What are the top things to do in London?

It depends on what you love: a West End show, the Tower of London and Westminster for history, the British Museum and V&A, a concert at Wembley, the Harry Potter studio tour, royal London and Buckingham Palace, afternoon tea, and shopping at Harrods and Liberty.

Can you tour Buckingham Palace?

The State Rooms open to visitors only part of the year, typically over the summer, so it needs to be timed. The Changing of the Guard is free year-round, and special royal exhibitions run on their own calendars.

Destination Guide

London: A Guide by What You Love

Q: How do you visit the Harry Potter studio in London?

Two experiences: Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station, and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, The Making of Harry Potter, where the films were made. The studio tour is outside central London and books up, so reserve ahead.

London is a city you can shape around whatever you love: world-class theater, centuries of history, staggering museums, live music, royalty, and shopping. I have done the tea, caught a show at Wembley, and gotten happily lost in the museums, and here is how I would build a trip depending on what excites you most.

For theater lovers

The West End is every bit as revered as Broadway. If you love musicals and plays, a West End show is a highlight of any London trip, and I book the right seats before you go so the night you want is not sold out when you arrive.

For history buffs

London is one of the best cities in the world for history. A guided walking tour or a hop-on hop-off bus is the perfect way in, threading together the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels, Westminster and Big Ben, and a story on nearly every corner.

For museum lovers

The museums are staggering, and many are free. The British Museum holds the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon Marbles; the Victoria & Albert is a feast of art and design. Give yourself more time than you think you will need.

For music lovers

See what is on at Wembley Stadium, I saw Taylor Swift there and it was epic. And no music lover should skip the Abbey Road crossing.

For Harry Potter fans

Two must-dos: Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross, and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, The Making of Harry Potter, where the films were actually made. A genuine 10 out of 10, and it books up, so reserve ahead.

For royal London

Touring Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms only happens part of the year, typically in summer, so timing matters. The Changing of the Guard is free and iconic, and special exhibitions, like the displays of Queen Elizabeth’s wardrobe, are worth building a trip around.

Tea and shopping

A proper traditional afternoon tea is a London ritual and genuinely wonderful, one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon. And for shopping, Harrods and Liberty are landmarks in their own right, worth a visit even if you only browse.

Where to base and when to go

For a first trip, basing yourself around Covent Garden, Mayfair, or South Kensington puts you near the action. Summer brings long days and the palace openings; spring and fall are lovely with thinner crowds. Give London at least four or five days.

Why plan London with me

London runs on timed tickets and advance bookings, theater seats, the palace calendar, tea reservations, the studio tour, and it is easy to miss the best of it if you wing it. I sequence your days around what you love, book the hard-to-get pieces before you go, base you in the right neighborhood with any VIP recognition available, and plan it all in English or Español. Because it is a long-haul flight, it is worth reading whether business class is worth it for the trip over.

Plan your London trip →