Visiting London: Top 20 must-see places
You are preparing a trip to London and are looking for What to do in London You are in the right place!
London is a city that I know very well since I have been going there since the age of 14. With 1 to 4 trips per year in some years, I have had the opportunity to discover the English capital in all seasons, alone, as a couple, and with my family.
And even after all these years, I still find a good reason to go back there.
I love London for its architecture, its museums, its neighborhoods that are very different from each other, its shopping, its pubs, its gastronomy, its cafes, its musicals… but most of all for this special atmosphere that I can’t find anywhere else.
I’ve even already done it Return flights to London from Nice every day With direct flights and the time difference, it is possible to leave very early in the morning and enjoy a beautiful day in the British capital.
In this article, I will take you on a journey to discover my must-dos in London, but also some experiences that I particularly like and that I recommend you to experience during your stay.
🇬🇧 The great classics of London
If this is your first time in London, here are the places I recommend you discover first.
Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster
The classic! It’s impossible to come to London without admiring Big Ben and the buildings of Parliament on the banks of the Thames.
Tower Bridge
With Big Ben, it is probably one of the most iconic images of London. A must-see, day or night.
Tower of London
Immerse yourself in British history and discover one of the capital's most famous fortresses.
London Eye
An essential place to get a bird's-eye view and enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of London and the Thames River.
Piccadilly Circus
Its bright screens, its constant animation and its proximity to Soho make it an essential stop during a first visit.
Trafalgar Square
A large emblematic square, ideally located to continue on to Covent Garden, Leicester Square or Piccadilly.
Hyde Park
One of London’s great green spaces, perfect for a break between visits.
Covent Garden
Its covered market, its shops, its restaurants and its street performers make it an essential district.
Camden Market
A completely different atmosphere with its original boutiques, street food and alternative atmosphere.
Notting Hill and Portobello Road
For its beautiful colorful houses, its market and its typical London atmosphere.
The museums of London
British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate Modern… There is something for everyone.
Oxford Street
For shopping and big-name stores, with a particularly pleasant atmosphere during the Christmas holidays.
A cruise on the Thames
Another way to discover London's great monuments from the water.
A musical in the West End
To experience a true London evening and discover one of the most renowned musical scenes in the world.
❤️ My favorite places and experiences in London
After more than 20 years of traveling in England and dozens of stays in London, I definitely have my own little habits and favorite places.
These are the ones I particularly enjoy seeing when I return to the capital.
St Katharine Docks ⚓
Right next to Tower Bridge, I love coming to walk around this small port surrounded by restaurants and brick buildings. It’s much quieter than the large tourist avenues.
Carnaby Street 🛍️
I really like its atmosphere, its shops and its restaurants. And at Christmas, its decorations are always beautiful.
Burlington Arcade ✨
This elegant Mayfair gallery is perfect for a little stroll among the pretty boutiques. Even without doing any shopping, I really enjoy spending time there.
Shoreditch & Brick Lane 🎨
It’s one of my favorite neighborhoods for its creative side, its street art, its small boutiques, its cafes, and its completely different atmosphere from classic London.
The cafes around Hyde Park and the Serpentine ☕
I really enjoy taking a break around the Serpentine after a walk in Hyde Park. It’s another way to enjoy London, more quietly.
The decorations in Covent Garden at Christmas 🎄
If you’re in London during the holidays, don’t miss them! It’s one of the places I love to visit every year.
See a musical 🎭
Even though it might be among the classics, I place it here because it’s an experience that I personally love. Every time I go, there’s always something that makes me want to go see a show.
Having an afternoon tea in a palace 🫖
For a truly British experience, I love the idea of having an afternoon tea at a prestigious establishment like the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Small sandwiches, pastries, scones and tea in an elegant setting: it's hard to do any more English!
Eating a Sunday Roast in a pub 🍽️
Yes, I love English cuisine! 😄 And Sunday Roast is one of my favorite experiences. A good roast, potatoes, vegetables, a Yorkshire pudding and a good gravy in a warm pub: that’s exactly the kind of moment I love to experience in England.
Shopping like a Londoner 🛍️
London is also a destination I simply love… shopping and doing my groceries! I love discovering the English supermarkets, bringing back products that aren’t necessarily available in France, and strolling through department stores and small boutiques.
Going to London for the day from Nice ✈️
It’s one of my little pleasures: catching a very early flight from Nice, enjoying London during the day and returning in the evening. With the time difference, some flights even allow you to arrive in London around 8am. A real London express day!
London at Christmas 🎄❤️
And if I had to choose a period I particularly like, it would be Christmas without hesitation. The decorations, the windows, the illuminations, the markets and the atmosphere in the streets always make me want to go back there.
Comments
Capucine & Thibault
6 March 2016
Hello Josette!
For the Oyster you can take it on site, no problem.
As for the budget, I recommend you eat at the markets in the afternoon (Porto Road on Saturdays, Brick Lane on Sundays), at Kingly Court on Carnaby Street or Covent Street; you’ll find franchises that aren’t too expensive.
500 € makes 350 £, so if I were you I would have a good breakfast at the hotel, and I would eat a cheap lunch, a small snack at 4pm and a restaurant at night, but that would be very quick…
Fortunately, most museums are free!!
I completely agree with this top 5! English breakfasts often put off the French, but personally I love them. They are also much healthier than what we are used to eating because they are rich in protein.
Josette
6 March 2016
Hello and thank you for all these very interesting and detailed information. I am leaving in April with my daughter; it has been 40 years since I went to London! I will find some change. I will use your information to create a nice program. As for the «bus tour,» is it absolutely necessary to book it online or can we do it on site? We will be there for 3 and a half days; is a budget of 500 euros enough for the restaurant, drinks, transportation, and other extras? Is it absolutely necessary to book the Oyster Card online or can we easily do it on site? Thank you for all your good advice and again, great job with your blog