Location: London
Top Things to do in London
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The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in London, England
The crown jewels, Buckingham Palace, Camden Market…in London, history collides with art, fashion, food, and good British ale. A perfect day is different for everyone: culture aficionados shouldn't miss the Tate Modern and the Royal Opera House. If you love fashion, Oxford Street has shopping galore. For foodies, cream tea at Harrod’s or crispy fish from a proper chippy offers classic London flavor. Music and book buffs will love seeing Abbey Road and the Sherlock Holmes Museum (at 221B Baker Street, of course).
Restaurants in London
1. Buckingham Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29,134 reviews
Buckingham Palace is recognised around the world as the focus of national and royal celebrations as well as the backdrop to the regular Changing the Guard ceremony. Explore the magnificent State Rooms which are open to visitors for 10 weeks each summer and on selected dates during winter and spring. During a visit to Buckingham Palace, visitors can see the 19 magnificent State Rooms, which provide the setting for ceremonial occasions and official entertaining. All rooms are furnished with many of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection.
Reviewed By lpMaggi713 - Baltimore, United States
Just before leaving on our trip, we were very lucky to get an email from the Royal Collection Trust saying that they would be having private tours of Buckingham Place in late March and early April for £ 85 each. We have always wanted to tour the palace, but we are never in London when it is normally opened in the summer months while the Queen is at Balmoral. We signed up right away for a tour on Friday, March 29, at 5:30 PM. This was going to be 2-1/2 hour tour with a private tour guide, limited participants, a glass of champagne, an official souvenir booklet on Buckingham Palace and a discount in the museum shop. Unfortunately, tourists are not allowed to take pictures. Laura P. made all the arrangements for me to have a wheelchair. She was so helpful and kind. We were met at the front entrance to the palace by Abi, a delightful representative of the palace, who stayed with me the whole tour. Our tour guide was Roz and what an incredible tour guide she was! Her command of the knowledge and history of the palace made it come alive for us. She gave us a comprehensive tour of the 19 State Rooms where the Queen and members of the royal family host guests for state, ceremonial and official affairs. We were able to see the Grand Staircase, Grand Entrance and Marble Hall, Green Drawing Room, Guard Chamber, Music Room, The Throne Room, The Picture Gallery, The Ballroom, Blue Drawing Room, Bow Room, East & West Gallery, State Dining Room, The Ball Supper Room, White Drawing Room with a secret doorway for the Queen, the Silk Tapestry Room, The Ante Room, The Lobby, Minister’s landing & Staircase We were completely awe struck by the opulent rooms with enormous chandeliers, candelabra, paintings by Rembrandt and Rubens; plus more, exquisite English and French furniture and Sèvres porcelain. Each and every room had some of the most magnificent pieces from the Royal Collection. Some interesting facts about the Palace: 450 people are employed there; it has 775 rooms; there are offices and rooms below the quadrangle; the palace was completed in 1834; there are 200 bedrooms, 79 bathrooms, and 92 offices; the total square footage is 830,000 sq. ft., which includes a post office, swimming pool, medical offices and a movie theater. There are 2 full-time personnel to take care of the 350 clocks in the palace. I was escorted back to the front entrance by Richard. It was really a thrilling experience to tour the palace, and we are so appreciative of the opportunity to do so. If you have the chance, you must do this. The Royal Flag is flown when the Queen is in residence.
2. HMS Belfast
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,807 reviews
London’s warship experience. Climb on board and explore all 9 decks. Permanently moored on the Thames.
Reviewed By jobyjugs
Well worth a visit if your in the area, fascinating to actually step onboard a war ship you can practically walk round the whole ship, very interesting facts to be learned.
3. Tower Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39,056 reviews
An iconic London landmark and one of Britain's best loved historic sites, Tower Bridge is open to the public 363 days a year. Within the Bridge's iconic structure and magnificent Victorian Engine rooms, the Tower Bridge Exhibition is the best way of exploring the most famous bridge in the world! Come learn about this incredible feat of Victorian engineering, discover how the Bridge is raised and enjoy stunning panoramic views across London from our high-level walkways, 42 metres above the River Thames. Opening Times: 09:30 - 17:00 (last admission )
Reviewed By U9398PYmatthewp - Wiltshire, United Kingdom
For 10 quid you get a lot for your money. Super interesting museum and an opportunity to see a different side of Tower Bridge. It’s been done really well and whilst the glass floor is an interesting (and vertiginous) experience its really a side show to learning about the history and complexity of this iconic landmark. Be sure to watch the film in the engine room; fascinating.
4. The British Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72,631 reviews
A museum of the world, for the world. Discover over two million years of human history and culture. Some of the world-famous objects include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and Egyptian mummies.
Reviewed By kb147 - Lafayette, United States
Nearly everyone has heard of the British Museum and with good reason. The collections are absolutely amazing. This is the home of the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, and one of the best collections of Egyptian artifacts outside Egypt. (Controvery over whether Britain should be the custodian of these things aside.) But that is only the beginning. There are artifacts from all over the world: an amazing collection of Greek and Etruscan terracotta objects, Roman glass, the Sutton Hoo treasure, some of the most famous Maya stellae, beautiful torquoise mosaic objects of the Aztec culture; sections devoted to China, Japan, and the South Pacific. A serindipity of German "notgeld". And much more! One of the most wonderful areas is King George Library, the "Enlightenment Room": one could spend an entire day just there! That being said, one has to be prepared for crowds, particularly at popular exhibits like the Egyptian artifacts and King George Library. During the week there are numerous school groups clogging these areas and multiple tours in a variety of languages. One has to be patient: go see something 'unpopular' at peak times and try the popular things later. We actually saw the Rosetta Stone at one point with not another soul around. It helps to have several hours to devote here.
5. V&A - Victoria and Albert Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31,918 reviews
The world's greatest museum of art and design.The V&A's collections are unrivalled in their diversity. Explore historical and contemporary art and design, including works of art from many of the world's richest cultures. Admission free.
Reviewed By TalDarkLeanMean - Staines, United Kingdom
The holy trinity of all museums. The V&A, Natural History and the Science Museum. Not in particular order but in one place. Named after the Royal love birds and power couple of arts & culture, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. In fact the whole area is littered with their legacy. There's Royal Albert Hall, Albert Memorial, Imperial College and God knows what else. It's really a bad idea to to give yourself overdose and kill three birds with one stone (see all three in one visit) unless you're in London for a day or so otherwise you'll neither be doing justice to these wonderful places nor to yourself. Just to give you an idea in a nutshell that what this beautiful building holds inside, There are sculptures, textiles, photography, paintings, jewelry, fashion, music instruments, poetry, metalwork, woodwork, furniture, books, architecture and my personal favorite, ceramic and glass section. One lifetime is not enough to see all that.
6. Wallace Collection
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,471 reviews
A free to visit, national museum in the heart of central London. Originally a private collection, the artwork was bequeathed to the nation by Lady Wallace in 1897. This attraction features one of the world's best collections of French 18th-century pictures, porcelain and furniture, plus a fantastic array of 17th-century paintings.
Reviewed By RoySensei - Mount Claremont, Australia
This is a MUST SEE - conveniently located off Oxford Street, in the Wallace Collection you'll have the most delightful collection of art works, suits of armour, elegant writing desks, exquisite porcelain, and other magnificent heritage items. Arrive mid morning and you can spend a whole day there - time very well spent and you won;t be disappointed. It's a one-stop-shop of culture and heritage.
7. Camden Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28,790 reviews
We're driven by the belief that you can only keep discovering if you keep looking ... so we're always adding interesting stores and traders. No two days are ever the same at Camden Market. Keep checking back to see what's new and what's next.
Reviewed By GSBradshaw
Visited Camden Market on Saturday 6/4/19 Absolutely Madness Absolutely Manic Great Great atmosphere Food stalls fantastic (give out samples) Stables market brilliant Well worth a visit DON’T MISS OUT
8. Museum of London
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,737 reviews
Step inside the Museum of London for an unforgettable journey through the capital’s turbulent past. Discover prehistoric London, see how the city changed under Romans and Saxons, wonder at medieval London and examine the tumultuous years when London was ravaged by civil wars, plague and fire. Then venture into the Galleries of Modern London where you can walk the streets of Victorian London, take a stroll in recreated pleasure gardens and marvel at the magnificent Lord Mayor’s Coach. Free entry. Open Monday to Sunday, 10am - 6pm (galleries close at 5.40pm). Closed 24-26 December.
Reviewed By 989pezza - Oxford, United Kingdom
Fantastic museum; one of the best in London, and it's absolutely free. It traces the history of the capital from prehistoric times before it even existed as a city through the Stone Age, the Roman occupation, Medieval London, the Tudor, Georgian and Victorian periods, right through to the present day, plus everything in between. The earlier periods are housed on the upper floor then from Victorian London onwards, it's down to the lower floor. The whole pace is packed with interesting artefacts and well thought out displays. For me the star of the show is Victorian Walk: a superb recreation of a Victorian shopping street, featuring all the shops (and a pub) set up as you would expect to find them about 150 years ago. This is a 'must visit' museum, when in London.
9. Greenwich
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,872 reviews
Set on the south bank of the Thames, approximately five miles from central London, this city borough is rich in maritime history and features the Old Royal Naval College, National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory, which was built by Sir Christopher Wren for King Charles II.
Reviewed By johnchilles
Well worth investing a day visiting Greenwich;there is much to see; The former Naval College with it's exquisite architecture and design with so much historical content to the Cutty Sark a beautifully preserved Clipper ship from a byegone age. Why not round off the day with a visit to Greenwich Observatory,the "home of time".
10. Imperial War Museums
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10,428 reviews
Founded during the First World War, IWM London gives voice to the extraordinary experiences of ordinary people forced to live in a world torn apart by conflict. From the wonder of its world-famous atrium to the countless discoveries on each of its six floors, it is a place filled with the power to move, surprise and inspire.
Reviewed By MaleneSC - Copenhagen, Denmark
As a museology and English student (with a great interest in WW1) I love this museum! Their World War One gallery is incredible and so interesting! The museum is free and the guided tours (which I really recommend) are very fairly priced too, and very professional! I've seen their 'Making A New World' special commemorative exhibition and I was so moved and inspired. It was beautifully made. I really recommend this museum to anyone interested in military history (especially WW1) and to anyone in general, it really is worth a visit!
