25 Best Things to Do in London

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One of the world's most famous landmarks, iconic Big Ben has been synonymous with the City of London and the Houses of Parliament for centuries. Often mistaken for a tower at the northeastern end of the Houses of Parliament, it is actually the bell within the tower that is named Big Ben and whose strikes were heard for the first time on July 11th, 1859.

Resting in the Elizabeth Tower, renamed by the House of Commons in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, Big Ben swings behind the clock face and has rarely stopped ringing the hours. Visited, viewed, and admired by millions of people from all over the world, this iconic landmark is not only magnificent to look at but has also played a vital role in the history of the city of London and of England itself.

Westminster, London SW1A 0AA, UK, Phone: +44-20-7219-4272

© Borough Market

Based in Southwark in Central London and one of the largest and oldest food markets in the city, Borough Market is a wholesale and retail food market that sells an array of gourmet foods, delicacies, fresh fruit and vegetables, and made-to-order fare. Established in 1014 as a fresh food market for the local people, Borough Market has been selling fresh produce, including bread, cheese, fish, meats, vegetables, ciders, coffees, cakes, and patisseries for over 1,000 years.

The market has more than 100 stalls, including stands that specialize in imported goods. The market is open from Monday through Saturday, with full market days on Wednesday to Saturday and a variety of fruit and vegetable stalls and hot food traders on Mondays and Tuesdays.

8 Southwark St, London SE1 1TL, UK, Phone: +44-20-7407-1002

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Founded in 1753, the British Museum is home to a remarkable collection of treasures spanning more than two million years of human history and encompassing an array of world cultures. Centered around a magnificent Great Court, the museum's permanent collection features more than eight million objects, including extraordinary mummies from Egypt, ancient Greek sculptures from the Parthenon, and the world-renowned Rosetta Stone.

In addition to the impressive permanent collection, the British Museum also hosts special exhibitions, displays, and events designed to encourage a greater understanding of the collection and the cultures they represent.

Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, UK, Phone: +44-20-7323-8299

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Buckingham Palace is the official London residence and administrative headquarters of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom and an iconic symbol for the people of London. Located in the City of Westminster and housing the Royal Family for more than 180 years, Buckingham Palace is also one of London's most popular tourist attractions, drawing millions of visitors every year to view the magnificent building and watch state occasions, royal hospitality, and other special events.

The palace has 775 rooms. The state rooms, which are used for official and state entertaining, are open to the public every year during August and September. The palace's garden is the largest private garden in London.

London SW1A 1AA, UK, Phone: +44-303-123-7300

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Cutty Sark is a legendary 19th-century British clipper ship, the fastest ship of her time and the world's sole surviving tea clipper. Built on the Clyde River in 1869 for the Jock Willis Shipping Line, Cutty Sark was one of the last tea clipper ships to be built and is now on display in Greenwich as an award-winning visitor attraction.

After being damaged by fire, the ship was lovingly restored to its former glory, raised out of the water and ensconced in a modern visitors center. Here, guests can walk directly beneath the stern, which rests three meters above the ground, to see and touch the original hull planks and iron framework, which are nearly 150 years old. The Cutty Sark Museum is open daily and hosts an array of exciting events and programs throughout the year, featuring music, comedy, and drama.

King William Walk, London SE10 9HT, UK

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The Globe Theatre is a famous Elizabethan open-air theater in London that is associated with William Shakespeare and his works. Built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, known as the Lord Chamberlain's Men, the theater was designed as a three-story, open-air amphitheater that could house up to 3,000 spectators.

The original theater was destroyed in a fire in 1613 and rebuilt a year later; a modern reconstruction, named "Shakespeare's Globe," was completed in 1997. Today, the oak-and-thatch replica of the original Elizabethan theater puts on open-air Shakespeare plays, offers guided tours of the building, and features an engaging and informative exhibition that explores the life of Shakespeare and the theater for which he wrote.

21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT, UK, Phone: +44-20-7902-1400

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Hyde Park is one of London's eight Royal Parks and the largest in the city. The park is the greatest of four that form a chain of green urban spaces, including Kensington Gardens, Green Park, and St James' Park, and is home to several famous landmarks, including the Serpentine Lake, Speaker's Corner, and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain.

Hyde Park covers 350 acres in the heart of London and attracts millions of Londoners and tourists every year to enjoy its beautifully landscaped grounds, peaceful lakes, and an array of recreational activities, including boating, cycling, horseback riding, and open water swimming.

The Old Police House, Hyde Park, London W2 2UH, UK, Phone: 0300-061-2000

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Kensington Palace is a royal residence overlooking the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens. Set in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the palace has been a residence for the British Royal Family since the 17th century. The palace is currently the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Today, several of the state rooms are open to the public, including the King's and Queen's State Apartments, which display many paintings and other objects from the Royal Collection, and the Royal Gardens. Kensington Palace also features various exhibitions as well as a shop and The Orangery Café.

Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, UK, Phone: +44-20-3166-6000

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With its magnificent dome framed by the spires of Wren's city churches, St Paul's Cathedral is one of the most iconic and recognizable sights of the London skyline. Designed in the English baroque style by acclaimed architect Christopher Wren and built in the late 17th century, St Paul's Cathedral sits on Ludgate Hill, overlooking the city.

The Anglican cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of London, the main church of the Diocese of London, and is dedicated to Paul the Apostle. Dominating the skyline for more than 300 years, the cathedral is the second largest church building after Liverpool Cathedral and claims a significant place in the national identity of the United Kingdom. St Paul's Cathedral is a working church with daily services, including state funerals, Jubilee celebrations, and peace services.

St. Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, UK

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The Tate Modern is Britain's national gallery of international modern art. Located in the former Bankside Power Station in the Bankside area of Southwark, Tate Modern forms part of the Tate Group, which includes Tate Britain, Tate St Ives, Tate Liverpool and Tate Online.

One of the largest museums of contemporary and modern art in the world, Tate Modern is home to a national collection of British art dating back to the 1900s and features an array of both contemporary and international art. The gallery features a permanent collection, to which admission is free, as well as a variety of temporary exhibitions that change throughout the year.

Bankside, London SE1 9TG, UK, Phone: +44-20-7887-8888

© The Phytology Medicinal Garden

The Phytology Medicinal Garden is one of London's most beautiful botanical garden facilities, originally established in 2014 at Bethnal Green Nature Reserve. The garden transforms a former World War II-era bomb site in East London into a gorgeous natural and cultural institute, showcasing plants that are utilized in the science-based practice of phytotherapy, which uses molecules derived from a variety of plant species for the purpose of medicinal treatment. Visitors can explore the garden or harvest their own plants with the assistance of the facility's staff. All plants are cultivated in pollution-free soil to ensure safe use for medicinal purposes. Special events held at the facility throughout the year include modern apothecary workshops and UpRoot creative and performance gardening workshops.

Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, Middleton Street, Bethnal Green, E2 9RR, London

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Located on the ground floor of County Hall on the South Bank of the River Thames, the Sea Life London Aquarium takes visitors on an inspiring underwater journey into the depths of the ocean. Established in 1997, the aquarium is home to thousands of sea creatures, including rare green sea turtles and stingrays, and features a variety of exciting exhibits such as the "Shark Walk," the "Shark Reef Encounter," and the "Ocean Tunnel."

Thousands of visitors encounter the creatures of the deep in impressive displays at the aquarium every year, and it is also renowned as a leading center of excellence in conservation, education, preservation, and marine management.

County Hall, Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 7PB, UK, Phone: +44-0871-663-1678

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One of London's most famous tourist attractions and skyline icons, The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel located in the South Bank district by the River Thames.

Also known as the Millennium Wheel or the Coca-Cola London Eye, the London Eye stands at 443 feet high with a diameter of 394 feet and offers the second highest public viewing point in London after the observation deck on the 72nd floor of the Shard. Located in the London Borough of Lambeth, the London Eye is set at the western end of the Jubilee Gardens between the Hungerford and Westminster Bridges.

Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB

© The Peggy Porschen Parlour

The Peggy Porschen Parlour is an award-winning baker ad food art studio in London's affluent Belgravia district, founded in 2003 by its namesake cake designer and her husband Bryn Morrow. The studio, which has been open to the public since 2010, crafts edible works of art for special events, including birthday parties, wedding and baby showers, and corporate special events. Creative cupcakes, cookies, and ready-to-eat cakes are also sold at the bakery, which has received acclaim from international publications such as Vanity Fair and Vogue and has designed cakes for celebrities such as Elton John and Madonna. Visitors to the bakery can enjoy a variety of delicious tea, coffee, and champagne beverages to accompany baked goods selections.

116 Ebury St, Belgravia, London SW1W 9QQ, UK, Phone: +44 20 7730 1316

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Sozai is ]the first cooking school in the UK focused solely on Japanese food. As well as helping students learn the classics like sushi and tempura, Sozai goes deeper into Japanese cookbooks, offering tutorials and classes on food like shojin and kaieseki, as well as delicious okonomiyaki and various types of ramen too. Classes are held on a regularly scheduled basis at two locations around London, with private classes and catering available too.

Sozai holds classes at two different venues in London: 5 Middlesex Street in the City and 3-4 Warwick Street in Soho. You can also arrange to take Sozai Japanese cooking classes at various private venues. Part of what makes Sozai such a good option for cooking enthusiasts or simply people looking for something fun to do in London is the fact that these classes are fully accessible to all. Some classes may be aimed at those with experience, but the vast majority are designed for students of all levels. Phone: +44 20 7458 4567

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For more than six decades now, Chimes Music has been the number one name for printed music, instruments, and other musical products in London. The brand boasts three stores around the capital city, as well as offering online orders.

Kensington Chimes Music was the original Chimes Music location, situated just a couple of minutes away from the South Kensington underground station and in the heart of the city's museum district, with storied music venues like the Royal Albert Hall mere minutes away. This store has the biggest selection of all three Chimes Music shops, so it's a good one ot choose if you want to be sure of getting what you want. The Kensington Chimes Music store is situated at 9 Harrington Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 3ES. To get in touch with this store, you can call +44 (0) 20 7589 9054 or visit chimesmusic.com.

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If you are in London and want to feel like a local, try seeing the city from the seat of the Mini Cooper, the true London icon. Small Car Big City is a tour company that offers to take you on a tour of London in your own beautifully restored Mini. Buzz through the city from your Mini like so many Londoners and drive by Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral, and much more. You will be guided by true Londoners, people who love their city as much as they love the fun little cars. They offer a range of tours such as two-hour long Landmarks of London, London’s Best Bits, the four-hour long The Italian Job that includes a stop for a coffee, a visit to the local markets and street art, and the eight-hour long Live like a Local.

8 Northumberland Avenue, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5BY, Phone: +44 2078 396 737

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The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is where the two Houses of the Parliament, namely the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meet to conduct their business. Situated on the north bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster borough, the Palace of Westminster originally served as a royal residence until the 16th century and is a beautiful example of Gothic Revival architecture.

The palace houses over 1,000 rooms, including the chambers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as libraries, committee rooms, lobbies, dining rooms, and bars, and one of the palace's most famous features is the clock tower, which houses the famous Big Ben bell.

Westminster, London SW1A 0AA, UK, Phone: +44-20-7219-3000

© London Cocktail Club

The plan was to open a bartenders’ paradise, where people can come for the world’s best cocktails, where they can throw their hands in the air, sing and dance to the latest band, and be loud and rowdy. It started with one bar in 2008, quickly exploded all over London, and is now spilling out onto the scene. Each bar is unique, with its own brand of craziness. Their original Covent Garden Cocktail Club is a classic Victorian speakeasy, a relaxed, laidback, dimly lit basement club where everyone can become a member in 24 hours, for free. Leather sofas and vintage decor offer a perfect backdrop for excellent cocktails, both classic ones and new ones that pop up daily. There is also a small selection of beers and wines.

29 Sclater Street, London, E1 6HR, Phone: +44 20 7580 1960

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Tower Bridge is one of London's most famous attractions and an iconic symbol of the city. Built between 1886 and 1894, Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge that crosses the Thames River and is situated close to the Tower of London.

The bridge features two towers, which house the Victorian engine rooms and form part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition. The towers are connected by two horizontal walkways that are open to pedestrians and boast beautiful views over the river and city. Tower Bridge was painted white, red and blue for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP, UK

© Bread Ahead

As you are browsing through London’s Borough Market, follow the most tantalizing smell of freshly baked bread and you will find Bread Ahead. The stalls are brimming with loafs of crunchy sourdough breads, cheese and olive sticks, focaccia, white tin loaves, ciabatta, and all sorts of donuts. Everything comes from their bakery just around the corner, where they also run a baking school. It is your chance to learn how to make all these goodies – they are addictive – and join one of the many half-day workshops. The bakery has a few more shops around London where you can also get a full breakfast and a cup of coffee while checking your Instagram.

Borough Market, Cathedral St, London SE1 9DE, United Kingdom, Phone: +44 20 7403 5444

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Trafalgar Square is a famous public square in central London that commemorates the British victory in the Battle of Trafalgar during the Napoleonic Wars. The square has been significant landmark since the 13th century, initially containing the King's Mews before they were moved to Buckingham Palace, and has been used for community gatherings and political demonstrations over the centuries.

Today, the square is a must-see destination for visitors to London and has the 169-foot Nelson's Column at its center, guarded by four iconic statues of lions. The Fourth Plinth hosts an array of contemporary art, and at Christmas time, the square is home to the largest Christmas tree in London. Trafalgar Square is also home to thousands of pigeons.

Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, UK, Phone: +44-20-7983-4750

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The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world's leading museum of decorative arts and design. Founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the museum houses a vast permanent collection of more than 2.3 million objects spanning over five centuries of human creativity.

The museum is home to many of the UK's national collections of art and design and features some of the world's greatest resources for the study of art, architecture, Asian Art, design, decorative arts, textiles, fashion, photography, and more. Admission is free.

Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL, UK, Phone: +44-020-7942-2000

© PopUp Painting and Events

PopUp Painting and Events is a unique painting event company that offers pop-up events throughout the London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds areas, originally established in 2013 and hosting its premiere event at the Soho Hotel. Today, the company produces more than 45 events per month at more than 25 partner venues throughout the greater London area, including events at private homes and venues upon request. All painting supplies are provided by the company, including brushes, canvases, palettes, and aprons, with expert instruction on hand to bring creativity out of the art classroom and into the everyday realm. Most events take place in bars and restaurants throughout the London area, with wine and beer available for purchase to help get creativity flowing. popuppainting.com

© Le Garrick

Le Garrick has been one of London's top French restaurants for more than three decades, originally opened in the city's West End in 1987. The Covent Garden restaurant is renowned throughout the city for its authentic Gallic-style cuisine and candlelit atmosphere, offering a la carte, lunch, and pre- and post-theater menus at affordable rates. Modern twists on French classics such as moules marinière, pâté de maison, beef Bourguignon, and duck confit are taken directly from authentic recipes passed down from generation to generation, with classic appetizers such as escargots de Bourgogne also served up. An all-French wine list is offered to complement all meals, with sommelier service available for best wine selection.

10-12 Garrick St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9BH, UK, Phone: +44-20-72-40-76-49