Top 10 things to do on a Day Off in London
London is a magical city, always hustling and bustling with life day and night, it is a great city to spend hours on your day off exploring, shopping until you drop or dancing the night away. With great travel links such buses, traditional London Black Cabs or the extensive underground tube you will never be stuck in one place for too long. Use contactless payments or
Big Ben and London Eye
oyster cards for getting about central London, or rent a bicycle and get some exercise while you tour. We have listed our top ten favourites to explore in the city of London.
- Big Ben and London Eye – Big Ben is an iconic landmark for London, situated at the Buildings of parliament, grab a coffee and enjoy the short walk from both Westminster Abbey and the London Eye with plenty of photo opportunities in between. The London eye – best booked online in advance offers you the opportunity for spectacular views of London city and its landmarks.
- The British Museum – London has copious museums throughout the city however the British Museum provides free entry with the opportunity to attend regular paid exhibitions if you choose. Show casing over two million years of human history, you can certainly spend several hours getting lost in the history within this beautiful building.
Tower of London
- Tower of London and Tower Bridge – the Tower of London is situation at London Bridge on the north bank of the River Thames. The tower of London is an incredibly popular tourist attraction, experience centuries of history with a guided tour from the Queens’ Guard, spend some time walking around the grounds or marvel at the crown jewels. Following you visit to the tower, perhaps grab sometime to eat with a view of the famous Tower Bridge. The Tower Bridge is a well-recognised London landmark, why not spend some time walking along the river and witness the ‘bridge lift’ to allow vessels through, this can occur several times in one day and mostly in the evening. The Bridge also offers the opportunity to climb its 200+ steps up to the top and you can walk across the bridge glass walkway.
- Body Worlds London – Body Worlds is a great learning tool for anybody in the medical field, since touring the world in 1995 Dr Gunther van Hagens exhibition is now a permanent addition to Piccadilly Circus. Spend a few hours on a rainy day in London to enjoy a guided tour around the ground-breaking museum which shows a series of preserved corpses and internal organs, while it sounds gruesome and not for the squeamish it shows a fascinating insight into the human body. You can see the physical affect that diseases, lifestyle, and the diet’s impact on the body and its organs. Piccadilly Circus itself is a bustling hub of attraction, get a photo of the world-famous Billboard or wander towards Leicester Square. There you will discover several restaurants, shops, a cinema and even the M&M store – or sit and relax and watch the hustle and bustle of the city.
Buckingham Palace
- Buckingham Palace – What visit to London could be complete without a visit to Buckingham Palace. Get there early to witness the Changing of the Guard Ceremony or take a tour of the palace itself! Green park is a beautiful park situated behind the palace, a quite and relaxed space within London and a great place to sit and take a break from sightseeing for the day.
Hyde Park
- Hyde Park – one of the largest parks within central London, divided by two lakes. The park is the perfect place to sit and enjoy an ice-cream during a summer day or a great area to get some exercise outside away from the busy London streets. Walk about the scenic park, alongside the lake or visit some of the nearby attractions. During the winter Hyde Park transforms into a spectacular Christmas destination, walk along the brightly lit paths and peruse the numerous Christmas markets, try some ice-skating at the magical outdoor skating rink or jump on one of the numerous funfair rides. Entry to Winter Wonderland is free, avoid the queues for admission and plan to get there earlier in the day, there is plenty to eat, drink and see – you will be sure to return again and again.
The Shard
- The Shard – London’s 95 story tall skyscraper, the Shard offers a unique experience. Book yourself in for a breath-taking day or night view of the city. If it’s a special occasion why not book in for dinner at their premium dining experience or spend some time sampling cocktails at the bar, nowhere else will offer such stunning views while you dine.
- Oxford Street – Oxford Street offers you a shopping experience like no other in London, with approximately 300 shops, this bustling street is sure to have something for everyone.
Camden Town
- Camden Town – Camden Town is a district in the northwest of London, famed for its eclectic mix of markets, the are is popular with visitors of all ages. Camden Town hosts a large range of open-air markers: pick up some crafts and books to keep you busy during downtime, clothes, jewellery or spend the day sampling a wide range of different cuisines. For those looking for the nightlife scene, Camden Town certainly is the place to be with lives music, pubs and clubs.
- Theatre District – Often referred to as London’s West End, the Theatre district hosts numerous musicals, comedies and much more. Titles regularly change however there is a regular list of long running shows such as Mamma Mia, The Lion King, Les Misérables or if you want to watch some of the shorter running programmes there is a multitude of theatres to choose from. You can buy tickets from street ticket booths within the West End or book online. Shows can run for several hours so why not choose from a set pre-theatre menu at any number of the West Ends Restaurants.
If you have a few days off why not spent some time outside of the city, London has excellent transport links to the rest of the UK or indeed Europe.
