London is an amazing city filled with so much history and culture. It was founded over two millennium ago by the Romans and has been a hotbed of history for England and the world. Today it is a city with close to 9 million inhabitants and the amazing attractions and experience that a large metropolitan area will provide. With so much to choose from, read our London bucket list to discover the top things to do in this amazing city.
If you’re planning a trip to London, we recommend creating a London bucket list of your own to inspire your travels and start your planning. London is such an amazing city with so much to offer but how do you choose? Below you’ll find all of our favorite sights, activities and some things that you just have to try. We have organized them so that our favorite things to do in London are at the top. Keep reading to see what amazing experiences your London bucket list adventure will have in store for you.
Tower of London
The Tower of London is on the top our our London bucket list. It is filled with centuries of British History and has amazing tour options for visitors. Don’t miss the amazing experience of taking a Beefeater Tour at the Tower of London. This tour is complete with interesting facts of murder, intrigue and ravens. Also, make sure to stop in to visit the crown Jewels before or after your tour. They are truly a London bucket list worthy sight in themselves.
Cost: £35.00 – pre-booking recommended
The British Museum
The British Museums is one of our favorite things to to in London. This museum is an amazing piece of architecture. So when you explore the museum, don’t forget to look around at the building itself. Also, the collections in the museum are amazing and represent some iconic moments in history. You can see the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies and greek statures all in one place. The best part about the British Museum, it’s FREE! However, they do suggest a small donation. You could easily spend multiple days in this museum in order to experience it fully.
Cost: FREE
St Paul’s Cathedral
This Cathedral belongs on everyone’s London bucket list. St Paul’s Cathedral is a famous London landmark that has survived centuries and been the location of several key moments in British history. Admission to St Paul’s includes a self-guided audio tour in multiple languages or a guided tour. We really enjoyed the audio tour which is self-paced based on your location in the cathedral. You can also climb to the top of St Paul’s and look out over the London skyline.
Cost: £25.00 – pre-book here
Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard
Soldiers in funny hats marching in front of the palace. What could be more iconically London? This activity is likely to top many London bucket lists. To witness the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, check the website for times. Also, make sure you arrive early so that you can get a good spot to see the procession. And don’t forget to walk around the palace to check out Queen Elizabeth’s house from all angles.
Changing of the Guard: FREE
Palace Tour: £25.00 and up – pre-booking recommended
Thames River Cruise
Cruising the Thames River through London provides a different perspective of the city. Several things to do and see in London are located along the shores of the Thames so you’ll recognize a lot. The cruise operators do a great job of pointing out all of the iconic landmarks as well as some things you never would have noticed on your own. Many river cruise companies also partner with hop-on hop-off buses for combo packages as well.
Cost: varies – We did this bus/boat hop on hop off combo and it was great!
Millennium Bridge
One of our favorite things to do in London is to walk the Millennium Bridge. This bridge is a pedestrian suspension bridge that can be seen in many movies, including Harry Potter. There is an amazing view of St Paul’s from the bridge that makes a great photo.
Cost:FREE
Big Ben
Big Ben is the clock tower that rises above the British House of Parliament and is an iconic landmark of London. So this explains why Big Ben is a top thing to see in London. We found that visiting the Westminster Bridge boasts the best views of this masterpiece.
Cost: FREE to view
St James’s Park
St James’s Park is located in the middle of several iconic London sights and is a great way to connect some of you London bucket list stops. Of the parks we’ve been to, St James’s is our favorite London park. Additionally, when visiting the park, make sure you check out the views of Buckingham Palace.
Cost: FREE
Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens are a great way to spend a morning outside of the bustle of London. Located in Kew, and often called Kew Gardens, these gardens are filled with amazing plants and architecture.
Cost: £10.00
Picnic Lunch in Hyde Park
Enjoying a picnic lunch in Hyde Park is a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon in London. Hyde Park is the largest park in London. It contains two lakes and is divided into several different types of parks. You could spend a whole afternoon exploring.
Cost: FREE
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey tops lists of things to do in London for many. You may be familiar with this iconic cathedral as the location of royal ceremonies, like weddings and funerals. However, it is also a famous burial chamber for many famous figures including past kings and queens of England, famous scientists and famous authors.
Cost: £18.00
House of Parliament
The House of Parliament can and should be viewed from the outside. It is a beautiful piece of architecture and is attached to Big Ben. However, you can also take tours of the chambers and attend sessions as well.
Cost: FREE, guided tour prices vary
Westminster Bridge at Night
A London bucket list is not complete with out taking in the amazing sights at night. Our favorite place to view London at night is from the Westminster bridge. From here you can see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye. All of these attractions are lit up at night and make for some amazing photographs.
Cost: FREE
Stand in Two Hemispheres
One of the ultimate London bucket list experiences is standing in two different hemispheres at the same time. You can take a boat to Greenwich to visit the Royal Observatory. While there, you can stand on both sides of the Prime Meridian, which divides the east and west hemispheres. Don’t forget to look back on the London skyline while you’re visiting as this is also one of our favorite views.
Cost: £16.00
Walk the Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge is one of the top sights in London, not to be confused with the London Bridge. It’s located right next the Tower of London and you can cross this bridge on foot. You also can pay to climb to the top of the bridge and get a view of the London skyline.
Cost: FREE
Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
We suggest adding a hop-on hop-off tour to your London bucket list. In general, we love doing hop-on hop-off tours the first time we visit any large city and London is no exception. Additionally, several companies also pair the hop-on hop-off bus tours with similar boat tours as well. We loved seeing the city this way. The combination bus and boat tours provide two great perspectives for first time London visitors.
Cost: Varies; We did this one that had an included river tour.
The Underground
Don’t forget the “Mind the Gap” when riding the London underground. The underground is not only a great way to get around London but it also is a fun experience and photo opportunity that should be on your London bucket list.
Cost: varies, depending on destination
Kensington Palace and Gardens
Kensington Gardens and Palace are located right next to Hyde Park and are a great place to take a stroll. The palace is another royal residence that you can view from the outside and also take tours of. We think that the best part about this palace is the highly manicured gardens that you can walk through.
Cost of Gardens: FREE
Cost of Palace Tour: £17.00
Trafalgar Square
Another fun thing to see in London is Trafalgar Square. This public space is home to amazing architecture and art. It is also a central point for many tourist destinations including the National Gallery and St James’s Park.
Cost: FREE
Try Traditional London Cuisine
Trying the iconic London cuisine should be on everyone’s London bucket list. And don’t worry, they have plenty to choose from. London boasts some very fun flavors that reflect its multicultural makeup. Some of our favorite flavors to try are fish & chips, Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding and Chicken Tikka Masala. All of these dishes are available at pretty much every pub in London and are worth a try.
Cost: varies
Harry Potter Tours and sights
No London bucket list would be complete for a book lover without a Harry Potter experience. London offers so many photo opportunities for Harry Potter lovers such as Platform 9 3/4, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour and Harry Potter walking tours. We highly recommend the Warner Bros. Studio Tour as it tops all of our Harry Potter experiences.
Cost: varies
London Bridge
The London Bridge, not to be confused with the Tower Bridge, is worth a stroll as you can see great views of iconic London buildings, like the Shard, from the bridge.
Cost: FREE
View from the Sky Garden
Viewing London from the Sky Garden is considered by many to be the best view of the London skyline you can get for FREE. You can take an elevator to the top of this skyscraper and enter this public garden to see the London skyline. Don’t forget to book your free ticket ahead of time.
Cost: FREE
The National Gallery
The National Gallery is an art museum that is home to many European works of art. This museum is located right off of Trafalgar Square and is another London museum that is FREE to enter. It’s worth a visit to see some of the highlights in the collection.
Cost: FREE
London Eye
The London Eye ranks high on many lists of things to do in London. We rank it not-so-high because of its cost, which is sky-high like its usual ranking and viewing platforms. If you do choose to pay for the 30 minute ride, you will get stunning views of London’s skyline. However, if you choose not to take a ride, viewing the large Ferris wheel from the ground and taking a picture of the Eye itself is worth it.
Cost: £30 – pre-booking recommended
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is on many London bucket lists as it is at the heart of a busy London shopping district. Whether you’re interested in shopping or just want to stand in the street with its bright lights and bustling traffic, it is worth a stop.
Cost: FREE
Churchill War Rooms
The Churchill War Rooms are one of the top things to do in London, especially for history buffs. This museum is located in the bunkers where Winston Churchill coordinated World War II. It is a very interesting museum because of it’s location in the bunker so you don’t need to be a history lover to appreciate it.
Cost: £22.00
The British Library
For all the book nerds out there and history buffs alike, the British Library is more than a book repository. This library houses some of the rarest books in the world as well as some beautiful works of art. Find a copy of the Gutenberg bible, Shakespeare’s first folio and the manuscript for Alice in Wonderland.
Cost: FREE
Find a Telephone Box
This belongs on our London bucket list simply because of the iconic photo opportunity. However, it is getting harder and harder to find these in London as cell phones have replaced phone boxes. So if you do find one, be sure to snag your photo.
Cost: FREE
Old Royal Naval College
The Old Royal Navel College has earned a spot on this London bucket list for its amazing architecture and grounds. Take a stroll around the Old Royal Naval College while visiting the Royal Observatory to enjoy the beauty of this magnificently maintained building.
Cost: £11.00
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
For the lovers of Shakespeare and theatre, there is no greater experience than seeing a show at the Globe Theater. The Globe Theater today is a replica of the original theater that house Shakespeare’s plays. Additionally, you can watch a show, take a tour or just wander around outside the building.
Cost of tour: £18.70
Explore a London neighborhood
Trying out one the less touristy neighborhoods is a great item for your London bucket list. Many neighborhoods have amazing small shops, local pubs and outdoor markets that make your vacation feel more like England. Our favorite place we visited in London is the suburb of Kew because the people there were some of the best we’ve met on our travels!
Cost: FREE
Watch Football
Participating in one of London’s favorite pastimes, football. It’s a great way to explore the culture of this city, and you can take in a football (aka: soccer) match at a local pub and experience it with Londoners. Additionally, you could take in this nation’s pastime by visiting one of London’s many football stadiums where you can see a match played live or take a stadium tour.
Cost: varies
The Horse Guards Parade
You can visit the Horse Guards Parade to see a small scale changing of the color and check out more troops wearing funny hats.
Cost: FREE
Victoria and Albert Museum
Another fun thing to do for in London is visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum. This museum is huge and will amaze the art and history lovers. It is filled with 5,000 years of jewelry, clothing, sculpture, furniture and more. As with other British museums, it’s FREE.
Cost: FREE
Tate Modern
The Tate Modern is filled with some amazing art. However, some of the space is filled with interesting pieces that leave you and your traveling buddies giggling for days and wondering why you can’t be artists too. We saw some pretty average HVAC art that became the topic of many pub conversations. However, exploring the Tate Modern is a fun way to spend the afternoon in London and the views from the museum are definitely worth a stop at this FREE house of art.
Cost: FREE
Try a Full English Breakfast or Afternoon Tea
The full English breakfast and afternoon tea are worth a try at least once while you’re in London. A full English breakfast consists of eggs, sausage, bacon, grilled tomato, backed beans and toast. For tea, tea shops will bring you afternoon tea that includes pastries and mini sandwiches. Trying both breakfast and tea are delicious things to check off of you London bucket list.
Cost: Varies
The National Portrait Gallery
For art and history lovers, the National Portrait Gallery is an interesting art museum full of historical figures. Don’t plan on visiting this museum any time soon though. The gallery is scheduled to be closed from 2020-2023.
Cost: FREE
We hope this London bucket list has given you plenty of ideas for things to add to your own London vacation itinerary. Please leave any questions or comments below! Or if you’d like to see how to fit these London bucket list destinations into an itinerary, check out our full London itinerary.
Wonderful list! I’ll save it until I can travel to London. Thanks for sharing
Thanks so much! I hope you can travel there soon.
Just relived our London trip! Ready for a repeat.