Explore London

London offers a lot: the unique inner city is basically an open-air museum with lots to do that is both educational and fun from iconic sightseeing spots and fun-filled days out to top restaurants, theatre and unmissable London events. There are also many attractions in London. Each attraction is easily with public transport in London:  The Tube, Santander Cycles, London bus routes, London taxis, London River bus services and more.

Planning to London? Take a look at all must see attractions and events close to us https://www.visitlondon.com/.

Highlights of London

London has a lot of different attractions and interesting places to visit. Because there are so many options, we from Hostelle have made a list of the absolute must visits in London.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park is presumably the foremost notable park in London, it’s among the biggest. The park has historical significance, having hosted variety of demonstrations and protests together with protests by suffragettes. The park hosts many performances weekly in addition to activities like paddle-boating, see several swans, and take in a breath of fresh air in the center of the city. A must-visit.

Westminster

Westminster is home to the Houses of Parliament and the world-famous Big Ben. Big Ben is the name of the bell housed within the iconic clock tower, and it still chimes every hour. You can also find Westminster Abbey here, which is open to the public most days. Whilst visiting these landmarks, be sure to rest your feet in Parliament Square which features statues of important political individuals including Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill.

Camden

Camden is a well-known cultural neighbourhood in north London. Known for its alternative culture, the crowds here are filled with goths, punks, rockabillies and tourists alike. Camden has a vibrant body mod community, and you will find several piercing and tattoo shops in this part of town.

London Eye

A trip to London isn’t complete without a visit to the iconic London Eye. Originally constructed to celebrate the millennium, the Eye is a giant ferris wheel offering gorgeous views across the city. At night, the wheel is lit up in seasonal colors and is the centerpiece of London’s annual New Year’s fireworks display.

Best London markets

Borough Market

Come with an empty stomach and discover a gourmet's paradise at Borough Market near London Bridge. Find stacks of fresh and organic produce, as well as condiments, baked treats and delicious street food. Take home specialist ingredients, pick up a tasty lunch, or sit down at one of the many restaurants.

Brick Lane Market

Hunt for a bargain within the bric-a-brac at this bustling East End market, bursting full of antiques, stunning fabrics and kitsch collectables. Once you’ve found your treasure, refuel at one of the numerous food stalls in the area or head into a Brick Lane restaurant.

Camden Market

Browse for vintage fashion, handmade jewellery, unusual gifts and eye-catching accessories at Camden Market.The market combines two former markets: Camden Stables Market, previously a horse stable and hospital, and Camden Lock Market.

Covent Garden Market

Covent Garden's Apple Market continues to support market traders, offering a range of unique handmade crafts and goods throughout the week.From Tuesday to Sunday, the Apple Market is filled with handmade jewellery, prints, watercolours and beautiful crafts and every Monday, you'll find one-off antiques and collectables.

Greenwich Market

the best collection of British designer makers showcased in historic Greenwich Market in south-east London. Find handmade gift ideas, from arts and crafts, to homewares and accessories. Enjoy tasty street food spanning cuisines from across the world, including vegan and gluten-free options. Surrounded by independent shops, bars and cafes, this covered market makes for a great day out.

A trip to the capital wouldn't be complete without seeing the top 10 attractions in London. Plan ahead so you don't miss out on these top things to do in London.

Have a magical day out with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Harry Potter films at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London The Making of Harry Potter. See first-hand the sets, costumes and props used in all the Harry Potter films, and step inside some of the films' locations, including the Great Hall, Dumbledore's office and Hagrid's hut. It's the ultimate Harry Potter experience!

One of London's most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Westminster Abbey plays host to many special ceremonies including coronations and royal weddings. Marvel at the impressive architecture, see the resting places of kings and queens passed and visit poets corner where some of the UK's most famous writers, such as William Shakespeare and Jane Austen, are buried.

Climb aboard one of the 32 glass capsules of the London Eye for unforgettable views of some of London's most famous landmarks. Take in amazing 360-degree views as the capsule slowly rotates over the river Thames.

Take a tour with one of the Yeoman Warders around the Tower of London, one of the world's most famous buildings. Discover its 900-year history as a royal palace, prison and place of execution, arsenal, jewel house and zoo! Gaze up at the White Tower, tiptoe through a medieval king's bedchamber and marvel at the Crown Jewels.

At Madame Tussauds London, you'll come face-to-face with some of the world's most famous faces. From Shakespeare to Taylor Swift, you'll meet influential figures from showbiz, sport, politics and even royalty. Strike a pose with Usain Bolt, get close to Beyoncé or enjoy the Marvel Universe 4D Experience.

Visit Buckingham Palace with a special opening each summer.Enjoy a glimpse into the life of royalty with a visit to this iconic London palace for a limited time each summer. Wander through the grand State Rooms, discovering many treasures and artefacts, and marvel at a special exhibition. Finish your self-guided tour in the quaint gardens, where you can see the famous lake.

Glide high above the Thames with the IFS Cloud Cable Car, which provides stunning views of the city, departing every 30 seconds from the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks. See the sights by day or admire the city as it twinkles at night on a flight which lasts five to 10 minutes, depending on the time of day.

Get a taste of the deep blue sea at SEA LIFE London. Spot up to 400 species including sharks, stingrays, moray eels and clown fish at the aquarium. See stunning green sea turtles and test your nerve on the glass "shark walk". Learn more at daily talks and feeding times

1. The Design Museum, Kensington

Best museum in London for: creative minds

Founded by Sir Terence Conran in 1989 and relocated to Kensington in 2016, The Design Museum hosts cutting-edge contemporary exhibitions, from fashion and graphics to architecture and product and industrial design. As well as the fascinating displays of past, present and future design through pop-ups and temporary shows, the museum hosts an array of learning programmes and activities aimed at children (aged 5-11 years) as well as opportunities for young people (aged 14-16 years) such as specialist courses, workshops and talks from leading experts in the industry.

Address: The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG
Website: designmuseum.org
Entry fee: Free entry; exhibition prices vary; booking essential=

2. British Museum, Bloomsbury

Best museum in London for: architecture buffs

The domed glass-and-steel ceiling at the British Museum – the world’s first national museum opened to the public – lets light into the atrium-like Great Court below, bouncing off the blinding-white, sweeping staircases and marble walls. It’s one of the capital’s prettiest spaces, but beyond the impressive lobby, it has sprawling galleries dedicated to the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans. Artefacts including the Rosetta Stone, Pantheon Marbles (once a part of the original structure in Athens) and more than 120 mummies draw millions of visitors every year. This is the city’s most-visited attraction and it’s easy to see why.

Address: British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
Website: britishmuseum.org
Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

3. Tate Modern, Bankside

Best museum in London for: knock-out views

In what was once the Bankside Power Station, Tate Modern looms over the waterfront of the South Bank. Its permanent collections house a wealth of modern British art – see pieces from Damien Hirst and Jackson Pollock – and international artists including Henri Matisse and Auguste Rodin. The immense Turbine Hall is dominated by a changing display of site-specific installations: millions of handcrafted porcelain sunflower seeds filled the space in 2010-11, while Olafur Eliasson took over with The Weather Project in 2003 and a blinding sun installation. Head to the top level of the Blavatnik Building, which was added in 2017, to visit the free viewing platform – the London panoramas are some of the best you’ll find anywhere in the city. However, Tate Modern’s main draw is its changing exhibitions: displays have included works from Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe and Andy Warhol.

Address: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Website: tate.org.uk
Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

4. Tate Britain, Pimlico

Best museum in London for: after-hours fun

Tate Modern’s older sister focuses on British art and holds pieces from heavyweights including Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and William Hogarth within its imposing Pimlico building. The museum hosts regular lates, which fall on the last Friday of the month and have a different theme each time: LGBTQ art, perhaps, or creative learning, with licensed bars in the galleries and a live DJ.

Address: Tate Britain, Millbank, Westminster, London SW1P 4RG
Website: tate.org.uk
Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

5. Royal Academy, Piccadilly

Best museum in London for: seeing Britain’s art greats in one place

Founded by artists and architects in the 1760s, the Royal Academy has been in its current home at Burlington House for more than 150 years and has recently expanded to include the former Museum of Mankind on Burlington Gardens. Highlights of the permanent collection span more than two centuries, from William Turner to Tracey Emin. The annual Summer Exhibition is one of the main events in the London art calendar, held without interruption since 1769, making it the oldest open-submission exhibition in the world. Each year, one of the Royal Academy’s artists curates the display.

Address: Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD
Website: royalacademy.org.uk
Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

6. Queer Britain, King's Cross

Best museum in London for: inclusive spirit

Although Queer Britain’s story as a physical museum only began at the start of 2022, things kicked off before the star-studded 2018 launch in the Hotel Cafe Royal’s Oscar Wilde Lounge. What was, for some time, a largely virtual and event-led celebration of queer culture now has a permanent exhibition space in Granary Square, King's Cross. The museum’s first long-term exhibition launched in summer 2022 – We are Queer Britain – with items collected from various sources in celebration of LGBTQ+ history and culture. Oscar Wilde’s Reading Prison cell door behind which he was incarcerated for sodomy, recently discovered erotic work by Duncan Grant and a letter from Elton John to his younger self are all on display; powerful reminders of how far equality has come.

Address: 2 Granary Square, London N1C 4BH
Website: queerbritain.org.uk
Entry fee: Free entry; donations welcome

7. London Mithraeum, City of London

Best museum in London for: an ancient history lesson

On a late summer’s day in September 1954, archaeological investigations into the rubble of post-war London uncovered a long-lost secret as a marble head showed itself for the first time in thousands of years. Further digs, supported by the likes of Winston Churchill, unearthed the remains of a spectacular Roman temple dedicated to the God Mithras. Revered by Roman citizens across the empire, the figure became the centre of a mystery religion that led to initiation ceremonies and worship practices being carried out at underground temples. While many Mithraic temples remain, this was still the first of its kind in Britain to be revealed. Now, more than two millennia after it was built, the mysteries of the past have been brought vividly to life through the power of modern technology in an immersive, multi-sensory museum space. Artefacts provide a glimpse into what life was like, while the Bloomberg tablets – a collection that includes the first known written reference to London – await visitor awe.

Address: London Mithraeum, 12 Walbrook, London EC4N 8AA
Website: londonmithraeum.com
Entry fee: Free entry

8. Natural History Museum, Kensington

Best museum in London for: Attenborough fans and animal lovers

The ornate façade of the Natural History Museum is a love letter to Victorian architecture: a vast gothic building that looks more like a cathedral than a museum. Inside the lofty Hintze Hall (revamped in 2017 to strip it back to its 19th-century splendour), Hope, a ginormous blue-whale skeleton, hangs above the information desk, which doubles up as a bar when the museum throws lates. See dinosaur fossils, the first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and casts from Pompeii among the museum’s 80 million specimens.

Address: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD
Website: nhm.ac.uk
Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

9. Victoria and Albert Museum, Knightsbridge

Best museum in London for: sell-out exhibitions

London’s largest art museum – the eighth-biggest art museum in the world – has more than 100 galleries displaying everything from photography to jewellery. It has put on some of the city’s most talked-about exhibitions in recent years: the curators have become known for their hot-ticket fashion displays of designers including Christian Dior and Alexander McQueen. Make sure to visit the permanent Rapid Response Collection, which has contemporary pieces that react to significant moments in recent history, such as the pussyhats worn at protests against the election of Donald Trump to a 3D-printed Extinction Rebellion coin.

Address: Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Website: vam.ac.uk
Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

10. Museum of London, Barbican

Best museum in London for: history lovers

More than a millennium of the capital’s history is on display at the Museum of London, from prehistoric Londinium to the present-day metropolis. Watch films on the gruesome moments, including the Black Death, and step inside a recreation of Victorian London; learn about the suffragettes; and relive the civil- and gay-rights movements. Visit the Docklands outpost on the Isle of Dogs to learn about the history of the Thames.

Address: Museum of London, 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN
Website: museumoflondon.org.uk
Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

London is a top shopping destination for people throughout the world. Each shopping districts/streets in London have their own vibe and specialties so read below to see where is the best shopping in London for your personal shopping experience.

Oxford Street

Oxford Street is considered the centre of London’s shopping world.Holding well over 300 shops, 4 underground stations, as well as flagship stores for numerous companies, Oxford Street is not only the busiest shopping location in London it’s the largest shopping district in existence.

Here you will find shops known around the world: Topshop, Selfridge’s, Debenhams, H&M, and Uni Qlo and the largest Primark in the world just to name a few.Clothing, accessories, shoes, or souvenirs, London’s Oxford Street has it all.

http://oxfordstreet.co.uk/shopping/ Underground Stations: [East to West] Tottenham Court Road, Oxford Circus, Bond Street & Marble Arch

Bond Street

Bond Street is all about luxury! If you’re looking for designer labels, this is where to go, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Michael Kors…the list goes on.

http://www.bondstreet.co.uk/Underground Stations: Bond Street, Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is famous the world over for its' vibrant, flashing lights and the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain (the incorrectly dubbed "statue of Eros"). But, in addition to being a traffic hub, it's also surrounded by great shopping. To the north of Piccadilly Circus is Regent Street - as we've detailed already.

It also edges on Soho which is full of funky independent shops, fascinating stores, vintage fabric and clothing, as well as great nightlife.

To the West, is the street of Piccadilly itself, which is home to the stunning Fortnum & Mason's - one of London's first department stores, erected in 1707, as well as Waterstones, one of the largest bookstores in Europe.

Nearest Tube Station: Piccadilly Circus

Regent Street

Perhaps the most atheistically pleasing of all the shopping districts listed here, Regent Street was designed by master architect Sir John Nash in the 19^th century. With huge sweeping vistas and different decorations throughout the year (including impressive Christmas displays), Regent Street is a picturesque place to spend your pennies. Keep an eye out for Hamleys – the largest toy store in London!

http://www.regentstreetonline.com/ Underground Stations: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus

Carnaby Street

Carnaby Street was the heart of swinging London in the 1960s and still offers quirky and glam shops, international brands, and unique one-of-a-kinds.Boasting over 150 different shops and over 50 restaurants and bars, Carnaby is a great place to shop off the main roads of London and is a wonderful place to get lost!

http://www.carnaby.co.uk/ Underground Stations: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus

Knightsbridge

Shopping in Knightsbridge is definitely not for those travelling on a budget! Here you will find some of the most prestigious and famous retail and fashion names in the world, Prada, Gucci, Burberry, Agent Provocateur, and even Christian Louboutin – this district is all about high fashion. Knightsbridge is also home to two of the best-known department stores in Europe: Harvey Nichols and Harrod’s.

Underground Station: Knightsbridge

King’s Road

In the heart of Chelsea lies the King’s Road – a singular stretch of eclectic shops, clothing boutiques, bars, and restaurants. From high fashion at shops owned by names as recognisable as Vivienne Westwood to antiques at the Chelsea Antiques Market, King’s Road is a broad mix of different types of shops and stores.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden has hosted a market for centuries and it is still operating to this day.

Market stalls with handmade goods and crafts as well as cheap clothing and souvenirs, Covent Garden’s Market provides a true London market shopping experience. However, Covent Garden is also home to recognisable shops based here permanently (Apple and The Body Shop, for example) and is filled with cobbled roads, eclectic boutiques…and even one of the finest cheese stores in London (Neal’s Yard Dairy)!A great place to ‘get lost’ Covent Garden provides good shopping for any budget and a variety of retail ranges.

http://www.coventgardenlondonuk.com/shopping Underground Station: Covent Garden

Not only is Covent Garden one of the best shopping districts in town, it also happens to be one of the best places to grab a bite to eat!

And amongst the hundreds of shops, you'll find a hundred places to satisfy your appetite.

Since Covent Garden is a mix of authentic London restaurants, as well as restaurant tourist traps, we've put together a Self-Guided Food Tour of Covent Garden to help you taste the best that this neighbourhood has to offer!

The Royal Exchange

Located in the heart of London’s financial district, the Royal Exchange previously hosted the centre of commerce for the City of London.

Today, however, the Royal Exchange hosts a variety of luxury shops, Rolex, Tiffany & Co., Hermes, Gucci…just to give an idea. Luxury restaurants and champagne bars are a great place to take a shopping break and the location of the Royal Exchange, the opposite side of town from our other shopping centres, means it is oftentimes not as busy as the better-known shopping locations of London.

http://www.theroyalexchange.co.uk/ Underground Station: Bank

Westfield

Yes, these are just regular malls. The newest additions to the London shopping scene, London's two Westfield malls - Shepherd's Bush and Stratford - are two of the largest urban shopping centres in all of Europe. Located entirely indoors, they also make excellent places to browse and shop when the London weather isn’t too cooperative!

Both Westfields are divided into two parts – the standard shopping areas and the luxury departments. This means there are the standard names you’d expect to see (Marks & Spenser, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Primark) as well as top labels known the world over (Jimmy Choo, Tag Heuer, and Ted Baker).

With over 275 shops in each, more than three dozen places to eat overall, as well as seasonal ice rinks and cinemas, the Westfields are one-stop shops for a retail day out.

Nearest Tube Stations: Shepherd's Bush, White City, Stratford.