Things to do in London today

London might well be the world’s greatest city for top nosh, but it’s also expensive enough that most of us can’t eat out as much as we’d like to. But never fear! Everything in this list has been priced at £10 a head or less to eat in or takeaway, but many of them will have you well-fed for a fiver. And variety is the name of the game – so expect London staples like fish ’n’ chips or pie ’n’ mash, but also the best banh mi, patties, gozleme, shawarma, steamed buns, lahmacun and more. Not only will visiting these places give you the kind of buzz only a bargain bite can deliver, you can relish the fact that you’re supporting small London businesses. Winner winner, chicken dinner!

London is absolutely world class when it comes to museums. Obviously, we’re biased, but with more than 170 of them dotted about the capital – a huge chunk of which are free to visit – we think it’s fair to say that there’s nowhere else in the world that does museums better. Here are some of our absolute faves. 

Want to know what the best theatre shows running in London right now are? Well you’ve come to the right place. This is our regularly-updated round-up of the very best stage shows, musicals plays and everything in between that you can currently see on London’s stages, from massive West End musicals that have been in place for years, to cool fringe theatre productions that’ll be around for just a few weeks. Our recommendations are all based upon reviews by our team of theatre critics.

Whether you’re a visitor, a daytripper or a tourist in your own hometown, there are certain iconic London attractions that you simply have to visit. These museums, galleries, monuments and parks are part of the city’s fabric – to experience them is to uncover the capital’s identity, culture and history. But where to begin? We’ve pulled together a list of the 50 best attractions in London for you to start ticking off your bucket list.

Looking at great art needn’t cost the same as buying great art. With a shed-load of free art exhibitions in the capital, wandering through sculptures, being blinded by neon or admiring some of the best photography in London doesn’t cost a penny. Here’s our pick of the best free art exhibitions this week and beyond.

London is perhaps the perfect pub city. There’s a boozer for almost every kind of person – even the non-drinkers among us – and they’re a vital part of the capital’s lifeblood. They provide community, entertainment and culture, and not only help us navigate our way around town but give us a place to stop, sit and enjoy the city. There are roughly 3,500 pubs in London. That might be a shocking 25 percent less than there were two decades ago, but it’s still a fair amount of options when it comes to choosing a place to meet your mates, go on a date, or rock up for a solo drink and have some much-treasured alone time. We’ve tried and tested inns, taverns and boozers across the city to bring you a list of the very finest. 

With more than a hundred cinemas inside the M25, London is as well served for picture houses as any city on earth. And they come in all shapes and sizes. From goliath multiplexes to boutique independents, to those – like Peckham’s beloved Peckhamplex and Walthamstow’s Empire – that sit at the nexus of the two, there’s truly something for everyone. So without further ado, here are London’s best cinemas as chosen by our readers. 

Grab a bunch of thrill-seeking, puzzle-solving mates and sign up for one of the many live escape room experiences London has to offer. These range from the traditional locked-room escape mission to a ‘Sherlock’-themed mystery and an all-out recreation of classic ’90s TV show ‘The Crystal Maze’. Whichever you choose, your group will have to help each other to solve puzzles within a strict time limit. Our advice? Pick your teammates wisely. 

You can’t get bored of eating out in London. The city’s restaurant scene is a rich tapestry of different cuisines and flavours. From the family-run neighbourhood Thai joint that’s been around for years to the Michelin-starred grandee where you can sit at a counter and watch genius chefs at work, London’s restaurants are diverse, creative and always exciting. This is your guide to eating out in the capital in 2022. Tuck in.

Do you ever hanker to experience the quirkier side of the capital? Our guide to unusual and original things to do in London sends you off the beaten track to those one-of-a-kind, unexpected places and experiences that give the city its edge. Read on for animal adventures, historical havens, culinary curiosities and loads of other really strange stuff.