25 Things to do in London
when it rains

You will need plenty of time and a decent pour to make the biggest museum in London and the whole UK. Since 1753, it has been a unique space to discover the sacred legacy of long-lost civilizations and wonder at what the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans would worship. Take time to experience why its modern Great Court is cult, too.

Book this audio tour to narrow your focus to the highlights of the collection and navigate through the sprawling galleries. There are eight million exhibits, and the crowd-pleasing Rosetta Stone and the mummies, the disputed Parthenon marbles, and the Sutton Hoo treasures are just a small portion.

Specialization
Art & Design, History & Anthropology

Perfect for
Art lovers, history buffs, architecture lovers

Fly 135 meters high through the London skyline and get a bird's-eye view of the capital's beloved sights like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and bridges down the Thames. The giant London Eye observation wheel has been a world-famous landmark on its own since 2000.

The wheel's pods are heated, which makes for a cool ride even if it is cold and rainy outside. To get the eye-conic 30-minute experience cheaper, book your tickets online. Or, even better, use this self-guided audio tour to enjoy the captivating onboard commentary and have the ticket booked for you.

Specialization
Observation decks

Perfect for
Architecture lovers, couples, families

Enter the UK's second-largest cathedral and reimagine how Prince Charles and Princess Diana would make it down the aisle during their lavish wedding ceremony at St Paul's in 1981. To engage with the rich history and architecture of the domed Cathedral dating back to 604 in detail, take a guided tour. Apart from the Cathedral Floor and Crypt, you will poke into the spectacular no-entry areas like the Geometric Staircase and the Quire or the Triforium.

Sir Christopher Wren's iconic edifice is a working church, so you can attend services for free and take in the choir voices and organ music with the magnificent interior as a backdrop.

Specialization
Architecture

Perfect for
Architecture lovers, history buffs

When the UK Parliament is not sitting, you can sneak into the Palace of Westminster or the Houses of Parliament to learn the Parliament's history and how it operates. To connect with British democracy in the unique setting, make sure to book a guided tour in advance.

Inside the iconic towered building on the Thames, you will visit the civil servants' working spaces, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Feel privileged to enter the ancient Westminster Hall, which witnessed the trials of Guy Fawkes and King Charles I and has stayed almost intact since its construction in 1097.

Specialization
History & Anthropology

Perfect for
History buffs, couples

Royal family's official residence and home to generations of Windsors is a must-see in all weather. Put aside the Changing of the Guard ceremony nearby Buckingham Palace and come in while the King is out.

While there are 775 rooms in total, they admit to only 19 of them. You can't miss the gilding and glitter of these state rooms, hung with paintings by Rembrandt and Rubens, but to get intimate rather than regal, peek into the gardens. Spot the tennis court, where King George VI and Fred Perry raised their rackets in the 1930s and the plane trees planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Specialization
History & Anthropology

Perfect for
History buffs, couples

Explore the low-key royal palace that is home to Kate Middleton and Prince William. Queen Mary II, King George, Queen Victoria, and Princess Diana are among the royal tenants of the Kensington palace in the past.

Take in Princess Diana's beloved Sunken Garden with her symbolic statue and planting inspired by her wardrobe and spot Diana's favorite flowers, forget-me-nots. Speaking of wardrobe, the Palace owes its fashion reputation to knockout temporary exhibitions, where the Georgian-era royal ceremonial gowns are mixed up with Lady Gaga's outfits. A must-see!
When you no longer need an umbrella, take this audio tour to learn more about the royal residences by walking in the capital.

Specialization
History & Anthropology, Art & Design

Perfect for
History buffs, couples

This dazzling Tudor' pleasure palace' morphed into a 'dreary red-brick dungeon,' a quotation from Dickens, and you will experience how. Discover the Hampton Court Palace's provenance from Henry VIII to George II and who added what to the opulent interiors and architecture.
Imagine Tudors' ostentatious lifestyle from the immense Henry VIII's Kitchens fit to feed 800 eaters, who would then party in the Great Hall, where Shakespeare performed Hamlet and Macbeth later in 1603. We would go on, but there are 1,000-plus rooms.

In the 60-acre gardens, the famous maze and the biggest grape vine in the world await to be seen when the rain stops.

Specialization
History & Anthropology, Art & Design

Perfect for
History buffs, couples, families

Have you ever wondered what it takes to stage over 20 world-class performances a year? Explore all three theaters within the National Theatre's compound, sneak into prop-making workshops, and discover staging and rehearsals-related trivia. Some say Denys Lasdun's concrete masterpiece of a theater building isn't pleasant to look at, but there is a logic behind the 1970s architecture to be revealed, too.

Grab a same-day seat at an evening performance to combine the backstage tour with a theater-going experience. After you witness the production effort, you will appreciate it much more.

Specialization
Performances

Perfect for
Playgoers, couples, art lovers

Apart from the rainy reputation, London has the renowned design-related one. To explore it, head to the largest art museum in London. V&A Museum has celebrated culturally influential art and design from around the globe since 1852.

To make your way through 5000 years of human creativity and learn fine facts about the world-class collection, book the self-guided audio tour. The showstoppers will be the seven Raphael Cartoons, the outlandish Tippoo's Tiger Indian organ, which is for the V&A what the Parthenon Sculptures are for the British Museum, and the Ardabil carpet, the oldest dated carpet in the world.

Specialization
Art & Design

Perfect for
Art lovers, history buffs

While raindrops are falling on the striking curvy roof of the much younger Design Museum, founded in 1989, browse its oddly eclectic permanent collection. Among the almost 1,000 objects, spot the 20th-century design classics like the AK-47 rifle and the Sony Walkman. Oh, and the Museum's iconic modernist building, rethought and rebuilt in 2016, is a minimalist design masterpiece on its own.

Don't miss the landmark's rotating exhibitions. Say, the forthcoming 30 Years of London Fashion, sponsored by Alexander McQueen and remarkably co-curated by the British Fashion Council.

Specialization
Art & Design

Perfect for
Art lovers, couples

Even if the weather isn't ideal for stargazing, explore the history of time at the UNESCO-featured Royal Observatory, where the Greenwich Meridian was born. So delve into the timekeeping science and browse the elaborate timepieces of the past, including Harrison's iconic timekeepers, coveted by every sailor in the 1700s.

At the courtyard, join the ultimate activity and straddle the Longitude 0° brass line to stand simultaneously in the eastern and western hemispheres. Don't forget to set your watch by the Shepherd Gate Clock showing accurate Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Specialization
Nature & Natural History, History & Anthropology

Perfect for
Couples, families, history buffs

London's only planetarium can fly you to the Moon and let you see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars, to use the words of Frank Sinatra. In other words, its compelling 30-minute astronomy shows, held by Royal Observatory astronomers, cater to audiences from preschool children to science community members.

Every family member will be entertained and educated, so take your reclining seat and gaze at celestial bodies zipping along at the domed screen above you. Chances are, you will see a meteor shower (and no conventional showers falling from the sky here).

Specialization
Nature & Natural History

Perfect for
Families, couples, children

Exploring the storied grounds of the Tower of London may not be the best thing to do in London when it rains heavily. You will be waiting outside not to miss the splendorous Crown Jewels, after all. But a drizzle is fine.

Travel 1000 years back to the times of its founder, William the Conqueror, to catch up with the bloody history of the landmark stone fortress, palace, and prison indoors. Climb the towers to learn about the prisoners, like scandalous Anne Boleyn, and their ill fate and spot their graffiti. Back to the grounds, watch the Tower Guard ceremonies, and meet the bird guardians of the Tower, the iconic ravens. If you are lucky, you will see them snacking biscuits soaked in animal blood.

Specialization
History & Anthropology

Perfect for
History buffs, families, couples

At the Warner Bros. Studio in Leavesden, where they filmed all the Harry Potter movies, you can enter the wizarding world together with your kids, even as muggles. A walk down Diagon Alley, a broomstick ride, and a stroll through the endearing fully furnished Hogwarts rooms is a treat for every Harry Potter addict.

There will be no 'rain' falling down from the enchanted Great Hall ceiling, but the preps of all sorts and sizes are on display. The real thing! Get ready to walk and peer a lot and unveil filmmaking tidbits. When back to reality and when the rain is over, you can take this audio tour to discover the Harry Potter-related magic places of London itself.

Specialization
Fun & Entertainment, Art & Design

Perfect for
Families, children, couples

There are many things to do inside the Natural History Museum if you get caught in the rain there. A splendid gothic cathedral by sight, it is a scientist's hotspot and the ultimate space to behold dino-stars, fossils and animatronics. Does it tickle your fancy to say hello to the biggest dinosaur, the titanosaur, and even smell its poo? How is that for the T.Rex wearing a Christmas jumper on occasion?

In the soaring Hintze Hall, the blue whale Hope will surely grab your attention. To refocus on humans instead, peruse the first edition of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species and spot the casts from Pompeii. This self-guided audio tour will show you even more intricate exhibits.

Specialization
Nature & Natural History

Perfect for
Families, children, couples

Welcome to the revered National Gallery at the edge of its Bicentenary! When ground-breaking works by art history's greatest painters come together in Trafalgar Square, they become a large-scale indoor attraction that calls for a lasting torrential rain to embrace it.

The crowd pullers include van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait, Velazquez's nude Rokeby Venus, and Van Gogh's Sunflowers. Take a chance to discover Michelangelo's artistic process from his unfinished paintings and see Turner's emblematic artwork. Let this audio tour navigate you through the stately home of historical masterpieces, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.

Specialization
Art & Design

Perfect for
Art lovers, history buffs

In the Tate Modern, trailblazing live art smells of oil. The ziggurat-looking museum building used to be a power station, hence the naming, the Turbine Hall and the Tanks. Cosmopolitan as London itself, its collection brims with iconic artworks from 1900 to the present. To name just two, you will experience Marcel Duchamp's Fountain sculpture and Andy Warhol's Marilyn Diptych in the flesh.

Book this self-guided audio tour of the In the Studio display to learn about the featured works from the art pros. After the art-looking, climb to the viewing terrace for a 360-degree look at the skyline, high and low. In case it rains, it is roofed.

Specialization
Art & Design, Observation decks

Perfect for
Art lovers, couples

Enter the Tower Bridge through the backdoor and join a guided rain-safe tour of the 1894 London icon. You will climb up the fairy tale-esque towers and walkways and down to the engine rooms equipped with the original Victorian engines.

Avid Instagramers will appreciate the unusual photo op through the glass floors. Hint: if you play around with the bridge lift times, you can see the bascules lifting and a vessel passing through while on tour. Sweeping views of London and the Thames from atop are available throughout the day.

Specialization
History & Anthropology

Perfect for
History buffs, couples

Venture out to the vaults of the London Bridge to explore the capital's iconic landmark from beneath. This is where the award-winning namesake experience takes place, and rain does not.

The interactive show is a mix of educational and fun indoor activities for the whole family. First, you will immerse yourself in the macabre history of London and the namesake bridge, narrated by the actors wearing period costumes. After that, the most daring of your group will make the dark tombs maze. Strobe lighting, smells, and screeches add to the horror.

Specialization
Fun & Entertainment

Perfect for
Families, children

Another subterranean attraction is Winston Churchill's legendary underground headquarters and home from where he 'directed the war' against Nazi Germany, as he himself put it. Get a glimpse of daily life and 24/7 work at this secret outpost of the British government.

Follow Churchill's footsteps into his bedroom and cupboard mimicking a private toilet, from where he would speak with Roosevelt. Poke into the vital military information center and the meeting room, abandoned in 1945 as they were during WWII. The famous noiseless Remington typewriter that helped create reports and influence fateful decisions is in place.

Specialization
Military Museum

Perfect for
History buffs, families, couples

Get behind the scenes of the nation's best-loved performance venue, the magnificent Royal Albert Hall, which made its way into popular culture through movies, songs, and literature. The capital's beloved landmark has hosted illustrious events like suffragettes meetings, Churchill speeches, BBC Proms, Cirque du Soleil shows, and countless world-famous pop stars' concerts since its opening in 1871.

Seize the opportunity to experience the iconic Victorian edifice backstage rather than from the auditorium. After the tour, indulge in the musically-themed afternoon tea. It is good for you to warm up with an elegant cup of tea in the nasty weather.

Specialization
Performances

Perfect for
Playgoers, families, couples, foodies

Relish the treasure trove of British art, where the world's largest collection of works by the famed Londoner, JMW Turner, is kept. Browsing the chronological display, you will trace the history of British art from the 1540s to the mid-20th century.

The residents are big names, say, the influential Pre-Raphaelites trio, Rosetti, Millais, and Hunt. Linger on Millais's iconic Ophelia and Rossetti's dreamy Beloved paintings. William Blake, John Constable, John Singer Sargent, and Francis Bacon will make a splash, not making you wet in the rain. And don't miss the bronze sculptures by Henry Moore, the ultimate public art of their day.

Specialization
Art & Design

Perfect for
Art lovers, couples

Unveil the dark side of the prudish Victorian-era London in a museum dedicated to the 19th-century infamous serial killer nicknamed Jack the Ripper. The macabre display tells stories of slaughtered local women and Ripper's victims, presents police investigations, and points out key suspects. Jack's identity is still a big mystery, so make your own guess.

Coincide your visit with a walk through the adjacent streets of the Whitechapel district with this Ripper-themed audio tour. Explore the well-to-do East End of today with its famous Gherkin Tower amidst the former London slums, where the violent murders took place in 1888.

Specialization
History & Anthropology

Perfect for
History buffs, couples

To get into nature's lap when beautiful royal parks are temporarily out of order, do plant-watching in an unlikely location, the Barbican complex. Kew Gardens are the biggest, and London's second largest conservatory happens to wrap around the Barbican theater's fly tower.

With their raw concrete beds and angles, London's hanging gardens have a rugged look. Feel dwarfed under the large-scale tree ferns and date palms and meet animal residents, carps, and terrapins. Meet a jolly crowd of cacti and succulents and, if you are lucky, see cymbidiums in bloom.

Specialization
Nature & Natural History

Perfect for
Couples, families

Shelter from the rain in the interactive London Transport Museum to experience how Londoners traveled 200 years ago. Discover its collection of period vehicles starring horse-drawn omnibuses from the 1800s, the Art-Deco 1938 Tube stock, and a steam locomotive that serviced the capital's pioneering Metropolitan Railway.

Good news for adults and kids alike! You can sit in the driver's cab of a real-life glossy red double-decker and 'drive' a Tube train along the Elizabeth line, the newest one in London, in a simulator. Design buffs will adore Harry Beck's original Underground map and spot historic posters from London transport that are now graphic design icons.

Specialization
Art & Design, History & Anthropology

Perfect for
Families, children, couples