My Picks of the Best Things to do in West London

Richmond Park

Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve and a haven for rare or endangered species such as stag beetles, bats, and moths. In my opinion, the park is certainly a must-visit if you want to enjoy London, simply because  the park is home to over 600 red and fallow deer that have roamed the park since 1637. It’s crazy that I’ve never actually seen live deer before my visit here that’s why I often come back multiple times to this park, however on every visit its amazing that I get to see or hear something new every time because of the park’s rich wildlife. 

On the park is a beautiful garden located in the middle of the park, where you can find riotously colorful flower gardens, burbling streams, hidden paths, and picnic-friendly lawns for family days. Park is somewhat stuck in time, and everything from the roaming deer to pristine ponds has been preserved from Victorian times. There are anthills that go back 150 years and an ancient oak that’s an estimated 750 years old.

📍Richmond, United Kingdom

The Temperate House

The Temperate House as part of the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens is home to over 1,500 species of rare and endangered temperate plants from all over the world and is the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse. It’s a botanical house meant to showcase the amazing flora from all around the world. Their architecture also gave them the ‘Best UK National Treature’ Award because of their architectural styles dating back to the 18th century. 

Speaking of the architecture, the building is especially designed for these super rare and almost extinct plants, and would not be able to survive London’s climate. I’d say that it is one of the world’s most important buildings and the Kew gardens are doing something amazing by preserving plants that we may never see in our lifetime if not for their hard work. 

📍Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 2AA, UK

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace is an actual place where momentous things have happened, particularly during the Tudor period. he restored gardens at Hampton Court Palace are spectacular and worth a visit on their own, especially in the summer when the flowers are in full bloom. It is a magnificent palace, standing on the banks of the River Thames, just a short drive from London.

If you have any kids then this is one of the best places to visit with you’re family! They have huge open spaces for leisurely strolls and a hedge maze that is one of the fun things you can explore here. The maze at Hampton Court Palace easily takes hours for people like who don’t have a good sense of direction. Don’t miss out on the rooms in the palace as they have a bunch of splendid painting and artwork inside.

📍Hampton Ct Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU, United Kingdom

Chiswick house and gardens

The gardens at Chiswick House are a must-see attraction and are filled with beautiful plants, flowers, and trees from all over the world. I love London architecture especially if its something  like the Chiswick House that combines a bunch of styles to create a magnificent Neo-Palladian villa like this one.

You could also explore the gardens by yourself or with a guide but I mainly recommend taking a guide with you as the house has been around since the 1700s and there’s a lot of history to be unpacked. 

📍Chiswick House, Chiswick, London W4 2QN, United Kingdom

Twickenham

Though it is one of West London’s  most underrated districts, Twickenham has several attractions that are worth visiting, including Strawberry Hill House & Garden, Twickenham Stadium, York House Gardens, World Rugby Museum, Turner’s House, and Orleans House Gallery. These attractions offer a unique and educational experience and are a great place to relax and unwind.

You could either take a walk down the many gardens here or chill beside the river, its also got something for everyone here looking to relax and hide away from the lively and super busy Central London. 

📍128-130 Heath Rd, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham TW1 4BN, United Kingdom

Oxygen Freejumping

There’s not a lot of things that I consider to be one of the best things to do in London, but this is certainly one of them. It’s basically a trampoline park where almost every surface inside is bouncy.  Don’t worry though as they have a lot of trained staff on standby to make sure that everyone is following the safety rules. 

There’s 9 different zones here with different gimmicks like the dodgeball court, the high rope, foam pits, a mega airbag, and more! If you’re looking for something fun to do with your friends on your stay in London, I highly recommend going here! 

📍15, Vision Industrial Park, Kendal Ave, London W3 0AF, United Kingdom

Brompton Cemetery

Brompton Cemetery is the resting place of over 200,000 people, including many famous and notable figures. It is the final resting place of a lot of historical figures in the UK like Doctor John Snow and Emmeline Pankhurst. To be honest those two were probably not the most famous people there but they were the ones who caught my attention. 

The cemetery is a combination of a working cemetery, nature and wildlife refuge, garden, and historic site. It is teeming with life and you’ll get a glimpse of the design and architecture of London without the busy streets and honking cars. 

📍Fulham Rd., London SW10 9UG, United Kingdom

King Henry’s Mound

Richmond Park’s hidden beauty, King Henry’s Mound, is thought to be a prehistoric burial chamber. King Henry VIII is credited with giving the mound its name. It is supposed that he stood atop the mound and waited for word that Anne Boleyn had been put to death. It is also thought that the Romans used the king’s hill as a lookout point.

The Mound offers panoramic views of the Thames Valley, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and of course, Richmond Park. The view around the historic cathedral is protected by law making it one of the finest spots across the city to look at the stunning cathedral. On top of all that, it’s also located inside the park, and there’s no shortage of things to do there! 

📍Queen’s Rd, Richmond TW10 5HX, United Kingdom

Royal Albert Hall

Since the hall’s opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world’s leading artists from many performance genres have appeared on its stage. The Royal Albert Hall has had more classical music concerts than any other theatre in London. 

The hall was originally to have been called the Central Hall of Arts and Sciences, but the name was changed to the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences by Queen Victoria upon laying the Hall’s foundation stone in 1867, in memory of her husband, Prince Albert, who had died six years earlier. 

📍Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP, United Kingdom

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace is one of London’s most iconic buildings. Home to the Kensington Gardens, once the private garden to members of the royal family but is now open to the public. The garden is absolutely filled with a bunch of stuff to explore; you’ve got the Albert Memorial, Italian Gardens, the Diana Memorial Playground, the Peter Pan statue, and my personal favourite, the Serpentine Gallery, filled with antique art exhibitions. 

The palace is also home to many artworks inside and was the queen’s former residence along with several members of the royal family. The building itself is also beautifully made as it was designed by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed the St. Paul’s Cathedral. 

📍Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom

Old BBC Television studios

The Old BBC Television Studios were the headquarters of BBC Television between 1960 and 2013. Though BBC vacated the area, it’s been converted into a variety of offices, flats, and businesses. In fact, it’s one of the best places to get a flat, not because of the history connected to the spot but because of how massive each space is and its located right in the heart of West London. 

The building also houses a cinema and a lot of independent cafes and boutiques, which is probably why Londoners still flock here, even without the BBC. It was super interesting to see where they filmed Monty Python and the classic Dr. Who but the equipment was obviously taken by the BBC when they transferred. 

📍1, Television Centre, 101 Wood Ln, London W12 7FA, United Kingdom

The Natural History Museum

Stepping inside the museum you’ve got a giant skeleton of a blue whale meeting you. The Natural History Museum is one that gives you that sense of wonder right from the entrance, I couldn’t understate how amazing it felt seeing a giant skeleton suspended above you. 

South Kensington has a lot of the best museums in the UK but this is hands down my favourite. They have over 80 million specimens to check out. It’s wild that I’ve been here multiple times and I don’t think I have even scratched the surface of what they have to offer. 

📍Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom

Portobello Road Market

If you’re pockets feel a bit full and heavy, why not lighten it up by visiting a mile-long market? Visitors can find every type of collectable from stamps, jewellery, furniture, vintage clothing, fresh produce, delicious street food, and freshly baked goods.

The food market is also home to fresh produce, so you can expect that the best restaurants in the market have some high-quality food ready for you. I absolutely love swinging by here and kill some time by ordering a cup of coffee and just enjoy the music from busking musicians. 

📍London W11 1LJ, United Kingdom

Harrods

The motto for Harrods is “All things for all people, everywhere” and they stayed true to that motto for years. If you’re looking for something then its probably at Harrods. Though a lot of people know them for their luxury items, jewelry, and accessories. 

I recommend checking out their toy department. We took out niece here and she wouldn’t stop smiling from ear to ear, the toy store itself is practically endless and sells a bunch of stuff from huge teddy bears to small toy cars. 

📍87-135 Brompton Rd, London SW1X 7XL, United Kingdom

Dove

Any list about London wouldn’t be complete without a place to drink alcohol at and this pub is one of the best they have! The Dove hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including live music, quiz nights, and charity events. 

Though they did win an award for the smallest public pub in the UK, this joint is absolutely brimming with life and charm. The pub itself is connected to significant people in history allowing you to walk in the footsteps of icons like Graham Greene and Ernest Hemmingway while sipping on gin and pints! 

📍24-28 Broadway Market, London E8 4QJ, United Kingdom

Looking for More Guides?

I promise you West London has a lot more things to do and there’s no way we could fit them all in one list, so check out some of our articles! We’ve got you covered on the best cafes, restaurants, bars, and more, in not just West London but all throughout the city!