Top things to do in London - International Traveller Magazine

No matter what your passion or interest, you can not only indulge it, but usually find the world’s best at it in London.

Museums

Victoria & Albert Museum

Cromwell Rd, South Kensington SW7
Underground: South Kensington

The ‘attic of Britain’, the V&A’s permanent collection is home to a great collection of unexpected and quirky gems that only a colonial power could amass.
The temporary exhibitions are always surprising and worth it.

British Museum

Great Russel St, WC1
Underground: Tottenham Court Rd / Russel Square

When you conquer and run the world you tend to collect a few keepsakes from your efforts, and the British Musuem is where the best of these spoils of colonial conquests are kept.
In short, it is the greatest collection of antiquities in the world, though some are fairly controversial. From the Egyptians to the Greeks (and those troublesome Elgin Marbles) the museum is an ancient historian’s nirvana.
Lord Foster’s dome over the atrium is pretty impressive, too.

Churchill War Rooms

King Charles St, Westminster SW1
Underground: Westminster / Charing Cross

A great insight into both the man and how the war was run (if not won).
In the secret underground bunker you can visit the war cabinet rooms, the transatlantic telephone room and kitchens.

More London museums…

Historical Buildings and Palaces

St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Churchyard EC4
Underground: St Paul’s

The monolithic Sir Christopher Wren-designed structure really does tower over the city, so much so that St Paul’s and Big Ben are probably the most iconic buildings across the kingdoms supposedly united.
Famous burials include Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, Lord Nelson and Duke of Wellington and, of course, Lady Di married Charles at St Paul’s as well.
Guided tours and climbing to the top of the dome are a highlight.

Houses of Parliament

Parliament Square, Westminster SW1
Underground: Westminster

For anyone who lives in a democracy, a tour of the Houses of Parliament is going to be worthwhile. The House of Lords and Commons, plus the 1000 plus rooms – you obviously don’t see them all, as well as plenty of secret gardens and towers. The guided tours are worth it – even backpackers have been known to enjoy them.

More of London’s historical buildings…

Shopping

Selfridge’s

400 Oxford St, W1
Underground: Bond St

A more wallet-friendly and contemporary department store on Oxford St, Selfridge’s range starts at reasonable prices (vs Harvey Nicks and Harrods).
You will find everything from the conservative to ultra high fashion and, while the food hall doesn’t quite rival Harrods, drop into Selfridge’s when needing some sustenance and this little-known secret: it serves the best salt beef sandwich in London.

Portobello Road Markets

Portobello Road, Notting Hill , W11
Underground: Notting Hill Gate

The world’s largest antique market has food and fashion, too.

Hamleys

188-196 Regent St, W1
Underground: Oxford Circus

A real-life toy emporium, this is the ultimate in the world’s toy shops.
Across eight floors of giddiness-inducing kiddy fun, if you have any gifts to buy for under 18s, use that as an excuse to entertain your inner child for a fulfilling afternoon.

East End Thrift Store

1A Assemblage Passage, Whitechapel E1
Underground: Whitechapel

East End Thrift Store is a little vintage beauty selling fur coats, leather jackets etc. from as little as £10.
Plus there’s plenty of other cute boutiques down this way to check out.

More London shopping haunts…

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Tours

Walking Tours

In a city this big, with this much history, walking tours are as prolific as mice in the underground.
Here are our recommendations:

Art, photography and fashion tour with Fox and Squirrel
Historical tour with Old Map Man
Street art tour with Street Art London
Spooky walking tour with London Ghost Tours
General city landmarks, Jack the Ripper and everything-in-between tour with London Walks
Foodie tour with Eating London Tours

Open Bus Tour

It’s almost non-negotiable for London first-timers (and second-timers, we could argue), particularly on a tight schedule.
It’s an efficient overview and introduction to the great city and will help you get your bearings.
The two major operators are the Big Bus Company and the Original London Sightseeing Tour. Just find a bus stop, look up and if it has the logo – wait for the bus.

More London tours…

Parks, Gardens and Heaths

Regent’s Park

Underground: Baker St, Regent’s Park, Great Portland St

Active playground for Londoners and home to the London Zoo, a sojourn on a Saturday will see locals at play well into a long summer night.
Enter via Baker St and hire a pedalo or boat to flop about on the lake.

Hampstead Heath

Underground: Hampstead / Golders Green

The wild and woolly park of London, the Heath has loads of children’s parks, plus three ponds in which people actually swim, so if you are hankering for a dip on a warm evening it’s the go.

More of London’s parks, gardens and heaths…

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

A wanderer’s guide to the top things to do in London