With so many things to do in London, it can be hard to narrow down the best activities for your visit to the capital of England. There are hundreds of pubs to visit, plenty of spots for traditional or quirky afternoon teas, and a great list of historic attractions and museums.
We’re counting down our top 10 must-dos in London and I’ll preface it by saying that this was our top 10 from our last trip. When we visit again in 2020, I’m sure we’ll have a new list of our favorite activities.
Best things to do in London
Ride the London Eye
Yup, it’s a bit touristy, but it’s worth the ride for the amazing views of the city and River Thames. The 30-minute ride on the gigantic ferris wheel affords great views of the city sprawling out beneath you and is such a slow-paced ride that even if you get motion sickness on other attractions, you should be just fine on this one.
You can try to beat the crowds by riding first thing in the morning or have a bit more of a wait but see the city at a magical time when you ride at sunset. Knowing the London weather, it might be a bit overcast during your rotation, but you’ll still have impressive panoramic views as you go.
You can save 10% by booking your tickets on their site, with prices starting at £25.20.
Meal with a view
If you want to skip out on the ferris wheel but still want an awesome view of the city then book a brunch at Duck and Waffle or opt for happy hour at Sky Garden! From delicious, fluffy waffles to crisp, refreshing cocktails, you can pair your preferred mealtime with stunning views of the city.
Cross Tower Bridge
This is not the bridge from the famous schoolyard song, that’s London Bridge. Tower Bridge is the blue bridge that’s next to, wouldn’t you guess it, the Tower of London! A walk across the bridge is a must, but just make sure to hustle if the alarms start going off, signaling they’re raising the bridge to let a boat pass through.
See the Crown Jewels
As you make your way across Tower Bridge, you can opt for a visit to the Tower of London. See where the zoo used to be, learn about the various means and methods of torture, and see the glittering Crown Jewels there. The attraction is self-guided or you can join a guided excursion with a Beefeater if you want more insider information.
Afternoon tea
Get a caffeine kick and enjoy some delicious finger sandwiches and light cakes and pastries with afternoon tea! There’s no shortage of options when it comes to afternoon tea in London, but we did a really fun afternoon tea bus tour so we could see the sights and dine on some decadent goodies. The B Bakery tour is on a double decker bus and all the treats were delicious and the tea piping hot. We added a glass of prosecco each to toast our London adventure.
Pick up a pint in a pub
Whether drinking a London Pride, a cider, or trying a pint of scurvy ale (it’s delicious, I promise), visiting a pub is one of those quintessential London experiences. Stop in for a drink or two or stay and sample some pub snacks or get a plate of bangers and mash or a pie.
Visit the British Museum
This was one of my favorite things as I absolutely love everything about Ancient Egypt and seeing their impressive Egyptian collection was so cool. Did I mention that admission to the British Museum is free? Special exhibits require tickets or are free for members, but many of the main galleries are free to visit (though donations most certainly welcome). Walk through time and explore the pieces from Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Ancient Greece and Rome.
Ride a double decker bus
Get some great views of London as your ride on the top part of a double decker bus! Just keep your fingers crossed for good weather as having the rain pelt you in the face doesn’t make for the most relaxing bus tour of the city. Whether doing a quick one-hour guided adventure to see all the great sights and snap some pics, or using it as your transportation to and from other attractions with a hop-on, hop-off pass, a ride on these classic buses is a must!
Hear the scary stories of Jack the Ripper
Learn more about the terror that Jack the Ripper unleashed on London on a walking tour. The grisly tales are as scary as the fact that he was never caught. Identify the patterns of his killings, learn who the suspects were, and the horrific end that his victims had. There are many companies offering Jack the Ripper tours, so you can easily find one to add to your travel itinerary.
Take a food tour
One of the best parts about traveling is sampling all the delicious cuisine, and there’s no better to taste a variety of dishes than on a food tour. Most food tours also focus on specific neighborhoods, so you can visit trendy areas of the city or off the beaten path streets with hidden gems of restaurants and bars. See where the locals go and what they order when on a food tour.
Check out our review of Eating London!
Bonus: Harry Potter in London tours
If you have time and want to add a bit of literature to your visit, be sure to book a Harry Potter tour! You can either head about half an hour outside of Central London and tour the sets and see the props, or stay in the city and book the Harry Potter film locations in the city tour with London Walks! Led by actor and “Prince of Potter Guides,” Richard Walker, you can be sure you’ll have an amazing tour seeing sites from four of the films. This walking tour takes place every Sunday and Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
Check out our review of a ghost tour with London Walks to learn more about them!
What are your favorite things to do in London? Tell us in the comments below or on Facebook!
