Must-See London Spots To Add To Your Travel Itinerary (2024)
Whether you're planning a relocation or just a vacation, this extensive list of charming spots in and around London is the perfect way to fill your itinerary!
Is it just me or is everyone planning to move to England? As an expat who has spent the past six years on my knees begging the Australian government to please, oh merciful overlords, don’t make me go back, the mind really boggles. Still, as the token English friend, I take my duties seriously and I am here to help with recommendations.
(I’m also here to check in with everyone. If you’re thinking of moving to England, are you okay?)
Fresh off the back of my five-week trip to London, with a renewed affection for the UK that is something akin to Stockholm syndrome, here are some of my favourite moments.
1. Visit Leadenhall Market & Grab A Bite With A View
If you’re looking for a picturesque spot away from the hordes of tourists, I highly recommend Leadenhall Market. Located in central London, you could easily meander through on your way to do other things (we went to the Sky Garden first and hopped on a train to Greenwich after) or head here to spend a few hours at the pub!
There are a few obligatory shops - some clothing, bars, cafes; honestly, the shopping was nothing to write home about - but the architecture is stunning! Personally, I recommend visiting The Lamb Tavern Bar and Dining Room for breakfast. Not only is it a gorgeously decorated space, the dining room upstairs overlooks the entire market.
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TIP: If you’re a fussy eater, I’d recommend taking a look at their menu beforehand. The filthy carnivores I was with loved their food but, as someone who doesn’t like meat for breakfast, my options were limited. Coffee was fab, though, and I’d still go just for the vibe and the view.
2. Spend A Day Exploring Kew Gardens
For both my boyfriend and I, Kew Gardens was an absolute trip highlight. The grounds and all the glasshouses are incredible. If you’re plant lovers like us, this is something you absolutely need to add to your London to-do list. Depending on the time of year, I’d also recommend looking up what events are on. Over Christmas especially, there are some real good ones!
Fair warning: Kew Gardens is a mammoth place, so you’re either going to need to dedicate the entire day or pick out the top places you want to see.
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TIP: Bring your own food! We tried the entry cafe and one of the food stalls but the prices were eyewatering for very average food. Also, if you’re under 30, make sure to bring your ID because you can get way cheaper tickets!
3. Take A Day Trip To Cambridge & Go Punting
Admittedly, this is going to turn into a bit of a trend for this post. Growing up in London means that one of my favourite things to do is honestly leave.
A day trip I highly recommend, especially if you’re visiting England for the first time, is catching the train to Cambridge. It’s not too far out - from South London, it takes about an hour and a half - but it’s so picturesque and steeped in history.
You can walk through some of the colleges of Cambridge university for free, plus there’s tons of cute shops and cafes. However, the real winner here was a punting tour! A guide takes you around Cambridge on the river and talks you through some of the local history. While you can rent punting boats yourself, it’s pretty damn hard to punt and the tour is so interesting that I think you’d be missing out!
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TIP: If you’re a Harry Potter fan, there are quite a lot of Harry Potter themed stores you’ll love!
4. Watch A Show In The West End
Naturally, this is a must do. That is all.
5. Visit Sir John Soane’s Museum For Free
London has a lot of free museums to offer for those of you on a budget. (And, trust me, after a week of staying there . . . you’ll be on a budget.) Unfortunately, being inbetween places and families, there wasn’t time to check out most of the spots on my list but Sir John Soane’s is one I did manage to see!
Side note - for anyone who is actually planning a trip to the UK, would you like me to share a post with some of the places I wanted to see but didn’t get around to?
Conveniently located in Covent Garden, this is another spot you can stack with other to-dos on your list! It’s surprisingly large - the house covers four storeys, from memory - and every inch is covered with cool stuff. If you’re an architecture buff, you’d love it!
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TIP: While entry is free, there is an option to buy a £3 guide booklet. We didn’t go with this but please learn from my mistakes because there is no information once you get inside. Being the brainrot cretin I am, looking at pretty things was enough to satisfy me . . . but, if you want to actually know what you’re looking at, the guide is essential.
6. Escape The City With A Day Trip To Ely
For our next daytrip suggestion, I present to you Ely. This is another train-accessible spot that is the perfect break from the hectic hustle and bustle that, personally, makes me want to scream after more than a few days.
There’s nothing I’d say you need to do in Ely - just soak in the ambience. Meander through the brewery, head to the river, browse some shops. It’s a quaint and pretty town, very Pinterest-perfect.
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7. Grab Breakfast At Somerset House & Check Out An Exhibition
This place was new to me! While we were back home, my partner and I reunited with one of the friends we made in Australia and he showed us this spot when we met him for breakfast. I’m gutted I didn’t about it back in the day because it is a gorgeous place to hang out and explore. Plus, Somerset House is another one that’s perfectly located in Central London!
Not only are the grounds beautiful but there’s always a ton of stuff happening, a lot of it free. (And, naturally, cafes!) Make sure to check out the website to see whats on!
8. Browse The Market At Coal Drop Yard, Then Walk Along The Canals To Camden Market
This next suggestion is really a full day thing and, if you enjoy a market, then you can’t miss it!
First, you’re going to head to Kings Cross St Pancras and walk a few minutes to Coal Drop Yard. Another cute place that has sprung up since I’ve been gone, there’s a mix of established shops and a small market. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention the photobooth! We actually visited Coal Drop Yard twice because it was such a nice atmosphere and way less hectic than any other markets we visited.
After you’ve had a little browse, head to the canals to walk to Camden Market. Not only is this a really scenic route - it only takes about 20 minutes. Once you’re there, you have the infamous Camden Market to explore, so grab some food and do some shopping!
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TIP: One of the only things that evokes genuine nostalgia in me about London are the canals. You can take mammoth self-guided walks along them through truly beautiful spots - Little Venice is one to add to that list! - and they’re just a summer staple for me. Unfortunately, time was limited on this trip, so we didn’t get to do explore the canals much . . . but do as I say, not as I do!
9. Raise Your Glass At The Prettiest Bar In London, Mr Foggs
Admittedly, I’ve steered away from food and drink spots on this list because . . . well, honestly, because we were so busy that a lot of our food habits consisted of Googling the best options in whatever area we were in!
However. For my girlies who like a vibe, who like an atmosphere, or an aesthetic, Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals is a must-see.
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10. Hop On A Train To Greenwich, Visit The Markets & The Chapel At Old Royal Naval College
Greenwich always felt a far out to me growing up but it’s a pretty quick DLR journey from central London. Walking distance from the train station, you’ve got a multitude of options when it comes to things to do!
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I’d argue Greenwich market is a must - we found lots of cute little antiques and, of course, snacks - but meadering through the Old Royal Navel College was also interesting. The Chapel is free to enter, so definitely add that onto your list.
TIP: If you’re traveling with a boy that is prone to inane ideas like “let’s explore the Greenwich tunnel that goes under the Thames! People allegedly lose time under there!” don’t allow him to add suggestions to the itinerary. He’s leading you to a crack-den.
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11. Take A Day Trip To Brighton & Explore The Laneways
If you haven’t been to Brighton before, you need to escape to the beach for a day! Again, this is an easy train ride away and the station drops you right in the heart of where you’ll want to be. Naturally, there’s a beach to explore in Brighton . . . but the real highlight is literally everything else. Play for pennies in Brighton pier, grab some freshly-fried donuts or explore the kitschy laneways full of markets and quirky shops.
TIP: Jewellery lovers, reserve some cash for your visit because you’ll be surrounded by temptation!
12. Explore The Sky Gardens With A Morning Breakfast
Sky Gardens is a free sky-high conservatory in central London, clocking in at an impressive 155m above the city! It’s free to get in but it is ticketed and tickets are limited availability. Once you’re in, there are resturaunts to check out or grab a coffee, so this could be a nice date activity!
Like I mentioned, tickets are really limited - as in, I’d been looking around 2 weeks before we flew and the whole time we were in London and nothing was available - so let me share a hack. Sky Gardens puts events on (like morning Yoga if that’s your thing!) so you can book an event ticket and that’ll give you access to the garden.
We personally did ‘Sunrise At SkyGarden’, which was £11 and included a coffee and pastry. The bonus of this was that we went first thing in the morning and it was empty.
TIP: For another free conservatory in the city, check out Barbican Conservatory! Unfortunately, this was closed for the month when we visited but I’d been so excited to check it out.
13. Drive An Hour Out Of London To Painshill Park For A Crystal Grotto
Alas, we are at my last suggestion for today - but we’re ending on a good one! Painshill Park is one that you need a car for . . . there is a crystal grotto, though, so I think you’re getting a good deal. There’s also a great deal more than that but I don’t want to give too much away.
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Created in the 18th century by Charles Hamilton as a living painting, Painshill invites you to walk around a work of art and discover dramatic follies, calming waters and stunning views.
Again, this is a massive park with a lot to see, so you’re going to want to dedicate an entire day to visit! (Side note: if you’re an Instagram girly, there are a lot of fabulous photo opportunities here too.)
Anyways, we shall end at the end! I hope this post gave you some ideas for your next trip to London - and let me know if you’ve been to any of these places before.