Fun Things To Do In Westminster

Head to prestigious spot The English Grill at The Rubens at The Palace Hotel for a luxurious cooking experience, led by Executive Chef Ben Kelliher. He'll demonstrate his gourmet cooking skills in front of you, while you enjoy Champagne and canapes.

After the masterclass, you'll get to enjoy a sumptuous four-course meal in the restaurant. Their expert sommelier will be in attendance, helping out with wine pairings.

• Location: Victoria Embankment, Westminster, SW1A 2HR
• When: Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, times vary
• Price: tickets from £5.50 per person
• Why we recommend: this is a fantastic chance to catch some of the best up-and-coming comedy talent in a unique setting, surrounded by London's landmarks  

It's time to take your laughs offshore. Moored just a stone's throw from Westminster Tube, The Boat Show Comedy Club is London's longest-running floating comedy night. Held aboard the gloriously old-school Tattershall Castle, and for over two decades, the boat's stage has welcomed everyone from rising circuit stars to bona fide comedy royalty (Michael McIntyre made his debut here, while Micky Flanagan has fine-tuned sell-out tours on this very deck).

The line-ups are reliably brilliant, the atmosphere feels conspiratorial and buzzy, and the pre-show drinks come with Thames views from a floating beer garden. With new material tickets from £5.50 per person, it's one of the best cheap things to do in Westminster. Plus, stick around after Friday and Saturday shows, and the comedy club morphs into a party.

• Location: 46-48 Essex Street, WC2R 3JF
• When: daily 
• Price: private games rooms from £4 per person per hour
• Why we recommend: whether you want to join the fun in the bar, bring your mates for a private game or join the academy and learn to be a D&D master, this place has everything you need

A Dungeons & Dragons, TTRPG, and board game space just off the Strand in the heart of London, Arcadia Games is the perfect spot to battle over a few beers. Get down here for its daily beginner-friendly one-shot D&D sessions set in the bar's own persistent world or sign up to learn the ropes over three weeks of sessions at the Grosh Drumclad's Adventuring Academy.

There's plenty to keep you refreshed along the way. We're talking rotating local beers, signature cocktails and potions, plus top notch grub like toasties, nachos and stews.

• Location: The Curry Room at The Rubens at The Palace Hotel, 39 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0PS
• When: open daily, 5pm - 10pm
• Price: £45 for two courses per person, £55 for three
• Why we recommend: thirsty? The Curry Room's pairing game is seriously strong, with curated flights from sister vineyard Bouchard Finlayson and expert advice on hand. Heading to Hamilton, Wicked or Six? There's a polished pre-theatre set menu, plus a handy discount for ticket-holders

Just moments from Buckingham Palace, The Curry Room at The Rubens is an intimate, rosette-holding restaurant serving refined, deeply authentic dishes in plush surroundings.

Chef Arun Kumar's menus celebrate regional Indian cooking with meticulously sourced ingredients and spices imported directly from India. Expect tempting kormas and crispy onion bhajis, set against a backdrop of rich red tones and intricate Rajasthani embroidery.

• Location: Curio Collection by Hilton, 30 John Islip Street, SW1 4DD
• When: open daily, 12pm - 8pm (private hire only) 
• Price: enquire for rates
• Why we recommend: this is your chance to have a lane that's entirely yours - just your guest list, your soundtrack and a game that unfolds at your own pace

For anyone hunting down unusual things to do in Westminster, this is a stylish hidden gem. The Bowling Alley at Westminster Bar & Grill feels like a scene lifted straight from a classic spy film. This exclusive, single-lane bowling space is all about atmosphere.

Designed for groups of up to 30 guests, the space spans 123 square metres and comes with a private bar, bespoke bowling shoes and flexible layouts that work just as well for slick team-building sessions as they do for birthdays or covert celebrations. There are also crafted cocktails and gourmet canapés that keep things elevated, while the Bond-esque styling gives the whole experience a quietly indulgent edge.

• Location: Cellarium Cafe & Terrace, Dean's Yard, Westminster Abbey, SW1P 3PA
• When: daily 
• Price: £38 per person
• Why we recommend:  this afternoon tea is set in one of London's most popular tourist spots, over two floors at Westminster Abbey. It's affordable, too 

Set in a 14th-century undercroft beneath Westminster Abbey, Cellarium Café & Terrace keeps things simple with its Abbey in Bloom Afternoon Tea. Expect a balanced selection of savoury items (pea tart, trout vol-au-vent), sweets (lemon drizzle, macarons, chocolate tart), and scones, all included in the £38 price with unlimited tea and coffee.

A notable add-on is Chapel Down Classic Brut (£11 a glass or £60 a bottle), which pairs well with the menu and is worth factoring in if you're making an occasion of it.

• Location: 101 Buckingham Palace Road, Westminster, SW1W 0SJ
• When: served daily, 1pm - 4.30pm
• Price: £55 per person
• Why we recommend: with the option to add a celebratory glass of fizz, it's a wonderfully theatrical way to elevate your pre- or post-show plans

The Clermont London's Wicked Afternoon Tea is West End fun. Served in the hotel's elegant Tea Lounge, just moments from the Apollo Victoria Theatre, this playful spin on a British classic channels the spectacle of the hit musical.

Traditional finger sandwiches keep things grounded, filled with the likes of smoked ham with mustard and classic egg mayo. The sweets steal the spotlight, though. You can expect emerald-green showstoppers like zingy lime cheesecake and a glossy chocolate and pistachio bombe that wouldn't look out of place under stage lights. 

Stylish spot The Rubens at The Palace Hotel has introduced a Billingsgate Market Experience within its masterclass line-up, inviting guests to explore the art of cooking first-hand. Their chef will develop a specially curated seven-course seafood menu showcasing exceptional ingredients from the market - all while you learn about responsible and sustainable fishing practices.

• Location: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7PB
• When: open daily, 10pm - 4pm (6pm Saturdays, 5pm Sundays) 
• Price: from £28 per person (online) 
• Why we recommend: interactive exhibits, seasonal events, behind-the-scenes tours and even adults-only after-hours sessions earn this attraction repeat visits

SEA LIFE London Aquarium manages to feel surprisingly transportive. One minute you're on the South Bank, the next you're deep beneath the waves, surrounded by sharks, jellyfish and one very smug-looking turtle.

Spread across three floors and 14 themed zones, the experience is designed as a slow descent through the world's oceans, from the frozen drama of Antarctica to the colour-saturated calm of tropical coral reefs. Along the way, you'll come face-to-face with more than 6,000 marine creatures, including rays, penguins and the UK's largest living coral reef display.

• Location: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7PB
• When: open daily, 10pm - 5pm
• Price: from £34 per adult, £24 per child (save up to 35% online)
• Why we recommend: this experience is fun for all the family, offering you a glimpse into the world of the furry bear as you trapse through brilliant set designs and help save Marmalade Day 

On the hunt for things to do in Westminster with kids? If you've ever wanted to step inside a storybook (or at least one with excellent snacks), The Paddington Bear Experience on London's South Bank is about as heart-warming as it gets. This isn't a quick photo-op with a famous bear - it's an adventure that throws you headfirst into Paddington's wonderfully chaotic world, marmalade and all.

It starts, fittingly, at a meticulously recreated Paddington Station, before whisking you onto a real train carriage and off through the Brown family home, all the way to a lush, mischievous Peruvian jungle and beyond. 

• Location: The Old Westminster Library, 30-32 Great Smith Street, SW1P 3BU
• When: open Mondays to Saturdays, 12pm - 10pm
• Price: £100 tasting menu, £45 per person for jazz bottomless brunch 
• Why we recommend: decades on, The Cinnamon Club remains a benchmark for Indian dining in the capital - we love its fragrant dishes and refreshing drinks 

Housed inside the Grade II-listed former Westminster Library, The Cinnamon Club is a stunning place to eat. It played an essential role in redefining what Indian fine dining could look like, pairing bold flavours with one of the most majestic dining rooms in the city.

Led by Chef Vivek Singh, the kitchen has always balanced reverence for tradition with a willingness to push boundaries. The menus continue that legacy, weaving together long-standing signatures with fresh, celebratory dishes designed for sharing. You can venture down on Saturdays for its jazz bottomless brunch, or revel in a tasting menu, which highlights dishes such as grilled jumbo black tiger prawn with an Awadhi spiced yoghurt sauce.

• Location: Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG
• When: open daily, 10am - 6pm
• Price: free entry, specific exhibitions vary 
• Why we recommend: not only is the scale and quality of its Turner collection alone staggering, but there's been everything here from blockbuster retrospectives of Turner, Hockney, and the Pre‑Raphaelites to contemporary shows that have reshaped how we see British art

Tate Britain is where you'll find a fantastic collection of British art. Hiding behind a neoclassical portico on Millbank, this riverside gem leads you through grand spaces like the Rotunda and the Duveen sculpture galleries, each corner brimming with history and drama.

Founded in 1897 as the National Gallery of British Art and rebranded Tate Britain in 2000, it's the home of the world's largest Turner collection, benchmark Pre‑Raphaelite rooms, and deep dives into Blake, Constable, and the defining moments of British creativity.

• Location: Dean's Yard, SW1P 3PA
• When: open daily, 9.30pm - 3pm
• Price: from £31 per adult, £14 per child
• Why we recommend: whether you're a history buff, architecture lover, or simply after a dose of British pageantry, it's one of London's must-see experiences. Our tips? Skip Sundays (open for worship only), mind airport‑style security, and note that some areas have photography restrictions

This soaring Gothic church has been at the heart of British life for nearly a millennium, hosting everything from coronations and royal weddings to national farewells. Wander beneath the fan‑vaulted Henry VII Lady Chapel, marvel at the intricate medieval Cosmati pavement, and brush past centuries of monuments.

Almost every English and British monarch since 1066 has been crowned here, on the iconic Coronation Chair near the high altar. You can explore the Cloisters, College Garden, Chapter House, and Pyx Chamber with general admittance, while the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries in the triforium offer a ticketed treat: breathtaking views across the nave and close encounters with royal and medieval treasures.

• Location: Buckingham Palace, SW1A 1AA
• When: open daily, 10am - 3.30pm in winter, 9.30am - 5.30pm in summer
• Price: from £33 per adult, £16.50 per child (booking in advance)
• Why we recommend: the chance to explore Buckingham Palace's interiors is a rare treat. Our tip? Pair a summer visit with a stroll through St James's Park or time your arrival for Changing the Guard

As the official residence of the monarch, Buckingham Palace is the beating heart of royal ceremony, from jubilant national celebrations to the daily theatre of Changing the Guard, which plays out against one of the city's most recognisable backdrops. 

For those keen to go beyond the gates, the Palace opens its magnificent State Rooms each summer, offering a rare glimpse inside one of the world's most famous homes. You'll get a peek at glittering chandeliers, the Throne Room, the elegant Blue Drawing Room and the vast Ballroom, all filled with priceless works of art from the Royal Collection.