London’s full of some amazing sights - the London Eye, Hyde Park and even Oxford Street, but not all of those are designed to be done in the wet weather. London is full of some hidden gems, all under cover. From royal palaces to museums, afternoon teas to champagne, there’s bound to be something out there that’ll take your fancy! Whether you want a relaxing afternoon or a spooky evening, check out our 10 favourite London activities for a rainy day.
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1. Meet your favourite celebrity!
Everyone wants to meet their favourite celebrity, and Maddam Tussauds is the place to spot them all! By purchasing tickets here rather than turning up on the day means you get to skip all the queues and see your favourite celebs even quicker! London’s Madame Tussauds is home to Leonardo DiCaprio, the Royal Family and even the Kardashians - it’s a game of spotting who you don’t know, more than who you do! At the moment, there are two special exhibitions as well - Star Wars and Marvel Super Heroes - you’re going to want to go before they’re gone!
Book Tours : Madame Tussauds London Admission Ticket
2. St. Paul's Cathedral
Saint Paul’s Cathedral is one of London’s most famous landmarks - it’s recognisable worldwide. Enjoy this visit - with tickets helping you skip the queues on entry - and explore this landmark. View many of the different galleries, including the Whispering Gallery, the Stone Gallery and the Gold Gallery, with the latter giving amazing views over the city of London. If it’s your sort of thing, you can also take a trip down to the cathedral’s crypt. You have the choice of exploring the cathedral on your own, or joining onto one of the (free) organised tours - don’t worry, you have as much time as you’d like to explore the cathedral!
Book Tours : St Paul's Cathedral Admission Ticket
3. Head to the top of The Shard
Fancy heading up the tallest building in Western Europe? Yes? Then The Shard is for you! Enjoy 360-degree views from the top, and try and spot all of London’s most famous sights, including Tower Bridge, the Tower of London - and of course, the Gherkin. Although you don’t get an audioguide, there is a running commentary as you walk around the viewpoint, so you’ll never be confused at what you’re looking at. You’re able to upgrade your ticket for a small price and get a complimentary glass of champagne.
Book Tours : The View from The Shard Ticket with Champagne Option
4. A day at the Museum
Enjoy this two and a half hour tour around the British Museum. The museum is full of artefacts, over 8 million in total, spanning over 6000 years of history. As well as getting to see these sights, thanks to this tour you also get to learn all about them too! The tour is customised to what the guide thinks you’ll enjoy, and you’ll feel as if you’re a part of the history as you walk around. There’s a maximum of eight people on the tour, so you’ll never feel overwhelmed, or that you’re missing out.
London Tour Guide
Robert Woolf
I am a London tour guide and my tours include talking about people who have shaped the city plus the many connected places such as Hampton Court Palace, The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the commercial centre of the city: the City of London, and London’s world class museums and galleries. I have been guiding for 12 years. I am a licenced London Blue Badge Tour Guide, a City of London Gu... Read more
Tours by Robert
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5. Learn all about the London Dungeon
Fancy a unique look at London’s underground? And no, we don’t mean the train system! The London Dungeon was once home to some of the UK’s most notorious killers and was even linked with the Great Plague. Learn all about this history as you take a tour of the dungeons, following the footsteps of hundreds of years of history. Learn about the Great Fire of London, and head out on a boating adventure! There’s even an added bonus of a drink token, which you’ll need to calm your nerves after the tour’s finished!
Book Tours : The London Dungeon Admission Ticket
6. Visit the home of Henry VIII
Ever wanted to see inside the home of a Prince but neither Prince William or Prince Harry invited you in? Then here’s your chance! Hampton Court Palace was once home to Henry VIII and some of his wives. You also get to visit some of the Queens State’s Apartments. There are also some beautiful palace gardens for you to enjoy. Throughout the palace, you’ll find guides dressed in opulent costumes, giving you all the information you may need. There’s no time limit on the ticket, so you could spend all day exploring.
Book Tours : Hampton Court Palace Entrance Ticket
7. Pretend to be Will and Kate
Stand under the looming doors of Westminster Abbey, and recreate some of Will and Kate’s wedding photos. Westminster Abbey is full of history, from royal weddings and funerals to the graves of some of the world’s best scientists. Again, the entry cost includes an audio guide, so you’re not going to have to worry about missing some of the stories of this beautiful building. You can spend as much time as you’d like exploring this beautiful place - but remember, it is a church, and tours only run Monday to Saturday as there are normal services on Sundays.
8. Feel like royalty
London is home to the Queen and the royal family, and who wouldn’t like to live like royalty for a moment if they could! This four and a half hour tour takes you around the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace and through St James’s Park. You also get to see the famous Throne Room, where a lot of family portraits have been taken over the years. You get an audio guide, so you get to learn all about the history of the building as you walk around! You finish the tour with an afternoon tea inside one of London’s inner-city hotels.
9. Shakespearean dreams
There’s no doubting Shakespeare’s impact on us all today - how many of us haven’t studied one of his books at school? Enjoy a guided tour of the Globe, where most of Shakespeare’s plays have been performed. Learn how the shows were played out, and enjoy all-day access to return and imagine some more. You’re even lucky enough to see some of the costumes that were worn during performances at the Globe! You also have the option to upgrade your ticket and enjoy an A Midsummers Night’s Dream-themed afternoon tea afterwards as well!
10. Learn about the Wars
There’s no denying the World Wars defined the history of the UK, so step inside Churchill’s war rooms and learn more about them! The rooms are located within the Imperial War Museum and focus on Winston Churchill, the UK’s Prime Minister during the wars. An audioguide talks you through Churchill’s history, and how he was involved in the war. The exhibition is also full of multimedia exhibits, so you can really feel like you were there when all the important decisions were being made!
Book Tours : Churchill War Rooms Entrance Ticket
What else?
Naturally, London is full of shops! Head to the famous Oxford Circus, where you can find all the high street brands, visit the famous Selfridges, Liberty of London and Hamley’s - every kid’s dream. Spend time wandering in Covent Garden or enjoying some amazing food at the Borough Market. You’ll never be stuck for choice in London!
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