Car Hire Central London

You don’t step into Central London—you’re swept into it. The clatter of café chairs on pavements, the low hum of river traffic, the scent of roasted peanuts near parks—everything folds into a restless, irresistible atmosphere. Anchored by the curve of the Thames, this part of the capital is a maze of stories, stitched together by narrow lanes, grand squares and broad boulevards.

Major routes like the A40 and the Embankment Road slide you straight into the action, though be warned: traffic rarely hurries here. It’s best to treat driving like sightseeing—with patience and plenty of side-street detours. While summers bring a bright, festival buzz along South Bank, a late spring visit catches gardens in full bloom and makes riverside wandering lighter on the crowds. Even the weather plays along more often than not, swapping the city’s infamous drizzle for long, golden evenings.

Within easy reach of London and Aldwych, Central London feels at once familiar and full of hidden corners. Where else might you stumble from medieval fortress walls straight into a modern glass rooftop garden?

Attractions In Central London

There’s no tidy way to list everything that unfolds in Central London. Museums, parks and landmarks jostle shoulder-to-shoulder with markets, riverwalks and secret gardens.

Camden Market

Tucked along Camden Lock Place, Camden Market fizzes with energy. We lost ourselves wandering past vintage jackets, record stalls and street artists. The scent of spicy food wafted from every corner. After a chaotic hour weaving through the crowds, we finally perched canalside with fresh falafel wraps. Open daily from 10am–6pm.

Tower Of London

Approaching from Elephant and Castle, the Tower of London hit us with its sheer, weighty presence. Over 1,000 years of brutal, tangled history sits behind those thick walls. We climbed narrow staircases where kings plotted and traitors waited for dawn and paused longest at the Bloody Tower, where mystery still clings to the stones. Seeing the Crown Jewels up close—more dazzling and strange than we expected—was a real moment. Open 9am–4:30pm.

SEA LIFE London Aquarium

The dim blue of the SEA LIFE London Aquarium wrapped around us the moment we stepped through. Schools of silver fish darted above as we strolled through the glass tunnels. We lingered longest by the jellyfish tanks—strange, ghostly creatures pulsing in the gloom. Best to come early, as it fills quickly after noon.

The British Museum

We planned a morning outing from Bloomsbury and reached the museum as the glass ceiling caught the first sun. There’s a grandeur here that’s hard to explain—walking among relics from ancient Egypt, Greece and Mesopotamia feels more like time-travel than sightseeing. We skipped the Rosetta Stone crowds and found peace in the lesser-known Assyrian wing, where colossal statues stood silent under shafts of dusty light. Open 10am–5pm.

Hyde Park

While driving in from Belgravia, we pulled into Hyde Park just to stretch our legs—and stayed far longer than intended. Under the plane trees, couples rowed along the Serpentine, dogs dashed across open fields and we sat at a bench near the Italian Gardens, soaking in the late afternoon peace. There’s something timeless about this space—a kind of breathing room that stays steady while the city rushes on. Open 5am–12am.

Tower Bridge

Crossing Tower Bridge is a little drama of its own. The old engines still hum, the walkway sways slightly as lorries rumble below. We couldn’t resist peeking through the glass floor at the dizzying drop to the Thames. Learning about how the bridge’s bascules were once raised by steam was a surprising highlight. Open daily 9:30am–6pm.

London Eye

This spot draws a lot of interest from people in Waterloo. Boarding was swift and soon we were floating high above the city. Built to mark the Millennium, the Eye was only supposed to stand for a few years—yet here it is, a permanent fixture on the skyline. As we drifted upward, the Thames curved away beneath us, tracing London’s long, complicated heart. It’s quiet up there—even with strangers in the capsule, it somehow feels like your own private moment.

Trafalgar Square

We didn’t mean to linger in Trafalgar Square—but between the buskers, bubble blowers and random chess games unfolding near the fountains, it was hard to leave. Nelson’s Column looms large but it’s the spontaneous energy that defines this place. We bought a coffee and just sat, watching the rhythms of people flowing across the stone.

Buckingham Palace

Tucked within easy reach of South Bank, Buckingham Palace stands still while the crowds swirl around it. We watched the Changing of the Guard shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists, a flash of red jackets and rhythmic drumbeats cutting through the morning air. It’s strange seeing such ceremony in real life—almost surreal in its precision. Later, we found quiet along the Canada Gate, where gilded ironwork framed views back toward the palace.

Kensington Palace With Gardens

During a visit to Tottenham Court Road, we decided on a whim to explore Kensington Palace. Once home to Princess Diana and now housing royal exhibits, the palace surprised us with how personal some of the displays felt—small handwritten notes, dresses that somehow felt too fragile for history. Beyond the palace, the Gardens stretched out, dotted with benches and slow-moving visitors. Open 10am–4pm.

Big Ben

You’ll hear it before you see it. Big Ben’s chime rolled across Westminster Bridge just as we stepped out from the Underground. Standing beneath the recently restored clock face—every golden detail gleaming—gave us that odd feeling of seeing something more familiar than expected but no less impressive. It’s busy, sure but there’s a dignity to it that still holds.

The National Gallery

Approaching from Court Road, we ducked into the National Gallery to escape a sudden rain shower. Inside, light fell perfectly across the marble floors and framed masterpieces. We found ourselves rooted in front of Monet’s water lilies for what felt like minutes or hours. The sheer volume of world-changing art here feels almost hidden behind the Gallery’s modest façade. Open daily 10am–6pm.

London Zoo

Regent’s Park hides London Zoo better than you’d think. We wandered through leafy paths until the chatter of monkeys and the scent of popcorn led us in. The butterfly house was a humid wonder—blue wings brushing our shoulders as we tried (and failed) to take perfect photos. Best part? Watching giraffes pick their slow, careful way across the dusty enclosure. Open 10am–5pm.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

We found ourselves at St. Paul’s without planning it—following the dome like a beacon through narrow lanes. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London, the cathedral feels somehow lighter than its heavy stone exterior suggests. Inside, we whispered under the soaring arches, feeling impossibly small. If you climb the 528 steps to the Golden Gallery (we did), the panorama will steal your breath.

HMS Belfast

Moored along The Queen’s Walk, HMS Belfast is quieter than you might expect. Clambering through the ship’s tight stairwells, we imagined what it would have been like with the roar of battle all around. The kitchen still smells faintly metallic, the hammocks still creak. It’s easy to lose a few hours tracing the layered history across its nine decks. Open 10am–5pm.

Sky Garden

An ideal detour for drivers coming from Aldwych, Sky Garden felt like walking into a futuristic greenhouse. The bar was packed but we found a spot near the south-facing windows. Watching twilight settle over London’s towers from up there felt almost cinematic—glass, greenery and city light folding into one another.

Science Museum

In South Kensington, the Science Museum bursts with small wonders. We loved the quieter upstairs galleries where early computers and 19th-century engines sit side-by-side. In the basement, kids raced through interactive exhibits—a wild energy that felt part of the museum’s spirit. We even found a tucked-away gallery dedicated to early aviation, a surprise that kept us wandering longer than planned. Open 10am–6pm.

A Day Well Spent

Spending time in Central London feels like slipping through different worlds stitched together by the river and old stone streets. One minute you’re watching the Changing of the Guard under a sharp blue sky; the next, you’re lost among mummies and mosaics at the museum.

When hunger hits, we found a laid-back corner at Comptoir Libanais on South Bank—their mezze platters were perfect for sharing without fuss. Later, after a slow walk back across Waterloo Bridge, we tucked into scones and tea at Dean Street Townhouse, where the clink of china and low murmur of conversation softened the city’s usual rush.

For somewhere to stay, The Resident Covent Garden offered exactly what we needed—a little extra comfort tucked down a quiet side street, just minutes from the energy of the Strand and the river.