Make the most of your next visit to London-from the finest shops to the best afternoon tea.
With its bustling nightlife, rich cultural offerings and upscale shopping districts, London is a vibrant, global destination.
Museum hop
London is full of incomparable museums and galleries. Spanning 2 million years of human history, the collection at
The British Museum is composed of cultural artefacts and antiquities from all over the world, including the historic Rosetta Stone.
Home to the most extensive portrait collection in the world is the
National Portrait Gallery.
Here, you will see more than 200,000 portraits dating from the 16th
century to present day, including paintings, drawings, photographs and
more.
The creativity of more than 3,000 years comes to life in diverse, interactive displays and exhibitions at the
Victoria and Albert Museum, where the best of art and design are showcased. For insight into London life throughout the ages, visit the
Museum of London, which overlooks the remains of the Roman city wall.
Outdoor activities
London is famous for its green spaces and parks. The lovely landscaped
Kensington Gardens are perfect for a quiet stroll, a picnic or a Frisbee toss, as is
Hyde Park, with its sprawling meadows and the Serpentine lake.
You can also explore London by boat courtesy of
City Cruises; on this hop-on, hop-off River Thames trip, you can choose where to stop and explore some of London's most famous sites, from
the Tower of London to the quaint streets of Greenwich. Or book a tour of London?s major attractions with an expert and entertaining
Blue Badge guide, who can provide private tours tailored to your interests.
The views from the top
The London Eye,
London's giant Ferris wheel, offers one of the best-and most
leisurely-views of the city as it travels to a height of 135 metres (443
feet) during its 30-minute "flight."
The
Emirates Air Line
is the U.K.'s first urban aerial tramway, carrying up to 2,500
passengers across the Thames at heights reaching 90 metres (300 feet).
Built to connect Greenwich with London's Royal Docks across the river,
the cable car offers dramatic views of the
O2 Arena, the Thames Barrier, Canary Wharf and other East London sights throughout the 10-minute trip.
The tallest building in Western Europe,
The View from The Shard
offers extensive vistas well beyond central London, while you can enjoy
some of the most iconic views for free from Waterloo Bridge. From here,
you can see Big Ben and the
Houses of Parliament, St Paul's Cathedral, the Gherkin, Canary Wharf's skyscrapers and the South Bank's
Royal Festival Hall and London Eye.
London shopping
London's status as an international fashion capital makes it a shopper's paradise. Look to
Bond Street
for well-established international and British luxury brands, including
Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Chanel.
Nearby Haymarket is home to
Dover Street Market,
a cutting-edge concept store located in a beautiful Grade II listed
heritage building erected by Burberry founder Thomas Burberry in 1912.
Here, you'll find brands such as Azzedine Alaïa and Raf Simons, among
many others.
For one-of-a-kind accessories steeped in British tradition, visit
Asprey. The luxury brand dates back to 1781 and offers a range of gifts, jewellery, watches, leather goods and fine silver.
Thomas Goode,
located on South Audley Street, has been turning out custom-made china
and objets d'art for royals and heads of state since 1827. Its china
museum, one of London's best-kept secrets, is worth a detour.
In
luxury-laced Mayfair, buy fine art on Cork Street and exquisite leather
goods and diamond jewellery on Conduit and Albemarle streets, or shop
trendy, up-and-coming designers in one of several
Browns boutiques on South Molton Street.
Department stores like
Liberty, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and, of course,
Harrods offer one-stop luxury shopping, while Savile Row's legendary tailors make the greatest bespoke menswear in the world.
Tea with the Bard
The only thing more British than afternoon tea is tea with Shakespeare. The
Tea and Tour package at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
in Bankside includes a tour of thr authentic reconstruction of
Shakespeare's theatre while expert storytellers bring the space to life.
An adjacent exhibition illuminates the theatre's reconstruction process
and the world of Shakespeare with interactive displays showcasing
period dress and customs.
The tour concludes with traditional afternoon tea at the elegant
Swan Bar and Chophouse,
where sandwiches, cakes and scones with jam and cream are accompanied
by endless amounts of lovely tea and views of St Paul's Cathedral and
the River Thames.
London at night
Set up as the fictional home of Phileas Fogg, the protagonist in the 1873 Jules Verne novel Around the World in Eighty Days,
Mr Fogg's in
Mayfair makes for a cocktail bar with a difference. With its eccentric
interior showcasing artefacts and trinkets representing Phileas Fogg's
travels and a global cocktail list bringing together rare and unique
ingredients from around the world, this bar offers a fun drinking
experience.
Countless theatre productions provide night-time entertainment in the West End and at the
National Theatre on the South Bank. Summer visitors can sample an eclectic range of classical music performed for the BBC Proms at the
Royal Albert Hall, one of the most atmospheric concert halls in the country.
For
an alternative evening of entertainment, dip into the spookier side of
London with a haunted walking tour. These spine-chilling walks will take
you deep into the city's ghostliest corners.
Authentic London
To
experience London like a local, bike or walk the city's canals.
Hundreds of miles of scenic canal paths offer recreational cyclists or
strolling pedestrians a unique view of the city. Start at the serene and
beautiful Regent's Park and complete your journey in the bustle of the
Camden Lock.
If you'd prefer to stay closer to the West End,
stroll through Green Park to St James's Park for one of the best views
of Buckingham Palace; then, like a true Londoner, settle into one of the
striped canvas deck chairs set out in the park. Available for a small
fee, a relaxing moment in these chairs is ideal for a bit of
people-watching.
Things to Do in London With Kids
Visit these top 10 attractions on your next family vacation to England's capital.
With
its sprawling parks, world-renowned museums and rich theatrical
tradition, London is one of the world's top tourist destinations. In
part because of the births of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the
latest additions to the royal family, all eyes are on the British
capital, and visitors are discovering that the city is as much a
playground for kids as it is for adventuresome adults.
Tour the townThe
best way to learn your way around London (and point out the city's
iconic landmarks to young travellers) is to climb atop a double-decker
red bus. The Number 9 takes you past Trafalgar Square to
Royal Albert Hall and Kensington High Street, while the Number 15 travels past Fleet Street and St Paul's Cathedral to the Tower of London.
Get a new perspectiveFor a bird's-eye view of the nation?s capital, take a ride on the
London Eye, the giant Ferris wheel perched on the
South Bank of the River Thames. Follow your sky-high ride with a boat cruise down the river for an even closer look at Big Ben, the
Shard and other city landmarks.
Visit the theatreEmbrace your literary side with a visit to
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
in Bankside, painstakingly fashioned after the original Elizabethan
playhouse. Catch an afternoon play during the summer, or take a tour of
the theatre any time of the year.
Take tea at the Tate ModernWhile you're in the area, check out the
Tate Modern,
a former power factory that's now the most visited modern art gallery
in the world. Grab a cup of tea on the top floor restaurant overlooking
the Thames, then walk across the Millennium Bridge. The stroll will be a
treat especially for kids who remember the bridge from Harry Potter and
the Half-Blood Prince.
Lunch at St Paul'sOn the north side of the river, take a self-guided, kid-friendly tour of
St Paul's Cathedral,
the masterpiece of 17th-century architect Sir Christopher Wren. After
exploring the cathedral's impressive nooks and crannies, sit down to
lunch at
The Restaurant at St Paul's Cathedral, a favourite spot for its locally inspired menu and unusual location in the cathedral crypt.
See the Crown JewelsVisitors to the
Tower of London,
home to the Crown Jewels, can gaze at the monarch?s exquisite crowns
and sceptres, with a total of 23,578 gems. Kids will be intrigued by the
sinister medieval torture chamber as well as the Beefeater's fun- and
fact-filled tours of the former royal palace.
Get outdoorsEscape the hustle and bustle in the city centre with a visit to Regent's Park, home to the
London Zoo.
Grab lunch at the zoo's newly built Terrace Restaurant before venturing
to the stunning Queen Mary's Garden, which is home to 30,000 roses of
400 different varieties. Round off the afternoon with a visit to the
swans on the south side of the park and a boat ride near the Boathouse.
Cycle the cityRent
a "Boris" bike (named after London mayor Boris Johnson) and ride to the
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Hyde Park, next to her
former home at
Kensington Palace. Kids can tuck into some cake
while you indulge in a scone and clotted cream at The Orangery, a
gorgeous restaurant inside the palace.
Toy aroundArrive early to beat the crowds at
Hamleys,
the oldest toy store in the world. With seven floors of toys and
stunning window displays, the iconic flagship store on Regent Street
remains perpetually packed with wide-eyed kids and adults.
Art-walk through historyMore than 195,000 portraits pay tribute to the most famous people in British history at the
National Portrait Gallery,
including one of HRH the Duchess of Cambridge (aka Kate Middleton).
Kids won't want to miss the Gallery's storytelling sessions and art
workshops, which are offered regularly.
Seasonal highlights
Winter-
Trafalgar Square Christmas lights and tree: In one of the city's major
winter events, the impressive lights on the Christmas tree in Trafalgar
Square are switched on by a celebrity.
- London Fashion Week:
Over 150 top designers and fashion houses showcase their designs twice a
year at the current central London venue of Somerset House.
Spring-
Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race: Rowers from Oxford and Cambridge
universities race 6.3 kilometres (4 miles) from Putney to Mortlake. The
Riverside pubs in Hammersmith and Mortlake are popular places to watch
the race.
- London Marathon: Experience the world's biggest road race, with around 35,000 starters running 42 kilometres (26.3 miles).
- Chelsea Flower Show: This world-renowned gardening show takes place by the river over five days.
-
Spring and summer garden events: Over the spring and summer months,
London's gardens and parks offer a variety of open-air events.
-
The Royal Parks of London: Take a walk in the park at nearby Hyde Park,
Green Park, Kensington Gardens or St. James Park and enjoy the 500-year
heritage of London's Royal Parks.
Summer
- Royal Ascot: Taking place in June, this is the horse-racing event of the year.
- The Wimbledon Championships: This extremely popular lawn-tennis event takes place in London annually in the summer.
- Henley Royal Regatta: Take in this famous international rowing regatta.
- Derby Day: This is the most important flat race of the horse-racing season.
-
Trooping the Colour: Even though the Queen's birthday is in April, she
celebrates with an official birthday party in June. She leaves
Buckingham Palace at 10:40 am and travels down the Mall to the Horse
Guards Parade. She will take to the balcony to watch a Royal Air Force
jet fly past and will also witness a gun salute at the Tower of London.
- Notting Hill Carnival: Enjoy this street party featuring bands, colourful floats and Caribbean food.
-
London Fashion Week: Over 150 top designers and fashion houses showcase
their designs twice a year at the current central London venue of
Somerset House.
Fall- London Film Festival: An array of international films is shown during the UK's largest public film event.
- London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, Hyde Park: Display and kick-off of the annual vintage car rally.
- November 5th, Guy Fawkes Day: Bonfire Night and fireworks marking the failed plot to destroy London's Houses of Parliament.
-
The Lord Mayor's Show: A tradition dating back to 1535, this annual
street parade celebrates the inauguration of the new Lord Mayor of the
City of London.
- Frieze Art Fair: This international
contemporary art fair takes place in London's Regent's Park and features
more than 150 contemporary art galleries, including specially
commissioned artists' projects.
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