Essential guide of what to do in London

Everyone who’s been to London believes they have the list of what to do when you’re there but for what it’s worth, here’s my essential guide of what to do in London. Whether it’s for a few days or an extended stay, there’s always places I love to revisit which are quintessentially London.

Coming from the other side of the world and a flight which crosses multiple time zones and takes nearly 24 hours in the air, I generally find myself flying in quite early in the morning and then the battle with jet lag is on as I endeavour to have a full day and go to bed at a reasonable hour to make the most of my stay.

No matter what city I’m in, I love to jump on a Hop On Hop Off (I like the Big Bus Tours) and acquaint myself with where I am and things I want to revisit later during my visit. In London though, although I’ve done it many times, as well as taken in both the Night and River tours, their public transport system is great and easy to get around either by tube or the famous iconic London red double decker buses.

Citymapper App

Recently when I was in London, I downloaded the Citymapper app and it enhanced my experience even more. Not only did it show me how to get to places, but also the best mode of transport, and you can sort by cost, or if you’re wanting to keep fit, how many calories burnt which is great when you spend a lot of time walking around London.

Baccarat Bar, Harrods

To celebrate, I’m in London, I always find a nice glass of champagne somewhere fancy is a great place to start. Other times I’ve found myself at Bentley’s which is sadly now closed, but this time I went to their Baccarat Bar tucked away on their Lower Ground Floor. The house champagne, Harrods Premier Cru Brut, was served in exquisite Baccarat crystal glasses and was the perfect place to say ‘Cheers’ to a week in one of the best cities in the world.

Harrods

While you’re at Harrods, don’t forget to take some time to wander around one of the most iconic department stores in the world, and make sure you visit their souvenir store where you can pick up anything emblazoned with the Harrods’ logo. I had a few orders from friends to bring home some classic Harrods green tote bags.

Harrods is also home to approximately 300 departments including designer brands such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci, as well as 20 restaurants and a gourmet food hall. Harrods even has its own in house beauty salon.

Thames River Walk

I generally stay right in the heart of London, and my favourite hotel is Sea Containers London situated at South Bank overlooking the Thames. From here, I can stroll along the Thames River and find myself at the London Eye and Westminster, or in the other direction I come to the Borough Markets and Tower Bridge.

London Eye

The London Eye, situated on the South Bank of the Thames, was originally intended to be a temporary attraction but when the five year lease was up, it was kept as a permanent structure and is now London’s most visited tourist attraction. It’s made up of 32 capsules, each representing the boroughs of London and each holds about 25 people. The rotation lasts 30 minutes and provides a 360 degree view of London. For enhanced enjoyment, try the Champagne experience at sunset.

London Dungeon

For a fun and quick take on London history, wander across the walkway from the London Eye to the London Dungeon. For 90 minutes, you are taken underground for an entertaining look at some of London’s darkest periods in history including chambers where you hear about The Gunpowder Plot, the Plague, the Great Fire of London and Jack the Ripper. It’s not to be taken seriously and at the end there’s a vertical free fall drop ride three storeys high.

Westminster

Walk along the river towards Westminster Bridge, and make sure you get some obligatory shots of the iconic London cityscape – the Elizabeth Tower, (or Big Ben as it’s famously known), the House of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

Churchill War Rooms

Spend a couple of hours underground at the Churchill War Rooms and discover the nerve centre of the British Government during World War II. The underground chambers provide a fascinating walk through history, no matter how old you are.

St James’ Park

After visiting Churchill’s War Rooms, head out in to the daylight and stroll through St James’ Park which is the setting for pageants such as Trooping the Colour or for a small fee, enjoy some quiet time lounging in the deckchairs.

Buckingham Palace

After relaxing a little at St James’ Park, continue through the park until you come to Buckingham Palace, the King’s official London residence. Take a tour through parts of the Palace including the Throne Room and the Palace Garden. Be sure to be there at 11am through the Summer months, and weather permitting a few days a week during the Winter to watch the popular Changing the Guard ceremony.

Kensington Palace

Speaking of palaces, make sure you take in Kensington Palace, home of TRH the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children. Full of history, Kensington Palace was also the childhood home of a young Queen Victoria as well as home to Diana, who maintained her apartments number 8 and 9 after her divorce from King Charles. Wander through to the Sunken Garden to see the recently installed Diana Memorial.

The Tower of London

While we’re speaking about all things royal, no trip to London would be complete without a trip to The Tower of London. You really could spend a whole day here, but I always choose to select an area or two and do a deep dive visit. It could be the Crown Jewels you want to see, which is always very popular, and best to get in line early during the Summer months. Or perhaps you’re a poignant fan of the tragic story of Queen Anne Boleyn, and want to spend some time at the place where she sadly lost her head. No matter what the drawcard to The Tower of London, it’s not to be missed. I always find myself marvelling at the structure which was partially first built in the 1070s.

Tower Bridge

When you think of London, you think of the iconic Tower Bridge. Opened in 1894, the famous bridge is now a famous tourist attraction in itself. You can marvel at the state of the art Victorian engineering which sees it still lift up to 800 times a year to allow oversized vessels pass. Or walk 42 metres above river level, across glass plated floors for a birds’ eye view of the traffic and river below.

Borough Market

Feeling peckish? Then head to the Borough Market in Southwark. The Market which boasts a 1,000 year history is the best place to go to whether you’re after fresh, high-quality produce or a bite to eat from one of the many street food trucks permanently on site. Borough Market is one of my favourites, from fresh flowers to spices and cheese wheels bigger than your head, you definitely won’t go hungry with the array on offer, and you will probably find yourself taking away a few items as well.

Camden Market / Spitalfields Market

If markets are somewhere you love spending time at, then definitely head to Camden Market. Boasting over 1000 stalls, it is actually a series of markets and boasts everything from vintage wear to furniture to new artisan designers selling their wares. There’s a reason why it’s London’s most famous market and boasts over 250,000 visitors weekly. Open seven days a week and some evenings, the only day Camden Market isn’t open is Christmas.

Spitalfields Market is another amazing market that is a must visit. Situated in the East End, you will find a vast array of wares, but particularly if you’re there on a Thursday it’s the best place to go for their Vintage and Antique Market.

Brick Lane

If you’re in the mood for a good curry and a pint like a true Londoner, then while you’re in the East End, you need to head to Brick Lane. Popular during the 70s and 80s, Brick Lane was known to be the place to go for Indian cuisine. Nowadays, other restaurants and fashion stores have moved in but there’s still over 20 curry houses open if you want to say you’ve had a Curry on Brick Lane.

Portobello Road

My other favourite market in London is the Portobello Road street market. I love nothing more than strolling along Portobello Road perusing all the vintage clothes and hats, as well as popping into the recycled stores along the way. Last visit, I nearly needed a new suitcase with all my purchases. The op shops are really reasonably priced. I was purchasing good quality t shirts and dresses for as low as £5.

Notting Hill

Heading from Portobello Road to Notting Hill Gate tube station is a great 10-15 minute walk. Along the journey, you pass more vintage and recycled good shops, as well as a few vinyl record stores which are always great to explore for t-shirts and memorabilia. Notting Hill is a gorgeous part of London to explore in the well-heeled borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the houses are picture perfect, there’s great cafes and restaurants and you have Portobello Road. What more could you want for a great London experience?

Oxford Street

Known as Europe’s busiest shopping street, even if you’re not purchasing, you should definitely take a visit to Oxford Street. With over 300 stores on the street which stretches from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road station, its home to a number of flagship stores and iconic department stores such as Selfridges and Marks and Spencer. If price is no object though, check out Bond Street, home to luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Chanel.

The West End

Have you really been to London, if you haven’t seen a show on the West End? Home to nearly 40 theatres, you would be hard pressed to find nothing to see. In fact, you will probably find you don’t have enough time to take in as many shows as you want, especially if you have limited time. Make sure you download TodayTix for last minute tickets at great prices.

There’s more than theatre in the West End though. You’ve also got Covent Garden, fantastic for sitting in a pub or restaurant and listening to undiscovered musical talent or buskers in the piazza.

While you’re in the West End, don’t forget Soho for great nightlife, it’s home to many iconic music venues including my favourite jazz and blues bar in London, Ronnie Scott’s. In Soho you will find a vast array of pubs, bars and clubs, and for the LGBTIQ+ community, it’s home to Old Compton Street.

Around the corner from Ronnie Scott’s is London’s Chinatown. As well as grabbing an authentic Chinese banquet, don’t miss out on Opium, a 1920s Shanghai style cocktail bar and dim sum parlour. Yum! I’m salivating just thinking about their array of dim sum!

The West End is always bustling with activity and it definitely is the part of London where you would say, there’s something for everyone.

So there you have it, a list of some of the great places you must put on your itinerary when heading to London, and I haven’t even started on all the fantastic museums that it’s home to, or day trips away from the capital, or the Zoo, or Kew Gardens, or even The Shard, or Bermondsey, one of my favourite places to wander around and the list goes on…

What are your essential places to visit and things to do when you’re in London? Send me a message and let me know. There may be a follow up next time I’m there!