Our 12 Best Things To Do In London

Wondering how to spend a perfect day in London? There’s something for everyone in this iconic city, from world-famous landmarks like The Shard to festivals bursting with local flavour and cool activities to perk up even the moodiest of teens. If you’ve only got 3 hours to spare, consider exploring a stately home or challenging yourself with a London-themed escape room. Looking to have fun in London for free? Have a stroll in one of the city’s many parks or browse vintage fashion at a quirky market. And for a quintessentially English experience, take afternoon tea at an elegant restaurant or go on a behind-the-scenes tour of a sports stadium. There’s so much to do during your stay in London, you’ll need to book another trip!

Art, science, fossils, rare jewels – it’s all here in central London. South Kensington is where you’ll find the big three: the V&A for paintings, sculptures and all things creative, the Natural History Museum for dinosaurs and everything to do with our planet, and the Science Museum. For famed treasures like the Rosetta Stone and the Sutton Hoo helmet, head to the British Museum, while British art through the ages is on display at the Tate Britain.

All these museums are free to enter. Note that they’re massive, with multiple rooms over many floors, so you could easily spend a day in one if you’re so inclined. If you’re visiting with children, ask about the family trails, which are great for keeping kids focused as they navigate their way around the galleries to hunt down a list of items. Also check online for special exhibitions, which you would usually need to buy tickets for. 

Nothing showcases a city’s authentic self quite like a festival. London’s most famous, the annual Notting Hill Carnival, is a kaleidoscope of spangly costumes, calypso music and Caribbean street food. It takes place over two days in late summer, usually at the end of August, and is free to go. If you’re taking kids, pack some ear defenders. Looking for an after-party? The Ministry of Sound is the big one, although many bars and clubs in the area also keep going late into the night.

For a different summer vibe, check out the week-long Kew the Music concerts at Kew Gardens in West London. With a line-up of mainly British bands past and present, these open-air concerts are a firm local favourite, and a great opportunity to have a picnic and chill out in a stunning 18th-century botanic garden. Another must-see in the London summer calendar is Proms in the Park, with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra playing classical masterpieces, ending with a fireworks display.

If you don’t treat yourself while on holiday, when can you? Afternoon tea doesn’t get more exquisite than at The Savoy, where you can nibble on delicate sandwiches and pastries served on fine china while sitting in a sun-drenched atrium with a pianist tinkling in the background. Complete your luxurious experience with a stay at The Savoy. Equally sophisticated is The Rose Lounge at the Sofitel London St James, with friendly service and squashy velvet chairs making the experience relaxed yet sumptuous. Kids will love the Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea in Covent Garden, where menu items include lots of sweet treats and a caramel chocolate milkshake (mixed by waterfall), or brewing their own concoctions at The Wands & Wizard Exploratorium's Wizard Afternoon Tea.

One of the best things to do in London is to spend a few hours wandering the halls of a stately home. Ham House and Garden, in Richmond, is a 17th-century estate featuring a collection of centuries-old furniture, paintings and textiles. The house can feel a little unsettling – it’s said to be haunted by the duke who once lived there – but the formal gardens surrounding the house are a delight. Seasonal blooms brighten up carefully manicured lawns, while a large hedge maze keeps kids occupied.

Follow the River Thames east and on its north bank sits Syon Park, which has been and still is the London home of the Dukes of Northumberland. If you’ve always wanted to channel your inner Downton Abbey aristocrat, this is the place. Each palace-like room is filled with Greek and Roman statues, ornate marble columns and gilded furniture, while the surrounding parklands feel a world away from central London. The house isn’t open every day, so check online before you visit.

London’s iconic skyline is stunning from the ground, but breathtaking from a height. The Sky Garden at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street (better known as the Walkie-Talkie) is free – but tickets are released every Monday and go fast, sometimes up to weeks in advance. Across the River Thames, you’ll need to pay to enter the viewing gallery at The Shard, but the price does include a super-fast lift that whooshes you twice the height of the Walkie-Talkie to the 68th floor, plus an open sky deck on the 72nd floor where, scarily, you can still hear the sounds of the city far below.

Combine a workout with spectacular views at Up at the O2, an outdoor climb over the domed roof of the famed arena. The full experience, including a briefing and getting your gear on, takes around 90 minutes. At the top, enjoy views of leafy Greenwich to the south and Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers to the east.

Escape rooms are everywhere these days, but for a really unique thing to do, choose one with a London theme. Escape Plan, in Shoreditch in the East End, has a range of experiences set in WWII-era London, with puzzles and challenges that are well designed and not too difficult for families. Sessions last up to 90 minutes (depending on how fast you escape).

Another extremely fun London-themed attraction is Sherlock: The Official Live Game, with an escape room featuring sets from the BBC drama series, plus original content from the cast. Over on Tottenham Court Road, Monopoly Lifesized puts a twist on the family classic with players competing against each other in different challenges to buy properties.

Need a break from the noisy crowds? Head to leafy north London to explore two of the city’s hidden gems, Highgate Cemetery and Hampstead Heath. From central London, hop on the Tube’s Northern line to Archway station, where a short bus ride or walk will take you to the cemetery. Here, wander among the ivy-clad monuments and angel sculptures, spotting notable graves including those of Karl Marx, Michael Faraday and Douglas Adams.

A short walk west is sprawling Hampstead Heath park. Stroll through its peaceful meadows and shady woodland to the Parliament Hill viewpoint, where you can spot the towers and turrets of the city’s famed skyline. For a cheap – if bracingly cold – thing to do in London, book a slot for a dip in one of the tree-lined swimming ponds, then warm up again afterwards at one of the many cafes and pubs surrounding the park.

Not many international visitors know about the Brooklands Museum, so if you’re looking for unusual things to do in London, this is the place. It’s a treasure trove of everything motoring and aviation, with vintage models from 1930s racing cars to the first McLaren driven by Formula One legend Lewis Hamilton.

Highlights here include the Concorde Experience, reliving the glamour of the supersonic age with a virtual flight, and the London Bus Museum, which is especially fun for little ones as visitors are allowed to climb in and out of most of the exhibits. Inspired to be in the driver’s seat? Mercedes-Benz World, just next door, offers driving experiences whether or not you have a licence.

You can’t leave London without a souvenir – and we don’t mean tacky fridge magnets. If vintage is your vibe, head to Brick Lane, which is packed full of stalls selling cool clothing, handmade crafts and edgy art. Consider also popping into Old Spitalfields Market, known for its artisanal businesses in a Victorian market hall. Both are close to Liverpool Street station.

Equally buzzy is Camden Market. Grungy and trendy, this is where you’ll find everything from upcycled clothing to ethically sourced pet toys, plus street food from all over the world to keep you fuelled. Rom-com fans will want to check out Portobello Road Market near Notting Hill, famed for its antiques stalls (Saturday is the main antiques trading day), but also great for produce like local cheeses and baked goods. For a touch of luxury, the London Silver Vaults in Clerkenwell is the destination for jewellery and decorative items.

London’s sports stadiums – sites of victories, defeats and other iconic moments – are where history is made. Football (or soccer) fans won’t want to miss the Emirates Stadium, home to Premier League club Arsenal, where you can pick up a self-guided tour (10 languages available) and explore at your own pace. Over at Stamford Bridge, home stadium of Chelsea FC, guided tours last one hour and include a stop in the museum for you to marvel at the club’s impressive collection of silverware.

For a more genteel experience, guided tours at Lord’s Cricket Ground include their Grade II*-listed Victorian Pavilion and the MCC Museum, where the famed Ashes Urn is on display. Other sporting venues worth visiting include the Wimbledon tennis grounds and Twickenham Stadium, home of England rugby. 

Looking for things to do in London at night? There’s nightlife aplenty, but why not give yourself a little challenge by hunting down hidden bars? Behind an especially grotty, unmarked Chinatown door, Experimental Cocktail Club is a cosy-yet-swanky combo of teal-hued velvet sofas, bare-brick walls and delicious concoctions. Or escape to Oriole X Albie, a laidback subterranean bar with a drinks menu inspired by flavours from across the world, plus live jazz Wednesdays to Saturdays. As you enjoy the unique cocktail blends, remember to celebrate responsibly.

Here’s a secret address you’ll want to discover as soon as you can – the Spy Bar at the luxurious Raffles London at The OWO, where cocktails are shaken with a dash of intrigue and served in the rooms once used by MI5 spies. And for the ultimate Prohibition-era party, buy tickets for The Candlelight Club, a pop-up speakeasy in different locations around the city, where you’ll need to dress the part and remember your password for an evening of cabaret performances, live jazz and old-school cocktails.

Sometimes it’s fun to dress up for an occasion, other times you just want excellent food without the fuss. That’s where London’s neighbourhood Michelin-starred restaurants come into their own – lively and casual, but with exquisite food. Chez Bruce, a stalwart in leafy Wandsworth, lovingly plates up dishes inspired by classical French and Mediterranean cuisine, while in Kensington, Kitchen W8’s modern British cuisine is both inventive and artistic.

Over at Behind Restaurant in Hackney, seafood is the star of the show, with tasting menus accompanied by thoughtful wine pairings. And you’ll definitely want to add this to your list of things to do in London on weekends: sample a traditional British roast at the Harwood Arms in Fulham, available all day Sunday and served in a relaxed, wood-panelled pub ambience.

Whether it’s your first or fiftieth time in London, there’s always something new to discover, from world-famous venues to quirky bars and unusual museums. Have fun!