So, you’ve booked your trip, packed your bags and you’re ready to come to London. With a whole city of sights to see and things to do, how do you choose where to go first? We’ve pulled together 8 things to see if you’re a tourist visiting London for the first time! 👇
1. See Buckingham Palace
If there’s one thing you have to do when visiting London for the first time is seeing Buckingham Palace. Ok, so you won’t be having tea with the Queen but you will be living like a royal for the day. 👑
If you visit Buckingham Palace, you’ll see golden staircases, thrones, works of art, grand State Rooms where the Royals entertain guests, and a 39-acre garden where you can relax and drink tea until your heart’s content in the Garden Café.
It’s open for visitors from July to September and if you get there before 11am, you might even see the Changing the Guard ceremony (and those fluffy hats 💂)!
The nearest Tube is Victoria, or Green Park.
2. Enjoy a ride on the London cable car
Is it a plane? No! It’s a cable car. On the London cable car, you’ll be suspended 90m in the air (yikes!), admiring the miles of London skyline and famous sights all around you. 👀
Follow the twists and curves of the River Thames, see the O2, Shard and Gherkin and get some amazing photos of your ride 📷.
You can even go on a champagne flight and watch the sun go down over London with some bubbly, all from the comfort of your very own cable car.
The nearest Tube is North Greenwich or Royal Victoria.
3. Stroll around Hyde Park
It’s not all skyscrapers, so when you visit London for the first time, we recommend escaping the busy streets for some peace and quiet in Hyde Park, one of London’s eight Royal Parks.
Get lost in 350 acres of beautiful parkland, thousands of trees 🌳 and flowers, and see if you can spot the wildlife.
If you fancy some activities, you can also go boating, play tennis or ride horses, and there’s a great playground for kids! Or, on Sunday’s you can listen to lively open air debates in the Speakers’ Corner.
The nearest Tube is Hyde Park Corner.
4. Pick up flowers at Columbia Road flower market
“Come and get your lovely roses!” 🌹
Pick up a beautiful bunch of flowers, a plant or maybe even a banana tree 🍌 for a great price at the famous Columbia Road flower market. With lots of flowers from all over the world, you’ll be amazed at what you can find.
Experience the buzz of this busy market every Sunday, with music, food stalls and 60 unique shops selling everything from art, to cushions and clothes in beautiful old houses along the side of the road.
The nearest London Overground is Hoxton.
5. Visit the Natural History Museum
Meet Hope, the 25.2-metre-long blue whale, and one of the largest creatures to have ever lived. She’s on display when you walk into the Natural History Museum where you’ll step back in time.
If you love a bit of history, this is the place to visit on your first trip to London. As you walk around, you’ll not only admire the beautiful architecture of the museum, you’ll see dinosaurs 🦖, diamonds, fossils, creepy crawlies, meteorites and mammals, and experience what it’s like to be in an earthquake, plus much, much more. And, you can do all of this for free! 👍
The nearest Tube is South Kensington.
6. Watch a play at Shakespeare’s Globe
“To be or not to be, that is the question?” 🎭
You can witness the works of Shakespeare in front of your eyes at Shakepeare’s Globe.
From renowned productions like Hamlet, Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, to brand new ones, you can take part in workshops, lectures and readings at the Globe Theatre which dates back to 1599.
The nearest tube is Southwark or London Bridge.
7. Find your favourite celeb at Madame Tussauds
Do you want to meet Harry and Meghan? Rub shoulders with Adele, Rhianna or Elton John? Or see Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker? 🤩 Well, at Madame Tussauds you can, or at least, meet them in wax.
So, have your camera at the ready for plenty of selfies!🤳
The nearest Tube is Baker Street.
8. Shop until you drop at Harrods
We highly recommend a trip to Harrods when visiting London. Why not indulge in some retail therapy in luxury department store, Harrods. Now 184 years old, Harrods is known for designer clothes and luxury gifts and with so much to see, you’ll get lost in its endless departments.
You can also get treatments at The Wellness Clinic, have your hair cut, hire a personal stylist, or choose from 23 restaurants to dine in, serving a range of food 😋.
The nearest Tube is Knightsbridge.
Now you’re all set, get ready to do something extraordinary in London.
Share your favourite moments
Have you visited London for the first time recently? If so, share your favourite places you visited in the comments below!