Changing of the Guard – SKIP. It’s so touristy that there are hundreds of people outside Buckingham. Unless you get there several hours early to get right up to the gate, you’re not gonna see much.
The Tower of London – SEE. The Crown Jewels are absolutely STUNNING and there is a diamond the size of an egg there! The Beefeaters offer an amazing guided tour and are super knowledgeable with its history. I would get in line to see the Crown Jewels first, join a Beefeater Tour, and then stroll around the grounds and go in the White Castle afterwards.
Boat Service on the Thames – SEE. Its a different mode of public transportation in London and its really fun to actually get on the water! Its a great way to get from one site right on the Thames to another downstream.
Evensong – SEE. Evensong services in the churches are beautiful and a great way to see the inside of the churches for free, especially if you’re not interested in a full tour. The music is truly angelic! Evensong in Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral are around 3 pm on Sundays. St. Paul’s has better acoustics and a lot of people feel like its a better service, although I enjoyed both the same.
Houses of Parliament – SEE. Its so cool to go inside and learn more about how government is run! Not to mention that the building is as ornate as any royal palace, and part of the building has been standing for a millennium.
Westminster Tour – SKIP. Very crowded and the building is drowning in graves or memorial plaques. Unless you care to see a particular grave or check out Poet’s corner, you can see the Coronation Chair, Winston Churchill’s Plaque, and feel that general Will and Kate ambiance during Evensong for free.
Hop on, Hop off Tour – SEE. Riding a double decker bus in London is something you gotta do. So do it on a bus where the top is open-air seating and they show you around some of the sites. The driving is going to make you feel like the bus is going to topple over, but its part of the experience, right?!
Churchill War Rooms – SEE. So. So. So. Cool. Churchill made BBC broadcasts down there and its amazing how these people ran a war from underground.
National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery – SEE. Some original Tudor portraits, cool Renaissance art, some Monets, etc. etc. Its just great. Its also right outside Trafalgar Square!
Shakespeare’s Globe – SEE. Some unconventional Shakespearan plays in a thatch, open air theatre. Note that when you’re a groundling (someone who stands the entire time and can lean against the stage) the actors interact with you! So if you don’t want to be touched or even kissed depending on the play, get a seat.
Tate Modern and Tate Britain – SKIP. A big skip. The Tate Modern is full of weird, politically charged art that is pretty disturbing. The Tate Britain is full of Pre-Raphaelite art that didn’t make a lasting impression on me.
Millennial Bridge – SEE. This is the bridge the Death Eaters destroy in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Its a great walk across it from St. Paul’s down to the Globe. One of the best street performers I heard was on the Globe side of the bridge!
The Eye – SKIP. It’s hard to admit it because it’s so iconic, but yeah, a skip. The views of London are actually the best from the top of St. Paul’s, where you can see the Eye itself. The views of Big Ben are great from across the south side of Westminster Bridge. Not to mention that its pretty expensive (26 pounds) for ride where you spent way more time in line that on the actual wheel.
British Museum – SKIP. This museum has the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, and the Parthenon friezes, but the majority of the museum is broken pottery or dug up pieces of metal artifacts. To the point where it felt like the museum was one big hoard. So if you do go, breeze through and see the big stuff.
The Orangery – SEE. DO NOT GO TO LONDON AND NOT VISIT THE ORANGERY! Its apart of Kensington Palace and it’s such an elegant place to get tea. You can go for the cheaper option and get a pot of tea for 5 pounds that’s enough for 2-3 people, or go the more expensive 30 pound afternoon tea spread. The Wild Berry tea was my favorite!
Street Markets – SEE. Camden Market has the best street food, most eclectic stores (including 80s and 90s clothing stores), and an awesome cereal bar called Cereal Killers! Borough Market has cheese toasties that are out. of. this. world. Portobello Road Market has amazing antiques and yummy Nutella donuts.
Kew Gardens – SKIP. A bit pricey, and you have to time it right. Only go when the flowers are in bloom!
Imperial War Museum – SEE. Hands down top 3 things I saw in London. Such a humbling museum with incredible history. There was also an exhibit on the Syrian Crisis that was so enlightening.
Museum of London – SKIP. I mean, its ok. Goes over London’s history from pre-historic times to present day.
British Library – SKIP. There are some amazing artifacts in there, but all in all, you are looking at some very old books for 30 minutes at most.
Kensington Palace – SEE. There is an amazing Diana dress exhibit and Victoria exhibit in the very rooms she lived in.
Bikes and Paddle boats in Hyde Park – SEE. Best way to enjoy Hyde Park!
Harrod’s – SKIP. It’s a mall of an apartment store, and its insanely expensive for even a donut.
Buckingham Palace State Rooms Tour – SEE. Its so special to go in Buckingham Palace when the royals are gone for the summer! You get to see the Throne Room and Victoria’s ballroom. To exit, you get to walk through the grounds a bit and they are beautiful!
Brick Lane – SEE. Indian Food in London is delicious, and the best is on Brick Lane!
Little Venice – SEE. Little Venice is a cute walk, and along the banks of the canals are free city ping pong tables!
221B Baker Street – SKIP. The line to get in the Sherlock Holmes Museum goes around the corner and is cramped with tourists. The iconic, Victorian Baker Street we all imagine is fairly modern. There’s a great Beatles Store next to the museum though!
Hampton Court – SEE. Its got incredible Tudor history and beautiful gardens, including a huge rose garden and a hedge maze.
Harry Potter Studios Tour – SEE. The train and bus ride to just outside London is well worth it! All the secrets to the movie magic – the props, the costumes, the animatronics, the stages, etc etc are there and its amazing to see. I know how they filmed Quidditch and I’m not telling a soul 🙂
Telltale Blush 