London

Relaxing Things to do in London

Looking to kick back in the city? These are the most relaxing things to do in London!
By Dom Bewley

Looking for a break from the hustle and bustle? Here are our top suggestions...

Life can be tough; we all know that. The work/life balance can often be weighted in the former's favour. Sometimes all it takes is to sit in front of the TV, put on something brainless, and zone out into the oblivion of bliss. Other times, you're itching to leave the house and breathe in some fresh air. Do yourself a favour and choose the latter. London might be known for its bustling streets and gridlocked roads, and busy London attractions, but there are lots of relaxing things to do in the city. Don't believe us? Well, we have just the list for you. Save your apologies, sit back, and read on. These are some of the most relaxing things to do in London.

Including:

  • Kew Gardens
  • Thames River Cruise
  • Rooftop bars
  • Parks
  • The beach
  • and more!

 

Touch grass at Kew Gardens

It can often be hard to relax in the city, with miles of concrete and brick in every direction. If you're missing the flora of rural England, and the most garden your tiny London flat contains is a collection of withering plants that you promised to take care of, then you might need to return to nature. Thankfully, there aren't many things in London as relaxing as the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew. More than 60,000 very much alive and healthy plants are on display for your neglectful eyes. That's the largest collection on the planet. There's also a near-20 metre high Treetop Walkway you can climb to get a better view of all the lovely green things. You can also take a picnic there, if you so fancy. And you never know, it might give you the inspiration to go home and nourish your sad plants.

Get cruising

You may have experienced the capital using your meagre human feet, or from inside a metal chariot. We all have, and it doesn't make you special. Instead, sit back, relax, and cruise the city's shoreline aboard a sea-faring vessel and see - or sea - London from a whole new perspective with a Thames River Cruise! Ride atop Poseidon's mane for up to 3 hours, and take sweet 'gram photos of iconic London mainstays like the London Eye, Big Ben, and Tower Bridge. Feel truly special, and see your follower count rise like the highest wave. If, at least, that floats your boat. Sorry.

 

Check out a rooftop bar

If London's patchy weather permits, there aren't many more relaxing places than up on the rooftops, sipping cocktails in the sun. Thankfully, if you don't have any outdoor space, and let's face it, many of us don't, London has a tonne of rooftop bars to tickle your fancy. There's Brixton Beach in, well, Brixton. Unsurprisingly, it's modelled after a beach, replete with sand, sun, and ice-cold drinks. There's The Shard, if you fancy sipping a beverage while looking down on all of London like a god. Or, if you want a little nostalgia with your beverage, Bussey Building in Peckham has a delightful rooftop bar with cocktails, food, and a '90s themed bottomless brunch to let you relive the glory days of the Spice Girls and middle partings. Ah, South London. Never change.

Read and relax in a park

Ah, parks. The perfect green getaway for city folk who need to stretch out and relax. In London, you're spoiled for choice, with a huge amount of green spaces just waiting for you! You've got heavy hitters like Regents Park and Hyde Park, though they may not be the best for relaxing as they're often the busiest. That's not to say you can't find a quiet corner to stretch out and lounge, read a book, or listen to music while you meditate on life. Even London Fields, known for its party-vibe come summer, has some excellent relaxing areas if you look around. Head into the treeline, find yourself the perfect spot, and take a pew. Or, hunt out a local park. There are dozens dotted around the city, so you're sure to find some relaxing space!

 

Go to the beach

Sometimes the best medicine is a little sun and sand. The beach is the relaxing remedy many seek when the winter clouds disperse. 'But London doesn't have any beaches', we hear you cry out in defeat. Well, that's not entirely accurate. Ruislip Lido beach, which sits at the back of Ruislip Woods Nature Reserve, resides in Zone 6 of our fair city. About an hour out of central, this somewhat hidden gem has it all. Sandy beach? Check. Ice cream? Check. A miniature train that you can ride in? You best believe it. So doubt us no more. Surely a trip to the beach has to be one of the most relaxing things to do in London?

Go check out a museum

Museums are often tourist traps, especially in London. So, while you may not think of them as relaxing at first, if you pick your moment, it can be just that. Avoid weekends, as that's when they're at their busiest. Instead, take a day off, head over when the doors open, and go get some culture in you! Check out dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum. Have your mind opened at the Science Museum. If those don't tickle your fancy, there are lots of others worth checking out too. Cleanse your body and soul with sweet culture. Go at the right moment, and a museum can be one of the most relaxing things to do in London!

 

Go for a walk

Yes, it might sound simple. Maybe too simple. But throwing open the flat doors and taking a stroll can do wonders for your mood. Prepare your favourite tunes, stick in some headphones, and set off! You can walk anywhere really, through a park or take a contrasting walk along the Thames. Or, if you fancy seeing some of the city's most iconic buildings, put some historical stops on your route. London is a beautiful city teeming with sights worth capturing. Sometimes, all we need is a change of scenery to help us feel relaxed and positive! So go on, try it for yourself. You won't regret it.

And that's our list of the most relaxing things to do in London! You can explore a number of these relaxing attractions and many more on our Go City® London Pass.

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A view of the Thames including Tower Bridge and The Shard
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Things to do in London during the day

There are so many potential things to do in London during the day that it can actually be quite difficult to know where to start. What’s hot, and what’s not? What’s worth your time – and money – and what isn’t? If you’re feeling dazed by the sheer array of days out in London you can fill with exciting attractions, you’ll want to take note of our suggestions for the perfect day in and around the River Thames. Top tips for enjoying London during the day Before we delve into the delights of all the things to do in London during the day, here are a few top tips that will help you make the most of your time in the capital. Have a lie in If you’re anything like us, the temptation after arriving into a new city is to wake up as early as possible to squeeze in as many attractions as you can. But for all London’s hustle and bustle, many popular attractions don’t open their doors until 10AM. Arrive any earlier than this, and you’ll not only be left hanging around outside, but you’ll also end up traveling during the morning rush hour. Lasting from 7:30 – 9AM, it's not many people’s idea of a fun way to start the day. Public transportation is often uncomfortably crowded as people head to work, and you’ll be paying more for the privilege. Instead, enjoy a relaxed breakfast and kick off your day the right way. Maps aren’t just for atlases It can seem like you only have to walk a few steps before stumbling upon a noteworthy feature on the London skyline. Whilst many attractions are within walking distance of one another, many are much further apart. Don’t forget that London is one of Europe’s biggest cities. It’s therefore a good idea to have a vague understanding of where attractions are located. Dividing them between west, central and east London will suffice. Bring a reusable water bottle Concerns about single-use plastics are resulting in free water fountains popping up all over London. Many cafés will also refill a bottle for free, so save your cash for what really matters by bringing a reusable water bottle with you. They can also be a godsend when using the Tube in the summer. The best things to do in London during the day If you’re thinking about what to do with your time in London, you’re in for a treat! Although you can tackle the capital in any way you fancy, we’ve come up with what we think might be the very best day the capital has to offer. Spend the morning in east London Start your exploration of the capital with your head in the clouds at the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower, standing at the southern end of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Relive the iconic moments from the 2012 Summer Olympics at the park’s famed venues, before rising to the top of the twisting structure – Britain’s largest artwork. Designed by sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor, not only are the views extraordinary, but it offers a very different tube experience, boasting the world’s longest slide at 178m long. The various attractions of Greenwich, including the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum, lie to the south. Head roughly westward instead, through Jack the Ripper’s Whitechapel, and you’ll soon arrive at the Tower of London, which has guarded the banks of the Thames since 1066. Palace, armory and prison in turn, the Tower can easily fill the rest of your morning. Take a tour led by one of the team of beefeaters to learn the stories behind highlights including Traitor’s Gate, the Crown Jewels and the building’s all-important ravens. Enjoy lunchtime at St Paul’s Step aboard a Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus from outside the Tower of London for the short but culturally-rich journey to St Paul’s Cathedral. Along the way you’ll pass by the Monument to the Great Fire of London, standing just meters from its ignition point in a baker’s shop on Pudding Lane, as well as Mansion House – the impressive residence of the Lord Mayor of London. A symbol of London for centuries, the views towards the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral are considered so important they are protected by law. Built by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire destroyed Old St Paul’s, it was – maybe ironically – paid for by a tax on coal. From the crypt containing the mortal remains of Admiral Nelson, victor of the Battle of Trafalgar, to the Whispering Gallery, St Paul’s is one of London’s most ornate religious spaces. The location for a multitude of events of international importance, it has hosted the funeral of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer and even a speech by Martin Luther King Jr on route to collecting his Nobel Peace Prize from the committee in Oslo, Norway. Marrying new with old is the pedestrian Millennium Bridge, crossing the Thames from outside the cathedral steps. A landmark in its own right, it leads to Shakespeare’s Globe and the galleries of the Tate Modern. Devote the afternoon to tea and cake Whilst it’s no longer entirely true that the capital grinds to a halt at around 3PM for tea, it is true that a traditional afternoon tea remains an excellent way to celebrate the city’s culinary history. The Piccadilly area has some of the best choices, with the capital’s grand hotels like The Ritz welcoming those keen to sample the best snack you’ll probably ever have. Consisting of sandwiches and cakes, it was invented by Anna, Duchess of Bedford. A lady in waiting to Queen Victoria, she simply couldn’t endure the middle hours between lunch and dinner. If jumping’s still possible after such a feast, jumping onto the Victoria or Piccadilly Line of the Underground from Green Park will have muggles at King’s Cross Station before they can mutter expelliarmus. As any Harry Potter fan will know, the Hogwarts’ Express departs from the station’s Platform 9 3⁄4, where you can get your photograph snapped beside a disappearing luggage trolley. Similarly magical are the 1080 jets together making up the pavement fountains of nearby Granary Square. Dancing in time and displaying a range of colors, they make for a great place to relax during the summer months. At this time of year they take on the air of an urban beach and glow even brighter as dusk settles over another day in London. Save on the top things to do in London If you’re keen to follow our pick of the best things to do in London during the day there’s just one thing to do first, and that’s grab the London Explorer Pass. Doing away with the need for paper tickets, you’ll save at many of the city’s main attractions without having to do away with flexibility. For a sneak peak of all you can experience be sure to check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook, where you can also share your vacation snaps. Don’t forget to smile!
Ian Packham
March is a good time to head to London's parks
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What to do in London in March

London in March welcomes the spring – announcing itself with a flurry of flowerheads and chirruping of bird song. Brighter, sunnier skies begin to hint at the months ahead and the return of British Summer Time means evenings are lighter for longer. All the better for enjoying London’s many attractions and events, including the St Patrick’s Day celebrations and the University Boat Race. What is the weather like in London in March? Don’t be fooled by the sudden addition of color to the streets of London in March, the start of the month can still be chilly. March 1 will usually see daytime temperatures of around 8°C, before they begin to steadily increase as the month goes on. By its end, they’ve jumped by roughly a third to about 13°C. Putting this into context, it’s just 3°C below temperatures frequently recorded at the height of summer. On occasion they can jump still further – the March all-time record stands at no less than 23°C. Given this fact, snow is – perhaps unbelievably – still an outside possibility. However, your main concern will be rain showers, which can sweep in at any time to break up the growing periods of sun. On the plus side, dusk creeps back day after day, providing visitors to London with longer daylight hours to spend amidst the treasures of the British capital. Enjoy London’s parks The grass turns a fresh shade of green, the flower beds erupt in blooms and the sun – hopefully – shines. This makes March in London a good month for getting outside and exploring the city’s many parks, gardens and green spaces. A visit to the gates of Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard ceremony can easily be combined with time in the capital’s Royal Parks. St James’s, Green and Hyde Parks form a near-continuous expanse of greenery from the River Thames to Notting Hill. More than just parklands, they contain various monuments, lakes and even an art gallery – The Serpentine. Not all that far away in Lambeth is the Garden Museum. The only museum of its kind in the country, it uses its base of a converted church dated to the Norman Conquest to record the history of the garden in the UK psyche. Get ready to party The color green is also an integral part of one of March’s main events. He may not be the capital’s patron saint (that’s Saint Paul) but this doesn’t stop Londoners from celebrating St Patrick’s Day on March 17. The main festivities generally take place on the weekend nearest the date, and kick off on Piccadilly Circus. It’s from here a parade of floats, performers and marching bands take over the streets on route to Trafalgar Square. But the festivities don’t stop there. The statue of Nelson atop its column looks down on a specially-constructed stage that sees performances from a wealth of acts with a connection to the Emerald Isle. Pall Mall hosts a range of family zone activities suitable for younger visitors. It’s the banks of the Thames that are the location for The University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge. First fought in 1829, somewhere in the region of a quarter of a million people line the winding 4.2 mile west London course each year to cheer on the rowing eights. The finish line at Chiswick Bridge is a favored vantage point for obvious reasons. Refresh your wardrobe Browsing the new season trends is on many people’s lists of things to do in London in March, and for good reason. The British capital’s range of retail opportunities is well-known, offering everything from off the peg items to department stores holding royal warrants to supply the Queen and Prince of Wales. Whilst it’s Oxford Street where you’ll find many household names, neighboring Regent’s Street blends high-end couture with an independent streak sometimes missing from the streets of the capital. Children’s eyes will bulge wide at the very sight of Hamleys’, whose seven stories make it the biggest toyshop in the world. Meanwhile, adults are sure to find something that delights at Liberty’s, whose mock-Tudor edifice stretches from Kingly Street to the boutique stores of Carnaby Street, and has championed designers from William Morris to Manolo Blahnik. The seven streets that together form, surprise-surprise, Seven Dials, between Soho and Covent Garden is perhaps easier on the wallet but certainly doesn’t hold back on the cool. Playing host to almost 150 stores and places to eat, it’s a good place to head whether you’re looking for a new pair of jeans or a block of locally-produced cheese. If there’s a bookworm in the family, a trip to the secondhand bookshops of Charing Cross Road will be in order. Explore the wider world Amid the splendor of the National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House, Greenwich, stand the masts of the last remaining tea clipper, the Cutty Sark. A simply stunning addition to the east London skyline under the clear skies of March, she was built in 1869 and moored at the Thames as a museum ship in 1954. Visitors are able to discover the cramped conditions crew sailing between China and England had to endure below deck. Since a major restoration project, it’s now also possible to walk beneath the hull to view its original planking and ironwork, before admiring the world’s largest collection of ship’s figureheads. Containing one of the largest collections of living creatures in the UK, ZSL London Zoo has been educating the public and conserving the world’s wildlife for nearly two centuries. Amongst its 20,000 individual animals are 650 species including lions, lemurs and Komodo dragons. Each live in enclosures attempting to mimic their natural habitats as closely as possible, to the extent that many include other species from the same region. Save on March London attraction admission The start of spring ensures there are a huge array of things to do in London in March. But seeing so many attractions can soon get expensive. Go City helps ease the burden by including reduced admission to many of London’s top attractions, whilst doing away with paper ticketing but not the flexibility you’ll want on a visit to the British capital.
Ian Packham

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