Although being the smallest city in England, London attracts the most number of visitors in the entire Europe. London has something to offer to everyone whether one is a theatre enthusiast, a history lover, or a city person. Being one of the most expensive cities for visitors it has a lot of places where people can visit for free too. Here is a list of 12 best things to do in London-
1. Take a tour of Buckingham Palace
What better place to start the London tour than the palace itself. Apart from the private quarters, the London home of Queen Elizabeth II, is open for tour to the people everyday in the summer. In the winters and during spring selective days are selected for the people to visit the palace. It is one of the favourite things for tourists to do in London. This tour gives a peek into the life of the royals and the rooms where they do various stuff.
2. Visit the British Museum
The British Museum is an architectural marvel in itself apart from the numerous antique artifacts that it houses. The entry to the museum is free so people can have a good time at no cost. It is especially famous among people who love history. The museum holds almost 8 million artifacts. One can get a guided tour to move around the museum some of which are free and some of them cost a few pounds depending on the service. Audio guides are also available at a cost of 7 pounds.
3. See the wax statues at Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds have branches all over the world but the best is where it all started almost 250 years ago, that is in London. The wax museum in London features a wide range of wax statues of various people of prominence, starting from the Queen herself. There are wax statues of various celebrities from all around the globe. It was founded by wax sculptor Marie Tussaud. This place is usually crowded as it is quite famous among the tourists.
4. Ride on the London Eye
This should be in the bucket list of every traveler who wants to have a good bird’s eye view of London. Although it is not recommended for people who are afraid of height because this giant Ferris wheel, located on the river Thames, is 400 ft tall. The wheel which is also called the Millenium Wheel circles around swiftly in slow motion providing an awesome view of the south bank of London. People have to stand in long queues before their turn comes.
5. Spend an evening at Hyde Park
Hyde Park is one of the largest and most famous parks in London. The park has a significant spot in the historical events, being the place of numerous protests and demonstrations. Every week, various debates, protests and performances are organized till date, in the famous Speaker’s Corner. The park houses two water bodies where people can enjoy a picturesque view of the white swans swimming, go paddle-boating and enjoy a serene time in the heart of the city.
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6. Shop at least one traditional London Market
One of the best things that tourists look forward to in a place is to walk around the local market, look for and buy things as souvenirs. There are a number of markets in London- Brick Lane, Portobello Road Market or Covent Garden which gives the people a taste of the traditional market in London. The most famous among them is Camden Market. People should visit at least one of these markets. For people who love to shop, taking a full day to explore all of the street markets would be a great idea.
7. Cruise through the Thames River
Known as the ‘blue lifeline’, the Thames river is of utmost industrial importance in London. Being the oldest river in England, it has been a settlement base for years. There are numerous cruise services which take tourists across the river at different intervals. These cruises run almost every 30 minutes from prime locations across London. People are taken through various sights like Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye. Some cruises also service at night which gives an awesome view of the places lit up.
8. Experience Magical World of Harry Potter
For the Potterheads, a day at the Warner Bros. Studios, London would be a dream come true. They can visit the sets where the Harry Potter movie was shot. The studio is a bus ride away from central London. It is a day-long tour across the studio and the people can go behind the scenes of the movie sets and explore the actual prop and costumes that are displayed there.
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9. Visit Baker Street
Baker Street is known as the place where Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle’s infamous detective, lived in. Sherlock Holmes museum can be found near the underground station. Madame Tussauds museum is also around the corner of this street. People can explore both these places. After sightseeing the area people can visit the Regent’s Park or climb up the Primrose Hill which gives the most spectacular view of the city.
10. Go to Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is the meeting point of 5 busy streets of london and is quite a hustle-bustle. It is a lively square with bright lights and big electronic displays and is a commercial hub of London since old times. At the centre of the circus is the Statue of Eros which is a famous tourist attraction. There are some of the biggest theatres and nightclubs accessible from here. People can visit Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum to see some weird stuff.
11. Take a Tour of London Tower
With an impressive interior, London Tower has a lot to offer to its visitors. It comprises multiple towers, out of which 12 are open for the public. There is a crown jewel exhibition where people can see the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross and the Imperial State Crown which the Queen still wears to the State Opening of Parliament. An hour long tour by the Yeoman Warders (tower guards) is something to do here. They will give all the details of the history of the tower during the tour.
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12. Watch a West End Musical
Not everyone has taste for musical theatres but watching a West End Musical has not disappointed anyone, even if that person is not a theatre enthusiast. London is famous for its theatres and it is one of the best among them. West End Musical showcases a blend of new and classical theatricals featuring local as well as renowned artists like Benedict Cumberbatch himself. The tickets have to be brought a day earlier.
These are just a few of the many interesting things that London offers to its visitors. From historical monuments, shopping streets, high rides to theatres the visitors would not be disappointed by their visit to the city. People can go for a helicopter ride over the city to get a full bird’s eye view.
