London’s calling—and while there are literally hundreds of things to do in London, here are a few that should be on your list.

Buckingham Palace

Of course, Buck House (as the royals call it) would make the list of things to see. The official residence of the royal family in London, the Palace serves a function much like our White House. It’s where state functions are held and foreign dignitaries are entertained. The Queen’s Gallery, with artifacts and art from the various royal residences and collections, is open to the public year-round, while the state rooms of the palace and the Garden are open during August and September.

British Museum

Founded in 1753, the British Museum was the world’s first national public museum and has always been available to all visitors free of charge. The museum’s first artifacts were the personal collection of Sir Hans Sloane, a physician and naturalist who had amassed over 70,000 items. These items included antiques, books, and manuscripts. Today, the museum holds artifacts such as the Rosetta Stone and Parthenon sculptures. The museum has grown tremendously and has galleries and exhibitions of German Romantic prints, Chinese ceramics, and the tomb of Nebamun.

London Walks

Walking tours of the city allow you to get up close and personal with London’s history, culture, and people. Each London Walk takes about two hours with no appointment necessary. The Jack the Ripper Tour is a night walk that was created by Donald Rumbelow, the leading authority on Jack the Ripper. Take a Harry Potter walk, which will lead you through the old City of London, or a ghost walk to haunted places and houses.

West End

London’s theater district is full of shows, concerts, dining, and shopping. The best place in London for night life, the West End buzzes with excitement and plenty of things to do and see, as well as a multitude of restaurants and cocktail bars. Locals will tell you the best thing to do is just go and wander around—exploring is the best way to see the West End.

Harvey Nichols

For a truly London shopping experience, go to the luxury department store Harvey Nichols. This eight-level store, open since the 1880s, reminds you of how department stores used to be. Located on Sloane Street, Harvey Nicks is often compared to Harrod’s and sells designer clothing, gourmet food, and a wide variety of beauty and skin care products. The fifth floor of the store is a food court, with restaurants, a confectionery, and a wine store.

Do you know of any “best of London” we should add to our list?

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