Things to do and few Hidden Gems In London

One of the world’s most enviable and vibrant cities — London is a melting pot of food, culture, art, and entertainment; a beacon of history and European sport, and a bucket-list destination for nine out of ten travellers. Whether you’re a foodie, a culture vulture, an architecture buff, or a partygoing pub crawler, the diverse English capital has everything you’d want in a city and more.

From the sprawling Hyde Park to centuries-old Westminster Abbey, there’s no shortage of iconic landmarks to visit in London. But the city is also constantly evolving, with new neighbourhoods and attractions popping up all the time – think hipster Shoreditch or the famed markets of Camden Town. Hungry travellers, meanwhile, will be in heaven with London’s incredible culinary scene, which runs the gamut from Michelin-starred dining to traditional pubs serving up a perfect pint of English ale. Whether you’re planning your first trip or your fiftieth, our insider’s guide to London has everything you need to know – from the city’s best hotels and restaurants to the top attractions and insider tips.

London is a city that pays dividends, if you take the time to invest in it that is. There are so many hidden gems in London that if we’re frank, if you’re not taking the time to explore the city, you are not doing it justice. As a tourist, it can be too easy to go through a checklist of the main attractions and think you’ve “seen” London. Hell, even if you’re a local, you know that it is all too easy to get stuck in a rut doing the same old things.  I'm not throwing shade. Believe me, I am not (well, I kind of do but in the friendliest, loveliest way:)

After reading my post, you’ll know exactly what to do in London to make the most of your time. 

From bottomless brunches and London’s best food market to iconic London attractions and nights out.

Ready to explore for yourself? What are you waiting for? Let’s sit back with a cuppa tea and start planning your trip!

1. Visit the Tower Bridge

As postcard-worthy as they come, Tower Bridge is one of the most beloved and most iconic landmarks in all of London. The bridge, which crosses the River Thames (and is often wrongly dubbed “London Bridge”), was built between 1886 and 1894 and stands tall as a true feat of Victorian engineering. Considered to be one of the most photographed bridges in the world, it’s undoubtedly one of the essential things to see in London. Rather than just walking across it, a popular, new activity is the upper level’s glass walkway, where tourists can find some of the best river views in the area.

This isn’t ideal for those that have a fear of heights, but it’s a real must-do in London. Tower Bridge still works even after 123 years. The bridge underwent a transformation in 1974 from steam-powered to having an electro-hydraulic system installed. I’ve also seen photos of the London Marathon from Tower Bridge via the glass walkway, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. So, if you are into photography and want unique shots of London taking the Tower Bridge Experience will be a real treat.

It has two towers linked by two walkways and suspended sections to either side of the towers, stretching towards the banks of the Thames. The central span of the bridge can be raised to allow ships to pass. Tower Bridge is 244 metres (800 feet) long and each tower is 65 meters (213 feet) high.

Over 40,000 people use Tower Bridge every day.

2. Visit Tower of London

London has had a scandalous history, from the gruesome beheadings to its flamboyant Kings.

All this is carefully documented for all to see in the eleventh-century fortress, that is Tower of London.

The Tower of London remains one of the capital’s best and most well-known historical attractions. And it’s certainly one of the most popular London tourist places to visit. Located next to the iconic Tower Bridge, you won’t be able to miss this medieval spectacle. This towering fortress goes back over 900 years, and its walls have seen everything from numerous torture, prisoners, weapons and some exotic animals because that’s how the English rolled back them.

Arrive early to get a glimpse of the infamous Crown Jewels because later in the day all the tour groups will make the queues unbearable. Visiting the Tower of London is one of those unusual things to do in London.

The Tower of London is easily reached by the London Underground and is a short walk from the Tower Hill station on the Circle/District lines. The Tower of London has two entrances: the West Gate Entrance and the Middle Drawbridge Entrance.

3. Visit and Climb aboard the Cutty Sark ship

                               Calling all seafarers, sailors, and general adventure-seekers!

Make your way down to Greenwich to hop on board an oceanic icon, and learn about what life was like on this legendary ship. 

Cutty Sark was built in Dumbarton, Scotland in 1869. The ship was launched on November 22, 1869. How much did it cost to build? The agreed price was £16,150, or £17 per ton. The going rate was around £21 per ton.

It was built exclusively for the China tea trade. There was a fashion for drinking the first and supposedly freshest tea back to London. This meant that it paid to be the fastest. Clipper ships – the name comes from the phrase “to go at a clip” – had three main design characteristics: a long, narrow hull; a sharp extended bow and three raking masts which could support a huge sail area. These three elements in combination could make the most of the wind to help the ship surge through the seas.

Over the course of her 52-year career, including 27 years as a Portuguese ship Ferreira, the clipper has visited almost every major international port in the world.

Besides the globe-trotting voyages history lesson, you can also admire the panoramic views from the bow – a great backdrop for any enviable social media post.

Cutty Sark had seven captains as a British ship. The ship’s longest serving and most successful was Captain Richard Woodget who served between 1885 and 1895.

Did the ship ever get into trouble?

Yes, Cutty Sark lost her rudder at least twice, collided with other ships, survived a hurricane, dismasting, two world wars and a terrible fire in 2007.

4. Step back in time and enjoy an amazing lunch experience in the Trafalgar Tavern

What a gorgeous setting to have such a lovely meal in. Seated in the restaurant, I had a panoramic view of the Thames and the City of London. It is split across two rooms and not at all cramped. The main dining room is the Nile Room, though there are a number of smaller dining spaces of the main dining room, all decorated with the same naval paraphernalia. It’s very pleasant, very convivial, and quite cosy.

If you get there early you get a table with outstanding views over the river - perhaps even the central bay. Excellent food both in the restaurant and bar.

Where it all began
The Trafalgar Tavern was built in 1837, the year Queen Victoria ascended to the throne. Prior to the Trafalgar there was a small inn, The Old George, which served local fisherman. It was a popular public house due to its prominent position on the River Thames as well as being close to Greenwich Hospital, the Woolwich Dockyard and Westminster. In 1830 the owner of The Old George planned to expand the building but, unfortunately for him, the architect he engaged saw the potential in his plan and intentionally derailed the application to the commissioner. The architect then hatched a plan to take over ownership of the site.

What's on at the Tavern
Whether popping in for a swift drink or lingering for the evening, guests to the Trafalgar Tavern have been engaging in intriguing and exciting activities since 1837, and today is no different.

5. Visit The Old Royal Naval College

Rome has the Sistine Chapel, and London has the Painted Hall, a jaw-dropping 4000 square meters space filled with stunning baroque art. I am not even sure which one is more impressive – the Sistine Chapel or the Painted Hall. There is one big difference though – you can visit the Painted Hall at your own pace and take your time to admire this masterpiece. So visit it before the rest of the world finds out and before it becomes just as busy as the Sistine Chapel. I have to say that the Painted Hall has become one of my top places to see in London. The Hall was originally designed as a dining room for seamen, inside the Old Royal Naval College that originally served as a hospital. In 1707, the British artist James Thornhill was commissioned to decorate the hall. It took him nineteen years to complete this masterpiece. Legend has it that his posture was permanently affected by spending so much time on his back, with one arm raised. The stunning artwork celebrates a time of dominance across Europe by the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain. The paintings depict themes of naval successes, cultural achievement, political change and more – all set against magnificent backdrops.

 TIP: To really make the most of the experience, try lying flat on your back on the specially provided, intricately carved oak ‘day beds’. Apparently, this is how Lord Nelson enjoyed viewing the art, too!

 

London and the Old Royal Naval College testify to the city’s enduring charm and historical importance. From the grandeur of the painted hall to the serenity of the chapel and the breath taking riverside views, the venue offers a multifaceted experience that transcends time. As you navigate the hallowed halls and explore the riverside areas, you become part of a centuries-long story of exploration, conquest, and cultural development. The old Royal Naval College is not just a relic of the past; it is a living canvas that inspires, educates, and delights visitors from all over the world.

6. Visit The Garden at 120: The City’s Largest Public Rooftop Space

The Garden at 120 is the largest free public rooftop space in the City of London, providing unparalleled 360-degree views of the city skyline.

For those who like vantage points to take in beautiful views of London, there are different options. Sky Garden is one of them, and undoubtedly one you will remember. But there’s also a relatively new venue that will ravish all thrill-seekers: The Garden at 120.

The Garden at 120 is located atop the Fen Court building at 120 Fenchurch Street, in The City. I came by tube and I stopped at Bank station, which allowed me to walk past Sky Garden and admire its imposing building before arriving at The Garden at 120. I did not need to book any slot in advance but, although it went fast, I had to queue a little (expect control of bags at the entrance) before getting access to the lifts.

Needless to say, the views are absolutely spectacular at the Garden at 120. I could not recommend the place enough to Londoners, but also to tourists looking for a different way to discover London’s skyline.

Few words about the Plant Life.

Given it’s a garden, you’ll also see some plant life at the top, believe it or not. Ha! The garden was designed by German landscape architects Latz + Partner and is home to 85 Italian wisteria trees and over 30 fruit trees.

7. Visit the Victoria and Albert Museum

Located in London’s museum corner, The Victoria and Albert Museum (known as the V&A) is a place not to be missed. Although the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are in the same area as the V&A, don’t limit your time exploring the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance. Spend at least an afternoon in this London Museum for essential learning. Along the 12 miles of corridors in the labyrinthian museum, a representative sample exists of every form of fine, decorative, and applied art known to man. Throw in a few historic artefacts and fine paintings, and you have a museum that has something for everyone.

The V&A has six floors of galleries. You could spend days in this place.

Here’s a quick overview of the layout:

Basement: Europe, Medieval & Renaissance art

Ground Floor: Asian & Middle Eastern art, Cast Courts, Raphael Cartoons, fashion

1st Floor: British art 16th to 18th century, Medieval & Renaissance art

2nd Floor: design, metalwork, ironwork, mosaics, stained glass, and theatre & performance

3rd Floor: British art 18th to 20th century, contemporary glass

4th Floor: furniture and ceramics

8. Visit Hampstead Pergola & Hill Garden

If you think you’ve seen everything in London, think again. The Pergola is really unique. The Hill Garden and Pergola used to be a part of the grounds of Hill House, an early 19th-century villa that was rebuilt and extended by Sir William Lever, Viscount Leverhulme. We bet you’re dying to know more about Viscount Leverhulme, and especially how he made his money. Well, wonder no more – he was actually a very famous soap seller who created something akin to a soapy empire. Following an apprenticeship and a few smaller jobs where he was able to perfect his craft, Viscount Leverhulme eventually began to manufacture Sunlight Soap alongside his brother.

Overgrown with vines and flowers, Hampstead Pergola is pretty magical, whether it be in the green of summer or the orange hues of autumn.

Getting here:
The closest station is Golders Green on the Northern Line (20 minute walk)

The bus routes 210 and 268 take you close to the Pergola and Hill Garden.

9. Visit the stunning Shepherdess Walk Mosaics

I’ve long been a fan of (within reason!) exploring London alleys. But the gem that rewards the curious after going through this one off Shepherdess Walk is really quite something.

Walk along Shepherdess Walk in Hackney and look out for the entranceway circled below.

There is a delightfully cute little alley that has been in this part of Hoxton ever since it was all fields, and yet its history is a total mystery. The alley is actually a subway that run underneath a row of houses built in the early 19th century as a single block, with a brick wall to give the residents on either side a bit of privacy. What’s peculiar is that the foot tunnel sits underneath 107 Shepherdess Walk, and yet, as far as I can tell, number 105 didn’t exist when 107 was built, so why have a subway when they could just as easily have had a conventional open alley?

This is not the only mystery about the place.

The purpose of the tunnel is clear though, as today it provides a convenient, and on my summer morning visit, well used link to the park behind, but at the time of construction that park didn’t exist. The park is new, and used to be homes so the alley lead to a street, Turner’s Place, and provided a route for workers working on the canal wharves beyond, rather than dog walkers.

Unveiled in 2012 to coincide with the London Olympics, the scenes are a celebration of life in Hackney’s parks. Two later pieces on the floor were unveiled in 2013. The two main panels showing the four seasons, they’re heavily influenced by Roman mosaic pavements but there depict contemporary people and pastimes. The fields which surrounded this area were used as a route for driving livestock from outside London towards Smithfield meat market (circled above). In the 18th century there was a nearby pub called the Shepherd and Shepherdess. This catered to Londoners enjoying the green space as a pleasure garden, similar to the more famous ones in Vauxhall (1785-1859). The Hackney Council website says that this pub later became The Eagle Tavern. Today this is around a 5 minute walk from the park, along the street ‘Shepherdess Walk’. It’s also the pub referenced in the nursery rhyme ‘Pop Goes the Weasel’

10. Visit St Dunstans in the East

Another of our hidden treasures in London can also be found not far from Tower Hill tube station. St Dunstans in the East was bombed and thus destroyed during World War II, but the remains have now been repurposed as a pretty public garden.

The original church was by Christopher Wren, who designed St Paul’s Cathedral. Plus over 50 other London churches. Draping greenery, a tumbling fountain and attractive wooden seating makes this the ideal place for a lunch break in the city.

11. Visit Little Venice London

Little Venice is where London’s waterways meet – Regent’s Canal, the Grand Union Canal and the Paddington Basin entrance. The resulting triangular shaped body of water is the heart of Little Venice. It’s a peaceful, well-heeled part of town, and the canals here are among the best hidden places in London. 

Little Venice is an oasis of peace and tranquillity. It's thought to have been so-named by the poet, Robert Browning.

What to do in Little Venice London?
Well, this was my first question when I decide to explore the area. I was interested in the boat cruise from Little Venice to Camden Locks, which I didn’t go on because I wanted to spend more time actually in Little Venice.

Enjoy a Bespoke 1930’s Cruise on “The Great Gatsby”

Walking along the main intersection in Little Venice, I found this 1930s style punting boat named, “The Great Gatsby.” Well, obviously I had to investigate what that was all about. It turns out that this punt actually is from the 1930s, and you can enjoy 90 minute breakfast and lunch cruises with Laurent Perrier champagne, as you gaze at the banks of the Thames or the smaller canals. 

Eat in a Houseboat

There are some good restaurants surrounding Little Venice, but can anything compare to eating in an actual boat? Nope. 

Explore with Camera in Hand

Which brings me to the final, and most important, answer to what to do in Little Venice London. I loved walking along the canal banks, peering into the longboats moored along the banks, admiring the tiny details: a black cat lazing on a sunny roof, mosaic walls or street art fading into the lapping canal below. Just make sure you have your camera with you because not everyone will believe these photos came from London! Little Venice is a gem. If you’re headed to London, please pay it a visit! And sooner rather than later, don’t wait as long as I did to explore it.

Getting here

By tube - the nearest tube station is Warwick Avenue but you can also walk from Edgeware Road Station

By train - Paddington Main Line station

By car - there's no parking, but it's easy enough to walk to Little Venice is from local tube and train stations or catch a bus

Towards the end of the Paddington Basin, near the Paddington Central station, we also found a Paddington Bear flocked in blue as part of the Paddington Bear trail. 

The little man himself – Paddington bear in Paddington

Pin it for later!

12. Visit and ride The London Eye

Originally named the Millennium Wheel in celebration of the 21st century, the London Eye is the largest of its kind in Europe, rising to a whopping 135 metres above the South Bank. Symbolically opened on December 31st 1999, a problem with one of the capsules forced the official opening back to March of 2000. If guests of the Grand Hotel Hyde Park were to visit at present, they’d find the London Eye sponsored by Lastminute.com, a tourism booking company that took over sponsorship from Coca Cola, who assumed branding rights between 2015 and 2020.

A Ride On The London Eye

The London Eye moves slowly, meaning that you can appreciate the views of the city for more than enough time to get a few photos in. Taking half an hour to complete a revolution, capsules on the eye can hold up to 25 people per capsule – that’s a maximum of 800 people on the wheel at one time. From the highest point of the wheel, visitors can see many landmarks in both central London and the outskirts. Of the latter, you can see Wembley Stadium, Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and many other central city landmarks.

The London Eye has been awarded the ‘We’re Good to Go‘ charter mark by Visit England, so all the desirable safety measures are in place, including enhanced security checks. Capsules hold up to 25 passengers and the entire London Eye can hold 800 people per revolution – the equivalent of the capacity of eleven red double-decker buses in London. Lines can move quite quickly as a result.

Once you’re on, it’s simply a matter of relaxing into the views for the next thirty minutes. Disconnect from social media and use your time to look around and observe one of the biggest and best cities in the world.

Since it is in the area of London where there aren’t any skyscrapers, and you’re on the edge of the water, your view is unobstructed. I like how in one rotation your view points change from ground level, to front on, and up to bird’s eye. Keep looking the whole time as it changes so much and the higher you go the more, you’ll see. I also loved looking back, down, and across to the capsules as we rotated.

At the very top, I felt like I was a spaceship floating in the air. That was the only time my tummy fluttered a little. Other than that, I wasn’t afraid at all on the London Eye. If you’re scared of heights, you may find it a little unnerving.

Here are the famous landmarks to look out for:

Big Ben and Houses of Parliament

Westminster Abbey

Buckingham Palace

St James Park

Hyde Park

St Paul Cathedral

Tate Modern

Tower Bridge

The Shard

Jubilee Gardens next to London Eye

Whitehall Gardens

13. Visit the London Library

Squeezed into the corner of St James’s Square is the facade of what looks like a townhouse. Its tidy little appearance means you would never guess that book heaven aka The London Library lies behind its front door.

Inside you will find the largest independent lending library in the world, with over a million books covering 17 miles of bookshelves!

Because of the grid format you can look into floors above and below, feeling like you’re trapped in an infinite number of books!

Thomas Carlyle was behind the London Library, announcing in 1840 the need for London to have a new lending Library. The first Library opened at 49 Pall Mall but it moved to its present location in St James’s Square in 1845.

14. Visiting Big Ben

According to Britannica, the tower was originally known as St. Stephens Tower. It was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honour of the Queen’s 60th Jubilee. Technically, only the bell is nicknamed Big Ben, but if you say “Big Ben,” everyone will know you mean more than just the bell. It has been a pillar of timekeeping for decades.

Big Ben is located on the banks of the River Thames, just by Westminster Bridge, by the entrance to Westminster Tube Station (served by Circle, District&Jubilee line) is majestically overlooking always busy with tourists, cars & taxis, roads below.

What to See:

It's impossible to visit Central London and not see Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower. It's visible from various points throughout the city and from viewing attractions like the London Eye and Sky Garden. Some of the best glimpses of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament can be found from Westminster Bridge, Parliament Square, and across the Thames on the Albert Embankment. It's fun to see during the day and at night when the building, clock, and tower are illuminated.

Big Ben is connected to the Houses of Parliament and located across from Westminster Abbey, both of which can be included in your visit to see the massive clock and its bells. Look for the famed statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, and don't miss the quiet Victoria Tower Gardens South around the corner for a respite from the crowds and a nice view of the river.

For an aerial view of Big Ben and the surrounding sights, head to one of London's viewing platforms, which can be found around the city. Sky Garden offers free tickets to its 37th-floor indoor garden, which has 360-views of London, and The Shard has viewing platforms on floors 68, 69, and 72 for paid ticket holders. Don't get sucked into one of the touristy restaurants near Parliament Square. Instead, look for iconic diner The Regency Cafe, Indian eatery The Cinnamon Club, or old school pub The Windsor Castle. There is a Starbucks a few blocks west of Parliament Square for those who need a familiar pick-me-up. Public toilets can be found in St. James' Park near Horseguards Parade. Some public toilets require an entry fee of 50 pence, which can now be paid with a contactless credit card.

15. Visit the The Shard 

Standing at 309.6 metres tall, with 72 storeys and countless offices and business hotels rooms for London’s workers and visitors, The Shard is not only the tallest building in the UK, but it has become an iconic structure gracing the London skyline.

For tourists and those visiting London, The Shard offers some of the best views across the city with a memorable ride up in the lift towards the viewing gallery which covers floors 68, 69, and 72. The Shard is often marketed as the highest building in the UK and linked directly to the viewing platform and other experiences which tourists from all over the world can enjoy. The Shard as a building is also home to a number of offices which are available to rent, shared workspaces, and a famously high end luxury hotel for families called the Shangri-La hotel.

When is the best time to visit?
Generally, we would advise tourists and visitors to steer clear of The Shard at the start of the workday, as this is when the lobby and lifts are most likely to be full of workers heading to their various offices located across and throughout the building. Another thing to consider is the kind of view that you would like to experience, with sunrise and sunset both beautiful times to visit the viewing platform and take in the skyline of London shrouded by the rising or the setting sun. On a clear day, it is said that you can see up to 41 miles away from the top of The Shard, making this the kind of viewing experience you won’t want to miss. Because of that, visiting on a very cloudy or overcast day might leave you disappointed, which is why we would recommend waiting for a clear day if possible.

Tip: 12:30pm mid-week seemed like a good time. No queues for the lifts, I was seamlessly whisked through after going through what can only be described as an airport style security check (remove belt, shoes, keys out of pockets, etc).

The Observation Deck is 309 meters above London, and the lift (elevator for my North American friends:) travels at 6 meters per second! Once on the Observation Deck on level 68, it’s possible to go up as far as floor 72, but the floors in between 68-72 must be walked up stairs. What’s so great about the various decks is that you can wander around at your leisure. Even though you’ve been allotted a time to arrive by, once up there you can spend as little or as long as you like. There are places to buy refreshments on the Observation Deck. I didn’t – and I didn’t bother to look at the prices to be honest as I am sure they cost a lot.

16. Visit The hidden garden by St Paul's Cathedral

The garden features stunning views and a peaceful spot to enjoy your lunch

Hidden from the view of the city’s streets, this secret garden in the City of London goes unnoticed by passers-by and provides a tranquil oasis in the heart of the city’s bustling streets. The focal feature of the garden is an oval pool that perfectly reflects St Paul’s dome in the water and is one of the most beautiful things to see in London!

The best time to visit Reflection Garden
For city workers, we’d recommend visiting before work, maybe bringing your morning coffee here. When the weather’s nice, the garden can become quite busy with people enjoying the tranquillity of the gardens during their lunch break. For tourists, the weekend is a great time to visit as the City of London is very quiet.

How to get to Reflection Garden

Reflection Garden is located at 25 Cannon Street, EC4M 5TA. There are multiple ways of getting there:

Tube: several tube stations are within walking distance: St Paul’s (4 minutes) Mansion House (3 minutes), Bank (8 minutes) Cannon Street (7 minutes) and Liverpool Street (20 minutes).
Train: City Thameslink (8 minutes), Cannon Street (7 minutes), Blackfriars (10 minutes) and Liverpool Street (20 minutes).
Bus: bus routes that stop near or at St Paul’s Cathedral are: 4, 8, 11, 15, 17, 23, 25, 26, 56, 76, 100, 172, 242 and 521.
River bus: take a river bus to Blackfriars or Bankside Pier. Both are a 10-minute walk.

Few word about St Paul’s Cathedral

Seat of the Bishop of London and "parish church of the British Commonwealth," St. Paul's Cathedral is the largest and most famous of London's many churches. Situated on the site of a Roman temple, the present structure was built after the original church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the resulting masterpiece is today one of Britain's most recognizable landmarks.

St. Paul's is also home to a number of interesting chapels, most of them accessible from the nave. All Souls' Chapel is a memorial chapel dedicated to Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, while adjoining St. Dunstan's Chapel (reserved for private prayer) has a 17th-century oak screen and a mosaic by Salviati.

Other chapels of note include one dedicated to St. Michael and St. George, the Middlesex Chapel, and the American Memorial Chapel commemorating the 28,000 Americans killed while traveling to (or stationed in) Britain during WWII. Two others are in the crypt: the Knights Bachelor Chapel and the OBE Chapel

Tip: To save yourself money, and to ensure you can get in to this popular London attraction, book your tickets in advance on the St. Paul's Cathedral website www.stpauls.co.uk

17. Visit the Barbican’s garden conservatory

Culture Trip explores a secret garden home to over 2,000 species of tropical plants, trees, exotic fish, and birds in the heart of London. It’s a slice of tropical rainforest Londoners can visit without leaving Zone 1, but few people are aware that the Barbican Conservatory even exists. The conservatory wraps around the huge fly tower that supports scenery for the theatre beneath your feet, and while the concrete of the Barbican is still very evident, it adds to the overall effect.

Imagine a city centre abandoned by humans and overrun by plants, and that’s what you are walking through when you visit. A dystopian film maker’s paradise.

Towards the back of the Barbican centre is a lovely place to sit outside too (when the sky isn’t grey).

It’s also worth walking around the estate too.

18. Visit and take a walk through Canary Wharf

As someone who loves to explore new places, I am always excited to discover great walking routes.

Canary Wharf in London offers some of the best walks in the city, from hikes to leisurely strolls. Taking a walk in this area is a great way to explore the city’s history and modernity all in one place. Canary Wharf is widely known for its towering skyscrapers and modern lifestyle, but dig a little deeper, and you’ll find there’s even more to explore.

Gaia - Luke Jerram's huge floating model of earth, arrived at Canary Wharf in 2023, the floating globe and illuminated giant mammoths have taken over Canary Wharf as the dazzling Winter Lights festival returns for the first time since 2020. We’ve seen it Greenwich Painted Hall. It’s popped up at the Kensington and Chelsea festival. Luke Jerram’s famed floating earth installation, otherwise known as Gaia, magically appeared in London again. 

Over the years, Gaia has been on quite the world tour – stopping off everywhere from Beijing to Oslo to Rochdale, and it doesn’t look like slowing down anytime soon with upcoming dates in Edmonton, Exeter, and Adelaide. Seven metres in diameter and using 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface, giving watchers on a view of the planet in a large scale. It’s message is that Earth should be cherished and taken care of during the climate crisis.

Take A River Cruise

If you want to gain a different perspective while seeing some of London’s greatest sights, then a Canary Wharf river cruise is just the thing. You can set off from almost anywhere along the Thames River and let the boat take you past The Tower of London, Shakespeare’s Globe, as well as many other amazing landmarks that are best appreciated from the water.

Walk Along The South Quay
Canary Wharf is a popular destination for both tourists and locals alike. One of the best activities to do there is to walk along the South Quay, a promenade that offers stunning views of the Thames River and its surroundings. Along the walk, visitors can marvel at up-close sights of the docks, marinas, and rich greenery. The activity is free of charge and suitable for all ages – making it a must-do on any trip to Canary Wharf. You can also book a historical walk of East London’s Wapping Docks which also stop at famous pubs along the route around the river.

London basically has it all.

Arts and culture, amazing job opportunities, diverse neighborhoods, sports and entertainment, history, huge green parks, and a well-connected transport system – essentially everything you could want from a major city. If you want to get technical, it even has a beach… kind of. Along the River Thames, there are a few sandy patches that you can get to, although we don’t recommend you choose this as the spot for your summer vacation. Furthermore, it offers ease of access to the rest of the world, with six total international airports and the Eurostar international train terminal at St. Pancras that connects to mainland Europe.

The cost of living in London
One of the largest factors in life in London is cost.
Although it is not the most expensive city in the world to live in, you will certainly notice the cost of living should you live here. This is one of the major trade-offs: the cost of living for the range of opportunity.

Pros & Cons of Living in London: Is it Worth it?
All in all, there are a lot of great things to love about living in London – after all there’s a reason why so many people move and stay there each year, but like with any place, it’s not for everybody. A lot of people move there straight out of college or university for graduate schemes or to get on the job ladder, so it’s got quite a strong community of young professionals.

One of the best things about living in London is that there is so much choice when it comes to things to do, see, or enjoy since it’s such a big city. From restaurants to museums to shops to markets, there are so many of them that you’re always spoiled for choice! London is one of the oldest cities in Europe, so when you’re walking around it’s like you’re stepping through time. If you love beautiful architecture and old-world vibes, then there are plenty of places that you can go and explore. With a city the size of London, there is always something new and exciting going on. From pop-up shops to immersive experiences to exclusive shows and events, there’s something different around every corner.