With a city the size of London, it’s not finding things to do, but more deciding which things to do! If you’re looking for a relaxing holiday, you might want to look elsewhere than the buzzing metropolis that is the capital of England. Here are just a few of the things with which you can stuff your days while on tour.
The Landmarks
![Buckingham Palace]()
London is home to some of the most famous landmarks in the world, all of which provide their own sense of excitement and interest.
The fabled Buckingham Palace is the headquarters for the British monarchy and one of the most intriguing attractions in the UK. During the summer the building is open for guided tours, though you can always get a peek at the vigilant guards on duty from the other side of the fence. If only those walls, and those guards, could talk!
Photos of Big Ben and the rest of the Houses of Parliament are certainly worth some phone storage space, whether you’re just snapping the structures themselves or lining up for selfies with your travelling party.
One of the best ways to get an eyeful of it all? The London Eye on the South Bank of the River Thames, of course. This enormous Ferris wheel was the largest in the world when it was built in 1999, and the spinning machine gives riders a viewing perspective they’re unable to get anywhere else. More than 3 million people ride it every year, enjoying views of nearly every prominent landmark in the city.
Shopping
As a cosmopolitan hub, London delivers some of the finest shopping in all of Europe, with top brands operating both within their own storefronts and out of major retail centres. Perhaps the most famous of these shops is Harrods in West London’s Knightsbridge. This absolutely massive department store known the world over seems to have just about everything. With seven floors and hundreds of departments as well as dining options, you could spend days and not cover it all. The shops really go off around Christmas time, when the store and its staffers are decked out in fine festive gear.
If you’re looking for more than one massive building to satisfy your urge to shop, Oxford Street is where you want to be. This stretch of road is home to some of the biggest brands in the world, as the expensive real estate of the strip prices out more boutique offerings. Selfridges and its six floors of stores might be the crown jewel, though you’re bound to find the giant global brands you crave throughout your expedition. Just try to avoid it on the weekend unless you want to go to war with thousands of eager shoppers.
Football
You think Australia is mad for sport? Football rules everything in England, with some of the biggest teams in the sport operating out of London. One of the most storied rivalries in the sport, the North London derby, features Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. Tottenham’s new home stadium, the largest club stadium in the country, would be a perfect spot to see a match. Or you could hop in your London car hire and head to some of the other iconic sporting arenas in the area. Watch legendary Manchester United host foes at Old Trafford, about 330km (204 miles) from London. Or you can take your car hire in London and head a bit further west of Manchester to Anfield to see the mighty Liverpool play.
Don’t feel like shelling out to see the top tier clubs? Watch a match at the smaller home ground of a Championship or League 1 side for a true blue viewing experience. Catching a game at a packed pub, ales in hand, with other rabid fans is a sweet consolation prize if you can’t get your hands on tickets to a match.
The West End
With lights that shine just as brightly as the globes on Broadway in New York, the London West End is home to one of the most storied live theatre scenes in the world. Hosting some of the most famous performers around since 1663, famous playwrights, actors, and directors have plied their craft on the stages of the West End to the delight of millions of viewers.