Top 12 Things To Do In London

One of my favourite places in the world! I love the fresh smell of the air in London. Having spent a lot of time in this city, I thought I would pen down my thoughts about the places that are a must visit and have to be part of your  ‘things to do in London’ list.

Buckingham Palace

The official residence of the British monarch since 1837, the Buckingham Palace is also the administrative headquarters of the Queen of England. The State Rooms of the palace are open to visitors during the Annual Summer Opening from late July to September. They are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection. In all, there are 775 rooms of which 19 are State Rooms, 52 bedrooms, 188 staff quarters, 78 bathrooms and 92 offices. The Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace is a colourful spectacle worth a watch.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

You can’t miss this museum as part of your things to do in London! Located in the centre of the city, this building was originally used as a planetarium. Now, it houses life size wax replicas of famous personalities from all fields. Along with celebrities from the western world, there are many famous Indians including the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi and many Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and of course the cricketing legend  Sachin Tendulkar.

Trafalgar Square

Another tourist attraction in central London is Trafalgar Square. In the centre of this public area is the Nelson’s Column guarded by four lion statues. On the corners, there are other commemorative statues and fountains. It’s a great place to bump in to street artists and even catch a flash mob. You can just relax, grab a coffee and a bite from the many cafes around Trafalgar Square and spend some time people watching!

London Eye

This huge ferris wheel located on the south bank of the River Thames is also referred to as the Millennium Wheel as it was inaugurated on December 31, 1999. It is the most popular tourist attraction of London and attracts over 3.5 million visitors per year. Standing 135 metres tall with a diameter of 120 metres, it takes half an hour for one revolution for you to enjoy a bird’s eye view of a 40 kilometre radius around London.

Oxford Street

Two and a half kilometres long stretching from Marble Arch to Oxford Circus and onwards to Tottenham Court Road, Oxford Street is the busiest shopping street in whole of Europe. With 300 odd retail outlets, you will find a number of large departmental stores here including Debenhams, Marks & Spencer’s, HMV Music Shop, John Lewis and Selfridges to name a few. The larger stores are really large with Marks & Spencers covering 16,000 square meters!

Hyde Park

Hyde Park is 145 hectares of open space in central London and home to a number of famous landmarks including the Serpentine Lake, Speakers' Corner and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. It has a great history from being a hunting ground to witnessing duels, executions, horse racing and also being used as a potato field during the World War II. It’s a great place for outdoor recreation and if you are lucky, you many just catch the occasional concert held here.

The Big Ben

Officially named St. Stephen’s Tower, the Big Ben is one of London’s most famous landmarks. Big Ben is actually the name given to the largest of the five bells that are inside the clock. It weighs more than 13 tonnes and is the one that chimes the loudest on the hour, every hour. At night, the faces of the clock are illuminated and look quite spectacular.

Tower Bridge

As part of your things to do in London list, a visit to iconic symbol of London, the suspension bridge on the River Thames is a must-do. Its name and Gothic style architecture stem from its proximity to the Tower of London. It is probably one of the most recognisable bridges in the world. You can walk across the bridge and also visit the Tower Bridge exhibition to learn more about its history and observe the Victorian engine room inside.

Covent Garden

Located in London’s West End, Covent Garden is the place to enjoy a great mix of shopping, restaurants, bars and theatre. Some parts like the Covent Garden market piazza, St. Martin’s Courtyard and the floral street are traffic free and great places to explore on foot. Visit boutiques by emerging designers, quirky craft stalls and watch street theatre. West End is the famous theatre district where you can catch some great plays from musicals and classics to comedies. Some plays at West End have been running for over 25 years!

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus, in the heart of London, has often been compared to New York’s Times Square because of the large neon hoardings and advertisements that adorn it. It lies at the intersection of five roads and has a fountain installed at its centre. It is walking distance from Soho, Chinatown, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and West End.

Westminster Abbey

Located in the heart of London, this beautiful 700-year-old church sees over a million visitors a year, apart from the thousands that come to pray at the daily services.  It has been the setting for every Royal Coronation since 1066 and numerous other royal occasions including 16 royal weddings. In April 2011, the much talked about royal couple Prince William and Kate Middleton took their marriage vows in this beautiful church.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral, the masterpiece of Britain's most famous architect Sir Christopher Wren, is probably one of Europe’s largest cathedrals with the size of its dome exceeding that of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. On top of the dome is a huge lantern weighing 850 tonnes. Climb 560 steps to visit the three galleries at the top of the dome. The first one is the Whispering Gallery, getting its name from its amazing acoustics; a whisper on one side can be heard clearly 100 feet away. The Stone Gallery is the second and is outside the dome. The Golden Gallery is the third, which goes around the base of the huge lantern from where you can get amazing views of the city. Go underground to the cathedral’s foremost burial place, the Crypt, where some of Britain’s heroes have been laid to rest. So when you book you trip to this cosmopolitan city, don't forget to include the above in your agenda of things to do in London.

Book Your Flight to London Here!