Things to do in Strand, London

Explore the River Thames as it weaves through the heart of London and discover fascinating history around every bend. Today, you can experience the splendor of this great city from the relaxed comfort of a modern, all-weather and wheelchair-friendly sightseeing boat. Informative commentary interlaced with colorful tales of the city's past will keep your mind engaged as you cruise down the Thames! Cruises depart frequently from Westminster Pier, Greenwich Pier, London Eye Pier, and Tower Pier, sailing every day of the year except Christmas Day. With a regular timetable, and evening cruises all summer, you can enjoy a full-day on the river in comfort. Hop on and off the boat as many times as you wish to explore sights such as the Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory, Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern, Borough Market, South Bank Centre, and the London Eye. Or grab a refreshment from the on-board bar and relax as you sail past Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Bridge, the Royal Festival Hall, Cleopatra's Needle, Somerset House, the Millennium Footbridge, Shakespeare's Globe, Monument, H.M.S.Belfast, and much more. During the festive season from December to January, all boats will be decorated and kids will get Christmas coloring sheet and pencils to keep them entertained while parents relax by sipping on a cup of mulled wine and a mince pie from our fully stocked bar. 'Tis the season to be jolly!

Buy a London Explorer Pass® and get 2 to 7 credits to redeem against entry at 90+ top attractions, landmarks, museums and tours. With options including the Tower of London, Shakespeare's Globe, The View from the Shard, St. Paul's Cathedral and more, it's time to tick off your bucket list! Choose any 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 attractions: Top attractions: • The View from the Shard • 2-day Hop-On-Hop-Off London Bus tour (Big Bus Tours) • Tower of London • Kensington Palace • Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition & Theatre Tour • St Paul’s Cathedral • City Cruises Thames River Pass • Tower Bridge • Westminster Abbey • The London Bridge Experience • London Zoo • And more! (see below) Valid for 30 days from first use, the Explorer Pass is perfect if you want to see the best of London but don't want to rush around. Visit an attraction, do some shopping then visit a museum - you can still save up to 50% vs buying individual attraction tickets. Use the free Go City app to plan your trip, reserve attractions where required and help you get around the city. For the best experience, follow the instructions on your booking confirmation to sync your Explorer Pass with the app. Full List of Attractions: Fun Activities and Tours: • Chessington World of Adventures • Up at the O2 • Brit Movie Tours • Brit Music Tours • Brit Icon Tours • Hop-on Hop-off Open Bus tour of Windsor • London Bicycle Tour Company - Bicycle Hire • Curzon Soho, Mayfair or Bloomsbury - Cinema Ticket • Swingers Crazy Golf (West End or City venues) • Sherlock: The Official Live Game • All Star Lanes (bowling) • The Dare Skywalk • Solve a Mystery: the Murder at Trafalgar Square • LEGOLAND Windsor Stadiums & Tours: • Chelsea FC Stadium Tour & Museum • Arsenal Stadium Tour • Tottenham Hotspur FC Stadium Tour • Wembley Stadium Tour • Twickenham Stadium Tour & World Rugby Museum • Kia Oval Ground Tour Food and Drink: • London Food Walking Tour • The Strand Cocktail at The Top Hat • The Chocolate Cocktail Club - One Free Cocktail • The Bermondsey Bierkeller • Fuller's Brewery Tour • Hard Rock Café London • The Seashell of Lisson Grove (Fish and Chips) Museums and Places of Interest: • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew • Royal Observatory Greenwich • London Transport Museum • Cutty Sark • Florence Nightingale Museum • Freud Museum London • Hampton Court Palace • Household Cavalry Museum • London Bicycle Tour • Museum of Brands • Old Royal Naval College • Royal Albert Hall Tour • Garden Museum • The Guards Museum • The Monument to The Great Fire of London • The Postal Museum • Apsley House • Eltham Palace • Wellington Arch • Chiswick House and Kitchen Garden • Royal Air Force Museum London • The Courtauld Gallery *Savings based on sample itineraries on the Go City website. 

Enjoy an afternoon stroll through London's liquid history, pausing to quench your thirst in 4 of the city's most historic pubs. Walk from historic Southwark to the bright lights of the West End, uncovering fascinating anecdotes and hidden stories. Meet your guide outside St Paul's underground station and set off on a gentle 2-mile stroll through some of London’s ancient streets. Walk down the so-called "street of shame", home to some of the city's historic boozers that sit alongside contemporary upmarket offices and restaurants. Gain an in-depth insight into the drinking culture of the city, and walk in the footsteps of legendary city chronicles such as Charles Dickens. Explore hidden backstreets and alleys, and uncover fascinating facts that are unknown even to the locals. Stop at no less than 4 different pubs to quench your thirst, with visits to taverns that date back as far as 1549. Pop into a grand Victorian gin palace and be amazed by the variety and quality of spirits on display. Finish your adventure close to Strand and Covent Garden, where you'll be a short walk from the theaters, shops, and restaurants of London’s West End. You can then discover even more historic venues with recommendations from your guide if you want to carry on your liquid tour into the evening.

Enjoy the best views of Central London on a double-decker Routemaster bus while enjoying a Peppa Pig-themed afternoon tea. Listen to a Peppa Pig audio guide full of fun games and sing-a-long songs the whole family will love. Meet your host at the Somerset House. Hop on the double-decker red bus and get ready for a unique adventure. Take your seat, where your unique built-in tablet provides a Peppa Pig guided animation of the London tour itinerary and sing-a-long songs that the whole family will enjoy. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride as your driver takes you past Peppa’s favorite landmarks, such as Big Ben and Piccadilly Circus. Listen as Peppa will tell you about some of her exciting adventures. Tuck into your delicious afternoon tea served to you on board; you will have a choice of sweet and savoury British treats that you and the kids will love.

Discover the Courtauld Gallery's diverse treasures, from Impressionist gems by Manet and Van Gogh to Renaissance masterpieces in the Blavatnik Fine Rooms. Explore Medieval and 20th-century art in a stunning setting at Somerset House. Begin your visit at the Courtauld Gallery with a journey through time. Marvel at the iconic Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces that grace the LVMH Great Room. Manet's "A Bar at the Folies Bergère" and Van Gogh's "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear" await, alongside a UK treasure trove of Cézanne's works. Ascend to the Blavatnik Fine Rooms on the second floor, a haven of Renaissance to 18th-century art. Be captivated by Lucas Cranach's "Adam and Eve" and Rubens' "The Descent From The Cross." Admire Botticelli's "The Trinity with Saints" and Pieter Bruegel the Elder's "Landscape with a flight into Egypt." Explore the Ruddock Family Gallery dedicated to Medieval and Early Renaissance art. Wander through 20th-century art and the Bloomsbury Group's world in ever-changing displays. At the Courtauld, art history unfolds in a magnificent setting, a captivating journey through the ages.

Experience a wild and fantastic River Thames boat cruise that is fun for all ages. You will climb aboard a high-speed vessel that offers non-traditional views of England's capital at speeds of up to 30 knots. You will be given a full safety briefing and a life jacket - just in case! Named by leading listings magazine Time Out as a "must-do" experience, both visitors and residents of London will be thrilled with this outing. Speed under the capital’s bridges, and marvel at landmarks such as the London Eye, Houses of Parliament and South Bank from an exclusive vantage point. Music floats through the air via the onboard sound system, as you power out toward the Docklands. High-brow banter is provided by an award-winning comedian guide, whose cheery anecdotes include narration through the greatest open air museum in the world.

*** OPERATING FROM EMBANKMENT PIER & WESTMINSTER PIER *** Feel like James Bond for the day as you experience London at high speed. Spend 70 minutes traveling along the river Thames from Embankment Pier or Westminster Pier, with an informal entertaining commentary. See new and historical London sites including the Shard, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, Maritime Greenwich, and the magnificent Thames Barrier. Sail under Tower Bridge at high speed all the way to the Thames Barrier and get the ultimate rollercoaster experience whilst the James Bond theme music blasts from the onboard PA system.  When you return to Embankment Pier or Westminster Pier after your experience, you will have the option to purchase photographs & souvenirs that you and your crew will take as a memory of being onboard.

*** OPERATING FROM EMBANKMENT PIER & WESTMINSTER PIER *** Become an undercover spy for the day as you experience London on a speed boat tour on the River Thames. Admire new and historical sights, such as the Shard, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Tower of London. Gain a unique perspective of London not available from more conventional sightseeing tours, and benefit from an informal and entertaining commentary along the way. Sail under Tower Bridge to Canary Wharf for the ultimate roller coaster experience on the water as the soundtracks of famous movies blasts from the onboard PA system.

See the best of London in one day from atop a classic double-decker bus. Enjoy a whirlwind journey through the city’s rich history, from the era of kings and conquerors to today’s rock stars and celebrities. Experience London’s iconic landmarks in the most fun and engaging way imaginable. Enjoy onboard amenities like state-of-the-art GPS-guided audio narration available in over 10 languages and complimentary earphones with your 24-hour bus pass. Capture stunning views and take photos from the bus. Simply board with your phone – no printed pass required. Landmarks Hop-On Hop-Off Tour (Daily 8 AM-6 PM, 2.5 hours) See Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, West End theatres, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London, London Bridge, London Eye, and much more. Park and Palace Hop-On Hop-Off Tour (Daily 8 AM-6 PM, approximately 1 hour) See Hyde Park, Kensington Palace Gardens, Notting Hill, Marble Arch, Paddington Station, Lancaster Gate, The Queen Mother Gates, Oxford Street, and much more.

After meeting your bus at the Victoria Embankment bus stop 40B, you will be greeted personally and seated at your own table aboard the top deck of the glass-roofed, luxury coach. During the 3-hour tour, a full 6-course meal, all prepared and cooked fresh on-board, will be served whilst traveling past London's most famous sights. You will encounter St. Paul's, the Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the Shard, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and many more. Enhance your experience by adding a wine pairing option, carefully chosen to bring out the best in each flavorful dish. At the conclusion of this gourmet sightseeing experience, you will be returned to your starting point at the Victoria Embankment.