London and I have a long history together; in fact, it dates back to 2008, when I made the bold decision to relocate there even though I had never left Canada. Eleven travels to London and eight years later, our romance is still going strong. I believe I have a good idea of which areas of the city must be viewed once in a lifetime because I have been to most of the important landmarks and strolled down its countless charming streets.
Are you really visiting London for the first time? These are the 33 must-see locations and must-do activities while there. Greetings from London!
Historic pubs in London
Whether you’re searching for a cask ale or a lively pub, London has plenty of options—in fact, the city is home to over 7000 pubs! My two favorite historic London pubs are the Churchill Arms in Kensington, which was once the home of Churchill’s grandparents; the Holly Bush in Hampstead, which is 200 years old and has a fireplace; and the Nag’s Head in Belgravia, which is a quiet mews pub that visitors are unaware exists. I’m well on my way to trying them all.
The Palace of Buckingham
Not stopping by to greet Lizzie would be impolite! You have two choices: either take in the changing of the guard every other day at eleven, or choose to see the state rooms (limited openings throughout the year, plan accordingly).
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
A trip to London wouldn’t be complete without taking a photo with the city’s iconic landmark! Make sure to go when the fabled bell rings, which is every hour. To find out more about the most well-known bell in the world, history buffs can schedule a tour of the Houses of Parliament.
Market in Borough
There are dozens of culinary stalls at London’s oldest market, which is almost a thousand years old. A nice spot to buy delicious presents and observe folks. The market is only open Wednesday through Saturday, so please take note.
The London Eye
The London Eye offers an unmatched view that is well worth the price, particularly of the Houses of Parliament and the River Thames. At 394 feet, the Ferris wheel was the tallest in the world when it was built.
Court Palace in Hampton
One of only two surviving palaces owned by King Henry VIII, the austere Tudor-style royal palace has multiple exhibitions depicting the life and death of this notorious womanizer. Even a bike tour of the grounds can be scheduled!
A themed London walking tour
A walking tour of London for Harry Potter and Muggle lovers
London Historical Walking Tour with Paddington Bear and Admission to the Churchill War Rooms
The first punk tour in Soho, London
East London walking tour: Shoreditch, Brick Lane, and Spitalfields Market James Bond movie sets
The Beatles’ Central London nighttime tour
Two-hour subway tour of the London Underground
Walking tour of the Women of Westminster
Black murder, butchery, and burnings: a walking tour of London’s violent past
London walking tour of Sherlock Holmes
A walking tour of London’s flaming past, from Roman ruins to Blitz bombings
Museum of Natural History
Welcome to Darwin’s former playground. In fact, the scientist himself collected many of the specimens located inside this famous building in London. Within the five primary collections of botany, entomology, minerals, palaeontology, and zoology, there are 80 million objects in all. The NHM is well-known for its dinosaur skeleton exhibit, which has won numerous awards. While you’re there, why not schedule a private, skip-the-line visit?
Brick Lane Curry
Before I entered Aladin’s, I had a long-standing suspicion that all of Brick Lane’s curryhouses had a same underground kitchen. Aladin is a typical Indian restaurant with delicious and sharing dishes that was named “one of the world’s best curryhouses” by the BBC.
