Choose from 184 Fun Things to Do in London
Leicester Square
- From nightlife revelers to film lovers and history buffs, Leicester Square offers something for everyone.
- Don’t forget your raincoat or umbrella during the rainier months.
- The public space itself won’t take long to explore, so combine your visit with other London landmarks to optimize your time.
- The pedestrian square has wide, flat walkways that are wheelchair-accessible.
- Most of the square’s attractions are wheelchair-friendly as well, though it’s worth calling ahead to check access arrangements.
London Southampton Cruise Port
- Shore excursions typically include port pickup and drop-off.
- There are four cruise terminals in Southampton, so be sure that you know which terminal your ship arrives and departs from.
- There are no shuttle buses between terminals and Southampton, so choose a tour with pickup included or plan to take a taxi.
Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
The Basics
- Big Ben is visited on most half- and full-day tours of London, whether a walking, biking, or bus tour.
- Take 10 minutes to admire the statues of Parliament Square, all of which depict famous political figures.
- Guided tours of the Houses of Parliament run most Saturdays, and the public galleries are open when parliament is in sessionâtime your visit wisely to watch opposing political parties in fierce debate.
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are located on the north bank of the Thames River, easily accessible from the Westminster underground tube station, which is serviced by the Jubilee, Circle, and District lines. Alternatively, hop off at Waterloo station to wander along the vibrant South Bank past the London Eye, then walk across Westminster Bridge to Big Ben.
Hyde Park
- Hyde Park is a must for tired sightseers who need a break from the urban bustle.
- Paths in the park are accessible to wheelchair users, and wheelchair-accessible toilets can also be found within the park.
- The park hosts a restaurant, café, and several refreshment kiosks.
London City Hall
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London Dover Cruise Port
Once a chic seaside resort, Dover has never really recovered from being bombed during World War II and these days most people choose to stay further along the lovely south-east coast in the pretty Georgian town of Brighton or in medieval Rye or in Canterbury with its famous cathedral, or to head up to London which is a couple of hours travel north.
Within Dover the main attraction is the castle built by Henry II in the 12th century, one of the oldest in England. In 1539, Henry VIII built nearby moated Walmer Castle, also worth a visit.
How to Get to London
Dover is very well-served by links with London. By train the trip is around two hours and from Dover Priory Station you can choose to go to either London Victoria – the closest for Buckingham Palace, or London Charing Cross – the closest for the Thames River, Trafalgar Square and the West End. There are also regular bus services to London Victoria which are cheaper but slower. Gatwick Airport is the closest air link and has an excellent train service.
Private rental cars are easily organized. Taxis are available but will be prohibitively expensive to travel all the way to London although to move locally in Dover they are inexpensive. A taxi from the port to the rail or bus station or between docks is easy and recommended, also to visit the castles. Cruise ships come in at the western docks, ferries to France leave from the eastern docks.
One Day in London
London has so much to see it’s good to have a list of priorities before you set out. Both London Victoria and London Charing Cross Stations have many underground train (Tube) links to get your around the city. If you have one day, buy a Day Travel Card which means you can use all train and bus routes. Pick up a tube map at the station. Bus routes can be more of a mystery although the view from the top of a double decker bus is wonderful.
For a good overview of London’s iconic sights head for the Thames River’s Victoria Embankment (Charing Cross or Embankment Station) and walk across one of the bridges. Waterloo Bridge gives wonderful views from Big Ben to the Tower Bridge. The London Eye also has great views.
There are open top bus tours you can do and if you like walking you can head from the river, past the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, across to The Mall and St James’s Palace, to Buckingham Palace and on to Hyde Park. Or reverse this order (start from Victoria or Green Park tube station) to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, which happens every other day (check the schedule) at 11.30am. Between London and Dover are some interesting places to visit such as the grand house Sissinghurst with its lovely garden.
Port Information
The language is English and the currency is the British Pound (or quid in local slang). Dover is a well-equipped tourist city with internet cafes and currency exchanges at both the port and in the city, and ATMs (which take only 4 digit numeric PINs). Some taxis at Dover port may accept your euros or dollars but at an unfavorable exchange rate so it’s best to use local currency.
Lambeth Palace
- Lambeth Palace is ideal for history and architecture enthusiasts.
- The palace is open to the public via prebooked tours only.
- Admission is free for visitors under 17 years old.
- A small on-site gift shop sells palace guidebooks and other souvenirs.
- The palace is accessible to wheelchair users and has one wheelchair available to borrow during a guided tour.
Leadenhall Market
- Unlike nearby Smithfield Market, Leadenhall is no longer a wholesale market, and as of 2018, there are few independent stalls.
- The market isn’t very big, so it’s worth combining your visit with other local landmarks.
- Leadenhall Market’s main draw is its impressive architecture, so don’t forget your camera.
- All public areas of the market are wheelchair accessible, though the main thoroughfare is gently cobbled.
Leeds Castle
- All tickets grant entry for one year from time of purchase, allowing for multiple visits.
- Families with kids can visit the onsite Squires’ Court Playground (ages 6 and under) and Knights’ Realm Playground (ages 7 and up) for royal fun.
- Rain is not unusual in England, so bring waterproof gear if you plan to be outdoors.
- Complimentary transport service on the grounds is available for those with limited mobility. The castle interior cannot accommodate strollers.
- Fee-based castle audio tours are available in six languages.
Household Cavalry Museum
Practical Info
London Eye
The Basics
- Take a spin on the wheel at the start of your London vacation to orientate yourself and grasp the layout of the capital city's seemingly endless sprawl.
- On a clear day, it may be possible to spy Windsor Castle on the horizon from one of the wheel's pods.
- If gray skies threaten rain, nearby indoor activities abound: the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, the BFI IMAX cinema, Madame Tussauds wax museum, and Shrek's Adventure ensure kids and adults stay entertained during a storm.
The Coca-Cola London Eye is located on the south bank of the River Thames. The easiest way to reach it is by tube to Waterloo station, which is serviced by the Jubilee, Northern, Bakerloo, and Waterloo and City lines. From the station, it's a 5- to 10-minute walk to the Ferris wheel. Visitors traveling on the District or Circle line can disembark at Westminster station for a scenic walk across Westminster Bridge. Surrounding the Eye are street performers, food stalls, and fairground attractions in Jubilee Gardens.
When to Get There
The Eye opens at 10am and closes at either 8:30 or 9:30pm depending on the time of the year. Look out for special themed events—the London Eye has hosted flash mobs, pop-up dining events, romantic Valentine's Day dinners, and even weddings. Plus, the wheel is a main feature in London's famous New Year's Eve fireworks display.
Unlucky 13
Marble Arch
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Islington
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National Theatre
- Entrance to the theater, the Lyttelton Lounge, and the Sherling Backstage Walkway is free.
- Free Wi-Fi is available on-site and there are charging stations in the Lyttelton Lounge.
- A selection of bars, cafés, and restaurants are located on-site.
- The theater is fully wheelchair accessible.
London Luton Airport (LTN)
- Passenger amenities at London Luton include short-stay and long-term car parks, car hire services, currency exchange, a prayer room, a luxury departures lounge, and various shops, bars and restaurants.
- Four hours of free Wi-Fi is available for airport users.
- Trains and Green Line 757 coach services offer wheelchair accessible transport to Luton Airport.
London Dungeon
- The dungeon can be somewhat scary and may not be suitable for young kids, those with a nervous disposition, or those who suffer from claustrophobia.
- The tour contains two optional rides: a boat ride and a sudden-drop ride.
Imperial War Museum
- Entrance to the museum is free, but small donations are appreciated.
- The museum is wheelchair accessible—lifts and ramps are available on all floors.
- Visitor facilities include restrooms, baggage lockers, a gift shop, and a café-restaurant.
- Note that some exhibits, notably the Holocaust exhibition, may not be suitable for young kids.
London Harwich Cruise Port
Three lines used the cruise ship terminal: Holland America, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean and they use it for embarkation and disembarkation. This results in Harwich being a place people tend to travel through rather than a place to linger. Nearby Colchester and Ipswich offer more sightseeing opportunities although none of them really the peak sites people travel to England to see.
How to Get to London
Harwich is well-served by transport links to London and the cruise lines themselves organize transfers from many of the airports: Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted which is the closest. The trip is around two hours from Heathrow and Gatwick so the transfer is the simplest and quickest way. The train is the best way to travel from London to Harwich and back and they run about every hour taking around an hour to reach London Liverpool Street Station.
The port station at Harwich is called Harwich International and is very close to where the ships tie up. The cruise lines often organize a special rail service also. Taxis are readily available but expensive. There is no private car hire office in Harwich so these must be booked ahead. The ferry terminal is also close to the cruise dock and from here ferries go to The Netherlands and Scandinavia.
One Day in London
London has so much to see it’s good to have a list of priorities before you set out. London Liverpool Street Station is in the East End and connects you with many parts of the city by Underground train (Tube). If you have one day, buy a Day Travel Card which means you can use all train and bus routes. Pick up a tube map at the station. Bus routes can be more of a mystery although the view from the top of a double decker bus is wonderful.
For a good overview of London’s iconic sights head for the Thames River’s Victoria Embankment (Embankment Station) and walk across one of the bridges. Waterloo Bridge gives wonderful views from Big Ben to the Tower Bridge. The London Eye also gives great views.
There are open top bus tours you can do and if you like walking you can head from the river, past the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, across to The Mall and St James’s Palace, to Buckingham Palace and on to Hyde Park. Or reverse this order (start from Green Park tube station) to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, which happens every other day (check the schedule) at 11.30am.
Port Information
The language is English and the currency is the British Pound (or quid in local slang). There is a currency exchange at Harwich Port and ATMs (which take only 4 digit numeric PINs). Some shops in the West End of London accept euros but very few so it’s best to change your money. Harwich itself is small and has no internet points or tourist facilities outside the port area.
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is the meeting place of many of London's most famous roads. Here beautiful Regent Street (shopping heaven), famous Piccadilly (Fortnum and Mason's, The Ritz, the Royal Academy of Art), and cultural Shaftsbury Avenue (theaters, Chinatown) intersect. In the middle of it all is the famous 1893 statue of Eros, the winged messenger of love, which commemorates Lord Shaftesbury.
The circus was originally created as part of a plan to connect Carlton House, the home of the Prince Regent who became King George IV in 1820, to Regent's Park. When Shaftesbury Avenue was created in 1885, the area became busy with traffic and advertisers saw the potential for advertising; in 1895 London's first illuminated billboards were put up in Piccadilly Circus. For the next century it was London's version of Times Square but now only one building carries billboards. For history buffs, the name Piccadilly dates from the 17th century and comes from piccadill, a type of collar or ruff.
Practical Info
Given that it's in the heart of the West End, it's hard not to end up in Piccadilly Circus at some time. Hordes of buses pass through and underneath is Piccadilly Circus tube station with entrances popping up at all corners of the circus.
London Bridge
- Bring a camera to take photos of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the Shard, the HMS Belfast, and the City of London, all of which are visible from London Bridge.
- Visit at night to see the shimmering lights of London reflected on the Thames River.
- Bring raingear to protect yourself from London’s frequent downpours.