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Here are 12 awesome things to do in London if it’s your first time visiting.
Before everything else, though, you have to understand that London is a huge, sprawling city. As such, you have to stay for at least three days to be able to see a good number of London attractions and appreciate what it has to offer.
If one or two days is all you can spare, though, we’ve got you covered. The London tourist attractions and activities below are arranged according to importance, so you can start from the top and just make your way down to how far or what your limited time will allow you to see or do.
Having gotten that out of the way, let’s now dive into the places to visit in London and the top activities to do during your first visit.
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Buckingham Palace
The first stop on your London sightseeing is Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the United Kingdom’s reigning sovereign. Currently, that is Queen Elizabeth II.
This 18th-century structure is remarkable as it is huge and plays a significant role in the history of Britain.
During the summer, from August to September, when the queen is not in residence, you can purchase a ticket and see the state rooms the Royals use as well as the gardens.
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All year round, however, you can visit:
- the Queens’s Gallery, which displays artworks from the Royal Art Collection, including drawings of Leonardo da Vinci and the Fabergé eggs; and
- the Royal Mews, where you will find the stable and coach houses that contain the famous royal carriages (Gold State Coach, Glass State Coach, Irish State Coach), motor cars, and the horses that you see in royal parades and events.
All are located within the palace grounds.
Changing of the Guards
Don’t miss the wonderful and riveting spectacle that is the Changing of the Guards you can view daily at 11:30 a.m. from April through July and every other morning for the rest of the year.
British Museum
The British Museum is a great stop in your London trip for its collection of valuable treasures from all over the world. There’s no entrance fee, so it’s a wonderful way to get educated and entertained at no cost.
Things you shouldn’t miss while there are:
- the Elgin marbles, which are architectural structures that once decorated the Parthenon in Athens, Greece;
- the Rosetta Stone, a granodiorite stele that was used as a means to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics;
- the Egyptian mummies;
- the Black Obelisk and other relics from Calah in Assyria;
- treasures from the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur;
- treasures from the Ming Dynasty in China.
Give yourself half a day to significantly explore this museum. If you’re pressed for time, however, consider taking the highlights guided tour which lasts for an hour and a half. Audio guides are also available for rent.
Houses of Parliament
The House of Parliament is the seat of the bicameral parliament (House of Commons and House of Lords) of the United Kingdom. Also called the Palace of Westminster, it occupies 8 acres of land along the River Thames in Westminster.
Take the hour and fifteen-minute guided tour available on weekdays from July through September to get a glimpse of the inside of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can also spend time in the Stranger’s Gallery listening to parliamentary debates. If a glimpse from the outside is good enough for you, then get a good view from Westminster Bridge.
Big Ben
You can find the famous tower clock, Big Ben, in the Houses of Parliament, by the way. Located in Elizabeth Tower, Big Ben is iconic as it is useful, being an enormous bell that gives the hourly time in the city. Don’t miss it and take photos.
National Gallery
The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square in St. James is an art lover’s haven. With a collection of super fine European artworks from a selection of many great masters, it makes an awesome stop in your London run.
Inside you’ll find many works by Italian masters like da Vinci, Raphael and Botticelli. The French are represented as well with artworks by Monet, Manet, Degas, Cézanne and others occupying space inside. Van Gogh and Vermeer are present, too. You’ll also find a number of Rembrandts.
Trafalgar Square
Nearby is Trafalgar Square, a plaza named as such as a tribute to military hero Admiral Lord Nelson who won over the French and Spanish forces and died at the Battle of Trafalgar.
This space is a venue for large gatherings including holiday festivities and political rallies. It is also famous among tourists. Not much to see except the notable Nelson’s Column with its fountains and bronze lions and Lord Nelson’s statue on top, but it’s a lively and fun space of British culture.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Perhaps to tourists, St. Paul’s Cathedral is mostly known as the church where the fairy tale wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana happened.
To breathe more life into it, though, and convince you more of its attractiveness, it’s also one fine piece of architecture with Neoclassical, Gothic and Baroque flairs. Its famous three-shelled dome that shines in the London skyline are beautiful, while the grillwork of the choir as well as the choir stalls inside are impressive.
You can see a good handful and fantastic view of the city of London by climbing to its top. Don’t forget to pay homage as well to famous personalities buried there like the Duke of Wellington who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo and the above-mentioned Admiral Lord Nelson.
Tower of London
Perhaps my favorite London attraction is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Tower of London. Maybe because anything medieval fascinates me…
Anyhow, the Tower of London is a fortress that served as a royal palace, a prison, an arsenal, a public records office, a place of execution, and more during its long historical existence.
It served as a royal residence until the 17th century. As prison and place of execution during the Middle Ages, it held captive and eventually beheaded famous personalities like St. Thomas Moore, Lady Jane Grey and her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley, as well as two of King Henry VIII’s wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.
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Take the hour-long guided tours led by the Beefeater Guards that will take you to the Bloody Tower where Sir Walter Raleigh was held captive for 13 years; then to the White Tower where you’ll get to see battle implements as well as some horrific torture instruments; and to the Tower Green where the above-mentioned people were executed.
Then wash off all those gory images by viewing the Crown Jewels, a collection of astounding treasures that includes Queen Victoria’s Imperial State Crown with its thousands of jewels and the 530.2-carat diamond known as the Great Star of Africa that’s embedded in a scepter.
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Booking.comWestminster Abbey
Just a stone’s throw away from the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage church that plays an important role in England’s history. Gothic in style, it is situated on the grounds where a former Benedictine monastery was once located.
It is significant in that it is where every British monarch was crowned (except Edward V and Edward VIII) since William the Conqueror. It is also the venue of several important events like the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Princess Diana’s funeral was held there, too. In addition, it is the burial place of several noteworthy English personalities like Queen Elizabeth 1, her half-sibling Mary 1, and her nemesis, Mary Queen of Scots. Added to that list are famous poets Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, and Jeffrey Chaucer.
Sights to see when visiting Westminster Abbey are the following:
- the Royal Chapels;
- the tomb of Queen Elizabeth 1 and the other famous people mentioned above;
- the College Garden;
- the Undercroft Museum;
- chapter house; and
- the cloisters.
London Eye
An excellent way to see the landscape of London is to hop on the London Eye, a 443-foot-tall observation wheel with 32 glass ovoid modules. It’s just like a Ferris Wheel, except that the modules are enclosed and one can hold up to 25 persons.
The ride takes about 30 minutes, which is tantamount to one rotation. It is best to make a reservation beforehand to avoid long lines.
Explore Portobello Road Market
Exploring Portobello Road Market is such an entertaining way to spend a few hours. Or several if you’re a fan of antiquing and shopping.
Portobello Road Market is a famous street market near Notting Hill. It has many antique shops as well as vegetable and fruit markets. It gets lively on Saturdays when it transforms into a flea and antique market and gets visited by many people, locals and tourists alike. There you can haggle and find great deals on wares. It’s the perfect place to be if you’re shopping for souvenirs and such.
Do the Pub Crawl
Experience the British pub culture by doing the pub crawl. Start at the Anchor Inn on Park Street, which dates back to the 1700s and where Charles Dickens used to hang out. Then make your way to other pubs, tasting London’s best drinks.
Partake an Afternoon Tea
For a gentler gastronomic experience, don’t miss partaking in the British’s lovely afternoon tea. This mostly consists of hot tea with finger sandwiches, sweet pastries, or scones with clotted cream. It usually takes place from 3 to 5 in the afternoon.
Some of the best afternoon tea experiences can be had at The Harrods Tea Rooms in the Harrods, a department store, in Knightsbridge; and at Fortnum and Mason. Expensive, but worth the experience.
Watch a Show
Head on to West End to catch a show. England has one of the best theater shows in the world, so it would be a shame to miss them.
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Final Thoughts
Enjoy these awesome things to do in London. It’s a wonderful place to visit, so make the most out of your stay by ticking off this list.
Don’t forget to share this post before you go. Happy travels!
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great tips and beautiful photos.. thanks for the recommendations!
Thank you and you’re most welcome!