Table of Contents
London, the amusing capital of the United Kingdom, is one of the globe’s most popular tourist destinations. A visit to this city must include famous places such as Natural History Museum London, London Eye, London Zoo, Legoland London, Science Museum London, among others. There are so many important places in here to see and experience such as a fine selection of cafes, eateries, stunning Georgian architecture, Windsor Castle tour, London Bridge, a giant wheel London, Westminster Abbey tour, and much more. We take you through 15+ top things to do in London, so your visit to the UK‘s gem is unforgettable.
Travel 101: Top Things To Do In London
1. Catch Amazing Views from the London Eye
Watch spectacular 360-degree views of iconic landmarks atop the London Eye. The fabulous rotating wheel is 135 metres high and takes you up within a capsule in a gradual rotation. Located in the south bank of River Thames view the landmarks this city offers such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace from the capsule. Interactive guides and spectacular scenes make the London Eye ticket price worth it.
Timings: 10.00 am to any time between 6.00 pm and 8.30 pm
Average Price: $38.16 (adult) | $31.35 (child above age 3)
Pro tip: Skip the queue with a fast track entry ticket. Tickets must be booked online with timed entry.
2. Discover the Historic Tower of London
Visit this famous tourist attraction, the 900-year-old landmark was a royal palace, prison, place of execution, and a zoo. Tour the king’s medieval chamber and watch in amazement at the Tower of London Crown Jewels. Discover within the tower history of a royal palace, an armoury, learn about the Tower’s ravens and more. Meet the Yeoman Warders who will share 1000 years of historical anecdotes to keep you intrigued.
Timings: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
Average Price: $39.39 (adult) | $19.63 (child above age 5)
Pro tip: Skip the queue with a fast track entry ticket. Tickets must be booked online with timed entry.
3. A Brush With Celebrities at Madame Tussauds
Visit the museum Madame Tussauds London and be in the company of world-famous stars. This wax museum is a must-visit place in the UK. Wander among 250 wax life-like wax displays of famous stars such as Usain Bolt, Kate Winslet, David Beckham, Ed Sheeran, and more. The Madame Tussauds London tickets must be booked in advance with a timed entry slot. Allow yourself two hours to complete the amazing tour.
Timings: 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Average Price: $37.84
Pro tip: Madame Tussauds is located on Marylebone Road close to the Marylebone Station.
4. Take the Kids Out to the London Zoo
London Zoo is a famous London tourist spot, especially with kids in tow. The ZSL London Zoo is the world’s oldest scientific zoo with exhibits such as the Gorilla Kingdom, Meet The Monkeys, Human Zoo, Butterfly Paradise and more. Kids will be amazed to see zebras, hunting dogs, water hogs, otters, pygmy hippos and other animals here. Enjoy some food and drinks on the picnic tables and plenty of benches in the zoo.
Timings: 10.00 am to 2.00 pm; 12 noon to 4.00 pm (last entry at 3.00 pm)
Average Price: $46.67 (per adult during peak season)
Pro tip: Adopt an animal at ZSL London Zoo, such as penguins, sloths, tigers, elephants and more.
5. Wander the Wonders of Kensington Palace
Among London’s main attractions is the royal residence set in the beautiful Kensington Gardens. One of the top ten tourist attractions in London, the State Rooms are open to tourists. Take a fascinating interactive experience of antique furniture, memorabilia in the Queen’s State Apartments and the life of Queen Victoria in the rooms associated with her. Currently, the palace is the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William and Kate. Enjoy this attraction for its royal history.
Timings: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
Average Price: $23.17
Pro tip: Participate in the ‘History Bites’ talk where experts educate you on various aspects of the palace.
6. Explore the Natural History Museum London
The Natural History Museum London is one of the magnificent museums to visit. It is a research institution as well as a fantastic museum. The magnificent building with the terracotta facade is a wonderful attraction. Explore the natural wonders inside the museum such as Dippy the Diplodocus, the dinosaur or the 26-metre long replica of a Diplodocus skeleton, a diving Blue Whale skeleton among others. T-Rex is also amazingly popular for a London tourist. It displays a man-sized foetus in the womb illuminated with graphic diagrams.
Timings: 10.00 am to 5.30 pm
Average Price: Free
Pro tip: ‘Earth’s Treasury’ in the Red Zone or the ‘Creepy Crawlies’ exhibits in the Green Zone are other amazing displays in the museum to see.
7. Take a Daring Tour of the London Dungeon
One of the top London attractions, witness interactive shows with 360-degree sets that tell gripping stories of London’s dark history. Enjoy the state of the art special effects, two underground thrilling rides, 20 live actors displaying acts of 1000 years of history, and more. Laugh, scream and stay thrilled as you watch popular shows such as Jack the Ripper, The Torture Chamber, The Descent among others. The popular thing to do here gets even better if you visit during Halloween for extra scares and dares.
Timings: 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Average Price: $32.62 (online ticket)
Pro tip: Plan your visit and book your tickets in advance. Arrive 15 minutes before the timeslot on your ticket to avoid disappointment.
8. A New World at SEA LIFE London Aquarium
The amazing underwater world at SEA LIFE London Aquarium is a popular tourist spot. SEA LIFE is home to over 5000 creatures, a flagship aquarium where you can interact with the underwater world. This is a nice place to visit here, especially with kids. With so many sharks, jellyfish, rays, starfish touch pools, mini rainforest sections and a whole section of aquatic life to discover, the London Aquarium is one of the top ten tourist attractions in London. The Shark Walk experience, live feeding sessions, educational talks and 14 exciting themed zones make this an exhilarating hangout.
Timings: 11.00 am to 4.00 pm
Average Price: $33.50
Pro tip: Book your e-ticket in advance to secure your spot.
9. Traverse Science Museum London Kensington
The popular London museum, founded in 1857 has hands-on exhibits, shiny machines, crazy inventions, a 16th-century artificial arm, the Apollo 10 command module, and more. The London museum features seven floors of entertaining and educational exhibits from the Wellcome Wing for contemporary science exhibits, Pattern Pod for the importance of patterns in science to the Medical History Gallery for medical history treasures. Children have a great time at the Exploring Space galleries and the LaunchPad for interactive ways to learn basic science principles.
Timings: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
Average Price: Free
Pro tip: Galleries start to close 30 minutes before the closing time. Last entry to the museum is at 5.15 pm.
10. Mystery & Excitement at Harry Potter Studio
Visit the Harry Potter Studio in London and witness behind the scene making of the movie Harry Potter. Explore the Warner Bros Studio tours London offers and dive into the magical world of Harry Potter and film making. This is a famous tourist place in London if you are a Harry Potter fan. Walk through the Great Hall, catch the Hogwarts Express from London to Harry Potter world, wander the Forbidden Forest and learn about production and special effects. Discover some of Hogwart’s best-kept secrets and take a fully-guided tour to learn about the amazing sets and incredible effects.
Timings: 9.30 am to 8.00 pm (final tour at 6.30 pm)
Average Price: Based on the package
Pro tip: There are plenty of variations in the tour and tickets to suit various needs.
11. Embrace Nature at the Royal Botanical Garden
The Royal Botanic Garden London is a treat for nature lover. Stroll the World Heritage Site, a famous royal garden that houses more than 30,000 types of plants at Kew. The 130 hectares garden has a 250-year-old history and is located in south-west London. Be amazed at the unique vistas and landscapes with a collection of the most diverse plants within the greenhouse. The world’s leading botanical garden is one of London’s most beautiful places to visit.
Timings: 10.00 am to 3.00 pm
Average Price: $20.39 (adult) | $3.40 (children aged 4 years and above) | Free for children below 4 years
Pro tip: The Royal Botanic Garden also called Kew Gardens, has one of the largest herbariums in the world.
12. Have a Fun-Filled Day at Legoland London
The amusement park London in Windsor Resort is dedicated to the creativity and imagination of children. The theme park is around the Lego toy system and has a mixture of Lego-themed rides, building workshops, and Lego models. Kids between the age of 3 to 12 will find the park an unforgettable experience. Water rides, roller coasters, LEGO City, Kingdom of the Pharaohs and more make the place an exciting London tourist spot.
Timings: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Average Price: $51.90 (online tickets)
Pro tip: You could stay at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel located in the heart of the park.
13. Take the Fascinating Westminster Abbey tour
One of the most famous places in London, Westminster Abbey, is a fascinating historical museum and a place of worship. The Abbey is the final resting place of famous people in England’s history. Take a tour and see attractions inside the Abbey such as tombs of Mary Queen of Scots, John Keats, Robert Burns, Elizabeth I among others. Witness the spectacular Anglo Saxon oak door near the Chapter House that dates back to the time of Edward the Confessor. Take a tour of The Garth, College Garden, St. Catherine’s Garden, and The Little Closter. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are only a short walk away.
Timings: 9.30 am to 3.30 pm
Average Price: $26
Pro tip: Download the Westminster Abbey audio tour app on iTunes to know more about the attractions inside the Abbey.
14. Witness the Change Of Guards at the Buckingham Palace London
This 45-minute event in London is a popular thing to see. It takes place outside the Buckingham Palace London from 10.45 am on certain days. This free London event happens every 2 hours when the Queen’s Guard soldiers shift duty. The smartly dressed guards in their traditional red tunics and bearskin hats hand over to the New Guard amid music. A fascinating display to watch, your visit to London is incomplete without witnessing the ceremony.
Timings: 10.45 am for 45 minutes
Average Price: Free
Pro tip: The Changing of Guards ceremony takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from August to May. It takes place daily in June and July.
15. Stand Astride the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory Greenwich
The Royal Observatory Greenwich is a fascinating London tourist place which is all about the history of time, space, and navigation. Stand astride the Prime Meridian in the observatory situated in Greenwich Park overlooking the River Thames. The Royal Observatory’s Astronomy Centre is a free interactive gallery where you can get answers to all queries about space, time, and the universe. Visit the stars in the Peter Harrison Planetarium. Stay amazed at the beauty of the Harrisons clock, take a look through the Camera Obscura or visit the Flamsteed House.
Timings: 10.30 am to 4.00 pm
Average Price: $21.76
Pro tip: Visit the Great Equatorial Gallery free and marvel at the telescope.
16. Say a Prayer at the St. Paul’s Cathedral, London
London’s most beautiful place is St. Paul’s Cathedral where Prince Charles and Diana wed. Enjoy a tour with an introductory talk and on-site guides that take you through the must-visit place in London. Climb to the top of the cathedral’s dome for amazing panoramic views of London. Explore the architectural masterpiece and one of London’s sightseeing venues. Learn about the art, history, and tour the cathedral floors for 90 minutes. Notice natural light glitter through the colourful mosaic and beautiful paintings in the dome’s interiors. Take time to also visit the crypt to witness many tombs and memorials of famous Britons.
Timings: 10.00 am to 4.30 pm
Average Price: $23.95
Pro tip: Use the audio guide for information in various languages.
Recommended Reads: 50+ Breathtaking Things To Do in the UK A Complete Guide to UK Visa For UAE Residents
