London, home to Buckingham Palace, the British Museum and Sherlock Holmes, is not everyone’s cup of tea.
But for those looking to soak up some culture, enjoy the best of theatre and peruse a museum or two, it’s perhaps one of the best places in the world.
In fact, this year it has been named the best in the world.
Earlier this week, the land of double-decker buses and red phone booths was named number one in Time Out’s Best Cities for Culture 2026, beating the likes of Paris and Rome to first place.
The travel expert put the prestigious award down to the fact London boasts diverse communities and historic landmarks, alongside a range of world-class museums and galleries – many of which are free to visit.
Following this news, the Daily Mail Travel team has shared their favourite places and cultural experiences across the UK capital.
Here’s the insider guide to some of London’s top cultural highlights…
The Photographer’s Gallery, Soho – Erin Deborah Waks, travel writer
The Photographer’s Gallery is a small exhibition space that is not to be missed
Harrowing snapshots taken in women’s prisons, intimate portraits from New York in the 1950s and 1960s, and everyday life captured on film are just some of the displays on offer at The Photographer’s Gallery, located just five minutes from Oxford Circus.
Given its central location, it’s hard to understand why so few people visit this gallery, and even for locals, it’s a win, staying open until 8pm on Thursdays and offering free entry on Fridays after 5pm.
Check out The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize, currently on display, as well as other exhibits included with your ticket, such as the thoroughly modern Connection Established: Digital Folklore and Web Craft.
Don’t forget to stop at the gift shop on the way out – it’s a real haven for artsy and creative types.
Marianne North Gallery, Kew Gardens – Tom Chesshyre, travel writer
The Marianne North Gallery and walks, in Kew Gardens, are top of Tom’s list
Tucked away in a purpose-built gallery inside Kew Gardens, near the wall by the road to Richmond, are more than 800 exquisite, colourful botanical paintings by the Victorian biologist/artist Marianne North (1830-1890).
They cover countries across the globe from Australia to the Americas, South Africa, Asia and across Europe. Entering is like going on a voyage of the imagination across the continents.
Simply wonderful, yet many people who visit Kew Gardens fail to take a look at the tucked-away gallery.
Royal Opera House bar – Joanna Tweedy, assistant lifestyle and travel editor
As well as being home to opera and ballet, the Royal Opera House’s bar is a real treat
You don’t need to know the difference between a plié and an arabesque to enjoy one of London’s most beautiful buildings – you can just pirouette (or walk) right in.
Beyond the opera and ballet that plays out in the brace of stages, the red velvet-draped Main Auditorium and the smaller, more modern Linbury Theatre, the real architectural showstopper is the 19th-century Floral Hall, now the Paul Hamlyn Hall.
This glinting vision of glass and cast iron is the perfect spot for a cup of tea if you need a breather from sightseeing.
The plum spot in the evening? Wait for theatre-goers to take their seats and then push through the doors at ‘walk-ins only’ Bar Cicoria, which offers pizza by the slice, a decent Negroni, and a serene rooftop vantage point on Covent Garden’s tourist mêlée below.
A hidden picnic spot in the V&A Museum – Alesia Fiddler, travel writer
Alesia recommends a trip to the V&A Museum – especially if you fancy a picnic
The Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington has a central garden space that is the perfect spot to sit down in the sun and enjoy a picnic after exploring the exhibitions.
It even has an expansive water feature along the edge, which feels refreshing on a hot summer’s day. You can often find children splashing around in it.
The museum is free to enter, and sitting outside with its red brick walls as a backdrop makes for a great afternoon.
Warner Bros Studios Tour – Hayley Minn, deputy travel editor
Deputy travel editor Hayley Minn is pictured at the Warner Bros Studio Tour, just outside of London – which she says is perfect for Potterheads
While Watford is technically in Hertfordshire, it’s just a 20-minute train ride from Euston to Watford Junction station – and is worth it to witness the magic at the studios where they made the eight Harry Potter films.
With almost every set you can think of – from the Great Hall and Gringotts to Privet Drive and Diagon Alley – it’s every Potterhead’s dream come true.
The only downside of the tour is that it may just ruin Quidditch forever.
Have a glass of wine and see a show at the National Theatre – Genie Harrison, executive travel editor
The National Theatre is another spot that should be missed in the theatre capital
While the West End is home to London’s myriad musicals, the National Theatre, on the Southbank, is an alternative Mecca for any theatre buffs visiting the capital.
Reams of acclaimed actors have performed here over the years, including British greats Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren, and until August 1, you can see Sandra Oh take the stage in the French classic The Misanthrope.
Before your show begins, head to Forza Wines for plates of burrata and aubergine caponata, washed down with the excellent selection of natural wines on offer. If you’re lucky with the weather, the outdoor terrace is a great spot for sitting and sipping while watching the River Thames and the world float by.
Leighton House – Erin
Leighton House is a historic house just around the corner from Holland Park
I used to volunteer at Leighton House during weekday mornings, and I will never understand why it’s not better known. Hidden on a sleepy Kensington street, the house looks entirely ordinary on the outside – but all that changes once you step through the front door.
The abode of the eminent painter and President of the Royal Academy, Frederic Leighton, highlights include the Arab Hall, which transports you straight to the Middle East.
Ceramic tiles, ornate colours and high ceilings punctuate every room, and waltzing through is a real journey back in time.
ABBA Voyage – Hayley
Hayley enjoys dancing the night away at ABBA Voyage – and you should, too
The first time I went to see ABBA Voyage in Stratford, it absolutely blew my mind. It was as if Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn and Anni-Frid were actually right in front of me as their digital avatars danced across the stage.
Despite being in the seated section, my auntie, mum, and I were all up on our feet, in tears of joy, as Dancing Queen echoed through the room.
I then went to see it for a second time – this time in the standing area – and was still as awestruck as the previous time. What the creators of Abba Voyage have managed to do really is magical, and I’m still living in hope that a Queen version with Freddie Mercury is on its way.
The Charles Dickens Museum, 48 Doughty Street – Tom
The Charles Dickens Museum should also be added to travel itineraries in London
Dickens lived at this terraced townhouse from March 1837 to December 1839, and it contains a veritable curiosity shop of artefacts connected to the great Victorian novelist.
There are original letters and manuscripts, plus a striking portrait of the author entitled ‘Dickens’s Dream’ by the artist RW Buss, one of his former suits (the only known item of his clothing still in existence) and old photographs.
He finished off The Pickwick Papers and completed both Nicholas Nickleby and Oliver Twist at the house.
Avora, Hackney Road, East London – Jowena Riley, travel writer
Jowena recommends Avora’s cocktail experience for a fun night out
If you’re looking for an activity that’s both unique and immersive, I’d recommend booking an extra-terrestrial cocktail experience at Avora.
It’s a first-of-its-kind adventure that combines theatrical otherworldly sets, talented actors, and themed cocktails, plus plenty of tasks designed to get guests off their feet and show off their best skills.
After stepping through a ‘portal’, everyone is given a spacesuit to jump into and test-tube cocktails before being guided through mysterious alien worlds, where luminous drinks, magical ecosystems and futuristic laboratories await.
The task? To decide whether to save the planet’s natural beauty or join forces with a corporation attempting to mine it for its resources.
The entire experience lasts one hour and 45 minutes, with tickets around £45 – though this includes an array of unique cocktails along the way.
Clays – Jowena
A reimagined take on clay pigeon shooting at Clays is a top activity
At Clays, guests can experience a fun, modern take on a traditional English pastime: clay pigeon shooting. Behind the velvet drapes of a stunning 1930s Art Deco building in Soho is a world where vintage interiors meet the immersive sport of virtual clay pigeon shooting. Guests can choose between the open arcade area or a private Hide room to battle friends, using specialised gun props to shoot down targets on a huge screen as the challenge intensifies.
As a group of six, we decided to have a two-hour private session in the Hide, which can accommodate up to 35 guests in one space and provides ample seating, a Bluetooth surround-sound system and chargers for most smartphone devices. The best part? The Hide has a self-serve bar with an impressive range of drinks and extras, from soft drinks, wine and liquor, to ice, lime, and even flower petal garnishing.
The venue also has a full bar on the basement level, as well as a dining space. I’d recommend the Triple Cheese Croquettes, Sweetcorn Ribs and Pizzette.