
I’ve now lived in London for over six months and I’m one of the worst tourists ever. I use the excuse of living out in zone three as a reason for not heading in to central London and making most of my time in the city. With one year of university already passed, I’m worried I won’t ever make the most of this city. To hopefully prevent that I have created another list, this one with a whole list of London activities to choose from over the next two years. I’m not going to lie, it is very food and drink focused but I’ve tried to include a range of things to do. Some I have done (but a really long time ago) and others are things I’ve never done before, here goes…
Markets/Shopping
✓ 1. Go to Borough Market
2. Go to Columbia Road Flower Market
✓ 3. Eat at Brixton Village Market
4. Wander through the Camden Lock Market
✓ 5. Go to Spitalfields Market
6. Go to Broadway Market
7. Shop at Foyles Flagship Store
8. Go to Chatsworth Road Market
✓ 9. Go to South Bank Christmas Market
10. Go to Portobello Market
11. Visit Maltby Street Market
Local
✓ 12. Eat at Pickle and Rye (East Sheen – because that is where I live)
13. Eat at My Babycakes (East Sheen)
14. Eat at Faanoos (East Sheen)
15. Eat and drink at ‘The Tea Cup’ (Richmond)
16. Eat at Stockholm Deli (East Sheen)
✓ 17. Get cake from Madeleine’s Cake Boutique
✓ 18. Have coffee at Artisan Coffee
✓ 19. Eat/drink at the Robin Craft Cafe (East Sheen)
✓ 20. Drink at a pub in Richmond by the Thames
21. Have a picnic in Richmond Park
✓ 22. Watch the annual Boat Race
✓ 23. Go to Kew Gardens
24. Visit Chiswick House
✓ 25. Visit Petersham Nursery (St Margrets)
Food/Drink
✓ 26. Get afternoon tea at a luxury hotel (like the Ritz)
✓ 27. Dine at Duck and Waffle
✓ 28. Go to the Cat Cafe
29. Visit pop up ‘Street Feast’ in Dalston
30. Go to the Attendant
31. Drink at Radio rooftop bar
32. Drink at Frank’s Cafe (Peckham)
✓ 33. Dine at Bob Bob Ricard
✓ 34. Take the Bakery Bus Tour
35. Eat at the Circus
36. Drink at the Whistling Shop (Shoreditch)
37. Drink at London Cocktail Club
38. Eat at Fat Boys Diner (Trinity Buoy Wharf)
39. Hand out at Neals Yard (Covent Garden)
40. Eat at Soho’s secret tea room
41. Eat and drink at Opium
42. Eat at Mildreds London
✓ 43. Get gelato at Snowflake
✓ 44. Get afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason
45. Eat and Drink at ‘The Rum Kitchen’
46. Eat and Drink at ‘The Fable Bar’
47. Eat at Little Bay (Kilburn)
48. Drink at Gordon’s Wine Bar
✓ 49. Eat at Sketch
✓ 50. Eat at La Bodeg Negra
51. Eat at Inamo
52. Eat at Archipelago
53. Eat at Beach Blanket Babylon
Activities
✓ 54. Go up the Shard
✓ 55. Visit the Sky Garden
56. Go ice skating at Somerset House
57. Watch the lights be turned on at Trafalgar Square at Christmas
58. Visit the Tower of London
59. Look around the inside of St Paul’s Cathedral
✓ 60. Cheer on the runners of the London Marathon or run instead
61. Watch Tennis at Wimbledon
62. Party at Notting Hill Carnival
63. Go street art hunting in East London
✓ 64. See a West End Musical
✓ 65. Go to a drive in or outdoor cinema
✓ 66. Climb the 311 steps of Monument
✓ 67. Take the Emirates Airline across the Thames
✓ 68. Climb the outside of the 02 Dome
69. Complete the Monopoly Pub Crawl
✓ 70. Head up the Orbit in the Olympic Park
71. Walk around Little Venice
72. Cycle in London on a Borris Bike
73. Tour London on the number 15 bus
74. Visit St. Katherine’s Dock
75. Visit Hampton Court Palace
76. Watch something at the Globe
77. Watch a cricket match at Lords
78. Visit the Horniman Museum
79. Visit Ruislip Lido (Northwood Hills)
80. Head to Epping Forest (Loughton)
81. Visit Danson Park (Bexleyheath)
82. Head to Syon Park (Syon Lane)
✓ 83. Watch a game of cricket at the Oval
84. Go to Chinatown during Chinese New Year
85. Go Swimming in the Olympic Swimming Pool
86. Go look at/photograph the Battersea Power Station
Galleries/Art
87. Visit Tate and Tate Modern in one day
88. Visit the Royal Observatory in Greenwich
✓ 89. Visit the National Portrait Gallery
90. Visit the Saatchi Gallery
✓ 91. Visit the National Gallery
✓ 92. Visit the Photographers Gallery
93. Go to the Atlas Gallery
✓ 94. Visit the: When Is a Slide not a Slide? by Carsten Höller at the Southbank Centre (June-Sept 2015)
95. Visit the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
96. Go to The British Museum
Tours/Workshops
97. Take a Photo Tour of London
98. Take an Eating London tour
99. Take a Street Art Tour & Workshop
✓ 100. Take a Cocktail Making Class
101. Take a Helicopter Tour over London
ive done 14 of these! Not bad considering I’ve only visited London 3 times, but I mainly visit to eat and drink! Haha look forward to hearing about them as you tick them off the list 🙂
Author
Wow, you’ve doen more than me and I live here! If you have any more eat/drink ideas then let me know 🙂
I’m always amazed at how much there is to do in London for free but, like you, I often don’t make the most of it. Your list has definitely prompted me to try and do a bit more though, especially now the nice summer evenings are here 🙂 The markets are definitely some of my favourite places in London!
Author
I know I never seem to make the most of London which is why I thought I’d put a list together to inspire me (and others hopefully). I really must get on with visiting the markets, any tips for your fave stalls?
I have fallen in love with your blog! How do you not have a billion followers? Your sight is so beautifully set up and your posts are fabulous! I am heading to the UK in a month to live up north, then eventually head south to London! Thanks for the inspiration and keep up the great work!!! Seriously amazing
Author
Thank you so much Vanessa! When you are in the UK and down south – if you someone to show you around I would be very happy to, just give me a shout 🙂
I absolutely LOVE this list! I have only just discovered your beautiful blog but am now following you on blog loving so hope to talk more over the coming months and watch you slowly tick off each of the things on the list! (happy to keep you company if you need some!) I must tick some of these off myself, thanks for sharing.
Author
Thank you so much Kimberley 🙂 I’m never going to turn down company so if there is one you’re desperate to tick off, let me know.
I love the list! There are so many wonderful places to discover in London! I work as a gardener (London Gardening Services Ltd.) and we have to visit different clients around London and sometimes have the opportunity to visit a nice cafe or a restaurant. Thank you for the list! I love going around London and find new great places and people! 🙂
Author
Thanks! I hope you get to experience some of these places listed 🙂
I ADORE this list – so many cool things to do!
Author
Thanks Emma 🙂