Things to do or avoid in London on a summer weekend

Regarding Trooping the Colour: the ceremony starts at 11am (from memory) and lasts about an hour. You need tickets to sit in the stands around the parade ground. The King and entourage etc will go down The Mall a few minutes before to get to the parade on the dot of 11.

If you are at the Palace end of the Mall, you will be in a better position to get towards the front when the Police allow crowds through the barriers and stand in front of the Palace to see the Royal family on the balcony when they view the air force fly past at 1pm.

I have no idea what time you need to get there for a good view but on a nice day it looks very busy on the TV coverage. There may well be some form of security check, particularly looking in bags.

Thanks for the extra info on Trooping the Colour, my wife is very interested in seeing at least some of it and those suggestions will be very helpful.

First suggestion from a person who has been visiting and exploring London since Nixon was in office; slow down.

Secondly accept the reality London will be jammed in June.

Thirdly, check out every place’s websites for opening and closing hours and plan accordingly.

Fourth I find London is best explored on foot.

You’ll enjoy walking out of the County Hall PI to see Westminster bridge with the Houses of Parliament across the Thames. Great view.

As you are walkers be sure to enjoy the Thames River path. Also has other names like Olympian Way outside the O2 arena. I walk portions of it each visit.

On the Nov 2023 trip started at the O2 and followed the path to the Thames Barrier. Discovered the Anchor and Hope pub where I used the loo, ordered a pint and enjoyed conversation. I then walked to the Charlton train station and headed back to my accommodation.

This past November I throughly enjoyed visiting the National Maritime Museum. The view from there is fabulous and the walk back to the Cutty Sark invigorating.

If it’s still playing do get tickets to see Witness for the Prosecution at County Hall. Very well done and it’s performed in an actual courtroom. Plus it’s Agatha Christie. Can’t get more British than that!

Lastly, enjoy pub grub with art deco beauty at the Blackfriars pub across the road from Blackfriars station. The dichotomy of the architecture alone is worth seeing. The melding of old and new defines London. Another example is Leadenhall market near “ The Gherkin.”

Great city. Have a wonderful visit.

Although London will be busy with tourists in June, English school summer holidays have not yet started. So, my advice would be to do any places popular with children (eg Natural England Museum) on a weekday.

Claudia, thanks for the wonderful suggestions. I actually picked up several ideas from your previous posts including checking for tickets to Witness for the Prosecution. We’ve been checking all the websites for timed entry tickets so we’re using that info to plan our days. We are very much looking forward to the Thames River Path and just exploring. The Royal Observatory had caught our attention so with your recommendation for the National Maritime Museum that could be a very nice area to spend time especially if the weather is good. Blackfriars was already on our list but appreciate the other pub suggestion.

And yes not looking forward to the crowds in June. Ordinarily we travel shoulder season if that’s even a thing anymore. This year the trip is for one of the “big” birthdays which is in June so we’re prepared for the crowds and will just go with it.

Good tip on the school summer holidays, I had wrongly thought they would already be started. We will definitely plan to do those places on a weekday. Thanks!

London is always busy so it doesn’t make a massive difference when you go. We went up to see a show the second week of January and you couldn't move in the West End. Agree with avoiding the Natural History museum at weekends, and probably the other museums and galleries will be quieter midweek too.

English schools don’t break up until the last week of July. The summer break is only 6 weeks long here. Scottish schools also have 6 weeks but it’s taken a few weeks earlier.

Thanks Helen for the confirmation. We’ll try to schedule the more non-kid interesting things for the weekend. We’ve dealt with the crowds in Venice and Rome but not sure we’re truly ready for the London crowds in June. Hopefully we’ll have a little less crowds in York and Bath but probably not.

London is super busy in the West End but you easily get away from the crazy crowds in other places. Taking a walk along the South Bank is always good. Greenwich is a great day out. And there are all the parks to enjoy. London is huge and has lots of different areas that are worth exploring and won’t be rammed with people.

Of interest, re Trooping the Colour?

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/trooping-the-colour-tips-tricks

I think, but you should check if you plan to attend, that the “events “ which start at Horse Guards Parade at 10am are the soldiers and band forming up. I think I’m right to say the King arrives at 11.

Thanks again, being from Wisconsin we are able to get in the country very easy and thus the London parks which look fabulous with certainly be an escape for us.

Not sure how I missed that forum thread when I searched Trooping the Colour but it was good information. It does look to be a pretty big time commitment which was my major objection to seeing the changing of the guard. I do however agree that since by chance we are going to be in London during Trooping the Colour it would be a shame to not take part. Saturday will be our 5th day sightseeing in London so maybe standing around and taking it easy for several hours will be welcome.

Looks like a great list. In terms of which days to go to major sites, weekends are always going to be busier- if you're interested in walking or doing some of the Thames Path as mentioned here, I would recommend that on a weekend. You could even walk from e.g. Staines to Windsor along the Thames Path and visit the town that way.

For Trooping the Colour, if you just want to see the parade, you can do that very easily without much planning- just show up along the Mall a short while before it is due to start. Obviously the earlier you go the more likely you are to be at the front against the barriers but we went last year just before it started and still got a good view. If you want to see the actual ceremony, as others have mentioned that requires booking tickets quite far ahead of time.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply Cat VH. For Trooping the Colour it may come down to how we feel the night before and if we are up for going early to see more of the ceremony or just seeing some of the parade from the Mall. We had decided against trying to get tickets for the stands.

OP I have countless other pub suggestions if you need them.

I love pubs because they are meeting places where often you’ll find grandparents with grand babies in prams, best friends enjoying a meal, dog walkers, etc. I go around 2 or 3pm. Most often less crowded and after walking 2 to 5 miles a day perfect place to rest tired back and feet.

My favorite thing is discovering pub dogs and cats.

They make me smile.

Best pub dog; Rudi at the Mitre on Saint Mary’s Grove in the Richmond neighborhood.

Best pub cat: The General at the Seven Stars pub near the Royal Courts of Justice

EDIT 1: Both the Hampstead Heath and Richmond Park are expansive. Good for walking. On the Nov 2024 sojourn discovered and enjoyed the Parkland trail. Started in Finsbury Park and ended in Crouch End. Google Parkland Walk. Throughly enjoyed the meander.

Claudia, thanks so much for the generous offer. We are the same way and when we are traveling in the US we search out microbreweries at every stop. Great relaxing places to eat, try a local brew and chat. I assume pubs wherever we end up will be our go to for meals. Appreciate the suggestion for another walking route.
Doug

We did a guided tour of Parliament on a Friday in early September 2022 but maybe the schedule is different at other times of the year or they have reduce the number of tours (which is a shame because the tour was a highlight of our trip).
For British Museum, National Gallery, and Westminster Abbey, I would prebook, especially on the weekend.
For Windsor, I think the best day is Thursday, because St George's chapel is open and the guard march/changing of the guard also occurs on that day.
For Cambridge, avoid Monday if you want to see the Fitzwilliam but if you just want to tour some of the colleges and go punting, Monday is fine. Some of the smaller museums in Cambridge are open on Monday.

The British Museum--especially the ground floor of the Museum--is extremely popular and therefore massively overcrowded much of the time. If you haven't been to the Vatican Museums, the Louvre or the top sights in Barcelona, you may struggle to imagine a museum so crowded. Museum staff told me the situation is worst on weekends, holidays and rainy days. So there you have it: Go on a beautiful weekday when you'd rather be outdoors! There can be a long entry line at the British Museum. If you can pin down when you want to go, it's worth getting an entry time online in advance. If you anticipate being at the museum until closing time, you should consider starting on the less-crowded second floor when you arrive. Most of the heavy-hitters are downstairs, so be sure to allot sufficient time to see that area before you leave. You'll probably still encounter enough crowding (except on Friday) to slow you down.

Several of the major museums in London are open late one night a week (often Friday). The British Museum closes at 8:30 PM on Fridays; like most European museums, it starts ushering people out well before that time, so I'd figure on having to leave by 8:15 at the latest. Taking advantage of those late closures is an easy way to squeeze out a few extra hours of sightseeing. The British Museum is a lot quieter late in the afternoon and into the evening, but be aware the food sources close up before the regular 5 PM closing time.

I don't think anyone has mentioned London Walks (https://www.walks.com/). It has many dozens of walking tours, of which at least 10 will probably be running every day you're in London. The walks cost 20 GBP (less for seniors) and are led by licensed guides. Many historical topics are covered, and there are also neighborhood-focused walks. I've taken many of the walks and really liked all of them. They make an effort to take their groups down little side streets not usually found by tourists.

Thanks for the information. In June Parliament tours are only Saturday, good to hear that you thought it was really good. We are planning on prebooking most things and have been watching their calendars for how fast tickets are selling. We had Windsor penciled in for Thursday for the very reasons you listed. Thanks for the heads up on Cambridge, we had been planning on going on Monday and would have been really disappointed to not be able to see the Fitzwilliam museum. Just goes to show that no matter how many times you look at things, stuff slips past.
Doug

acraven, thanks for that detailed reply. We have been to the Vatican museum and the Louvre but those were over 25 years ago and I think it’s worse now (and we were younger then!). The British museum is one that did worry us especially trying to figure out whether to book a timed entry ticket right at open or later in the day and stay until close. Either way I like the idea of starting on the second floor and to consider doing it on Friday.

We will look into London Walks and see what they are offering. I remember seeing many positive reviews of their tours but for some reason they weren’t on our radar.
Doug

Just a note on the British Museum- in my experience the most crowded area is the part of the Egyptian section with the mummies, which is on the second floor (what we call the first floor- the bottom floor here is called the ground floor). The upper floors have lower ceilings than the ground floor which probably adds to the sense of crowding. It's definitely not possible to see it all in one visit, unless you are very committed or move very fast, so I would figure out in advance which areas you want to prioritise. If you want to escape the crowds a bit, there are lots of great sections which don't get as many visitors, like the Japan, Korea, Americas, and Africa sections. (Though of course I am sure you'd want to see some of the big, famous pieces like the Rosetta Stone.). Both the British Museum and the National Gallery now have security checks which often result in long queues so make sure you leave time for that.

Back again to offer another pub option found when I stayed at the Premier Inn in Chiswick.

The George and Devonshire pub is adjacent to the Fullers Brewery.

Cat VH, thanks for the additional suggestions for the British Museum, and you’re right that seeing the Rosetta Stone is top on the list. It’s clear we’ll have to spend some time looking at the floor plan of the museum in our preparation. On the plus side it’s usually very interesting spending time on a museum’s website.

Claudia, looked up the pub and it’s just what we look for, especially if it’s nice enough to sit outside.

Doug

A great way to get to Greenwich is to take an Uber Boat (scheduled service) down river . It gives you a chance to get off your feet and a different view of London.
What I will often do when showing travel companions around is plan on being at the tower of London right when it opens, tour it and then grab an Uber boat right there at Tower Pier. At Greenwich I go up to the observatory and then backtrack back to museums and Cutty Sark.

It was a special moment for my sister and I last November when the National Maritime Museum accepted our grandfather’s World War I journal into their manuscript collection. That visit will always hold a place in my heart.

Wow Carol great story, that’s really terrific!

The Tower of London at open and then down to Greenwich was one of our options. We are interested in seeing the city from the river and had been thinking about taking the Thames river boats to Kew Gardens. Given I don’t think we’re going to have time to do Kew Gardens, going to Greenwich via the river gives us another option. Thanks for the suggestion.
Doug

Back again with another pub suggestion.

https://www.griffinbrentford.co.uk/

Really great pub. True “ local.”

A vote for attending a play at the Globe! We watched our first Globe play in 2016, and have made it a point ever since then to got to at least one performance at the Globe whenever we're in London. Great fun, although we do recommend reading whatever play it is ahead of time, unless you've already "Brushed up your Shakespeare."

Thanks Claudia, that pub looks wonderful. I’m hoping that since we are getting over jet lag by spending several days touring in York that when we get to London we won’t be in the mindset that we have to go go go and can slow down and enjoy more of these pubs.

Jane, we already bought tickets to Romeo &Juliet at the Globe and are really looking forward to seeing it. We are very fortunate that we have an incredible Shakespeare theatre in the woods (American Players Theatre in Spring Green) that we have been attending plays since the mid 1980’s. Seeing a play in the Globe is going to be a special experience.

the fact that kiddoes will still be in school can be a two edged sword. Yes, they don't come in with their families during term time, but they can descend in coaches for school trips (remember those?) on weekdays . So if they have invaded the room you are interested in, circle around to another and return a few minutes later....

My advice is going to be slightly different for weekends......

Play it by ear. Besides the crowds, weekends are the time for transport disruptions and demonstrations. (Most planned transportation maintenance is done on weekends.)

My suggestion is to go to the TFL Travel Tools website to see information on planned closures, disruptions and issues. You can also subscribe to the "Weekend Travel Advice" email that will be sent to you the Thursday prior to the weekend.

By havng this information, you can plan your weekends with the least disruptions or detours.

Great tips Nigel and Frank II,
I do remember school trips and they were more frequent nearer to the end of a term. In researching for this trip we’ve come across lots of discussion of strikes, maintenance work and demonstrations. I’ll admit we’ve mostly been avoiding thinking too much about it but bookmarking that govt site so we have enough notice to change our plans if needed is a good precaution.
Thanks again, Doug

FYI the Globe. Definitely rent the seat pads. The Wooden benches can be uncomfortable.

The cafe at the British Library is nice. So is the gift shop.

If there’s any interest, the Hunterian Museum is very well done and there’s a pleasant cafe. It’s close to the Seven Stars pub I mentioned before.

Lastly, as walkers you might appreciate the WWT London Wetlands Center.

Have a great trip!

When you go to the British Museum, you can choose from two entry points. There is a front entrance - which seems always crowded - and another on Montague Place, which is located off Russell Square, and which was much less crowded the last time I visited in Oct 2023.

The school trips thing is a good point. Your biggest issue at places like the British Museum will be large groups of French or other European teenagers on language trips. They’re loud and somewhat excitable as you’d expect.

Appreciate the additional tips. Based on comments on this site I knew enough to add the seat cushions for the Globe. Glad to hear that the British Library cafe is nice, we’re planning on taking advantage of some of the museum cafes to rest our feet. I have not heard of either the Hunterian Museum or the Wetland Center so I’ll look them up. If we have some nice weather we’d like to spend some time outside besides walking from site to site.

Thanks for the entrance tips for the British Museum, do you know if you can use either entrance with pre-booking a timed entrance ticket? From reading it can be hard to tell if the lines are from going through security or people buying tickets on site.
Doug

they won't be buying tickets. The British Museum, the British Library, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum, the V&A, and many more, many of the best and biggest museums in London are free (but accept donations in any currency).

Everybody gets checked at security.

I'll be going to a teeny tiny museum out in the country this weekend, the Amersham Fair Organ Museum (only open about 6 times a year). It is free too.

The Hunterian Museum is a small museum in Lincoln's Inn Fields which features lots of old timey medical-type oddities- lots of skeletons and taxidermy. An interesting place but I seem to recall it's not open on weekends so check the opening hours. The London Wetland Centre, which is across the river from Fulham, is a nice place to walk around and see aquatic birds.

For British Museum I believe you can use either entrance with a pre-booked ticket. The queues are all for security. There is a fast track queue for people who've purchased tickets to an exhibition or are members. If you decide you want to visit one of the paid exhibitions once inside you can buy a ticket there- those queues tend to be very short and are totally separate from the entrance queues.

Though all the museums listed above are free for the permanent collection, they also have paid temporary exhibitions.