5 cozy days exploring London’s best indoor attractions

Explore everything astronomy at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. You’ll see where east meets west, discover how the seas and the stars were first mapped out by scientific pioneers, and explore the historic home of the first Astronomer Royal.One of the most important historical scientific sites in the world, the Royal Observatory Greenwich, offers an educational and entertaining visit back in time. There’s a host of things to see in this fascinating museum, learn how time was standardized, how the first telescope was made, and how science and astronomy have changed through the ages. You’ll also get to explore legendary inventions such as the UK’s largest refracting telescope and get hands-on with a 4.5 billion-year-old asteroid.And while you’re there, don’t forget to take in one of the best views in the city outside of the Observatory.

The jewel in the crown of a visit to the Royal Borough of Greenwich is the magnificent Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College, which is one of Europe’s most impressive interiors.This iconic landmark is steeped in 600 years of history and was the birthplace of Henry VIII. In addition to the fascinating history behind the site, it is Britain’s no.1 Heritage film location, with the opportunity to step behind-the-scenes to discover how this stunning site has featured in everything from Bridgerton to Bond.Departing hourly from the Visitor Centre, your pass also includes the award-winning site tour, which is optional. Covering the Visitor Centre, the grounds and the stunning Chapel of St Peter and St Paul, you can learn the estate’s fascinating 600 year history from its origins as a 1420s manor house, rebuilt as Greenwich Palace for Henry VII; to the commissioning of Sir Christopher Wren in 1694 for the design of a Royal Hospital for Seamen which it remained, up until 1873 when it became the Royal Naval College.

This 1-hour guided tour will bring you even closer to the matchday experience as you go behind the scenes into the most exclusive areas of Stamford Bridge.Chelsea’s live tour guides lead you through Stamford Bridge on a fantastic 60-minute experience, including Dressing Rooms, Press Room, players’ tunnel, pitch-side and much more.The Chelsea FC Museum, home to the most complete collection of football silverware in London, can be visited either before or after the tour and is included in the price of the visit.Each guest receives a free Chelsea FC lanyard and the opportunity for an official photograph with both the 2012 and 2021 UEFA Champions League trophies on arrival (photos must be purchased separately).You’ll be able to download a digital guide to your device, which features stunning videos, 360-degree films, historical footage and quiz content to enhance your visit at the start of the tour.The guide is available in 12 languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Hebrew, Mandarin, Japanese, Thai and Arabic, and tells the full history of the club from 1905 to the present day.

The iconic Globe Theatre is a faithful reconstruction of the open-air playhouse in which Shakespeare worked, and for which he wrote many of his most famous plays!Their expert guide-storytellers provide a fascinating 50-minute tour of the Globe Theatre auditorium, vividly recreating colourful stories of the 1599 Playhouse, the London Shakespeare would have known and the Globe reconstruction process in the 1990s. Their guides will also bring the theatre to life for visitors, exploring how the ‘wooden ‘O’ works today as an imaginative and experimental space for performance.You’ll hear stories of the 1599 Globe, learn all about its reconstruction process in the 1990s, and find out how the building works today as an experimental theatre space. Take a seat, listen, absorb and ask questions as the secrets of the Globe unfold.Tours are available in English only, with written information available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, or Simplified Chinese.

Step behind the scenes at one of London’s most iconic football clubs and experience Arsenal FC like never before.Walk down the players’ tunnel, stand in the home changing room and soak up the atmosphere of a stadium that hosts 60,000 roaring fans on match days. Take in the pitchside views, peek inside the Directors’ Box and Diamond Club, and imagine the pre-match adrenaline.Newly added areas, including the Head Coach’s office and the Physio Room, give you a glimpse into where strategy is planned and players are prepped before a game. As you explore, interactive video features allow you to hear from players, watch behind-the-scenes footage and even try out the Arsenal interactive shirt cam.The Arsenal Museum complements the tour, showcasing iconic memorabilia from the club’s history. Highlights include Jens Lehmann’s goalkeeper gloves from the unbeaten Invincibles season, Michael Thomas’s boots from the legendary 1989 Anfield match, and shirts from FA Cup finals across the decades.With video theatres, twenty major displays, and a collection of historic kits, this tour is a must for football fans and sports history enthusiasts alike.

Kings and queens, statesmen and soldiers, poets and priests, heroes and villains - Westminster Abbey has witnessed them all. This must-see living pageant of British history is the spiritual home of British royal events – a place where 16 royal weddings have taken place and almost every British monarch has been coronated. Step into the glorious Gothic abbey church and walk in the footsteps of many kings and queens throughout history.You’ll explore the venue’s opulent period architecture – think dramatic vaulted ceilings, striking sculptures and stained-glass windows that throw rainbow-colored light across the room. Tour Poets’ Corner and the Nave and see strange life-like effigies on the tombs of famous poets, scientists and royals. The free multimedia guide will give you all the facts, history and information you need while you explore, and it’s available in 14 languages. After you’ve ticked off the otherworldly interiors, head outside to take some time out in the pretty College Garden, which are said to be the oldest cultivated gardens in the UK.

Easily one of London’s most recognizable buildings, St Paul’s Cathedral has played a major role in the city’s history.You’ll recognise St Paul’s Cathedral instantly thanks to the stunning dome that dominates the London skyline. It’s not just striking on the outside – explore a visually impressive interior too that’s filled with mystery and wonder. Think whispering walls, a frescoed ceiling and unique effigies of former kings and queens.With a visit to St Paul’s, you’ll learn all about its unique history and the famous weddings that have taken place there, including Prince Charles and Diana’s back in 1981. Want to hear hymns too? Then catch choral evensong, taking place at 5PM on most weekdays and hear St Paul’s acoustics put to the test.

Full of light, colour and movement, the London Transport Museum explores how transport has given the City its unique identity. The collection contains a wealth of heritage vehicles, posters, artworks, photographs, film and video footage, engineering drawings, uniforms, station signs and tickets.Highlights include the iconic red London Routemaster bus, the world’s first Underground steam train and the ‘padded cell’ - one of the first electric locomotive Underground trains dating back to 1890.The galleries are full of interactive exhibits for young people and adults alike, including real buses and trains to play on, and drama characters bring stories alive in an entertaining and informative way.

Enter the King’s Gallery nestled beside Buckingham Palace and begin your mesmerizing voyage through the annals of art and history. As a hub for changing exhibitions from the renowned Royal Collection, one of the globe’s most significant art repositories, the King’s Gallery offers a panoramic view of royal heritage. Traverse diverse mediums, from paintings to sculptures, and immerse yourself in their stories.Originally Queen Victoria’s private chapel, the gallery became an artistic haven after being destroyed in a 1940 air raid. Since then, it has stood as a bastion of cultural enrichment, inviting visitors to engage with unparalleled treasures from the trove of art history.Whether you’re a connoisseur of art, a student of history, or simply looking for an unforgettable experience in London, the King’s Gallery beckons with promises of inspiration and wonder.Don't miss the new exhibition Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style running from April–October! Explore the late Queen’s style across ten decades through this exhibition that marks the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II's birth.

The walls of the Royal Albert Hall have plenty of stories to tell. You may think of the place as just a music hall, but did you know it once hosted a séance? Or that the auditorium was flooded with 56,000 litres of water for an opera? Or that criminals have even taken to the stage? And this is just a few examples of what you can expect on a tour of the Royal Albert Hall! With a friendly, knowledgeable guide, you’ll journey through the venue and see its best bits. Feel fancy in the royal areas of the Hall, marvel at the stunning auditorium, and witness the stage that’s hosted some of the globe’s most inspiring performers and personalities – from Arctic Monkeys to Muhammad Ali, BBC Proms to Beyoncé, Suffragettes to Winston Churchill, and Albert Einstein to Ed Sheeran. Delve into the building’s 150-year history, from its highs and lows to fascinating challenges like the Royal Albert Hall echo. If luck’s on your side when you visit, you may even hear an artist during their soundcheck!