9. Learn About the Bloody History of the Tower of London

One of the best things to do in London is visit the Tower of London. While it might not look as impressive as Buckingham Palace, it offers a lot of fun activities to do.

However, the Tower of London is a misnomer. Rather than there being just a single tower there is in fact multiple towers. In fact, you can explore 12 of them.^[2]U.S. News & World Report – Tower of London Each of the towers offers something a little bit different making sure that there is something interesting for everyone who visits.

One of the most popular things to do at the Tower of London is check out the famous crown jewels exhibit. In the exhibit you can see the Imperial State Crown, which the queen still wears at the State Opening of Parliament as well as the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross.

If you have a little bit more time, consider taking the entertaining tour by the Yeoman Warders or tower guards. During the tour, the guides will tell you interesting stories all about bloody history of the Tower of London. The tour is a hour long.

Lastly, make sure to visit the iconic White Tower, one of the most famous castles in the entire world. Inside, you can view the 350 year old exhibit, “Line of Kings,” which shows artifacts all the way back to Henry VIII, Charles I, and James II.

#8. Learn About Some History at the British Museum

If you are a history buff, one of the best things to do in London is visit the British Museum. From the amateur historian to the hardcore, there is something for everyone here. On top of being one of the world’s most well known antiquity museums, it is also a beautiful architectural marvel in its own right. In addition, it is free to visit!

The museum has some of the world’s most noted ancient artifacts including the Rosetta Stone, Elgin marbles, and the Lindow Man.^[3]U.S. News & World Report – British Museum With more than 8 million objects to see, you might get a little bit overwhelmed. However, don’t worry. There are many different guided options, including audio tours, free guided tours, as well paid tours.

#7. Visit the Royal Buckingham Palace

One of the most iconic things to do in London is visit Buckingham Palace, the London residence of Queen Elizabeth II.

However, the palace is not just reserved for royals. In fact, during the summer and certain days in the spring and winter, you can take tours of the public sections of the Palace called the 19 State Rooms.^[4]U.S. News & World Report – Buckingham Palace It is in these rooms, that the Royal family entertains foreign guests and holds royal functions. In addition, these rooms hold some of the finest pieces of the Royal Collection including beautiful candelabra, chandeliers, paintings, and furniture.

When taking the tour, make sure to set aside at least two hours to thorough see everything. In addition, make sure to bring some nice comfortable walking shoes. Also, many visitors suggest taking the included audio guide with you so that you can get a detailed history of each room at your own pace.

If you don’t want to spend the money to go inside the palace, don’t worry. There is still a lot to see from the outside. One of the most popular things to see is the Changing of the Guard or Guard Mounting which occurs every day at 11 a.m. from April to late July and on alternating days the rest of the year, weather permitting. However, make sure to get there early as the crowds can get quite large.

#6. Shop for English Trinkets in Portobello Road Market

One of the most popular things to do in London for both locals and tourists alike is visit Portobello Road Market. The market is located in the posh Notting Hill neighborhood. You might known about it from the Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant movie of the same name.^[5]U.S. News & World Report – Portobello Road Market It is the main street of the neighborhood and is filled with more than 1,000 merchants selling all kinds of things. However, what makes this area famous is the collection of stores that sell quintessential English items and antiques.

Portobello Road Market has a wide selection of tasty places it. In addition to many cheap food stands, there are also a lot of great restaurants offering great British as well as international foods.

#5. View History in Westminster Abbey

Visiting Westminster Abbey is one of the best things to do in London. It is a medieval church that offers a peek into London’s long and storied history. For example, it has hosted many royal weddings and coronations.

However, as Westminster Abbey is pretty much always busy, the staff make sure to keep the crowds moving through at a quick pace. Therefore, it is important to do a little bit of research ahead of time in order to make sure that you can see some of the must see parts of the church. Some of the famous parts include the Poets’ Corner where famous authors such as Chaucer, Dickens, and Kipling are buried, the Shrine of Saint Edward the Confessor, the Royal Tombs, the Cloisters, and the Nave.^[6]U.S. News & World Report – Westminster Abbey

#4. Check Out the Lights of Piccadilly Circus

For those looking for the big city vibe, one of the best things to do in London is visit Piccadilly Circus. Located in London’s busy West End, Piccadilly Circus is the intersection of 5 big roads. Many people compare the area to New York’s Times Square. Here you can see the whole world mixing together such as businessmen and women, shoppers, tourists, and clubbers. One of the best times to visit the area is in the evening when the billboards’ neon lights shine against the Edwardian era buildings and Eros statue.^[7]U.S. News & World Report – Piccadilly Circus

However, it is important to note that the area is not in fact a circus. Rather the name circus refers to the circle of roads that spoke off from the area.

#3. Walk Across Tower Bridge

One of the most popular things to do in London is visit Tower Bridge. On top of being one of the most famous bridges that crosses the Thames River, it is one of the most famous architectural marvels int he world. While construction for the bridge only began in 1886, making it practically new by London’s standards, it stands out due to its amazing architecture as well as its moving bridge that can get out of the way of larger ships.^[8]U.S. News & World Report – Tower Bridge

In addition to looking at the bridge, Tower Bridge also offers great views of other sites in London. From its raised sidewalks, you can get great views of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, as well as the rest of London’s beautiful skyline.

#2. Take In the City from the London Eye

One of the best things to do in London in ride the London Eye. For those who don’t know what it is, the London Eye is the famous Ferris wheel that you see in a lot of London photographs. However, this ride is not meant for thrills. Rather, it is a slow ride that gives you some of the best 360 degree views of London. In fact, it takes about 30 minutes to ride.^[9]U.S. News & World Report – The London Eye From the top you can see Parliament and Buckingham Palace. However, if you are scared of heights be warned, as the Eye is over 400 feet tall.

#1. Enjoy a Play in the West End Theatre District

One of the best things to do in London is visit the West End Theatre District. In fact, similar to going to a Broadway show in New York City, it is almost a requirement when visiting London. How can you miss seeing the theater from a country that produced the most famous playwright in history, William Shakespeare? With around 40 different theaters to choose from, there is bound to be a show that is interesting to you.

Here you can see some of the best theater productions in all of England. In fact, you can watch some of the best British talents such as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Benedict Cumberbatch perform there.^[10]U.S. News & World Report – West End Theatre District

However, if you really don’t like going to the theater, it is still worth visiting, especially around Leicester Square, in the evenings to take in the local atmosphere.