What to See in London: The Ultimate Guide from People Who Drive There Every Day
Right, so you’re planning a trip to London and wondering what actually deserves your time? After 15 years of driving people around this city – to weddings, proms, airport pickups, corporate events, you name it – we’ve gotten to know every landmark, hidden spot, and tourist trap intimately. Let us tell you what’s actually worth seeing.
Best Things to Do in London (The Honest List)
Look, there are hundreds of guides telling you what to see in London. But we’re going to give you the real story – the one you get from chatting with your driver who’s been navigating these streets for years.
The Tower of London – Still the Top Dog
Why It’s Worth Your Time
The Tower of London pulls over 2 million visitors annually, and yeah, it deserves the hype. Nearly 1,000 years of history, the Crown Jewels that’ll make your jaw drop, and those famous ravens that supposedly protect Britain. We drop clients here regularly for tours, and honestly? Nobody’s ever come back disappointed.
The thing about visiting the Tower of London is timing. Early morning or late afternoon beats the midday crush. The Beefeater tours are genuinely entertaining – these guys know their stuff and aren’t afraid to throw in a joke or two. Budget at least 2-3 hours if you want to see everything properly, including the Crown Jewels room (which moves at its own pace on a conveyor belt, so you can’t dawdle even if you wanted to).
Driver’s Tip
The drop-off point near Tower Hill Underground is your best bet. Traffic around here gets mental during peak times, especially when there’s something on at the nearby Tower Bridge.
London Eye – The View Everyone Wants
The London Eye sitting on the Thames riverbank gives you London’s most famous view. Half-hour ride, glass capsules, see Big Ben, Westminster, St Paul’s Cathedral, the lot. On a clear day, you can spot for miles.
Here’s what nobody tells you: book ahead. Those queues can stretch forever, especially in summer. The London Eye’s been a London landmark since 2000, and it’s still one of the most popular attractions in London. Best time? Late afternoon when the light’s changing, or evening when the city lights up.
We’ve driven countless groups here for birthday celebrations, proposals, and special occasions. The area around Waterloo gets packed, so if you’re coming in style, plan your timing.
Westminster – Where the Famous Stuff Lives
Westminster Abbey, Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower if we’re being proper), Houses of Parliament – it’s all here clustered together. Westminster’s basically London’s postcard in real life.
What to Hit:
- Westminster Abbey: Where William and Kate got married. Historic royal church dating back centuries, stunning Gothic architecture. You need tickets, and you need time – this isn’t a quick look-around.
- Big Ben: Currently the Elizabeth Tower, though everyone still calls it Big Ben. You can’t go inside unless you’re a UK resident who’s arranged a tour through their MP, but it’s iconic for photos.
- Houses of Parliament: Book a tour if you want inside. The Palace of Westminster architecture is incredible – proper Gothic Revival style.
The whole Westminster area works well as a walking tour, though your feet will be killing you by the end. We often drop clients near Westminster for the day while they explore on foot.
Thames River – London’s Main Artery
The Thames cuts through London, and honestly, you get a completely different view of the city from the water. Thames river cruises show you London from angles you miss when you’re stuck in traffic (which, let’s face it, we often are).
Popular spots along the Thames include Tower Bridge, Greenwich, the South Bank. You can hop on a river bus and use it like transport while sightseeing – smart way to see London without dealing with the Underground crowds.
Buckingham Palace – The Royal Residence
Buckingham Palace is what everyone pictures when they think royal London. The palace opens to visitors in summer (roughly July to September), letting you tour the State Rooms. Outside those months, you’re looking at the exterior and catching the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
Changing of the Guard
Happens at 11am most days, but check the schedule because it’s not daily. Get there early – really early – or you’ll see nothing but the backs of other tourists’ heads. The ceremony’s free to watch, takes about 45 minutes, and yes, those bearskin hats are real.
We’ve done countless wedding car hires that pass by Buckingham Palace for photos. It’s properly iconic, especially lit up at night.
Best Views of London (Not Just the London Eye)
The Shard: London’s tallest building, viewing platform on the 72nd floor. The views are mad – you can see the whole city spread out. Not cheap, but worth it if weather’s good.
Sky Garden: Free! Actual free attraction in central London. Book ahead though – tickets vanish fast. Top of the Walkie-Talkie building (20 Fenchurch Street), gardens and windows giving you views across the City of London. Great for seeing Tower of London, St Paul’s, and understanding London’s layout.
Primrose Hill: North London park, walk to the top, see the whole city skyline for exactly £0. Popular spot, especially at sunset. Much more relaxed vibe than the paid observation decks.
Museums in London (Free Ones!)
One of London’s best things? Loads of top museums are completely free to visit. Your taxes paying for something useful for once.
British Museum: Massive, world-famous, free. Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, Greek sculptures. You could spend days here. We’re talking artifacts from every civilization going back thousands of years.
Natural History Museum: South Kensington, dinosaur skeletons, the blue whale, all free. Kids love it, adults love it. The building itself is gorgeous – Victorian architecture at its finest.
Science Museum: Next door to the Natural History Museum. Space rockets, steam engines, interactive stuff. Also free.
Tate Modern: Contemporary art on the South Bank. Love it or hate it (modern art divides people), but admission’s free. The building – former power station – is worth seeing regardless.
Victoria & Albert Museum: Design and decorative arts museum. Free, stunning collection, often gets overlooked but shouldn’t be.
London Bridge and Tower Bridge (Not the Same Thing)
Right, let’s clear this up because it confuses everyone. London Bridge is the fairly ordinary-looking bridge downstream. Tower Bridge is the famous one with the towers that lifts up for tall ships.
Tower Bridge is the iconic London landmark everyone wants photos of. You can actually go inside and walk across the glass floor walkways. The Victorian engine rooms show you how the bridge mechanism works – properly interesting if you’re into engineering.
The area around Tower Bridge and London Bridge is packed with things to see – Borough Market for food, the Shard, HMS Belfast, tons of restaurants and pubs.
What’s On in London (Depends When You Visit)
London in 2025 has events year-round. Check what’s happening during your dates because it might influence what you see:
- Summer: Open-air theatre, festivals, palace tours, parks are gorgeous
- October: London Film Festival, Frieze art fair, Halloween events
- Christmas: Winter markets, lights, ice skating at Somerset House
- Spring: Chelsea Flower Show, marathon, parks in bloom
Day Trip from London (If You’ve Got Time)
Done all the London sightseeing? These day trips from London work well:
- Oxford: Hour on the train, university town, stunning architecture
- Cambridge: Similar deal, different university vibe
- Brighton: Seaside town, fun for a day out, about an hour away
- Windsor: Windsor Castle, royal town, easy trip
We’ve driven groups out to some of these for special occasions. Nice change of pace from central London.
Afternoon Tea in London (Properly British)
Want the full British experience? Afternoon tea’s the thing to do in London that screams “tourist” but is actually lovely. Finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, fancy cakes, endless tea or champagne.
Popular spots:
- The Ritz: Classic, fancy, expensive, needs booking ages ahead
- Fortnum & Mason: Bit more accessible, still posh
- Sketch: Instagram-famous pink room
- Countless hotels: Most nice London hotels do afternoon tea
We’ve picked up plenty of groups after afternoon tea sessions – usually very well-fed and slightly tipsy from the prosecco.
Top Attractions for First-Timers
If this is your first visit to London, stick to the highlights before chasing hidden gems:
- Tower of London – History, Crown Jewels, proper London experience
- London Eye – Get your bearings with the view
- Westminster area – Big Ben, Abbey, Parliament
- British Museum – World-class, free
- Thames walk – South Bank from Westminster to Tower Bridge
That’s a solid London itinerary for first-timers. You’ll hit the iconic London attractions without running yourself ragged.
Popular Tourist Spots Worth the Hype
St Paul’s Cathedral: Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, survived the Great Fire of London in 1666 (well, the original burned, this replaced it). Climb to the dome for views, see the Whispering Gallery. Proper historic London landmark.
Covent Garden: Former fruit and veg market, now shops, restaurants, street performers. Gets busy but has that London atmosphere. Good for people-watching and entertainment.
Camden Market: North London, alternative vibe, food from everywhere, vintage clothes, music. Completely different feel to central London but properly fun. Weekend’s best for full experience.
Notting Hill: Pretty pastel houses, Portobello Road Market, posh cafes. Very Instagrammable if that’s your thing. Saturday market’s the main event.
Shoreditch: East London, street art, trendy bars, completely different vibe to Westminster. Shows you modern London rather than tourist London.
London Transport Museum (Surprisingly Good)
In Covent Garden, the London Transport Museum tracks how London’s transport evolved. Sounds dull, actually fascinating. Old Tube trains, buses, posters, the history of how this massive city moves around. Kids like it too – there’s interactive stuff.
Borough Market – Food Heaven
Borough Market near London Bridge is London’s most famous food market. Been there since the 1700s. Thursday to Saturday’s when it’s properly buzzing – cheeses, breads, street food from everywhere, fresh produce, coffee. Budget for grazing – you’ll want to try everything.
Come hungry. Leave happy. We’ve had clients ask us to wait while they grab lunch here more times than we can count.
London Zoo and Regent’s Park
ZSL London Zoo in Regent’s Park is one of the world’s oldest scientific zoos. Penguins, lions, gorillas, the lot. Good for families, though not cheap. Regent’s Park itself is gorgeous – perfect for a walk, boating on the lake, or just sitting on the grass.
Cultural London – Theatre and Arts
West End Theatre: London’s theatre district. Everything from long-running shows like Les Mis and Lion King to new productions. Book ahead for popular shows – they sell out.
South Bank: Cultural hub along the Thames. National Theatre, Royal Festival Hall, galleries, book market under Waterloo Bridge. Always something happening.
Sightseeing Tips from Professional Drivers
After years of navigating London traffic and dropping clients at attractions, here’s what we’ve learned:
Best Way to See London: Mix it up. Walk when areas are close (Westminster to South Bank works well). Use the Tube for longer distances. Book a guided tour for places like the Tower where history matters. Consider a Thames cruise for a different perspective.
Timing Matters: Monday mornings are quieter than weekends at most attractions in London. Summer gets packed everywhere. Late afternoon often has shorter queues than midday.
Stay in London Strategically: Central London hotels cost more but save transport time. Areas like South Kensington, Westminster, or near Kings Cross/St Pancras give you good access to everything.
Special Occasions: Planning something big? We’ve done weddings that stop at Tower Bridge for photos, proms with red carpet arrivals at venues across London, corporate events at places like the Shard. Arriving in a limo makes any London attraction feel even more special. That red carpet rollout at your destination? Never gets old.
Free Things to Visit in London
Beyond the museums, loads of stuff in London is completely free to visit:
- All the royal parks (Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Green Park)
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
- Walking across Tower Bridge (going inside costs money)
- Borough Market browsing (buying food costs obviously)
- Tate Britain
- National Gallery at Trafalgar Square
- Walking along the South Bank
- Seeing the outside of basically every famous building
You can have a brilliant time in London without spending much beyond transport and food.
Restaurants in London and Places to Eat
London’s food scene is mad good – everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to street food. Some areas to explore:
- Soho: Every cuisine imaginable, trendy spots
- Borough Market: Already mentioned, but worth repeating
- Brick Lane: Curry houses, bagel shops, street food
- Covent Garden: More touristy but decent options
- Shoreditch: Hip cafes and restaurants
The Bucket List Stuff
Some London attractions just belong on your bucket list:
- See a show in the West End
- Afternoon tea somewhere fancy
- Walk across Tower Bridge
- Visit the Tower of London
- Ride the London Eye
- See Big Ben and Westminster
- Tour a royal palace
- Walk along the Thames at sunset
- Experience Borough Market
- See the Crown Jewels
How to Explore London Efficiently
For 2 Days in London: Day 1: Westminster area morning (Big Ben, Abbey), cross to South Bank, walk to Tower Bridge, visit Tower of London afternoon. Day 2: Museum morning (pick one – British, Natural History, V&A), afternoon West End show or shopping, evening explore Soho or Covent Garden.
For First-Timers: Hit the highlights first trip. Hidden gems can wait for visit number two. You want those iconic photos and must-see sights before you chase the local spots.
For Return Visitors: Once you’ve done the famous stuff, explore neighborhoods. Camden one day, Shoreditch another, Richmond and Kew Gardens for something different. Take a day trip from London to see more of England.
London Sightseeing Reality Check
Some honest things about visiting London:
- It’s expensive. Budget accordingly.
- It’s huge. You can’t see everything in a week, let alone a few days.
- Weather’s unpredictable. Rain gear recommended.
- The Tube works well but gets rammed during rush hour.
- Book popular attractions ahead – turning up on the day often means long queues.
- Walking wears you out faster than you think. Comfortable shoes aren’t optional.
The Monument and Great Fire History
The Monument near London Bridge commemorates the Great Fire of London in 1666 that destroyed most of the medieval city. Climb the 311 steps to the top for views. It’s not the most popular spot, but the historic site tells an important London story.
Experiences in London Beyond Standard Tours
Want something different? London offers loads of unique experiences:
- Food tours of specific areas
- Street art tours in East London
- Jack the Ripper walking tours (grim but popular)
- Ghost tours around historic sites
- Thames speedboat rides if you fancy getting wet
- Harry Potter tours visiting film locations
Time in London – How Long Do You Need?
Honestly? You could stay in London for months and still find new things to see. But realistically:
- 2-3 days: Covers the major highlights at a decent pace
- 4-5 days: Lets you add museums, neighborhoods, maybe a day trip
- A week: Now you’re talking – time to really explore and not rush
London for Different Seasons
Spring: Parks blooming, decent weather, not too crowded yet
Summer: Best weather, longest days, most crowded, highest prices
Autumn: Beautiful colors, cultural events, fewer tourists after September
Winter: Christmas lights and markets, cold but atmospheric, good hotel deals
Our Top London Recommendation
After driving around this city for years, dropping clients at everything from royal weddings at Westminster Abbey to prom nights starting at Leicester Square, here’s what we tell people:
See the famous stuff – it’s famous for a reason. Tower of London, London Eye, Westminster, the museums. But also just walk around. London’s at its best when you’re wandering through neighborhoods, stumbling into pubs, finding little squares and side streets that don’t make the guide to London attractions.
And yeah, if you’re doing something special – wedding, anniversary, big birthday, prom – rolling up in a proper limo just makes it better. We’ve had clients booking with Limousine Hires for over 15 years because arriving in style at London’s top attractions beats arriving sweaty from the Tube every time.
Whether it’s your first visit to London or your fiftieth, this city keeps surprising you. That’s why we never get bored driving around it – there’s always something new to see, even when you think you’ve seen it all. Book a trip with Limousine Hires UK London.
