From the Tower of London to Sky Garden, these are the 10 London attractions we think every visitor should see — with honest tips from two London locals.
By: Paul Healy | Last Updated:
London is one of the world’s great cities, with centuries of history, world-class museums, and iconic landmarks.
But knowing where to start can feel overwhelming.
As long-time residents, this is our curated list of the best things to do in London — the attractions that genuinely deserve a place on any itinerary, whether you’re visiting for the first time or the fifth.
To help put these things (and many more) together, read our 4-day London itinerary. We also have a handy guide on what to do in London in the rain.
Map: Our Top Things to Do in London
Use the map below to plan your visit and get a sense of how the attractions are situated relative to each other. You’ll notice that most cluster around the Thames, which makes it surprisingly straightforward to combine several of them in a single day.
Click on the top right corner to open our map in your Google Maps app. Click the star next to the title to save it to your Google account.
1. Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is such an enthralling place; we’d recommend it to anyone, no matter how religious you are.
This is where British history was made. Built in 1065 by Edward the Confessor, the abbey has hosted every coronation since William the Conqueror in 1066. It has housed royal weddings from Henry I to Prince William and funerals of figures ranging from Elizabeth I to Sir Isaac Newton.
If there is one building in London that really embeds British history for us, this is it.
The Gothic architecture is stunning with soaring spires, intricate stone carvings, and ornate stained-glass windows. Inside, the nave opens up to vast vaulted ceilings and majestic columns.
Here are the highlights of Westminster Abbey you will love:
- Coronation Chair – Where every English and British monarch since 1308 has been crowned, including Queen Victoria, George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II.
- Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Mary I Tomb – The final resting place of the famous half-sisters, buried together despite a lifetime of conflict.
- Poets’ Corner – Where Chaucer, Dickens, Kipling, and Laurence Olivier are commemorated, among many others.
- Lady Chapel of Henry VII – One of the finest examples of late Gothic architecture in Europe, with extraordinary pendant fan vaulting.
- College Garden – A hidden garden behind the abbey, said to be the oldest garden in England. Open Tuesday to Thursday.
You can attend a service for free. Please note you cannot access the tourist areas during a service. You can see the nave, but not the tombs or other chapels.
To see everything, book these skip-the-line tickets to avoid the queues.
2. British Museum
The British Museum is one of the greatest repositories of human history on earth, and we’d recommend it to everyone. Especially as it’s completely free to enter.
Founded in 1753 as the world’s first public national museum, its collection spans two million years of human civilisation. You’ll see ancient Egypt, classical Greece, the Viking world, and the Americas.
The Great Court, with its sweeping glass-and-steel roof, is one of the coolest interior spaces in London. The Reading Room in court is where Marx, Darwin, and Dickens once worked.
Here are just a few of the things worth checking out in the British Museum:
- Rosetta Stone — The 2,200-year-old decree that unlocked the mystery of Egyptian hieroglyphics.
- Elgin Marbles — Sculptural friezes from the Parthenon in Athens, dating to 438 BC, among the finest examples of classical Greek art in existence.
- Egyptian Mummies — An extraordinary collection of mummified remains and elaborately decorated coffins spanning thousands of years of ancient Egyptian burial tradition.
- Sutton Hoo Helmet — The iconic Anglo-Saxon ceremonial helmet discovered in a Suffolk ship burial in 1939.
- Lewis Chessmen — Twelfth-century Norse chess pieces carved from walrus ivory, found on the Isle of Lewis and instantly recognisable to anyone who has read Harry Potter.
Entry is free, though temporary exhibitions sometimes carry a charge. It gets extremely busy at weekends and during school holidays. Go on a weekday morning if you can.
A guided tour is a great way to see the museum. They explore a select number of items in detail, giving you a much better understanding of their history.
3. Palace of Westminster & Big Ben
Sitting on the north bank of the Thames, the Palace of Westminster & Big Ben is one of the most photographed streetscapes on earth. And they’re even more impressive in person.
The building you see today is a rebuild of the original, which was almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1834. The Gothic Revival replacement is a masterpiece of intricate towers, spires and stonework stretching nearly 300 metres along the riverbank.
We’d strongly recommend booking an official guided tour of the Palace of Westminster. Walking through the House of Commons and the House of Lords — the two chambers that have shaped British history and much of the modern world — is a fascinating experience.
You can choose between a self-guided audio tour or an expert-led guided tour. The latter takes 90 minutes and offers genuine insight into the workings of British democracy. We’ve done it twice now, and it’s well worth it.
4. The National Gallery
The National Gallery is one of the great art museums of the world — and like so many of London’s best attractions, it’s free to enter.
The collection spans 7 centuries of European paintings, from early Renaissance works to Post-Impressionism. The iconic pieces include van Gogh’s Sunflowers, da Vinci’s The Virgin of the Rocks, and works by Titian, Cézanne, and Monet.
Because it’s free, we’ve been more times than we can remember.
Before you head inside, take a look at the Fourth Plinth in the northwest corner of Trafalgar Square, which hosts a rolling programme of contemporary art installations.
The current installation, Mil Veces un Instante by Mexican artist Teresa Margolles, will be replaced in September 2026 by Lady in Blue, a bronze sculpture by Tschabalala Self that represents a contemporary everywoman striding into the future.
5. Tower of London
The Tower of London has stood on the banks of the Thames for over 950 years, and it carries so much history it’s unbelievable.
This is where Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were executed, and where the young Princes – the two sons of Edward IV – are believed to have been murdered in 1483 in what remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of English history.
The highlight is the famous Crown Jewels, the most complete collection of Royal regalia in the world. The White Tower is the oldest part of the Tower of London and the centrepiece of the complex, with displays of armour, weaponry, and royal artefacts.
This early access tour gets you inside long before the queues form.
The Tower is also one of the highlights of our City of London walk, which we put together ourselves. It’s a great way to see the historical sites in and around the Square Mile.
6. Borough Market
Borough Market is one of London’s oldest food markets, and it has been trading in some form since the 13th century.
Although it’s firmly on the tourist trail, the food quality is excellent. You can always find an interesting cheese, some unusual spices, and a great bottle of wine or two. We can rarely pop in without picking up a chocolate brownie.
The other reason we think it’s great for visitors to London is the architecture itself. The Victorian iron and glass structure, the railway arches, and Southwark Cathedral in the background – it all feels like you’re experiencing London.
There are several top-quality restaurants around the edges of the market that give you a diverse London experience. Here are just a few of our favourites:
- Monmouth Coffee — one of London’s many independent roasters.
- Padella — a pasta restaurant right next to the market that consistently draws long queues.
- Roast — a British restaurant overlooking the market with wall-to-wall arched windows.
- Camille — a French bistro on Stoney Street right at the market’s edge.
7. Sky Garden
Sky Garden is a covered observation deck at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street in the City of London. At 35 floors up, a huge glass atrium is filled with lush tropical plants, which makes it feel unlike any other rooftop viewpoint in London.
The 360-degree views take in the Thames, Tower Bridge, the Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the sprawling cityscape.
It’s free to enter, but you have to book a time slot in advance. New tickets are released every Monday morning, three weeks ahead, and they go fast.
The garden is open seven days a week.
Greenwich is a 20-minute trip on the Thames Clipper from Embankment or Waterloo Pier, but it’s well worth the journey for the Old Royal Naval College alone.
This is where Henry VIII was born, along with his daughters Mary I and Elizabeth I. Sir Christopher Wren later redesigned the complex into one of the most breathtaking examples of classical architecture in Britain.
It’s now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The centrepiece of the College is the Painted Hall — a Baroque masterpiece of intricately painted murals that took Sir James Thornhill 19 years to complete. You can see just how amazing the room looks in our images below.
Adjacent to it, the Chapel of St Peter and St Paul is almost as impressive, with beautiful stained glass windows and intricate woodwork.
Tickets are required for the Painted Hall. You can get them at the door, or buy skip-the-line tickets in advance.
While in the area, you can visit the Royal Observatory, where Greenwich Mean Time was established, and straddle the Prime Meridian line with one foot in each hemisphere.
The hilltop setting also has one of the best panoramic views of London – we’ve also included a photo of that below.
Greenwich Market is a charming Victorian covered market with arts, crafts, antiques, and street food from across the world.
9. Covent Garden
Covent Garden is one of those places that works at any time of day, in any season, for almost any kind of visitor — and that versatility is exactly why it earns its place on this list.
It also just feels like central London – even though it’s very touristy, you can’t miss Covent Garden.
The centrepiece is the Victorian market building and its surrounding piazza, where street performers, market stalls, boutiques, and some of London’s best people-watching come together.
A few things worth seeking out beyond the obvious: Neal’s Yard is a hidden, colourful courtyard tucked behind the main market. The Jubilee Market is worth a browse for vintage jewellery and gifts. And if you’re after a drink, Cache Cache is a seductive speakeasy-style cocktail bar.
Christmas at Covent Garden transforms the square into a winter wonderland.
10. South Bank & Tate Modern
One of the best things about living in London is the South Bank walk — and it’s the first thing we recommend to anyone visiting the city for the first time.
Stretching four miles from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, it takes in some of the most iconic sights in London.
You’ll pass the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the Southbank Centre and the BFI, Millennium Bridge, Shakespeare Globe, Borough Market and Tower Bridge.
One stop we recommend is the Tate Modern. Housed in a converted Bankside Power Station, it is one of the world’s great modern art museums — and entry to the permanent collection is free.
We walk it regularly, as most Londoners do. It rarely gets old.
All the details, plus a map, can be found on our South Bank walk guide.
More London Guides
- Plan your trip with our 4-day London itinerary.
- To see all these great attractions and more, read our Notting Hill walk guide.
- For the best brunch options, read our guide to breakfast in Notting Hill
- We regularly update this guide with our top free things to do in London.
- See the best of the city on our London walks.
- To find the best area to stay, read our guide to the best places to stay in London.
- Get into the spirit by visiting the most magical London Christmas Lights.
- Enjoy an iconic stroll along the Queen’s Walk.
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Thanks for your support // Paul & Mark