Things to Do in London
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to London, England, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
London's Underground has been running since 1863, the oldest of its kind anywhere in the world, and the city built up around it has been quietly rewriting the rules of what a capital can be ever since. This is the proper guide to things to do in London, what things actually cost, when to go, and which bits deserve the queue. Four main stops below, plus a quiz at the bottom to see if you were paying attention.
The London Underground
I asked in the quiz what locals actually call the Underground, and it's the Tube, named for the shape of the tunnels themselves, exactly as the quiz hint described, a nickname that's stuck since the early 1900s when the Central Line was briefly known as the Twopenny Tube after its flat fare. It's the oldest underground railway system in the world, opened in 1863, and today covers 272 stations across 11 colour-coded lines, still the easiest way to get almost anywhere in the city.
A contactless card or Oyster card gets you the same fares as a paper ticket with an automatic daily cap, by far the simplest way to pay, no need to work out zones or ticket types in advance.
Official site tfl.gov.uk
The River Thames
The answer to the second quiz question: the River Thames cuts London roughly in half, and the posher bits have historically clustered on the north side, though that divide has blurred considerably in recent decades. It's the second-longest river in the whole country, exactly what I mentioned in the quiz hint, running through the heart of the city past most of London's biggest landmarks, and a river cruise or a simple walk along the South Bank gives you a strikingly different perspective on the skyline than the street-level view.
Tower Bridge, arguably the most photographed crossing on the river, has a glass-floored walkway you can cross for a proper look straight down at the water, a separate paid attraction from simply walking or driving across.
Big Ben & the Elizabeth Tower
I asked in the quiz what the tower everyone calls Big Ben is actually named, and it's the Elizabeth Tower, renamed in 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, exactly as the quiz hint described. Technically, Big Ben is the name of the Great Bell inside, not the tower itself, a distinction most Londoners happily ignore in everyday conversation. Guided tours climb 334 spiral steps to the belfry, though they're restricted to Saturdays and parliamentary recess periods, and UK residents can apply for a free tour through their local MP if spaces allow.
The Houses of Parliament sit right alongside, a strikingly impressive Gothic Revival building designed by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin after the original medieval palace burned down in 1834, a good look even if you're only viewing from outside.
Address Westminster, London SW1A 0AA
The Tower of London
A real fortress, prison and royal mint before it became one of England's most visited paid attractions, the Tower of London dates to the 1070s under William the Conqueror and now holds the Crown Jewels, a collection of 23,578 gemstones among the most heavily guarded objects in the country. Admission includes access to the White Tower, the Medieval Palace, the battlements, and a Yeoman Warder guided tour departing regularly throughout the day, well worth timing your visit around.
Arrive early, ideally right at opening, the Crown Jewels queue can reach 45-60 minutes by mid-morning in peak season, and tickets bought online in advance are both cheaper and faster than turning up at the gate.
Hours Tue-Sat from 9am, Sun-Mon from 10am, closing 4.30pm-5.30pm depending on season
Address St Katharine's & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB
Official site hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london
Best time to visit London
May to September gives the most reliable weather for the South Bank and any river-based sightseeing, though London's museums, the Tower, and Parliament all work fine in any weather, one of the real advantages of a city this well set up for indoor attractions. Whatever the season, booking major paid attractions online in advance pays off year-round, London's queues rarely fully disappear.
Getting around London
The Tube covers almost anywhere you'll want to go, with buses filling the gaps and a surprisingly walkable central zone once you're in the right area. Zone 1, covering most major landmarks, the Tower, Westminster, the West End, is compact enough that walking between nearby sights is often faster than taking the Tube for one stop.
Frequently asked questions
- Is London worth visiting?
- Yes, it's one of the world's great capital cities, with the oldest underground railway system anywhere, nearly a thousand years of continuous royal history at the Tower, and enough free museums to fill a week without spending a penny on admission.
- How many days do you need in London?
- Three to four days covers the major landmarks, the Tower, Westminster, the South Bank, comfortably. A week or more lets you properly explore the museums and different neighbourhoods without rushing.
- Is London expensive?
- Yes, among the more expensive UK cities to visit, though many of its best museums are free, and the Tube's daily fare cap keeps transport costs predictable.
- What is London famous for?
- The London Underground, the oldest underground railway in the world; Big Ben, technically the bell inside the Elizabeth Tower; and the Tower of London, home to the Crown Jewels since the 1070s.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
