London · England · United Kingdom
Things to Do in London: Tours, Tickets & Day Trips
The best things to do in London, ranked by real traveller reviews: the Tower of London and Crown Jewels, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, a Thames cruise, the London Eye, the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio, and day trips to Stonehenge, Windsor, Bath and the Cotswolds. Compare 500+ tours, tickets and day trips side by side — most with free cancellation.
4,785 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in London
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in London
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Typical tour price in London: €55 per person, 8% below the global medianHow much do tours cost in London? →
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Explore London by interest
Whatever brings you to London — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Royal & historic London
The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Crown Jewels.
ExploreThames cruises
Sightseeing, afternoon-tea and dinner cruises past the landmarks.
ExploreSightseeing tours
Hop-on hop-off buses, black-cab tours and walking tours of the city.
ExploreHarry Potter
The Warner Bros. Studio tour and Potter-themed walks across the city.
ExploreViews & attractions
The London Eye, the Shard, Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral.
ExploreDay trips
Stonehenge, Windsor, Bath, Oxford and the Cotswolds.
ExploreFood & pubs
Borough Market food tours, afternoon tea and historic-pub crawls.
ExploreFamily activities
The Harry Potter studio, the London Eye and the Tower’s ravens and Beefeaters.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in London
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Tower of London
A 1,000-year-old fortress guarding the Crown Jewels, with Beefeaters and ravens.
120+ tours & ticketsView tours
Buckingham Palace
The Royal Family’s London home, with summer State Rooms and the Changing of the Guard.
60 toursView tours
Westminster Abbey
The Gothic coronation church of British monarchs since 1066.
70 tours & ticketsView tours
Big Ben & Parliament
The iconic clock tower and the Houses of Parliament on the Thames.
50 toursView tours
London Eye
The giant South Bank observation wheel with 360° views over the city.
45 ticketsView tours
Tower Bridge
The Victorian bascule bridge with high-level glass-floor walkways.
35 ticketsView tours
St Paul's Cathedral
Wren’s great domed cathedral, with the Whispering Gallery and city views.
30 ticketsView tours
River Thames
The river threading the city — best seen on a sightseeing or dinner cruise.
70 cruisesView tours
1 day
London in 1 day
- 1Tower of London & Crown Jewels
- 2Thames cruise to Westminster
- 3Westminster Abbey & Big Ben
- 4London Eye at sunset
2 days
London in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Tower, Thames & Westminster
- 2London Eye & South Bank
- 3Day 2: Buckingham Palace
- 4Harry Potter studio
3 days
London in 3 days
- 1Days 1–2: city icons & Harry Potter
- 2Museums & South Bank
- 3Day 3: Stonehenge & Windsor
- 4Farewell Thames dinner cruise
With kids
London with kids
- 1Harry Potter studio
- 2London Eye ride
- 3Tower of London ravens
- 4Natural History Museum
Theme day
Harry Potter London
- 1Warner Bros. Studio Tour
- 2Platform 9¾ at King's Cross
- 3Leadenhall Market & film spots
- 4Locations bus tour
Any day
Rainy day in London
- 1British Museum, guided entry
- 2Afternoon tea indoors
- 3Covered markets & arcades
- 4West End show at night
2 hrs awayStonehenge
The 5,000-year-old prehistoric stone circle on Salisbury Plain.
from €49View trips
1 hr awayWindsor Castle
The oldest occupied castle in the world and a favourite royal residence.
from €55View trips
2.5 hrs awayBath
A Georgian city of honey-stone crescents and steaming Roman Baths.
from €65View trips
1.5 hrs awayOxford
The ‘city of dreaming spires’ and its ancient university colleges.
from €49View trips
2 hrs awayCotswolds
Honey-stone villages and rolling hills in quintessential English countryside.
from €69View trips
1 hr awayHarry Potter Studio
The real film sets at Warner Bros. Studio — Diagon Alley and the Great Hall.
from €95View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every London visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
May–June and September bring mild weather, long daylight and slightly thinner crowds than peak summer — the best balance.
Spring (Mar–May)
Blossom in the parks and mild days, ideal for walking and river cruises. Easter and bank holidays get busy.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Long evenings, festivals and the Buckingham Palace State Rooms open — but the busiest and priciest months, so book ahead.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Mild early autumn with golden parks and thinner crowds, often the best value of the year.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cold and often grey but festive, with Christmas lights, markets and ice rinks, and the lowest prices and quietest museums.
Events to plan around
Wimbledon (July), Christmas markets and major exhibitions spike demand — reserve tickets and the Harry Potter studio well ahead.
One day
Enough for the highlights: the Tower of London, a Thames cruise, Westminster and the London Eye with skip-the-line tickets.
Two days
Add Buckingham Palace and a big experience like the Harry Potter studio, plus a West End show.
Three days
The sweet spot: the icons, the free museums and a day trip to Stonehenge and Windsor.
Four to five days
Slow down: add Greenwich, more museums, markets and a second day trip to Bath or Oxford.
A week or more
Explore the neighbourhoods, day-trip to the Cotswolds or even Paris by Eurostar, and dig into London’s museums.
Travelling with kids
Add a full day for the Harry Potter studio alone, and keep the pace relaxed with the free museums.
The Tube
The Underground is the fastest way across the city. Tap in and out with a contactless card or phone — it’s capped daily and cheaper than paper tickets.
On foot
Central London is very walkable, and many landmarks along the river are just 10–20 minutes apart.
Buses
The red double-deckers are scenic and use the same contactless fares as the Tube — great for seeing the city above ground.
Thames Clippers
River bus services run between piers from Westminster to Greenwich — a scenic way to travel that doubles as sightseeing.
Cabs & cycles
Black cabs and ride apps are everywhere, and Santander Cycles (‘Boris bikes’) suit short hops in good weather.
From the airports
Heathrow links by the Tube (Piccadilly line) or the fast Elizabeth line; Gatwick, Stansted and Luton by express trains. Pre-book transfers if you prefer door-to-door.
Free museums
The British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern and the Natural History and Science Museums are all free — a huge saving.
Sightseeing passes
A London Pass or similar can pay off if you visit several paid attractions in a few days, with skip-the-line entry at sites like the Tower.
Book timed entry
The Tower of London, the London Eye and the Harry Potter studio use timed tickets that sell out — book ahead.
Contactless travel
Use a contactless card or phone to tap on all public transport — it’s cheaper than paper tickets and caps your daily spend.
Currency
The pound sterling (£) is used; cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, so little cash is needed.
Weather
Pack a light rain layer year-round — London weather is changeable, and an umbrella saves the day on river cruises and walks.
Harry Potter studio
Warner Bros. Studio tickets are timed and sell out weeks ahead, especially in school holidays — book early with transport.
Tower of London
Timed tickets for the Crown Jewels go quickly on weekends and in summer; book ahead to skip the queue.
Buckingham Palace
Summer State Rooms tickets are limited and sell out — reserve as soon as dates are released.
Stonehenge & Windsor trips
Popular day trips fill up on weekends and in summer, so book your tour ahead.
London Eye fast-track
Sunset and weekend slots sell out — book fast-track tickets to avoid the longest queues.
West End shows
The biggest musicals and plays sell out; book ahead for the best seats and dates.
Top attractions
Around £30–40 for the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey; the London Eye is similar with fast-track.
Harry Potter studio
About £50–110 including round-trip transport from central London — the transport adds a lot to the studio ticket.
Thames cruises
Roughly £15–25 for a sightseeing cruise; afternoon-tea and dinner cruises cost more.
Day trips
Full-day trips to Stonehenge, Windsor, Bath or the Cotswolds run about £50–110 including transport and admission.
Hop-on hop-off
Around £35–45 for a 24-hour ticket, often including a river cruise and walking tour.
How to save
Use the free museums, travel contactless, and consider a sightseeing pass if visiting several paid sites.
When to visit
London through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Spring
Mar–May
- Best for
- Blossom in the parks and mild days ideal for walking tours and river cruises.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book outdoor experiences early — spring weekends and Easter fill fast.
Summer
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Long evenings, festivals and the Buckingham Palace State Rooms open — the busiest months.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Reserve the Harry Potter studio and top tickets weeks ahead.
Autumn
Sep–Nov
- Best for
- Golden parks and thinner crowds make early autumn a local favourite and good value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Shoulder-season prices return — a great time to visit.
Winter
Dec–Feb
- Best for
- Festive lights, markets and ice rinks, with quiet museums; cold but atmospheric.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book a warm indoor mix — museums, the Tower and a dinner cruise shine now.
People also ask
London travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in London?
The Tower of London and Crown Jewels, Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, a Thames cruise, the London Eye, the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio, Borough Market, St Paul’s Cathedral and a Stonehenge and Windsor day trip. Four of the ten are free; the Tower, the Abbey, the Eye and Harry Potter need tickets booked ahead.
How many days do you need in London?
Four days: royal Westminster, the City and the Tower, the free museums and Covent Garden, and one day trip. Five adds the Harry Potter studio or Greenwich and the markets. Stay near a Tube line in zones 1–2; everything central is within 30 minutes.
What can you do in London for free?
The British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Natural History Museum, V&A and Science Museum; the Changing of the Guard; Hyde Park, Regent’s Park and Greenwich Park; the Sky Garden with a pre-booked slot; the Southbank from the Eye to Tower Bridge; Borough, Camden and Portobello markets; Primrose Hill’s view; and the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower (free, book months ahead).
What are the best day trips from London?
Stonehenge, Windsor and Bath on one coach day (from $75), the Cotswolds (from $94), Oxford or Cambridge (1–1.5 hours), the Harry Potter studio in Leavesden (from $104 with transport), Windsor Castle alone (from $46), Canterbury and the White Cliffs, and Paris by Eurostar. Guided coaches leave from Victoria; the trains to Oxford, Cambridge and Windsor are easy to do alone.
What is there to do in London at night?
A West End show, the London Eye at dusk, a Thames dinner or jazz cruise, the view from the Shard or the free Sky Garden, a Jack the Ripper or ghost walk in the East End, pubs in Soho and Covent Garden, the Southbank lit up, Camden and Shoreditch for music, the Proms in summer at the Royal Albert Hall, and late openings at the Tate Modern and V&A on Fridays.
What can you do in London in winter?
November to January is Christmas London: the Oxford and Regent Street lights, Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, ice rinks at Somerset House and the Natural History Museum, the Kew Gardens light trail, Christmas markets on the Southbank, and pantomimes and the Nutcracker in the theatres. January and February are the cheapest months for hotels and the quietest at the Tower and the Abbey. Expect 5–10°C and short days.
What are the best things to do in London with kids?
The Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio, the Natural History Museum’s dinosaurs, the Science Museum, the Tower of London’s Beefeater tour, the London Eye, a Thames cruise, the Changing of the Guard, Hamleys toy shop, the London Zoo, the Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens, the Cutty Sark and Greenwich, and a hop-on-hop-off bus for the youngest.
When is the best time to visit London?
May to June and September for the mildest weather, long days and the parks at their best, with summer prices not yet at their peak. July and August are the busiest and most expensive; December is festive but crowded; January to March is grey, cheap and queue-free. The Trooping the Colour (June) and the Notting Hill Carnival (August bank holiday) are the big dates.
Is London worth visiting?
Yes — it has more world-class free museums than any other city, a thousand years of royal history within a two-mile walk, and Stonehenge, Windsor, Bath and Oxford all within a day. Budget four days, pre-book the Tower, the Abbey and Harry Potter, and let the free list carry the rest.
4,785 London experiencesfrom £15 · free cancellation
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