While London has plenty to offer, not every famous site lives up to the hype. If you’re planning a visit, it’s good to know which tourist spots might leave you underwhelmed so you can make the most of your time in this incredible city.
The London Eye
The London Eye is one of the most recognised landmarks on the city’s skyline, but the experience might not be as breathtaking as you expect. Yes, you’ll get a decent view of the city, but the queues are often outrageously long, and the ride itself can feel underwhelming, especially when you’re crammed into a pod with a bunch of other tourists.
Madame Tussauds
Long a staple of London’s tourist circuit, Madame Tussauds might leave you questioning whether it was worth the time and money, as the exhibits can be hit or miss, with some figures looking eerily lifelike and others falling into the “uncanny valley” territory. Add to that the often overwhelming crowds and the steep entrance fee, and you might find yourself wishing you’d skipped it.
Oxford Street
Often touted as a shopping mecca, Oxford Street for many visitors is more of a stressful slog than a shopper’s paradise. The street is perpetually crowded, with throngs of people jostling for space on narrow pavements, and the shops themselves are mostly chain stores.
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is marketed as the heart of London’s entertainment district, but the reality can be quite disappointing. It’s often packed with tourists, and the square itself doesn’t have much to offer beyond overpriced cinemas and chain restaurants.
The Shard
An impressive architectural feat and the tallest building in the UK, the Shard can nevertheless fall flat; the view from the top is undoubtedly expansive, but the entry fee is steep. Many visitors find the experience doesn’t quite justify the cost, and the atmosphere can be quite commercial.
Piccadilly Circus
Compared to Times Square in New York, Piccadilly Circus is less of a must-see destination and more of a glorified traffic junction. The famous neon signs are smaller than many expect, and the area is constantly crowded with tourists and traffic, while there’s little to do in the immediate vicinity.
The Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is one of those quintessentially British ceremonies that many tourists feel obliged to see, but the experience can be a letdown. The crowds are enormous, making it difficult to get a good view unless you arrive hours in advance.
The Tower of London
Undeniably historic, the experience of visiting the Tower of London can sometimes be underwhelming, especially given the high entrance fee. The exhibits can feel a bit dry, and the sheer volume of visitors can make it difficult to fully appreciate the site’s history.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is often promoted as a vibrant market area with street performers and unique shops, but in reality, it can feel overly commercialised and crowded, and the market stalls often sell overpriced trinkets. The street performers, while talented, can be repetitive, with the same acts playing out day after day.
Baker Street and the Sherlock Holmes Museum
Famous worldwide thanks to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, the reality of Baker Street is far from the atmospheric setting you might imagine. The Sherlock Holmes Museum itself is a small, cramped affair that can feel more like a tourist trap than a genuine tribute to the detective.
Harrods
Harrods is known as the epitome of luxury shopping in the city, but for many visitors, the experience is more overwhelming than enjoyable. The store is massive, and it’s easy to get lost in the maze-like layout, and while the opulence is undeniable, the crowds and high prices can make it difficult to appreciate.
Buckingham Palace
One of London’s most famous landmarks, seeing Buckingham Palace from the outside can nevertheless be underwhelming, as the palace is often obscured by crowds, and the view you get is from quite a distance. And unless you’re visiting during the limited times of year when the State Rooms are open, you won’t get to see much of the palace at all.
The Millennium Bridge
Millennium Bridge, also known as the “wobbly bridge,” is a popular spot for photos thanks to its views of St Paul’s Cathedral, but the bridge itself doesn’t offer much beyond that. It’s a simple pedestrian bridge that can be crossed in a matter of minutes, and once you’ve snapped your photo, there’s little reason to linger.
Trafalgar Square
The reality of Trafalgar Square can be quite disappointing. The square is usually crowded, and beyond the famous Nelson’s Column, there’s not much to see; while the fountains are nice, the overall atmosphere can feel a bit lacking—especially when compared to other European squares that are more vibrant.
The London Dungeon
London Dungeon promises thrills and chills as it takes you through the darker side of London’s history, but the attraction relies heavily on jump scares and over-the-top theatrics, which can feel a bit cheesy rather than genuinely frightening. The long queues and high ticket prices only add to the disappointment.
Camden Market
Famous for its alternative vibe and eclectic mix of stalls, Camden Market can also be an overwhelming and chaotic experience. The market is often packed with tourists, making it difficult to browse the stalls at your leisure, while the quality of the goods can be hit or miss.
Hyde Park’s Speaker’s Corner
Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park is a historic site where anyone can get up and speak their mind, but the reality can be less inspiring than it sounds. On most days, the speakers you’ll find are not particularly engaging, and the area can feel more like a gathering of soapbox ranters than a hub of intellectual debate.
The Natural History Museum Dinosaurs Exhibit
While the Natural History Museum itself is a fantastic place to visit, the dinosaurs exhibit, in particular, can be a letdown; the animatronic T-Rex, which is the main attraction, can feel a bit dated and less impressive than expected. If you’re visiting the museum, don’t miss out on the other sections, like the Earth Hall or the impressive collection of gemstones.
Abbey Road
Abbey Road is world-famous thanks to The Beatles, but visiting the crossing can be a bit of a disappointment, thanks to the fact that the zebra crossing itself is just a normal street, and the area is often crowded with tourists trying to recreate the famous album cover. This leads to a lot of waiting around for a brief moment to snap a photo, all while holding up traffic.
10 Downing Street
The official residence of the British Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street as a tourist spot is less than impressive, because you can’t actually get close to the famous black door. It’s heavily guarded and blocked off from the public, so the view you get is from a distance through a gated fence—not great for a photo.
