9 Best Things To Do in London

Westminster Abbey or formally known as the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster is a large Gothic style Church that is located in the City of Westminster, London. It lies close very close and is in the west of the Palace of Westminster visiting which is also one of the best things to do in London. It has been the place used for centuries for traditional royal ceremonies like a coronation and as a burial site for the English and later British Kings and Queens. Since 1560 it has the status of a “Royal Peculiar” – Church of England and is directly responsible to the Sovereign. The foundations of the present structure date back to the year 1245 when the building was started on the orders of King Hendry III. All coronations since 1066, in the history of England, have taken place in Westminster Abbey. It is also a burial site for more than 3,300 eminent people in British history, including the 16 Monarchs, 8 Prime Ministers, and others and remains on top of the things to do in London.

Here you can see the Coronation Chair commissioned by King Edward I in 1296 that has been the official chair used in the coronation of every Monarch since then. It is by far the oldest piece of furniture used for the purpose it was created. You will also see the Chapter house, used by the monks to plan the day and Pray. The room is lavishly decorated with carving, stained glass, and wall paintings and has Britain's oldest doors in any structure.

Poet's Corner is one for literature lovers in Westminster Abbey's South Transept and has many monuments and dedications to English literature's greats.

A Tip - To avoid long queues, its best to book tickets in advance.

The opening hours - vary from day to day basis- Mon - Tue 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM, Wed 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM, Thu - Sat 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM.

Address - 20 Deans Yd, London SW1P 3PA

The British Museum has one of the largest and most extensive collections in existence, with over 8 million objects from around the world and tops the list of things to do in London. It is located in Bloomsbury, London, and is dedicated to human history, culture, and art. It has a massive permanent collection of 8 million exhibits and is one of the largest in the world. Most of these artifacts were collected during the era of the British empire. It has the most comprehensive story of human evolution and culture from the beginning to the present. The British Museum has the distinction of being the first public (government) national museum in the world.

You could spend days exploring the different artifacts in the museum; however below mentioned are the few things to look out for :

The Egyptian sculpture gallery- A vast room with depictions of Kings and deities from the Roman Period. You can find a giant stone bust of magnificent pharaohs that you will find looming over you near the hall's center.

Mexico - You will find an exploration of early Mexican history, featuring artifacts from the Classic Veracruz and Huastec civilizations, along with the glorious Maya city-states of the first millennium AD.

Parthenon Sculptures – Athen’s Parthenon has a long and complicated history. Originally built as a temple over 2500 years ago, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, the iconic building was converted into a church for the Virgin Mary and remained there for a thousand years.

Rosetta Stone - A colossal slab participated in three iterations of a decree issued in 196 BC in Memphis, Egypt. It turned out to be one of the key factors in the deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphs

You can visit the museum from 10:00-17:30, extended to 20:30 on Friday. The Great Court is open from 9:00 to 18:00 on Friday as well. You should not plan your trip on January 1 and December 24-26 as it remains closed.

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

Piccadilly Circus is a major road square in London West End in the City of Westminster. Built-in 1819 to connect Piccadilly with Regent Street. It connects the theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue and the Haymarket on Coventry Street and is a bustling entertainment and shopping area in the West End with Neon lights and Video displays in the lines of Times Square in NY. It has the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain and statue adorning it. It is well connected with the London underground system having the Piccadilly Circus Underground station nearby.

Notable historic theatres including the London Pavillion and Criterion Theatre surround the Piccadilly Circus. If you are in London, you will surely include this in your list of things to do in London.

Address - Piccadilly Circus, London, UK

The Greenwich Royal Observatory was commissioned by King Charles II in 1675 and is located in the Greenwich Park atop a hill and has played a key role in the history of navigation and astronomy since then. It was headed by a Royal Astronomer appointed by the King to serve as the director of the observatory. It is also best known as the Prime Meridian passes through the observatory and hence reference to the time as Greenwich Mean Time. Today it’s a part of the Royal Museums Greenwich and a must-add in your list of things to do in London.

It is one of the most popular astronomy museums in the world where you can learn about the invention of a first telescope and the progress of time standardization. The must-sees are Flamsteed house, Time Ball, Prime Meridian Courtyard, Great Equatorial Telescope, and the Peter Harrison Planetarium. You can also enjoy the museum's breath-taking panoramic view of the whole London city, skyline. Make sure you don’t miss this on your things to do in London.

Opens - Sun-Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Address - Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ, UK

There is no trip to London without seeing some of the most important sights, and Big Ben falls into this group. With various things to do in London, everyone surely wants to visit this place. Big Ben is more than just a majestic clock but a British icon that is most associated with the city of London. It has a rich history and is one of the world's most emblematic structures. Designed by Augustus Pugin, this is built in the neo-Gothic style and was completed in 1859. At that time, it was the largest, four-faced, and most accurate chiming clock in the world. Towering at 96 m. It can be climbed right up to the top, using the 334 stairs. The tower has 5 bells out of which Big Ben is the largest and weighs 13.7 tonnes, which still uses the original Victorian mechanism with a backup electric motor.

It's hard to overlook the elegance and scale of this majestic structure at the base of the almost 200-year-old tower and its 96 meters height.

The tower now seen is part of the restored Westminster Palace, which was built in 1834, following a devastating fire. The tower bends in the northwest, nearly 9 inches, and the tower has been in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites since 1987. Currently, under repairs till 2020, it remains silent other than ringing on New Year’s Eve and Remembrance Day.

The Opening Hours - Sun-Sat 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

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

Of all the things to do in London, you surely would not want to miss visiting Buckingham Palace. Currently serving as Her Majesty, the Queen's official residence, Buckingham Palace is all about royal heritage and is located in THE city of Westminster, London. Built as a large townhouse called Buckingham House in 1702, for the Duke of Birmingham, the site was in private hands prior to this. Acquired by King George III for his wife’s private residence in 1761, the place became known as The Queen’s House. A part of the Queen’s Chapel was destroyed during the WWII bombing and has been rebuilt to host the Queen’s Gallery, which has the royal collection. The staterooms which are used for official and state functions are open for public viewing every year between August and September. Visiting the palace during a royal celebration or a special occasion is one of the best things to do in London.

Outside in the palace courtyard, you can see the traditional Changing of Guards or even visit the palace taking the royal tour to see the opulent Royal Collection inside and explore the glory and magnificence of the Royal lineage. The admission to government offices, Royal Mews and the Queen's Gallery, need a separate ticket, over and above the entry ticket for Buckingham Palace. The Royal Mews in the palace campus is one of the finest stables still functioning. It has a lavish collection of antique coaches, wagons, and horses of the Queen. Built-up from the bomb-damaged remains of an earlier private chapel during the World War, the Queen's Gallery exhibits a magnificent collection of paintings, sculptures, old masterpieces, rare furniture, as well as a dazzling array of decorative and precious jewels owned by Her Majesty the Queen.

The entry timings differ every year. June 21, 2018 - August 31, 9:30-19:00 (entry deadline is 17:15), September 1, 2018- September 30, 2018, 9:30-18: 00 (entry deadline is 16:15).

Address - Westminster, London SW1A 1AA

Tower Bridge is one of the most iconic symbols of London. It is a suspension bridge built on the River Thames and was completed in 1894. The magnificent bridge is located near the Tower of London and is one of the landmarks of London and the most photographed structure in the UK. The bridge has two towers, which are connected by two walkways horizontally in the upper level, with the bridge suspending and connecting the two banks of the river. The middle portion of the bridge is movable and can be raised to allow big ships or large boats who enter the waterways. The bridge’s twin towers house the Victorian steam engine rooms, which powered the machinery to lift the bridge. While the original mechanism has long been replaced with modern ones in 1974, it is available in the tower bridge exhibition which is also housed here. You will have to buy an entry ticket to see this historical marvel and work of engineering visiting which is one of the best things to do in London.

Open - Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Address - Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP

The London Eye is yet another icon in London and is a giant cantilevered observation wheel. It is located on the South Bank of Thames and is considered as the tallest in Europe. It is the most popular (paid) tourist attraction in the UK and receives over 3.5 million tourists annually. This massive structure stands 135 meters tall, and the rotating wheel has a diameter of 120 meters. It opened to the public in 2000 as was then the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. Though it was surpassed in 2006 by the 160 meter Star of Nanchan, the 165 meter Singapore Flyer in 2008 and 167 meters, and the latest addition in 2014, High Roller in Las Vegas, it still remains high on the things to do in London list of most tourists. It is unique from all of these as it is supported by only one side by an A-frame. It offers the second-highest viewing point for the public anywhere in London.

To date, 30 million people have ridden the London Eye. Needless to say, the London Eye is one of the most iconic places to visit in Europe, so well known that it was once mentioned in a Friends episode. The London eye can be reached easily from Big Ben and lies just ahead of the Westminster bridge beside the Country Hall in London.

Opens - Mon - Fri 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Sat - Sun 10:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Address - Riverside Bldg, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB

If you are an art lover, the National Gallery in London will be on top of your list of things to do in London. The National Gallery is a museum in Trafalgar Square in Central London. It specializes in art exhibits and was founded in 1824. It has a rare collection of 2,300 paintings, with some as old as from the mid-13^th century. It is a government body with free entry to the main exhibition area. It is rated as one of the most visited museums worldwide after the Louve, the British Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The National Gallery today is an architectural marvel on the Trafalgar square and has been renovated and restored with significant extensions made to it till date. The present building is the third to house the National Gallery and was designed by William Wilkins. The construction lasted for six years from 1832 to 1838. You can spend hours here admiring the works of the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, and many others, which make this Gallery a much sought of the art lovers.

Opens - Fri 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Sat - Thu 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Address - Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, UK

So, head out to London which has something for everyone for an amazing vacation. Be it the rich history, amusement, natural places or following up the royal family trails. London is the best place which is also a unique travel destination with new & old world charm and is suitable for tourists with a wide budget range. So go ahead and be a part of this amazing journey.