Six Great Things To Do in London

After you’ve seen Big Ben, The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and all the stolen artifacts in the British Museum you might be in the mood for something a little less “big tourist attraction.” There is something for everyone in London. These are some of the great things I have discovered as I have fallen in love with this city.

See a show in the West End!

The West End is akin to Broadway in New York. There many theatres with shows in residency. See an old standby like Les Miserables or Phantom of the Opera or see something more modern like Six, Hamilton, or Come From Away. Tickets seem to be slightly cheaper than their Broadway counterparts and can be purchased a number of ways- through the individual theatres’ websites, a number of ticket retailers (I use this one if I don’t go direct through the theatre), or the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for day-of tickets up to half off.

Take a pub tour!

“Don’t bother with churches, government buildings or city squares. If you want to know about a culture, spend a night in its bars.” -Ernest Hemingway.

I could not have said it better myself, Mr. Hemingway. You can’t walk more than a block or two without seeing a pub. Some of them were watering holes to famous authors, musicians, prime ministers, more than one claim to be the oldest in London. Two of the best tours I have discovered are a Historical Pub Walking Tour of London and Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour. Have a gin and tonic or a beer and learn some of the real history of London.

Get lost in a bookstore!

London is filled with tons of interesting bookstores and the UK version of books often have different (and cooler) covers than their US counterparts. Daunt Books in Marylebone is a traveler’s bookstore at heart. Books are arranged by country, so no matter what you are after- travel guide, something like history or a biography, or a work of fiction- it will all be grouped with the relevant country. Located near King’s Cross, Word on the Water is a bookstore on a boat floating in one of London’s many canals. Choosing Keeping in Covent Garden is definitely worth a pop-in. While not a bookstore, it is my experience that many book lovers are also lovers of stationary. Maison Assouline in the Piccadilly area has a beautiful assortment of coffee table books and book-related items. They also have a cafe and a bar, so grab your vice of choice and take a browse.

Visit Little Venice and take water taxi!

This darling residential area just north of Paddington boasts cafes, pubs, and entertainment, some of which are canal-side. After having a bite at The Summer House or a pint at The Bridge House, take the London Waterbus from Brownings Pool at Little Venice to Camden Yard. The gentle 45 minute ride passes the London Zoo, stately mansions and their gardens, boats that are people’s homes, and ornamental iron bridges.

Get a bird’s eye view from The Skygarden!

The Skygarden is free, whether you are there for a meal at one of the restaurants or you are just there to take a selfie from one of the best vantage points in London. Book your ticket in advance, as this is a popular attraction. Be prepared to show ID upon arrival, as well. The Skygarden is actually a garden- the highest one in London and has species of plants from Europe and Africa.

Take a walk in the park!

There are a series of parks and green spaces that street from Kensington Palace to St. James’s Park. Hyde Park is the largest and was originally a hunting ground for Henry VIII. Regent’s Park is another large park straddling Westminster and Camden. Queen Mary’s rose garden is particularly lovely and fragrant when the flowers are in bloom. I happened upon a military band concert last time I was wandering through. To the north of the park is the London Zoo.

So there you have it. Some of my best recommendations on places to see in London. What are your favorites?