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.

The upper reaches of the Thames River were once the playground of the rich and landed who built large elegant riverside houses. Of course the grandest and earliest of these is Hampton Court Palace, but there are many smaller houses.

It’s that time of the year in London. As the days get shorter and the air gets colder and colder, people are strapping on ice skates and spinning in circles. Well, if you’re me, you are just falling down and bruising every part of yourself, but for other people the winter ice rinks across London are a highlight of the year.

One of the things you must do when in London is cross the Thames River at night. Even if it’s freezing cold, deep winter, wrap a scarf around your ears and brave the ice-wind that kicks up off the water – it’s worth it for the view.

What’s there to do in London? That depends on what you like to do, and I say that without a shred of irony. Whether you’re there for the history, or the culture, for football or for pints of bitters, you’ll find a lot of things to do in London. Here are some ideas to get you started.

While Western civilization was born in ancient Greece, much of modern Western civilization owes a nod to someone in London at some point over the past two thousand years. London is old, and if you’re visiting, there’s a lot to see, which is why you should start out with a tour.