What to do in London while house and pet sitting

There are many awesome benefits to being a pet sitter – from getting to snuggle precious pooches and cuddle purry fur babies to visiting different cities and experiencing all the local fun things to do and tasty things to eat!

If your next house sit is taking you to England’s wonderful capital and you’re still looking for inspiration on what to do in London while you take care of your new furry friend, look no further! No matter if you’d like a short guide to all the fantastic London attractions you can visit, some ideas for free fun things to do in London, or pointers to great culinary adventures in this multicultural metropolis, we’ve got you covered! And if you'd like to meet other locals (and their furry friends) check out your nearest dog meetups in London.

London attractions

From royal locales to alternative shopping opportunities, there are countless exciting and famous places in London for you to see. First off, let us introduce you to some of the absolute must-sees you could visit during your London trip!

1. Buckingham Palace: The first thing to do in London is go and see its most famous attraction, the royal palace in the heart of the city and surrounded by not one but three scenic parks: Green Park, St. James’s Park and the Buckingham Palace Gardens. The Palace is the Queen’s official residence in London and a wonderful place to see the grandeur of the British monarchy for yourself. Be sure to check for the flag of the Royal Standard when you visit! If it’s hoisted, it means the Queen is at home!
   
2. Westminster Abbey & Big Ben: Just a short walk past St. James’s Park you’ll find another famous place to visit in London: Westminster Abbey. The wonderful Gothic church is located in the district of the same name and the site of all royal weddings, coronations, and other religious celebrations. Right across the street from Westminster Abbey you’ll also find Big Ben, the famous clock tower at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament.
   
3. St. Paul's Cathedral & Whispering Gallery: Another famous church in London is located just a little ways along the Thames to the north and east. St. Paul’s Cathedral is the seat of the bishop of London and known for its stunning architecture inside and out. If you take a trip there, be sure to also walk up to the Whispering Gallery. This narrow gallery 30 metres above the crossing of the nave of the cathedral boasts a unique architectural wonder: If you whisper along its curving wall, people all along the gallery, even directly across from you, will be able to hear you.
   
4. Tower & Crown Jewels: Finishing your eastward walk along the Thames, you’ll find yet another thing to see in London you really shouldn’t miss: the Tower of London, home of the British Crown Jewels and historical fortress that once saw the likes of famous involuntary visitors such as Anne Boleyn, who was executed there by order of King Henry VIII, or Guy Fawkes who was tortured at the Tower until he signed his full confession to the Gunpowder Plot of 5 Nov 1605. Today, the Tower is mainly inhabited by its just-as-famous-as-the-building-itself ravens. Royal decree commands that at least six ravens must be kept at the Tower at all times, for should the beautiful birds ever leave the fortress, the kingdom shall fall. If you plan on seeing the Crown Jewels, be sure to come early as the lines can get pretty long later in the day.
   
5. Tower Bridge & Exhibition: Right next to the Tower you may cross the Thames by way of the marvellous Tower Bridge – that is unless it is currently pulled up to let a ship pass. The bridge’s twin towers also house the very interesting Tower Bridge Exhibition, which uses interactive elements to teach you about why and how the bridge was built, grants you access to the high-level walkways and the Victorian engine rooms, and even lets you take a look at the original steam engines that were once used to raise and lower the bridge bascules.

London sightseeing photo walking tour

If you’re more the ‘walk around town and snap beautiful pictures’ than ‘visit attractions that ask for admission fees’ kinda person, these next few things to do in London might be for you! To help you with planning your perfect photo tour, we’ve put together a walking route for you, that will lead you past some of the most beautiful photo spots in the city. Oh, and if you’re sitting a dog, you can also take the pooch with you!

1. You start at Piccadilly Circus, the often-photographed London roundabout, known for its appearance in the 1981-film “An American Werewolf in London”.
   
2. After snapping a few shots there, a short walk through Coventry Street leads you directly to Leicester Square with its scenic park and famous Odeon cinema, which regularly hosts huge premiere shows.
   
3. From Leicester Square, you then turn south-east and follow Charing Cross Rd. right to Trafalgar Square, named after the naval Battle of Trafalgar. Here you can take impressive photos of Nelson’s Column flanked by two giant stone lions, built in commemoration of Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died during the sea battle.
   
4. On the walking tour goes, along the Mall, which isn’t a huge shopping centre but rather the long promenade that leads from Trafalgar Square right to Buckingham Palace, passing St. James’s Park and Palace as well as part of Green Park. Don’t forget to check the aforementioned flag while you’re there to see if the Queen’s home!
   
5. Take a stroll either through or alongside the southern edge of St. James’s Park to the south-east, and you’ll reach our next stop: Westminster Abbey and, across the street from the stunning cathedral, the Houses of Parliament with their world-famous clock tower Big Ben. If you would like to hear Big Ben’s Great Bell – the actual Big Ben – ring, be sure to be there on the hour.
   
6. Directly across the Thames, you can already see one of London’s more modern landmarks: the giant ferris wheel London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel. At its highest point, the wheel is a full 135 metres high and, of course, you can ride it and enjoy the fabulous view you have from up there!
   
7. After your ride, we encourage you to walk directly down to the pier next to the London Eye and take a ferry-ride on the Thames. A ride north along London’s watery heart will give you plenty more photo opportunities and also let you take a well-deserved break from walking. The ride takes you, among other places, past Whitehall Gardens, Jubilee Park, the Royal Festival Hall, Somerset House, Blackfriars and Millennium Bridge, Shakespeare’s reconstructed Globe Theatre, London Bridge, the WWII-warship-turned-museum HMS Belfast, London Town Hall and, finally, to Tower Bridge and the Tower, where your tour ends – for now.

Of course, there are plenty more things to see and photograph in London, though, from Covent Garden with its lovely atmosphere, creative shops, homey pubs and fascinating street performers, or the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Opera House and great theatres in the West End for a dive into London’s rich cultural scene, all the way to many, many more!

Free things to do in London

There are many good things to do in London but many of the best of them aren’t just exciting but also free of charge! Here are a few more places in London you can enjoy without having to spend a single pound.

1. The British Museum: Free of charge, huge and with rotating exhibitions, this gem of history and culture offers its treasures free of charge and will keep you busy for many hours or even days.
   
2. National Gallery: Located just off Trafalgar Square, this wonderful art centre with a focus on Western European pieces can also be visited for free.
   
3. Tate Modern: For international exhibitions with a more modern touch, you can also visit Tate Modern for free, located next to The Globe on the south bank of the river Thames.
   
4. The Royal Parks: Everyone knows Hyde Park, with its famous fountains, its Peter Pan statue and funny squirrels that follow visitors around in hopes for a treat or two – but did you know that there are eight royal parks in London? We challenge you to find and visit them all!
   
5. Forbidden Planet: Fans of comics and all things nerdy should also take a trip to Forbidden Planet, a huge comic shop on Shaftesbury Avenue. Granted, the wares there aren’t free, but the shop feels like a huge nerdy museum that you can visit without any admission fee.
   
6. Camden Market: Another place where you can buy things but that’s worth a visit even if you don’t plan on spending any money is Camden Market in the north of town. With its labyrinth-like structure and many stalls selling all manner of things, from the mundane to the exotic, Camden Market almost feels like a world of its own.
   
7. LEGO Store: Do you like LEGOs? If you love the little, colourful bricks, you should plan a trip to the LEGO Store off Leicester Square. The shop displays huge LEGO structures all year round, often themed to recent film releases or seasonal events, and is lots of fun to visit.
   
8. Greenwich Observatory & Cutty Sark: Greenwich is just a short ferry ride from the centre of London and offers scenic parks, a beautiful waterfront as well as a very important landmark: the prime meridian line. Located at the Royal Observatory, it serves as a crucial orientation point for worldwide navigation by marking 0° longitude. In Greenwich’s harbour you can further visit one of the arguably most beautiful sights the entire city has to offer: the iconic historic tea ship Cutty Sark.
   
9. Hamley’s adventurous toy store: Hamley’s is located on Regent Street, between Oxford and Piccadilly Circus, and is the largest toy store in the world. On six floors, you can not only find toys of all kinds on display, you may even try them out or enjoy funny demonstrations by the store’s staff, from magic shows to drone-flying lessons.

Fun things to do in London

Looking for even more nice things to do in London? No worries, it’s very unlikely you’ll ever run out! Here are some more really fun ideas for what to do in London and more exciting London attractions to visit!

1. Hire a pedalo or rowing boat on Hyde Park’s famous Serpentine Lake.
2. See a game (and do the tour) at the legendary Wembley Stadium.
3. Get a taste of London’s club football scene at Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham United or Tottenham Hotspur.
4. Get a few good scares at the London Dungeon, an interactive museum and ride that’s all about the darker sides of London’s history.
5. Reach for the stars at the London Observatory.
6. Or meet them at Madame Tussaud’s wax museum next door (do you see what we did there?).
7. Find out if you’re a wizard or witch by visiting Platform 9 ¾ and the Harry Potter Shop at King’s Cross Station.
8. See a show in the London West End (after getting half-price tickets at the booths on Leicester Square).
9. Solve mysterious cases at the Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221b Baker Street.
10. Have the entire world listen to what you have to say at Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park (or at least anyone who passes while you’re there).

Restaurants in London: food and drink

One of the best things to do in London apart from seeing its many famous sights is enjoying its delicious, diverse cuisine. Fancy some authentic English afternoon tea or fish & chips? Some yummy Asian food? Or spicy Indian? London’s got it all!

1. Traditional afternoon tea at The Ritz: Aromatic tea, sweet scones, and delicious pastries and cakes, all served in the spectacular Palm Court, an ambience fit for kings and queens, is what awaits you for this special – if slightly pricey – treat. You can also find fancy afternoon tea offers at many other places, including The Savoy and The Shard.
   
2. The local pub experience: Fish & chips, tasty beer from the tap, friendly people and a homey atmosphere is what you’ll find in London’s pubs.
   
3. Feel like taking a trip during your trip? How about a short journey to Asia then? London’s China Town just north of Leicester Square boasts Chinese lampions, beautiful wooden gates, small shops selling Asian specialties, and, of course, lots of fabulous restaurants where you can enjoy anything from roast duck to sushi.
   
4. Almost 7% of London’s inhabitants are of Indian descent – which means you can find just as many delicious Indian restaurant options there as you would expect. Have a look around Soho for some really great places.
   
5. Do you just looove cheese? Then here’s a very special insider tip for you to wrap things up: The Cheese Bar at Camden Market. This tiny but incredibly tasty joint sells heaven on a plate and works with UK-based farms and cheesemakers for the very best cheesy experience your taste buds could ask for. Just be sure to book in advance!

With so many fun things to do in London, we’re sure you’ll need more than just one pet sit there to see and do everything in our lists – and there’s even more to see and do! So, why not look for a long-term pet sit in London? Remember, there is no limit to the amount of pet sits you can do in England’s fabulous capital! For now, have loads of fun and be sure to share your pet sitting adventures with us on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #TrustedTales.

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