5 touristy things to do on your first trip to London

If you're looking for the cool and the obscure then this probably isn't the guide for you. However if you're interested in the best touristy things to do on your first trip to London then keep reading!

I was 16 the first time I 'properly' visited London. I had previously visited the Millennium Dome (now known as The O2) on a Brownie Guides trip when I was 10, but I don't like to count that since we didn't actually see much of the capital.

Since then I have made several trips to the Big Smoke. Sometimes with friends, sometimes with family. I've done most of the major tourist attractions so feel pretty confident when recommending what's worth doing and what isn't.

Buckingham Palace

Over the summer (usually from July to September) The Queen makes her annual visit to Scotland. Did you know that during this time you can book tickets to look around the State Rooms inside Buckingham Palace? A few years ago I was lucky enough to do this when I received a free press pass via the company I used to work for.

We weren't permitted to take photographs inside the actual state rooms, however trust me when I say they are breathtaking. If you have an interest in the Royal Family or are visiting with friends/relatives from outside the UK then it's definitely worth doing.

Duration: The self-guided tour takes approx. 2 - 2.5 hours.

Getting there: The nearest tube stations are Green Park, Hyde Park Corner and Victoria. Alternatively you could get off at Westminster Tube Station to see the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye, then it's a 15-20 minute walk from here to the Palace.

Click here to book Buckingham Palace tickets via the Royal Collection Trust website

Thames River Cruise

If you're short on time, a Thames River Cruise is one of the best ways to see some of London's most famous sights. I've done the City Cruises hop-on hop-off tour a couple of times now. The first time was on a freezing cold February afternoon with a couple of university friends. I was so cold I had to buy myself one of those I ❤️ London sweatshirt from a nearby tourist shop!

I did the same cruise again with my Dad the following summer and could tell the difference straight away. It was 25°C and the boat was packed, however we still managed to get seats on the top deck. The views are incredible! There are four places the boat stops at; Greenwich, London Eye, Tower Pier and Westminster Pier.

Duration: You can purchases passes which are valid for 24 hours. These allow you to hop on and off the boat as much as you like. If you were to stay on the boat and do the full cruise from Westminster to Greenwich it would take approx. 70 minutes one-way, or 3 hours return.

Getting there: I would recommend starting at the London Eye/Westminster Pier and catching the boat towards Greenwich (or vice-versa). Then I'd hop off and explore the local area before catching the boat back.

Click here to book tickets for the City Cruises Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Walk along the South bank

If you don't mind the exercise, it's an easy and straightforward walk from the Tower of London over Tower Bridge, along the Southbank to The London Eye. It's a free alternative to the river cruise, and you'll even pass The Shard and the Shakespeare Globe Theatre on the way. Just make sure you pack comfortable shoes!

The Southbank is a dynamic area which has frequent fairs and events. You'll also find attractions such as the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, the Coca-Cola London Eye and the London Dungeon. I haven't been to the Aquarium, however I have done the London Eye and the London Dungeon. My American stepsister LOVED the London Dungeon. It's very interactive and you learn loads about the city's history. I do feel these attractions are a little expensive for what they are, but you can often find discounted tickets or 2-for-1 deals online. Just be prepared for lots of queuing as they're extremely popular!

Duration: The walk from Tower Bridge along the Southbank takes around an hour (give or take 15 minutes depending on on how often you stop for photos).

A full turn on the London Eye takes around 30 minutes, but I would about an hour (longer in peak times) to collect tickets and queue to get on. The London Dungeon and SEA LIFE London can both take up to 2 hours to go around.

Getting there: The nearest tube station for the Tower of London is Tower Hill station. Alternatively London Bridge tube station is around a 15-minute walk away.

The nearest tube stations for the Southbank attractions are Waterloo, Embankment, Charing Cross and Westminster. 

Check out the view from the top of a really tall building

If you want my advice, don't bother with the London Eye. It's ok if you're going to be in that area (and can find discounted tickets), but there are better views in London.

My recommendation is to go up to the Sky Garden. It's located in the Walkie Talkie Building and you get a lovely view of the Shard. It's free to visit, but places are restricted, so you do have to book your tickets online in advance.

If you've left it too late to get tickets for the Sky Garden, then The View from the Shard is incredible. I went a few years ago and really enjoyed it. There's a champagne bar at the top and it very much felt like a *premium* experience. I wouldn't recommend paying full price as you can often find deals online.

An alternative is to visit the Aqua Shard cocktail bar located on level 31, which boasts some pretty decent views. At almost £20 per cocktail, it still isn't cheap, but it's a nice way to celebrate a special occasion.

Duration: 1 hour

Getting there: London Bridge is the nearest tube station for the Shard. For the Sky Garden, Monument is the closest tube station (Tower Hill, Tower Gate, Aldgate, Bank, and Mansion House are also less than a 10-minute walk away).

Click here to book tickets to the View from the Shard

Click here to book a free visit to the Sky Garden

See a London Theatre Show

I've wrote an entire blog post on what I think are the best theatre shows in London. A few of my personal favourites include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Book of Mormon, Wicked and The Lion King. I would always recommend booking online in advance to get the best deals.

For last-minute tickets there's a TKTS booth in Leicester Square. They offer half-price and discounted theatre tickets on the day of the show (and up to a week in advance).

When was the first time you visited London? What London tourist attractions do you think are most worth visiting?

If you have any recommendations for touristy things to do on your first trip to London please feel free to leave them in the comments!

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