Top 10 things to do in London
London is huge, so this list is a first-timer’s shortlist of the best-known sights, mostly in or close to the centre. Many are free or have timed entry, so book the busy ones ahead.
- 1
Tower of London
📍 Tower HillHistory, landmarkA royal fortress with the Crown Jewels, the Beefeaters and 900 years of history by the Thames.
- 2
British Museum
📍 BloomsburyHistory, freeA vast free museum of world cultures, home to the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon sculptures.
- 3
Westminster Abbey
📍 WestminsterHistory, royalThe coronation church of English monarchs, with royal tombs and Poets’ Corner.
- 4
St Paul’s Cathedral
📍 City of LondonHistory, viewsWren’s great domed cathedral, with a Whispering Gallery and views from the dome.
- 5
Natural History Museum
📍 South KensingtonFamilies, freeA free museum with dinosaurs, a blue whale and large collections in an impressive building.
- 6
Kew Gardens
📍 Kew, south-west LondonGardensA world-famous botanic garden with glasshouses and a treetop walkway.
- 7
Royal Observatory Greenwich
📍 GreenwichHistory, viewsThe home of the Prime Meridian, with a park, views over the Thames and the Cutty Sark nearby.
- 8
Tate Modern
📍 BanksideArt, freeA modern art gallery in a former power station on the South Bank.
- 9
London Eye
📍 South BankViews, familiesA giant observation wheel by the Thames, with views over Westminster and the city.
- 10
Hampton Court Palace
📍 Hampton Court, south-west LondonHistory, gardensHenry VIII’s palace, with Tudor kitchens, a maze and gardens beside the Thames.
Where to base yourself
Last checked: October 2026.