The best things to do in Westminster in 2026 are Westminster Abbey, a tour of the Houses of Parliament, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, the Churchill War Rooms, a walk through St James's Park, and the free V&A and Natural History Museum in South Kensington.
Westminster is London's royal and political heart, and most of its big sights sit within a 15-minute walk of each other: Parliament Square, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, St James's Park and Buckingham Palace. South Kensington's great museums are a short Tube ride west. Many sights close or change hours for state occasions, so check before you go.
The coronation church, with royal tombs and Poets' Corner.
Westminster Abbey has hosted every coronation since 1066. Inside are the tombs of monarchs, the Coronation Chair and Poets' Corner.
It is closed to sightseers on Sundays, when it is open for worship.
Good to know: Attend Evensong for free to hear the choir.
20 Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA
Tour the Palace of Westminster and the Commons and Lords chambers.
The Gothic Revival Palace of Westminster, with the Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben, is home to the House of Commons and House of Lords. Tours include medieval Westminster Hall and both chambers.
Tours run on Saturdays and during recesses.
Good to know: UK residents can ask their MP for a free tour.
Westminster, London SW1A 0AA
The King's London home and its famous guard ceremony.
Buckingham Palace is the monarch's official London residence. The Changing of the Guard takes place in its forecourt on scheduled mornings, and the State Rooms open to visitors in summer.
The Victoria Memorial in front of the palace is the best free vantage point.
Good to know: Check the guard schedule and arrive early to stand by the railings.
Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA
The underground bunker where Churchill ran the war.
The Churchill War Rooms preserve the cramped rooms where the War Cabinet met during the Second World War, with the Map Room left as it was in 1945, plus a museum of Churchill's life.
It is one of London's most atmospheric museums.
Good to know: Book a timed ticket online.
Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ
London's prettiest royal park, with pelicans and palace views.
St James's Park stretches from Horse Guards Parade to Buckingham Palace around a lake with resident pelicans, and the view from the Blue Bridge towards the palace is a London classic.
It is free and links many of Westminster's sights.
Good to know: Look for the pelicans, which are usually fed in the early afternoon near Duck Island.
St James's Park, London SW1A 2BJ
Five centuries of British art and the largest Turner collection, free.
Tate Britain on Millbank traces British art from the 1500s to today, and its Clore Galleries hold the largest collection of Turner's work. The collection is free.
It is usually calmer than Tate Modern.
Good to know: Take the Tate Boat to Tate Modern afterwards.
Millbank, London SW1P 4RG
A striking red-and-white Byzantine-style cathedral with glittering mosaics.
Westminster Cathedral, the mother church of Catholics in England and Wales, is a striped brick Byzantine-style building near Victoria station, with a cavernous interior of marble and mosaics.
It is free to enter and often overlooked by visitors heading to the Abbey.
Good to know: Step inside even for five minutes; the mosaics in the side chapels are remarkable.
42 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QW
The world's leading museum of art and design, free.
The V&A's galleries cover fashion, sculpture, jewellery, furniture and more, with the Cast Courts and jewellery gallery as highlights, and a garden courtyard for a break.
Entry is free.
Good to know: Have tea in the historic café rooms.
Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Dinosaurs and the blue whale, free.
The Natural History Museum's dinosaurs, blue whale skeleton and earth galleries make it London's favourite family museum, in a magnificent Victorian building.
Entry is free, with timed booking advised at busy times.
Good to know: Use the Exhibition Road entrance to avoid the main queue.
Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
Guard Mounting at Buckingham Palace usually starts at 11am on scheduled days, which vary through the year. Check the official schedule and arrive 30–45 minutes early for a good view.
The State Rooms usually open to visitors in summer, with tickets from the Royal Collection Trust. Guided tours run at some other times; check its website.
Yes. Tours run on Saturdays and on weekdays during recesses, and you can watch debates from the public galleries when Parliament is sitting.
St James's Park, the Changing of the Guard, the outside of Parliament and the Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, Tate Britain and the South Kensington museums. See our free things to do guide.
A full day covers Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, the Churchill War Rooms and Buckingham Palace via St James's Park. Allow another day for South Kensington's museums.