How to plan & visit Top Attractions in London?
Research your destination and the types of activities that interest you most. Start by visiting official tourist board websites and major 'Attraction Ticket Providers' - as they often provide good tips and 'Insider Planning recommendations'.
For in-depth information on London's tourist activities, check out the "Insider Tips & Planning" sections at GetYourGuide. Next, make a list of the sights you 'most want to visit'. Remember, give yourself plenty of time to enjoy each attraction and to travel between venues (try not to cram too much in) - careful planning achieves more.
Top Tips:
(1). Book and buy tickets in advance - ticket availability to London's main sights and experiences can often sell out early (especially during peak holiday seasons).
(2). When planning what to visit, try to avoid daily zig-zagging across the city between venues. Plot all the attractions you want to visit on a tourist map and book the venues closest to each other
for same-day visits. Remember - "plan well, save time, fit more in".
How to book & buy tickets for London's top attractions?
You've made your 'must visit list' - you now have 4 ticket buying options:
- (1). Book and pay for individual tickets directly with the attraction or venue - (good if you're just visiting a few sights).
- (2). Book individual or combination tickets with an online ticketing agency - (a convenient and cost-effective way to book and keep your entry tickets listed electronically on one device).
- (3). Buy The London Pass®. Check if the attractions you want to visit are listed and included within the London Pass® - if they are, and you plan on doing lots of sightseeing, it's usually a convenient and cost-effective way of visiting many sights (the pass includes 'skip-the-ticket-line' entry when supported by the venue).
- (4). Check which attractions have free entry - lots of London's main museums and art galleries don't charge an entry fee (see list below). However, you'll still need to book a timed entry slot at most main venues.
To find out more about major guided tours and attraction ticket providers, check out our Top 4 websites for Attraction Tickets.
What are combined tour & attraction ticket deals?
During our research, we found some ticket providers and travel agents are bundling (or combining) two or more activities to provide one 'combined package' - often at reduced prices. As well as the convenience aspect, the bundled activities and tours often complement each other to provide unique visitor experiences.
Top Tip: For more information, check out the 'Combined Tours and Activities' at GetYourGuide.com - simply enter "London" into the search and select the "Bundles" filter for a full list of available combined tours.
We found the following combined attractions by GetYourGuide worth considering:
- Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off, River Cruise and London Eye.
- London Dungeon, London Eye, & Madame Tussauds Combo.
- Tower of London Tour & Thames River Cruise.
- Top 30 Sights Walking Tour and St Pauls Cathedral.
What are London's best free attractions?
You can visit many interesting attractions in London for free, from museums and art galleries to monuments, parks and gardens - London has some of the world's most interesting and important (free to enter) museums and art galleries.
Our favourite top London attractions with free admission:
- The British Museum - view ancient artefacts, including the Rosetta Stone and Easter Island moai at the world’s oldest national public museum - conveniently located in Bloomsbury, open late on Fridays.
- The Natural History Museum - Home to T-Rex and the earthquake experience at the Volcanoes and Earthquakes gallery, plus there are more than 75 million objects spanning more than 4 billion years.
- The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) - A world leader in art, design and performance, with a constantly-changing collection of fashion, dance, photography exhibits and cultural trends - a truly inspirational and must-visit experience.
- Covent Garden - Enjoy the outdoors - watch street entertainers perform on Covent Garden's famous cobbled streets.
- The South Bank - stroll along the South Bank for some of the city's best skyline views.
- Tate Modern - Always changing modern art, dating only as far back as 1900.
One of my favourite city pastimes is to walk the river paths. My favourite is the 40-minute walk along the South Bank (known as the Queen's Walk), you can start the walk at Westminster Bridge with views over to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. The route takes you past the London Eye, Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe - with the Shard standing tall in the distance.
End your walk at London's most famous food market 'Borough Market' - an ideal stop-off for late breakfast or early lunch. Next, cross the river from London Bridge City Pier to the Tower Millennium Pier (Tower of London) and take the 1-mile river path/road route to St Paul's Cathedral (for a slightly quieter and alternative view of the city).
