Explore London

9 Best Things to do in London

Published on: 10th October 2017

Bored of London, bored of life. There’s always something going on in this exciting, diverse and fast-paced city. This list could have been pages long but we’ve narrowed it down to our top 9 must-dos for every London visitor and local.

1. Enjoy the view

The London skyline is an iconic one, best seen from a rooftop bar with a cocktail in hand. Head to Madison’s for a stunning view of St Pauls or go for a cider at Frank’s Café in Peckham. You can also book to visit the Sky Garden at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street where you’ll find spectacular views across the capital and beyond, all within London’s highest city garden.

2. Walk along the Thames

Enjoy the summer breeze and go for a walk along the river, the perfect way to soak up the sights (and hopefully some sunshine!). Stroll along the South Bank to be entertained by local street artists and grab an ice-cold beer at the Underbelly Festival over the summer months.

3. Winter Wonderland

If you’re visiting the capital over the winter months, this is a must-do to get you into the festive spirit! From November to January Hyde Park is transformed into a German Christmas market, complete with fairground rides and an ice rink. Grab a stein of cider and get dancing on the tables! Lederhosen optional.

4. Get Competitive

There are so many exciting team activities that have recently come to the city. Try Time Run in London Fields, an against-the-clock escape room experience, or embrace the great outdoors and have a go at Swingers golf, the crazy golf experience at the foot of the Gherkin.

5. Walk in the Royal Parks

Take a break from the urban jungle and skyscrapers by finding refuge in some of the beautiful parks dotted all over the city. Kensington Gardens and St James’s Park are among our favourites, especially when the flowers are in bloom.

6. Discover London’s markets

Support the local communities across London’s vibrant boroughs where there area some hidden gems to be discovered. Fruit-picking might be difficult to do in the city centre, but the next best thing would be Borough Market, the foodie’s dream, where you can pick up fresh food daily. Meanwhile, Leadenhall Market has a beautiful Victorian setting. Unleash your inner fashionista by hitting up Portobello Road in Notting Hill, which has gorgeous vintage trinkets for you to get your hands on.

7. Go for afternoon tea

Everyone needs to indulge in a quintessentially British treat, and afternoon tea in London is probably the best you’ll find in the world. There are so many options available, from a classy champagne tea at the Ritz or Fortnum and Mason’s, to the quirky and trendy cakes at Sketch. You could even combine a tour of London with teatime by booking a trip on the B Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour that takes you around London on an old Routemaster, complete with treats along the way.

8. Get cultured

No visit to London would be complete without a trip to one of the impressive galleries or museums, featuring some world-renowned paintings and artefacts. If you’re travelling with the family, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum have lots of interactive activities for the little ones. Otherwise pop into the V&A, British Museum or Royal Academy of Arts to be wowed by priceless artworks.

9. Hit the shops

Everyone needs a bit of retail therapy sometimes, and London is the shopaholic’s dream. If you’re willing to brave the crowds, Oxford Street is a no-brainer for all the major brand’s flagship stores and a chance to get one of those iconic yellow bags from Selfridges. Harrods in Knightsbridge has beautiful, high-quality pieces to offer across its seven floors and is worth a visit just to admire the Egyptian Escalators if not everything else.