London is a place close to our hearts, and Yas spent a lot of time visiting here while growing up! Here you’ll find the best things to do in London and our favorite parts of this vibrant city. We hope you love it as much as we do!
Practicalities
Currency: Great Britain Pound
Recommended length of stay: one to two weeks
Month of visit: Have been so many times we have pretty much experienced all seasons here.
Useful tips: Purchase an Oyster card – it’s a local transit card that makes transport a breeze!
Recommended vaccines: Click here!
Packing List
For this destination, your packing list will be very dependent on the season that you are visiting. It is quite chilly and can be rainy in the fall and winter, so we recommend packing thick sweaters, coats and warm boots. In the summer, there can be heat waves, so lightweight dresses or shorts/shirts can be more helpful.
- 1 bathing suit
- Sandals or sneakers – make sure you can walk for miles in them!
- Boots if winter
- Sunscreen
- A secure bag
The Sights
There are a few things that all tourists must do when they visit London. These aren’t necessarily the best things to do in London but they are certainly worthwhile. For example, we recommend seeing Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey also make it to that list. You’ll find that these areas are really touristy, so try to avoid eating around here as the prices are often increased for lower quality food. That being said, these monuments are iconic London and you must visit them at least once. You can either book a tour or explore on foot alone – we always prefer the second option!
The London Eye will give you spectacular views across London, and there are a few ways to enjoy it. The standard ticket allows you to travel around the wheel in a glass pod. In recent years multiple VIP experiences have been added. These include a “pub pod”, a champagne experience, a private pod and a cupid’s pod. You can find the link to those here though they can be quite pricey!
We also really enjoy visiting Tower Bridge. This is the iconic blue bridge that spans across the River Thames. By the way, it is not the same as London Bridge – thats further down the river! Have lunch in a cafe near the base of Tower Bridge. We’ve tried Cantina del Ponte which is an Italian restaurant across the Tower of London. They serve up classic Italian fare on their beautiful patio, best enjoyed in the summertime. We’ve also been dying to try Coppa Club Cafe on the other side of the river which has cute glass dining bubbles that offer privacy as well as spectacular views of the Shard.
Speaking of the Shard, this is a must-see while in London. It costs around 32 pounds to visit the Viewing Gallery which will get you breathtaking views across the city of London. We prefer to go up to one of the restaurants and pay for drinks and dessert – and you get the same view. You can actually stay at the Shard as well, in the Shangri-La Hotel. This is definitely on our list to try next in London. Their pool is insta-famous and sits on the 52nd level, offering sweeping city views.
Visiting the famed Tower of London is one of the most breathtaking things you can do in London. This is a great place to learn about the bloody and violent history of the country. You’ll see prior prince and princesses bedchambers, suits of armor, and even the crown jewels. You can even walk along the old Roman Wall that encircles the property. The Beefeater shop is a cool place to look for souvenirs afterwards.
Yas’s absolute favorite place in the entire city of London is St. Paul’s Cathedral. This breathtaking cathedral was built and actually burned down in the Great London Fire of 1666. This is where Prince Charles and Lady Diana got married and is also home to Winston Churchill’s remains. Be sure to check out the circular Whispering Gallery at the top! P.S. there is a famed monument to the Great Fire near the Tower of London that’s worth taking a look at.
Visiting lots of different museums and attractions in London can get expensive, so if it’s your first time visiting and you want to see EVERYTHING we recommend getting the City Pass. It’s a pass you can purchase and download on your phone and gives you access to over 80 attractions in London. Most importantly it will get you in to the Tower of London, the Shard, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey. It’ll also allow you on the Uber Boat and the hop on-hop off bus which will get you where you need to go. The pass is available for up to 10 days at a time which is useful if you plan to visit over a span of multiple days.
For shopping we recommend Oxford Street. This is a long street that has many MANY big name department stores. There are also smaller souvenir and local shops speckled in the mix. You can also head to Harrod’s in Knightsbridge which is a world famous department store popularized by the rich and famous. We love having afternoon tea upstairs in the tea room. Harrod’s is really close to Buckingham Palace so makes a good before or after stop.
All that walking around can make you very hungry. Camden Market is the place to head to for a diverse selection of street food vendors. There are a few sit-down restaurants as well, but our favorite thing to do is grab a small bite from multiple stands. There are also stalls selling clothes, music and local arts and crafts that are very unique. It’s located right next to Camden Lock which is an active lock – sometimes you see boats passing through!
If you like markets, then London is the right city for you. Covent Garden is covered in a glass ceiling and has lots of small shops and boutiques along with bigger name stores. Greenwich market is a great indoor market also with a glass roof giving an outdoor feel. It has delicious food options and very interesting and unique clothing and art. Spitalfields makes should also be on your list.
There are also many museums that can be explored in London. Some of our favorites are the Victoria and Albert museum, the Tate Britain, and the Natural History Museum. You can also explore the National Gallery and the London Science Museum. We’ve heard fantastic things about the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew but haven’t made it there yet.
Finally, it’s dinner time and London spoils you for choices in this area. Chinatown is a great spot to have very authentic Chinese food, often at an amazing price. Dalloway Terrace off Oxford Street has a beautiful flowery patio. Don’t forget about dining at one of the restaurants in the Shard or at the OXO Tower Restaurant (though be prepared to splurge!).
For the evening time, there are tons of options for entertainment. We personally love catching a show near Leicester Square, the theater district. You can buy same day tickets at one of the many booths in this area for great prices. The Hippodrome is nearby and is a historic establishment offering casino games and nightlife. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is an iconic place to watch your favorite Shakespearian drama and savor a piece of history as well. You can also check and see if there is anything showing at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. SoHo is also a lively neighborhood to have drinks after dinner. There are endless amounts of cool, unique bars and clubs to visit in London.
Picking A Neighborhood
The Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard is in an extremely popular neighborhood as it’s an easy walk to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. For another unique stay, check out the Sunborn London which is a yacht turned hotel oozing old school glam. There are tons of cute AirBnBs available in London that should not be overlooked either. For example, check out this awesome houseboat with spectacular views! Try to stay either in Soho, Covent Garden or near the Tower of London for easy access to many of the hotspots.
Which Season Should You Travel In?
If you absolutely despise cold, rainy weather, then definitely visit during the summer time. Weather is often quite warm and London has had several heat waves in the past few years. Keep in mind, many of the buildings are old and don’t have functioning air conditioning. You’ll see locals sunbathing in the parks, making the most of the sunshine while they can.
We particularly enjoy visiting London in the cooler months. California doesn’t really have seasons so we like to make the most of it in places that do! London really does it big for holiday time. There’s always multiple beautiful Christmas trees dotted around the city, and many fabulous light displays. Oxford Street in particular always has beautiful arches! We also visited a fabulous Christmas market in Knightsbridge one year.
Other Tips
Exploring pop culture is one of the best things to do in London! If you’re into that but clueless, check out our list of movies to watch before exploring London here. Be sure to check out King’s Cross Station (you might be headed here anyways, if you’re catching a train) to view the iconic Platform 9 3/4 sign. If you’re a Beatle’s fan, check out Abbey Road and snap a picture (between cars!) On the crosswalk. You can also see Baker Street which may ring some bells if you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes. Stroll around the beautiful neighborhood of Notting Hill and picture scenes from the same-named movie.
We highly recommend combining London with Paris for an unforgettable trip. You can take the Eurostar train through the Chunnel (underwater!) for a quick 2 hour trip to the Gare du Nord. Find our Paris itinerary here!