If you’re wondering what to do for your first time in London, I am here to help you with some tips and to avoid the mistakes I made!
My husband, Cecilio, and I spent a week in London and Paris; time was tight squeezing as much as we could in both places, but we made the most of the limited time we had (ugh,
We stayed at an AirBnB in Croydon, which we deeply regretted. Croydon is a borough south of London, and I guess it would’ve been fine if we stayed near the train station.
But we had to take the bus everyday and back to go to the East Croydon station and then take the train to central London. That took an hour each way.
When you’re traveling, time is precious, especially if you only have a few days in your itinerary. Those hours spent could’ve been used to get lost in the city or more sightseeing.
Whether you are a shopaholic, bookworm, or into the pub scene, you’ll have a blast for your first time in London!
If you have more time for the perfect UK getaway, be sure to include Ireland in your itinerary!
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What to do in London for the First Time
Hang in Hyde Park
Looking for a fun, free thing to do in London to enjoy nature? Head to Hyde Park!
Cecilio took a bus from the Victoria station to explore Hyde Park. It is 350 acres and half the size of NYC’s Central Park, but it still takes a while to walk around.
If you have enough time, walk all the way to the other side of the park to see Princess Diana’s memorial. I wanted to visit it, but we were on a time crunch since we wanted to stop by Harrod’s and we had the London Eye scheduled for 5:00.
We got to walk by the Serpentine, the 40-acre manmade lake, and see a lot of ducks, swans, and geese. We even saw some people boating! (Which I wanted to do too but we were crunched for time).
Hyde Park is one of the most gorgeous parks I have ever visited, with with perfectly manicured gardens and pathways perfect for biking and walking. It also is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle from the streets and underground stations.
Hop around Harrods for Shopping (or Window Shopping)
After strolling around Hyde Park, we walked over to Harrods. Harrods is London’s luxury department store, like Saks 5th Avenue in NYC or Galeries Lafayette in Paris.
All of the clothes and furniture are just oozing with opulence. Most of the people inside seemed to be tourists just like us, and it was so easy to get lost. Harrods was set up like a maze, and there were not a lot of directions but that was part of the experience.
There was no way most of us could afford much other than the food or the gifts (although I saw some people get personal styling services). It is a fun window-shopping experience though!
I was deadset on getting the teddy bears, but I was getting a little hungry so we passed by the food hall to get some food to tide us over: I got a quiche and Cecilio got a scotch egg. Unfortunately, there was no place to sit down and eat, but we ate our food right before heading to the London Eye. We did finally make it to the gift shop to get the Guardsman and Greenman teddy bears and a double-decker bus magnet.
Go on the London Eye for Epic Views of the City
After walking around Harrods, Cecilio and I took a few stations down to the London Eye, the observation Ferris wheel that takes 30 minutes to ride in and gives you a 360° view of London and River Thames.
I purchased the tickets online in advance and opted for the Champagne Experience, one of the VIP Experiences. With the Champagne Experience, you have your own personal host along with a small group and the ability to skip the line (or queue, as the Brits call it). Your host will also offer a glass of chilled champagne while explaining the sights to you as you rise to the top.
We got to see attractions we didn’t get to visit such as The Shard, House of Parliament, Big Ben (which we wouldn’t have been able to see because it’s covered in scaffolds and under construction), and Palace of Westminster.
Other London Eye Tickets and Tours
- London Eye Standard Ticket
- London Eye Fast Track Ticket
- London Eye Standard Ticket + River Thames Cruise
Cruise down the River Thames
Another thing to put on your London bucket list? Sail down the River Thames, where you can take in iconic attractions like Big Ben, London Eye, The Shard, and Tower Bridge. If you can go on an evening dinner cruise when the sun sets, you’ll get some stunning photos during Golden Hour!
River Thames Cruises
- River Thames Evening Cruise
- Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing River Thames Cruise
- Dinner Cruise on River Thames
- Afternoon Tea River Thames Cruise
Fish & chips at Fishcotheque
After the Eye, we got hungry but didn’t want to go somewhere out of the way for dinner. We decided that we would have our fish and chips once and for all, and Cecilio found Fishcotheque on Waterloo Road. It’s actually one of the older chippies in the area and has been around since 1964.
When you first come in, it seems like a hole-in-the-wall place, but let the food surprise you. I ordered cod cakes and chips, which were kinda bland. But Cecilio just ordered regular cod and chips, and the cod filet (not the cod cakes I ordered) was delicious. It has just the right amount of crispiness and oiliness. The prices were not at all bad either (FYI though: they only accept cash).
Walk in and around Westminster Abbey
On our last day, we decided to go to more attractions. Our original plan for our first day in London was to go to Westminster Abbey for free to go to a church service but that didn’t happen. We also didn’t want to be bound by a specific time so we decided to just go inside the attraction as a visitor instead.
The cathedral was ornate and I loved seeing the work and craftsmanship it took for the building to come to life (that’s one of my favorite parts about traveling: seeing the attractions I learned about through art history classes).
We couldn’t take photos inside (but I accidentally took a few snaps, oops!). We got to walk where Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge wed. We saw many burial sites for the monarchs. We even witnessed nonroyal sites such as Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton.
Here are the prices for admission to Westminster Abbey (which also includes an audio guide):
- Adults: £29 ($37 USD)
- Seniors (ages 65+) and students: £26 ($33 USD)
- Children (ages 6–17): £13 ($17)
- Children (ages 5 and under): Free
- Families (1 adult and 1 child): £29 ($37 USD)
Day trip to Stonehenge and Bath
Sometimes you get overwhelmed by London’s big city frenzy. This is always why I suggest taking a day trip to the countryside or coast.
I was reluctant about taking a day trip to Stonehenge and Bath, but I am so glad we did it, especially because I got to see Stonehenge in person after learning about it in an art history class. Especially because it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
I also fell in love with Bath. I didn’t expect it to fully blow me away the way it did. The charming, quaint vibes with cobblestone streets were a stark contrast to London. I tried to visualize the people in ancient times relaxing in the Roman bathhouse.
We took this tour with a small group of people from around the world, and our tour guide, Keith, was amazing at narrating British culture and history. He was super funny too!
For the more adventurous types, the UK also has amazing mountains to climb (and hike!) in.
Explore Buckingham Palace, Home of the Royals
Now, I’m not a royalist. I am forever Team Harry & Meghan. But you can’t deny the significance of Buckingham Palace, the home of His Majesty the King. Buckingham Palace has been the official residence of the British Royal Family since 1837.
While most rooms are closed to the public, access to the State Rooms is open during the summer. The ticket comes with an audio guide.
For free, you can watch the Changing of the Guards in front of Buckingham Palace on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:45 am, which lasts around 45 minutes. Just make sure to come early for the best views!
Bust into the British Museum
The British Museum was at the top of our list of places to visit. It is also free, which was a breath of fresh air considering how much we spent for this whole trip (not including Stonehenge, Bath, and Paris). The British Museum has artifacts from all over the world from ancient civilizations to today.
I was shocked to see artifacts from the Parthenon in Athens displayed in its area in the museum. The Greek government has requested in the past few decades for the British Museum to remove all of the artifacts from the Parthenon, but the museum argues that displaying them shares a piece of Athenian history with millions of visitors around the world.
Within the context of this unparalleled collection, the Parthenon sculptures are an important representation of the culture of ancient Athens. Millions of visitors from around the world admire the beauty of the sculptures each year – free of charge. They also gain insights into how ancient Greece influenced and was influenced by the other civilisations it encountered.
From the British Museum
The Acropolis Museum allows the Parthenon sculptures in Athens to be appreciated against the backdrop of ancient Greek and Athenian history. This display does not alter the view of the Trustees of the British Museum that the sculptures are part of everyone’s shared heritage and transcend cultural boundaries. The Trustees remain convinced that the current locations of the Parthenon sculptures allows different and complementary stories to be told about the surviving sculptures, highlighting their significance for world culture and affirming the universal legacy of ancient Greece. More about the Parthenon and its history can be found at theacropolismuseum.gr
Last dinner out at Bloomsbury Tavern
After our stint at the museum, we looked for the closest pub for dinner and drinks. We found Bloomsbury Tavern, a classic pub built in 1856 with open stained glass windows. Since it was two-story, we decided to go on the second level since the lower level was packed with people (we like having more open space to ourselves).
I ordered a double shot of gin and tonic and Cecilio ordered a lager (which I ended up drinking since he is a teetotaller). For food, I ordered a vegan dahl with cauliflower rice and a side of mushroom soup for my throat.
Where to Stay in London
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. If it’s your first time in London, stay as close to the city center, attractions, and train stations as possible. I don’t care how much money you’re saving; your time is money, and you’re not necessarily saving money if you’re spending everyday on an extra bus ride and train stop. Like we did walking, taking the bus from our Airbnb just to go to the East Croydon station, then to London, which was an hour both ways.
- Luxury: The Savoy
- Midrange: The Tower Hotel
- Budget: The Z Hotel Trafalgar
- Hostel: YHA London Central Hostel
Wrapping Up Things to Do in London for First Timers
Overall, Cecilio and I had a wonderful time in London. We love the vibe, and the energy the city has. It’s quite unexplainable. It’s so much fun being a part of the crowd and getting lost at night. The only thing we really regretted was staying in Croydon (especially far away from the East Croydon train station). The upside is that we got to experience the UK almost like a local and not just staying in the super touristy areas.
Hannah is a travel writer, graphic designer, and the founder/editor of Hannah on Horizon. She is based in Sacramento, California, living with her husband and two adorable dogs. She shares tips on how to experience luxury travel on any budget, and how to maximize time at each trip or destination, no matter what your budget or amount of vacation time at work. She enjoys making you feel like you have visited each destination with her through her storytelling and informative writing style.