There’s so much to do in London – the list could be endless, but here are some of my favourite things to do for fun in the city.
See A Show | Sing Your Heart Out | Sporty Activities | Sports Fans | Gamers | Unique Experiences | Good Vibes | Holiday Fun | Tours
Standing Ovation
New York has Broadway; London has The West End. Catching a show is a must if you’re spending time in The Big Smoke. Whatever you like, there’s something for you here. For musicals and plays, download Today Tix (this also works in a lot of major cities in the US) and take a look to grab yourself a good deal. You could also try your luck at the ticket booths in Leicester Square. Both options are typically a better deal than booking directly at the theatre, but you do you. For Ballet and Opera, head to The Royal Opera House. If you’re not sure which play to see, how about the longest running play in London, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap? Or my personal favourite, The Play That Goes Wrong (if you’re looking to laugh until your face hurts). For something a little less traditional, check out Off-West End or Community Theatre Companies (Geoids, Sedos) as they often have some quirky, cool options you’d not usually have the chance to see.
Catch a comedy gig. There are options for free shows with comedians testing out new material, or pay what it’s worth shows. If they have any shows on whilst you’re visiting, Showstoppers Improvised musicals are epic. Head to Applause Store to grab tickets to be in a studio audience for a recording of a TV show. Tickets are free but typically oversold so line up early for your show to make sure you get a seat.
Sing Your Heart Out
Need a night of karaoke? And probably bowling… I don’t know why they often come together. All Star Lanes for both, or Karaoke Box for a private booth and a sing song. If you want an audience, head to Show Off! piano bar where you can be a star for the night complete with accompanying pianist.
Playing Sports… Kinda
Want a casual game with cocktail in hand? Try Flight Club for social darts – you get your own bay with your friends, order food and drinks, and don’t worry about the maths – they have you covered. If cricket is more your style, try Sixes Social Cricket, or book at Bounce for social ping pong. I would always just caveat that with, ping pong is not good for talking to someone – music, atmosphere, and being at opposite ends of the table aren’t conducive to deep conversation.
Want something more laidback? Electric Shuffle. Shuffleboard is the calmest sport I can think of. A little mini golf? Swingers Mini Golf is super cute and fun (just make make NO mistakes when you google it, okay) – you will get split into groups of 3 to go around the course, and up to you how strict you are with counting your friends’ shots. Junkyard Golf is also cool but felt like we got around the course way too quickly so it was over before we knew it. For a baseball batting cage, bowls, cornhole and more all ON TOP of one roof, check out Roof East atop Stratford’s shopping mall. It’s cute for a summer’s day, with its games, food, and rooftop cinema; the only callout I have here is that we DID buy cinema snacks to take in with us, and they were confiscated at the entrance. Rough.
Sports Fan
If you’re a sports fan and would rather be in the audience than stepping up to the plate, depending on the time of year, you’re sure to find something. Wimbledon in the summer feels oh so British; tickets are difficult to procure, so enter the ballot ahead of time if you can. Have I been to watch cricket at the Oval? Yes. Did I spend the entire time socialising with my group in the bar? Also yes. Cricket just doesn’t entice me, but it’s a sport where you can get up from your seat and wander around in the bars so it’s pretty calm.
If you want to watch rugby for free, there are amateur teams in London you could casually watch in Regents Park. If you’re ‘looking for a man in finance’ (I know this reference will be so old soon but I have to keep it in) they’re all there.
Football is everywhere and on game days with London teams playing, plan ahead for transport and getting around. I’ve gone to The Arsenal a bunch of times and mainly go for the vibes; it’s worth going at least once if that’s your type of thing. I need you to know that you can’t drink alcohol in your seat at football stadiums so polish off that drink at halftime before coming out for the rest of the game. You could also just go to a pub where they’ll have the games on the TVs and loud fans will BE THERE. And if American football is more your speed, there are a few games held in London each season in London so book ahead!
Game On
For board games, Draughts Board Game Cafe is the one; the staff members will help you pick out a game for your group based on what you like, and let me tell you, the first time I went, we were all crying laughing at the game we were learning. It was the best day. For arcade games you could check out The Four Quarters at various locations, but I ABSOLUTELY recommend you go to The Four Thieves for their live RC car race track – so much fun!
If you take your gaming more seriously, you can of course head to The Hippodrome Casino and try your hand at Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat. Like most casinos, it’s always unclear what time it is out in the real world, but unlike many casinos, this one has meals round the clock. I once had a full meal with a whole group of friends at around 4am because even though we were all ready to stop drinking, the tubes typically don’t start up until around 6am – this was before the weekend night tube. It’s also worth noting that the women’s bathrooms have straighteners for customer use so if you’re caught out in Central in some bad weather and need to touch up your hair – just don’t tell them I sent you.
A Unique Experience
Did you ever watch the TV show The Crystal Maze? No? Doesn’t matter. You’ll love this. If you need a group activity this is 100% what I’d be doing if I were you. A team of 8 people is ideal, and you’ll head around to complete various tasks (physical, mental, mystery). Search just one episode of the TV show – if you don’t love it, well, I’m not open to feedback on my opinions right now. Alternatively, there’s Life Sized Monopoly, or AR Squid Game Experience.
Escape rooms really took off and they’re everywhere now. I went to Secret Studio and it was so much fun. If you wanted a big team event for work colleagues, you can add canapes and drinks to the package. Our team did really well I think… there was another team in our group where one person started the game by giving a motivational speech that really ate up a lot of their time and they didn’t make it out. So just probably don’t go with that tactic.
BYOC or Bring Your Own Cocktail, is a bespoke cocktail experience – you have to book ahead and reserve your spot. You bring an unopened bottle of alcohol of your choice, and the talented mixologists make cocktails for you (~5) based on what you like. Be careful though – someone warned us and we didn’t take it seriously. You consume a lot more alcohol in a short time than you usually would at a bar so when your face hits the outside air when you leave, you can suddenly feel a little sick. You’ve been warned, okay.
For The Vibes
London has no shortage of things to do and places to visit, sometimes you just want to go somewhere to soak up the vibes…
Portobello Road Market is such a weekend must (though you can head there any day – check out the site for specific events), wander around Notting Hill taking in the rainbow-coloured houses or fangirling at the Notting Hill bookstore. Or if you find yourself on the opposite side of London, you could grab some flowers at Columbia Road Flower Market – so cute.
Camden Town is a really fun area with its markets, pubs, food, live music, and overall cool vibes; it’s always a good idea for the weekend. Stroll to the canal, grab a picnic and sit on Primrose Hill, or head over to Regent’s Park. There’s so much to do and see in this area.
A trip to South Bank is a great way to spend time by the river; take in a show at The National, eat and shop in the markets, or check out the little man-made beach. If it gets too hot for you in sunny ol’ London, there are some water sprinklers that some people run through to cool down… I mean, it’s mainly kids. This is also where you’ll find the London Eye, several museums, and sometimes street performers too.
Shoreditch has often been associated with hipsters and a bohemian vibe, and it will not disappoint. We’re talking artsy, foodie, fashion, culture – it’s all here. Box Park in Shoreditch is a perfect starting point with its street food, shops, and events.
The Barbican is a hub of arts and culture with some free events and activities, and other tickets performances and exhibits.
Do you miss those carefree college days of house parties and gatherings? Prefer the comfy sofa to a crowded bar? Even if you live in London, sometimes there’s just no space to have everyone round to celebrate or catch up. That’s where Little Blue Door (and other venues) comes in – catered menus, house parties, and private events, this is such a unique concept you’re going to love!
Holiday Fun
Christmas in London is freezing but magical so we have to include some festive fun on this list.
Winter Wonderland is the obvious one. It can feel a little like you have to pay too much to exist here, but yolo. You’ll see Christmas markets popping up in Leicester Square and South Bank, which always feel so festive. If a holiday skate is what puts you in the jolly mood, the best ice skating spots are Somerset House or The Natural History Museum. I also love Skylight – a rooftop space which changes depending on the season – you’ll find a rink on the rooftop each December. Note: Skylight/Tobacco Dock doesn’t have a lift so it’s a bit of a walk up the car park steps (ramps also available to use).
Catch a pantomime if you can – obviously The Palladium is the best one filled with famous faces, but you can always find one within your price range if you look around online. Take a picture with the giant Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square (which is traditionally gifted from the city of Oslo), or the seasonal decorations on the outside of Annabel’s. If the twinkly lights of the season are your thing, you’ll find a display as you walk Oxford Street, Regents Street, and Carnaby Street, as well as the beautiful displays at Kew Gardens.
For Christmas shopping, there’s Hamley’s toy store to impress the kids, and Harrods and Liberty to impress the adults. A popular purchase is to get the Harrods tree ornament of the year – they’re in high demand with lots of people collecting them for the tree.
Tour Guide
If you’re looking for a tour guide, I recommend the hop on/hop off red tour bus. I’ve taken out of town visitors and it’s a great way to see the city and learn some of the history too. Another great tour experience is The Tower of London with an audio tour available in your choice of language. And the last tour I think everyone should do is The Globe Theatre – this is a guided tour usually by very passionate guides, with some time allowed to self-guided exploration.
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