10 Things to Do in London if You Love History

On the banks of the Thames River, in the southeastern corner of England, is one of the world’s great cities. With its undeniable contributions to global culture, long and turbulent history, and modern infrastructure, it’s no surprise that any history-loving visitor will love to spend a lot of time here. Within its streets and buildings, you’ll find endless surprises and historical places. As a city of 9 million people, London is easy to navigate. By using its superb public transportation system, you can experience every corner of the city safely.

Near Russell Square is the British Museum, the world’s first national public museum and one of London’s most visited landmarks. This massive space is dedicated to everything from prehistory to modern British and world events and achievements. Built in 1759 in a Greek revival style, the museum became one of the world’s largest collections of global ethnographical and archeological artifacts. Royal Society President and controversial historical figure Sir Hans Sloane amassed the first collections, which featured over 40,000 books, coins, and manuscripts. Since then, it has grown to house over 2 million artifacts.

Inside the museum, you can experience stories about humans dating back to the beginning of recorded history. You’ll walk through a massive open space, with several wings dedicated to different moments in history from every continent. Some highlights of the museum include the inner coffin of the Egyptian priest Hornedjitef, ancient Greek amphoras, and ancient weapons. There are also priceless scrolls and manuscripts that chronicle the ancient empires that once ruled the world. Don’t miss the museum’s library. It has a collection of over 335,000 books from every continent. After your visit, you can enjoy the museum’s restaurants, cafes, or outside food trucks.

9. See Shakespeare’s Theater

Sadly, in 1613, during a performance of Henry VIII, a failed prop sent sparks into the building’s thatched roof. It quickly caught fire and the theater burned down. The company rebuilt the theater again in 1614, where it stayed in business until 1642, long after Shakespeare passed away in 1616.

The current theater is the brainchild of American actor Sam Wanamaker. The actor made a trip to London to find the original site of the Globe. He found a small plaque at the original location and went to work, battling through bureaucratic headaches and funding, until the third Globe rose again in 1997, over three years after Wanemaker’s death. Today, you can visit the expertly reconstructed theater and enjoy live performances under the open sky. It’s one of London’s most unique experiences for anyone who loves history, theater, Shakespeare, or architecture.

It’s hard to imagine that the modern metropolis of London was once a Roman City that controlled the Northwestern edge of the Roman Empire. From the 1st to the 5th centuries AD, London was called Londinium, and it was a thriving Roman port city. When the Romans conquered the region in 43 AD, they quickly established the settlement and built enormous walls surrounding it to keep it safe from invasions. During the 5th century, the city lost its significance to the empire due to being so far from Rome. This led to a sharp population decline and the invasion by the Saxons which ended Rome’s rule over Britain.

One of the most surprising and exciting things for history lovers to do in London is set off on foot and find the city’s Roman ruins. Under the popular Guildhall historical building and art gallery are the ruins of London’s own, albeit small, Roman amphitheater. It was uncovered in 1988. Two millennia ago this was the scene for bloody gladiatorial combat and executions.

After you’re done, walk over to the London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, a beautiful underground museum that was the site of the Temple of Mithras. This 3rd-century Roman temple was discovered in 1954, along with tablets, artifacts, pottery, and other objects buried beneath the city’s modern streets and buildings. Visiting is free, but you have to make a reservation.

From here, it’s time to see the ancient city walls. Head to Tower Hill, and stretching just a few hundred meters north of the Tower of London, are the remnants of the Roman walls. These defensive perimeters once stretched around the city for several miles. In front of the 2000-year-old wall is a statue of Emperor Trajan, a reminder of the city’s little-known Roman heritage.

Few landmarks in Europe are so iconic as the Tower of London. This UNESCO World History Site was the setting for some of the British Empire’s most notorious moments in history, such as the imprisonment of King Edward IV’s sons, and other brutal moments in world history.

William the Conqueror built it in 1066 after he took the English capital. Following two decades of construction, the impenetrable stone tower stood over the Thames River and dominated the city’s skyline for centuries. It went through several expansions, most famously Henry III’s outer walls, which overlook the Thames today. Make sure to visit the famous tower and learn about its long history while taking your time to take it all in.

6. Stop by Westminster Abbey

Head to the posh neighborhood of Westminster to see one of the city’s most alluring and influential monuments. This iconic church has been the site of royal coronations for centuries. It was originally Edward’s monastery, built in honor of King Edward in 1065. It was the site of William the Conqueror’s coronation in 1066, which started the Norman rule of England.

In the 13th century, King Henry III ordered the church to be reconstructed in a Gothic style. This was when the abbey became the official burial place for the British monarchs. Since its construction, it’s also been the site of every royal coronation, most recently that of King Charles.

You can attend a service or visit the abbey and tour the historic grounds. From the ancient Pyx Chamber to the royal coronation chair, you’ll get to see some of the most historical and famous items in London.

Next to Buckingham Palace, London’s most famous historical landmark is Big Ben. Since the 14th century, a clock tower has stood on this site on the northern banks of the River Thames.

In 1852, builder John Dent constructed the clock with mechanist Edmund Beckett Denison’s designs. In 1859, the giant clock was set to start ticking for the public to enjoy. Since then, it has gone through several repairs and it was even silenced during World War II.

Getting inside the tower, now named Elizabeth Tower, can be a challenge. Make sure to book your tickets to enter well in advance. The centuries-old tower is narrow and the only way to get to the top is by walking up a staircase. Make sure you’re in good shape and don’t mind cramped spaces before visiting.

4. Walk Through the Buckingham Palace Grounds

Take a trip to the western edge of Westminster to see Buckingham Palace, one of the most famous residences in the world. This huge building is the home of the Royal Family and has seen its share of historical events. You can arrange tours throughout the summer and on certain days of the week in spring and winter. If you manage to book a tour, you’ll get to enter inside the halls of the palace and see where history was made.

The palace was originally built in the 17th century on the site of a royal mulberry garden for cultivating silkworms. The silkworm project failed to take off, so the property’s owners built a stately house on the grounds. In 1761, King George III bought the house for his wife, Queen Charlotte’s family to live in. Shortly after, the king, wanting a new and exciting place to live, turned the house into a palace. After the building was completed, Queen Victoria became the first monarch to move into the palace in 1837.

This high-end neighborhood near Buckingham Palace is a one-of-a-kind stop to see some of the city’s most important yet lesser-visited palaces and museums. Henry VIII built St James’s Palace in the 16th century and it became the official residence for several monarchs until Queen Victoria moved to Buckingham Palace. There’s even a footprint that many historians claim belonged to Henry VIII himself.

After seeing the palace, take a walk through the historic streets of the neighborhood. You’ll find various palaces from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries including the Bridgewater House. You can end your visit at St James’s Square. It was built in the 17th century and soon after stately homes for aristocrats, royalty, and military compounds were built around it.

2. Stroll Through War History at the Imperial War Museum

Just south of Waterloo Station is the Imperial War Museum. This inspiring and sobering museum takes you through Great Britain’s conflicts and military history. It’s a place that doesn’t glorify war but shows you its horrors and effects through permanent and rotating exhibits.

You’ll see over 155,000 objects related to everything from Imperial Britain to present-day conflicts. This collection includes replicas, weapons, flags, uniforms, and documents that had a major role in international wars. There’s also a piece of the Berlin Wall in the courtyard and recreated World War I trenches.

The museum has been around since 1917 when World War I was still waging. Since then, it has become one of the world’s greatest war museums. After your visit, don’t miss a visit to the cafe in the gardens near the museum’s entrance.

If you’re interested in war history, especially World War II history, no visit to London would be complete without seeing the HMS Belfast. This iconic ship was converted into a museum in 1971 and is now one of London’s top landmarks for history lovers. Since being commissioned by the Royal Navy on St. Patrick’s Day in 1938, it saw some of the war’s bloodiest and most significant battles, including the Battle of North Cape and D-Day. Many war historians say that it was one of the first Allied ships to fire on the beaches of Normandy.

You can tour its nine decks and well-curated exhibits and learn what it was like to live aboard one of the largest light cruisers of the war. Check out the mess halls, bunkrooms, and operations quarters, and learn about the ship’s role in the Second World War. On the top deck, enjoy the great views of the famous Tower Bridge and downtown London’s skyline.