London Activities

London Activities

01 April, 2009
by: Spoonfed Team

There is a seemingly endless choice of London activities but there are some activities without which no trip to London would be complete. From the most popular London places to free activities in the capital, Spoonfed’s guide to the Top Ten London Activities provides you with all the information you need for the perfect trip.

See the changing of the guard
No trip to London would be complete without viewing the ceremony of Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace. The ceremony takes place at around 11am and there are always crowds so you’re advised to get there early to grab a good spot. It is also customary to have your photo taken with one of the stoic Guards in their bearskin hats and try to get them to a crack smile.

Ride the London eye
The London Eye is the biggest Ferris wheel in Europe; it has quickly become the UK’s most popular tourist attraction and has spawned imitators all over Britain. Taking a ride on the London Eye is also the best way of seeing London’s skyline and the individual pods can even be hired out for private functions.

Go on a Routemaster bus
These iconic red buses were in continuous service until 2005 but remain on two heritage routes in central London. Their pioneering 1950s design means they have outlasted many intended replacements whilst the rear platform and presence of a conductor remain a welcome change from the drudge of the London commute.

Recreate the Beatles ‘Abbey Road’ cover
Perhaps the most popular British band of all time, The Beatles recorded 90% of their music at the Abbey Road studios and titled the group’s final album in its honour. The zebra crossing which features on the cover has become a staple attraction for music fans of every generation.

See a West End Show
London’s West End is rivalled only by Broadway for the world’s best theatre productions and most visitors round off their trip to the UK by seeing the latest show. Spoonfed lists all upcoming details of What’s on in London Theatre.

Eat a curry in brick lane
London has many culinary delights and whilst the UK is perhaps more well known for pioneering pie and mushy peas, London’s Bangladeshi community of Brick Lane is renowned for producing the best curry outside of India.

Visit the Prime Minister
For over two hundred years London’s Number 10 Downing Street has been the official residence of the Prime Minister of Her Majesty’s Government in the UK and is therefore the seat of one of the world’s most powerful governments. Although you can no longer walk up to 10 Downing Street, the area provides quite a bit to entertain the politically conscious.

Riverboat on the Thames
The River Thames has always been of major cultural and financial importance since London’s settlement. By taking a trip down the river you will be following in the footsteps of the Sex Pistols, Sherlock Holmes and even James Bond.

Borough Market
South London’s Borough Market is one of the largest wholesale and retails food markets in the world whose quality of produce is among the UK’s best. In addition to fresh seasonal British food, there are culinary delights from hundreds of countries.

Hitting the shops
London is the shopping capital of the world so it’s not surprising that when it comes to buying a souvenir or treating yourself there is no better place to spend your money. The Royal Family’s favourite food hall, Fortnum and Mason, is the ideal place to grab a picnic hamper for an outdoor meal in Hyde Park. To the west, Harrods combines a seemingly mutually exclusive love of fine food and a passion for fashion, while Carnaby Street and London’s various markets are great places to pick up some funky clothing. As one of the world’s largest toy shops, many parents visiting London will be dragged into Hamleys, but with seven fun-packed floors to choose from even the adults will find themselves something for themselves.

Looking for more London activites? Check out all of Spoonfed's tips for things to do in London.

Spoonfed Team