With its fascinating landmarks, rich culture and diverse population of over 8.9 million, there’s never a dull day in the bustling city of London. Packed with fun things to see and do, when planning a trip it can be hard to know where to begin! That’s where our guide can help.
If you’re thinking of visiting London in 2023, our ultimate guide to the top things to do will help you plan the best time to visit. Here are just some of the activities marking London’s 2023 calendar.
What? Beginning at 12:00 on 1 January, London’s New Year’s Day Parade is not to be missed. This popular event features dancers, acrobats, marching bands and more, providing you with a day of fun and entertainment.
Where? The parade begins at Piccadilly Circus and continues through central London.
Price: Free
Chinese New Year
What? Celebrate the Chinese Year of the Rabbit with a vibrant parade and one-day festival in Trafalgar Square. Expect colourful costumes, skilled performers and delicious Chinese street food during this fun-filled event.
What? Undeniably one of the biggest crowd pleasers is the Six Nations, which usually kicks off mid-February and sees England compete against France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. England will be hosting three thrilling matches at Twickenham, so book tickets tickets quickly to avoid disappointment.
What? Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be expensive, so why not celebrate this day of love with a free walking tour through the vibrant city of London? Learn more about the history of the capital’s most famous landmarks and hear fascinating stories from local guides as you stroll hand-in-hand with your Valentine.
Where? Central London
Price: Free
Things to do in March
St Patrick’s Day Parade
What? You’ll know by now that London loves a parade, and the St Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the best. Once the parade is over, catch live performances from Irish musicians, explore craft stalls and fill up with some traditional Irish food.
Where? The St Patrick’s Day Parade and live events take place in Trafalgar Square and central London.
Price: Free
Mother’s Day meal
What? Mark out your calendars, as Mother’s Day 2023 is on 19 March. London is the best place to go for a tasty Mother’s Day meal, with its extensive range of pubs, bars and restaurants. Looking for some inspiration? Discover the best Mexican food in London, treat your mum to some delicious street food at one of London’s best food markets, or for a really special occasion book a table at one of these Michelin starred restaurants.
What? Looking for fun, free things to do in London? The annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race takes place on the 26th of March and sees both men’s and women’s teams from Oxford and Cambridge University compete for the winner’s title and trophy.
Where? The Boat Race runs between Putney and Mortlake, and spectators can line the river’s edge to watch.
Price: Free
Things to do in April
Eid Festival
What? Celebrate this Muslim holy festival in the centre of London, where you’ll find plenty of activities to entertain the whole family. Marking the end of Ramadan, this fun-filled event features live music, colourful art displays and food stalls bound to get your taste buds tingling.
Where? 2023’s Eid celebrations will be taking place in Trafalgar Square.
Price: Free
London Marathon
What? Even if you don’t plan on running the legendary London Marathon, going along to watch can be just as exciting. The race raises an incredible amount of money for charity each year, and the runners need all the support they can get!
Where? Hosting 40,000 racers each year, the marathon snakes past landmarks including Tower Bridge and the London Eye, before finishing at The Mall in Westminster.
What? As the weather begins to warm up, take a trip to Chelsea Flower Show and enjoy the gorgeous range of flowers on display. With a different theme every year, this prestigious event showcases much more than just pretty flowers. Garden designers, plant specialists and florists each year work together to produce cutting-edge displays that have previously nodded to climate change, biodiversity and the more unusual uses for plants. While you're in the area take a look at Chelsea in Bloom – the free public exhibition that runs alongside the Chelsea Flower Show.
Where? The Chelsea Flower Show is held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Price: ££-£££
Things to do in June
Taste of London, Regents Park
What? As one of the most popular events in London, Taste of London festival is essentially a foodie heaven. During the course of five days, top restaurants from all over London will serve up their best dishes, and lucky ticketholders will be able to sample any that take their fancy.
Where? Regent’s Park
Price: ££
Trooping the Colour
What? The Trooping the Colour ceremony sees the King’s troops unite to perform an impressive parade, usually attended by the King himself. Over 1,400 officers, 400 musicians and 200 horses take part in the royal procession, which snakes its way from Buckingham Palace through to St James’ Park and back again.
Where? Popular viewing spots include the edge of St James's Park for views of the Horse Guards Parade, or along The Mall for the parade.
Price: Free
Father's Day Thames cruise
What? In 2023, Father’s Day is on the 18 June, and what better way to celebrate than with a Thames river cruise? Take a seat on board and admire London’s sights by boat as you cruise down the Thames. Alternatively, you can catch an Uber Boat across the Thames. With a total of 24 piers across the Thames, it’s a fun and novelty way to get from A to B.
Where? The River Thames
Price: ££
West End Live
What? If you’re looking for fun things to do in London, West End Live won’t disappoint. If you’re a lover of all things musicals, head to Trafalgar Square and enjoy live performances from some of the top West End musicals. Even better, your weekend of entertainment is completely free!
Where? West End Live 2023 will take place in Trafalgar Square.
Price: The event is free, however you will need to queue, as entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.
What? Don your most sparkly attire and join London’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community for a colourful celebration of love. There are lots of fun events taking place throughout the day, including Pride’s Got Talent and the world-famous Pride parade, where participants acknowledge and campaign for the gay community using various forms of expression. You can also celebrate the LGBTQ+ community at different Pride events in the South West throughout the year.
Where? The parade usually travels through many notable areas of London, including Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly and Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall Place
Price: Free
Wimbledon Tennis Championships
Love Wimbledon's Big Screen is a favourite of the locals
What? Tuck into the traditional strawberries and cream as you soak up all the action of the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis event: Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Once the matches are over, why not visit the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum?
Where? The tennis championships are held at All England Club in Wimbledon, a short 10-minute stroll from station.
Price: ££-£££
Buckingham Palace summer opening and tour
What? For 10 weeks every summer, visitors are invited on an exclusive tour of Buckingham Palace, once the Queen’s official residence. This self-guided tour takes you through the palace’s lavish and luxurious rooms, including the State Rooms, Throne Room and Grand Staircase, and takes 2-3 hours to complete.
What? Filled with colour, fun and plenty of sparkle, Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s largest street festival. The vibrant parade is filled with the energy and excitement of Caribbean culture, with delicious food to enjoy. Steel bands and calypso music provide the soundtrack over the two days.
Where? Notting Hill, Kensington
Price: Free
Things to do in September
Open House Festival
What? Fans of architecture won’t want to miss Open House Festival, which sees iconic and unique buildings opening their doors for the public to explore. A handful of diverse neighborhoods are selected for this two-week festival, which is completely free of charge.
Where? Different neighbourhoods throughout London.
Price: Free
Things to do in October
NFL London Games
What? The NFL London games return in October 2023 and promise all the action and excitement of previous years. There will be three games in total spanning over the 2, 9 and 30 of October, two of which will be held at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Now in its 67th year, the BFI London Film Festival just keeps getting bigger and better, and this year will show more than 500 movies, documentaries and shorts from all across the world. Showings take place across the capital, but with plenty on at the BFI Southbank – just five minutes' walk away from London Waterloo, so train-travelling film fans will find it easy to catch any of the great movies on offer.
Diwali, Trafalgar Square
What? Did you know that London is the yearly host of one of the largest Diwali celebrations in the world? This free, all-day event has a lot to offer, from live music and dance shows to craft workshops, yoga and meditation.
Where? Trafalgar Square
Price: Free
Halloween at Covent Garden
What? Planning on spending Halloween in London? Head to Covent Garden, where you can find a range of Spooktacular events. The annual pumpkin market is fun for families of all ages, while you can expect a variety of Halloween-themed bites and drinks to tickle your tastebuds.
What? The longer nights can only mean one thing: Bonfire Night is approaching. For an out-of-this-world fireworks show, head to Battersea Park. Its legendary fireworks display takes place on Saturday and Sunday, with an earlier start time on Sunday that’s perfect for younger children. Sunday’s family night also includes a 7-metre-tall light installation that’s creates the ideal photo spot.
What? Taking place every November, the London Jazz Festival celebrates some of the top musical talents from around the world. During the course of over a week, jazz artists perform in venues all around London, giving jazz fans the opportunity to see their favourite performers live in action.
Where? The London Jazz Festival is held in large venues such as the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall, and smaller clubs such as Ronnie Scott's and the Vortex Jazz Club.
Price: ££
Things to do in December
Christmas in London
What? There’s so much to see and do in London over the festive period. Tour the city to find the best Christmas lights displays, then browse one of the city’s beautiful festive markets. It wouldn’t feel like Christmas without a trip to Winter Wonderland, a place with limitless things to do. There’s an ice skating rink, a huge fairground, an ice kingdom, plus a circus, an ice slide and delicious food and drink. If you can’t get enough of ice skating, there are plenty of gorgeous outdoor rinks to visit over the winter time.
Where? London city centre
Price: £-£££
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
What? Say hello to the new year in the best way possible: by watching London’s spectacular New Year’s Eve Fireworks display. As Big Ben chimes midnight, the UK’s largest annual fireworks display takes to the skies, with the beautifully lit London Eye providing a striking backdrop.
