London Things to Do

Like the fire-engine red telephone boxes, double decker buses and suited Royal guards in their bearskin hats; London’s famous Black Cabs are so iconic, they’ve even been immortalized in wax at Madame Tussauds. Despite recent fears that the Coventry manufacturer who produces the ubiquitous Black Cabs is going bankrupt, the Austin FX designs are still very much a part of everyday life in the capital. London celebrities fall in and out of them on a seemingly nightly basis; politicians opt for them over a limo; Sir Laurence Olivier and Stanley Kubrick owned their own; and even Arnold Schwarzenegger allegedly had a fleet shipped out to California. Regardless of economic difficulties, it seems like the time-honored Black taxicab is here to stay.

The mania of 2012′s Olympic games may have died down, but there’s still plenty of reasons to visit London in 2013. Here’s our top picks of the capital’s best attractions.

1. Best Museum

London, both a historical and modern city, is best explored alongside the facts and tales of a professional guide. As a qualified London Blue Badge Tour Guide, Gavin Webb presents visitors with a list of custom tours for the small group or family, while also providing specialist tours that target the educational establishment, large group or corporate event with coaches.

With so many famous landmarks, world-class museums and famous shopping streets, London is a city that you could spend weeks exploring, but if all you have is a mere 24 hours, there are still plenty of chances to sample the city’s highlights.

Immortalized on film as the setting for Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts’ frolics in the 1999 eponymous rom-com, Notting Hill (an area encompassing Ladbroke Grove, Portobello Road and parts of North Kensington) has lingered on to-do lists ever since, but there’s far more to this cosmopolitan hub than its sojourn on the big screen suggests.

The London skyline is continuously evolving and there is a gleaming new addition, The Shard. At 1,016-feet high, it is the tallest building in Western Europe. The 11,000 triple-glazed panels were erected by a team of specialist rappellers.

Prince Andrew, who was present at the official opening of the building this month, is going to rappel down the building on September 3rd to raise money for charity!

The city streets are no place to spend a sunny summer’s afternoon, so grab a Frisbee, a few mates and a picnic and join the locals at your nearest park – London has no end of green spaces, but here’s a rundown of the best.

1. Primrose Hill (Best for: celebrity spotting): With its epic views of the city and gently rolling grasslands, this North London haven earns its stripes not only for its impressive scenery, but for the abundance of celebrities resident in the area – Jude Law, Gwen Stefani and Kate Moss have all been spotted taking their kids for a stroll in these parts.

The dramatic site of the 2012 London Olympics, Olympic Park has been taking a break since the close of the games but plans are well under way to transform the space into the ‘Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’. Set to become East London’s biggest public park, equipped with event stages, children’s playgrounds and 35km of walkways and cycle routes, the idyllic parklands will be back on the tourist itinerary in July 2013, as the North Park reopens its gates. The remainder of the 560-acre (230-hectare) park, including hockey and tennis facilities, The South Plaza and stadium, the aquatic center and the Orbit, will be open by Easter of 2014.

So you’ve just watched Michael Phelps win yet another gold medal in the pool, and seen Bradley Wiggins ride to gold medal victory to add to his Tour de France domination. Now you’re inspired to have a go yourself. Well, here are a few places in London to test your skills:

1. Swimming

If the 2012 London Olympics have inspired you to get active in the British capital, here are some of the best places to test your skills

Winning over a legion of new fans as the host of the London 2012 Olympics sailing events, Weymouth and Portland are among England‘s most attractive seaside resorts, drawing thousands to their shores each year.

Weymouth, with its sandy beaches and rugged coastal cliffs is the perfect antidote to London’s urban sprawl, earning itself a stellar reputation among outdoor adventurers. Rock-climbing, paragliding, hiking and cycling are all popular ways to soak up the scenic surroundings, and the resort has fast made a name for itself as a water sports hot-spot, with kite surfing, water skiing and wind surfing all on offer.