The top 10 things to do in London, from contemporary art to Chinatown
Even hardened Londoners will get a kick out of the capital’s main attractions because as well as being stone-cold classics they also have an amazing ability to keep evolving and provide new entertainment with each visit. From the big-hitting historical landmarks to world-class museums and stand-out neighbourhoods that simply must be visited, we’ve outlined our top 10 experiences – with insider tips – to try during your next visit.
South Bank
Roll with the culture on the river
More than any other activity, ask a Londoner what they would recommend visitors do and they will say, “stroll alongthe South Bank”. It’s as simple as it sounds – just wander and watch. The Southbank Centre, comprising the Royal Festival Hall, the Hayward Gallery and Queen Elizabeth Gallery, is the cultural hub of the promenade, alongside the Brutalist splendour of the National Theatre.
Insider's tip: Get a cheap ticket for a production at The National. Every Friday at 1pm an allocation of £20 ‘Friday Rush’ tickets for shows in all three theatres is released to buy online, for the following week’s performances.
Contact: 020 3879 9555; southbankcentre.co.uk | 020 7452 3000; nationaltheatre.org.uk
Nearest Tube: Waterloo
Price: Free (tickets for National Theatre productions vary)
Feel the buzz of contemporary art
Sitting on the river face to face with St Paul’s, the former power station has somehow, magically, held onto the special buzz that accompanied its arrival in 2000. Prepare to be awed by the cavernous Tate Modern's Turbine Hall. And the incredible permanent collection of international modern art is free, as are the vast basement Tanks (for live art), and the new tower, Switch House, which has great views from the top.
Insider’s tip: Eat, shop, do! A big part of the buzz is the restaurants, shops and special events. Get coffee and cake in the sixth floor restaurant (with dreamy views of the river), and book ahead for stimulating events.
Contact: 020 7887 8888; tate.org.uk
Opening times: Sun-Thurs, 10.00am–6pm; Fri-Sat, 10am-10pm
Nearest Tube: Southwark
Price: Free
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London Bridge
To market, to market...
There are food markets and then there is Borough Market. Call us sentimental but Borough is a love letter to food, and also to London. It gets criticised for being too gentrified and too expensive (you paid how much for heritage tomatoes?) but the whole point is that the produce is exceptional, creative and doing something new (it’s not easy to get a pitch at Borough for these reasons). Be sure to stop at Bread Ahead for salted caramel honeycomb donuts.
Insider's tip: Continue eating at nearby Maltby Street Market (its hipster younger sister) for your street food fix of Jerk chicken wraps or posh grilled cheese sandwiches. And gin.
Contact: 020 7407 1002; boroughmarket.org.uk, maltby.st
Opening times: Mon-Tues, 10am-5pm (limited market); Weds-Thurs, 10am-5pm (full market); Fri, 10am-6pm; Sat, 8am-5pm
Nearest Tube: London Bridge (take the Borough exit)
Price: Free
Take afternoon tea to new heights
Two must-dos in London are afternoon tea and going up somewhere high to check out the cityscape. Why not do both at the same time? Aqua Shard is a slick British restaurant and bar on the 31st floor of The Shard, London’s most famous skyscraper, which means you can experience the glassy wonder of the UK’s tallest building whilst kicking back with rather lovely tea and cake (and avoiding paying for the attraction itself).
Insider's tip: Add extra London nostalgia points by opting for the Mary Poppins Afternoon tea, available until April 2019. Sample such delights as Bert’s tea, ‘Cackleberry’ egg and black truffle sandwiches and ‘Strike me Pink’ sponge.
Contact: 020 3011 1256, aquashard.co.uk
Opening times: Mon-Fri, 7am-11pm; Sat-Sun 9am-11pm. Afternoon tea is served 1pm-5pm. Bar opening times: Sun-Thurs, 10.30am-1am; Fri-Sat, 10.30am-3am
Nearest Tube: London Bridge
Price: £££
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Tower Hill
Learn about 900 years of royal – and bloody – history
Throughout its 900-year history, the Tower of London has served as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, an arsenal, royal mint, menagerie and jewel house. Today, it’s home to some of the most potent symbols of British history: the Yeoman Warders, ravens and the Crown Jewels. It’s also really rather pretty for a cobbled-street wander around.
Insider's tip: Take a tour with one of the Tower’s live-in Yeoman Warders (or ‘Beefeaters’). They make something of a gruesome pantomime of the Tower’s tales, such as how Henry VIII’s wives Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard were beheaded on Tower Hill.
Contact: 020 3166 6000; hrp.org.uk
Opening times: Tues-Sat, 9am-5.30pm; Sun-Mon, 10am-5.30pm
Nearest Tube: Tower Hill
Price: ££
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South Kensington
Go back to nature
Every day is a school day at South Kensington’s Natural History Museum. As well as the permanent dinosaur exhibition, the museum itself houses a collection of the biggest, tallest and rarest animals in the world. It feels likes walking into David Attenborough’s brain. See a life-sized blue whale, a 40-million-year-old spider, and the breathtakingly beautiful Central Hall (be sure to look upwards!).
Insider's tip: If you haven’t before, make a point of seeing the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition – the world’s best nature photography illuminated through light panels. It runs from 19 October to 30 June.
Contact: 020 7942 5000; nhm.ac.uk
Opening times: 10am-5.50pm
Nearest Tube: South Kensington
Price: Free
Ignite your inner artist
There are so many things to love about the free-to-enter Victoria & Albert museum. The architecture and decoration of the building is stunning, for starters - from the ceramic staircase to the frescoes, stained glass windows and mosaics. As well as owning the world's largest permanent collection of post-classical sculpture, the paying exhibitions are always timely, thought-provoking and massively in demand.
Insider's tip: Be sure to refuel in the ornately dome-ceilinged ‘Refreshments Room’, which has been serving up hot drinks since 1856.
Contact: 020 7942 2000, vam.ac.uk
Opening times: 10am-5.45pm; Fri, 10am-10pm
Nearest Tube: South Kensington
Price: Free
Soho & Mayfair
Lose yourself in a vibrant culture
Neighbouring Leicester Square and Soho is the never-a-dull-moment Chinatown. With the twinkly lights, lanterns, decorative Chinese gates and sculptures, every day feels like a celebration. Browse the shelves at New Loon Moon and SeeWoo supermarkets for unique and exotic ingredients and, obviously, sample the plentiful and fragrant cuisine. Chinatown is also good for speakeasy-style drinking dens like Opium and Experimental Cocktail Club, both on Gerrard Street.
Insider's tip: See how Beijing dumplings are hand-crafted – in the window at Jen Café (4-8 Newport Place), a modest but not-to-be-missed restaurant where people crowd around the Formica-topped tables drinking bubble teas.
Contact:chinatown.co.uk
Nearest Tube: Leicester Square
Price: Free
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Go window-shopping in Mayfair and St James’s
This is London at its most regal. As well as it being a joy to wander the historic streets that feel very ‘old London’, there are several distinct shopping experiences that take you beyond the norms of Oxford or Bond Street. For designer fashion, you have the trio of Dover Street, Mount Street and Albermale Street. Don’t miss Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly, too.
Insider's tip: Seek out the ornate Piccadilly and Burlington arcades for specialist luxury boutiques. Piccadilly arcade – featuring mainly gentleman’s tailoring shops, takes you from Jermyn Street up to Piccadilly. Burlington Arcade, featuring Ladurée, Chanel and a clutch of vintage jewellers, will take you up to New Bond Street from there.
Nearest Tube: Green Park
Covent Garden
Glide into the festive season
Somerset House ice skating has become a winter season must-do and each year it seems to get better thanks to the extra bits bolted onto the already magical experience of whooshing around this spectacular, historic courtyard. This year there are more ‘Late Skate’ music nights and the Fortnum & Mason festive pop-up shop is back along with Fortnum’s Lodge for festive sustenance when you’re done on the rink. Think mulled wine and mince pies with clotted cream or red wine and baked Camembert.
Insider's tip: Book yourself or your kids into Skate School. There are courses or single lessons for all abilities for anyone over eight years, taught by instructors accredited by the National Ice Skating Association (NISA). Get 10 per cent discount if you book three dates.
Contact: 020 7845 4600, somersethouse.org.uk
Opening times: 14 Nov-13 Jan, see website for daily session times
Nearest Tube: Temple
Price: £
