please empty your brain below
Starting the ball rolling:

1) Canary Wharf by DLR - incorporating the view as you approach from the north west
2) Greenwich Meridian and Royal Observatory - the vista is a bonus
3) South Bank walk from Vauxhall Bridge to Tower Bridge

Ken | 09.08.17 - 7:19 a.m. | #

Many tourists also come to visit Oxford Street - wouldn't be surprised if more visit Primark or Hamleys than Harrods

Petticoat Lane is perhaps also visited more by tourists than Londoners, same for Covent Garden

John | 09.08.17 - 7:20 a.m. | #

The most instagrammed places in London gives you another metric of where (young) people in London go. This top ten adds Borough Market and Covent Garden, which I don't think appear on any of your lists.

martin | 09.08.17 - 7:24 a.m. | #

Fwiw, I'd add View from the Shard to the must-see list and probably remove Buckingham Palace, because that belongs in the tourist only list. (At least it does in mine - I've never been).
I'm also not sure you really need to see Trafalgar Square, but you ought to see a Royal Park.

And another 'tourist only' venue - Abbey Road zebra crossing. I couldn't believe how much that featured in London 2012 stuff and I say that as a huge Beatles fan.

Will | 09.08.17 - 7:25 a.m. | #

"Shrek's Adventure"? I'm afraid to Google this because I bet it's almost as depressing as M&Ms World.

Scott | Homepage | 09.08.17 - 7:26 a.m. | #

We've had several teenage exchange students in the last year or two. DG's top 10 must-see list is close to the list of worthy things their schools think they should see, but left to their own devices it is mostly shopping they want to do. Oxford Street, Regent Street, Camden...

I'd suggest a boat trip down the Thames to Greenwich, but the essentials must include a red London bus and a red telephone box. Ideally outside one of the other top ten sights.

Andrew | 09.08.17 - 7:43 a.m. | #

I would adjust the Harrods listing to "ground floor". Elsewhere in the building the store can be quite calm and pleasant. I've always found the staff very friendly and helpful.

Waterhouse | 09.08.17 - 8:11 a.m. | #

It's difficult to pick 'what tourists do' because as has been mentioned there is 'go on a red London bus', 'travel on the tube' and 'visit Oxford Street'.

Plus standing next to a guard, go to Downing Street and Piccadilly Circus/Eros.

Catch a show in the West End - but in the grand scheme of things, this is more niche.

Greenwich/Cutty Sark is a bit of an omission, especially as you do the DLR in one direction and a boat trip on the Thames in the other.

Still anon | 09.08.17 - 8:12 a.m. | #

How about a list of the ten places you would tell Chinese tourists to visit...

PJS | 09.08.17 - 8:17 a.m. | #

For males of a certain age the London Underground museum and the Imperial War Museum seems to score well.
For females shopping and window browsing seem to top the bill.
I was very surprise that the Greenwich/Cutty Sark was omitted.
The Globe theatre and Hyde Park are also part of a to see list for tourists of a certain age.

Michael | 09.08.17 - 9:04 a.m. | #

I work just off Oxford St. at the TCR end of it. I can confirm that you're likely to see more tourists in Primark than you are in Harrods. Honestly, I don't get it. Oxford St. is horrible even when it's not crammed with tourists.

There's probably a fair few Londoners in Harrods - not all of it is outrageously expensive for what it is (empahsis on "for what it is" - still ain't cheap), and much of that can be difficult to source elsewhere.

Chz | 09.08.17 - 9:12 a.m. | #

Harrods and Camden Market are worth going to for food. The Zoo for the tropical animals.

Fortnum & Mason, Disney, Lego, Nickelodeon shops are next on the last list.

toby | 09.08.17 - 9:32 a.m. | #

If you live in London, you mustn't deprive yourself of the high quality attractions, just because tourists visit them.

Greg S | 09.08.17 - 9:43 a.m. | #

Rather echoing Greg's point, I would leave the Dangleway out of the "tourist only" list. Setting aside that it's over-hyped and stole some of our transport budget, it is still a moderately fun thing for anyone, Londoners, Brits or not to do. Once every 20 years or so.

Malcolm | 09.08.17 - 9:48 a.m. | #

For tourists only - walk over Tower Bridge.

Malcolm | 09.08.17 - 9:53 a.m. | #

Perhaps slightly too generic, but I know a lot of tourists are really excited to ride a red double decker bus or the Tube.

Anon | 09.08.17 - 10:08 a.m. | #

I suppose there are different "must-see" lists for "what we think tourists should do" and "what tourists themselves want to do", and a third for "what tourists actually do".

dg writes: Spot on.

Andrew | 09.08.17 - 10:27 a.m. | #

Maybe Westminster Abbey should be higher up your list DG? If the Houses of Parliament are number one most of those visitors will have turned round to take a photo of the abbey at the same time.

Martin | 09.08.17 - 10:42 a.m. | #

1) Dangleway, 2) Orbit tower, 3) Garden bridge (site of); 4) London River Park (site of), 5) Met Police water cannons (if can be found), 6) Convoys Wharf social housing (if can be found), 7) Ex-LU ticket offices, 8) Ex-police stations, 9) Boris bus, 10) Estuary airport (site of)

Special mention for pollution stuck to London's roads (site of).

Paul | 09.08.17 - 11:10 a.m. | #

Camden Market is surely losing ground to East London? Visiting friends have been much keener to experience the 'authentic' London of Shoreditch/Brick Lane/Hoxton etc.

still anon | 09.08.17 - 11:13 a.m. | #

>For males of a certain age the London >Underground museum and the Imperial War Museum seems to score well.
>For females shopping and window browsing >seem to top the bill.

*%&$!!! This is 2017

still anon | 09.08.17 - 11:16 a.m. | #

Many tourists visit Heathrow Airport, might make the top 10 for overseas tourists?

h2g2bob | 09.08.17 - 11:25 a.m. | #

Bus Stop M is quickly establishing itself as a must-see destination in London.

Bus Stop M Fan | 09.08.17 - 11:41 a.m. | #

Wot, no mention of Tate Modern?

Most people I know, seem to go there, when in London.

IsarSteve | 09.08.17 - 11:45 a.m. | #

@IsarSteve

The Tate Modern is mentioned in the first three top 10 lists.

Barry | 09.08.17 - 12:53 p.m. | #

As a tourist I put Madam Tussauds rather down the list, and I found it quite disappointing and wasn't worth my twenty-something-pound admittance.

Patrickov | 09.08.17 - 1:02 p.m. | #

A sweet shop as a tourist attraction? I have to grudgingly admit that clearly marketing works here, although I'll stick with Smarties, thank you!

Tim | 09.08.17 - 1:10 p.m. | #

Buckingham Palace is somewhere all tourists think they should visit but it'a actually very plain and not much to see. The Tower of London does English Royalty in a much more tourist-friendly way in a more interesting building, so don't think Buck House deserves a place on the list.

I think Tate Modern definitely deserves a place as somewhere that is one of the world's great art museums, in a fascinating pair of buildings, in a great location (it has a fantastic Thames view). Plus it's one of the few attarctions that arguably Londoners love as much as tourists do.

lockedintheattic | 09.08.17 - 2:02 p.m. | #

No posts
on the athletics? what is
going on DG?

Martin | 09.08.17 - 2:27 p.m. | #

After they've milked St Paul's, I suggest wandering around the city lunchbox and catch sight of the gherkin, cheese grater and, across the river, sight of the hock of ham (GLA bldg).
End with dinner at Rules, (Covent Garden).

B | 09.08.17 - 2:56 p.m. | #

I think your list is pretty accurate for first-time visitors. Personally, I would exchange the British Museum for the Natural History Museum as it is the more impressive building. Like others I think, Greenwich needs to be on that list. Perhaps instead of the London Eye, which is, was, and always will be overrated.

Steffen | 09.08.17 - 3:08 p.m. | #

@Malcolm

for locals - drive over Tower Bridge on Christmas morning

@still anon

You mean "Midtown"

@h2g2bob

Gatwick, Luton and Stansted may have more tourists

John | 09.08.17 - 3:56 p.m. | #

Funny that, because if I was giving a list of top ten London attractions to people that I like it would be:

1 The view across London from the top of Hampstead Heath at dawn or sunset.
2 The Natural History Museum / Science Museum especially the lesser visited galleries such as the one with all the model boats and the one with all the minerals.
3 The Geffrye Museum.
4 The V&A Museum of Childhood OR The Horniman Museum
5 The Postal Museum.
6 The Thames Barrier Park & Thames footpath
7 A number 9 or number 15 bus ride
8 Kew Gardens OR Richmond Park
9 The Kew Steam Museum OR Crossness Pumping Station
10 Brick Lane

If I was giving a list of top ten London attractions to people that I hate it would be:
1 The London Dungeon or that other horror attraction near there
2 Changing The Guard
3 M&Ms World
4 Piccadilly Circus
5 Madame Tussauds
6 Harrods or Hamley's
7 Hyde Park
8 Ripley's Believe It or Not
9 The Dangleway
10 Camden Market or The Trocadero

Uncle Audrey | 09.08.17 - 4:04 p.m. | #

@John

But Gatwick, Luton, and Stansted aren't in London.

Pacer | 09.08.17 - 4:57 p.m. | #

@Barry so it is.. and I checked three times :-(

IsarSteve | 09.08.17 - 6:00 p.m. | #

All of the places mentioned should be put on one big list of must-sees. You all live in LONDON!!! Its the greatest city in the world. All of it should be seen. From the awesome to the tacky.

P.S. Can I get someone to claim me as a long lost relative so I can move there?

steven | 09.08.17 - 8:27 p.m. | #

Thinking about my friend Steve's remark, it is true that London does not really lend itself to a 'best 10' sort of list. The best 10 places in London might struggle to beat the best 10 in Paris, New York, Beijing or many other world cities.

But what London really does is depth. If you went for the 'best 200 places' in each city in the world, I guess London would win hands down.

Malcolm | 09.08.17 - 8:43 p.m. | #

Malcolm - I totally agree; when I tried to make my own version of DG's first list I struggled to get less than 15 places. There is argument that the National Gallery, the South Ken Museums, Covent Garden, Tate Modern, Greenwich a walk in a royal park, a ride on London transport (bus, tube or water boat) and, my personal favourite, the view from Waterloo Bridge, should all be on there but what do you leave out.

For the second list, as well as the places other commenters have already suggested, I would add Leicester Square and having a photo taken with a soldier in traditional uniform.

whiff | 09.08.17 - 9:49 p.m. | #

Another measure could be the length of the queue to get in. Natural History Museum wins this by a big margin.

NickW | 09.08.17 - 11:13 p.m. | #

my own top 10 - i'm big on gardens and I'm not a fan of East London:

1: the walk through St James Park/Green Park and Hyde Park (at least to the Serpentine)
2. Tate Modern/Wobbly Bridge/St Pauls
3. Regents Park (at least the Rose Garden and the Boating Lake)
4. Covent Garden (not just the Piazza but Seven Dials)
5. Westminster Bridge, Parliament Square, Westminster Abbey
6. South Bank walk (ideally including a bit of Southwark Cathedral/Borough Market)
7 Marylebone High Street/Manchester Square/Wallace Collection
8. Battersea Park (at least the bit along the Pagoda) and across Albert Bridge into Cheyne Walk and Chelsea
9. Hampstead Heath (Parliament HIll Fields at least)
10. Evening in a Soho restaurant and bar

still anon | 10.08.17 - 12:36 a.m. | #

Having had a number of visitors from Canada since I moved here 10 years ago, I'll add the following to the list of things people get excited about:

1) get in a black cab (though for a very short dostance - costs you know)
2) ride in the front on top of a double decker bus
3) Fish and chips and a pint of bitter in a "proper pub"
4) Thames Clipper to anywhere.

Greg | 10.08.17 - 10:37 a.m. | #

Just remembered - Hampton Court.

Still anon | 10.08.17 - 5:28 p.m. | #

It's a shame only to include things, and nearly all in central London (tut tut DG, thought at least you'd be open to getting out of zone 1!). How about Greenwich (+ park, museums), Hampstead village (+ Heath, Kenwood), Dulwich (+ park/woods, picture gallery), Richmond (+ park, river walk), walking Regent's Canal or the Lea to the Olympic park? Any of these would diversify the list, and still provide something uniquely London.

Ed S | 12.08.17 - 9:15 a.m. | #











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