Things to do in London
With its diverse array of neighbourhoods, enchanting museums and vibrant food and shopping districts, it’s fair to say there really is no other city quite like London. Here’s our ultimate guide to things to do in London for those in need of a bit of inspiration.
Tips for travellers
Ever wondered where to catch the best London views or find the coolest vintage markets?
Watch our London city hacks video to discover our top 11 tips for travellers who are looking to save money, find unique attractions and free things to do in London, and navigate the city with ease.
Top London landmarks
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3-hour London Private City Tour
Explore the major landmarks of London with your very own private tour.
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Buckingham Palace
Steeped in history, Buckingham Palace is a must see for any visitor.
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St Paul's Cathedral
The world-famous dome of St Paul's Cathedral is an iconic feature of the London skyline. Step inside and enjoy the cathedral's awe-inspiring interior.
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The Houses of Parliament
Guy Fawkes once tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and, whilst you won't find any gunpowder there anymore, it is still home to the UK government and some often explosive discussions between the
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Tower Bridge Exhibition
Enjoy stunning views of London from the high level walkways of Tower Bridge and discover the beautiful River Thames in the Source to Sea exhibition.
Best things to do in London
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2-hour London private city tour
Explore the best bits of London but are on a time limit? Take the London highlights tour offered by Sandemans.
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3-hour London Private City Tour
Explore the major landmarks of London with your very own private tour.
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Alcotraz – London's speakeasy cocktail bar prison experience
Alcotraz Cell Block Two One Two promises to be one of the most unique cocktail bars in London. Once convicted, inmates are taken into an exciting world of mischief as they are instructed by a notor
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ASICS London 10k
The ASICS London 10k (formerly the British 10k) spans across the countries capital. You'll pass notable landmarks like the London Eye, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
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British Museum Small Group Tour
This 2-hour semi-private tour (8 people max per group) through the British Museum covers all the highlights of the museum including the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon Marbles, the Easter Island statues
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Buckingham Palace
Steeped in history, Buckingham Palace is a must see for any visitor.
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Camley Street Natural Park
London Wildlife Trust’s flagship reserve, it hosts pond-dipping and nature-watching sessions for children and its wood-cabin visitor centre is used by the Wildlife Watch Club.
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Cycling in London
Santander Cycles (more commonly known among the locals as Boris Bikes!) is a public bicycle hire scheme in London.
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Free tour of London
No other tour covers so many major London landmarks! Have your cameras at the ready as we walk past Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and stroll past Buckingham Palace and St. James’s Palace.
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Gasholder No8 at King's Cross
The iconic guideframe of Gasholder No 8 frames the new park at King's Cross.
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Hampton Court Palace
Have a royally good time at this stunning location - its amazing history and luxurious rooms will make you feel like a king or queen! Don't miss the gardens and maze outside.
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Herts Young Mariners Base
Herts young Mariners Base is an outdoor activity centre next door to YHA London Lee Valley.
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Lee Valley Park
A hidden gem just waiting to be discovered! Great for sports, heritage sites, country parks, farms and nature reserves. The Lee Valley Park stretches 26 miles, right from the heart of East
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Little Chelsea
This vibrant shopping quarter has all the vibe of its namesake. You'll find over 50 indie retailers for fab vintage finds, along with restaurants and cafes to relax in.
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London Dungeon
1000 years of London's gory history, 11 actor led shows and two scary rides make for a chilling experience and a great day out.
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London Eye
135 meters tall, the London Eye's sleek, modern, totally see through glass pods offer an unrivalled 360-degree view of London and beyond.
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London Grim Reaper tour
This 2-hour walking tour begins in the 1400s, a time long before London had an official police force and when tyrants ruled and preyed on the weak.
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London Harry Potter Tour
This 2-hour walking tour covers all of London’s major Harry Potter sites, including the Ministry of Magic, the Leaky Cauldron, scenes from the films and much more!
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London Marathon
The Virgin Money London Marathon is the largest annual fundraising event on the planet. 26.2 miles is the distance our runners are going for young lives. We’d love to have you on our team.
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London Old City walking tour
Learn about the original London, a mere one square mile beside the river Thames.
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London pub crawl
Enjoy a great night out in London with the SANDEMANs Pub Crawl! London has long been home to legendary parties and we’ve got you sorted with some of the best spots in town!
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London Street Art Tour
On this two and a half hour walking tour, your local guide will take you further into East London to discover street art, anti-gentrification movements, Cockney culture and more!
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London Zoo
London Zoo is home to 750 species of animals including lions and lizards, monkeys and meerkats, birds and butterflies.
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Madame Tussauds
Rub shoulders with Lady Gaga and the Beckhams, have your photo taken with the Usain Bolt or scream in the Chamber of Horrors.
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Royal Parks Half Marathon
This stunning central London Half Marathon, takes in some of the capital's world-famous landmarks on closed roads, and four of London's eight Royal Parks - Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James's Park a
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SEA LIFE London Aquarium
The Sea Life London Aquarium hosts 1000s of sea creatures in over two million litres of water! Watch sharks swim beneath you, diving displays and interactive feeding.
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Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition
Explore the life of Shakespeare, the London where he lived and the theatre for which he wrote. Don't miss the sword-fighting display!
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St Paul's Cathedral
The world-famous dome of St Paul's Cathedral is an iconic feature of the London skyline. Step inside and enjoy the cathedral's awe-inspiring interior.
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The British Museum
The British Museum houses a vast collection of artefacts and treasures, many of them acquired as the British Empire grew.
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The Harry Potter Shop & Platform 9 3/4
Still waiting for your Hogwarts letter? Don’t worry, you can experience the next best thing at King’s Cross station.
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The Houses of Parliament
Guy Fawkes once tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and, whilst you won't find any gunpowder there anymore, it is still home to the UK government and some often explosive discussions between the
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The Original London Sightseeing Bus Tour
This bus tour takes in all of the capital’s famous sights and also includes an exciting riverboat cruise on the River Thames.
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Tower Bridge Exhibition
Enjoy stunning views of London from the high level walkways of Tower Bridge and discover the beautiful River Thames in the Source to Sea exhibition.
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Vertical Chill
Vertical Chill is a unique climbing centre where the wall is housed inside a refrigerated unit and is named the Ice Wall, giving you a taste of real ice climbing indoors.
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Walking and Rambling in London
If you're planning on staying at one of our London hostels, why not download a free map and get out exploring?
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Walking in London
Stride out on foot to discover this beautiful, vibrant city.
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Watersports in London
Join us every Thursday morning for some super high speed sightseeing on the Thames! For thrills, spills and high speed, there's only one way to see London from the water - the Thames Jet!
Insider tips
You can get the best views of London by climbing up the observatory in Greenwich Park. I also love just strolling along the southbank at night when the lights are shining off the Thames and St Paul's Cathedral is lit up.
I'm loving Brixton Market right now. There are so many places to eat and drink; I feel like you can travel the world without ever getting on a plane. And a lot of places are BYOB (Bring Your Own Beer), so even better!
Although Borough Market is the most famous, head down the road to Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey for some awesome food under the arches.
If you're looking for contemporary art for free, check the tube stations. The tiled artwork in Tottenham Court Road station is my favourite but there are lots more.
Transport in London
By air
The city is served by several major airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted as well as City Airport in London’s historic Docklands. All offer hundreds of daily flights to and from destinations around the world as well as quick transfers to the city via express train, tube, DLR and coach.
By tube
London’s Underground - or the tube as it’s more commonly known - is the quickest and easiest way to get around town. The vast network of trains covers the entire city and the surrounding boroughs with services running from around 5am to just after midnight every day.
By bus
Buses are a great way to get around London and see some of the fabulous sights along the way. They are convenient, cheap and run regularly. You can’t pay for your ticket with cash and will need an Oyster Card, a Travelcard or a contactless payment debit or credit card to get on board.
By bicycle
Cycling is a great way to get around London and keeps you fit too. The city’s bicycle hire scheme is available all year round and has more than 750 docking stations and 11,000 bikes in circulation. There is a small fee to get access to a bike for 24 hours and the first half hour of each journey is free.
Find your perfect London accommodation
Search for a hostel
Popular neighbourhoods
Soho
Soho is a melting pot of culture, clubs, watering holes and restaurants. You’ll find an eclectic mix of tourists, media professionals and older Londoners filling up the bars and, with Chinatown and Old Compton Street at its heart, enjoy fantastic Asian cuisine and some truly unique nightlife.
Nearest hostels: YHA London Central or YHA London Oxford Street
Camden
Camden is the antithesis of genteel Kensington or the transformed Docklands. It breathes old London and fosters a vibrancy which is incredibly unique. Well-known for its creative atmosphere and strong music scene, Camden also boasts one of London’s most popular open air markets and a plethora of live music venues.
Nearest hostel: YHA London Central
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is so cool it almost hurts. Located in the historic East End, the neighbourhood has transformed from rundown industrial dinosaur to a creative hub for music and art. Interactive art galleries jostle for space with converted warehouses and fashionable, urban cafes against a gritty graffiti-covered backdrop.
Nearest hostels: YHA London St Paul's or YHA London Thameside
Chelsea
For shopping head to Chelsea, one of London’s most well-heeled neighbourhoods boasting a wealth of shops to suit all tastes. The Kings Road has everything from cowboy boots and homewares to fashion and food. Nearby Sloane Square is home to pricier, designer shops whilst the Chelsea Physic Garden offers the chance for peaceful repose.
Nearest hostel: YHA London Earl's Court
Tipping in London
Although it is customary to leave 10-15% of the bill when eating out in London, restaurants will often add on a service charge of around 12.5%. Look out for this when you're checking the bill so you avoid tipping twice!
Explore outdoors
London's Little Venice
You might be surprised to discover London’s own network of canals in Little Venice, just a short walk north of Paddington. If you’re after an oasis of calm among the hubbub of the city, take a stroll along the picturesque canal banks and watch the famous canal boats.
Rafting in Lee Valley
Lee Valley White Water Centre is only a short train or car journey from central London and can provide an exhilarating alternative to the usual tourist haunts. The white water centre was used in the 2012 Olympics and offers a variety of activities from kayaking and rafting to hydrospeeding.
Wildlife at Kew Gardens
Transport yourself to some of world’s most exotic wildlife locations by visiting the iconic Kew Gardens. The garden’s glasshouses all have different, carefully controlled climates with a whole host of rare and interesting flora and fauna to marvel at.
Cycle through Hyde Park
London is home to some of Europe’s most stunning parks. Hyde Park is probably the most cycle-friendly in the warmer months so why not hire a bike and take a ride through it? If you find yourself flagging, stop at one of the cafes and tea rooms and refuel with a delicious scone and a cuppa.
Weather
There’s nothing Londoners like better than discussing the weather but contrary to popular belief, London isn’t always rainy and cloudy. When the sun is out London is hot and inviting with Hyde Park or Greenwich Park ideal for a bit of impromptu sunbathing. In winter, London becomes a magical place even the cold can’t touch, with twinkling fairy lights, inviting coffee shops and Hyde Park’s renowned Winter Wonderland running during the colder months.
Weird and wonderful things to do in London
Find a farm in the city
Get up close to farmyard animals, discover how to plant vegetables and learn about living a happier, healthier, eco-friendly life at Hackney City Farm. Some even say the farm is haunted!
Nearest hostel: YHA London Thameside
Climb a London landmark
Greenwich’s O2 Arena is the UK’s leading entertainment venue but did you know you can enjoy a guided climb across its roof? From the 53m high observation platform you can see the Shard, Olympic Park and Canary Wharf - be sure to take a camera!
Nearest hostel: YHA London Thameside
Changing of the guard
Nothing says British pomp and pageantry like the changing of the guard. The old guard form at Buckingham Palace while the new guard marches from its barracks in Birdcage Walk to join them. Catch the symbolic exchanging of the palace keys for a truly unique London experience.
Nearest hostel: YHA London Central
Debates at Speaker's Corner
Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park has been the site for many public debates and speeches for more than 200 years. Lenin, Marx and George Orwell have all graced the podium so why not pop along on a Sunday morning and listen to a speaker expound their views?
Nearest hostel: YHA London Central
Best budget accommodation in London
We have the best budget accommodation in London near the best attractions, landmarks and locations. YHA has some superb hostels in the city centre, including accommodation in Oxford Street and Earl's Court, so there's a fantastic selection of cheap hostels to choose from if you’re looking to stay central.
View some of our popular London blog posts
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Art galleries and museums to visit in London
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Great places off the beaten track in London
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