101 things to do in London

What is it? A cathedral to culture, the V&A is a world-class museum championing the very best of decorative art and design.

Why go? The V&A houses one of the greatest collections of art, design, fashion and textiles on the planet. The permanent exhibits in this South Ken museum are fascinating, free to visit and include a mini pet cemetery. Ticketed exhibitions, like the recent ‘Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up’, often sell out.

Don’t miss: The world’s first all-porcelain courtyard created by architect Amanda Levete with 11,000 handmade tiles. When it catches the sunlight, the glittering ceramics make London look like 1960s Rome. 

What is it? One of the city’s largest and oldest food markets. It heaves with both tourists and locals gaping at a dizzying array of gastronomic delights and scoffing free samples. 

Why go? This mega market in London Bridge has a history that goes back to the thirteenth century, and it’s livelier than ever: Borough Market is packed with artisan traders such as Brindisa and Monmouth Coffee. It’s also home to some of the best restaurants and bars in the city. Take a seat beneath the glass-and-iron roof and watch the traders pack up after another day.

Don’t miss: The Market Porter pub. It opens at 6am for those working the graveyard shift, perfect if you’re in for a very early (or late) one. It also appeared in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ as a bookshop next door to The Leaky Cauldron. 

What is it? A West End neighbourhood with a somewhat sleazy history, that now teems with a bustling mix of party-goers, foodies, tourists, theatre buffs and media types in addition to a few surviving colourful local characters.

Why go? If you really want to soak up those city vibes settle in for a stint in the heart of London’s West End. Soho is home to some of London’s best theatres, restaurants, bars, clubs and shops. The maze of streets, linked by narrow Dickensian alleyways, are always busy and full of life. Order a coffee at one of the pavement cafés on Old Compton Street and watch the world go by in all its glory. 

Don’t miss: Grade-II listed pub The French House. Charles de Gaulle used it as a base in exile during World War II, Dylan Thomas and Francis Bacon both drank here and beer, famously, is only ever served in halves. 

What is it? An impressive light and sound installation in the huge Kew Gardens, which is triggered by the activity of bees in a nearby hive.

Why go? Kew Gardens is 300 acres of beautiful green space, filled with stunning vistas, rare plants, Victorian glasshouses, a Chinese pagoda, a treetop walkway and, of course, ‘The Hive’. The newly restored Temperate House is also a horticulturalist’s delight. A Grade I-listed greenhouse, twice the size of Kew’s famous Palm House, it reopened its doors to the public this year after a major five-year renovation.

Don’t miss: Encephalartos woodii, a spiky cycad that’s one of the rarest plants in the world, in Temperate House. It outlived the dinosaurs, but Kew’s specimen is thought to be the last one in Europe. Alas, poor woodii!

What is it? The magnificent South Kensington home of around 80 million plant, animal, fossil, rock and mineral specimens. This fascinating museum, which is also a world-class research institution, is full of wonders.

Why go? To come face-to-face with animatronic dinosaurs, a man-sized model of a foetus, a dodo, a giant sequoia tree, an earthquake simulator, glow-in-the-dark crystals and a great big blue whale skeleton which hangs from the ceiling of the Hintze Hall. 

Don’t miss: Night at the museum. The NHM often holds after-hours events where you can solve crimes, conduct experiments, listen to talks or watch movies. At Dino Snores you can actually have a sleepover in the museum itself. 

What is it? London’s highest public garden – three storeys of lush landscaped gardens on the thirty-fifth floor of a City skyscraper. 

Why go? Located on Fenchurch Street, right in the heart of the City, this beautiful venue caused quite a stir when it opened back in 2015. Zip up 35 floors of the Walkie Talkie and you’ll be transported to a public garden with truly spectacular views. As well as all the lush greenery, you’ll find an observation deck, an open-air terrace, two restaurants, two bars and an uninterrupted panorama of the city’s skyline and the Thames snaking by below. Entry is free but you’ve got to book in advance online. 

Don’t miss: Fancy watching the sunrise from Sky Garden’s spectacular Sky Pod? Rock up at 6.30am for a dynamic vinyasa flow yoga class (from £10) followed by breakfast at the Darwin Brasserie. 

What is it? An actual medieval castle on the north bank of the Thames, and, officially speaking, Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and fortress.

Why go? For all that bling (and the ravens). You can’t help but gawp at the staggeringly priceless collection of diamonds, tiaras and sceptres that make up the Crown Jewels. Arrive early to beat the crowds and catch a glimpse of these precious rocks that the Royal Family still uses on official occasions. This 900-year-old monument is one of the country’s finest historical attractions and has enough to see to fill a whole day.

Don’t miss: A tour with one of the Yeoman Warders (aka Beefeaters) to get the Tower lowdown by someone who lives and works there.

What is it? Bathing ponds in the middle of the wild green space of Hampstead Heath, where you can splash about any time of year. In fact, it’s the only place in the UK to offer life-guarded open-water public swimming all year round.

Why go? With men’s, women’s and mixed ponds, there’s nowhere better – or more picturesque (the ponds are a short walk from Parliament Hill, with views over the city skyline) – to cool off on scorching London days. The mixed pond is members-only and not lifeguarded in winter. Competent swimmers aged eight-plus are allowed. Just jump right in: there’s no shallow end!

Don’t miss: Looking for a hot shower afterwards? You’ll only find them at the Ladies’ Pond. Sorry, chaps. 

What is it? The British Museum is one of the UK’s most famous institutions, dedicated to human history, art and culture.

Why go? There’s so much to see at the British Museum –Parthenon sculptures, Lewis Chessmen, The Rosetta Stone. The world-famous Egyptian stone, the key to deciphering the hieroglyphs, is the most sought out item in the collection. If you think you’ve done it all, delve deeper by looking out for new acquisitions, or pop into one of the museum’s temporary exhibitions.

Don’t miss: The Mermaid in the Enlightenment gallery. It once belonged to Queen Victoria’s grandson Prince Arthur of Connaught and is said to have been caught in Japan in the eighteenth century. It’s not true, though... The head and torso of a monkey has been attached to the tail of a fish using the dark art of taxidermy to create what is possibly the capital’s most fascinating fake.

What is it? London’s one and only 95-storey skyscraper, and the tallest building in Western Europe.

Why go? The Shard has established itself as a timeless London landmark despite being barely a handful of years old. As well as making the city skyline a whole lot spikier than it used to be, it’s an ace place from which to cop a look at London in all its glory.

Don’t miss: The very top. There are bars and restaurants all the way up, but at public visiting area The View from The Shard, the tower boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with amazing views. You can peer out over the city at 244 metres above ground level. It’s as if you’re perched over the capital on your own cloud — and it makes for one awesome snap. Say cheese!

What is it? A 57-acre park in Westminster, which is basically the Queen’s giant front garden.

Why go? St James’s Park has undergone a lot of changes over the years. In King Henry VII’s day it was swampy and used mainly as a deer-breeding ground. King James I drained it and moved more animals in (including elephants, crocodiles and exotic birds). Today it remains as it was redesigned in the 1820s, all lush landscape and winding paths. Spot squirrels scampering around and pretty views of Buckingham Palace at the western end. 

Don’t miss: The park’s famous avian tenants – the pelicans. In 1664 the Russian ambassador presented a pair of pelicans to the king, and today the birds are still offered to the park by foreign ambassadors. Find them at the big lake in the middle.

What is it? A tranquil and photogenic pocket of London just north of Paddington, which is known for picturesque waterways and narrowboats.

Why go? Home to a community of boat-dwelling Londoners, Little Venice is a special spot. Wander through Rembrandt Gardens, feast on seafood at The Summerhouse or browse the plants and have a cuppa in the Quince Tree Café at charming Clifton Nurseries. Then hop on board a cruise travelling between Little Venice and Camden Lock, or wander east along the canal towpath to London Zoo or Primrose Hill. 

Don’t miss: The Puppet Theatre Barge. This intimate water-borne theatre is the setting for quality puppet shows that put a modern twist on traditional tales and kids’ classics. 

What is it? The Palace of Westminster is the home of Parliament, made up of the Houses of Parliament (the House of Lords and House of Commons) and (the currently silent) clocktower Big Ben.

Why go? The Palace of Westminster is a wonderful mish-mash of architectural styles, dominated by neo-gothic buttresses, towers and arches. It contains 1,000 rooms, 11 courtyards, eight bars and six restaurants, for use by staff, MPs, lords and their guests. Members of the public are welcome, too. Book a tour to follow in the footsteps of the Queen at the State Opening and get a sense of how Parliament functions. You can even have afternoon tea at the end of your tour in a room beside the Thames. 

Don’t miss: ‘New Dawn’, a sculpture by Mary Branson in Westminster Hall which commemorates the long campaign for women to get the vote. Or the statues in St Stephen’s Hall, one of which was damaged when members of the suffragette movement chained themselves to it in 1909. 

What is it? The Meridian Line is Longitude Zero, the reference point for GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) since 1884. Every place on Earth is measured in terms of its angle east or west from this line, which runs across the courtyard of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. 

Why go? The Meridian Line makes for a mega photo op, but there’s plenty more to see. As well as the courtyard of Flamsteed House (the observatory built in 1675 on the orders of Charles II), you can explore the apartments of Sir John Flamsteed and other Astronomers Royal. Meanwhile, in the ‘onion’ dome is the country’s largest refracting telescope, completed in 1893. The Astronomy Centre on the south site contains the free-entry Weller Astronomy Galleries, where visitors can marvel at a 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite before popping into a star show at the Peter Harrison Planetarium. 

Don’t miss: The views from the peak of Greenwich Park of the area’s grand, historical buildings (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) with the futuristic profile of Canary Wharf in the distance. 

What is it? A magnificently gothic, overgrown, 53,000-grave cemetery (housing 170,000 dead) in north London.

Why go? A stroll through a graveyard may seem like a  macabre way to spend an afternoon, but the chaotically overgrown Highgate Cemetery really is something special. It was one of London’s seven great Victorian cemeteries but fell into disrepair. Today, you can go and witness it in all its crumbling glory. The West Cemetery requires booking in advance for a guided tour (£12) during the week (at the weekend just show up and join a tour). Entrance to the East Cemetery is £4 at the gate.

Don’t miss: The cemetery’s famous residents. Find the final resting places of, among others, ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide’ author Douglas Adams and poet Christina Rossetti. You can also visit Karl Marx. You can’t miss his spot – it’s topped with a massive sculpture of his head.

What is it? London’s biggest, grandest royal park.

Why go? For ancient woodland, open space and enchanting rural wilds in the city. This former royal hunting ground has changed little over the centuries, but modern-day visitors are more likely to be wielding a kite than a bow and arrow. Look out for wild red and fallow deer but be sure to keep your distance (especially during autumn’s rutting season).

Don’t miss: The Isabella Plantation for swathes of blossom in spring and summer. Rent a bike to really get to see the whole park. 

What is it? Founded in 1857, the Science Museum is one of London’s largest tourist attractions, and one of the world’s major museums.

Why go? From daytime play for little ones to lates for geeky grown-ups, the Science Museum is a happily noisy home of scientific discovery that’s free to visit for one and all. Head to Wonderlab: The Equinor Gallery, a state-of-the-art seven-zone area of the museum that’s ticketed, allowing you to see live experiments and shows away from the crowds, or Space Descent, an immersive VR trip through the cosmos with British astronaut Tim Peake as your guide.  

Don’t miss: Amazing objects that have shaped the last few decades, from the first Apple computer to Apollo 10, which orbited the moon in 1969.

What is it? A grassy hill on the northern side of Regent’s Park, and the name of the surrounding swanky neighbourhood.

Why go? The picture-postcard view of the capital’s skyline might be your top reason for visiting Primrose Hill – but it shouldn’t be the only one. This well-kept annexe of Regent’s Park is also surrounded by posh cafés and nice shops and frequented by some of London’s friendliest dog walkers, making it a great place to people-watch.

Don’t miss: The sunset. When the sun starts going down, it really is all about that view, so pack a picnic, set your camera to ‘panoramic’ and play ‘spot the landmark’ as London is bathed in awesome orange light.

What is it? There are a whole lot of Harry Potter locations in and around London, but the Warner Bros Studio Tour in Watford is the most magical. 

Why go? The capital is heaving with Harry Potter hotspots. Locations like Diagon Alley were set here and scenes from the world-famous movie franchise were filmed here. There’s the stage play ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’, walking tours and photo ops at the actual Platform 9¾ in King’s Cross. But you can’t beat the Warner Bros Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter, just outside of the capital, to get up close with incredible props and sets from all eight of the HP films.

Don’t miss: The chance to fly your very own broom. Or drink butterbeer. Or wander in the Forbidden Forest. Or pose in the Great Hall. Or window-shop on Diagon Alley. Go!

What is it? The capital’s most famous bridge, which crosses the Thames near the Tower of London.

Why go? The historical structure – not the star of childhood ditty ‘London Bridge Is Falling Down’ FYI – is a bit of a stunner. It lifts up in the middle when large vessels are passing underneath (lift times are available on its website) and it gained a daring glass floor on the high walkways in 2014, allowing visitors to look straight down to the road and river 42 metres below. Each of the six glass panels is 11 metres long and weighs more than 500kg. Try not to think about that as you’re walking across them. 

Don’t miss: Your chance to stand inside Tower Bridge’s Bascule Chambers. These underground caverns allow for the movement of the huge counterweights when the bridge is raised. The subterranean space is normally out of bounds but is sometimes used for concerts and events. 

What is it? The home of Sipsmith gin. It planted its copper stills here in west London in 2009.

Why go? Sipsmith was the first of the new wave of London gin distilleries, becoming the first copper pot still in London for nearly 200 years. Now you can sip a G&T while listening to a little history of gin in London, tour the Sipsmith stills and get a tutored tasting. To drink deeper, book on to the Sipsmith Sipper Club every Tuesday – after the distillery you head to Charlotte’s Bistro for a gin-themed slap-up meal.

Don’t miss: The wall of weird and wonderful gin experiments in the bar. This is where Sipsmith’s master distiller gets creative, cooking up unusual flavour combinations that don’t go on general sale. If you’re lucky you might get to try one. 

What is it? Built by the Post Office a hundred years ago, this underground train line was once used to move mail around the city. Now a chunk of the network has been opened up for visitors. 

Why go? While everyone knows about the London Underground, the Mail Rail was shrouded in secrecy until recently. Shuttling letters and parcels across the city for nearly eight decades and delivering post through six-and-a-half miles of tunnels, it was taken out of service in 2003. But its tracks are now humming again, encouraging visitors to make like a letter and hop aboard the tiny electric tube train to discover a secret subterranean London.

Don’t miss: The Postal Museum’s calendar of events, from historical walking tours to papermaking workshops for kids. 

What is it? The UK’s tallest sculpture, Anish Kapoor’s curiously curvaceous 114.5-metre-high ArcelorMittal Orbit was one of the more unexpected sights at the Olympic Park in 2012. Then German artist Carsten Höller added the world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide to it. As you do.

Why go? We consider a good hurtle down the slide all the way to the ground a pretty thrilling experience. It’ll speed you from top to bottom in just 40 seconds. 

Don’t miss: Those impressive views. There are windows at strategic points so you can see out – if you dare to take the plummet without closing your eyes. 

What is it? A Grade I-listed Royal Park, which is home to London Zoo, a boating lake and lush rose gardens. 

Why go? Londoners’ nostrils have a pretty hard time of it, what with the traffic, the bin lorries and the lack of public loos. On balance, though, we really can’t complain, especially considering that we’ve got free and unticketed access to one of the country’s largest collection of roses in Regent’s Park. Queen Mary’s Gardens are home to around 12,000, of more than 85 varieties, including the unique Royal Parks rose. The fragrance is fantastic throughout the year, but visit in early June to see the blooms at their best.

Don’t miss: The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre for further alfresco pleasures. It’s a magical way to enjoy excellent outdoor theatre from April to September.

What is it? As its name implies, the Museum of London is dedicated specifically to documenting the capital’s history.

Why go? Think you know London inside-out? Think again. A trip to the Museum of London will make you see the city in a whole new light. Discover what was here before it was even Londinium, or reignite your understanding of the Great Fire of 1666, before honing in on the revolutions, innovations and trends that turned us into a global metropolis.

Don’t miss: A Roman inscription from AD 160-170, featuring the first recorded use of the word ‘Londoners’. 

What is it? A remarkable house on east London’s Folgate Street has been dressed to resemble the home of eighteenth-century Huguenot silk weavers.

Why go? To imagine you’ve stepped into a painting by an Old Master. Walking into Dennis Severs’ House is rather like that. It’s open for tours throughout the year: visitors silently pass through its ‘still-life drama’, visiting each room to see evidence of an eighteenth-century silk weaver’s family life without meeting a soul. It’s a unique, unnerving experience.

Don’t miss: The Annual Christmas Installation. Visit on a frosty winter’s night for a truly atmospheric experience.

What is it? A grand Tudor pile that Henry VIII ‘acquired’ from Cardinal Wolsey. It was later home to royal Stuarts and Georgians too, who all left their mark on the palace.

Why go? The remarkable thing about Hampton Court Palace is that you can stand in the very rooms where history was made. Wander down the corridor where Catherine Howard was dragged screaming, see how George I’s chocolatier prepared the king’s favourite tipple and take a gander at King Charles II’s royal bog. There are also ace gardens and the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze. 

Don’t miss: The wintertime Ghost Tours. These after-hours adventures, with tales of paranormal activity and regal apparitions, are frighteningly good.

What is it? London’s small – and somewhat ill-defined – Chinatown is an intense hit of Chinese culture sandwiched between Soho and Theatreland.

Why go? Bilingual street signs, colourful pagodas, lion statues and grand red and gold gates welcome you to Chinatown, the area between Leicester Square and Shaftesbury Avenue that’s packed with restaurants and shops devoted to Asian culture. Browse the weird and wonderful products in supermarkets such as See Woo, pop into Chinatown Bakery for a cheap, delicious lunch or end your night out with a meal in Four Seasons, a Wardour Street restaurant that stays open until 4am.

Don’t miss:  Xu. The first ‘smart’ restaurant from the crew behind cult hit Bao, it’s a love letter to 1930s Taipei. Order the beef with pancake, the tomato and smoked eel, and the chilli egg drop crab.

What is it? A branch of the Victoria & Albert museum focusing on the objects, themes and fun of being a kid.

Why go? For a good old wander down memory lane. An afternoon at the V&A’s Museum of Childhood affords all kinds of nostalgia. Remember your old ‘Star Wars’, He-Man or Sylvanian Families toys? They’re all here. As for youngsters not yet old enough to reminisce, they’re in for an even fuller day of activities. Favourites include coin-operated vintage automata and old-school trains chuffing around tracks, dressing-up gear, a nightclub-like baby sensory pod, plus free events and craft activities galore. 

Don’t miss: The Good Time Gallery. It’s home to a giant sandpit for children to wiggle their toes in, plus a jukebox, a Punch & Judy booth, buckets, spades and vintage bathing suits. It’s a whole day at the beach without having to leave Zone 2.

What is it? The UK’s national library (not to mention the largest in the world).

Why go? The British Library’s collection includes well over 150 million items, in most known languages around the world. It receives copies of every publication produced in the UK and Ireland. And it’s also home to some extraordinary treasures, like the world’s earliest dated printed book, the Diamond Sutra, and one of Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks. The foundation of English law, the Magna Carta, manuscripts by Shakespeare and Dickens and copies of The Beano – they all have a home at the British Library.

Don’t msis: Original manuscripts handwritten by some of the world’s greatest musical talents in the Sir John Ritblat: Treasures Gallery. See early drafts by John Lennon of The Beatles hits ‘In My Life’, ‘She Said She Said’ and ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ written on a piece of Lufthansa-headed notepaper.

What is it? Holland Park is one of London’s loveliest green spaces, home to sports facilities, play areas, woodland, an eco centre and the remains of Holland House, which was badly damaged during World War II.  

Why go? The park is also home to a remarkable hidden treasure: a traditionally designed Japanese garden. Created as part of London’s Japan Festival in 1992, the carefully tended Kyoto Garden has water features, and traditional Japanese trees and plants.

Don’t miss: The most photogenic time of the year. Visit the garden in autumn to catch it at its vibrant best.

What is it? A gallery housing a vast collection of (sometimes grisly but always fascinating) implements and curios relating to the medical trade. 

Why go? Medical research charity the Wellcome Trust created its free-to-visit gallery on the Euston Road to help foster a wider appreciation and understanding of medicine. Innovative exhibitions, talks, performances and events reflect themes of medicine and the body in all kinds of creative ways, often through art. The permanent collections include an image library so you can see X-rays from over 100 years ago.

Don’t miss: The Reading Room. Home to over a thousand books and a bunch of objects, it’s a quiet space to explore, read or strike up an intelligent conversation with fellow visitors. 

What is it? Santander Cycles (formerly known as Boris Bikes) is London’s bike hire scheme, designed to make cycling around the city hassle-free. 

Why go? Find a dock, jump on a bike and head off around town, skirting the crowds and covering much more ground than you would on foot. Our recommendation? Take a spin beside the Thames and spot a who’s who of London’s riverside landmarks on National Cycle Network’s Route 4. Packed full of highlights – the London Eye, the Globe, Tate Modern – the route combines quieter roads with traffic-free paths, letting you sightsee to your heart’s content.

Don’t miss: Anything. See something you’d like to explore en route? Just find a dock, ditch your bike and do as you please. You can pick up another when you’re ready to set off again. 

What is it? The world’s last surviving tea clipper, Cutty Sark was once the fastest ship of her age. That was over a century ago now, but she is still a spectacular sight, perched on her glass pedestal at the Thames’s edge in Greenwich.

Why go? The ship was nearly destroyed by fire in 2007, but reopened to the public in 2012 looking more handsome than ever. The £30 million restoration has seen her elevated three metres above the dry dock, allowing visitors to get closer than ever to its 65-metre-long gilded hull. Discover the ship’s history and explore the many cargoes that filled the Cutty Sark’s hold, from tea and whisky to wool and buffalo horns.

Don’t miss: The nearby National Maritime Museum. Continue your nautical education in Greenwich with a trip to NMM. The collection includes great works of art, incredible treasures and the actual blood-stained uniform that Lord Nelson was wearing when he was fatally wounded on board HMS Victory.

What is it? Wimbledon is a leafy south-west London suburb that plays host to the world’s greatest lawn tennis championship every summer.

Why go? There’s more to Wimbledon than the oldest tennis championship in the world – it’s home to a windmill and the fictional Wombles for starters – but summer is the best time to head to SW19. During July every year, the world’s best tennis players arrive to battle it out, while the world’s biggest tennis fans arrive to sip Pimm’s, guzzle strawberries and cream, and vicariously bask in sporting greatness. Bag seats on Centre Court, lounge around on Murray Mound or catch the action for free on a big screen just outside the grounds on Aorangi Terrace.

Don’t miss: Tickets. They’re hard to get your hands on. The top spots must be applied for by ballot (UK applications start the August before) but there are also tickets available each day during the tournament for those prepared to queue.

What is it? The Grade I-listed St Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most famous buildings in Britain and an iconic feature of the London skyline. 

Why go? Sir Christopher Wren’s baroque beast is a marvel to look at, with an enormous dome and gorgeous interiors, but it actually still operates as a working church. All the services are free and open to all people of all faiths, including the incredibly popular Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. But to really nose around, climb the dome and head down into the crypt you’ll need a sightseeing ticket. Adult tickets are £18 and include a multimedia guide or guided tour and access to an exhibition about the cathedral’s fascinating history.  

Don’t miss: The Whispering Gallery. That’s the indoor balcony at the base of the dome, where the acoustics of the cathedral’s architecture create a bizarre aural phenomenon. Stand on the exact opposite side of the dome as a friend, whisper something (‘I’m watching you’ is good) and they’ll hear you loud and clear, despite being more than 100 feet away. Spooky.

What is it? It’s the TV show that used to be presented by Richard O’Brien. Only now there’s no Richard O’Brien, or TV. 

Why go? The rise in puzzle-oriented escape-game attractions around London has created a new kind of experience for mates who like something more challenging than a pub quiz, and we think this is the best of them: a lovingly recreated version of the TV show, complete with the glass dome and all the physical, mental and mystery challenges you’d expect. Even if your team loses, it’s a proper giggle. The current location in Angel is closing in early 2019 when a new West End venue opens. 

Don’t miss: The crystals! You’re playing for those shiny, shiny gems, remember?

What is it? This south-east London park was once the grounds of an enormous glass exhibition hall known as The Crystal Palace, which burned down in the 1930s. 

Why go? For the dinosaurs. Yeah, you read that right. The park is populated with Victorian dinosaur sculptures, which are extremely anatomically incorrect. Hire yourself a pedalo and you’ll be able to admire the beasts which inhabit the shores of the lake from a brand new angle. You can even take a waterborne dinosaur selfie, which should win you a few Instagram likes. Other good reasons to visit the park include a maze and the ruins of the old Crystal Palace’s aquarium.

Don’t miss: Capel Manor Urban Farm, where, when you’re done with the concrete animals, you can find real meerkats, pigs, horses and more. 

What is it? A 1920s-inspired crazy golf club in a former department store on Oxford Street. 

Why go? An ode to the English Riviera, the Swingers West End course includes a helter-skelter and big wheel, with beach huts and bandstands – plus lush palms for a ‘Miami Vice’-meets-Torquay vibe. Think of your best childhood seaside holiday, then add booze. Lubrication is provided on-course in the form of cocktails delivered by roving caddies, and you can refuel between rounds with street food by Made of Dough, Patty & Bun and Hackney Gelato. Striped blazers and straw boaters at the ready, old sport – we’ll see you on the first tee. 

Don’t miss: The original Swingers site, 16,000 square feet of crazy golf in an office block next to the Gherkin.

What is it? An ethnographical and anthropological museum, opened by tea trader John Horniman in 1902, which is known for its taxidermied animals, among (many) other things.

Why go? Unlike a lot of museums, this south London gem allows visitors close contact with many of the artefacts displayed (some can even be held or tried on). Aside from impressive anthropology and natural history collections, the museum also has a pretty garden, and hosts events ranging from crazy golf to farmers’ markets.

Don’t miss: The chance to come face to face with the museum’s walrus. Anatomically incorrect after being stuffed to bursting point (thus losing his signature folds of skin) the rather bloated mammal is one of the museum’s most popular exhibits.

What is it? A welcoming and brilliantly maintained urban farm, complete with cute animals, just off Brick Lane in east London.

Why go? You can get a little taste of the countryside in the East End at Spitalfields City Farm. Friendly residents up for a pat include Bayleaf the donkey and a lovable pair of hairy hogs. The farm shop sells homegrown produce like freshly laid eggs, and the range of veg grown is remarkable for the location. There’s always something going on, from the homely café and laidback weekend festivals to family volunteering programme Families Go Wild. A proper city gem with a lovely vibe.

Don’t miss: The annual goat race. A rival to the famous Boat Race on the Thames, which sees Oxford and Cambridge universities go head to head, Spitalfields City Farm’s goat race pits two goats against each other on the same afternoon. It’s a lot more exciting than its riperine equivalent and over a lot quicker.

What is it? London’s world-leading zoo, in Regent’s Park. These zoological gardens have been entertaining visitors of all ages since Queen Victoria was on the throne. 

Why go? A visit to London Zoo and its exotic inhabitants has been a must for animal-mad Londoners since it first opened to the public in 1847. The 36-acre gardens have been designed to make animal encounters into an incredible experience. Hit the South American coastline to spy lively penguins or explore a huge, living indoor rainforest inhabited by sloths, armadillos, monkeys and more. 

Don’t miss: Your chance to sleep with the lions. The zoo offers extra special experiences for those who want to get that bit closer to the wildlife. Younger visitors (ages 7-11) can stay overnight in the zoo’s bug house thanks to the Bedbugs Sleepovers, which include a torchlit tour of the zoo after dark, games, storytelling and talks. Grown-ups can book their own sleepover adventure, too – staying at the Gir Lion Lodge rooms right next to the slumbering big cats. Yikes.