I believe life is about making the most out of every place, situation and day. My love for travelling and exploring is heavily influenced by My Ultimate Travel Bucket List, but the reality is that it is always nice (and necessary) to come back home.
Why I wrote a London bucket list
They say that home is where the heart is, and my heart is in London. Back in 2011 when I first visited the British capital, I said to myself that this is where I’d live one day, and I made it my mission to move here when I was ready. And here I am, so many years later, writing my London Bucket List from my new home in London. More than three years have passed since I moved to London and it is safe to say I have learnt to accept the commute, embrace the not-so-common sunny weather and love a good Aperol Spritz at a rooftop bar. For some reason, you end up loving all the madness.
Sadly, I feel like many Londoners miss out on many of the wonderful things to do in London and end up being stuck in a 9-5 Monday to Friday routine only to find themselves lazing around on the weekends and starting all over again the next day. But not me. I want to feel fulfilled and get the most out of the city I live in. Soak up everything that is so unique to London. Everything that makes it so different to anywhere else on the planet. I want to explore my home.
So here it is, my Ultimate London Bucket List. Like I did with my Travel Bucket List, I will be crossing places off and blogging about them with our reviews, tips and recommendations.
Things to see and do in London
- Visit London Zoo after dark – ZSL Zoo Nights √
- Go for a quintessentially British afternoon tea at Sketch, London √
- Explore Buckingham Palace √
- Join a real live movie at Secret Cinema √ : Casino Royale, Stranger Things
- Go for a run along the Southbank √
- Eat in complete darkness at Dans le Noir?
- Have a drink at Gordon’s Wine Bar (the oldest wine bar in London!)
- Visit the beautiful house of the Sambourne family at 18 Stafford Terrace
- Explore London’s tropical oasis at the Barbican Conservatory √
- Go to The Crystal Maze Live Experience
- Be part of the live audience of a TV show
- Climb the Dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Attend the Wimbledon Championships √
- Go to a Michelin Star restaurant √ : Hakkasan Mayfair, Sketch London, Yauatcha, Pidgin
- Enjoy a gig at different music venues in London √ : O2 Arena, Brixton Academy, Electric Brixton, The Garage, Printworks, Oval Space, Alexandra Palace)
- “Press for champagne” at Bob Bob Ricard √
- See The Nutcracker ballet at the Royal Opera House √
- Explore the Temperate House at Kew Gardens (the world’s biggest Victorian glasshouse, recently reopened after a 5 year renovation!) √
- Have burger and lobster at Burger & Lobster √
- Watch the Changing of the Guard in front of Buckingham Palace √
- Relax on the beach at Neverland √
- Explore the Hampton Court Palace (Henry VIII’s former residence!)
- See the deers at Richmond Park
- Have an Aperol Spritz (or two) at the Aperol Big Spritz Social √
- Go for a cocktail at Dandelyan (named the World’s Best Cocktail Bar at the 2017 Spirited Awards) √
- Go a boat trip on the Thames
- Take a dip in a London lido
- Enjoy a gig at the Jazz Café Camden
- Go on the London Eye
- See the yearly “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” exhibition at the National History Museum √ (2017, 2018, 2019)
- Watch a play at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
- Go on a Raft Adventure at Lee Valley White Water Centre
- See Tower Bridge lift up
- Discover the story of Winston Churchill and the Second World War at The Churchill War Rooms √
- Go to a musical or theatre play in the West End √ : The Lion King, Aladdin, Matilda, Kinky Boots, The Book of Mormon, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts 1 and 2, SIX, 9 to 5, Come From Away, Witness for the Prosecution
- Watch a film in an outdoor cinema
- Have a drink at Aqua Shard at the top of The Shard
- Go on a pub crawl
- Go to a music festival in summer √
- Explore the National History Museum √
- Have dinner at Madison London overlooking St. Paul’s Cathedral
- See the fireworks display on Bonfire Night
- Enjoy some good street food at Brick Lane Market √
- Explore the antique shops at Portobello Road Market (the world’s largest antique market!) √
- See London’s skyline from Sky Garden √
- Visit Karl Marx’s tomb at Highgate Cemetery
- Do a BBQ in a park on a hot day
- Get lost among the flowers at Columbia Road Flower Market √
- Play mini golf at both Junkyard Golf Club and Swingers √
- Visit Kensington Palace
- Tour the iconic 18th century Dennis Severs’ House at 18 Folgate Street, Spitalfields
- Have the iconic Duck & Waffle at Duck & Waffle (London’s highest 24/7 restaurant) √
- Wander around Kew Gardens √
- Get jolly and christmassy at Winter Wonderland √
- Visit BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
- Enjoy some great street food at Camden Market √
- See the Rosetta Stone and mummy collection at the British Museum √
- Meet the penguins at ZSL London Zoo √
- Ride a bike in Hyde Park
- Ice-skate at the Somerset House ice rink
- Visit the “Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter” √
- See the Crown Jewels exhibition at the Tower of London √
- Be on both sides of the Prime Meridian Line in Greenwich √
- Climb to the top of the O2 Arena
- Run the Hackney Half √
- Run the London Marathon
- Take a helicopter ride above London
- Visit Westminster Abbey
- Try both Doughnut Time and Crosstown Doughnuts’ amazing doughnuts √
- Visit the colourful Notting Hill Carnival √
- Get cold at the Belowzero Ice Bar √
- See a theatre play at the Duke of York Theatre √ : King Lear, featuring Sir Ian McKellen
- Go to a stand-up comedy show √: Ricky Gervais
- Walk along the Regent’s Canal √
- Visit the HMS Belfast (C35)
- See the fireworks display on New Year’s Eve
- Attend a football match √
- See the floral façade of The Churchill Arms √
Do you also have a home bucket list? If so, what’s on it? What other places and activities would you recommend adding to my London Bucket List?
G.x
Want to know why we started a blog? Check out:
I’m a Londoner born and bred and I definitely take the city for granted, especially being a traveller myself. You’ve probably put me to shame in terms of exploring London more than myself
For recommendations, I would recommend going on the Emirates Cable car in North Greenwich, that way you’re getting an incredible view of the London skyline and you’re technically on top of the O2 arena at some point. Also for London skylines check out the New Change and Alexandria Palace, free of charge like the Sky Garden and it’ll be just a massive win.
Johnny | The Travel Connoisseur
http://thetravelconnoisseur.wordpress.com
Woah, thank you so much for the great recommendations! I will definitely have to give them a go! 🙂
x.
I love this list of things you want to do in London! I recently put up my summer bucket list and my London one is the one I’m working on next! (p.s – deffo go see the deer in Richmond Park – they are so cute and curious!) x
Awe thank you! I will definitely check your lists out, I love it when people want to spice up their lives 🙂 And I can’t wait to see the deers, but I am also a bit afraid of them! I don’t want to make them mad 🙁
A beautiful blog post. I have only ever been to the busy central part of London when I visit. I think I will go and visit some of the places on your London list. xxx
Thank you, Ruth! London is full of hidden gems, there is always something new and exciting to explore! x
I’ll be in London in October. I will have to cross a few of the off I think
Definitely! Let me know what you think 🙂 x
This is an amazing list thank you! I’m always looking for things to do in London so this is very very helpful. Officially bookmarked x
Thanks so much Lily 🙂 x
Love your lists! They are so versatile. My London bucket list includes also going to The Cauldron to mix those Harry Potter potions and also to enjoy afternoon tea on a bus driving around London.
Love this! I’ve never thought you could have afternoon tea on a bus driving around London! x
London has always been on the top of my bucket list. This makes me want to go RIGHT NOW! I do think it will be our first European destination with our boys because the languge barrier will be easier than starting in a country where we don’t speak the language at all. Plus they are obsessed with Harry Potter so they would love it!
I agree, London is stunning! There is always something to do and I honestly couldn’t recommend it enough! Hope you make it to the UK soon 🙂 x
Great list of attractions to visit, I would also recommend the Museum of London that has lots to see from stone age to the present day, also it’s free to visit to 🙂
Nic | https://nicbakes.blogspot.com/
I should definitely pay a visit, sounds amazing! 🙂
This post kind of broke my heart as I’ve just had my relationship end where we lived in London and I’ve had to leave the city to go back to Devon! I had so many hopes for my time in London and never managed to do many at all. I hope you accomplish all of these things! I love this list, some really fabulous things on here x
Thank you so much Jasmine! Glad to read that you liked my London bucket list, but really sad at the same time to know you had to leave London so quickly! I’m sure you are in a completely different situation right now and there’s no doubt London will welcome you back with open arms – even if it’s just for you to try one of these things at a time 🙂 x
Wow! I have been to London four times and still haven’t done all the things on your list! This makes me want to go back! 😀 London is one of my favourite cities and I’m happy for you that you managed to make your dream a reality and move there. If you’re interested, I have an itinerary on my blog…perhaps it can provide you with a couple more ideas, even outside London? https://passportandpathways.com/a-guide-to-london/ I enjoyed your post, thank you 🙂
Hi Georgianne, thank you so much for the lovely comment! Next time you are in London, make sure you tick a few of these things off your list! I still have some left myself 🙂 x
Some good suggestions here. It would be even better if you could caption the photos, so that say, people unfamiliar with the city would know that the top pic is of Greenwich.
Thanks Liz! All pictures have ALT text which you can see when hovering over the images x