What to do in East London

Activities, attractions and tours

A historic castle with multiple towers and a prominent spire.
A panoramic view of a cityscape with prominent skyscrapers, including a distinctive spire, and a river running through the center.
A city skyline reflected in calm water, with modern buildings and a large stadium.
The East London Mosque with two minarets and a tiled facade.
A large battleship docked at a harbor with a prominent tower bridge in the background.

East London Attractions

Let Expedia help you to experience the best that East London has to offer! If you’re planning a trip to East London, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling to East London with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Places of interest in East London

East London is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay in East London, and make it a breeze to explore East London and the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in East London to make sure that you enjoy your holiday to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit to East London, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights in East London.

East London attractions

East London has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions in East London to keep you entertained. Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of East London.

Looking for things to do in East London can be time-consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine of East London or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to East London attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season. Happy trails!

Things to do

City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional River Cruise

City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Bookable Extras

£25
per adult
76% of travellers recommend
City Sightseeing London Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Bookable Extras
Tower of London Tickets with Beefeater Tour & Crown Jewels

The Tower of London Tickets with Yeoman Warder Beefeater Tour

£37
per adult
90% of travellers recommend
The Tower of London Tickets with Yeoman Warder Beefeater Tour
Fully guided Paris Day Trip with Cruise & Eiffel Tower Lunch

Paris Day Trip from London with Optional Eiffel Tower Lunch & Seine Cruise

£238
per adult
86% of travellers recommend
Paris Day Trip from London with Optional Eiffel Tower Lunch & Seine Cruise
The London Pass®: Access 100+ Attractions

The London Pass®: Access 100+ Attractions

£89
per adult
74% of travellers recommend
The London Pass®: Access 100+ Attractions
Westminster Abbey in London

Westminster Abbey Tickets

£27
per adult
86% of travellers recommend
Westminster Abbey Tickets
sunset at Windsor Castle in London

Windsor Castle Admission Tickets

£32
per adult
82% of travellers recommend
Windsor Castle Admission Tickets
London: The View from The Shard

London: The View from The Shard

£24
per adult
96% of travellers recommend
London: The View from The Shard
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Top places to visit

1. Tower Bridge

For London locals, Tower Bridge is a vital part of the city’s infrastructure, ushering 40,000 vehicles safely across the Thames daily. However, for many visitors, the sight of the dual Gothic towers rising above the skyline is a must-see.
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The Tower Bridge in London, featuring two towers, a central arch, and suspension cables.

2. The Arena

The O2 Arena is an award-winning complex that hosts many types of events, such as sports and music. It has a seating capacity of about 20,000 and has held the title as the busiest arena in the world with more than 2 million ticket sales in a calendar year. It was designed with excellent acoustics to prevent echoing.
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A large stadium with a unique roof structure and multiple tall towers.

3. London Bridge

London Bridge is easily one of the most famously named bridges in the world, and the site of the oldest recorded crossing of the River Thames. Walk across the landmark structure, enjoy gorgeous river views and pick up insights into the bridge’s history in its underground vaults.
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A city skyline with modern and historic buildings, a bridge over water, and a clear blue sky with clouds.

4. Tower of London

The Tower of London is among Britain’s top tourist attractions. Although it’s mainly known as a place of imprisonment and execution, this remarkable building has also served as palace, mint, archive, armory, barracks and royal menagerie over the years. See the legendary crown jewels and learn about the tower’s often brutal history.
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A historic stone castle with a large arched entrance, a tall tower, and a weather vane.

5. The Shard

The Shard is a 95-story pyramidal tower with upscale restaurants, a luxury hotel, offices and a viewing gallery. Admire the futuristic design of this glassy skyscraper and its distinctive splintered summit.
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A river with modern buildings, including a distinctive tall skyscraper, and a bridge in the background.

Recommended things to do in East London

Number of things to do
1017
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Ghosts of Theatreland: Haunted West End Walking Audio Tour London: £4
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in East London

Stay near popular East London attractions

The Tower Bridge in London, featuring two towers, a central arch, and suspension cables.

Tower Bridge

9.2/10 (37,088 reviews)
Tower Bridge's iconic Victorian Gothic design lifts to allow ships to pass beneath its bascule structure. Explore the high-level walkways with glass floors for breathtaking views 42 metres above the Thames.
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Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from East London

Two red double-decker buses on a city street with historic buildings in the background.

London

A forest with sunlight filtering through the trees.

Hornchurch

Railway tracks, a road with cars, and residential buildings in the background.
Photo by Nigel Cox (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)

Buckhurst Hill

A sunset over a park with trees and a field.

Brentwood

A miniature golf course with a modern glass building in the background.

Dartford

An ancient stone structure with columns and a dry, grassy field.

Bexley

A town with a prominent red brick building, a main road, and surrounding greenery.

Waltham Abbey

A cricket field with players in white uniforms, surrounded by trees and a clear sky.
Photo by Acabashi (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0)

Woodford Green

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