Things to do in London during the day

By Ian Packham
Published: July 18, 2024
A view of the Thames including Tower Bridge and The Shard

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

Image of Face, Head, Person, Selfie, Photography, Adult, Male, Man, Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone, Female, Woman, Housing,

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

Image of Grass, Nature, Outdoors, Park, Person,

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

Image of Adult, Female, Person, Woman,

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

Image of Brunch, Food, Cup,

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
Go City Travel Expert

Continue reading

St Paul's Cathedral looking resplendent from Fleet Street
Blog

Why you should visit London in July

If there’s a month to see London at its best, it has to be July. This is the month when Londoners let their hair down and bask in mid-summer temperatures that stay pleasantly warm until dusk settles at around 10PM. The promise of great weather sees everyone who’s anyone relax in London’s multitude of outdoor spaces, be that a Royal Park or a rooftop bar for a glass of rosé. There’s also a myriad of festivals throughout London in July, as well as once-a-year opportunities including the summer opening of Buckingham Palace. Discover royal London It’s in July that Buckingham Palace – the monarch’s official London residence – opens its doors to the public. Entering via the building’s ceremonial entrance and grand gilt staircase, visits take in 19 state rooms. Used for official functions, such as investitures and the welcoming of foreign heads of government, they include the Throne Room, White Drawing Room and Ballroom. If that isn’t enough, each year a different exhibition is staged using artefacts from the royal collection – providing further insight into the many roles played by British royals. The objects on display at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival are no less impressive for their shorter lifespans. The largest horticultural event in the capital’s calendar, attractions range from a festival of roses to celebrity workshops, all amid the Tudor palace’s spectacular grounds. Dating back hundreds of years, Swan Upping takes place on the Thames over several days in July. Starting at Eton Bridge beside Windsor Castle, Swan Uppers in traditional Thames skiffs count the year’s cygnets to ensure the river’s swan population remains healthy. Make the most of the long July evenings The royal connections continue at Kensington Palace, which is the location of one of the open-air pop-up giant cinema screens that appear throughout London from July. Other locations include Clapham Common, Somerset House and Trafalgar Square, with screenings varying between Hollywood classics, family favorites and the latest blockbusters. For a very different kind of performance head to the Royal Albert Hall, where eight weeks of classical music concerts, together known as the Proms, kick off in July. A firm fixture since 1895, the series culminates in the Last Night of the Proms – one of the more patriotic nights in London life. Life in all its forms can be enjoyed with adults-only Twilight Tickets to ZSL London Zoo. Besides seeing the zoo’s wild animals at one of the calmer times of day, these special nights also host a chill out zone and street food vans should you get hungry. Go sports mad in London in July The world’s oldest tennis competition, the Wimbledon Championships, take place on the verdant green lawns of southwest London in an annual parade of the very best sporting talent, some two million strawberries and 54,000 tennis balls. Even if you can’t nab a much sought after ticket for the show courts, ground passes are a great way to soak up the atmosphere. And whilst 2012 may be long gone, the spirit of the London Olympics lives on in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Occupying a swath of the capital’s east, free trails connect up some of the park’s most important structures. Tour the London Stadium, grab a selfie with the Olympic rings or get the adrenaline flowing with a ride down the world’s longest slide from the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower. Revel in summer festivals Just one demonstration of London’s diversity is the array of festivals which take place in London in July. Open to LGBT+ allies from all walks of life, Pride is the only event in the year to close Oxford Street to traffic. In place of the black taxis and red double-decker buses, you’ll see eclectic floats making their way to the main stage on Trafalgar Square. Take in the riverside between London Bridge and Tower Bridge and you’re sure to be sucked into the festival-like atmosphere created from outdoor eating and an event’s list covering everything from karaoke to open-air fitness classes. Then there’s the capital’s music festivals. British Summer Time brings some of the world’s biggest stars to Hyde Park, having welcomed Celine Dion, Bruno Mars and Green Day to previous editions. Elsewhere, fans of urban music won’t want to miss Wireless, whose acts have included the home-grown talents of Stormzy among its A-list setlists. Stroll in the city’s parks and gardens A hop, skip and a jump away from where Stormzy grew up in south London is Dulwich Park. Edged by Dulwich Picture Gallery – England’s oldest purpose-built art space – and close to Brockwell Lido, the park has recently been returned to the glory of its late-Victorian heyday. Kensington’s Holland Park spreads out around the remains of the Jacobean era Holland House. Sub-divided into several sections, its northern extent is dominated by woodland, whilst its inner core contains a formal garden and the Kyoto Japanese garden. St Dunstan-in-the-East also makes use of London’s historic architecture, in this case an 11th-Century parish church. Rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, it was unfortunately damaged beyond repair during the Blitz in the Second World War. Today, it forms a hidden oasis among the hustle and bustle of the ancient city. London weather in July Neither too hot nor too cold, London in July has some of the best weather of the year. Daily temperatures hover around 19°C, hardly ever dropping below 14°C or rising above 23°C. Rain is light, and rarely affects anyone’s plans. Sunshine is abundant, and daylight stretches for a staggering 16 hours per day, making T-shirts and vest-tops the best items to pack. It’s unlikely you’ll need anything thicker than a light sweater, although you’ll probably still want an umbrella just in case. Save on July London attraction admission Keen to experience all London has to offer in July? Admission to a whole host of London’s top attractions can be had with Go City, providing flexibility and great savings. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest hints and tips.
Ian Packham
March is a good time to head to London's parks
Blog

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
Tower Bridge London
Blog

A complete guide to visiting Tower Bridge

From skyline views and Victorian engineering to movie moments and riverfront strolls, Tower Bridge packs plenty into one visit. We crossed the glass walkway, followed the blue line through the exhibitions, and waited for the bascules to lift to bring together everything worth knowing before you go.

Get your free guidebook!

Plan your perfect trip with our insider guide – top attractions, itineraries and local tips straight to your inbox.