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Britain
Best Things to Do in London
Looking for the best things to do in London? We've gathered 1 experience covering the best attractions London is known for — tours in London, food walks, cultural highlights and London day trips — every one bookable directly with GetYourGuide, our trusted partner for skip-the-line tickets and local guides.
Landmarks
The icons of the London skyline
The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben top almost every list of things to do in London, and the Gothic Revival skyline beside the Thames genuinely lives up to the postcards. Cross Westminster Bridge for the classic view, then ride the London Eye for a slow panorama of the whole city.
Pair it with the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and a walk along the South Bank for a single well-paced circuit. For the full planning walkthrough, see our London travel guide.
Markets
London’s markets, from Borough to Brick Lane
London’s markets are where the city shops, eats and socialises. Borough Market is the food lover’s essential — artisan bread, cheeses, charcuterie and street food under Victorian ironwork — while Camden Market trades in street food and alternative fashion, Portobello Road in antiques, and Brick Lane in curry and vintage.
Most are at their best on weekends. Many of our London tours bundle a market walk with a pub stop, which is the ideal balance of street food and tradition.
Museums
World-class museums — and most are free
London’s museums are among the finest in the world, and almost all of them are free to enter. The British Museum holds the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon marbles, the National Gallery guards Western art from da Vinci to Van Gogh, and the Tate Modern fills a former power station with contemporary work.
The Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum sit side by side in South Kensington. Book a timed entry or a guided tour in peak season to skip the longest queues, and pair a museum morning with a cultural tour afternoon.
Food tours
Eat your way through London
London is one of the world’s great eating cities, and a guided London food tour is the single best way past the tourist menus — someone else navigates the markets, translates the menus and steers you to the pies, fish and chips and craft ale the locals actually drink.
Borough Market is the classic introduction. For a deeper dive, read our London food tours guide covering markets, pubs and hidden gems, or browse every food tour we offer worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
London travel FAQ
What are the top things to do in London?
The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the British Museum and a ride on the London Eye headline most first visits. Pair them with a food tour through Borough Market and a walk along the South Bank for a well-rounded trip.
What are the best London tours?
Skip-the-line tickets for the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey save hours of queuing, while a guided walking tour of Westminster or the City of London adds context you would miss alone. Many London tours bundle a landmark with a Thames river cruise, which is the most efficient way to see several sights from the water in a single afternoon.
Where are the best markets in London?
Borough Market for artisan food, Camden Market for street food and alternative fashion, Portobello Road for antiques, and Brick Lane for curry and vintage. Most are at their best on weekends, and a guided food tour is the easiest way to taste Borough Market without navigating it alone.
Which museums should I not miss in London?
The British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum are the headline sights — and almost all of London’s major museums are free to enter, though special exhibitions charge. Book a timed entry or a guided tour in peak season to skip the longest queues.
Where are the best food tours in London?
Borough Market for artisan produce and street food, the curry houses of Brick Lane, the pubs and pie shops of the East End, and the international stalls of Camden and Maltby Street. A guided London food tour lets someone else navigate and order, steering you to the pies, fish and chips and craft ale the locals actually eat.
How many days do I need in London?
Four full days is a comfortable minimum — enough to cover the major landmarks, visit two or three museums, take a food tour and fit in a Thames river cruise without rushing. Add a fifth day for a day trip to Windsor, Stonehenge or Oxford if you want to see more of the region.
What is the best time to visit London?
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) for mild weather and smaller crowds are the most pleasant. Summer is busy but warm and full of free outdoor events, while winter (December to February) is crisp, festive and atmospheric, with fewer queues at the major museums and the holiday lights of Regent Street.
Explore London tours
Every London tour above is bookable directly with GetYourGuide — skip-the-line tickets, local guides and free cancellation on most experiences. Ready to dive deeper? Open the full London travel guide.
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