Last Updated on July 19, 2023 by Carissa
Travelling to London any time soon? Well here are my top 10 places that you don’t want to miss if you’re visiting the Capital! (And of course, they’re Instagram-worthy!)
The London Eye & Big Ben
(nearest tube station: Waterloo)
Picture Source: Trip Savvy
Picture Source: Daily Express
If you fancy seeing a bird’s eye view of the city’s landmarks, then jump on the London Eye! A round on the London Eye takes about 30 minutes. It is especially beautiful around Christmas time when all the lights are up! Nearby is the Big Ben, London’s 16-storey clock tower and national symbol, and is located at the end of the Palace of Westminster. Lots of good photo opportunities over here!
Buckingham Palace
(nearest tube station: Westminster)
Picture Source: VisitLondon
Buckingham Palace is famously associated with the British Royal Family, and it is a big tourist attraction for people around the world who want to experience the royalty of England (fans of Prince Harry and Meghan anyone?!) The grounds are so beautiful and the building is very majestic. It is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the Monarch of the UK. They sometimes offer walking tours inside the palace, which is amazing if you want to see how the Royals live or are just interested to learn about the history!
Sky Garden
(nearest tube station: Monument)
I visited the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street 3 years ago and I absolutely loved it! It is a unique public space that is the capital’s highest public garden, 35 floors up. You can enjoy the 360-degree panoramic views across London; the Sky Pod Bar offers lovely cocktails and the City Garden bar offers drinks and light snacks. There’s also the Darwin and Fenchurch restaurants that serve British contemporary food. Make sure to book a slot though if you are going to visit the Sky Garden, as it will be very busy and they can only allow a certain number of people in at a time. You can read about my experience here.
Hyde Park
(Nearest tube station: Hyde Park Corner)
Picture Source: PraguePost
This place is THE place to go during the summer! Right in the heart of London, it is a great place to relax and unwind, and there are often concerts and events held there. You can enjoy boating on the Serpentine, play tennis and other sports at their sports centre, horse riding, cycling, or just walking along the river. There is also the beautiful Rose Garden located south of Serpentine Road near Hyde Park Corner.
London Soho
(Nearest tube stations: Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus)
Picture Source: BritishandBritishness
London Soho literally has everything you need in terms of cafes and restaurants, entertainment and good shopping places in Oxford street and Regent Street! Leicester Square is the stop for Chinatown, cinemas, M&M World and restaurants, Covent Garden is really pretty and also has a good selection of food and dessert places. Check out my London food posts here!
Up at the O2
(Nearest tube station: North Greenwich)
Picture Source: Groupon
Picture Source: TheO2
If you’re looking for a fun outdoor activity to do whilst being able to see a panoramic view of London, then you should try ‘Up at the O2‘! You literally climb the roof of the O2 stadium (bit like mountaineering) wearing proper climbing gear. My boyfriend and I did this a while back, and it was a great experience! Find out more about how it went here.
The View From The Shard
(Nearest tube station: London Bridge)
Picture Source: Londonairportransfers
Another great place to get a view of London’s skyline is going up to The Shard. There’s an indoor viewing gallery, open-air Skydeck, champagne bar and there’s sometimes events such as the silent (headphone) disco!
Harrods
(Nearest tube station: Knightsbridge)
Picture Source: VisitLondon
Looking for a luxury department store to shop? Then look no further than Harrods! It has been London’s luxury shopping destination for high-end brands such as Dior, Prada and Valentino, and exclusive collections for over 160 years, and has 7 floors and 330 departments including fashion, food and technology.
Kew Gardens
(Nearest tube station: Kew Gardens)
Picture Source: Kingfisher
This royal botanical garden is perfect for a day out with nature, and is also a really romantic place for a date! It boasts beautiful scenery with a variety of plants and a spectacular Victorian glasshouse. It’s lovely in the summer when all the flowers are in full bloom, but it also puts on a great show during the Christmas season when it’s decorated with bright lights! I’ve never been there during Christmas time, so that is something I really want to experience!
Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio
(Nearest tube station: Watford Junction)
Picture Source: Viator
And last but not least, if you’re a huge Potter fan, then you HAVE to visit the Warner Bros Harry Potter studio! It is located in Watford just outside of London, and there are shuttle buses available. If you want to go behind the scenes and experience the Harry Potter magic yourself, then you can’t miss this. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we both really enjoyed it. Check out our Harry Potter studio tour experience here!
I hope you enjoyed finding out my top 10 places to visit in London, and hopefully it will inspire you to visit some of these places!
If you’re looking for a place to stay whilst in London, check out these top London hotels here!
Carissa xxx
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