London is a big city with so much to do and see so make sure you give yourself enough time to see everything you want to. Depending on how long you are staying, it is likely that you won’t get to see everything on this list so it is important to make sure you pick the sights that are most important to you.
London Pass: The London Pass is a good way to gain entry into several attractions at a much lower cost. The cost of the pass varies depending on how many days you’ll be in London and whether you want access to all of the attractions the pass covers or not. Make sure you check the list of attractions the pass covers first to make sure it lines up with the attractions you want to see. Some attractions require you book in advance and some don’t require any reservation. Make sure you know which attraction requires a reservation so that you can book it in advance. These attractions can get quite busy so you’ll want to make sure you book in advance to get the date and time you want.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace was home to Queen Elizabeth and is now home to the King. The Palace is one of the most popular attractions in London so it will be quite busy. If the King is home, the royal flag flutters at the top of the Palace.
The staterooms are open to visitors from July-September every year. I recommend visiting at a time when you can witness the changing of the guard. This occurs on Monday’s, Wednesday’s, Friday’s and Sunday’s at 11:00 or Tuesday’s, Thursday’s and Saturday’s at 3:00 (weather permitting).
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is a great place to visit to learn more about the royal family and see the King’s and Queen’s State Apartments. It was first a royal residence under Queen Mary II and was until George II. It has been used by other members of the royal family but not Queens or Kings. After exploring Kensington Palace you can head outside to the gardens to walk around. This is another place where I would book my tickets in advance to make sure I’m able to go at the time I prefer.
St. James Park
St. James Park is right across from Buckingham Palace and is a great detour to take on your way to Buckingham Palace. I took my time walking through the park enjoying the wildlife, including the famous pelicans and the nature. If you are strolling through here before heading to Buckingham Palace remember to be mindful of the time so you don’t miss the changing of the guards.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is one of the most important churches in England and has been home to several royal events. Many famous and royal Englishmen are buried and commemorated in this church. The Gothic Church is almost 1000 years old and a must-see attraction in London.
Big Ben
Big Ben is one of the most iconic sights and is not to be missed when visiting London. Big Ben is actually the name of the bell inside the tower and the tower forms part of the Palace of Westminster.
Palace of Westminster
Palace of Westminster (House of Parliament) is home to the British Government and is one of the largest Gothic buildings in the world. There are more than 1000 rooms in the building so I recommend doing the guided tour so you get the most out of your visit. Make sure you plan your visit in advance because when parliament is session, tours are only offered on Saturday’s. If you are there during recess, tours run Monday-Saturday.
London Eye
The London Eye is an observation wheel located on the bank of the River Thames that provides stunning views of London. The wheel stands 135 meters high and is one the tallest ferris wheels in the world. The ride takes about 30 minutes and provides 360° panoramic views from one of the 32 pods. The one thing I wasn’t expecting was that the wheel doesn’t really stop so you have to get in and out of the pods while the wheel is still moving, which freaked me out a bit.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is the most popular park in London and is connected to the Kensington Garden making it one of the largest city parks in the world. Hyde Park is a great place to relax and enjoy nature. I recommend grabbing some lunch and heading to the park to take a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Hyde Park hosts tons of events throughout the year including winter wonderland, concerts and performances.
Notting Hill
Thanks to the movie, this is one of the most popular spots in London to explore, especially for first timers. Notting Hill is filled with vibrant coloured houses, cute shops and pubs and is a great area to spend the afternoon walking around. The beauty of Notting Hill is definitely Instagram worthy and a great spot to get some pictures for the gram! Notting Hill is also home to the famous Portobello road market, which you should also check out while exploring the area.
Shopping on Oxford Street and Regent Street
These are two of the most popular streets for shopping in all of London and are close to each other, which means you can easily spend an afternoon walking around and hitting some great stores.
Oxford Street will have a lot of your stores you are used to shopping at home while Regent Street has the higher end designer shops.
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is another great area to head to for cute shops, great restaurants and cinemas. It is even home to street market at Christmas!
St. Paul’s Cathedral
This stunning cathedral is one of the largest in Northern Europe and has also been home to several royal events over its 300-year history. There is also several famous people buried in the church crypt with memorials in honour of them. You can purchase tickets to see the cathedral Monday-Saturday with services being held on Sunday’s and Monday’s.
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is surrounded my many buildings and museums you may be planning to visit while in London and is great meeting spot. There is a large pillar with Lord Nelson and several fountains in the square. You will also be able to admire entertainment from various street artists.
Shakespeare’s Globe
You can head to Shakespeare’s Globe to take a tour and learn all about Shakespeare and his time living there. If you don’t find that interesting, you can skip the tour and see a performance in the theatre. It’s pretty cheap to see a performance there and a great way to spend a rainy afternoon if the weather isn’t cooperating.
Sky Garden
Sky Garden is an indoor garden and bar at the top of one of the highest buildings in London offering great 360-degree views over London. Entrance is free but you do have to book a time slot online before arriving so keep that in mind. It’s a great place to stop at for a break and a drink while exploring London.
Tower of London
The Tower of London was previously a prison for a while but it is now home to the Crown Jewels of Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal Family. On top of the all the royal jewels you can also explore the castle and meet the famous Beefeater guards.
London Bridge
The London Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks in London. You can head to the bridge and take in the Tower Bridge exhibition while enjoying the view of the River Thames. The footbridge at the top has a piece of glass for where you can look down at the road or the river below you. It is also near the Tower of London so you can there after the bridge.
Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street is a colourful pedestrian street that runs parallel to Regent Street and has tuns of cute shops and restaurants to explore.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is home to tons of restaurants, bars, markets and cafes so it’s the perfect spot to grab lunch or dinner while enjoying the atmosphere and street performers. Everywhere you look there is something different happening so you will surely be entertained while here.
Soho
Soho is best known for its nightlife in London. Soho is home some of the best restaurants, bars and clubs so if you are looking to have a night out while in London I would definitely head to Soho.
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is probably one of the most well-known spots in all of London. It is a famous road intersection surrounded by iconic advertisements on the surrounding buildings that light up at night.
