101 Things to do in London

Here’s your chance to pay Tony Blair back for being such a great ally and over-all decent dude. Visit London!

  1. Visit the Big Ben.
  2. Photograph the Thames River.
  3. Take a river cruise on the Thames.
  4. Visit the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. You can take a river cruise to get there!
  5. Ride on the London Eye, the largest ferris wheel in the world.
  6. Stop by Grosvenor Square.
  7. Immerse yourself in culture at the British Museum.
  8. Watch a Broadway show.
  9. Buy gifts for friends and family at the over 300 shops located on Oxford Street.
  10. Stroll down The Mall, a road that leads to the Buckingham Palace.
  11. Visit the Buckingham Palace.
  12. Experience the changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
  13. Hike up the geometric staircase at a St. Paul’s Cathedral tour.
  14. Take a bus through one of London’s largest transportation hubs: Victoria Station.
  15. Pub much? Be sure to visit one of the J.D Wetherspoon chain pubs.
  16. Take the London Underground: These trains have cushioned seats and there’s a nice LED display overhead that gives riders the estimated time for the next train.
  17. Make sure to “mind the gap.”
  18. Go on the Circle Line … in a circle. (I did this in college.)
  19. Witness the fountains in Trafalgar Square, or photograph the great Christmas tree that is erected during the winter months.
  20. Tour the Tower of London, where you can see the very precious Crown Jewels.
  21. Find out where British Prime Minister Tony Blair lives: 10 Downing Street. Visit his residence.
  22. Sherlock Holmes fan? Visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum.
  23. See hundreds of books, writings, and photographs related to the Holocaust at the Wiener Library.
  24. Be amazed when you visit Stonehenge, which is outside the city.
  25. Grab lunch at the Porter’s English Restaurant (17 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden).
  26. Enjoy the scenic nightlife in Piccadilly Circus, which is likened to the Times Square of England.
  27. …and spend some time with the teenager in you at the Funland or Golden Nugget Casino located within Trocadero. The centre is packed with dining and other entertainmnent venues as well.
  28. Visit the global headquarters of Reuters at Canary Wharf.
  29. At the Victoria and Albert Museum, walk through rooms filled with ceramic and glass designs, as well as beautiful paintings.
  30. Take the family and have a picnic in Battersea Park.
  31. …then take the kids to the Battersea Park Children’s Zoo.
  32. Experience the diversity of the Golders Green borough, with a mix of Kosher, Japanese, Turkish, and Italian restaurants.
  33. Get seen on the London cam.
  34. Check out Belgravia’s beautiful streets of townhouses and famous embassies.
  35. Go shopping at Harrod’s in Belgravia.
  36. …and sample some ale at the Grenadier pub in Belgravia after you finished shopping (18 Wilton Row).
  37. Stop through Bayswater.
  38. Explore the galleries at the National Army Museum.
  39. Set aside at least two hours to explore the extravagantly decorated rooms at the St. George’s Chapel in the Windsor Castle.
  40. Witness Evensong at the Windsor Castle. (Be sure to check the schedule!)
  41. Embrace the vastness of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, which is also located inside the Windsor Castle.
  42. Check out the wax sculptures at the Madame Tussaud’s museum.
  43. Step through the academic city by stopping in Bloomsbury.
  44. …then enjoy the lunch you packed for your trip at Bloomsbury’s nearby Russell Square.
  45. Absorb the history of Covent Garden in central London.
  46. Wake up early and experience the local flavor of Spitalfields and be sure to check out the fruit and vegetable market!
  47. While in the Spitalfields area, go to Dennis Severs’ House.
  48. Explore the city by water (and in comfort) by taking a lunch or dinner cruise.
  49. Learn about the Bank of England at its museum.
  50. Set your sights on the beautiful architecture at Westminster Abbey.
  51. …and be sure not to leave without viewing the monuments at Poets’ Corner.
  52. Relive the life of The Beatles.
  53. See a show at the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
  54. Buy your children toys from Hamleys Toy Store.
  55. Go to Hampstead Heath to see the city from afar.
  56. Catch a movie premiere at the cinema in Leicester Square.
  57. Take a train to Dover, and witness the famous White Cliffs.
  58. Witness the protestors at Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park, and take a guided tour or attend the London’s fair during the winter holidays.
  59. Prepapre for an expensive dinner at the highly regarded Michael Moore restaurant (19 Blandford Street).
  60. Stroll down Whitehall.
  61. Contrast the city lifestyle to the village life in Canterbury, home of Geoffrey Chaucer’s famous tales.
  62. See where the Mayor of London lives: City Hall.
  63. Get overwhelmed by the massive monuments at the London Wall.
  64. Photograph one of the many red phone booths on the city streets.
  65. Read a book at one of London’s specialized libraries.
  66. If you’re in London between March and October, check out Legoland Windsor with the kids.
  67. Book a night for a show at the London Palladium Theatre.
  68. Step into royal history at the Hampton Court Palace.
  69. Enjoy an organic meal at the Lavendar Lady restaurant (644 High Road, North Finchley).
  70. Stroll around the aisles in the National Gallery and see some of the greatest European artwork.
  71. Wine and dine at the House on the Bridge Restaurant.
  72. Take advantage of free admission to the Science Museum.
  73. Pay tribute to the late princess Diana by visiting the Diana Memorial Playground where you can dash by teepees, see a pirate ship, and then enjoy a light meal at a cafe.
  74. Relax and have a drink at the Salisbury Pub (90 St. Martin’s Lane).
  75. See the city on a Original London Sightseeing Tour: book your ticket (which includes a free cruise) online at a discounted rate.
  76. Watch a judicial hearing at the UK Parliament.
  77. When it reopens (Summer 2007), walk through the newly transformed London’s Transport Museum.
  78. See the animals at London Zoo.
  79. Ride in a traditional London black cab.
  80. Shop at the elegant Burlington Arcade, which has its history dating back to 1819.
  81. See where Princes William and Harry went to school by stopping in Eton.
  82. Be up close to The Da Vinci Code movie and explore the Temple Church.
  83. Relive the Harry Potter books and movies by stopping at Platform 9 3/4 in the Kings Cross station.
  84. See the exhibitions at Tate Modern, a museum of international modern and contemporary art.
  85. Get spooked at the London Dungeon.
  86. Visit the Notting Hill district.
  87. Take the kids to a puppet show at the Little Angel Theatre.
  88. Sample some Italian food at Carluccios.
  89. Feed the ducks at St. James’s Park.
  90. Cross the River Thames on the Millennium Bridge.
  91. Read Charles Dickens much? Take a Charles Dickens Museum stop to see paintings, manuscripts, and more memorabilia relating to the famous author.
  92. Explore Chinatown at night.
  93. Plan an adventure at Chesssington, one of England’s most famous theme parks (it’s 12 miles outside of London!)
  94. Eat lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe (150 Old Park Lane).
  95. Take a tour of Wimbledon, even if you don’t love tennis!
  96. Go to Bath and see the magnificent Roman bathing complexes that give the city its name.
  97. Enjoy the culture at the Somerset House.
  98. Feel scholarly after taking a trip to Oxford.
  99. Buy some Cadbury sweets.
  100. Watch a live Gilbert and Sullivan operetta performance at the historical Savoy Theatre.
  101. Buy a London Pass for more tips and discounted rates!

Source: Virgin Vacations. Want to go to London? Virgin Vacations has great packages for you, so be sure to check them out!