12 Must-See Attractions in London’s West End

London is a vast, sprawling metropolis. Because it was once a collection of separate towns and villages or “boroughs,” it developed pockets of attractions and activities from one end of the public transportation system to the other, and beyond. Still, it’s the West End, with its concentration of entertainment, shopping, restaurants, bars, famous parks, and historic attractions, that lures both visitors and locals looking for a night out on the town. Piccadilly, Covent Garden, Soho, Mayfair, St James’s, Knightsbridge, Trafalgar Square, and Parliament Square are among the famous neighborhoods loosely included in the “West End.” If you’re heading “up West,” as many Londoners say, just remember to stay alert, because pickpockets and scam artists love this part of London too.

Experience Theatreland

London’s Theatreland fills the heart of the West End. The city’s commercial theaters are where you can see the brightest stars and the newest theater sensations—musicals, dramas, comedies, revues, and, of course, in season, Pantos are all here. Look for the star-studded marquees and theater posters along Shaftesbury Avenue, Charing Cross Road, St. Martin’s Lane, The Strand, and Aldwych, as well as a few tucked into the side streets of Soho and Covent Garden.

If you decide to go, however, beware of ticket touts. As with most sports events and concerts worldwide these days, there are grifters trying to sell you overpriced, or even counterfeit, tickets.

Unless you’ve planned ahead and purchased your tickets through some of the links on London Theatreland or Official London Theatre websites, your best bet is to visit the TKTS booth in Leicester Square. They sell last-minute and discount tickets for the hottest shows. You have to go in person (TKTS is open every day), but you can check the websites to see what might be available beforehand.

Taste Your Way Through Chinatown

London’s Chinatown runs south of Shaftesbury Avenue and parallel to it, along Gerrard Street and Lisle Street. It is small but intense, packing in every kind of Chinese food available—Cantonese, spicy hot Szechwan and Hunan, complex and sophisticated Hong Kong-style, and even a few French-influenced Vietnamese places. The area is particularly good for dim sum and snacks at all hours. We recommend Haozhan on Gerrard Street for its roast and lacquered duck and Opium, a 1920s Shanghai-themed cocktail and dim sum bar behind a secret jade door at the other end of Gerrard Street.

Moreover, if you are in London for Chinese New Year, you can count on this area being at the heart of the celebrations.

Hit the Shops

Regardless of your style or budget, you will likely find excellent shopping experiences somewhere in London’s West End.

• Oxford Street: Known for mass market brands and the Selfridges department store.
• Regent Street: This beautiful shopping area features sweeping curved Regency terraces and London’s top brands.
• Carnaby Street: Find youthful brands, shoe shops, cool bars, and cafes.
• Bond Street: The place for exclusive designers, jewelers, and celebrity spotting.
• Piccadilly: Start at Piccadilly Circus, where you can people-watch and enjoy luxury goods shopping.
• Mayfair and St James’s: Home to art galleries, fine antiques, and gentleman’s goods.
• Soho: Discover eclectic shops featuring vintage vinyl, old magazines, comic books, theatrical fabrics, and makeup.

Browse a Museum

The British Museum, the UK’s famous storehouse of civilization with miles of galleries and millions of objects, is a popular stop in London’s West End. Stop in to marvel at the Rosetta Stone, the Egyptian mummies, and loads more. Despite lots of competition, it remains Britain’s number one attraction.

Additionally, this area is home to some quirky museums that are worth a visit. The Foundling Museum, situated in an 18th-century house on Coram Fields, was London’s first home for abandoned children. Along with moving displays and objects, there are exhibitions on its founders, including George Frederick Handel, William Hogarth, and Thomas Coram.

Other museums worth exploring include the London Transport Museum for fans of the iconic red double-decker bus; the Pollocks Toy Museum in Fitzrovia; and the Sir John Soane’s Museum, the home of the 19th-century architect who designed the Bank of England.

See Some Beautiful Art

The West End is a feast for art lovers. Both of Britain’s big national collections are here—the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery—but the area also houses a few other exceptional galleries.

The Wallace Collection is a private collection accessible to the public. If you wish to see Frans Hals’s The Laughing Cavalier or Fragonard’s Girl on a Swing, this is the place to visit.

The Courtauld Gallery is a small but lovely gallery filled with Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. Please note that it will be closed for two years for a major redevelopment project starting September 3, 2018.

The Royal Academy of Arts showcases works by Britain’s leading living artists. Its legendary annual Summer Exhibition allows anyone to submit a work.

Go on a Traditional Pub Crawl

The Soho and St James’s areas of London’s West End are especially rich in traditional London pubs. Establishments such as The Pillars of Hercules, dating from the early 18th century, have fascinating stories alongside well-conditioned pints of ale. The Queen’s Head was once the meeting place of a club of gentleman dog baiters, which eventually sparked the creation of Britain’s famous dog show, Crufts. A guided tour with a qualified guide can enhance your experience and stories behind the best pubs. Joanna Moncrieff of Westminster Tours offers pub-focused tours of both Soho and St. James. Alternatively, you can search The Guild of British Tourist Guides to find a qualified Blue Badge Guide.

Descend Into the Silver Vaults

Imagine buying silver cutlery, antique silver, or jewelry from a giant safe, and you’ll have some idea of what the London Silver Vaults on Chancery Lane are like. This building began as a safe deposit storage business in the late 19th century. Over time, merchants found it easier to move their businesses into the vaults, resulting in mini-shops packed with fine antique silver. The Silver Vaults were rebuilt in 1953 after damage during World War II. While this attraction may not be widely known among tourists, it is fascinating to visit for anyone, regardless of whether they are in the market for silver.

Visit Covent Garden, Home of the First Punch and Judy Show

In 1662, diarist Samuel Pepys witnessed the first Punch and Judy Show outside St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden. A plaque on the church wall commemorates the event. You can still witness street performances here by licensed entertainers any day of the week, including singers, jugglers, dog acts, comedians, tumblers, and acrobats. Just keep a close watch over your valuables while enjoying the entertainment.

When you’re done with the performances, there’s plenty of artisan craftwork and gifts to browse in the Covent Garden Market as well as on nearby Neal Street. While it can be quite touristy, it remains a fun place to explore or stop for a snack or drink.

Tour The Royal Opera House Covent Garden

The Royal Opera House (ROH) Covent Garden is a historic site, dating back to 1856, and is home to the Royal Opera Company, the Royal Ballet, and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera.

Even if you don’t catch a performance, you can tour the building to learn about its rich history. Many of Handel’s operas and oratorios premiered here. Backstage Tours give you a look behind the scenes before a performance; Legends and Landmarks Tours entertain with stories about the opera house; and the Velvet, Gilt and Glamour Tour focuses on the architecture of the Victorian auditorium.

The tour schedule is announced seasonally on the opera website. It’s important to leave large bags elsewhere before arriving, as you aren’t allowed to bring them on the tours.

Visit Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, situated on the edge of the West End, is essential for any first-time visitor to London. When open in summer, you can explore certain rooms and enjoy tea on the terrace with views of the Queen’s backyard. At other times, you may view part of the Queen’s private art collection in the Queen’s Gallery and time your visit to catch the Changing of the Guard, which begins at 10:30 a.m. at St. James’s Palace and the Wellington Barracks. This ceremony occurs on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and arriving early will help ensure a good spot for photographs.

Tour Parliament and See Big Ben

If you’re hoping to hear Big Ben chime the hours, unfortunately, you’re out of luck for the next few years due to restoration and repairs. Although you cannot tour the clock tower, you can explore the Houses of Parliament and the Palace of Westminster. Various tours, including self-guided audio tours, family tours, and special interest tours, operate when Parliament is not in session and require advance arrangements online or via the provided phone number.

Explore Whitehall and Horseguards Parade

Whitehall runs from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square, housing much of the British government’s bureaucracy. Despite the seemingly uniform architecture, it’s certainly worth a stroll.

10 Downing Street: About 815 feet along from Big Ben, the entrance is barred by tall iron gates and on-duty policemen. However, you can peek in to see the intriguing style of the houses within and often catch sight of protesters outside the gates.

Horseguards Parade: Continue another 500 feet to find a pair of guard boxes with mounted officers. This area is home to the Queen’s Household cavalry, and the full Changing of the Guard here occurs at 11 a.m. on weekdays and at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Visit the Household Cavalry Museum to see the working stables and try on a cavalryman’s uniform.

The Banqueting House: Conclude your tour with a visit to The Banqueting House, which features Rubens’s famous ceiling and the balcony from which Charles I stepped out onto a scaffold to be executed.