From iconic landmarks like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace to under-the-radar gems in neighbourhoods like Camden Town and Shoreditch, Greater London offers a huge variety of attractions and experiences. Work your way through world-class museums, enjoy a West End musical and catch your breath in beautiful parks and gardens.
Things to do in Greater London
Whether you’re into art, science or history, you’ll find museums for every interest in Greater London. You’ll find some of the most famous museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington. Start at the Natural History Museum, where an enormous blue whale skeleton dominates the lobby. Come face-to-face with a ferocious T-rex in the Dinosaurs Gallery and admire millions of colourful insects in the Darwin Centre.
Discover more than 140 hectares of landscaped gardens in Hyde Park. It’s London’s most iconic green space and features rolling green lawns and rose-filled gardens. Stroll around the evocative Holocaust Memorial and pay your respects to the country’s beloved princess at the Diana Memorial Fountain.
Embark on a contemporary art journey at Tate Modern. The museum is housed in a repurposed power station and showcases temporary exhibits alongside the permanent collection, which features luminaries like Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock and Henri Matisse. Check out larger-than-life installations in the cavernous Turbine Hall and enjoy spectacular city views from the observation deck on the 10th floor.
Greater London is a shopping mecca and offers everything from designer boutiques to treasure-filled antique markets. Browse high-street brands along Oxford Street and get lost in a sea of luxury perfumes, cashmere coats, butter-soft leather handbags and diamond jewellery in Harrod’s. Shop for vintage clothing at Portobello Road Market in bohemian Notting Hill and discover the city’s flourishing counterculture scene at Camden Lock Market on the banks of Regent's Canal.
Getting around Greater London
Public transport is the best way to get around Greater London. The London Underground, nicknamed the Tube, operates more than 270 stations. London Overground trains call at more than 100 stations, while red double-decker buses are a fast and affordable way to get around Greater London. Taxis are easy to hail but can be expensive for long distances. Greater London is serviced by several international airports, including Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick and London City.