London Highlights for Tourists and Locals: A Guide to the Best Sights and Activities

London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. It is a world-class city with so much to do, see and experience. If you are visiting London, there are many things to do such as exploring museums, eating at some of the best restaurants in London, and touring around all of the famous landmarks that make up this amazing city! In this article, we will be giving you a brief overview of what makes London great along with some tips/advice about how to get around without getting lost on your first day here!

London

London is the capital city of Great Britain, and it has been the center of British history since before Roman times. It’s also one of the largest cities in the world with a population of over 8 million people.

London’s history dates back to prehistoric times when it was part of an island called Albion (from which we get our word “British”). The Romans settled there about 50 AD and built walls around their settlement which were later destroyed by fire during William’s reign (William I/Canute) from 1016 to 1035 AD when he was King over all England & Normandy etc., but not Scotland or Ireland because they didn’t exist yet!

Harrods

Harrods is London’s most famous department store, and it has been since the 19th century. Harrods is located in Knightsbridge, which was once home to some of England’s wealthiest families (including the Astors). The store first opened its doors on March 18th, 1905 and has since evolved into one of Europe’s largest department stores with over 400 departments offering everything from food items to clothing and accessories.

Harrods’ flagship store offers over 300 outlets throughout Europe as well as around 50 locations abroad including New York City; Paris; Shanghai; Hong Kong; Dubai; Moscow and St Petersburg among others! Generally speaking, most stores are geared towards the high end for most people, however, there is a nice souvenir shop that is available.

In all honesty, there was one priory reason I used to go to Harrods which I am sad to report is now closed. There used to be an ice cream parlor there that was great. There are;t too many ice cream parlors nowadays and sad to see them go. The picture above was from 2019 when I made a business trip to London, but upon a family trip in 2021, it was no longer there. So Sad!

Borough Market

Borough Market is a food market in Southwark, London. It is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London.

The market has been operating since at least the 11th century, with records indicating that it was used as early as 973 AD by monks from St Mary Overies Priory. In the 13th century, it became a major trade center for meat butchers and fishmongers who sold their goods to customers from all over London. In recent years there has been an increasing demand for local produce including fruit & vegetables as well as artisan products such as cheese & bread from Borough Market chefs!

It’s also great fun to visit because there are so many different tastes available – you can eat anything from Argentinian steaks to Japanese sushi bars; Indian thalis (tiffin) meals are popular too! We make it a point to drop by when it first opens on each of our visits to London. Be sure to go hungry and try some of the food.

Shakespeare Globe

Shakespeare Globe Theatre is a replica of the original Globe Theatre in London. It was built in 1997 and opened in 2000. The theatre is a working theatre that produces plays and has been used to house productions of Shakespeare’s plays.

The Globe offers 1,400 seats on two levels with tiered seating making it easier for people to see over one another during performances. There are also 380 seats available at ground level where you can stand if you want to get closer to the action (and maybe earn some extra cash).

During our stay, we were able to get tickets to Romeo and Juliet. It was great to see a production inside the theater but the show itself was a bit disappointing. Nothing against their efforts but we were hoping to see the traditional version of the play and it ended up a modern rendition that didn’t really do it for me.

It also forced social messages into the play which was a bit much, regardless of your personal stance on any specific item. Needless to say, I would have really enjoyed the classic, but it didn’t end up being that way.

Graffiti Alley

Graffiti Alley London is a must-see for any street art lover. The Alley is located in the heart of the city, and it’s full of colorful Graffiti. Visitors can explore the Graffiti alley at their own pace, and take photos of the amazing artwork. The Graffiti Alley is also a great place to people-watch, as there are always interesting characters milling about. Whether you’re a street art enthusiast or just looking for a unique photo op, Graffiti Alley London is definitely worth a visit.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace was the official London residence of Queen Elizabeth II, who lived there since 1952. The palace is located in the City of Westminster, and it has been visited by millions of people over the centuries. It’s open to visitors for free throughout the year (although there are some restrictions).

The palace was built in 1705 by George I, who also commissioned many other buildings throughout his reign. In 1840, Queen Victoria bought Buckingham Palace from her father for £5 million—a huge sum at that time—and made many changes to adapt it as an official royal residence for herself and all future monarchs upon their ascension or accession into power within Great Britain or its territories abroad (for example Malta).

In 2021 the family and I made a stop here (the first picture) and the area was completely empty. It was great you could walk right up to the gate and look through. Back in 2019, prior to COVID, this was a popular location and often a mad house during the change of the guard as you can see from the picture above. As with several things in and around London, it was worth the visit the first time, but I would not go back unless the crowds were minimal, otherwise, all you will get is a massive crowd and an hour playing human pinball trying to move 5 feet.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. The bridge is built on the site of a former London Bridge that was demolished in 1831. It has been described as one of Britain’s most iconic structures and it has become a symbol of London, appearing on postcards and souvenirs.

The current structure is the fourth tower bridge to stand at this location; all have been destroyed by fire or bomb damage except for this one which survived both attacks during World War II.

Oddly enough, a lot of people see this picture and think of London Bridge and end up at the wrong bridge they were thinking of in all the pictures they see. Don’t be one of these people. Certainly you can visit London Bridge on your next trip, just know you are likely wanting to see Tower Bridge. Either way, I suggest you spend the time walking across it and not just view it from afar.

London Eye

The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel that’s located at parliament square. It’s one of the most iconic attractions in London, so if you want to see it up close and personal, or just want some great photos of the city skyline then this is your best bet! The ride takes about 20 minutes and costs around £25 ($35). You can purchase tickets online or at any tourist information center in central London.

We happen to stay at the Marriott hotel that is right next to the London Eye and were able to get a nice view of it and Big Ben in the background. I am still disappointed that Big Ben was still being refurbished during our visit.

Skygarden

The Skygarden is a unique experience. You can get a ticket to go to the sky garden, which is a glass dome that you can walk around in and see the skyline of London from above. It’s free to enter, so don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!

There is a nice indoor garden at the top as well as a restaurant. We did try the restaurant, which was ok, but I think there are better places to eat in London. Regardless, if you’re going to London for the first time it’s a great place to get a view of the city. Similar to viewpoints in places like New York City, once you have gone once, that is probably enough, and time to move on to other places in London.

War of the Worlds

War of the Worlds is an immersive experience in London that takes you on a journey through the classic H.G. Wells novel. The story is brought to life through a combination of live-action and state-of-the-art special effects, and you’ll find yourself in the middle of the action as the Martian invasion unfolds around you. So if you’re looking for an immersive experience that will truly take your breath away, War of the Worlds is a must-see.

So as to not give it away, above is a view of the lobby area where you will wait for your turn. I am not necessarily a big War of the World fan, but it definitely was a fun activity to break the site seeing and something unique to experience.

Leadenhall Market

Leadenhall Market is a covered market in the City of London, England. It is one of the most famous markets in London and has been trading since 1570. The market building was constructed by Sir Christopher Wren between 1669 and 1673 to replace an older structure built in 1717 by Thomas Archer on Poultry (now New Change) Street.

The building contains several restaurants, including The Angel & Crown, which has been awarded two Michelin stars; it also features a bakery selling bread made from scratch with local ingredients as well as fresh fishmongers selling seafood such as crab claws & lobster tails.

It was on our list to visit but actually ended up stumbling upon it as we walked around London. It was mostly shut down when we were there but was cool to see the large gallery-like building structure.

China Town

China Town is a great place to visit if you’re looking for a taste of Chinese culture, food, and history. There are lots of shops selling traditional items like handbags and jewelry as well as modern items that can be used for everyday life. You’ll also find restaurants serving authentic cuisine from across the country.

The area can become very lively, especially around lunch and dinner time. On one occasion there were street performers that I sat and watch for some time and were actually pretty good. I wish I knew the guy’s name and would give him a plug, but he sang and played the guitar. He was better than some professional shows I have seen.

But let’s be honest, the reason I come to China Town is for Xiao Long Bao (soup Dumplings). I would HIGHLY suggest going to Dim Ti Fung in London or your next trip to California, but Chinatown has some options as well as some noodle soup.

Crystal Game Show

The Crystal Maze Experience is located in the UK. You will need to get a train there, but it’s worth it! The experience takes around 90 minutes to complete and costs £40 each. It’s an interesting and unique experience that makes you feel like you’ve been transported into another world! But is a game show that you get to experience where you can win crystals.

Based on the game show The Crystal Maze. And they have a shop where they sell their souvenir crystals. And a 90-minute session is around £40 each, ( it was more expensive when I went maybe a few years ago). So it’s quite spendy but it’s also a really fun and unique experience as well.

Let me start by saying, we had never seen the show before going. It probably would have helped having seen at least a few of the episodes, but was still very fun. With a family of 4, we got to play each of the games and make our way to the final crystal where we would catch fake money. It’s a cross between an escape room, a game show, and a live show (yes the host runs around with you as they do in the tv series).

Thumbs Up

So there you have it. A sampling of what we did in London and its surrounding areas. There is so much to do and see in and around London, and I have only touched on some of the items we did. There are other articles with other things we did. Needless to say, we will be back. As noted in some of the descriptions, certainly there are things to do at least once, but our next trip will explore even more.

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