I’ve lived in London for 20 years, yet every time I head into the city centre, I still feel that little rush of excitement.
You would think the novelty would have worn off by now, but apparently not. I can still emerge from a Tube station, spot one of London’s famous landmarks and immediately turn into a tourist—camera out, looking upwards and completely forgetting that I’m supposed to know where I’m going.
London certainly isn’t perfect. It can be crowded, expensive, noisy and capable of testing your patience before you’ve even reached your first overpriced coffee. But it is also historic, creative, multicultural and endlessly surprising. Where else can you pass a Roman wall, a glass skyscraper, a royal palace and a man dressed as a wizard within the same afternoon?
London may be the city I call home, but it is also a city I never seem to finish discovering.
From Londinium to London
London’s story began almost 2,000 years ago, in the years following the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43.
The Romans established a settlement beside the River Thames called Londinium. Its riverside location made it ideal for trade and travel, and it quickly developed into an important Roman town.
Its early years were not exactly peaceful. In AD 60 or 61, Londinium was burned to the ground during the rebellion led by Boudica, the fearless queen of the Iceni tribe. The Romans rebuilt it, and by the end of the first century, Londinium had become the thriving centre of Roman Britain, complete with temples, bathhouses, public buildings and even an amphitheatre for gladiator fights.
When Roman rule ended during the fifth century, the settlement declined—but London’s story was far from over.
Over the centuries, it survived invasions, plagues, fires, wars and countless royal dramas. Today, pieces of that history are still scattered across the city. You can walk past modern office buildings one minute and find yourself standing beside the remains of a Roman wall the next.
That is one of the things I love most about London: its history is not locked away in one place. It is underneath your feet, hidden behind newer buildings and waiting around unexpected corners.
London Today
Modern London is a glorious mixture of world-famous landmarks, green spaces, museums, markets, theatres and wonderfully strange hidden gems.
You could visit for a weekend and tick off the biggest sights, or spend years exploring and still find somewhere new. Believe me—I’ve had two decades, and my London list continues to grow.
The Famous Sights That Are Actually Worth Seeing
Some attractions become famous for a reason, and London’s biggest landmarks deserve at least one visit.
Begin in Westminster, where you will find the Houses of Parliament, the Elizabeth Tower—home of the bell known as Big Ben—and the magnificent Westminster Abbey. This part of London is especially beautiful around sunset, when the buildings glow beside the Thames.
From there, wander through St James’s Park towards Buckingham Palace. If you time your visit carefully, you may be able to watch the Changing of the Guard or explore parts of the palace when it opens to visitors on selected dates.
For something considerably darker, head to the Tower of London. This historic fortress has served as a royal palace, prison and place of execution. Today, you can see the Crown Jewels, meet the famous Yeoman Warders—better known as Beefeaters—and hear some of the tower’s more gruesome stories.
Then there is the British Museum, home to an extraordinary collection spanning thousands of years of human history. Its permanent collection is free to visit, although you could easily lose an entire day inside.
Theatre, Art and a Little London Drama
London knows how to put on a show.
The West End is one of the world’s greatest theatre districts, with everything from long-running musicals to new plays and smaller productions. Even if you do not have tickets, walking through Theatreland in the evening—when the signs are glowing and the streets are buzzing—feels like part of the experience.
Art lovers are equally spoilt. The National Gallery overlooks Trafalgar Square and contains masterpieces by artists including Van Gogh, Monet and Leonardo da Vinci.
For something more modern, visit Tate Modern, housed inside a former power station beside the Thames. If classic British art is more your style, Tate Britain offers works dating from the Tudor period to the present day. General admission to all three galleries is free, although some special exhibitions require tickets.
You can also cross the river to Shakespeare’s Globe, a reconstruction of the open-air theatre associated with Shakespeare’s plays. Take a guided tour or, even better, watch a performance and experience theatre in a setting inspired by Elizabethan London.
London’s Greener Side
People often imagine London as nothing but concrete, traffic and tightly packed buildings, but it is surprisingly green.
Hyde Park is perfect for a walk, picnic or paddle across the Serpentine. Regent’s Park has beautiful gardens and sits beside Primrose Hill, where you can enjoy one of the loveliest views across the London skyline.
Further west, Kew Gardens feels like an escape from the city entirely. Its enormous glasshouses, botanical collections and treetop walkway make it somewhere you can happily explore for hours.
If you want to see an even wilder side of London, venture beyond the traditional tourist trail. Places such as the London Wetland Centre prove that you can find peaceful lakes, birds and wildlife without leaving the capital.
That is London for you: one minute you are squeezed onto the Tube, and the next you are surrounded by trees wondering how the city disappeared so quickly.
Markets, Shopping and Excellent Snacks
London’s markets each have their own personality.
Camden Market is colourful, alternative and always lively, with independent shops, vintage clothing, street food and canal-side views.
Borough Market, near London Bridge, is heaven if your preferred sightseeing activity involves eating. You will find everything from cheese and pastries to raclette, gourmet doughnuts and dishes from around the world. My advice is to arrive hungry and accept that you will probably leave carrying something you did not plan to buy.
Covent Garden combines boutique shops, restaurants and street performers with some brilliantly quirky attractions. It is polished and touristy, but that is part of its charm.
For the classic London shopping experience, follow Oxford Street towards the elegant curve of Regent Street. It can become incredibly busy, particularly around Christmas, but the lights and decorated shop windows are worth braving the crowds for at least once.
Finding More Than the Obvious
When I’m looking for something different to do in London, I often use GetYourGuide and Viator.
They are essentially the fairy godmothers of travel planning. You can find walking tours, unusual experiences, river cruises, food tours and attractions you might never have discovered on your own.
Because London is about so much more than taking a spin on the London Eye, walking down The Mall and waving hopefully in the direction of Buckingham Palace.
It is a treasure chest of history, culture, nature, food and wonderfully unexpected adventures. Whether it is your first visit or your fiftieth, there is always another street to wander down, another story to uncover and another reason to fall in love with the city.
I may be a London local, but I will always have a tourist heart—and honestly, I hope that never changes.
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