What to see and do in London - your guide to what not to miss..
If you have limited time to explore this wonderful and dynamic city then put your walking shoes on and be ready to see all the amazing sights. We absolutely love London so have put together a guide to our favourite places that we consider are must do’s when you visit.
What to see:
Best tube station for Houses of Parliament : Westminster Station.
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben - These of course are London’s best-known landmarks with the Houses of Parliament being one of the most impressive buildings. Listening to Big Ben strike the hour will give you goosebumps.
Westminster Bridge – This bridge is the best spot to take your photos of these beautiful and iconic buildings. Nearby is a famous red phone box for a photo shoot
Westminster Abbey – is one of the best examples of medieval architecture and is an amazing building.
Nearby is 10 Downing Street – The Prime Minister’s residence and office.
Best Tube Station: Charring Cross for Trafalgar Square.
Trafalgar Square:
one of London’s most important and bustling squares and where you’ll find Nelson’s column, the statues of the Lions and dominated by the beautiful and historic National Gallery building. Definitely worth spending a couple of hours here. It’s free to enter and has some amazing artwork such as Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and the Entombment by Michelangelo.
Stroll down the Mall to Buckingham Palace.
As you walk past Wellington Barracks, try and time it so you see the Changing of the Guard which starts here and ends at Buckingham Palace. This is a definite highlight. It’s every hour on the hour from October 1 to March 31 and every half hour from April 1 to September 30.
Wander through the beautiful parks near Buckingham Palace –
Green Park and St James Park and enjoy relaxing in one of the many deck chairs in the middle of the parks. Flanked by Buckingham Palace to one side, The Mall, Westminster and Horse Guards Parade to the others, St James’s Park is a peaceful and picturesque green space covering about 23 hectares.
Piccadilly Circus:
always bustling and one of London’s best known landmarks with it’s bright neon advertising. The famous Eros statue is in the middle of the square and it’s the entrance to London’s entertainment district. This intersection would have to be one of the most famous in the world.
Regent Street:
One of our favourites and perfect to stroll up and down, do some shopping or just admire the beautiful buildings. Located in the heart of London’s West End it is famous as being the distinctive home of fashion, dining and lifestyle.
Oxford Street:
London’s most famous shopping street and is the busiest street in Europe with over 300 shops. One of my favourites has always been Marks and Spencer but there are so many to choose from.
Carnaby Street:
A pedestrianised shopping area in London’s West End just behind Oxford and Regent streets full of restaurants, pubs and bars. It’s a really fun place to wander through with so much choice and interesting and unique boutiques.
Covent Garden:
an absolute favourite and a must see – From 300 years as a fruit and vegetable market to an area of upmarket shops, bars, restaurants and theatre the vibe of Covent Garden is always amazing with fantastic street performers adding to the excitement. Don’t miss the 7 dials area - full of fun quirky shops and great cafes.
Borough Markets:
this is not to be missed – it’s the biggest outdoor market and is so much fun to explore even if you just wander around looking at all the stalls. Delicatessens, grocers, butchers, fishmongers, cheesemongers – you name it, it’s there. As well as this there is a wide range of delicious street food vendors selling gourmet dishes from around the world. The emphasis here is on high quality food so make sure you’re hungry. The market is open from Monday to Saturday but make sure you go on Wednesday to Saturday to make sure all stores are open. Just love visiting here and wouldn’t miss it.
City of London:
This is the historic area of London and where the world’s centre of finance is with over 255 foreign banks housed here. It’s the famous square mile in size and while full of towering skyscrapers it is actually such a great area to wonder around and take in all the history. For the Harry Potter fans make sure you visit Leadenhall Market.
St Paul’s Cathedral
This vibrant church, National treasure and London Icon has held many major and significant events, one of course being the wedding of Prince Charles to Princess Diana. There is a lot to explore here if you venture inside. The interior is actually awe-inspiring and you can climb up to the Whispering Gallery and the Golden Gallery for breathtaking views of London or down to the crypt.
Tower of London
This amazing castle in Central London is so full of history and definitely worth a visit as part of your London adventure. Dating back to 1066 when William the Conqueror founded it, don’t miss the unmissable highlight of the Crown Jewels. It’s a good idea to take a guided tour here so you can discover and hear about all the amazing history and you don’t miss out on all the unmissables.
Tower Bridge
This gorgeous bridge sits over the Thames and stands out as a significant symbol of London.
The Shard
You’ll have the most breathtaking views from the top of this 72 storey skyscraper where the best restaurants, hotel rooms and offices are.
Belgravia and Mayfair
My favourite areas of London for strolling through, checking out all the beautiful houses and shops. Belgravia is elegant and stylish and lined with terraced stucco townhouses that are just gorgeous with private gardens. Full of upmarket hotels, antique shops and trendy galleries in streets such as Pimlico Road and Motcomb Streets, fine dining restaurants, posh delis and sophisticated cafes line the streets. Mayfair is on the edge of Hyde Park and is also a very elegant and upscale area of London with exclusive hotels and gourmet restaurants. There are bespoke tailors on Saville Row and designers on Bond Street and beautiful areas for shopping such as Shepherd’s Bush.
Sloane Square
At the heart of Chelsea and on the border of Belgravia, this is one of the city’s most glamourous locations for shopping with Peter Jones department store and is a range of beautiful shops such as The White Company in Pavilion Road, a gorgeous area.
Kings Road
another favourite. I love just strolling down Kings Road, looking at all the shops. It stretches through Chelsea to Fulham. The Prince of Wales Square at the top of Kings Road is really lovely, full of lovely shops and cafes. It has the reputation of being one of London’s most fashionable shopping streets. A favourite of mine is Anthropologie - always full of really beautiful things.
South Kensington
a very upmarket area that is home to some of London’s best museums - most of them are free - and some beautiful open spaces. The Victoria and Albert Museum is the World’s largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design. Here you’ll see ceramics, sculpture, costumes, medieval objects, drawings and photos. Also in this area is the Natural History Museum and the Royal Albert Hall.
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Hyde Park is a large and beautiful park in Central London full of cafes, fountains, and flower gardens. It really is one of my favourites as it really is so stunning. The Serpentine, the park’s lake is popular for boating and boats can be hired from the Boathouse, next to the Serpentine.
Cross over the bridge into Kensington Gardens which is a continuation of Hyde Park. Here you’ll find the famous Peter Pan statue, Round pond and the Albert memorial.Harrods
Don’t miss this famous and exclusive department store offering food and fashion with 20 in store restaurants and an amazing food hall. The souvenir section is especially worth visiting. Definitely worth a look even if just window shopping.
Notting Hill - Notting Hill Gate Tube station.
As Notting Hill is my favourite movie of all time, I love this neighbourhood. It’s trendy and vibrant with some fabulous cafes lining Portobello Road as well as theatres. The Portobello Markets are such fun and run the whole length of Portobello Road. The Main market day is Saturday but there are also some market stalls from Monday to Friday. There is a huge assortment of stalls including antiques and vintage fashion - always something to find there. There are very upscale and fashionable restaurants and gorgeous boutiques.
Soho:
This area is so vibrant and exciting full of an amazing assortment of pubs, restaurants, theatres and shopping. It is one of the most popular and vibrant parts of London. Browse the boutique shops, relax in Soho Square or enjoy a West End show.
South Bank:
Beside the Thames is a must visit area for art and culture lovers, and theatre lovers. The riverside walk is lined with trees, restaurants and historic pubs. It’s perfect for a walk or for entertainment.
Tate Modern:
This gallery is dedicated to International Modern Art and is an outstanding modern and contemporary art gallery. There is a free guided tour or just wander around the galley which in itself is beautiful. The restaurant on the 7th floor has an amazing view of London.
London Eye
Spend 30 minutes in the world’s highest observation wheel. Get a fantastic birds eye view over London – If it’s a special occasion – and even if it’s not – enjoy a chilled glass of Pommery Brut Royal Champagne.
Some of our favourite places to dine and drink
The Thomas Cubitt, Belgravia - Bustling British Gastropub in elegant surroundings - Don’t miss it
The Ugly Dumpling - Carnaby Street - Cosy Asian fusion with cocktails. Amazing dumplings.
Monmouth, Covent Garden. Best coffee.
Dishoom - A couple of locations. We have been to the Soho one. Amazing Indian if you can get in. No bookings so you need to queue.
Kolamba, Kingley Street, off Carnaby Street - Great Sri Lankan.
Mother Mash, Ganton Street - Best Pies and mash.
Circo Popular, Fitzrovia - Delicious Italian. Great for a date night.
The Grazing Goat, Marleybone.
St John, Farringdon -British - Amazing food.
Nopi, Just off Regent Street - An Ottolenghi restaurant. Awesome food.
Marquess of Anglesey, Covent Garden - Typical English food.
Charlotte’s Cloud, King’s Road - Great for breakfast.
Padella, Shoreditch - Delicious pasta restaurant.
Farm Girl, Portobello Road - Excellent breakfast.
Beach Blanket Babylon, Notting Hill - Modern European in a Georgian Townhouse. Great cocktails.
Quality Wines, Farringdon - Lovely for dinner.
The Ned, City of London. This is an amazing hotel with several different restaurant options and bars. A really beautiful spot.
Rooftop Bars
Skye Gardens
The Nest
Bar Elba
Pergola Paddington.
Bars
Ganton Arms, Soho
Christina’s, Shoreditch
