London is such a large. engaging city with plenty of activities for all ages. We feel there is so much here that it’ll make you keep coming back for more.

How long to stay?

It’s easy to find something for everyone here, and in many cases multiple things to do. The city has an electric atmosphere that easily powers us to run around the whole city and take day trips outside the central area. Having a well-integrated public transportation system just adds to the ease of running around today.

Our first visit to London was a five night stay, which felt about right for an initial visit. That should give plenty of time to go hit the major highlights and possibly take a day trip outside the city limits. Subsequent visits can be a bit more targeted (our second visit was three nights long) as you then focus in a bit more on things missed on prior visits.

What we did in London

Visit the popular sites

Yeah, we know being a tourist means crowds and an increased risk of pickpocketing. But how could you come to London and not at least take a visit of all the major sites? As an alternative to walking to all the sites, you could also consider taking a bicycle tour (as we did) to get some fresh air and feel a bit more immersed with the locals. Children might be harder to accommodate on these bicycle tours, so it’s probably a better option if coming here without kids.

Seeing Big Ben and the Westminster Bridge is a perfect London-esque activity and we loved readily seeing the sites from our hotel daily (see below for more).

You’ll want to also stop by Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard. It’s a free attraction that takes place at 11AM four days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday). If you come here at other times, you’ll still find guards standing perfectly still. As tempting as it might be to see if they will react to you getting too close, I’d rather keep my distance.

The Rosetta Stone can be found in the British Museum, which is an awesome piece of history. Personally, I go nuts over some of these ancient artifacts and I love that it’s on display here for all to see. It’s well worth a visit to see the real thing.

The Crown Jewels are also a good choice for you to come visit. Most of us aren’t ever going to see such an opulent collection of jewels up close and personal normally in our lives. So come here and live out your fantasy (if only you could try them on to complete the dream).

Shakespeare’s Globe

While the real Globe Theatre doesn’t exist anymore (due to fire), there is a recreation of the famous theatre that still exists and puts on shows. Shakespeare’s Globe offers both tours of the facility and you can also catch plays. Back in the day, the real Globe Theatre would offer cheap tickets for standing room or you could pay more to sit up in the stands. Well, the recreation attempts to follow the same approach.

Standing in the middle of the floor sometimes puts you right in the action, as actors might take the play from the stage into the crowds. If you’ve been walking around all day, you might not be thrilled with the thought of standing around for a whole show. Jenn would tell you all about how her feet were absolutely killing her. Plus, if you’re on the shorter side, it might be hard to see over the heads of others. So there are advantages to getting a seat. But personally I found standing to be pretty enjoyable.

Tower Bridge

Named for its proximity to the Tower of London where The Crown Jewels are stored, the Tower Bridge is an attraction of its own. The site is more than simply a bridge, but also a museum. You can book a spot to go up and see the city from the upper level, and in fact I would recommend you do it. Where else can you find blueprints for the tower and some memorabilia celebrating the Tower Bridge? The bridge is quintessentially British and is absolutely worth a gander.

Windsor Castle

As I mentioned in our review of Dublin, Ireland, I love castles. And Windsor Castle definitely fits the part of being a castle I loved visiting. The castle bills itself as being the world’s oldest and largest occupied castle. You’ll find plenty of interior rooms to check out and historic rooms to explore. Plus, if you missed the changing of the guard by Buckingham Palace, you’ll be happy to know that one takes place here as well. And once you’re done with your visit, you can check out the cute town outside the castle walls.

When we came here, Jenn and I visited the city without children, but we’re tempted to bring them here the next time we stop by.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter

Can I admit something? I never watched all of the Harry Potter films. Jenn has and she holds it against me that I never spent the time to watch the films. I’m not sure why the films haven’t captivated me yet, but perhaps one day I’ll get there.

Thus, I’m probably not the best person to speak definitively about the fun that awaits you on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, but it’s still plenty of fun even if you haven’t watched all the movies. You’ll walk through many of the scenes, including playing around with some of the camera tricks they used to make some characters appear larger than life.

The studios are a lengthy train ride outside of town, so it’s best to think of this as more of a day trip outside of London. If you’re a fan of the movies, it’s definitely worth a visit. If you’re not (like me), I feel there is still enough interactivity to make it pretty enjoyable and worth your time.

Where we ate in London

Applebee’s

If you’re used to seeing Applebee’s in the United States, you should know that this Applebee’s is nothing like it. And that’s a good thing! The London restaurant specializes in fish and seafood. We found the food to be pretty delicious, with good flavor and cooked to perfection. If you’re a fan of fish, we think it’s worth it to stop in for a meal. Reservations are recommended.

Punjab Restaurant

We found Indian food to be actually very delicious in London and the food at Punjab Restaurant is no exception. What makes Indian food taste so good are all the sauces and the Punjabi cuisine here has you covered. The food was incredibly fresh and we walked away completely stuffed. The restaurant is located in Covent Garden, making it easily accessible via the tube. The staff was also pretty friendly on our visit.

You won’t need reservations here unless you’re looking to host a party. I’d say that makes it easy as a backup restaurant but that would do a disservice to the quality of the food here. We definitely enjoyed our meal and would gladly return.

The Regency Cafe

If your hotel doesn’t provide complimentary breakfast or if you’re just looking to get out and have a great bite to eat at a local shop, The Regency Cafe will likely satisfy your urges. When we were here, it was quite popular in the morning given its affordable pricing and a delicious English breakfast. Is it the healthiest food? No, but all that meat does make for a very satisfying and filling experience. It can be a bit loud inside, with the workers shouting out to the room when orders are ready. All combined, it was one of our favorite places to eat in the city.

The Wolseley

Tea time is more than just a meal, it’s an experience and The Wolseley is an excellent option for you in Mayfair. It remains to this day our favorite afternoon tea experience. The tea and accompanying light bites were enough for us to not need dinner afterwards. The ambience of the dining room added to that feeling of elegance and sophistication that you absolutely expect with tea time. Yes, it’s a very popular place to have tea, but that didn’t bother us once we were seated.

Kids are welcome here, but note the smart casual dress code. Depending on what you’re doing that day, it might require you to have an outfit change before coming here so budget in time for that. Reservations are a must.

Where we stayed in London

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge

If you’re looking for a hotel near Big Ben, look no further than the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. The hotel is part of the Radisson chain, which doesn’t have the best points program but the rooms were still affordable. We ultimately chose the hotel for its location and it didn’t let us down in that regard. Don’t come here expecting luxury and you’ll come away pretty satisfied. Even still, the hotel did give us an unexpected gift for my birthday (a small chocolate cake).

Still, the best feature of the hotel is its location, and that’s how I’d recommend you viewing this hotel.

The May Fair

The May Fair is another Radisson property located in Mayfair (as you might expect). This area of London is perhaps a bit better positioned if you’re looking to venture off to Hyde Park or Buckingham Palace. The hotel is also a bit more upscale and eccentric than the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, but the service was also pretty on point. So the hotel has a bit more going for it than just its location.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that between this hotel and the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, we preferred The May Fair.

Hyatt Regency The Churchill

Looking for a chain with better elite benefits in London? Hyatt Regency The Churchill is a great option for you to consider on your visit. We found the service and club lounge at this hotel to be stellar (I was a lowly Explorist at the time) and the room was perfectly comfortable. There wasn’t too much to complain about at the hotel aside from a small gripe on its location, which wasn’t as easy to access from the tube as the other hotels on this list. We wouldn’t think that’s a reason to avoid the hotel. On the contrary, the comfort provided at the hotel makes us want to return.

What do you like to do in London?