101 things to do in London: the full list
Find the best of London with our ultimate list of things to do in the capital
Here's the full rundown of the 101 best things to do in London, put together by our editors with suggestions from other well known London bloggers and writers.
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Cultural highlights | Attractions and great days out | Things to do outdoors | Restaurants, cafés and bars | Shopping | Nights out
Cultural highlights
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British Museum
Museums & Attractions
44 Great Russell St, WC1B 3DG (020 7323 8000, bookings 08445 791940). Holborn or Russell Square tube.Read more -
British Library
Museums & Attractions
96 Euston Rd, NW1 2DB (0870 444 1500/01937 546060). King's Cross St Pancras rail/tube.Read more -
Bruce Castle Museum
Museums & Attractions
Junction of Church Lane & Lordship Lane, N17 8NU (020 8808 8772). White Hart Lane rail.Read more -
Charles Dickens Museum
Museums & Attractions
48 Doughty St, WC1N 2LX (020 7405 2127). Russell Square tube.Read more -
Dennis Severs' House
Museums & Attractions
18 Folgate St, E1 6BX (020 7247 4013). Liverpool St tube/rail.Read more -
Locate London's secret galleries
Read moreArt
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Do both Tates in a day
Art
Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG (020 7887 8888). Pimlico tube. | Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG (020 7887 8888). St Paul’s tube.Read more -
Do the Museum Road challenge
Read moreMuseums & Attractions
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Enjoy world-class opera
Classical Music
41 Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E 8RF (020 7836 9136). Covent Garden tube.Read more -
Grant Museum of Zoology
Museums & Attractions
Rockefeller Building, University College London, University St, WC1E 6DE (020 3106 2052). Euston tube/rail or Goodge St tube.Read more -
Handel House Museum
Museums & Attractions
23 & 25 Brook St (entrance in Lancashire Court), W1K 4HB (020 7495 1685). Bond St or Oxford Circus tube.Read more -
Horniman Museum
Museums & Attractions
100 London Rd, SE23 3PQ (020 8699 1872, bookings 08445 791940). Forest Hill rail.Read more -
Hunterian Museum
Museums & Attractions
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2A 3PE (020 7869 6560). Holborn tube.Read more -
Imperial War Museum
Museums & Attractions
Lambeth Rd, SE1 6HZ (020 7416 5320). Lambeth North tube.Read more -
London Transport Museum
Museums & Attractions
Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E 7BB (020 7379 6344/ 020 7565 7299). Covent Garden tube.Read more -
Museum of London
Museums & Attractions
150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN (020 7001 9844). St Paul's/ Barbican tube.Read more -
Old Operating Theatre Museum
Museums & Attractions
9a St Thomas St, SE1 9RY (020 7188 2679). London Bridge tube/rail.Read more -
Pollock's Toy Museum
Museums & Attractions
1 Scala St, W1T 2HL (020 7636 3452). Goodge St tube.Read more -
Saatchi Gallery
Art
Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, SW3 4SQ (020 7811 3070). Sloane Square tube.Read more -
Tour London’s public sculpture masterpieces
Read moreArt
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Tower of London
Museums & Attractions
Until Feb 29 2016, Tower Hill, EC3N 4AB (0844 482 7777, bookings 020 7907 7071). Tower Hill tube.Read more -
Spend a night at the museum!
Read moreKids
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Wellcome Collection
Museums & Attractions
183 Euston Rd, NW1 2BE (020 7611 2222). Euston tube/rail or Euston Square tube.Read more
Cultural highlights | Attractions and great days out | Things to do outdoors | Restaurants, cafés and bars | Shopping | Nights out
Attractions and great days out
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Make a royal entrance at Buckingham Palace
Museums & Attractions
Buckingham Palace Rd, SW1A 1AA (020 7766 7300). Victoria tube/rail.Read more -
Lose yourself in boho Camden
Read moreAround Town
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Define yourself at Dr Johnson's House
Museums & Attractions
17 Gough Square, EC4A 3DE (020 7353 3745). Chancery Lane tube.Read more -
Explore Greenwich
Read moreAround Town
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Get your kids into art at the National Gallery
Museums & Attractions
Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN (020 7747 2885). Leicester Square tube or Charing Cross tube/rail.Read more -
Float along Regent’s Canal
Around Town
Jason's Canal Boat Trip Jason's Yard, opposite 60 Blomfield Rd, Little Venice, W9 2PD. Warwick Avenue tube.Read more -
Take an off-beat tour of the capital
Read moreAround Town
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Spy on the government at the Houses of Parliament
Museums & Attractions
Palace of Westminster, Whitehall, SW1A 0AA (Tour bookings: 0844 847 1672). Westminster tube.Read more -
Brave the rapids at Lee Valley White Water Centre
Museums & Attractions
Station Rd, Waltham Cross, EN9 1AB (08456 770606). Waltham Cross rail.Read more -
Bask in the splendour of Leighton House Museum
Museums & Attractions
12 Holland Park Rd, W14 8LZ (020 7602 3316). Kensington tube.Read more -
Immerse yourself in the London Aquarium
Museums & Attractions
County Hall, Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge Rd, SE1 7PB (Bookings: 020 7907 7071). Westminster tube.Read more -
Go for a spin on the London Eye
Museums & Attractions
South Bank, SE1 7PB (0870 990 8883, bookings 08445 79194). Waterloo tube.Read more -
Find a perch at the London Wetland Centre
Around Town
Queen Elizabeth's Walk, SW13 9WT (020 8409 4400). Hammersmith tube then 283 bus.Read more -
Poke your beak into London Zoo
Museums & Attractions
Outer Circle, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY (020 7722 3333, bookings 020 7907 7071). Camden Town/ Baker Street tube.Read more -
Scale Sir Christopher Wren’s Monument
Museums & Attractions
Monument St, London, EC3R 8AH (020 7626 2717). Monument tube.Read more -
Peek backstage at the National Theatre
Theatre
South Bank, SE1 9PX (020 7452 3000). Temple tube or Waterloo tube/rail.Read more -
Navigate the Thames
Read moreAround Town
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Take an open-top bus tour
Around Town
17-19 Cockspur St, SW1Y 5BL (020 7389 5040, bookings 08445 791940). Charing Cross tube/rail or Piccadilly Circus tube.Read more -
Ride in the ‘driver’s seat’ on the DLR
Read moreAround Town
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Enter space at the Royal Observatory
Museums & Attractions
Blackheath Avenue, SE10 8XJ (020 8858 4422). Greenwich or Maze Hill rail or Cutty Sark DLR.Read more -
Salute the changing of the guard
Museums & Attractions
Buckingham Palace Rd, SW1A 1AA (020 7766 7300). Victoria tube/rail.Read more -
See the city from Parliament Hill
Around Town
Hampstead Heath, East Heath Rd, NW3 2SY. Hampstead Heath Overground.Read more -
Get thee to Shakespeare's Globe
Theatre
21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT (020 7401 9919). London Bridge tube/rail.Read more -
Spend a day on the South Bank
Around Town
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX. Embankment tube or Waterloo tube/rail.Read more -
Dash round a famous sports ground
Around Town
Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood Rd, London NW8 8QN (020 7616 8595/6). St John's Wood tube | Wembley Stadium, Empire Way, HA9 0WS (0844 800 2755). Wembley Park tube.Read more -
See the river from Tower Bridge
Museums & Attractions
Tower Bridge, SE1 2UP (bookings 08445 791940). Tower Hill tube or London Bridge tube/rail.Read more -
Call in on Britain’s first red telephone box
Around Town
Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J OBD (020 7300 8000). Piccadilly Circus tube.Read more -
Throw clay at the Wheelhouse Pottery
Around Town
Merton Abbey Mills, Merantun Way, SW19 2RD (020 8647 0076 Mon-Fri; 020 8543 6656 Sat, Sun). Colliers Wood or South Wimbledon tube.Read more -
Chime in with the Whitechapel Bell Foundry
Museums & Attractions
32/34 Whitechapel Rd, E1 1DY (020 7247 2599). Whitechapel tube/Overground.Read more
Cultural highlights | Attractions and great days out | Things to do outdoors | Restaurants, cafés and bars | Shopping | Nights out
Things to do outdoors
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Roam the city with the London Cycle Hire Scheme
Read moreSport
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Rest your bones at Bunhill Fields
Around Town
City Rd, EC1Y 1AU. Old St tube.Read more -
Go for a constitutional in Chelsea Physic Garden
Museums & Attractions
66 Royal Hospital Rd, SW3 4HS (020 7352 5646). Sloane Square tube or Victoria tube/rail, then 170 bus.Read more -
Meet the animals at one of London’s city farms
Read moreAround Town
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Off-road it on Hampstead Heath
Museums & Attractions
Hampstead tube or Hampstead Heath or Gospel Oak Overground.Read more -
Explore London on foot
Read moreAround Town
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Commune with Karl Marx in Highgate Cemetery
Around Town
Swains Lane, N6 6PJ (020 8340 1834). Archway tube.Read more -
Explore Hyde Park
Around Town
Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch or Knightsbridge tube.Read more -
Stroll around Kensington Gardens
Around Town
High Street Kensington, Lancaster Gate or Queensway tube.Read more -
Vegetate at Kew Gardens
Museums & Attractions
Kew Rd, TW9 3AB (020 8332 5655). Kew Gardens tube/Overground or Kew Bridge rail.Read more -
Track down royal deer in Richmond Park
Around Town
Kings Rd, TW10 5HS (020 8948 3209). Richmond tube/Overground.Read more
Cultural highlights | Attractions and great days out | Things to do outdoors | Restaurants, cafés and bars | Shopping | Nights out
Restaurants, cafés and bars
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Breakfast in style
Read moreRestaurants
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Chow down in Chinatown
Read moreRestaurants
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Demolish a Turkish meal in Dalston
Read moreRestaurants
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Dine in an 'underground restaurant'...
Read moreRestaurants
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Drink in a speakeasy
Read moreBars
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Enjoy a coffee from one of the capital’s top baristas
Read moreRestaurants
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Join the throng at Gordon’s Wine Bar
Bars
47 Villiers St, Strand, WC2N 6NE (020 7930 1408). Embankment tube or Charing Cross tube/rail.Read more -
Land a traditional fish supper
Read moreRestaurants
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Learn to mix a proper cocktail
Read moreBars
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Nurse a pint in one of the world’s best pubs
Read moreBars
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Sample cockney cuisine in Petticoat Lane Market
Restaurants
16 Goulston St, E1 7TP. Aldgate East tube.Read more -
Scoff a midnight bagel on Brick Lane
Restaurants
159 Brick Lane, E1 6SB (020 7729 0616). Liverpool St tube/rail or bus 8.Read more -
Take afternoon tea in style
Read moreRestaurants
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Wine and dine in a high-design setting
Read moreRestaurants
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Venture west for an authentic Indian
Read moreRestaurants
Cultural highlights | Attractions and great days out | Things to do outdoors | Restaurants, cafés and bars | Shopping | Nights out
Shopping
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Bag a bargain: car-boot sales and sample sales
Read moreShopping
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Browse London's best record shops
Read moreMusic
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Disappear into Davenports Magic Shop
Shopping
7 Charing Cross Underground Arcade, WC2N 4HZ (020 7836 0408). Charing Cross tube/rail.Read more -
Find fresh-off-the-boat fish at Billingsgate Market
Shopping
Trafalgar Way, E14 5ST (020 7987 1118). Canary Wharf tube/DLR.Read more -
Graze in London’s finest food markets
Read moreShopping
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Pamper yourself at a London spa
Read moreShopping
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Seek out unique vintage couture
Read moreShopping
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Smell the posies at Columbia Road Flower Market
Shopping
Columbia Rd, E2. Old St or Bethnal Green tube.Read more -
Spark up a fine cigar at Davidoff of London
Shopping
35 St James's St, SW1A 1HD (020 7930 1361). Green Park tube.Read more -
Splash out at a world-famous department store
Read moreShopping
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Wander along Portobello Market
Shopping
Portobello Rd, W11. Notting Hill Gate or Ladbroke Grove tube.Read more
Cultural highlights | Attractions and great days out | Things to do outdoors | Restaurants, cafés and bars | Shopping | Nights out
Nights out
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Watch a West End musical
Read moreTheatre
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Try some off-West End theatre
Read moreTheatre
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See a superstar DJ at the Ministry of Sound
Clubs
103 Gaunt St, SE1 6DP. Elephant & Castle tube.Read more -
Discover the best cabaret
Read moreCabaret
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Get into classic and arthouse cinema
Read moreFilm
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Go to 'The Gong Show' at The Comedy Store
Comedy
1a Oxendon St, SW1Y 4EE. Piccadilly Circus tube.Read more -
Have a right old East End night knees-up
Bars
The Palm Tree, 127 Grove Rd, E3 5BH (020 8980 2918). Mile End tube or bus 8, 25 | Bethnal Green Working Men's Club 42-46 Pollard Row, E2 6NB. Bethnal Green tube.Read more -
Jive at the Rivoli Ballroom
Dance
350 Brockley Rd, Lewisham, SE4 2BY. Crofton Park rail.Read more -
Join in the fun at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern
Gay & Lesbian
372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY. Vauxhall tube or rail.Read more -
Listen to choral evensong in a cathedral
Read moreClassical Music
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Lose yourself in live music at a famous gig venue
Read moreMusic
Cultural highlights | Attractions and great days out | Things to do outdoors | Restaurants, cafés and bars | Shopping | Nights out
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See what made the list
Our list of the 101 best things to do in the capital has been put together by our troop of expert writers and editors (with the help of some London bloggers).
