London is absolutely bursting with fun things to do. Check out our list of activities below – there’s something for everyone in this city; if you’re bored, you just haven’t heard of it yet!
An immersive theatre experience
London’s immersive theatre scene is unmatched. Here, you don’t just watch a show, you become part of it. You’ll see the performance from a new perspective, in and amongst the actors.
Often, you’re roaming and finding your own path, like in Punchdrunk’s The Burnt City. Or you’re in the thick of the action while sat in your seat like Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. New immersive theatre experiences pop up all the time — make sure to check one out while in the city!
Get creative at a street art workshop
London is well-known for its vibrant street art, especially in the East End. You can take a walking tour of all the colourful and creative murals along Brick Lane and the surrounding area, and then try it out for yourself.
Combining a tour with a workshop is a great way to let your creative side out. Graffiti art is a new experience to most – where better to try it out than in the East End?
Go Bungee Jumping
If you want a bit of an adrenaline rush, a bungee jump is a sure-fire way to get it. A bungee jump that just so happens to be in the middle of London? Even better. Thrill-seekers should check out Battersea Park, the O2 or Coram’s Park to get their adrenaline fix.
Hop aboard The Murdér Express
Have you ever wanted to watch an Agatha Christie murder mystery unfold around you? Eat a luxurious dinner on the ominously named Murdér Express, a 1930s-styled train where everyone’s a suspect. A night of intrigue, laughs and fabulous food awaits on this unique theatre experience. Prices start from around £70.
Thrifting
London is a fashion capital – of course, it’s an amazing city for thrifting. You have a city that’s been filled with extremely fashionable (and, let’s face it, wealthy) people for decades. It’s almost a guarantee you’ll find a gem on the rack.
Some of the best areas in London for thrifting are Portobello Road, Notting Hill, Camden and Shoreditch.
Play Crazy Golf at Swingers
You don’t need to be teetotal to tee up at Swingers. If you want to play crazy golf with a drink in hand, this is the place to go. For £13.50 you can take on 9 holes of crazy golf, while constantly getting your drinks topped up with mid-game service.
Have a drink at London’s themed bars
Step into the 1940s at Cahoots, don orange jumpsuits and make cocktail’s in America’s infamous prison, ‘Alcotraz’, speak the password to enter the Sherlock Holmes-themed speakeasy The Mind Palace, or jump into a ball pit at Ballie Ballerson.
These are just a few of the creative, slightly barmy bars in London: there’s no excuse to spend an evening with nothing to do!
Play with lightning at the Science Museum
The Science Museum has several hands-on exhibits, in a revolving door of fabulous interactive displays.
You can see wander under a canopy of stars, play with forces or watch lightning strike in Wonderlab. Or you can play through five decades of gaming in the Power Up gallery. If music is more your thing, head to the Turn it Up exhibition.
Many of the more involved exhibits have an entrance fee, but there are a handful in the main museum, which is free. If you don’t go for the extra exhibits, this is a family-friendly activity that won’t cost you a penny.
See a West End musical
London’s answer to Broadway has all the high-calibre performances and not so much of the price! The glittering West End is home to The Lion King, Les Misérables and Wicked, to name just a few.
Established productions sit alongside up-and-coming plays and musicals – often with world-renowned actors and performers – so make sure to book tickets when in town. If you’re not fussy, TodayTix can get you some great deals on the day. Otherwise, I’d recommend booking before you arrive.
Go for a swim in Hampstead Ponds
Wild swimming isn’t just for the countryside! Hampstead Heath’s swimming ponds give you a chance to take a dip in the natural waters of London (don’t worry, it’s a lot cleaner than it sounds!).
A popular haunt for celebrities, Hampstead Ponds gives you the opportunity to swim in a beautiful setting of flowers, trees and greenery. It’s wild swimming on training wheels; all of the fun with very little of the risk.
Go to a Festival
If you’re visiting London in the summer, check to see if your dates align with a festival. It’s not just heavy hitters like BST Hyde Park and All Points East you should look out for; there are plenty of fantastic, smaller festivals.
There are dozens of festivals on in the warmer months of the year – whether you’re into jazz, heavy metal or the Arts, there’s sure to be something you’ll enjoy.
Frameless
London’s all about immersion. See the world’s most famous paintings like you’ve never seen them before at Frameless. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped inside the works of Van Gogh, Salvador Dali and Monet, as they surround you from floor to ceiling.
Tickets start at £25.
Food tour
Don’t let anyone tell you differently – London has a phenomenal food scene. Cuisines from all over the world combine into one big melting pot of flavour; it’s a foodie paradise. It doesn’t matter if you fancy Indian, Korean, Italian or Greek food. You’ll find it here, and often within a single street.
But on a normal visit, you only have a small handful of opportunities to sample the food. A tour gives you a taste of a little bit of lots of food: with several tours available, the real struggle is to choose only one!
WeJam
Ever dreamt of recording music in the studio? You can form your own band and live your dreams at WeJam, the incredible rockstar experience in Camden.
You’ll be guided by your ‘record producer’ in the studio, and play the instrumentals (even if you’re a complete beginner) to your favourite songs. Prices start from £105 (for a group of three).
Go Ape
Swing from tree to tree and let your inner child out at Go Ape in Battersea. This tree-top adventure course takes you on ziplines, over rope bridges and Tarzan swings, all while 12 metres off the ground.
An adult ticket for the moderate course is £38.
Ghost bus tour
If a long history increases the likelihood of ghouls and ghosts, London must be chock full of them! Two thousand years gives you some variety in your hauntings – from Roman centurions to Victorian maids, there’s a ghost from every era in London.
Ghost tours often add a sprinkle of comedy and real history into the mix. Plenty of walking tours are available, but the bus tour is excellent and lets you rest your feet. An adult ticket costs £25.
London Dungeons
A classic London activity, the London Dungeons have been combining history, scares and live performances for decades now.
Be taken through the city’s sordid history and meet London’s most famous villains – fictional or otherwise. Cower from Jack the Ripper, make a plot to overthrow the King with Guy Fawkes and get a close shave from Sweeney Todd at the Dungeons: prices start at £29.50 (keep an eye out for 2-for-1 deals, which are regularly found on cereal boxes in the UK).
If you want something that takes up the scare factor a notch, try the London Bridge Experience.
A Night at the Top Secret Comedy Club
Fancy a laugh? Head to the ‘top secret’ comedy club in Camden for some of the best stand-up in the capital.
This no-frills basement bar offers free or low-cost comedy shows every day of the week, which typically last for a few hours. Sometimes a well-known comedian will drop by for a show, but the newbies are usually just as funny. If you enjoyed your time at the club, donations can be made at the end of the show.
Ride a Speedboat on the Thames
Want to inject a bit of excitement into your sightseeing? Whizz past Big Ben and the London Eye at high speeds on the Thames.
Speeding along the river is a great way for thrill-seekers to get a quick tour of the sights. There are several companies offering speedboat tours in London; prices generally sit around £50 for adults.
Abba Voyage
If you’ve ever wanted to see Abba in their heyday, you still can! Holographic Abba may not be actual-Abba, but it’s close enough. The Abba avatars are accompanied by real-life musicians, and the party atmosphere doesn’t feel fake at all.
Take a chance on this unique concert experience and enjoy an Abba evening unlike any other. Ticket prices vary according to the night you go and when you book, but you can generally expect to pay somewhere in the realm of £70-80.
Mamma Mia! The Party
Here we go again! Another Abba experience in London, but this time around it’s more musical theatre than concert. Sit down for a three-course meal in a Greek taverna as a love story unfolds around you — all to the tunes of Abba, of course!
This isn’t the cheapest activity, however. Prices start at £99 off peak, though the meal and a welcome drink are included.
Climb the O2
This isn’t one for the faint-hearted! Climbing up the O2 stadium, with the wind whipping you in the face, is a test of nerve. Standing at the dizzying heights of the top might make you feel a bit wobbly, but the sense of achievement and incredible views will soon help you find your footing.
Weekday costs are £35, weekends £40.
Pub crawl
A pub crawl is the hallmark of a good night out in the UK. Have a drink or two in one, then move on to the next, until you tap out at the end of the night.
A classic pub crawl in London starts in Covent Garden, at The Lamb and Flag, and takes you through several historic pubs until you reach your final watering hole, The Seven Stars. There’s a pub crawl for every neighbourhood though, so don’t feel limited to certain areas!