From iconic London landmarks and iconic museums to stunning green spaces, the city offers something for couples and families alike.
London Attractions
Madame Tussauds
Just a 7-minute walk away, Madame Tussauds was founded in 1835 by the talented French sculptor Marie Tussaud and has since become a world-famous, immersive attraction. It features over 150 lifelike figures, from the Royal Family and Harry Styles to Paddington Bear and beloved Marvel superheroes, plus the interactive Spirit of London ride for an exciting journey through the city’s rich history.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
Just a 7-minute walk away, one of the world’s most famous addresses, 221B Baker Street, is home to the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Step into the Victorian world that inspired the greatest detective stories, and explore a fascinating collection of artifacts that make you feel as if you’ve stepped straight into one of Holmes’ legendary investigations.
Wallace Collection
Just a 15-minute walk away, the Wallace Collection founded in 1897, invites visitors into a world of art, history, and elegance. Explore galleries brimming with masterpieces from the Renaissance to the 19th century and discover the legacy of Sir Richard Wallace and the Marquesses of Hertford.
Museums and Galleries
London’s most famous museums include the Science Museum, the V&A and the Natural History Museum, all conveniently located in a cluster in South Kensington, only a 12-minute tube away. Highlights of London’s galleries include the Tate Modern and Tate Britain (art lovers can take a boat between the two) and the National Gallery which has 2,300 paintings in its collection but it has highlighted 30 of its best-known for those short on time, including Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
London Eye
Just a 15-minute tube ride away, the capital’s iconic London Eye is a giant observation wheel that moves so slowly you barely notice, offering a relaxed, breath-taking view of the London skyline. From its glass capsules, you can spot landmarks like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and even Windsor Castle on a clear day.
Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament)
Just a 15-minute Tube ride away, the Gothic-revival façade of the Palace of Westminster is one of London’s best-known icons, with its famous clock tower, popularly known as ‘Big Ben’, looming over London – although the name is actually that of the bell inside. The meeting place of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, tours are available that give an insight into political life as well as the history of the building.
Tower of London
Just a 20-minute tube ride away, the Tower of London, founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, boasts a rich and dramatic history as a fortress, royal palace, prison, execution site, and armoury. The Yeomen Warders, famously known as the Beefeaters, lead tours filled with captivating anecdotes. Discover tales of the Ghost of Anne Boleyn and other gripping stories spanning centuries of the Royal Family.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Just a 20-minute Tube ride away, St Paul’s Cathedral rises majestically among the skyscrapers of the City, its iconic dome a striking feature of the London skyline. Highlights include the famous Whispering Gallery, where even a whisper against one wall can be heard clearly on the opposite side, offering a truly memorable experience.
Royal Palaces
London has no shortage of fine palaces. Kensington Palace, only a 20-minute walk away from the childhood home of Queen Victoria, and now the London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, is charming and has a delightful Orangery for lunch or afternoon tea. Hampton Court, on the outskirts of London, provides an interesting contrast. Part-Tudor, part Baroque, the palace is vast, including an impressive network of kitchens built by Henry VIII to feed his court, and is surrounded by beautiful gardens, including a maze.
Entertainment
The West End
London’s West End is the hub of world-class theatre, featuring long-running hits like The Mousetrap (since 1952), Les Misérables (1985), and The Phantom of the Opera (1986), alongside favourites such as Mamma Mia!, Wicked, The Woman in Black, and The Lion King. Many venues are historic, including the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, founded in 1663 with its current building dating from 1812.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
The Globe is a reconstruction of an Elizabethan theatre where many of Shakespeare’s plays were performed and hosts the bard’s famous works in an outdoor setting. There is also an indoor candlelit space for the winter season showing a range of productions.
The Barbican Centre
One of London’s best examples of brutalist architecture, the Barbican Centre is a fascinating building that divides opinion. Its arts programme is outstanding and its two theatres, concert hall and two art galleries regularly host some of London’s most eclectic and thought-provoking work.
The South Bank
This cultural hub is home to the National Theatre, which has three auditoriums, and a regularly changing programme that presents re-imagined classics and contemporary plays. The South Bank is also home to the South Bank Centre with a wide variety of events including classical music, talks and dance.
Royal Albert Hall
The impressive dome-shaped Royal Albert Hall, which first opened its doors in 1871, is one of London’s most iconic performance venues. Built in honour of Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, it was designed to promote the arts and sciences and has since become a treasured national institution. Today, the Hall hosts an extraordinary variety of events — from classical concerts, including the world-famous BBC Proms, to film screenings, and opera.
The Royal Opera House
Home to both The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera House is one of London’s most prestigious cultural venues. Located in the heart of Covent Garden, the current building officially opened in 1858, following two earlier theatres that were destroyed by fire. Today, it continues to offer a world-class programme of opera, ballet, and music.
London Parks
Regent’s Park
Just a 10-minute walk away, Queen Mary’s Gardens is one of the true highlights of Regent’s Park. In summer, more than 12,000 roses burst into bloom, creating a spectacular display of colour and fragrance. The park also features the charming Open Air Theatre, which stages performances from May to September, and is home to the world-famous London Zoo.
Hyde Park
Just a 20-minute walk away, Hyde Park offers a range of outdoor activities, including boating, tennis and horse riding. It’s also home to the famous Speakers’ Corner, where on Sunday mornings, people gather to share their views and debate everything from politics to philosophy — a long-standing London tradition of free speech and lively discussion.
Kensington Gardens
About a 10-minute drive away, Kensington Gardens offers a peaceful escape right next to Hyde Park. Once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, it’s now one of London’s most elegant green spaces, featuring beautiful tree-lined avenues, ornamental flower beds, and tranquil ponds. Highlights include the Albert Memorial, the Italian Gardens, and the Serpentine Gallery.
St James’s Park
Around a 10-minute drive from the hotel, St James’s Park is the oldest of London’s Royal Parks and one of its most picturesque. Surrounded by landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, and Downing Street, the park features elegant flowerbeds, tree-lined pathways, and a scenic lake home to resident pelicans.
Green Park
Just a 10-minute drive away, Green Park is a popular spot to relax and watch the world go by from one of its famous striped deckchairs. The park is at its most beautiful in spring, when thousands of bright daffodils bloom, creating a cheerful and colourful display. Its peaceful lawns and mature trees make it an ideal escape from the bustle of central London.
Holland Park
Just a 20-minute drive from the hotel, Holland Park is a charming blend of quirky character and tranquil beauty. Its highlight is the stunning Japanese Garden, complete with a cascading waterfall, a koi-filled pond, and even resident peacocks roaming gracefully. The park also offers a playground for children and extensive woodland areas, making it a perfect spot for both relaxation and family outings.
Families
River Trips
There are many boat trips on offer along the Thames, providing a relaxing way to see the city as you pass under its iconic bridges. There are scenic cruises as well as tours that give the option of hopping off and back on from the main sights. RIB speedboats, meanwhile, are a memorable and thrilling way to take to the river.
Sea Life London Aquarium
The Shark Walk and the Ray Lagoon are among the highlights of this popular attraction on the South Bank. Talks and feeding times give an insight into the aquarium’s creatures, with the feeding of the piranhas an enthralling sight.
London Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum takes visitors back in time to when London’s streets were traversed by horse-drawn omnibuses, before moving on to the first Underground steam train and then up to the modern-day and the future of travel. Children can climb aboard historic buses and trains, drive a Tube train simulator, and younger children can explore a transport-themed play area.
London Dungeons
Hilarious and horrifying in equal measure, the London Dungeons combine rides, special effects and storytelling to recreate some of the city’s darkest moments. It’s not suitable for young children but ideal for those aged 12 and above.
Hamleys
Founded in 1760, this seven-storey wonderland is packed with over 50,000 toys, making it London’s oldest and most enchanting toyshop — a place children will love to explore.
Science Museum
Opened in 1857, the Science Museum offers 3D movies, simulators and interactive displays, children can learn about science and the world around them in a fun way.
Natural History Museum
Opened in 1881, the children’s favourite, the Natural History Museum’s highlights include a comprehensive section on dinosaurs, complete with roaring T-Rex, and a 25-metre skeleton of a blue whale suspended in the air.
Greenwich
With the Cutty Sark ship, a cable car, a park and an observatory, Greenwich is ideal for families. At the Royal Observatory, the planetarium’s shows take visitors on tours of the Universe, and children can find out about adventures at sea at the National Maritime Museum. From North Greenwich, a cable car zips across the Thames, providing breath-taking views.