Best Attractions in Central London: London attractions not to be missed during your stay
The best capital cities are the ones where you’ll always discover something new to do or see, no matter how many times you visit – London is one of those cities.
It’s positively bursting with every type of attraction you can think of, often x10, 20, 30 sometimes. There’s so much choice and lots to suit every type of traveller whether you’re a family, couple, mature travellers or newlyweds. Whoever you are, you’ll find an endless supply of quality entertainment in London.
To help you plan your stay, here’s our shortlist of Central London’s best attractions. From interactive museums for all the family to beautiful galleries, historic palaces, royal parks and more, here’s all the best things to see and do in Central London.
Best Attractions in Central London: London attractions not to be missed during your stay
1. Best Central London museums and galleries to visit for free (mostly):
London’s museums and galleries are some of the best in the world. Every site is modern with interactive displays, activities and events for all ages as well as top-rated temporary exhibitions.Best of all, almost all of London’s museums are free. You can expect to pay for seasonal exhibitions and things like special cinematic shows that are available inside however it is perfectly possible to have a great time and not spend a penny.
All of London’s museums are organised to provide substantial entertainment for children with free kids trails, exhibitions and more, available at every venue.
The top three Central London museums for children are the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the London Transport Museum but none of these are children’s museums. They are all fantastic, top-rated museums that delight people of all ages.
The Science Museum is London’s most interactive and exciting museum boasting an impressive history of innovation covering four floors, with exhibits about everything from space to robots and medicine.
The London Transport Museum charts the development of London’s transport system from its early beginnings to future plans and you can clamber all over real vehicles from the past.
If dinosaurs, biology and evolution are your thing, nowhere will come close to the Natural History Museum which is the epicentre of all things organic. From why earthquakes happen to dinosaur skeletons to scale, this is the mother of all museums and it’s next door to the Science Museum.
If you like to wander, you’ll enjoy the V&A’s endless collections of magnificent historic artefacts from all over the world that go back centuries and their backpack trails for children are excellent.
The V&A is opposite the Natural History Museum so you can pack a couple of museum visits into one day if you choose.
Other top London museums include the Design Museum which is just up the road from the V&A. Here you’ll find exhibits explaining the history of design with plenty of things to touch and do.
The Museum of London is another highly entertaining space outlining the history of London from its very beginnings to future prospects.
For world famous historical artefacts, head to the magnificent British Museum where you’ll admire sky high statues from Ancient Egypt and Persia, pottery from Ancient Rome, mosaics from Ancient Greece and all sort of other delights.
London’s galleries are just as wide-ranging and exciting. For the old classics, the National Gallery is full of all the world’s most famous artists from the past. Next door, you’ll find the National Portrait Gallery with portraits of every well-known face from history and popular culture.
Trafalgar Square sits in front of the National Gallery with Leicester Square behind.
A little further down river, the Tate Modern is the place to go for stunning modern art by all the greats and you’ll find dazzling Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre next door.
2. Best Central London sights:
Most of London’s most iconic sights are spectacular architectural feats with lots of recognisable structures positioned along the River Thames.The London Eye is located on the South Bank. You can admire it from the ground or take a ride in a pod if you choose and you’ll find the London Aquarium next door.
Across the water is the Houses of Parliament where the British government meet. The existing structure was built in the 1800s but the site had previously been home to royal palaces for many, many centuries. Big Ben stands at its Westminster frontage and you can take a tour of the building or examine the structure from outside.
A little further down the road from the Museum of London, you’ll uncover St Paul’s Cathedral. This world-famous holy site was once London’s tallest building, a prize now proudly held by The Shard which is the place to go for the restaurant with the best views of London’s skyline.
3. Best Central London historical palaces:
The Tower of London was once a palace home and is one of Britain’s oldest royal palaces. This iconic structure is impossible to miss and sits in a prime position on the River Thames with Tower Bridge at its side. You’ll find the Crown Jewels here as well as all sorts of famous artefacts and historic tales.Buckingham Palace is of course at the top of everyone’s list but don’t miss Kensington Palace. Kensington Palace is still a real royal home. It’s where Wills and Kate as well as other members of the royal family live.
Alongside the royal family’s private quarters is a public museum for the part of the palace where Queen Victoria once lived. You can see all kinds of exhibits plus all the places where Queen Victoria lived before she became queen.
The palace sits in amazing Kensington Gardens where you’ll find the Princess Diana Memorial Play Park and all sorts of other delights.
4. Best Central London parks to visit for free:
One of the nicest things to do in Central London is to take a stroll through one of the many royal parks. It’s a bit like having lots of Central Parks.Green Park finishes at Buckingham Palace whilst Hyde Park runs into Kensington Gardens which surrounds Kensington Palace. There’s also St James’ Park and Regents Park. All the parks have lots of interesting things to do and see inside and are wonderful places to relax and unwind during your stay.
Talk to your driver about more top Central London attractions. For tours of the city, transportation to your attraction or airport transportation, call us today on: +44 203 417 2724/ 0203 4172724, send us an email at: bookings@airport24.co.uk or book your car online now.