10 Best Things to do in London, England

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Looking for the absolute best things to do in London? You’re in the right place!

London is one of the biggest cities in the world, and there’s so much to do here that it can be hard to know where to start! So if you’re struggling to decide what to do in England’s capital city, then we’ve got you covered. 

At this point, I’ve visited London more times than I can count, so I’ve tried and tested all of the best activities! This top 10 list covers London’s historic hotspots, tons of pubs, and fun day trips to other beautiful parts of England. Oh, and don’t forget a healthy dose of Harry Potter! 

What to Skip in London? One thing we have learned after visiting London a few times is that the free tours are not really the best option. Although at first glance they seem more affordable, by the time you tip the recommended amount of $15 to $20 per person, the “free” tours are not much cheaper than some paid tours and are much less professional. On the free tours, the guides are volunteers who are oftentimes university students or expats. On paid tours, you’ll get expert guides who have been trained and have tons of knowledge. To us, paid tours are always the better option.

Things To Do in London 

1. Eat your way around London on a food tour 

• Duration: 3.5 hours 
• Time: 10:30 am – 4 pm 
• Highlights: multiple routes available, trying classic British cuisine or finding hidden gems, lots of food tastings, small group tour
• Inclusions: 6 different food tastings, alcoholic drinks, local guide
• Rating: 5 stars (check 1,400+ reviews here)
• Free cancellation: yes 
• Price: Check Price Here

Bad food is a common British stereotype, but I promise that this food tour will change your mind! What I love about this tour is that there are actually two different routes available, so you can choose to gorge yourself on British classics like sausage rolls, fish and chips, and sticky toffee pudding (my favorite!) on the London Bridge route, or discover London’s global cuisine on the Soho tour. 

We went for the London Bridge tour, as we were keen to eat lots of quintessentially British foods. Our guide, Chris, took us to the famous Borough Market where we got to try lots of hearty classics, including the best sausage roll in London! We loved eating proper English fish and chips, and we also got to go to a cozy, historic pub for beers and dessert. It was so much fun and we were absolutely stuffed by the end of the tour. 

However, London is an incredibly multicultural city, so if you’re keen to discover the city’s diverse food scene, the Soho route is just what you’re looking for. This version of the tour takes you to where London’s cool kids hang out and includes curry, tapas, bao buns, and a liquid nitrogen dessert. Perhaps best of all though, you get to visit one of Soho’s uber cool distilleries for a gin tasting! 

We absolutely loved this tour. The London Bridge route was fantastic, and we enjoyed it so much that we’re definitely going to do the Soho version next time we’re in London! 

Don’t miss this culinary experience – book this food tour in advance here.

2. Tour Stonehenge and Windsor Castle

• Duration: 11 hours 
• Time: 8 am 
• Highlights: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, the Roman Baths in Bath
• Inclusions: Stonehenge entry, Windsor Castle tickets (if selected), Roman Bath admission (if selected), historian guide, audio headset, luxury coach with WiFi on board
• Rating: 4.5 stars (check 14,000+ reviews here)
• Free cancellation: yes 
• Price: Check Price Here

One of the best things about London is that it’s a fantastic base to explore some of England’s most unique and historic attractions. Stonehenge and Windsor Castle are both world-famous landmarks so of course we had to go and check them out while we were in London, so we booked this full-day tour to make life easier.

First, we visited Windsor Castle, which is one of the British royal family’s official residences, and has been for almost 1,000 years! We loved visiting the opulent rooms and seeing the influences of different monarchs on the castle’s decor and architecture. The castle also houses the Royal Collection of artwork, so we saw tons of historic paintings and sculptures by prominent artists. 

Next up, we continued onto Bath, which is one of England’s most beautiful towns. We opted to book the tour with admission to the Roman Baths included, and we’re so glad we did because we loved exploring with our guide. Bathing here is no longer allowed, but these are some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world, so they are still 100% worth a visit. 

Finally, we visited Stonehenge, which is one of the most mysterious ancient monuments in the world. We had time to explore the site at our own pace and went to the visitor center, where we saw a forensic reconstruction of a 5,500-year-old man. It was super interesting! 

All in all, this is a fantastic whistle-stop tour for anyone who wants to see some of England’s most famous places in just one day. We really got to dive deep into the country’s history and see some very beautiful spots. We definitely recommend booking this tour with the Windsor Castle and Roman Bath admission included, as we consider them to be must-see places. 

Book this top-rated tour here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!

3. Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour

• Duration: 7 hours 
• Time: 8:15 am – 1:45 pm 
• Highlights: seeing sets, costumes, and props that were used in the movies, a chance to try treats like Butterbeer and chocolate frogs, learning behind-the-scenes secrets, exploring at your leisure
• Inclusions: round-trip transport from central London, admission tickets 
• Rating: 4.5 stars (check 3,000+ reviews here)
• Free cancellation: yes 
• Price: Check Price Here

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, then the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a must while you’re in London! It really is magical, and this organized tour makes it so easy because it covers your transport and admission, and then you get to explore the movie sets at your leisure. 

What really impressed us about this experience was how immersive it was. We didn’t just see static sets and props, we got to walk along Diagon Alley, pose for pictures on the Knight Bus, and see a dragon breathing fire in Gringott Bank! We also got to explore the Forbidden Forest, go to Platform 9 ¾, and enter Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse. It really did feel like stepping right into the movies that we grew up with. 

And honestly, these are just a few of the sets we saw – we would be here all day if we listed them all! We were glad that this tour allowed us 4 hours to explore the studio fully because there is just so much to see. We also loved seeing iconic costumes from the films, and learning about the special effects process, which is a totally different kind of magic! 

This tour is so much fun that  I think even non-Potter fans would enjoy it, but if you like the movies then it really is a must. I’m pretty sure most of us have dreamed about going to Hogwarts, and this tour is the closest us muggles will ever get to making that dream come true! 

Book this tour with over 2,000 5-star reviews here, before it sells out!

4. Join London’s Best Full Day Tour

• Duration: 9 hours 
• Time: 7:45 am 
• Highlights: St. Paul’s Cathedral, changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, sightseeing cruise on the Thames
• Inclusions: guide, transport, admission to St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London, Thames boat ride
• Rating: 4.5 stars (check 2,400+ reviews here)
• Free cancellation: yes 
• Price: Check Price Here

If you’re short on time in London, then we highly recommend you book this comprehensive full-day tour! In fact, even if you’ve got a while to spend in the city, this tour is a fantastic introduction to London, as it covers many of the city’s most iconic sights. 

We got to enjoy guided visits to St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London, which are two of London’s most famous attractions. We especially loved learning about the dark history of the Tower of London, where many historical figures have been imprisoned, including Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes, and the Kray twins. We also got to see the Crown Jewels here, and met Yeoman Warders, aka England’s famous Beefeaters! 

Our guide, Peter, also took us to see the Houses of Parliament, and we went to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard, although do be aware that this only happens on the odd days of the week. But for us, probably the highlight of the day was the Thames River cruise, as we got to see many of London’s top sights as we glided along. I loved cruising past Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, the Shard, London Bridge, and many places we had already visited earlier in the day, like the Tower of London. 

This tour is a true one-stop-shop for London’s best highlights. I would highly recommend booking it for your first day in the city so that you can get your bearings and tick off the most important attractions. There’s also the option to add a cream tea at Harrods or ride on the London Eye. We had already booked this separately, but including it in the tour is a great choice if you only have a few days to spend in the city. 

Reserve this tour here and get FREE cancellation before you go.

5. London historical pubs walking tour

• Duration: 3.5 hours 
• Time: 2 pm or 7 pm 
• Highlights: visiting traditional pubs, fun stories and anecdotes about London’s past, seeing historic buildings 
• Inclusions: local guide 
• Rating: 5 stars (check 6,000+ reviews here)
• Free cancellation: yes 
• Price: Check Price Here

You didn’t think that we’d forgotten about London’s incredible pub scene, did you? Good! 

This guided tour was actually one of our favorite things that we did in London. Like many travelers, we were keen to experience London’s pub culture and visit some tried-and-true British pubs. There are so many of them in London that it can be hard to know where to start, so this tour helped us avoid tourist hotspots and ensured we visited plenty of old and atmospheric spots. 

Our guide, Adam, was so funny and told us lots of stories about London’s drinking culture, which definitely made us laugh. He created a really relaxed atmosphere, which was perfect as this was a very informal tour. It feels more like going out for drinks with a group of friends! 

Drinks are on your own account for this tour, but Adam introduced us to some great London beers and even took us to a pub with over 100 different types of gin on offer. It was interesting to hear about the famous figures who frequented each hotspot, and we also loved exploring lots of hidden streets and back alleys that we wouldn’t have found on our own. Plus, pubs really are a cornerstone of British culture, so this tour is the best excuse we’ve ever had to drink lots of beer! 

Book this tour with more than 6,000 5-star reviews here!

6. Visit Oxford and the Cotswolds Villages

• Duration: 10 hours 
• Time: 9:15 am 
• Highlights: visiting Oxford, free time to explore the historic villages of Burford and Bibury, small-group tour
• Inclusions: minivan transport, driver and guide 
• Rating: 4.5 stars (check 900+ reviews here)
• Free cancellation: yes 
• Price: Check Price Here

The university town of Oxford and the villages of the Cotswolds are world-famous for their picturesque English beauty, and this full-day tour makes it super easy to visit them both on a day trip from London. So if you want to see the storybook side of England that’s shown in movies and TV shows, then booking this tour is a must. 

What we liked about this tour was that it was a small group tour, so although we got to see a lot in one day, the pace was relaxed. We had free time in each place to explore as we saw fit, but our fantastic driver, Barry, gave us some great recommendations on what to go and check out – and even where to find the best cream tea in Burford! 

We really enjoyed visiting Oxford, as it’s home to the oldest (and arguably the most prestigious) university in the world, so the town is filled with historic buildings and beautiful university colleges that you can go and visit. Unsurprisingly, many scenes from the Harry Potter movies were filmed in Oxford! 

Then, it was onto the Cotswolds – more specifically, the villages of Burford and Bibury. The Cotswolds are just magical, with their honey-colored stone cottages. Most of the buildings here date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, so it really does feel like stepping into a fairytale. We loved exploring the quaint main street of Burford, but the highlight of the day had to be Bibury. Every corner of this village looked like it belonged in a painting. 

As much as we love London, we relished the chance to get out of the big city for a day and see a totally different side of England. The rolling hills and pretty cottages in the Cotswolds made for a refreshing change of pace, and we would definitely do this tour again! 

Check availability and secure your spot on this unique tour here.

7. Ride the London Eye

• Duration: 30 minutes 
• Time: 11 am – 5:45 pm 
• Highlights: panoramic views of the Thames, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and more!
• Inclusions: admission, skip-the-line entry (if selected) 
• Rating: 4.5 stars (check 3,000+ reviews here)
• Free cancellation: yes 
• Price: Check Price Here

The London Eye was built to celebrate the millennium and quickly became one of the city’s most iconic attractions. It really does offer the best views of London, because you can see for miles in every direction from those glass pods. Basically, it’s a must while you’re in town! 

Since the London Eye is so popular, lines can get very long! For that reason, we highly recommend booking skip-the-line tickets if there’s room in your budget, especially if you’re visiting during the summer, around the Christmas period, or on a public holiday. We breezed right past the queues and only had to wait for about 5 minutes. 

However, if you do book standard entry tickets, it will be worth the wait, regardless. We could see all of London’s most famous attractions up here, including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Bridge, and the city’s financial district. From up here, we were truly able to get a sense of what a historic, diverse, and beautiful city London is. 

The wheel moves super slowly, so it’s not scary at all, and there’s plenty of space in the pods. This is a real must-do activity while you’re in London, and if you’re short on time, it means you’ll still get to see everything! It’s definitely one of the best observation wheels we’ve been on, and we would definitely go again. 

Save time when you book skip-the-line tickets here!

8. Take a guided tour of Westminster

• Duration: 5 hours 
• Time: 10 am 
• Highlights: seeing Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Downing Street, and the Houses of Parliament, exploring Westminster Abbey
• Inclusions: Westminster Abbey admission, local guide
• Rating: 5 stars (check 1,000+ reviews here)
• Free cancellation: yes 
• Price: Check Price Here

Exploring Westminster is a must while you’re in London, and in our experience, this guided walking tour is the best way to do it! The city of Westminster is London’s most important borough, so don’t miss the opportunity to explore this area in depth. After all, this is the UK’s seat of power! 

We met our guide, Adrian, outside The Ritz, and began what turned out to be a very in-depth walking tour. We got to see the 20 most important sites in Westminster, which include Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Number 10 Downing Street, aka the home of the Prime Minister. Adrian was a fantastic guide, and he really brought Westminster’s history to life for us, as he regaled us with tales of the antics of past prime ministers and monarchs. We also got to watch the Changing of the Guard at the Horse Guards Palace, which was fantastic to see. 

Then, we also got to go on a guided tour inside Westminster Abbey, which was our favorite part of the tour. Westminster Abbey is the site of all royal coronations, as well as many royal weddings, including Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding and, more recently, Prince William and Kate’s nuptials. It’s incredibly grand inside and the ceiling feels as though it’s miles above the ground!  

We would highly recommend this tour for anyone who’s interested in history or politics, or who just wants to see some of London’s most important and beautiful buildings. We definitely came away knowing a lot more about the British political system, and the city of London itself. Adrian’s commentary definitely made the experience 10x better, so we’re so glad that we booked this tour! 

Check out the hundreds of 5-star reviews and book this tour here.

9. See the top Harry Potter film locations

This Harry Potter tour was so much fun, and it’s also a super budget-friendly walking tour. So if you love Harry Potter, this is a total win-win! 

We met our guide, Anais, and she sorted our group into Hogwarts Houses, which was a fun way to begin the tour. She paced the tour really well, and she also knew a lot about London’s history outside of Harry Potter.

We got to visit lots of places that were featured in the Harry Potter movies, or inspired scenes in the book. We loved checking out Borough Market, aka the site of the Leaky Cauldron, and the Millenium Bridge, which was famously destroyed by Voldemort’s Death Eaters in the sixth movie. Visiting Covent Garden was a real highlight, too, as this is a famous area of London that we already wanted to visit, and it was also the inspiration for Diagon Alley! 

Anais quizzed us on our Harry Potter knowledge as we explored famous film locations, and she created a really positive atmosphere among our small group. For us, this tour was very nostalgic and reminded us of watching the Harry Potter movies growing up, but we also think it would be a fantastic option for families with kids or teens who are into the franchise. And at £19, it’s one of the most budget-friendly tours in London, so what’s not to like?

This tour is popular – book it now and get FREE cancellation options 24 hours before you go!

10. Enjoy lunch on a River Cruise

• Duration: 1.5 hours 
• Time: 11:45 am 
• Highlights: seeing famous landmarks along the banks of the River Thames, 2-course meal, commentary   
• Inclusions: lunch, boat cruise
• Rating: 4.5 stars (check 800+ reviews here)
• Free cancellation: yes 
• Price: Check Price Here

There are several reasons why we love this lunch cruise along the River Thames! For one thing, it’s a great way to sightsee, as many of London’s most famous landmarks are along the banks of the Thames. It’s also a relaxing way to explore, and it’s budget-friendly because a nice lunch in a London restaurant will almost certainly set you back more than £35! 

We loved the huge windows on the boat, as we had fantastic views of London as we sailed through. We especially loved cruising underneath the famous Tower Bridge, and sailing right past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament! There was also commentary on board to make sure that we didn’t miss anything. 

As for the food, it was superb! The menu does change regularly, but we enjoyed the beefsteak mushroom with fresh veggies and then strawberries and cream tart for dessert. Drinks weren’t included, but we were able to order our own from the on-board bar, so of course we had to treat ourselves to some bubbles. We also got complimentary tea and coffee after the meal. 

The staff really couldn’t have been nicer to us, and they made us feel so welcome. It really was like dining in a classy restaurant! We had plenty of time to enjoy the views in the open air on the outdoor deck, and after a busy few days of exploring London, it was so nice to just relax and take it all in with some good food and drinks! We would 100% do this tour again, and I think that it would be a fantastic way to celebrate a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary. 

Check availability and book this lunch cruise in advance here.

Where to Stay in London, England

London is a massive city, so where you stay really depends on what you plan on doing! Luckily, the tube provides excellent public transportation, so you can get all around the city no matter where you stay. Here are my three recommendations for a luxury, mid-range, and budget stay!

Luxury – $$$

St Martins Lane London is located in Covenant Garden, which puts you within walking distance of one of the best areas. The rooms are modern, minimalist, and very trendy – but make for quite the luxurious hotel. They have an onsite bar and restaurant that is top tier, or you’re close to tons of great London hot spots.

Prices for this luxury hotel start at £330 and can be reserved on Booking.com.

Mid-range – $$

For a quieter stay not directly in the city center, The Drayton Court Hotel is a high-quality option at a moderate price point. It’s right next to the West Ealing Railway Station so you can get anywhere quickly, but enjoy a different side of London. I love this period themed hotel, who wouldn’t want a room with a clawfoot tub!? You can choose from twin and double rooms to luxury suites.

Rooms are priced from £160 to £260 – not bad! Check availability and book this hotel on Booking.com.

Budget – $

The Z Hotel Victoria is all about location (okay, and nice rooms too!). Located just a 5-minute walk from Buckingham Palace, this budget stay is great for travelers who want to be out exploring, instead of hanging at the hotel. The rooms are quite small, but clean and provide all you need for a comfy place to rest your head.

You can book a room for £100 to £130 here on Booking.com.

For more options, check out all of the hotels in London here.

Thanks for reading!

It’s easy to see why London is such a fun city to explore! Not only can you see the beautiful, historic buildings, but dive into it’s local culture, eat yummy food and drink its iconic ales, and try out an accent for the day. We had the best time in London and if you follow this list, I know you will too.

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