This list of the best places to visit in London will help you prepare for a trip to one of the most essential cities for any traveller.
With an endless cultural and leisure offer, museums with incalculable collections, street markets to get lost in, impeccable green spaces and neighbourhoods full of charm, this city is perfect for a weekend getaway or more days, without the possibility of getting bored at any time.
As well as visiting all the tourist attractions and shopping in some of the city's most popular shopping streets, London is also home to some of the best food from around the world.
Based on the three times we have visited the city, the last time we spent over a month living in a flat in Notting Hill, during which time we wrote this guide to London travel tips, we have compiled this list of must-see places to visit in London. Let's get started!
1. Camden Town
Spending a morning in the surprisingly entertaining neighbourhood of Camden is one of the best things to do in London.
Famous for having the largest market in the city with over 1000 stalls and alternative shops, this neighbourhood is perfect for finding a unique gift, eating at one of the street stalls or simply listening to live music.
Although it's open every day and many people recommend visiting on Sundays, we recommend visiting Camden Town during the week so you don't get overwhelmed by the crowds at the weekend.
One of our favourite areas for shopping, apart from the stalls at Camden Stables Market, is Camden High St, where you'll find the most colourful themed shop fronts with everything from gothic clothes to tattoo parlours.
To get to Camden you'll need to take the Northern line tube and get off at the Camden Town stop. Another option we love is to take a boat from Little Venice, which will drop you off at the market in less than an hour.
If you want to learn more about the history of the neighbourhood and not miss anything, you can book this tour with an English speaking guide.
2. Big Ben
In the Palace of Westminster you will find the British Parliament and Big Ben, its famous Clock Tower, which has become one of the icons to visit in London.
This tower is more than 100 metres high and was built in 1858 in the Gothic style and stands out for the four clocks located on each of its faces.
Although Big Ben is usually referred to as the Clock Tower, this name is not entirely accurate, as Big Ben is actually a huge 14-tonne bell inside the tower, which, along with the Victorian Gothic Palace of Westminster, is a World Heritage Site on the banks of the Thames.
Both buildings can only be visited by UK residents, although in the summer you can visit the palace if you book in advance on this page.
Visiting hours: Saturdays between 9.15am and 4.30pm with a guided tour. In August and September it is open from Tuesday to Friday.
A good way to learn more about the history and the most interesting places in London with a guide in English is to book this full tour with tickets or this free tour of the must-see London, considered one of the best free tours in London.
3. Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge, built in 1894 over the River Thames, is the most famous bridge to see in London and is named after its proximity to the Tower of London, which is right next to it.
On this stone drawbridge you can enter to see how the steam engine that lifts it up works and climb to the top to walk on a transparent glass walkway while enjoying excellent views of the city. You can book your ticket in advance from this page.
We recommend visiting this photogenic bridge by day and night and seeing it from both sides.
Entry is included if you have a London Pass or London Explorer Pass.
These two cards allow you to save time by skipping the queues and quite a few pounds if you plan to visit the most touristy spots in London. The difference between the two cards is that the London Pass is for days, while the Explorer Pass has the flexibility of being able to choose at the last minute entry to 3, 5 or 7 of the main attractions, saving up to 40%.
If you don't have a London Pass, you can book queue-free entry to the Tower here.
Visiting hours: from April to September from 10h to 18h and the rest of the months from 9:30h to 17:30h.
4. London Parks
One of the best things to do in London for free is to go for a walk or play sport in its many well-kept parks.
Some of the most famous parks to visit in London include:
Hyde Park: the city's largest and most famous park, with everything from a huge lake, monuments, a rose garden, the gardens and Kensington Palace, to endless walking and jogging trails. You can book entry to the palace in advance here.
St James's Park: located near Buckingham Palace is one of London's Royal Parks and the most beautiful in the city.
Regent's Park: another of the perfect parks to stroll around, with its lakes and, in spring, its beautiful Rose Garden.
Kew Gardens: this Royal BotanicGardens, located in a neighbourhood away from the centre, impresses with its greenhouses full of flowers and exotic plants. You can book your ticket here.
Primrose Hill: located on a hill near Camden, it is perfect for a picnic with beautiful views of the city skyline.
5. Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, a World Heritage Site, is the oldest and most famous religious site in London. Since 1066, it has been the site of almost every coronation ceremony for kings, English monarchs, weddings such as that of the current princes and funerals such as that of Princess Diana of Wales.
Inside the beautiful Gothic-style interior (no photos allowed), you will find the tombs of kings and illustrious figures such as David Livingstone, Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, Laurence Olivier and Charles Darwin, as well as some of its most outstanding corners such as the Lady Chapel, the cloisters, the poets' corner, the Chapter House, the High Altar and St. Edward's Throne. You can book your ticket in advance from this page.
You can find more information in this guide to visiting Westminster Abbey.
Visiting hours: Monday to Friday 9.30am-3.30pm and Saturday 9am-1pm. Sundays open for mass only.
6. Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a small square at the intersection of several streets and the most famous meeting point for locals and tourists visiting the city. The square is notable for its large video screens, neon billboards and the famous fountain with the sculpture of Eros.
One of the best things to see and do in London is to sit on the steps of the fountain and enjoy the great atmosphere or a live performance by a street musician.
In addition, this area, along with the charming Leicester Square and Shaftesbury Avenue, is home to some of London's most famous theatres.
One of the most popular tours with a guide in English for travellers visiting the city and passing through this square is this evening walk through modern-day London.
7. British Museum, one of the best places to visit in London.
The British Museum, opened in 1759, is one of the most important museums in the world and another of the must-see places in London.
With an extensive collection of key works in the history of mankind, in the museum you can see the Rosetta Stone in the Egyptian Room, the marbles of the Parthenon in Athens or a Moai from Easter Island.
A good way to make sure you don't miss out on any important pieces is to follow this list of must-sees at the British Museum.
Although the museum is free to visit, we recommend you book this guided tour in English with an expert in art and history or book this free free tour.
Another option is to rent an audio guide in Spanish for 7 pounds, buy a small book with the 10 best works for 2 pounds or a more complete book for 6 pounds.
Visiting hours: daily from 10am to 5.30pm (Fridays until 8.30pm).
8. Notting Hill
Notting Hill, famous for Portobello Market and its beautiful colourful houses, is our favourite neighbourhood to visit in London.
Incredibly popular after the release of the film Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, it is now one of the busiest places in the city, both for its colourful houses and for the locations of the film, such as the main character's house or the bookshop, which have become real tourist attractions in the neighbourhood.
The best day to visit Notting Hill is Saturday morning, when all the stalls are set up on Portabello Street and the market is at its best.
Every day is also the perfect time to visit the less crowded neighbourhood, pop into some antique shops and bookshops, have a coffee in one of the original places or try the traditional food at the Duke of Wellington, one of the best restaurants to eat in London.
Remember that the streets adjacent to Portabello Road, such as Lancaster Road or St Luke's Mews, are home to the most photogenic coloured houses in the neighbourhood and it is very important to show respect to the neighbours and never climb the stairs to take pictures. Another less touristy area, but also with fairytale houses, is Hillgate Place.
A good option to learn more about the history and not miss anything in the neighbourhood is to book this free tour with a guide in Spanish.
9. Tower of London
The Tower of London, surrounded by a moat and located on the banks of the Thames, is another of the most beautiful places to see in London.
This castle, built by William in 1078 to defend the city from enemy raids, as well as to control river traffic, has had different uses depending on the stage of its history.
Once you cross the walls surrounding the castle you can visit important sites such as the White Tower, the Medieval Palace, the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula and the enclosure which houses the Crown Jewels, one of the most valuable treasures in the world.
Entry is included in the London Pass or you can book this ticket in advance.
You can find more information in this guide to visiting the Tower of London.
Visiting hours: from March to October from 9am to 5.30pm and the other months they close at 4.30pm. Open at 10am on Sundays and Mondays.
10. Best viewpoints to see in London
Another of the best experiences in London is to go up at sunset to one of the best viewpoints to watch the sun set over the city.
Some of our favourite viewpoints to visit in London include:
The Shard: this 300-metre high building offers spectacular 360-degree panoramic views from the 68th, 69th and 72nd floors. You can book your ticket here in advance to save a few euros and not run out of seats for the time you choose to go up. You can find out more about the observation deck by reading this guide to visit The Shard.
London Eye: from the huge glass cabins of this 135-metre Ferris wheel you have incredible views of the River Thames and Big Ben. We recommend you book a skip-the-line ticket to avoid wasting too much time and follow this guide to visit the London Eye.
Sky Garden: this free observation deck with a botanical garden inside is the most beautiful, combining fantastic views of the city with a perfect place to have a drink or dinner. To access the viewing platform you have to make a reservation on this page.
Other great vantage points in London include the top floor of the Tate Modern and the dome of St Paul's Cathedral.
11. St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral impresses with its huge dome and 111-metre high dome, making it the second largest cathedral in the world and another must-see in London.
Its cross-shaped interior and beautiful frescoes have been the setting for major events such as Winston Churchill's funeral, Queen Elizabeth's 80th birthday and the wedding of Prince Charles to Diana of Wales.
As well as visiting the interior, you can go up to the dome from where you will have great views of the centre of London or go down to the crypt where the remains of Nelson and the Duke of Wellington rest.
You can skip the queues if you have a London Explorer Pass or book this fast-track entry.
For more information about this church you can consult this guide to visit St Paul's Cathedral.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
12. London neighbourhoods
In addition to Notting Hill, London has an infinite number of neighbourhoods to stroll around and enjoy the most authentic atmosphere of the city.
Among the most charming neighbourhoods to visit in London, each with its own particularities, are:
Soho: original shops, art galleries and historic pubs that fill up every evening make up one of the most popular neighbourhoods in the city. Highlights include the small Chinatown neighbourhood and the shopping district of Carnavy Street.
Covent Garden: around a beautiful covered market you can find everything from street artists, theatres where the great musicals are performed, to surprising corners such as Neal's Yard.
Marylebone: a residential neighbourhood with Victorian architecture full of boutiques, small bookshops, charming mews, quality restaurants and trendy cafés.
Mayfair: an exclusive neighbourhood where wealthy people live with elegant Georgian houses, luxury shops and expensive restaurants.
13. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II and the site of many of London's and the United Kingdom's historic moments and another of the places to visit in London.
One of the best things to do in London is to watch the Changing of the Guard which takes place in front of the palace, although there are so many tourists that on most days it is difficult to watch in comfort and clarity. The Changing of the Guard takes place every day at 11.30am from May to July and every other month.
To visit the beautiful rooms of the Palace you have to book well in advance as you are only allowed to enter from 23 July to 2 October from 9:15am to 7:45pm.
If you don't have a lot of time in the city, it's a good idea to book the London sightseeing bus which stops at the main attractions and has recorded commentary in English on each one.
14. Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is one of the most popular squares to see in London, featuring the 50 metre high Nelson's Column built in honour of the admiral and his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.
This square is, along with Piccadilly Circus, one of the busiest places in the city for locals and tourists.
Besides enjoying the atmosphere, the square has on one side the National Gallery, a museum with one of the most important art collections in the world, which is another of the most recommended places to visit in London.
15. London Markets
In addition to Camden Market and Portobello Market, London has a wide variety of markets, all of which are different and surprising.
Some of the best markets in London include:
Brick Lane: large covered and street markets with all kinds of goods and food stalls are scattered around a neighbourhood where graffiti is also the star attraction. Open every Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
Leadenhall: the most beautiful covered market to visit in London and the inspiration for Harry Potter's Diagon Alley.
Columbia Road: the city's main flower market selling all kinds of plants and gardening tools. Open every Sunday from 8am to 3pm.
Borough: on Tuesdays and Mondays all the stalls are open in this amazing food market where you can try all kinds of local and international dishes.
Maltby Street: another of the best food markets in the city that is only open on Sundays.
Broadway: a market with over 100 stalls where farmers sell their fresh produce and local artists sell their personal work. Open every Saturday from 9am to 5pm.
Recommended travel cardsRemember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate, we recommend you use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, are free and will save you a lot of money.
You can find more information in this article on the best cards for commission-free travel.
16. Oxford and Regent Street
If you love shopping, you can't miss Oxford and Regent Street, the two most famous shopping streets in London, where the shops that are usually open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 8pm and on Sundays from 12pm to 6pm, are stacked next to each other in these two streets.
A walk from Marble Arch to Piccadilly Circus will take you past shops selling almost every international brand, fantastic shopping centres such as Liberty and even Ben's Cookies stalls, where you can refuel by devouring their delicious biscuits.
On the curving part of Regent Street, you'll see the most beautiful historic buildings and the most luxurious shops.
Remember that one of the best experiences in London at Christmas is to walk along these two streets decorated with Christmas lights and motifs.
17. Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is one of the most famous theatres in the world and another place to visit in London.
This building, built in red brick, has a design similar to the old amphitheatres, and even if you don't go inside, it's worth a visit to see the outside.
We visited it the first time we were in London and we loved it, as it coincided with the rehearsals of a performance and we were able to check out its magnificent acoustics.
To visit the interior you have to book a guided tour in English which takes you through the main rooms such as the Queen's Box and the impressive stage.
Another option is to buy a ticket for one of the classical, pop, rock, opera or ballet concerts, in which all the great artists of the moment perform.
Visiting hours: daily from 10am to 4pm. Admission included in the London Pass.
18. London Museums
In addition to the magnificent British Museum, the city has other museums with great collections and authentic references in their fields.
Among the best museums in London, most of them free of charge, are:
Natural History Museum: one of our favourite museums to visit in London, its dinosaur reproductions and blue whale skeleton will leave you speechless.
National Gallery: the great collection of paintings of great geniuses such as Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Velázquez, Goya, are enough reasons to enter.
Science Museum: it contains objects and inventions that changed history, such as the Apollo X module, Foucault's pendulum, Boulton and Watt's steam engine, the Earl of Roses telescope and a large exhibition of aeroplanes.
Tate Modern: the most visited modern art museum in the world, in addition to its extravagant works it has an incredible observation deck on the top floor.
Madame Tussauds: the world's most famous waxwork museum and its reproductions of famous people are so lifelike you'll doubt it isn't them in person. You can book your ticket here.
19. Harry Potter Studios
Another of the best things to do in London is to book a day trip to Warner Studios, where many of the scenes from the 8 Harry Potter films were filmed. Although the visit, including transport, can take around 7 hours, it's totally worth it to see the inside of these magnificent studios and remember great scenes and original props from the films.
The studios are located about 30 kilometres from the city and you can go on your own with a combination of underground, train and bus or on an organised tour.
As we said, if you don't want to hassle with transfers, a very convenient option is to book this Harry Potter tour at Warner Studios, where you can choose to book the transfer from central London or the transfer and entrance.
Remember that it is very important to book your ticket well in advance to avoid being left without a place, as this is one of the most popular attractions in London.
For more information on this tour you can consult this guide to visit the Harry Potter Studios in London, based on our experience.
20. Other places to visit in London
After completing the list of the most famous places to visit in London, we recommend you to look for other less touristy places to visit.
Among the ones we liked the most are:
Leake Street Tunnel: a tunnel located near Waterloo train station with walls full of graffiti.
Neal's Yard: an oasis of colour and charm.
St Dunstan in the East: a magical garden set among the ruins of an ancient church.
Daunt Books: an old Edwardian-style bookshop in the beautiful Marylebone district.
House of Minalima: a colourful Soho shop with a connection to the Harry Potter universe.
The Churchill Arms and Crown & Anchor: if you are looking for a historic pub with a striking façade, these two will not disappoint.
Warren Mews: one of the most beautiful alleys to see in London.
Ebury Street: in this street you will find shops decorated with flowers like Peggy Porschen's and designed to accumulate likes on your Instagram account.
Clifton Nurseries: don't leave London without trying the cakes at this greenhouse café.
Where to stay in London
On our last trip we stayed at the Garden Court Hotel, located very close to Notting Hill and Hyde Park. For us, it is highly recommended, as in addition to being in a nice neighbourhood with a wide range of restaurants, it is very close to the Bayswater Circle Line and the Queensway line (Central Line), which allows you to visit most of the important places in the city.
Two other good value-for-money options close to Victoria Station are The Belgrave Hotel and The Victor Hotel.
For more information on the best hotels and neighbourhoods we recommend you check out this post on where to stay in London.
Routes around London
To make sure you don't miss anything important and to complete a logical route through the city, we suggest you follow these guides optimised by days:
London in one day
London in two days
London in 6 days
Also to get to the city in the most comfortable and quickest way you can read these posts about how to get from Luton airport to London, how to get from Heathrow airport to London, how to get from Stansted airport to London and this one about how to get from Gatwick airport to London.
Excursions from London
If you have more days we suggest you to do some of the best excursions from London to visit some of the most beautiful places to see in England.
Among the best rated you have:
Map of the best places to see in London
This map will help you to locate in the easiest and quickest way all the points of interest to see in London.
Want to organise a trip to London?
Get it here:The best deals on Flights to London here
The best hotels at the best prices in London here.
Book the best tours and excursions in/from London in English here
London Pass: how it works, what's included and prices
London Explorer Pass: how it works, what's included and prices
If you'd like to help us complete our list of 20 places to visit in London, add your own in the comments.
