London Paid - Best of the Rest
Some of the many attractions outside the "Top 20" I have listed them in alphabetical order and any prices shown are correct as of May 2026
Where multiple tube / rail stations are mentioned they are listed in order of distance with the nearest mentioned first.
Black Cultural Archive and Museum
378 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8RR
Tube: Brixton
Rail: Loughborough Junction
Bus: 35 & P5
Times: Mon - Sat 10:30 - 18:00
Cost: £15
This museum tells the story of the multi-cultural and multi-ethnic nature of London's society and culture.
Displays include 'Sun a-shine, Rain a-fall', about the migration of peoples from the Caribbean to London in the 1950s and 1960s to work for London Transport. Other exhibitions include, 'The History of the Black Presence in London', 'The Life of Mary Seacole' (a nurse in the Crimean War), and the 'Myth of the Mother'.
Ceremony of the Keys
Tower Of LondonTube: Tower Hill,
DLR: Tower Gateway
Bus: 15, 42, 78, 100 & RV1
Frequency: Daily 21:30
Cost: £5.00
The Ceremony of the Keys is the traditional locking up of the Tower of London and has taken place on each and every night, without fail, for at least 700 years. The importance of securing this fortress for the night is still very relevant because, although the Monarch no longer resides at this royal palace, the Crown Jewels and many other valuables still do!
Due to the popularity of the ceremony, advanced booking is essential.
Please note: Groups are limited to a maximum of six persons between 1 April and 31 October inclusive. During the period 1 November to 31 March inclusive, groups will be limited to a maximum of fifteen persons.
Due to the traditional nature of this event, late arrivals will not be admitted. The ceremony will conclude at 22:05 after which all visitors will be escorted to the exit. There are no toilet or refreshment facilities available. Photography is not permitted during any part of the ceremony.
Click here for more information
Cutty Sark
Greenwich
DLR: Cutty Sark
Train: Greenwich, Maze Hill
Bus: 53, 54, 202 and 380.
River: Greenwich Pier
Times: Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Cost: Adult from £22.00, Concessions from £16.50, Child from £11.00
Cutty Sark is a famed British clipper ship nestled on the shore of the River Thames in Greenwich. Constructed in 1869, Cutty Sark was one of the fastest ships of its time and now exists as a museum for the public to visit and learn about the vessel's rich maritime history.
Inviting visitors to climb aboard, explore its once-functional decks, and gaze up at its impressive masts, Cutty Sark delivers nothing short of a thrilling adventure for all ages.
Garden Museum
Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 7LBTube: Lambeth North, Vauxhall, Waterloo
Train: Vauxhall, Waterloo
Bus: 3, 77, 344 and C10
Times: Daily 10:00 - 17:00
Cost: Adult £!6.00, Seniors £13.00, Student / Unemployed £9.00, Child £9.00
The British are said to love their gardens and many are keen gardeners. This delightful little museum tells the history of gardening from the 16th century up to the present day. The many exhibits which will interest the green fingered and those with natural curiosity. This is the only museum in the country entirely dedicated to gardening.
The museum is located in a former church.
Unsurprisingly there is a small garden to visit outside.
HMS Belfast
The Queen's Walk, London, SE1 2JHTube: London Bridge
Rail: LOndon Bridge
Boat: London Bridge City PIer
Times: Daily 10:00 - 18:00
Cost: Adult £26.80, Concessions £24.10, Child £13.40, Universal Credit Recipients £3.00
If you have ever wanted to explore a battleship which served in WW2 this is your chance.
With nine decks explore, as well as a number of exhibitions both permenant and temporary.
The attraction is particularly designed to be of great interest to children but that doesn't mean it's dumbed down for adults.
Because of the nature of the ship there are steep steps and latters to be negotiated and wheelchair access is limited to the main deck.
London Transport Museum
Covent Garden, WC2E 7BBTube: Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Holborn, Charing Cross and Embankment
Rail: Charing Cross
Boat: Embankment Pier
Times: Daily 10:00 - 18:00
Cost: You will need an annual pass Adults £27.00, Concessions £25.00, Local Residents £21.60, UK Residents on benefits £5.00
Discover the history of transport in London in this absolutely delightful and informative museum.
Telling the story of the worlds first underground railway, the story of London busses over the years.
To quote the museum itself "From a steam engine that operated underground to iconic works spanning a century of graphic design, London Transport Museum explores the heritage of London and its transport system, and the stories of the people who have travelled and worked in the city over the last 200 years."
Admission is by an annual pass but you still need to book a timed entry time as the museum is very popular.
To see even more exhibits the museums Acton depot has open days throughout the year and is very mush worth a visit. Click here for more information.
Musical Museum
High Street, Brentford, TW8 0DU
Train: Kew Bridge
Bus: 65, 237, 267
Times: Friday - Sunday 10:00 - 16:00
Cost: Adult £15.00, Concession £12.00, Child £ 5.00, Hounslow Resident £12.00
Their collection of working instruments, inventions and interactive exhibits tell the story of how music has been recorded and reproduced, from mechanical inventions to the present day, arranged over three unique galleries plus a concert hall.
While you can wander freely around the collection, when accompanied by our dedicated volunteers, the Museum really comes alive - combining practical demonstrations with an entertaining and informative narrative, answering any questions you may have along the way. (10:30, 12:30 and 14:30)
New Year's Eve
Riverside and Trafalgar Square
Tube: Charing Cross, Westminster, Waterloo
Frequency: 31st December
Cost: £20.00 - £55.00 (previous years prices, 2027 prices to be announced) Discounts available for London residents.
Traditionally London’s New Year Celebrations centred on Trafalgar Square with many people diving into the fountains. Nowadays Trafalgar Square is still popular although the fountains are boarded off to deter revellers.
However since the new millennium the celebrations have focused on the river where there is a spectacular fireworks display at midnight.
It used to be a free attraction but it attracted too many people, as a result access to the riverbank is limited and it now a charged event. Tickets generally go on sale mid-October, with a second tranche mid-November.
Some of the cruise organisers ffer New Year dinner cruises but they don't come cheap, from £240.00 upwards.
The atmosphere is great but if you want to fully appreciate them you are better off watching on television.
Old BaileyTour
Old Bailey, EC4M 7EHTube: St Paul's, Blackfriars
Train: City Thameslink
Bus: 15, 17, 25 26 & 40
Frequency: Saturdays 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00
Cost: From £24.24
The Central Criminal Court, otherwise known as the Old Bailey, is the principle law court in the country and is where the most serious cases are heard.
Proceedings in the court are generally open to the public and entry to the public galleries is available ona first come first served basis.
However on Saturdays guided tours of the building are available. Taking place three times a day, each tour takes 90 minutes and included the courtrooms and the cells.
Children under the age of 14 are not admitted. Photography is not permitted on the tour. Tours have to be booked well in advance.
Paddington Bear Experience
Old City Hall
Tube: Waterloo, Charing Cross, Westminster, Embankment
Rail: Waterloo, Charing Cross
Bus: 1, 12, 59, 68, 76, 77, 139, 148, 159, 168, 176, 188, 211, 243, 77 and 381
Times: Daily 10:00 - 18:00
Cost: Adults from £34.00, Child from £24
Begin your epic immersive experience in the heart of Paddington Station where you’ll set off on a journey through the sights and sounds of bustling London.
Greeted by the friendly Station Master, hop on board the full-sized train carriage and make the journey across the city and right to the doorstep of the Brown’s House at No. 32 Windsor Gardens. Here you can explore the famous tree adorned hallway and multiple interactive rooms hiding fun surprises that are just waiting to be discovered, and meeting familiar faces from the much-loved books along the way.
Be transported to the magical jungle of Peru, once the home of the beloved Paddington Bear, and beyond to help prepare for the biggest party of the year – the Marmalade Day Festival!
Join the celebrations with Paddington and friends in the life-sized Windsor Gardens and get ready to dance, play festival games and eat and drink special festival treats, including Paddington’s favourite marmalade sandwich!
Paradox Museum
98 Brompton Road, SW3 1JJTube: Knightsbridge (Harrods exit)
Bus: 14, 74, 414, N74, N97, C1 and DL-1
Times: Daily Mon - Thurs 10:00 - 17:30, Fri 10:00 - 19:00. Sat 09:30 - 19:30, Sun 09:30 - 18:00
Cost: Adults from £24.00, Child from £18.50
Enter the world of optical illusions where nothing is as it seems. From an upside down underground station, through a camouflage room, to a room where you seem to defy gravity.
Booking in advance is recommended and the attraction is not recommended for pregnant women or vertogo sufferers.
The Postal Museum and Mail Rail ride
Phoenix Place, Bloomsbury, WC1X 0DA
Tube: Chancery Lane, Farringdon, Russell Square
Bus: 17, 19, 38, 45, 46, 55, 63, 341
Times: Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 - 17:00
Cost: Adult from £20.50, Child from £11.00
From Victorian valentine cards to wartime letters home and everything in between, the permanent exhibitions at The Postal Museum tell the social history of Britain via the medium of post. Learn more about the postal service itself – and how much we relied on it prior to emails and smartphones – and get an understanding of just how vital being able to communicate by post once was.
Don’t miss the chance to also look inside The Postal Museum’s temporary exhibition space. Previous shows have looked at the Great Train Robbery and the salvaged goods of a shipwreck.
The Postal Museum is a great museum to bring children. Along with enjoying interactive displays, children under eight years old can have fun in The Postal Museum’s post-themed play area: Sorted! There are also plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy during school holidays.
The Mail Rail is London’s 100-year-old postal railway. Jump aboard the miniature train and travel through the tunnels underneath London’s Mount Pleasant sorting office. The track stretches all the way from Paddington to Whitechapel.
As well as journeying along the tracks, which used to be in service 22 hours a day, you’ll get to enjoy interactive exhibits and an audio-visual show charting a century of postal engineering innovations.
All tickets to the museum include one ride on the Mail Rail.
The Monument
Monument Street,Tube: Monument
DLR: Tower Gateway
Rail: London Bridge, Fenchurch Street
Bus: 17, 521, 21, 43, 133, 141, 48, 149
Times: Daily 09:30 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 18:00 (last entry 12:30 and 17:30 respectively)
Cost: Adult £7.00, COncession £5.30, Child £3.50
Designed by Sir Christopher Wren the 202 feet tall column is the largest free standing stone column in the world.
It was erected on a site 202 feet away from where the Great Fire Of London began in Pudding Lane in 1666.
It's free to view from the outside but the climb to the top is worth it for the views.