What To Do When Visiting: 27 Fun Things To Do in London

In a city crowded with iconic landmarks and bucket-list attractions, it can be overwhelming knowing where to begin. London is such a recognisable city, but delving a little deeper can reveal hidden gems that you never would have expected. Take a peek at these fun things to do in London to be inspired whilst planning your jam-packed city break itinerary.

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READ: The Ultimate London City Guide for Digital Nomads

Fun Things To Do in London

Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio

Location: Bus Transfer departs from Victoria Coach Station

Duration: 7.5 hours

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Venture behind the scenes to recognise many of the fantastic sets, costumes and props that were featured in the most successful movie series of all time. You could exchange Oxford Street for Diagon Alley as you wander across the famous cobblestones, passing Ollivander’s Wand Shop before visiting the Gringotts Wizarding Bank and the infamous Platform 9 ¾.

Explore the Tower of London

Location: City of London

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Pass the legendary Beefeater guardsmen at the Tower of London to explore one of the oldest monuments in London! Inside, you’ll find the glorious Crown Jewels, but the advantage of this guided tour is that you’ll gain access to view them before any crowd has arrived.

Hop-On & Hop-Off a Sightseeing Bus

Pass by, or make a stop, at some of London’s most iconic sights from the convenience of a hop-on hop-off open-top double-decker bus (what a mouthful!). En route, you will learn about the city’s history, culture and architecture with an onboard audio commentary between the bus route’s 19 stops.

Explore Little Venice

Location: Paddington

Duration: 45 minutes

Relax on board a leisurely one-way boat trip along Regent’s Canal. This journey will transport you from Little Venice to the popular Camden Market, whilst passing London Zoo, Regent’s Park and through the Maida Hill Tunnel. Look out for well-known musicians, actors and celebrities too as the boat glides past their grand houses.

Solve the Jack the Ripper Mystery

Location: Whitechapel

Duration: 2 hours

Explore the streets of East London as you take part in a mystery walking tour. This excursion will transport you back to 1888, as you’ll unravel the still-unsolved murders of Jack the Ripper. Participants will be subject to photographic evidence and true stories along the way as the investigation unfolds. Who committed the most shocking crimes in Britain’s history? Can you solve the mystery?

Visit the British Museum

Location: Fitzrovia

Duration: 2 hours

Take some time to marvel in awe at one of the world’s oldest and finest museums. You could spend a whole week at the British Museum as there is so much to see, so to make the most of your time, book a spot on a guided tour with a licensed guide.

Enjoy Afternoon Tea on the River Thames

Location: Tower of London (Tower Pier)

Duration: 1.5 hours

Hop aboard a riverboat near the Tower of London to set off downstream along the Thames. As you glide through the city passing the Houses of Parliament, the Shard and the London Eye, you’ll experience a scrumptiously traditional English Afternoon Tea. How la-di-da!

Ride High on the London Eye

Location: Waterloo

Duration: 30 minutes

Undoubtedly, the London Eye will, or should, be on your bucket list. After all, it is an icon of London’s skyline. Step into a capsule to feel the exhilaration as you rise above the Thames to gain a 360-degree view, looking over the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. There is no place for a fear of heights onboard as the London Eye is the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel at 135 metres. This is a great place to witness the sunset, and see the twinkling scenes of London at night too.

Tour the Royal Albert Hall

Location: Kensington

Duration: 1 hour

Gain access to the Royal Albert Hall to immerse yourself in the anticipation as the concert hall prepares for its next performance. Take time to absorb the ambience of the stunning auditorium, because this is where so many world-renowned talents have performed.

Watch the Changing of the Guard

Location: Pall Mall

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Witness a world-famous ceremony with a private or shared group tour of the ‘Changing of the Guards‘. From the best viewing point and being as close as possible, you will join the guards on their journey towards Buckingham Palace whilst marching to the beat of their drums.

Learn at the London Transport Museum

Location: Covent Garden

Duration: 2 hours (minimum)

Discover the history of London’s century-old transport system in the heart of Covent Garden. This is one of the greatest fun things to do in London with curious children!

Admire the Skyline from The Shard

Location: London Bridge

Duration: 1 hour (minimum)

Reaching 309.6 metres high, The Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom and the seventh-tallest in Europe. This is a top-rated tourist attraction with a 360-degree view of the city.

Eat your Heart out at Borough Market

Location: London Bridge

Duration: 30 minutes (minimum)

Foodies should head straight to Borough Market to be overwhelmed with an incredible choice of locally-produced food from Britain, and the rest of the world.

Visit the Houses of Parliament & Westminster

Location: Westminster

Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes

Step into the epicentre of British democracy with the official fully guided tour through Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.

Unique Things To Do in London

Speed along the River Thames

Location: Waterloo

Duration: 50 minutes

Hop aboard a high-speed vessel for a high-intensity level of fun nipping through the heart of London beneath bridges and between famous landmarks at speeds of up to 30 knots. This speedboat tour isn’t to be missed with an award-winning comedian onboard guiding guests with banter-fuelled narration and anecdotes. Don’t forget your anorak!

Dance along the Streets to a Silent Disco Tour

Location: Leicester Square

Duration: 1 hour

Boogie your way through the streets of London as the headsets fill your ears and body with beats, theme songs and smash hits from across the decades. Be part of the best all-dancing, all-singing and all-laughter walking tour in the city. The energy of your boogying guide will have you grooving past famous landmarks, whilst members of the public watch in awe and envy at the party that is unfolding.

Slip Down the World’s Tallest Tunnel Slide

Location: Stratford

Duration: 40 seconds

Experience a rush of adrenaline as you twist and turn, sliding down the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide. Enjoy breathtaking views of London before following the 50-metre finishing straight run back to ground level. You should expect to be hitting speeds of up to 15mph!

Climb the Roof of the O2 Arena

Location: North Greenwich

Duration: 1.5 hours

Squash any fear of heights that you may have by climbing a London landmark and crossing the suspended walkway of the O2 Arena. Any visitor who succeeds at completing the exhilarating journey will be rewarded with panoramic views over Olympic Park, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Canary Wharf and The Shard.

Spray Street Art in East London

Location: Spitalfields

Duration: 4 hours

Leave your mark on the streets of East End London by following the footsteps of Banksy, Shepherd Fairy, Invader, Stik, and many more. An expert guide will point out the best art the streets have to offer, before welcoming you and other guests to create your own mark.

Sip Champagne in a Floating Hot Tub

Location: Canary Wharf

Duration: 75 minutes

This may come off as a little random – I know! Nevertheless, you could enjoy the warmth of a hot tub whilst you float through the docklands of Canary Wharf. Between the bubbles of the tub and your glass of champagne, you’ll be so relaxed as your experienced tour guide reveals the area’s most fascinating tales.

Drink Booze on a 15-Person Bike

Location: Piccadilly & Soho

Duration: 1 or 2 hours

Are you exploring the city as a stag-do or hen party? One of the most fun things to do in London with a group of friends is to raise a glass on a unique 15-person bike tour. This moving bar will travel through Piccadilly and Soho, some of the areas you’ll want to experience during your stay.

Be Told Secrets of the Underground

Location: Marylebone

Duration: 2 hours

The London Underground is like a pulsing network of veins in the city; more than 1.3 billion passenger journeys are made every year between 270 stations. From the world’s first underground railway station, an expert guide will bring the fascinating history to life as they explain the evolution of the system.

Things To Do in London at Night

Dine Onboard a River Cruise

Location: Westminster

Duration: 3 hours

Take a leisurely river cruise to witness London’s famous landmarks illuminated at night. You will be presented with a delicious 4-course dinner as you enjoy entertainment from a live singer.

Join a Bar Crawl in Central London

Location: Soho

Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes (approximately)

Experience the culture of London’s famous nightlife between some of the best spots in Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Soho.

Free Hidden Gems in London

Sky Garden

This wouldn’t be a city guide without a recommendation to climb the tallest building. In fact, you’ll find that written earlier in the article. It is called, ‘The Shard’. Nevertheless, reaching the highest level is, by all means, not a cheap activity (at all!). Therefore, if you are in a pinch, have a look into ‘The Sky Garden’. It’s known as London’s Highest Public Garden.

Situated at the top of ‘20 Fenchurch Street’, more commonly named ‘The Walkie Talkie’, the Sky Garden consists of three levels of lush foliage to wander between as you relax in awe of the city’s skyline too.

Like me, you’re probably wondering how can this possibly be free! There are two options available to you. If you know when you would like to visit, book a slot for any time of the day on their website. These tickets don’t last long, so you’ll need to be quick! Otherwise, if you are like me (someone who doesn’t plan), then pop along between the hours of 10 am to 11.30 am and 2 pm to 4.30 pm (Monday to Friday) as Sky Garden reserves spaces for free visitor walk-ins.

Either way, once you have made it to the top, you have unlimited time to enjoy the views. There is also a reasonably-priced cafe on the higher levels where you will be able to grab a coffee, draught beer or even a delicious bite.

I know you will enjoy this one; it’s my favourite thing to do in London!

ALSO: Where is the Pyramid in Scotland?

Tate Modern

The Tate Modern will keep you amused for as long as you need, especially if you are interested in art, design, architecture and shopping. Although not all of the content is free, the majority is open to the public without any reservation, ticket or payment. Having spent two years working in an advertising agency across the road, I personally spent a lot of time wandering the galleries and observing the crazy installations that would pop up quarterly.

Be that as it may, there is one particular part of Tate Modern that isn’t quite as well-known.

Located in what was once the Bankside Power Station, the recently-renovated building has been expanded to include a humble viewing level. Grab the dedicated lift from ‘Level 0’ to enjoy a spectacular 360-degree view across the Thames and the London skyline. 

On a reasonably clear day, you’ll be able to spot Wembley Stadium, Canary Wharf, St. Paul’s Cathedral and… my old office! What’s even crazier, is that you’ll even have a clear view into the unfortunate residents’ luxury apartments. The proximity of the observation tower to a block of neighbouring flats never failed to amaze me!

Millennium Bridge

This is one of the most secret hidden gems and fun things to do in London…

The iconic Millenium Bridge stretches across the Thames between St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern. Although the bridge isn’t the most thrilling tourist attraction you’ll see in London, it is home to some teeny-tiny mischievous installations that are part of an almost camouflaged art trail.

Take a minute from gawking at the architecture above to look below your feet as you step across the bridge. It won’t take long before you spot the very small, and very colourful, paintings of monsters – I’ll give you a bonus point if you realise what they are made from!  

Ben Wilson (the artist) has managed to use a waste product as a canvas for his imagination. Please, go have a look for yourself!

Let’s go!
@katie.maree

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