14 things to do when visiting London
During my first-ever trip to London city, I packed my stay with tons of activities. Find them all in the list below, and let me know if there are other things you would recommend. I’ll add them for my next trip there.
1. Explore London’s iconic buildings including the Shard
Over the years, London has seen new modern buildings arise. The Shard is probably the most famous of them. With its cutting edge and tall size, you can’t really miss it. I personally took this photo while walking around Borough Market and the Queen’s Walk. If you have time, you can also purchase your ticket in advance to access to the top of the building, which I believe gives you a pretty stunning view over London. Another famous building not too far from the Shard is the Gherkin.
2. Check out the London Eye from all angles
Another iconic landmark is London’s ferris wheel. You can see it very well from the opposite side of the Thames river, at Westminster Quay or near Embankment park. You also get nice views at the London Eye itself. It might not look that big in picture, but I assure you that its size is pretty impressive. I did not really have time to get on it, but I heard it’s a really nice thing to do for a stunning view over the city, and more particularly over the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben. Now since Big Ben is under renovation for the next few years, I figured I would do this another time.
3. Cross the world-famous Tower Bridge
Any trip to London isn’t complete if you don’t go to the Tower Bridge. I was blessed with pleasant weather which made its colours pop out, and I really enjoyed my experience. I was able to find a quiet spot to capture some photographs on the North shore of the Thames river.
4. Find Soho’s hidden gem: Neal’s Yard
I believe this was a hidden spot a few years ago, but thanks to the magic of social media, it has now gone viral. Neal’s Yard is a tiny little square in the middle of Covent Garden. I personally decided to get there as early as 8:00am and experienced it by myself. The restaurants had just opened, and it smelled like fresh coffee and English breakfast. This place is super cute and colourful, and there’s tons of opportunities for good photos.
5. Get your psyche on at God’s Own Junkyard
If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, there it is. God’s Own Junkyard is located in Walthamstow, not very far from London’s city center. You need to take the Victoria underground line and get out at Walthamstow Central station. From there, it’s a 15-minute walk. This place is very uncommon as it displays hundreds of neon signs that were used in some movie scenes. You really get that WOW effect when you walk in. If you’d like to stay there to contemplate the place, they also happen to serve food and drinks. Otherwise, there are a few other bars right next door that also offer a pretty cool atmosphere.
6. Find some pastel houses
London has some streets filled with gorgeous pastel houses. The most famous ones are located in Notting Hill, but there are some in other parts of the city including in Chelsea. If you happen to go to Notting Hill, it’s a must to check out Portobello market (located very close to the pastel houses), and walk to Little Venice.
7. Visit colourful cafés
London has numerous cafés, which all have amazing decors and original menus. Here you can find a list of all my favourite ones. My main tip if you visit any of them would be to go right when they open if you want to get the best table.
8. Go to Greenwich for a day
Greenwich is located about 50 min from London’s city center. It offer plenty of things to do so you can easily spend a full day there. From the Greenwich observatory to the Painted Hall to the Queen’s house and the museum of natural history, they have it all. They also have a market conveniently located near the overground station. If you like art and history, I would personally recommend visiting the Queen’s House and the Painted Hall, two absolutely amazing places.
9. Spend an early morning at Covent Garden
London’s most famous market, and also a really peaceful neighbourhood if you go early morning. I really liked wandering the streets of Covent Garden and do a bit of window shopping.
10. Walk around Westminster
Home to the famous Big Ben, as well as the Palace and Abbey of Westminster, you definitely have to go there. Here is also where you’ll find many of London’s famous red telephone booths, strategically located in front of each landmark. There are tons of great photo opportunities. Unfortunately when I went, Big Ben was experiencing some big repairs os it was covered with scaffolding. I thus preferred walking on the other side to face the Westminster Abbey instead.
11. Photograph Heal & Son’s spiral staircase
This one is definitely not on everyone’s bucket list, as it isn’t very well known. There is a high-end furniture store located in Fitzrovia that has a dreamy staircase. The store being very big, you’ll have to walk around a bit to find it. Here are shots from below and above. Which one do you prefer?
12. Sunbathe at Hyde Park
London has many beautiful park, Hyde Park being the biggest. If you happen to visit London on a sunny day, then I definitely recommend going there to chill and enjoy the sun.
13. Check out Leak Street Arches graffitis
Not very far from the London Eye is an intriguing street dedicated to street art. It is located in an underground tunnel underneath the Waterloo train station. Definitely something cool to check out if you have time.
14. Enjoy some tasty fish ’n chips
Last but not least, let’s not forget to enjoy some tasty fish ’n chips. I personally looked for the best one located near from where I was, and I came across this place called Golden Union in Soho. It looks exactly like an old kitch dinner, and they actually serve delicious fish ’n chips.
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