Where to go and what to do in London

Arts & Culture

London is home to some of the most impressive museums and art collections in the world.  Admission to all museums listed is free! 

The British Museum - one of the most famous museums in the world, The British Museum is home to an enormous range of exhibits from prehistoric times to modern day.

Natural History Museum - the story of Earth from the Big Bang to the forces that are still shaping it today.  Nice dinosaur skeletons too!

Science Museum - a real hands-on museum covering science from the 18th century to the present day, including working steam engines to an Apollo Command Module.

National Maritime Museum - full of maritime treasures and artefacts, this museum in Greenwich charts Britain's seafaring history with stories of naval battles and famous mariners and explorers, including Admiral Nelson.

National Gallery - with over 2,300 paintings dating from 1230 to 1900, the National Gallery covers all major European schools of painting and is home to masterpieces by many great artists.

Tate Modern - based in a disused power station on the banks of the Thames, this spectacular gallery celebrates modern art from 1900 to the present day and includes works by Dali, Matisse and Picasso.

Don't forget to visit the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral and Nelson's column - all within easy reach of one another.

Outdoor Life

There are eight Royal parks in London, including one in Greenwich, covering 5,000 acres of the capital.  Kensington Gardens is popular with city workers and is home to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground.  St James's Park, the largest of the Royal parks, has a lake full of geese and pelicans and has provided the back drop for many films including Die Another Day, Match Point and 101 Dalmations.  Greenwich Park, a twenty minute walk from Bellerbys College London, provides great views across London and the River Thames.  It is a World Heritage site and a haven for deer, foxes, birds and other wildlife.

The Thames Path runs alongside much of the 315 km length of the River Thames, from its source in The Cotswolds, through London, to the sea at Southend.  It is ideal for a gentle walk, bike ride or serious trek.  Why not walk along part of the Path to the London Eye?  Starting at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, you'll pass through the new developments in Canary Wharf, under Tower Bridge, into central London and finish at the London Eye on South Bank, seven and a half miles later.

London is home to no less than 13 professional football teams, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspurs, Watford and West Ham, who all dominate the Premiership football competition from August to May each year.  Students from Bellerbys London often make trips to see local football teams play.

Social Scene

Shopping

If you like shopping, the main areas to aim for are Marble Arch, Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road.  Here you'll find all the usual UK high street fashion shops and more.  Knightsbridge has several opulent designer boutiques and world-famous department stores, including Harvey Nichols and Harrods.  Covent Garden has a wealth of trendy shops, places to eat, a covered market and street entertainers.

For something a little more unusual, take a trip one of the 70 markets in the capital, such as Greenwich, Camden or Portobello Road Market.  These are a great shopping experience and offer lots of atmosphere and stalls selling anything from antiques, to clothes - vintage and new, crafts, accessories and furnishings.

Nightlife

London is pretty much open all hours.  Whatever your taste, you can find it in the city.

There are hundreds of places to eat across the city, serving foods from around the world - from African to Vietnamese.  Many visitors to London like to carry on the Victorian tradition of taking afternoon tea on a special occasion.  You'll find this offered at the top hotels including The Ritz and Claridge's but beware, it isn't cheap!

There are countless venues for live music, comedy and theatre in the capital.  Theatreland in the West End is world-famous for new productions and long-standing classic musicals such as Billy Elliot, The Phantom of the Opera and Guys and Dolls.

If you like clubbing, this is the place for you.  For a big night out try Fabric.  Each weekend the glamorous crowd of revellers is entertained by the biggest names in hip hop, electro and drum and bass.  Or try one of the many DJ bars like Herbal, a lively, cool venue set over three floors. 

If that sounds a little frantic for you, why not experience one of the thousands of traditional British pubs scattered across the capital, like The Holly Bush in Hampstead which dates back to 1643.  Typical of many of the historic pubs in the UK, The Holly Bush offers a cosy atmosphere, real fire and great ales and food.

Fun

There are so many must-see attractions in London it is difficult to list them.  To see the city as a proper tourist why not take one of the many open top bus tours which cover all the obvious attractions, such as Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, and so on.

London's number one tourist attraction is the London Eye.  At 135 metres high it is the world's tallest observation wheel and the fourth tallest structure in London.  On a clear day you can see 40km in all directions, as far as Windsor Castle!  Each trip is one slow rotation of the wheel which takes around 30 minutes.