Things to do in London
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Things to do in London
London is one of the leading tourist destinations in the world and is one of the most-visited places in the world.
In 2015, the top 10 most popular tourist attractions in the United Kingdom were found in London:
- British Museum
- National Gallery
- Natural History Museum
- Southbank Centre
- Tate Modern
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Science Museum
- Somerset House
- Tower of London
- National Portrait Gallery.
If visiting London you may want to see the entertainment district of the West End near Leicester Square. London’s theatre district is found here, as are many cinemas, bars, clubs, and restaurants, including the city’s Chinatown district.
Shows and events
The United Kingdom’s Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Royal Opera, and English National Opera are based in London and perform at the famous Royal Opera House and the Royal Albert Hall – Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP.
Upper Street has more bars and restaurants than any other street in the United Kingdom, while Oxford Street is the longest shopping street in the United Kingdom at 1 mile (1.6 km) long.
If you come down at just the right time, you may get to see one of London’s many famous annual events, beginning with the New Year’s Day Parade.
The flamboyant Notting Hill Carnival is held late in August each year. While the centuries-old Lord Mayor’s Show, celebrating the annual appointment of a new Lord Mayor of the City of London happens every November.
The Boishakhi Mela is a New Year festival celebrated by the British Bangladeshi community and is the largest open-air festival in Europe and the second-largest street festival in the United Kingdom after the Notting Hill Carnival.
More London shows to see
The Boat Show Comedy ClubPs Tattershall Castle, Temple Station, Salsa! Temple, Victoria Embankment, London WC2R 2PH, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 07932 658895 |
Comedy Carnival Leicester Square5 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JB, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 3411 6388 |
The Covent Garden Comedy ClubPrince of Wales, 150 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5TD, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 07960 071340 |
Leicester Square Theatre6 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BX, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7734 2222 |
Official London Theatre32 Rose Street, London WC2E 9ET, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7557 6700 |
Phoenix Arts Club1 Phoenix Street, London WC2H 8BU, England, United Kingdom. Main Phone: 020 7836 1077 |
The Gentleman Cheater Magic ShowRadisson Blu Edwardian Mercer Street Hotel, 20 Mercer Street, London WC2H 9HD, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 07774 797777 |
Soho Theatre21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7478 0100 |
Map showing London shows and events
Museums and galleries
London also has hundreds of museums and galleries, which are both research institutions and major tourist attractions.
The first of these to be built was the British Museum in 1753. The British Museum now holds millions of historical artefacts from around the world.
In 1824, the National Gallery was founded to house the British national collection of Western paintings and often displays prominent works by international artists and large exhibitions. The National Portrait Gallery was founded in 1856 to house depictions of prominent figures from British history.
While the National Gallery hosts works of art by Western Artists, those pieces created by British artists are housed at Tate Britain, originally established as an extension of the National Gallery.
The area of South Kensington has been developed as a cultural and scientific quarter. Three major national museums can be found there: the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum – Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD.
More London museums to visit
Imperial War MuseumLambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7416 5000 |
Faraday Museum at The Royal Institution of GB21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7409 2992 |
The Foundling Museum40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7841 3600 |
The Postal Museum15-20 Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DA, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 0300 030 0700 |
London Transport MuseumThe Piazza, London WC2E 7BB, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 0343 222 5000 |
UCL Art Museum23-25 Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7679 2540 |
UCL Petrie Museum of Egyptian ArchaeologyMalet Place, London WC1E 6BT, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7679 2884 |
St. Bartholomew’s Hospital MuseumNorth Wing, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 3465 7608 |
The Wallace CollectionHertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7563 9500 |
Museum of the Order of Saint JohnSt. John’s Gate, 26 St. John’s Lane, London EC1M 4DA, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7324 4005 |
Garden Museum5 Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7401 8865 |
The Cartoon Museum63 Wells Street, London W1A 3AE, England, United Kingdom. Phone: 020 7580 8155 |
Map showing London museums
London trivia
London’s diverse citizenry of 9 million speaks a combined total of over 300 languages, making it Europe’s third-most populated and one of its most culturally diverse.
London is one of the greenest cities in Europe, with 35,000 acres of parks, woodlands, and gardens. The largest parks in London are Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Regent’s Park.
Regent’s Park contains London Zoo, the world’s oldest scientific zoo, near Madame Tussauds Wax Museum – Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LR.
Some less formal green spaces exist, such as the 320-hectare (790-acre) Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest,
Hampstead Heath incorporates Kenwood House, a popular location in the summer when classical musical concerts are held by the lake, attracting thousands every weekend.
Close to Richmond Park is Kew Gardens, which has the world’s largest collection of living plants. In 2003, the gardens were put on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
London has three other World Heritage Sites – the Tower of London, the Palace of Westminster and the historic settlement in Greenwich, where the Royal Observatory Greenwich defines the Prime Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time.
London has one of the highest concentrations of higher education institutions in the world, including Imperial College London, the London School of Economics, and the University College London.
