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16 of the best things to do in London
Fast-paced, fabulous and fun, London is packed with world-class things to see and experience. You probably already have a checklist of London sights to visit, but don't forget to pause and soak up the vibe of a city that has been at the forefront of world culture for at least two millennia.
Whether you're a first-time visitor or coming back for more, London serves up so many options that it can be hard to know where to start. It's easy to fill days or even weeks taking advantage of free entry at the city's top art galleries and museums, learning about the rich and complex history, and seeing live bands and captivating West End shows.
If you have the time – and budget – almost anything is possible in London. To help you whittle down the options, here are the top experiences in London that you won't want to miss.
1. Stroll the sights of the South Bank
A great way to get your bearings and take in a slew of sights at the same time is to take a west-to-east walk along the Thames, through the cultural quarter known as the South Bank. Getting off the Tube at Westminster will deposit you right by Big Ben, the legendary bell atop the clocktower of the Houses of Parliament. From there, cross Westminster Bridge for stellar views back toward the seat of British democracy.
Once on the Queen's Walk, as this pathway is known, stroll east with the river to your left. Although it’s inescapably touristy, a rotation on the London Eye is a must for any first-time visitor to the capital. This futuristic Ferris wheel takes 30 minutes to complete a full turn, reaching 135m (443ft) at its highest point, and providing spectacular views of iconic landmarks from its glass capsules. Book tickets in advance to avoid the lines.
The Southbank Centre offers up a roll call of top-draw icons and entertainment; it's a great place to go if you're traveling with kids, with lots of free activities and events in summer. Once you leave the Brutalist concrete architecture of the Southbank Centre behind, you'll find other eclectic London sights, including Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern art gallery (with views across the river to St Paul’s Cathedral), and the Shard, Britain's tallest building. As you walk, look across the river towards the City of London, and try to pick out its curiously nicknamed skyscrapers – such as the Gherkin, the Cheesegrater and the Walkie-Talkie. When hunger calls, take a snack break at legendary Borough Market close to London Bridge, where there are pubs, restaurants, dairies, bakers and more than 100 gourmet food stalls.  
Local tip: Ice-cream sellers on Westminster Bridge are known for overcharging tourists, so resist the urge to buy anything here. Also, don't engage in any of the cup and ball gambling games – these are illegal scams and you will not win, no matter how easy it looks.
2. Be wowed by contemporary art at Tate Modern
A vast shrine to modern and contemporary art, the much-loved Tate Modern enjoys a triumphant position right on the River Thames. Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, the gallery is a vigorous statement of modernity, architectural renewal and accessibility. Enter via Holland St to experience the vast Turbine Hall, which used to house the power station’s electricity generators, and is now home to large-scale art installations. Upstairs exhibition spaces are pushing the conceptual envelope, too, with interesting temporary shows, installations and performance art.
Local tip: Level 10, the viewing platform atop the Blavatnik Building, has been the subject of some controversy regarding privacy because it's possible to look into the adjacent apartment buildings. There are many signs politely requesting no photography on the south side (and not as much to see there anyway). There are also great views from the coffee shop and bar in the main building. If the tide is out, try mudlarking – an evocative term for looking for historic junk on the exposed mud at low tide – right in front of the gallery.
3. Step back in time at the Tower of London
A world of English eccentricity enclosed within the sturdy walls of an imposing 11th-century fortress, the Tower of London is the perfect place to start a visit to London. As well as taking visitors on a remarkable architectural and historical journey, the castle is home to the world's largest diamond (the controversial Cullinan diamond, part of the famous Crown Jewels), as well as a dazzling array of armor and weaponry. A palpable sense of history and heritage will greet you at every turn.
Planning tip: It’s well worth getting to the Tower early – you'll need at least half a day to explore the sprawling chambers, courtyards and jail cells, and hear about its gruesome history. Arrive as the doors are unlocked and head straight to the Crown Jewels to avoid a long wait in line. To learn more about the Tower's back story, join a Yeoman Warder’s tour for a fascinating and personal introduction to the life and grisly times of this fortress-palace.
4. Explore London’s Black history
London’s Black history is rich and fascinating and stretches back across centuries. All over London, you'll sense a growing enthusiasm for acknowledging, owning and celebrating this once-overlooked part of the capital's story. Begin your journey by joining one of the 16 walking tours in central London run by Black History Walks, then head down to the Docklands to learn about the capital’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade at the Museum of London Docklands before meandering south to marvel at the vast Black archives at Brixton’s Black Cultural Archives. Next, indulge in some delicious Caribbean cuisine and take in many of the city’s best Black artists at 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning.
Planning tip: Notting Hill Carnival, held over the August Bank Holiday weekend, is a colossal street party celebrating Black, Caribbean and African cultures. Join the dancing, parties and parades that fill the neighborhoods around Ladbroke Grove. The official website publishes routes and events in advance.
5. Imagine the royal weddings of yesteryear at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey has been the heart of the country’s royal and religious life for centuries. This Gothic wonder was founded more than a thousand years ago and today it displays a mix of architectural styles, with the bulk of its structure dating back to the 13th century. As a result, almost every nook and cranny has a story attached to it.
London's great abbey has served as the venue for many showstopper funerals and weddings – 30 monarchs are buried here, and 16 royal weddings have been hosted here, the most recent being that of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011. Among the highlights, you will find the oldest door in the UK, the collection of memorials to great poets and writers known as Poets’ Corner, the Coronation Chair, 14th-century cloisters, a 900-year-old garden, royal tombs and much, much more.
Planning tip: Be warned that the crowds are almost as solid as the abbey’s unshakeable stonework, so aim to join the line first thing in the morning.
6. Delve into Muslim London
London was once the capital of an empire that ruled over more than half the world’s Muslims, so it should come as no surprise that the city is home to a wide range of Muslim communities and rich in Islamic heritage. Start with the amazing Islamic collections in the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Jameel Gallery or the British Museum’s Albukhary Gallery – between them, these former imperial institutes hold over 115,000 Islamic items.
To learn where Arabic was taught in 17th century London, take an eye-opening Muslim History Tour, then treat yourself to some of the capital’s most delicious Muslim cuisine. Try a fiery curry along East London’s Brick Lane (or great Punjabi-style kebabs nearby at Tayyabs), head north to Green Lanes for London’s most authentic Anatolian dishes, or go west along Edgware Rd for varied Middle Eastern cuisine.
7. Tour through history and science at South Kensington's museums
A trio of world-class museums lie within yards of each other in the well-to-do neighborhood of South Kensington, their grand edifices proving an equal draw to the glories within. With seven floors of interactive, educational and eye-opening exhibits, the spellbinding collection of models, machines and inventions at the Science Museum mesmerizes adults and children in equal measure.
You could spend days in the huge Victoria & Albert Museum, which houses the world’s leading collection of decorative art objects, and still be astounded at its variety and depth. With its animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex, riveting displays about planet Earth, the research-oriented Darwin Centre and architecture straight out of a Gothic fairy tale, the Natural History Museum is an astonishing melding of science and imagination. Start in the iconic Hintze Hall, where the skeleton of a blue whale dives down from the ceiling.
Planning tip: To see a more unusual side to the museums, and mingle with some Londoners, check in advance to see if any “Lates” are running; the museums periodically open their doors into the evening for special events with music and food. There are even occasional sleepover events called Dino Snores at the Natural History Museum.

翻译考点：
考点1：Houses of Parliament 应译为 英国国会大厦
考点2：Westminster Bridge 应译为 威斯敏斯特桥
考点3：Queen's Walk 应译为 女王步道
考点4：London Eye 应译为 伦敦眼
考点5：Southbank Centre 应译为 南岸艺术中心
考点6：Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre 应译为 莎士比亚环球剧场
考点7：Tate Modern 应译为 泰特现代美术馆
考点8：St Paul’s Cathedral 应译为 圣保罗大教堂
考点9：The Shard 应译为 碎片大厦/伦敦碎片塔
考点10：City of London 应译为 伦敦金融城/伦敦城
考点11：the Gherkin 应译为 小黄瓜大厦
考点12：the Cheesegrater 应译为 刨丝器大厦
考点13：the Walkie-Talkie 应译为 对讲机大厦
考点14：Borough Market 应译为 博罗市场
考点15：London Bridge 应译为 伦敦桥
考点16：Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall 应译为 泰特现代美术馆涡轮大厅
考点17：Bankside Power Station 应译为 岸边发电站
考点18：Blavatnik Building 应译为 布拉瓦特尼克楼
考点19：mudlarking 应译为 淘泥寻宝/河泥拾遗
考点20：Tower of London 应译为 伦敦塔
考点21：Cullinan diamond 应译为 库里南钻石
考点22：Crown Jewels 应译为 英国王室珠宝/御宝
考点23：Yeoman Warder 应译为 伦敦塔哨兵/伦敦塔守卫
考点24：London’s Black history 应译为 伦敦黑人历史
考点25：Black History Walks 应译为 黑人历史徒步之旅
考点26：Museum of London Docklands 应译为 伦敦码头区博物馆
考点27：Brixton’s Black Cultural Archives 应译为 布里克斯顿黑人文化档案馆
考点28：198 Contemporary Arts and Learning 应译为 198当代艺术与学习中心
考点29：Notting Hill Carnival 应译为 诺丁山狂欢节
考点30：Ladbroke Grove 应译为 拉德布鲁克格罗夫
考点31：Westminster Abbey 应译为 威斯敏斯特大教堂/威斯敏斯特修道院
考点32：Poets’ Corner 应译为 诗人角
考点33：Coronation Chair 应译为 加冕椅
考点34：Victoria & Albert Museum 应译为 维多利亚与艾尔伯特博物馆
考点35：Jameel Gallery 应译为 贾米尔展厅
考点36：British Museum’s Albukhary Gallery 应译为 大英博物馆阿尔布哈里展厅
考点37：Brick Lane 应译为 砖巷
考点38：Tayyabs 应译为 塔亚布餐厅
考点39：Green Lanes 应译为 格林巷
考点40：Edgware Rd 应译为 埃奇韦尔路
考点41：South Kensington 应译为 南肯辛顿
考点42：Science Museum 应译为 科学博物馆
考点43：Natural History Museum 应译为 自然历史博物馆
考点44：Darwin Centre 应译为 达尔文中心
考点45：Hintze Hall 应译为 欣策大厅
考点46：Dino Snores 应译为 恐龙夜宿/恐龙夜眠活动