Set your sights on London’s most iconic attractions, hidden gems and adrenaline-fuelled activities for the ultimate bucket list trip. Experience some of the best things to do in London and make memories that will last you a lifetime.
Red phone boxes, black cabs and big double-decker buses are all classic sights you’ll see as soon as you set foot in the UK’s capital city. Alongside a very British feel about it with its 2,000 years of history, traditional pubs and Royal guards, much of London’s vibrance comes from its deep-rooted multicultural influence.
This powerful and influential city is made up of 32 boroughs, home to over nine million people and spans 1,572 km2 – nearly double the size of New York City. Despite its vastness, you can easily travel from A to B on the buses, Uber boats and tube – the Victoria Line runs every 100 seconds in the mornings and evenings. If the thought of navigating the underground makes you wince, then download an app like Citymapper to do all of the hard work for you.
Travel by train to London Euston for an unforgettable trip in the Big Smoke.
Make the most of your time in the UK’s lively capital and work your way through the most epic bucket list experiences. To help you plan, here are the top ten best things to do in London.
Discover the best view of the Shard
Soak up the 360-degree views of the Big Smoke’s skyline and gain a new perspective of the city from this Eden in the air. Wander through the greenery and pristine landscaped gardens with plant species from the Mediterranean and South Africa. As the sun sets, watch the fiery glow light up the skyscrapers while you sip a drink from the bar.
The Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden, where you’ll find observation decks, an open-air terrace, restaurants and bars. Throughout the year, there are also numerous organised events for seasonal celebrations, live music and wellness activities like yoga in the sky.
Price: Tickets are free on weekdays between 10:00 to 18:00 and weekends 11:00 to 21:00 – it’s recommended to book a few weeks in advance, but they do also accept walk-ins before 17:00.
Where: City of London - 2.6 miles from London Euston station.
Closest underground: Monument
Cycle around Hyde Park
Hire a bike and cruise past the blooming roses, sculpted gardens and wildlife of Hyde Park . Spanning 340 acres, travelling on two wheels is a great way to see the largest Royal Park in London. Pick up a Santander Cycle and stop off at the historical monuments and memorials like the Diana Memorial Fountain. Whizz around the lake and finish your adventure with a drink and bite to eat at The Lodge Cafe.
If you’re not into cycling, you can enjoy some romantic boating on Serpentine Lake, a competitive game of tennis or tuck into a picnic on the grass. There’s also a shop to pick up some souvenirs and deck chairs dotted around the place for a sunny siesta.
Price: Free to enter and Santander Bikes cost £1.65 per 30 minutes.
Where: Westminster - 2 miles from London Euston station.
Closest underground: Knightsbridge
Brave the heights of the 02 Arena
Pull on a harness, clip yourself in and add a splash of adrenaline and adventure to your London visit by climbing the roof of the O2 Arena. Make unforgettable memories with your family as you cheer each other on with every step until you reach the 360-degree views of the Olympic Park, Greenwich and Canary Wharf. Book a Celebration Climb with a champagne toast at the top, the Sunset Climb for a romantic date night or the Twilight Climb for a multi-coloured light experience at UP at The O2 .
Price: Tickets start from £35 and children must be aged eight and over.
Where: Royal Borough of Greenwich – 9.1 miles from London Euston station.
Closest underground: North Greenwich
See all the iconic sights the easy way
The best thing about having a London tour bus as one of the top ten bucket list experiences is you’ll tick off a huge number of iconic landmarks in one go. To individually travel to every single one of them, look around and go inside, could take months. Instead, all you have to do is sit back, snap some pictures and jump off the bus whenever you fancy.
If you like the sound of discounted tickets for an unlimited 24-hour hop-on-hop-off sightseeing on the double decker Big Bus then book in advance with a 2FOR1 deal. You can also find tour buses with options like 90-minute guided tours, themed rides and luxury experiences.
Price: From £14
Where: Westminster - 3 miles from London Euston station.
Closest underground: London Victoria
Take a journey through history
Surround yourself with two million years of human history and culture, from the dawn of humanity to the present day. Artefacts that you’ve seen on TV but never dreamed you could get up close to are inside The British Museum . Discover the UK’s most treasured collection of historical objects and artefacts from ancient Egyptian mummies, mystical Easter Island heads and intricate sculptures that remain of great importance to this day for remote tribes in Africa.
Price: Free entry
Where: London Borough of Camden - 0.7 miles from London Euston station.
Closest underground: Tottenham Court Road
Step into an artist's home
Step into this opulent Victorian mansion with a mesmerising fusion of art and history. The Leighton House Museum is a lesser-known attraction offering a unique museum experience with its inspired architecture and interior design alongside the canvases on display. Initially, it was just Leighton’s artwork hung on the walls, but now you can see the works of numerous Victorian artists in the form of paintings, drawings and sculptures.
This former home and studio was a place of creative inspiration for the artist Frederic Leighton in the 19th century. As you enter the Arab Hall you’ll be surrounded by intricate Islamic tiles with a golden mosque-like dome above you. Throughout the museum are Frederic’s masterpieces – if you look closely, you’ll notice an interesting play on light, which he created using a special brushstroke technique.
Price: Tickets cost £11 for adults and can be booked online in advance .
Where: Kensington and Chelsea - 3.9 miles from London Euston station.
Closest underground: High Street Kensington
Stroll through the colourful Spitalfields Market
Exploring a vibrant London market is a must and deciding which one to go to is a tough decision. But for its wide variety of stylish stalls, unique contemporary brands and long-lived history as one of oldest in the city, Spitalfields Market is considered by many as one of the best.
Browse handcrafted gifts and artwork - or try your hand at a workshop like Art Play . Try on some trend-setting fashion garments from the likes of Periodical and Odyssey London . Treat yourself to some exceptional cuisine at the innovative street food stands inspired by flavours from around the world. Eat your way from South America at Dos Mas Tacos, to Africa at 2 Nigerian Boys and finish off in Asia at the Bamboo House .
Price: Free to enter
Where: Tower Hamlets – 3 miles from London Euston station.
Closest underground: Liverpool Street
Splash some cash in Oxford Street
Fill your boots with as much shopping as your bank balance can handle in this retail wonderland. Lined with huge department stores like Selfridges and John Lewis, tempting window displays, flagship stores and brands ranging from bargain to luxury, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Oxford Street . It’s one of the busiest shopping streets in Europe, and for good reason – with over 300 establishments stretching over a mile in length.
Price: Free to enter
Where: City of Westminster – 1.2 miles from London Euston station.
Closest underground: Oxford Circus
Sip a pint in London’s oldest pub
Pub culture is cherished by Brits and has significant historical roots, especially in London. Familiar waterholes dotted across the country serve as a base for a Friday night knees up, a hearty Sunday roast and weekday socialising. To fully immerse yourself in this traditional London culture, there’s no better place than The Prospect of Whitby in Wapping.
Established in 1520, it’s the capital's oldest riverside pub – where sailors, smugglers and pirates would once guzzle pints and start fights. Inside the 400-year-old stone floor, old barrels and ship wheels scattered around the bar help you to imagine what it was like here in the olden times. On the balcony, you’ll also see a hanging noose which commemorates Geoge Jeffreys, ‘The Hanging Judge,’ who would unwind here after a day working at the Execution Dock.
Price: Free to enter and around £15 for a roast.
Where: Tower Hamlets - 4.4 miles from London Euston station.
Closest underground: Wapping
Witness a West End wonder
As the velvet curtains are pulled back and the crowd goes silent, you’ll be moments away from being mesmerised. Prepare for elaborate costumes, immersive soundtracks, creative sets and groundbreaking acting on London's greatest stages. Settle in for a performance of a lifetime in London's West End and a catch famous classic musical or a contemporary new release.
There are more than 50 theatre venues in this district, scaling from small independent spots to grand iconic amphitheatres. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Theatre Royal is the oldest, dating back to 1663. While you’re there, Bond Street, Oxford Street, Regent Street and Covent Garden offer an excellent range of eateries to stop at before or after a show.
Price: Grab a ticket for a West End show for as little as £12.
Where: Westminster/Kensington and Chelsea - 1.3 miles from London Euston station.
Closest underground: Leicester Square
Handy tip: When you travel with London Northwestern Railway, you can get exclusive 2FOR1 entry to some of the UK’s top attractions.
Set your bucket list trip in stone and grab off-peak tickets in advance for less – kids can travel for as little as £1 with a Family Travelcard. Purchase your ticket via the London Northwestern Railway app.
