Guide to London for First Time Visitors

The city is considered to be one of the fashion capitals of the world and has a food culture like no place else in the region. The life in London is made even more vibrant by grand events like the Notting Hill Carnival, which attracts more than 2 million visitors every year. It holds the title of being the biggest street festival of Europe. There are ample clubbing options and music events also. By music events, we mean top quality music festivals like the Hampton Court Palace Festival, BBC Proms of Hyde Park, or even The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

London comprises of a diverse range of people hailing from different cultures. Reports say that there are more than 300 languages which are spoken in the region. As a result of such cultural amalgamation, this bustling metropolis has a lot to offer when it comes to leisurely activities. The city is home to four World Heritage Sites and has numerous other landmarks, museums, galleries, etc. So, if you are present in this city, or are planning to go there anytime, the following article would certainly be of some help in guiding you through the top things to do in London.

The Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, also known as the Westminster Abbey is a huge Gothic abbey church in the city of Westminster in London. The monument is one of the most notable buildings of the religious significance of the United Kingdom, being the traditional place of coronation & burial of British monarchs. Apart from this the Westminster Abbey also holds the tradition for all royal weddings too. Currently, it operates as a fully functioning place of worship and is also one of the top attractions of the city of London, visited by tourists and pilgrims alike. The visitors are left awestruck by the beauty of the high ceilings which are supported by colossal marble columns which are intricately designed to captivate. The glittering stained glass adds to the aesthetic value of the impressive architecture of Westminster Abbey. All of this makes it a mandatory inclusion in the list of top things to do in London.

The Westminster Abbey is open to visitors from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm on regular days. On Wednesdays, the timings are from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm. The place remains closed on Sundays.

The price of a single ticket is 22 Pounds if purchased on-site, and is 20 Pounds if purchased through online channels. You can get a family ticket too, priced at 40 Pounds which covers 2 adults and one child. An additional charge of 9 Pounds can be paid for every extra child.

Westminster Abbey, 20 Deans Yd, London SW1P 3PA

It is said that in London there is no shortage of museums, as the city houses about 150 of them. But if there is one who outshines every other of these, it is the British Museum which is England’s oldest & largest museum. It is considered to be one of the most comprehensive museums with over 8 million artifacts and works, and permanent collections that can take you back to the inception of human existence. The museum has exhibits originating from various parts of the world. It is dedicated to showcasing the evolution of humankind. Ever since the year of it's setting up in 1753, The British Museum has been expanding in every sense. Also, it is considered to be the world’s first public museum with national status. The building has a great aesthetic appeal and has been designed in the Greek Revival Style with columns and pediments in a neoclassical approach. Visiting the British Museum can be said to be of the most interesting & enriching things to do in London. There are also guided tours available where expert guides take you through a journey of thousands of years’ worth of knowledge and tell you about the intricacies which an untrained eye might miss. The duration of any guided tour can be around 2 to 2.5 hours.

The visiting hours are from 10.00 am to 5.30 pm. On Fridays the timing gets extended up to 8.30 pm 10:00-17:30, extended to 20:30 on Friday. The museum remains closed on 1^st January and 24^th to 26^th December.

The entrance to The British Museum is free of cost. However, for some specific event or exhibition, there might be a charge of admission.

British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG

Piccadilly Circus is a road intersection in West London, City of Westminster. The junction was built in the year 1819 to connect Regent St. and Piccadilly. It is today one of the most popular intersections in the world through which over 100 million people cross per year. People who don’t know about it usually confuse this to be a real circus, but, in this context, the word circus is derived from its Latin roots which mean to be a “circle” per se or around open space which the intersection is. At first, you might think that it is just like any other normal intersection, but once you sit for a while near the Eros Statue and watch calmly at the view ahead of you, the people and the vibe, you will understand what special value this place holds. The digital advertisements displayed all day on the buildings are known as the Piccadilly Lights look spectacular, especially in the night time. The simplicity and dynamicity of the place make it a worthy mention in the list of things to do in London.

The place is open throughout the 24 hours of the day. However, most shops and restaurants in the area close to the time of 11.00 pm.

There is no fee applicable for visiting the Piccadilly Circus, as it is a public area space.

Piccadilly Circus, London, UK

The Royal Observatory of Greenwich is located in the central area of Greenwich Park and gives the visitors a cultural & educational experience which is worth mentioning. The prime meridian passes through this very place in London, which is one of the most significant astronomical museums in the world. Here, you will get to know about the world’s first telescope, time standardization, the evolution of science, etc. The beautiful scenic view of the city from here attracts locals and tourists alike. The top attractions of the Greenwich Observatory include Flamsteed House, Time Ball, Prime Meridian Courtyard, Great Equatorial Telescope, and Peter Harrison Planetarium among others. The overall experience can be considered as one of the most enriching things to do in London. The observatory had played a major role in the evolution and development of astronomy and navigation since its inception in 1675 when King Charles II commissioned its construction.

The opening hours of the Greenwich Royal Observatory are from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm daily.

The entrance fee is 14.40 Pounds for adults and 7.20 Pounds for children. There are multiple packages available wherein the fee varies for the different attractions as well. The details of those can be checked on the official website before visiting.

Greenwich Royal Observatory, Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ, UK

Big Ben is the clock tower of the Westminster Palace, which serves as the meeting place for the two houses of the parliament of the UK. Big Ben is one of the most famous landmarks of London and a visit to it should be included in your list of things to do in London. The tower was designed in the year 1858 at the UK Parliament’s far end. The structure which is 315 feet (96 meters) high, holds a four-faced clock and is built in Gothic style architecture. The Great Bell of the clock tower (also known as the Elizabeth Tower) weighs 14 tons. The giant clock which is set in a 23 feet long frame is considered to be the world’s most reliable clock which has withstood all kinds of conditions since its inception.

You can visit Big Ben and see it from the outside at any time of the day. The tours of the Houses of Parliament vary throughout the year as per the planned schedule put up by them. Unlike the tour of Houses of Parliament which anyone can get, the tour inside the clock tower Big Ben is allowed only to UK residents and not overseas visitors.

There is no entry fee to see Big Ben, but an inside tour of the Houses of Parliament costs 25 Pounds.

Big Ben, Elizabeth Tower - Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA

The Buckingham Palace is the administrative headquarters of the British Monarch and its official residence. The construction of this magnificent structure started in the year 1703, and since then it adds to the grandeur of the city of London. A visit to the Buckingham Palace is surely bound to give you an extraordinary experience of royal life and should be one of the top things to do in London. The general public is allowed to visit the State Rooms of the palace, which is where the members of the royal family receive guests on official occasions. Out of a total of 775 rooms, only certain rooms like the 19 State Rooms are allowed for general public visitation. You can also see the throne room, which is used as a backdrop for pictures of royal weddings. The magnificent Grand Staircase of the palace is also an attraction. The palace holds exhibitions details of which they issue by notifications to the general public. Out of all other things to do in London, this is the only place where you can get a guided audio tour in the voice of Prince Charles!

The palace’s visiting hours are about 9.30 am to 7.30 pm every day. Every year the Palace is open for the general public to visit for a couple of months between July and October when the Monarch goes on holiday. In 2019, the palace will be open for visitation from 22^nd July to 29^th September. The timings can have slight shifts, so it is advised that you refer to the official website before visiting.

A normal adult ticket to the Buckingham Palace costs 25 Pounds, and a concessional ticket is priced at 22.80 Pounds. Children from 5 to 16 years of age get a ticket at 14 Pounds.

Buckingham Palace, Westminster, London SW1A 1AA

Next in the list of things to do in London, comes a visit to the famous Tower Bridge, which is a combined bascule- suspension bridge built in the year 1894. The bridge spans over the River of Thames and is an iconic symbol for the city of London. This Victorian Gothic style construction attracts thousands of tourists from all across the world. Apart from walking over the bridge, you can also go inside it and catch a view of London from a walkway between the towers. The glass walkways offer a mesmerizing view of the Thames River, which flows 42 meters below. Out of other things to do in London, this place can be said to be the most remarkable one considering that it is an important symbol of the city. The Tower Bridge Exhibition Room will give you a lot of information about the construction of the bridge etc. You can also download the official app for Tower Bridge on your phone and get loads of interesting information, games, and animated videos of the Tower Bridge. The app also provides services for online ticket booking.

The visiting hours to Tower Bridge are from 10.00 am to 5.30 pm in April to September. The timings have a slight change in October to March, and are 9.30 am to 5.00 pm for the said months.

The price of the tickets is 9 Pounds for adults and 3.90 Pounds for children. The price of tickets for students is 6.30 Pounds. The entry is free of cost for children below 5 years of age.

Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP

Another mandatory inclusion in the list of things to do in London is the London Eye. This is a giant cantilever observation wheel which is situated on the southern banks of the River Thames. It is the tallest observation wheel of its kind in the whole of Europe, and also one of the most popular paid tourist attractions. The London Eye is 443 feet (about 135 meters) tall in terms of its overall height. The wheel has a radius of 60 meters, and at the time of its opening in the year 2000, it was the tallest Ferris- Wheel of the world.

The visiting hours for the London Eye are from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm on weekdays. The timings on Saturdays and Sundays are from 10.00 am to 8.30 pm. The London Eye stays open till 10.00 pm on Valentine’s Day. So, a visit here with your loved one can be one of the most romantic things to do in London on Valentine’s Day.

A standard entry ticket to the London Eye is priced at about 30 pounds per person. The prices keep varying, and booking a ticket in advance can prove to be really pocket- friendly. There are special packages also, details of which can be found on the official website.

The London Eye, Riverside Bldg, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB

Another important visit to your list of things to do in London should be the National Gallery which is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in Central London. This magnificent museum was founded in the year 1824 and houses an amazing collection of over 2300 paintings which date from 13^th to 19^th centuries. It is one of the best things to do in London for art & culture enthusiasts, and it attracts a large number of locals and tourists.

The visiting hours are from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm every day except for Fridays. On Fridays, the museum is open from 10.00 am to 9.00 pm.

The entry to the National Gallery of London is free of cost.

National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, UK

The city offers limitless options of places to go, restaurants to eat, etc. because of which you will never find a dearth of things to do in London. During its rush hours, the city has so much energy that it can stand rival to New York, which is said to be the city that never sleeps. With some of the world's best art, entertainment, shopping, history, it's impossible to be bored in London. So, enjoy the city's fantastic sights and events by exploring London's hidden gems.