London Things to Do

England’s longest river running all the way from the Cotswolds Hills in Gloucestershire through to the North Sea, the Thames has long been the lifeline of London running right through the heart of the city center and flanked by many of the city’s key attractions.

One of England’s most iconic television series dating back to 1963, the BBC’s hugely popular science fiction series ‘Doctor Who’ features a fictional time traveler whose escapades are filmed on location in central London. The cult series, still running today with an alternate cast, celebrates its 50th anniversary in November 2013 and there’s no better time for fans to follow in the footsteps of the beloved eccentric.

London’s most popular paid-for tourist attraction and one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the EDF Energy London Eye towers over the banks of the River Thames in London’s city center. At 135-meters high, the London Eye is one of the world’s tallest observation wheel, offering 360-degree panoramic views spanning up to 40km away on a clear day. The famous glass viewing pods each take up to 28 people but with almost 10,000 visitors taking to the skies each day, the queues can be overwhelming.

Opened in 1863, London’s underground metro system, called the Tube, was the first in the world. More than 26,000 people used it each day in its first six months, and 11.8 million people rode the rails in the first year of operation. To celebrate the Tube’s historic 150th anniversary, the city of London has planned several events throughout the year

London’s new Shard is not just the tallest tower in the city, but also by far the best building to experience the most spectacular 360 degree views of the city and beyond. Walking up to the Shard we were straight away in awe of this building’s magnificent size and striking structure.

Whether you want to sip champagne overlooking the London skyline or party the night away on a River cruise, you’ll plenty are of ways to impress your lover in the British capital. Here are a few ideas for romantic things to do in London.

“Pre-Raphaelites: Victorian Avant-Garde” is a major new exhibition at Tate Britain which brings together over 150 works by these revolutionary painters. Displayed thematically, rather than by chronology, there is much to feast the eye on.

The Pre-Raphaelites exhibition is likely to be very busy, so book tickets in advance. It ends on January 13th, 2013.

After the excitement of Christmas has died down and the bargain-hunting masses have descended on the central London sales, it’s time to ring in the New Year with the ultimate and grandest party of the year.

While not as ubiquitous as fish ’n’ chips or afternoon tea, Britain’s love affair with Indian food is so renowned that there are over 7,000 Indian restaurants in the UK and curry has become one of the country’s most popular adopted dishes. The English love of a good curry, fueled by the capital’s high population of Indian and Bangladeshi residents, means you won’t have to wander far to get your fix of authentic Indian food in London.

Reportedly the most haunted capital city in the world, London’s stately Victorian buildings, cobbled backstreets and elaborate graveyards lend the city an eerie backdrop, perfect for spine-tingling ghost stories and gruesome legends.