Our Top 12 things to do in London

What are the best things to do in London?

Below we’ve listed our Top 12 things to do in London to make your trip an unforgettable experience! Given the huge number of monuments, attractions, parks and other places of interest, there’s no danger of getting bored here!

Best things to do in London

This article was initially intended to include a list of the Top 10 things to do in and around London but, as you can see, we’ve had to increase the number to 12. Enjoy the read!

  1. 01

    Stroll though the streets of Westminster

    Neighborhood in London
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    Westminster in London is probably one of the most iconic neighborhoods in the whole city. Why? That is quite simple, if you can see Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, The House of Parlierment and the absolute trademark of London the Big Ben at one corner, it is rightly one of the highlights of the city.

    At every corner you will find one grandiose building after another and beautiful parks, like the St. James and Green Park. For fine dining, Westminster is the absolute best place to be, as it is home to some of the best bars and restaurants in London!

  2. 02

    Make a Thames River Boat Cruise

    Boat tour in Westminster
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    The Thames is something like the lifeline of London. Just let yourselves drift and look at the scenery of London and its landmarks from the water!

    The trip from Westminster Pier to Greenwich Pier takes about half an hour. On the way, just relax and listen to the audio guide, who will provide you with facts about the sights.

    The best thing about the ticket is that you don’t have to stand in line at the ticket office, nor are you bound to fixed travel times. With the open ticket you can get on the ship when it suits you – departures are every half hour.

  3. 03

    Take a ride on the London Eye

    Ferris wheel in Westminster
    London Eye am Ufer der Themse
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    The London Eye is situated directly on the Thames, diagonally opposite Big Ben, and offers a breathtaking view of London. This is an absolute must-see attraction on any trip to London – a city that simply oozes with charm, come rain or shine! The London Eye has stood in the heart of the capital since the year 2000, which is why it is also referred to as the Millennium Wheel.

    Although only actually intended to operate for a couple of years to mark the turn of the millennium, it has become a permanent feature due to its enormous popularity with tourists.

  4. 04

    Enjoy the Brick Lane Market

    Market in Spitalfields
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    Brick Lane offers a world of opportunity with beautiful cafes, unique boutiques, the best thrift stores, great restaurants and much more. In popular parlance, the Sunday street market is known as Brick Lane Market. But in reality, there are different markets with different products. The Vintage Market of Brick Lane is located in the basement of the old Truman Brewery and offers handmade unique items, like denim jackets with modern lettering.

    The Backyard Market is located directly across the street from the Truman Brewery. Here you’ll find the best treasures made by local artisans. Jewelry, clothing, art, original souvenirs… Absolutely everything you can imagine. And then there’s the Sunday Up Market (mainly for food), the Boiler House Food Hall, where you can find really good food and not to forget the Brick Lane Tea Rooms, here you’ll dive into the world of glassware, antique furniture, classic literature and retro art. As you can see, Brick Lane is huge and hosts many markets.

  5. 05

    Dive into the universe of Harry Potter

    Movie Location in Watford
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    All witches, wizards and of course Muggles watch out: the Warner Bros. Studio Tour has the ultimate Harry Potter experience in London for you! Immerse yourself in the world of the young wizard and the magical world of Hogwarts. During your tour of Angular Alley and the Great Hall, you can store for the coolest merchandise from your Hogwarts home and spend a day feeling like a student yourself at the best wizarding school in the world.

    The Harry Potter Studio Tour is one of the best things to see in London and has amazed over 17 billion Harry Potter fans since it opened in 2012. So, grab your wands and get ready for the delicious butterbeer – it’s off to Hogwarts!.

  6. 06

    Shop at Oxford Street

    Street in Piccadilly Circus
    Oxford Street London Shopping
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    If there is one street in London for a fun and successful shopping day it is Oxford Street. Here you will find everything you need when it comes to all kinds of shops, boutiques and small stores. At each season you will always see something new in the shopping street of London.

    After hours of shopping, there is nothing better than sitting down in one of the cosy cafés, drinking tea or coffee and enjoying the magical view of this vibrant street!

  7. 07

    Daytrip to stonehenge

    Day Trip in London
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    There is nothing better than doing an exciting day trip to one of the most mysterious monuments in world’s history: the ancient stones are holding on to mysterious stories and secrets from thousands of years ago! Nobody can deny that this isn’t one of the coolest thing to do in London!

    Walk around those huge stones and wonder about what they could mean. The audio guide will indeed clear sum of the stories up, but there are always some fields that still in our modern time nobody can explain. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you’ll never forget!

  8. 08

    Watch an amazing musical at the West End

    Neighborhood in London
    West End London
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    London’s West End is known for one thing above all: great theater! Along with New York’s Broadway, the district is one of the most creative places in the world.

    The theater stages stand close together, the offer is immense and absolutely top class! What Broadway is in New York, the Theatre District is in London.

  9. 09

    Relax at the National Gallery

    Museum in Westminster
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    The National Gallery is probably the most comprehensive art museum in London. It is located at the northern end of Trafalgar Square, in the heart of London. The state collection of paintings on display here includes some 2300 works from the 13th to the 19th centuries and is invaluable.

    It’s perfect for a few relaxing hours and really worth visiting again and again (especially on rainy days). The gallery often has pretty cool exhibitions that take on one theme in particular. Often even younger children will find something to interest them, while art fans and culture lovers can take in the brilliant works!

  10. 10

    Fly high above Londons busy streets

    Helicopter Tour in London
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    Have you ever wished to experience London from the top? Yes? – A helicopter flight is an unbelievable activity that you absolutely at least try once in your life. I mean London is stunning in every way, but the greatest view is from high above. Watch on this helicopter tour Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Thames, and the Parks in all their glory.

    Especially in the after work hours of London is the flight perfect to see a unique perspective of the bustling streets. It is a truly inspiring feeling to fly above the city like a bird and discover either with your family or friend (available for up to 3 people) all the different landmarks!

  11. 11

    The Shard: Best view in London

    Building in Bankside
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    Since 2013, tourists on their trip to London can view the city from a completely new viewpoint: From the top floor of the officially the highest building in Western Europe! The Shard (German: Scherbe), is a pyramid-shaped skyscraper in the London borough of Southwark, and since opening one of the most important sights of London. To visit this skyscraper, you want to the very top: The observation deck, called The View from The Shard, is located on levels 68 to 72 of the building.

    The absolute highlight of any trip to The Shard is the breathtaking open-air view from level 72. Yes, even the trip to the toilet is a real highlight that you should not miss. Even from there you have an incredible view of the city. Price-wise, a ticket is quite expensive at around 30 EUR. But the entrance fee for The Shard is also included in the London Pass, with which you can save a lot.

  12. 12

    Finish the day in a bar or restaurant

    Bar & Pub in Covent Garden
    Our highlight
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    Already Charles Dickens is said to have drunk his pint in this pub. 200 years ago, the Lamb & Flag was still called the “blood bucket” because of the regularly held bare-knuckle boxing matches. Today, however, you won’t find any teeth on the floor in the Tudor building not far from Leicester Square .

    Even though there is always something going on here, it is harmonious – at least most of the time. The pub, by the way, is known for its exquisite cuisine. The British pies are said to be the best in the area! A surprisingly authentic place in a rather touristy area.

Profilbild Laura Haig
About the author

Laura

I love traveling in Europe and I am passionate about writing about my travels. The cultural peculiarities of each region always fascinate me. I enjoy exploring and discovering the best-kept secrets of each town or village. I love road trips as much as city breaks; I love visiting an art gallery and also the magic of musicals or discovering new delicacies in a street market. In this blog, I write about all my travel adventures and my best tips and tricks! Auf Loving Travel schreibe ich über alle meine Reiseerlebnisse und gebe euch meine besten Tipps und Tricks!

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