Top 20 things to do in London
The top 3 according to 2,336 votes from people: British Museum · Tower of London · Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. (Updated Feb 11, 2022.)
The sights that Visit London, Time Out, Lonely Planet and TripAdvisor reviewers rank highest — many of the big museums are free.
Top 20
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1
British Museum
Free museum founded in 1753 with the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and Egyptian mummies.
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2
Tower of London
Norman fortress begun by William the Conqueror, home of the Crown Jewels and the Beefeaters.
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3
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
The Palace of Westminster on the Thames and the Elizabeth Tower, whose great bell is Big Ben.
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4
Westminster Abbey
Gothic church where English and British monarchs have been crowned since 1066.
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5
Tate Modern
Free modern art museum in the former Bankside Power Station, with a viewing level over the Thames.
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6
National Gallery
Free gallery on Trafalgar Square with Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Turner's The Fighting Temeraire.
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7
Natural History Museum
Free museum in South Kensington famous for its Hintze Hall, the blue whale skeleton and dinosaur gallery.
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8
Victoria and Albert Museum
Free museum of art, design and fashion in South Kensington with over two million objects.
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9
London Eye
135-metre observation wheel on the South Bank opened in 2000, with 32 glass capsules.
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10
Buckingham Palace
The monarch's London residence; the State Rooms open in summer and the Changing of the Guard is free to watch.
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11
Tower Bridge
1894 bascule bridge with glass-floored high walkways and Victorian engine rooms open to visitors.
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12
Hyde Park
350-acre royal park with the Serpentine lake, Speakers' Corner and the Diana Memorial Fountain.
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13
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter
The original Harry Potter film sets, including the Great Hall and Diagon Alley, in Leavesden.
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14
St Paul's Cathedral
Christopher Wren's domed cathedral, completed in 1710, with the Whispering Gallery.
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15
Greenwich
Royal Observatory on the Prime Meridian, the Cutty Sark clipper and Greenwich Park's views.
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16
The Shard
Renzo Piano's 310-metre skyscraper, the UK's tallest building, with The View from The Shard.
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17
Borough Market
London's oldest food market, trading near London Bridge for around a thousand years.
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18
Covent Garden
Piazza with a covered market, street performers and the Royal Opera House.
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19
Shakespeare's Globe
Reconstruction of Shakespeare's open-air theatre on Bankside, with tours and summer performances.
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20
Hampton Court Palace
Henry VIII's Tudor palace on the Thames, with its famous maze and great kitchens.
Candidates
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21
Camden Market
Sprawling markets by Regent's Canal with street food, vintage clothes and alternative shops.
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22
Kew Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens in south-west London, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Victorian Palm House and Temperate House.
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23
Sky Garden
Free public garden and viewing gallery on the top floors of 20 Fenchurch Street; tickets must be booked in advance.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (11)
Went to Kew this month, autumn colours were stunning 🍂
Still the best London list on here. The British Museum is free and still amazing.
Hampton Court for the maze and the Tudor kitchens, brilliant day trip
Most of the big museums are free (British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, NHM, V&A). London is amazing for that.
London Eye is a rip off mate, 30 quid to go round slowly
Tower of London, the Yeoman Warder tour is hilarious and fascinating.
Harry Potter studio tour is great but it's in Leavesden, not really London. Budget a half day for it.
Tate Modern's Turbine Hall installations are always worth a look.
Kew Gardens should be here. A whole day out and the glasshouses are incredible.
Sky Garden is free if you book ahead and the view is better than the Shard imho
The British Museum is free and you need a full day.