It could be overwhelming to explore this metropolis, so we’ve created a London bucket list (which is often passionately contested in the Time Out office). Anyone who knows where to look can find what they’re seeking. For your ease and comfort, you can hire a chauffeur for the day.
You may learn more about the current events in the city from Things to Do in London This Week.
London’s best things to do
Columbia Road Flower Market
Sundays at Columbia Road, one of London’s most popular markets, fresh-cut flowers abound. Between 8 AM and 3 PM, the roadway becomes a market offering flowers, houseplants, herbs, bulbs, and shrubs.
At lunchtime, locals and visitors swarm to the market to buy their favourite pot plants. To avoid crowds and get the best selection, go to the market early. Compare prices, swap, and brace for severe competition.
After buying flowers, visit one of the alleyways to find restaurants, delis, boutiques, antique stores, vintage stalls, and boutique galleries that are only open on market days. Treacle offers simple British baked products, Jones Dairy Cafe offers organic and locally produced foods, and Nelson’s Head serves local beer.
Kew Gardens flower-spotting
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew not only have a remarkable 250 years of history but also set the standard for future study in botanical fields by acting as not one but two national headquarters. Scientists work diligently in the background while guests explore the Victorian Palm House and look for lovely flora.
The Gardens have expanded from their humble beginnings in the previous royal residence’s backyard, which was George III’s preferred site, to their current size of 300 acres. The largest remaining grand Victorian glasshouse is Temperate House, and it is still a well-liked tourist destination. Additionally, it will reopen in early May 2018 after being shuttered for five years for refurbishment. What if you want to travel somewhere else instead? You’ll find a lot to like here whether or not you appreciate nature. A fantastic area to visit is the Tree Top Walkway. The 18-meter-high stroll among the foliage offers stunning views of the gardens below.
Once you have recovered your footing, proceed to the Chinese Pagoda, a landmark at the southern end of the Gardens since its completion in 1762.
Hampstead Heath Ponds
The City of London Corporation maintains the old clay pits-turned-ponds. It’s in talks with adjacent villages to prepare against floods, which are improbable but could be deadly if heavy rain fell for a long time. Ladies, men, and mixed groups (including 8-15-year-olds) may use the three pools at the lifeguards’ discretion. The Men’s and Ladies’ Ponds are open year-round, while the Mixed Pond is closed during the winter. July water is cold.
Notting Hill Carnival full weekend
London’s summer isn’t complete without Notting Hill Carnival. Since 1966, Carnival has become Europe’s largest street carnival, gathering 2.5 million people over the August bank holiday weekend. Carnival include parades, masquerades, floats, dancing, steel bands, sound systems, and Caribbean food sellers.
Sunday is a more family-friendly Carnival day, so bring the kids. The main procession departs Westbourne Park station and climbs Ladbroke Grove. Thirty-eight static sound systems along the parade route play soca, dancehall, calypso, house, and hip hop.
Notting Hill Carnival 2022 begins Sunday, August 28 and Monday, August 29 at 10 a.m. (Bank Holiday). The children’s day parade and carnival procession commence at 1 p.m. On Carnival Sunday, between 10 and 10.30 a.m., a ceremony will open Great Western Road.
Connaught Bar serves drinks.
The Connaught, the most subtle of London’s luxurious 5-star hotels, has not one but two outstanding pubs. The Coburg offers a feeling of being a private members’ club up front. David Collins, a renowned architect, created the Connaught, and it shows. Mirrors, low lighting, silver leaf, a sophisticated colour palette, and lots of plush couches for quiet chats all contribute to the glamour and elegance of the space.
For the complete Connaught experience, order a martini and have it served on a trolley that pulls up next to you while the bartender mixes it right there. You won’t find much of the local flavour here because it’s also well-liked by hotel visitors. However, if you can only afford one drink, try to save as much money as possible and still buy it.
Walthamstow Wetlands is wildlife-rich
It has always been a terrific place for Londoners to go and pretend they are in the country, but now it is much better. Walthamstow Reservoir is once more open to the public following a six-year, £8.7-million refurbishment. It will be the largest urban wetland in Europe, thanks to the eleven reservoirs that make up the 211-hectare Walthamstow Wetlands. It’s a terrific site to see wildlife because swans, kestrels, and geese are frequent visitors, but dogs aren’t permitted there for their protection. The rich green grounds of E17 are dotted with old metalworks and even gunpowder mills, lending the area a unique character due to its industrial background. The 1894-built Marine Engine House has been meticulously restored to its former splendour as a visitor information centre and café. You may go fishing, listen in on conversations, walk, or even on arrogant pair runs in this location. There is no need to go because everything you could need is here.
Holland Park’s Kyoto Garden
The history of Holland Park, one of London’s most beautiful green spaces, will interest history buffs and gardeners. While Disraeli and Lord Byron frequented Holland, Housed in the 19th century, it was significantly damaged by bombs during World War II. The Earl of Holland resided in the Jacobean house now known as Holland House, encircled by a park bearing his name. The Earl of Holland’s wife was the first person in England to cultivate dahlias successfully. The 55 acres of Holland Park, which include the Japanese-style Kyoto Gardens with koi carp and a bridge at the foot of a waterfall, are still used for dahlia cultivation today. The playground is a must-visit for families since it has a tyre swing, a large see-saw, a zip line, and other climbing structures. Toddlers and babies can play in a separate, enclosed space. The park transforms into the venue for various opera and theatre acts when the weather heats up in the summer.
Tate Modern offers free art.
Tate Modern, a prominent London and global museum, It’s a historical artefact with a top-notch collection of modern and contemporary art. Tate Modern, one of four Tate museums in the UK, attracts 5 million visitors annually. It’s hard to understand how barren London’s contemporary art landscape was before this institution opened, but we’re glad it did.
Tate Modern’s outside is as gorgeous as its inside, but the interior is more enjoyable. The pyramid’s unveiling was London’s largest cultural event since the British Library on Euston Road. Switch House tripled Tate Modern’s size. Because of the collection’s worldwide orientation, its 800 pieces were made by artists from 50 nations. By showing equal numbers of male and female solo shows, they’ve taken a more assertive position on gender than other museums and galleries.
Tate Modern’s temporary exhibits and permanent collections, including works by Picasso, Matisse, and Hepworth, draw large crowds.
Liberty sells elegant cloth.
Liberty uses its historic history to inject new ideas into its traditional wooden interiors. Liberty has introduced apparel and home product lines, including this year’s ready-to-wear collection by Holly Marler. Holly worked with Lee McQueen at Temperley and Alexander McQueen, so she has a fantastic eye for design. Liberty fabrics are now easily recognisable and may be used as clothes or wall coverings.
It has a large beauty category with well-known and lesser-known (but no less effective) cosmetics and skincare. Celebrity piercing specialist Maria Tash offers a private studio on the main floor. Those searching for more structural modifications can visit the home furnishings business on the upper level. The home section is known for its unusual items, historical artefacts, and modern interior designers that may implement absurd ideas.
The men’s floor features apparel and accessories from Matthew Miller, Études Studio, Marni, Wood, and up-and-coming British designers. Liberty treats shopping with humour despite its elaborate façade. Open Call workshops help firms pitch to investors. Artists, designers, and other creatives may have their work reproduced in Liberty Fabric by posting an Instagram photo with #LibertyOpenCall. Margaret Dabbs Sole Spa and Ruffians Barbers nurture tourists’ feet and moustaches.
London’s Liberty is quirky and inventive.
Dukes Bar serves martinis.
If you’re looking for a single, mind-blowingly strong, heartbreakingly delicious drink in an atmosphere more suited to whispering than roaring, you’ve come to the right place. One of London’s most storied pubs is Dukes, famous for its dramatically crafted and tray-served martinis. The rest of the list is worth paying attention to because the service is also excellent. The bar cuisine is good even though the prices of the beverages may be over average. On your way to Dukes for drinks, you can’t go wrong by taking your date through St. James’s and showing them the cobblestone streets.
Conclusion
Check out the London activities and attractions we recommend, which are great for visitors and locals alike. With all these points, don’t forget to hire chauffeur services, which will make your tour more comfortably. Everything you need to know about London in 2022, including must-try restaurants and free activities.
