Things to do in London
"...when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." − Samuel Johnson
Samual Johnson wrote those famous words almost 250 years ago and today, little has changed with respect to London's affect on visitors. We have compiled two lists of must do things during your stay in London. There are also some essential links to websites about what's on in London at the bottom of this page or click here.
10 Essential things to do in London during your stay
Links to popular sites about what's on in London
10 Things to do for free in London
Experience the pomp and ceremony of Royal London. The Changing of the Guard takes place every other day at 11.30am and lasts approximately 45 minutes. Dates alternate each month. See the official site for more information.
The National Gallery has one of the greatest collections of European painting in the world. Go to their official website here for more information.
The Tate Modern has a stunning collection of predominently contemporary art. Since the year 2000, it has occupied an old power station on the thriving Thames South Bank. Click here to access Tate Online.
London is one of the crapiest cities in the World. There are 9 large green spaces that make up 'The Royal Parks' including the famous Hyde Park and Regents Park in Central London. See the Royal Parks website for more information.
Covent Garden is one of the tourist meccas of London. Steeped in history it also has London's best and most diverse selection of shops and houses the internationally renowned Royal Opera House. Check out the numerous talented street performers entertaining the crowds every day. Click here for more information.
The British Museum houses one of the greatest collections of human cultural history and has been free to the world since 1753. Be prepared to spend days and days perusing ancient artifacts from cultures all around the world and specialist exhibitions. See their excellent site for more information.
The famous Notting Hill carnival takes place every August in London. Started by West Indian immigrants in 1960, it is now one of Europe's biggest festivals attracting up to 2 million people a year with groups participating from all corners of the world. Visit one or many sites about the Carnival here.
London was made for walking with its tiny lane ways and stunning array of architectural and cultural sites. Of course, you can always grab a map and discover hidden London yourself, or join a walking tour. The first and the best is London Walks. They will charge you a small fee, but you'll have a fascinating London experience with their knowledgeable and passionate guides.
London is famous for its markets and there are many to choose from (18 in fact). In the East-end there is Columbia Street flower market and Spitalfields. In the north, there is one of the most visited attractions in Europe - Camden market. And in West London, there is the famouse Portabello Road market. For a map all all London's markets click here.
Did you know London is an ancient Roman city originally called Londinium? The Museum of London is the definitive source of information and inspiration on the history of the great city we now know as London. See great exhibitions and find out more facts like this at the Museum of London.
10 Essential things to do in London
The magnificant St. Paul's Cathedral is one of London's most famous and enduring landmarks. It dominates the skyline with its massive dome - inspired by the dome at St. Peters Basillica in Rome. The Cathedral is open to tourists from Monday to Saturday. For more information visit the official site here.
See the city from London's newest and one of its most popular tourist attractions - the London Eye. Only on the Eye can you experience the breathtaking panoramas of London and beyond. For more information, visit the London eye site here.
London's famous West End is the his home to approximately forty large theatres and is often referred to as Theatreland. Here you can see high-profile actors strut their stuff in musicals, dramas and comedy performances. Go to the official London Theatre site to find out more.
Its hard to believe Britain's most famous castle is right in the centre of London. The Tower of London is over 900 years old and has been taking paying visitors since the 16th century. Now people flock to sit it and the Crown Jewels kept inside, from all over the world. For more information visit the official Tower of London site.
Maybe not playing it, but if you like football you must at least go to game. How about one of London's famous derbies such as Arsenal v. Chelsea or Westham United v. Tottenham. For more information including ticket sales, try the official site here.
The biggest and the best movie houses in the UK are in Leicester Square. On movie opening nights the throngs of tourists give away to movie buffs trying to catch a glimpse of Hollywood stars as they strut the red carpet. Leicester Square is also a great meeting point before having a cheap meal in nearby Chinatown.
The Madame Tussauds wax replicas of the rich and famous have been an institution in London for over 200 years. You can purchase a joint ticket and visit the London Planetarium next door for a great day out. Click here for more information.
Every summer there is at least one Test Match at the Lord's - one of the world's best and most celebrated sporting venues. If you can't get to an international match, watch one of the many county games at Lord's or take a tour of the ground and see many of the most famous sights in world cricket. All the information you need is here.
Half an hour by train from Central London is Hampton Court Palace. It has served as a royal residence for over 500 years including that of King Henry VIII. There are 60 acres of riverside gardens and the world famous hedge maze to explore. For more information click here.
The Globe Theatre on the South Bank of the Thames is a faithful reconstruction of the open-air playhouse where Shakespeare worked and for which he wrote many of his greatest plays. The theatre season runs from May to September, however there is an excellent exhibition devoted to Shakespeare that is open all year. Click here for more information.
Essential London Links
- Spoonfed.co.uk
The smart, definitive guide to what's on in London. There are thousands of events each week in London and they are as varied and unique as the city's residents and visitors. Spoonfed helps you sort through all of these events quickly and easily. At Spoonfed, you get truly localised event details, reviews by critics, artists, musicians and performers, and social organisation tools to keep you and your friends up to date and in the know.
- Londontown.com
- The essential tourist source for all things London. A great source for London events and deals on sightseeing.
- AllinLondon.co.uk
- Packed with information for locals, tourists and importantly students. There is a great article on being a student in London here including a load of free events here.
- London Lost & Found dot com
- An alternative view of London for Londoners. A great source of information about indie movies, art and London's burgeoning music scene. They also list free stuff as well here.
- VisitLondon.com
- London's Offical Website. Packed with great information about what's on in London.
- Timeout: London
- One of the best sources of information about what's happening in London.
