I was standing on top of the O2 Arena the other day admiring the view of London and thought you might like to know a few of the other great things to do outdoors in London.
- Bungee Jumping – I get a lot of people looking for places to go bungee jumping in London. Occasionally you can get to do it at Tower Bridge. The most popular place to go is bungee jumping at the O2.
- Explore London on a Boris Bike – You can rent a bike to explore London. You can find a bike rack at most tourist locations throughout London
- Sports events at the London Olympic Park – Following the 2012 London Olympics, sports events such as the schools games or Invicta games are held there every year. I have been to watch the Extreme Drift Allstars racing championships there. A superb day out.
- Watch the Oxford Cambridge boat race – Every year the same two teams end up in the final of the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race. The two university rowing teams race along the river Thames. You can watch from the river bank. Should you want to go rowing yourself, you can do that on the Thames or in London Parks.
- See the Christmas lights on Regents Street – A celebrity is selected to turn on the lights and amaze the crowds. Whilst looking at the visual spectacular, I usually head for Hamleys toy store to play with the latest toys and games.
- Fun in the Royal Parks – Whether you are on a lunch break, touring, or on a day trip, you can find plenty of fun in the Royal Parks around London. Picnics, chess, ping pong, Frisbee, boating, cycling, running, cafes. You can even go Nordic roller skiing.
- Tower of London – Discover some great history in the castle used to hold traitors captive.
- Trafalgar Square – Trafalgar Square has Nelson’s Column looking down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. A great place to meet, feed the pigeons (or not depending on current local bylaws), see some amazing art at the National Gallery.
- Downing Street – Go see where the Primeminister lives in Whitehall. Take your picture standing next to the uniformed military guards outside Horseguards Parade.
- Big Ben –
- Buckingham Palace
- View Tower Bridge from Blackfriars Train Station
- Boating on the Serpentine
- Stadium Tours
- London Marathon
- Ghost Walks
- Raise money on a Moon Walk
- White Water Rafting at the Lee Valley Olympic course
- Greenwich Cutty Sark
- Climbing
- London Zoo
- Go Ape
- Thames Barrier
- Stand on the Meridian Line at Greenwich Observatory
- Get a fast water taxi up the Thames
- Go on a fast rib ride on the Thames
- Monopoly Run
- Watch street entertainers in Covent Garden
- City Farm
- Go Up at the O2
- Emirates Skyway cable car across the Thames
- Watch a play at the Globe Theatre. There are several other outdoor cinema and theatre events held during the summer in London.
- Metal detecting along the shore of the Thames at low tide
- Kite flying
- Running, free running, parkour and jogging
- Exercise classes and bootcamps in the parks
- Ride on an open top bus
- Skateboarding
- Roller skating/blading
- Nordic Roller Skiing
- Scooters
- Join the crowds celeb spotting in Leicester Square for a film premiere
- New Year at the London Eye and Trafalgar Square – This year you have to pay to see it.
- Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
- Winter Fair in Regents Park, Winterwonderland
- Ice skating
- Football matches
- Concerts at Wembley
- Notting Hill Carnival – This is London’s version of the Rio carnival. Not quite on the same scale, but definitely just as amazing to watch. Held on the bank holiday weekend in August.
- Lord Mayor’s Parade – Often a soggy affair, the parade takes place on New Year’s Day in London
One more late entry new in 2015 – Go Ape Battersea is the first of its kind in the city of London.