Activities in London Activities

We would need a small volume to describe all the things to see and do in London.

Buckingham Palace

The permanent residence of Queen Elizabeth II is, undeniably, a must, regardless of your age and interests. Having the chance to see up-close the Queen’s personal rooms and the World-famous galleries is a once in a lifetime experience. Bear in mind that State rooms are open to the public only in August and September.

Tower Bridge

The Tower Bridge is among London’s most iconic sights, especially while opening up its rams for large ships sailing upriver, is more than 120 years old and nowadays has nothing but glass between visitors and the Thames River (more than 40 meters below).

So, if you love heights, taking spectacular snapshots and seeing London at its best, include a visit to the Tower Bridge in your first day’s schedule.

Westminster Abbey

Some find this imposing Gothic building fascinating, others a bit macabre. Housing the tombs of 17 mighty kings and queens as well as other prominent historical figures, including Shakespeare, the abbey is the service grounds of royal weddings, regal funerals and ceremonial coronations. Romantic and awe-inspiring.

London’s Best Views – The London Eye

If you wish for spectacular London views, the London Eye is ideal for you. This giant ferris wheel (the tallest in Europe) on the South Bank of Thames rises a staggering 135 metres above ground and boasts a diameter of 120m.

It has been described as “the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel” and is by far the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, with almost 4 million visitors flooding in each year.

The London Eye gives you the chance to see most of the city’s sights in less than an hour. What’s great is that each of its glass pods contains a touch screen explaining what you are seeing. If weather conditions are good, you will be able to spot Windsor Castle, more than 25 miles away!

Meet the VIPs – Madame Tussaud’s Collection

It is one of the most amazing wax statues collections in the world. The detail, the colours, the expressions, the looks in their eyes – you simply can’t tell the difference from the real person.

Stand alongside the Queen or your favorite Hollywood star, historic figure or sports star and have great fun with your family and friends in London’s Madame Tussaud’s Collection. Simply great.

Check St. Paul’s Cathedral New Roof Terrace

If it is relaxation and inspiration you seek, check St Paul’s Cathedral’s new Roof Terrace for some genuinely breathtaking panoramic views of the city. Equipped with an excellent restaurant and bar, it would be great to combine it with the Wimbledon Tournament, having the chance to enjoy great dishes and your favorite wine while enjoying free screenings of the fascinating games.

Board Hogwarts Express – Platform 9 ¾

Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station is where all the “famuli” board the famous Hogwarts Express, the scarlet steam engine leading to Hogwarts. The only thing you have to do is storm through the apparently solid barrier between platforms 9 and 10… – just kidding, please don’t let your kids try it!

Located in the New Western Departures Concourse (between Platforms 9 and 10 of course), it is a great spot for children of all ages that love H. Potter’s adventures and it will give you the chance for some rather imaginative photos! Bear in mind that you can also join a guided tour to some of the most recognizable set features from the Harry Potter films: Dumbledore’s office, the Gryffindor common room, the Ministry of Magic, 4 Privet Drive, the Weasley kitchen, Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley, while discovering the secrets behind the scenes and how the actors are tuned into magical creatures.

A Sip of the World’s History – The British Museum

Surely, you have heard it, maybe you have visited it, but the British Museum has many more secrets to reveal.

For example, instead of just roaming around the rooms and halls, take your family and become explorers in a fascinating journey of discovery around the Museum. There are several exciting themes to choose from (Ancient Greece, Ancient Britain, Creatures, Ancient Egypt, Family activities, Hidden Objects Challenges etc.) and each trail takes about 30 to 40 minutes to complete, while finding amazing treasures and learning stories about the history of people from around the world! There are also several family events you can join, designed for adults and children of all ages, sharpening your mind and having fun through several activities.

The Natural History Museum

A children’s favorite, the Natural History Museum is teaming with life of an age long gone, but still so fascinating and thrilling. Gigantic plants and scary animals, fossils and skeletons and, of course, the intimidating plaster cast of a Diplodocus dominating the Central Hall, its exhibits instill in the hearts of the little ones thirst for knowledge and remind grown-ups how young we are upon the face of the earth.

Fly me to the Moon & Let me Play among the Stars – The Science Museum

All science buffs should definitely visit London’s Science Museum: 7 floors of great interactive exhibits, including the Apollo 10 command module and flight simulator, as well as a hands – on gallery designed for children who wish to explore science’s deep hidden yet fascinating secrets – from medicine to a Clock – making, from chemistry to nuclear physics. The museum has also a cinema presenting enthralling 3D scientific films.

More of a Fighter? The Imperial War Museum

Bellicose boys and adults are interest in military history will probably find the Imperial War Museum more fascinating or educational, housing a rich arsenal of genuine guns, tanks and even a Harrier GR9. Guns of veterans who fought and died during WWI and II are highlighted, while the 3^rd and 4^th floor feature the blood – curdling Holocaust Exhibition (closed to small children) and the section devoted to Crimes against Humanity. Just for these 2 sections, anyone visiting London should definitely visit the museum: is may sounds a bit depressing, but the feelings and memories of what horrors men are capable of can help a person improve his overall mentality.

The Wimbledon Tournament

If you plan to visit London at June, don’t fail to watch up – close the greatest international tennis players dueling for the Wimbledon Trophy. The tournament, famed for its superb fights and exciting turnovers is held in late June and early July and is one of the four annual “Grand Slam” tennis events – the only one still played on natural grass.

A Music Lover? Check London’s British Music Experience

This interactive museum of British popular music utilizes state of the art effects and advanced technology to show visitors how rock, pop, dance and many other music genres came into existence and then shaped British culture and world’s music history.

The best thing about its exhibits is that it gives music buffs the chance to try out their skills on guitars, basses and drums, dance through the decades, and experience what it meant to be among the crowds at a legendary gig, or record their riffs in Gibson’s Interactive Studio! Instruction videos help the inexperienced and all your efforts can be easily downloaded from the museum’s official website – surely a fun – packed option for both families and groups of friends of all ages.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park, probably London’s most famous park, is more of a vast vault with hidden beauties and all sorts of opportunities for fun outdoor activities. Being the largest of the 4 parks leading from the entrance of Kensington Palace to Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park offers an array of leisure activities, from football to swimming on the Serpentine, from horse riding to cycling.

Other popular activities include rollerblading, skateboarding and, of course, walking, jogging and running. Another great option is Hyde Park’s fleet of rowing and pedal boats operating on the famous Serpentine, as well as UK’s first Solarshuttle, which takes you around the lake powered only by sunrays. In Serpentine you can also enjoy a swim, or even join the famous Christmas day race.

Sports enthusiasts can enjoy, except for football or rugby, tennis, Putting Green and lawn bowling. Note that most pitches are free to use but you must book in advance.

A truly unique feature of the Park is the so-called “Senior Playground” – a free outdoor facility with exercise equipment designed to help users, especially seniors, improve core strength, flexibility and balance. So, if you are planning an excursion with some loved elderly friends and relatives, they will surely not just walk around the Park but get in action too. It is located within the Hyde Park Bowls and Tennis Centre enclosure.

Hyde Park has a horse riding arena (at the end of the Sports Field next to the children’s playground) and 2 designated routes for horse riding, the North and South Rides.

If all these seem a bit more tiring than you wished for, then try a rather popular alternative: enjoy sunbathing on a Park deck chair – they are available from March to October during daylight hours.

The Largest Royal Park in London – The Richmond Park

No more than 30 minutes from city centre, the Richmond Park’s “sanctuary” is actually an epitome of England’s countryside: imposing oaks that first grew during the Norman invasion, dense forests circling rolling hills and teaming with fallow deer and rabbits, Richmond Park’s 2,500 acres is the largest Royal Park in London and ideal for parents that wish their children to love and respect nature and its wonders.

If you do decide to spend a leisure day there, don’t fail to check the Isabella Plantation: its heavily wooded and wholly organic flora includes mounds of azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias – all drawing a never ending living piece of art.

The London Fields

While London Fields’ home district doesn’t prepare you for such natural beauty, London Fields Park combines nature’s charms and numerous recreation options.

First of all, it contains a wonderful heated lido (one of London’s few), allowing for a rejuvenating swim even in chilly weather. Sports-lovers have at their disposal a cricket pitch, a small BMX track and 2 tennis courts. Parents can enjoy themselves while children have fun at the Park’s well designed playground. The park is crowded on summer weekends with enjoying barbeques, picnics and relentless Frisbee battles.

London Biking

A great way visitors can discover London’s history and multifaceted character is by joining a bike – tour. It usually lasts around 3 hours of sightseeing led by an experienced guide. Usually the route includes London’s most popular spots (Covent Garden, Buckingham Palace, Westminster, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square) but during your relaxed ramble you will also hear a lot of interesting things about London’s generally unknown history.

The Castle Climbing Centre

Set within a magnificent Victorian water pumping station, the Castle Climbing Centre boasts its reign as central London’s largest climbing wall centre. It features excellent yet challenging top rope and lead climb routes of a height almost reaching 13 metres! Alongside, hundreds of well set bouldering routes guarantee for excitement and thrills for climbers of all levels and experience.

How about a High – Speed Thames River RIB Cruise?

If adrenaline rushes are something of a habit during your trips, try a 50 – minute white – knuckle ride on the Thames River, aboard a rigid inflatable boat that will not only show you around London’s greatest riverside sights (Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Eye), but also enrich your knowledge of London’s history/ Ready to feel the exhilarating speed of 35 miles per hour?

Go Ape Forest Adventures

If you are among those who don’t find it odd to visit one of the greatest cities in the world but still wish to Go Ape for some genuine fun, then London won’t disappoint you. In 3 different locations, Battersea Park (Chessington), Surrey and Trent Park (Near North London) give you the chance to get off the beaten track and live a genuine forest adventure with your family and friends. High rope obstacles, leap off Tarzan Swings, thrilling zip wires and all whilst engulfed by a breath – taking scenery. The first two options, Battersea Park and Surrey, have specially designed areas for children.

Knights of Middle England

A great option for Stags weekends, “Knights of Middle England” has what it takes to offer a weekend full of laughs and mischief. You and your devoted comrades will sharpen your skills in jousting, sword – fighting and archery! To be sure, even if you don’t manage to best Arthur’s braves and gallants, you will surely have the fun of your life!

Hampstead Ponds Natural Swimming

Enjoy your favorite hobby while spending time with your family and friends. Open – air swimming is widely famous on Hampstead Heath, mainly because of its wonderful Bathing Ponds and the celebrated Parliament Hill Lido (sizing 60 x 27 metres). Note that the Ladies’ and Men’s Ponds are UK’s only lifeguarded open water swimming facilities.

The Castle Canoe Club & Lee Valley White Water Centre

The Castle Canoe Club is an open and friendly adult canoe and kayak club, welcoming paddlers of all levels of skill and experience. If you feel you have what it takes – and if the Clubs experienced instructors also agree – you can join whitewater and sea kayaking ventures, organized throughout the whole year.

Well, it would be futile to try to describe the nightlife options of a city of more than 10,000,000 people. London caters for anyone’s fancies and wishes, no matter his/ her age, background, palate etc. So, we will just mention some more special options.

Little Venice

Little Venice is a nice little district with picturesque canals and waterways, north of Paddington, right where the Grand Union and Regent canal converge. This quaint yet charming neighbourhood boasts some lovely waterside cafes, cosy pubs and great restaurants. Visitors enjoy relaxed strolls and canal boat rides besides the numerous events that are organized there throughout the year.

Silent Discos

It has definitely ushered in a new era in Britain’s nightlife scene around 10 years ago and clearly shows no sign of subsiding. Silent discos are truly one of a kind: no eardrum shattering speakers but still all goers enjoy their favourite tracks though wireless headphones! So, instead of dragging your friends around to hear something different, just pick a Silent Disco and all of you will enjoy your preferred music, drink and company!

An Ice – Bar?

This is indeed something you can’t find anywhere: carved out of pure ice and kept at a crisp -5°C, London’s Ice Bar is the only cocktail bar in UK offering drinks in an overall frozen solid environment. From the walls, bars and tables to your own personal glasses, everything is sculptured from ice taken from the Torne River in Sweden. Cool…

London could be described as the world’s extract capsule. A diverse and exciting metropolis with some of the world’s most beautiful and culturally significant sights and greatest museums, London is definitely an all–friendly city, offering families, singles, couples and people of all ages innumerable options for memorable fun-packed attractions, indoor and outdoor activities – along with some serious shopping.

From open-air swimming and all sorts of land sports, to climbing and forest adventures, from silent discos to paintball tank battles, London promises to offer you some of the best moments of your life.