Things To Do In London

London the capital of England is a favored tourist destination which is visited annually by nearly 20 million international tourists. This ancient city which has existed since Roman times has much to offer for tourists of all ages and genres. Listed below are some of the most popular things to do if you are planning on vacationing in London anytime soon.

Invest in a London Pass
Most attractions in London charge hefty admission charges but if you purchase a London pass you can get free admission to nearly 55 London attractions like the Churchill War Rooms, The Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Kew Gardens along with free tours like the Lord’s Cricket Ground Tour and the Thames River Cruise. The London Pass is available for both adults and children and is issued for various durations so it can be customized to meet your sight-seeing preferences.

Visit the Tower of London and see the Crown Jewels
The Tower of London is a UNESCO designated World Heritage site and one of the most famous fortresses in the world. This tower which has served as a royal palace, prison, and armory and even as a zoo down the years was built by William the Conqueror to subdue and terrify Londoners and deter foreign invaders. Today this tower which is an iconic symbol of London hosts the priceless Crown jewels which are still used by the British queen today and are displayed in fortified visible vaults which are housed in this tower which is heavily guarded by ceremonial gauds called Beefeaters and ravens.

Take a cruise down the River Thames
The River Thames is the lifeline of London and a sight-seeing cruise on the river presents one of the best ways to see the many landmarks of the city like site of the Cutty Stark, a clipper which served as a merchant vessel for years during the late 19th century, the Canary Wharf district which is the financial hub of the city, the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, the HMS Belfast which is a retired battle ship that now serves as a museum, St Paul's Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Westminster Abbey, the Big Ben and the Tate Modern.

Enjoy uninterrupted vistas of London from your pod on the London Eye
The London Eye which is a 135-metre (443 ft) Ferris wheel that is an extraordinary piece of engineering design and architecture is located on the South Bank of the Thames. The London Eye offers panoramic views of London as it rotates slowly around its spindle. On a clear day visitors enclosed in its many high tech pods can spot sights like the Windsor Castle which is located at a distance of 40 km from London.

Explore the Whispering Gallery of St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral which hosted the nuptials of Princess Diana and Prince Charles has been a fixture on the London skyline since 604 AD. The present day Cathedral which was designed by famed court architect Sir Christopher Wren is in fact the fourth such cathedral to occupy this site. This magnificent domed structure which was completed in 1710 is adorned with murals that were painted by court painter Sir James Thorn hill between 1715 and 1719. These murals feature scenes from the life of St Paul. The Cathedral offers various sites like the Aspe, an American Memorial Chapel that is dedicated to the servicemen and women who perished in the Second World War, the Quire which hosts the cathedral’s grand organ and high alter and the Whispering Gallery which runs around the interior of the Dome and is located 259 steps above ground level. This gallery is famed for its acoustics that enable a whisper created against its walls to be heard on the opposite side.

Watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
The guards who are stationed in front of Buckingham Palace are not simply ceremonial but are elite soldiers who serve in the British Army. ‘The Changing of the Guard’ ceremony tales place in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, which is the official residence of her majesty the Queen, every morning at 11.30 am in the summer. This hugely popular ceremony attracts huge crowds and features the new guards who march to the Palace from the Wellington Barracks to replace the old guards who then return to the barracks. The new guards are accompanied by a guard’s band and the entire exercise that lasts all of 45 minutes features much pomp and ceremony.

Take pleasure in the many animated London Markets
London is home several vibrant markets which definitely warrant a visit during any vacation in London. Some of its most famous markets include Borough Market which is housed in large Victorian building in South London and is London’s oldest food market which is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. This loud and bustling market features vendors who sell meat, poultry, game, preserves and chutneys, fruits and vegetables along with other exotic fare such as handmade chocolates, truffles, truffle oil and virgin olive oils. Aside from these vendors the market also hosts several restaurants and kiosks that sell prepared foods.

Other must-visit London markets include Portobello Market which is held on Fridays and Saturdays in the trendy area of Notting Hill Gate and Ladbroke Grove, Spitalfields Market which is located in London’s East End and the Camden market which is hosted in Camden Town in Northwest London.

Discover the Prime Meridian in Greenwich
The Prime Meridian is an imaginary line that runs the North Pole to the South Pole. This prime meridian is known as Zero longitude and it is from here that all lines of longitude are measured. Lines of Latitude and Longitude are used to direct ships safely and it is believed that this prime meridian runs through the primary transit instrument which is the main telescope at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, a site which also hosts the National Maritime Museum that is also worth visiting.

Indulge in Cream Tea or a Sunday Roast
The British have some unique culinary traditions which are worth exploring on any trip to London. The British tradition of cream tea consists of tea that is served with milk and is accompanied by warm freshly baked scones, clotted not whipped cream and strawberry jam. One of the best places in London to enjoy cream tea is at the gourmet food heaven of Fortnum and Mason which has tea rooms that serves a traditionally British cream tea as well as champagne cream teas.

Yet another popular British culinary tradition is the pub lunch that is usually indulged in on Sundays and generally features traditional delights like roast chicken which is served with trimmings like Yorkshire puddings and potatoes roasted in duck fat. Sunday roast pub lunches are served at numerous gastro pubs that litter London’s dining landscape.