Things to do in London after the Olympics

The spectacle that was the London 2012 Olympics is now but a fading memory, and along with the athletes, many tourists will now be heading back to their respective countries. If however you find yourself in London with a few extra days to spare, then now’s the perfect time to do a little sightseeing. In an effort to kick start your post-Olympic holiday, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite attractions in the city.

No visit to London would be complete without a trip to Buckingham Palace. Probably one of the world’s most well-known royal residences in the world, Buckingham’s 19 state rooms are open to the public until early October. Head over to the front gates before 11:30 in the morning and you may find a good spot to view the changing of the Queen’s Guard.

For a view of the city that simply can’t be beaten, the London Eye is the place to go. Open daily, and until about 21:00 in the summer, the London Eye is the largest observation wheel in all of Europe. Its 32, glass-sided pods make one full revolution every half hour. Grab a spot on the north side of your pod and you’re guaranteed views of the city like you’ve never seen before. More than 3,1 million people visit the London Eye each year.

If you’d rather keep your feet on terra firma, then be sure to head on over to one of the city’s many, bustling street markets. The Camden, Portobello and Greenwich Markets are favourites in this regard, and tens of thousands of tourists, and locals, visit the trio each weekend. See if you can pick up a good deal, or head over to the markets just to see what’s on display.

Madame Tussauds is another one of London’s must-see attractions. This famous wax museum features hundreds of life size replicas of celebrities, historical figures, royals and sports stars – including many of the athletes from the London Games, like Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and British gold medallist Jessica Ennis.

If you’re looking to explore the more cultured side of London, head over to Britain’s national museum of modern and contemporary art, the Tate Modern. Towering over the River Thames, this refurbished power station now contains works by some of the world’s most influential artists. Have a bite to eat at one of the gallery’s restaurants and admire the scenery.

If you’re looking for something to do in London after the Olympics, then we hope this list gave you a few ideas. But for more detailed information about these attractions, as well as hundreds of other places of interest in London, head over to Hummba and download our London City Guide. It’s available on iPhone and Android, and packed with quality travel content from Frommer’s Unlimited.

Let us know what you think of our London picks, or make a few suggestions of your own in the comments below. See you in Rio de Janeiro 2016!

Happy travels!