9 Best Things to do in London on a Business Trip

The iconic, pedestrian-friendly public square of Covent Garden in the West End is a great place for soaking up the vibrancy of London. Street performers entertain the crowds and restaurants spill out into the square, making Covent Garden one of the prettiest and most photogenic spots in the city. 

The restaurants in Covent Garden are a mix of famous franchises, expensive fine diners, street food stalls and fast-food chains, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. When it comes to shopping, Covent Garden is one of London’s most popular shopping neighbourhoods. It’s home to a wide range of world-class fashion, beauty and lifestyle stores, so be sure leave room in your suitcase for some amazing finds.

Trafalgar Square is packed full of British history and famous landmarks. It’s a beautiful place to wander around and enjoy the vibrant street scenes. Nelson’s Column, with its 4 bronze lions at the base, is the centrepiece of the square, with the Admiralty Arch also worth admiring. A rainy day is saved by a visit to the National Gallery or National Portrait Gallery. 

There’s an almost constant succession of events and gatherings in Trafalgar Square so there’s usually something exciting going on.

The Embankment neighbourhood is home to a nice selection of bars close to the River Thames. There’s a mixture of traditional English pubs, fancy wine bars and even a few floating bars on boats docked in the river. Invite your colleagues, clients or friends for a cheeky pint, a bit of banter and stellar atmosphere. 

Head to Villiers Street, that runs between Embankment station and Charing Cross. You’ll find a classic British boozer, The Princess of Wales, along with Gordon’s Wine Bar and several other bars, all within 100 metres (358 ft).

Bokan is a stunning rooftop bar and restaurant popular with the business crowd. Built over 3 floors on top of the Novotel London Canary Wharf hotel, it’s walking distance from Canary Wharf business district in East London. 

The riverside location has a stunning view of London, and it’s a great spot if you want to impress your clients with a few amazing cocktails that a mixture of local, ancient and adopted British ingredients. The restaurant is also highly regarded for its innovate take on British cuisine.

The Mayfair Chippy is a seafood restaurant, but the standout dish has to be their classic fish & chips, served on a silver platter with tartar sauce, curry sauce and mushy peas. Think of it as a posh fish & chip shop, with the buzz of a neighbourhood bistro.

Other British classics to try here include Scotch eggs, oysters, and shepherd’s pie. Cod and chips costs from £15. The Mayfair Chippy is in Aldgate, close to the City of London business district. Reservations are strongly advised.

Rules bills itself as the oldest restaurant in London and has been serving up traditional British cuisine since 1798 in a locale as charming as it is historic and upscale. Here you can enjoy martinis and cocktails while surrounded by crimson velvet and plush upholstered furniture that you can just sink into. The fare is seasonal, but in the autumn especially it's bursting with dishes based around wild game. While here, be sure to try the rib-sticking desserts from bread and butter pudding to sticky toffee pudding and others.

If you're looking for a truly historic spot to eat truly historic cuisine with a modern fine dining twist, Rules is the spot. It's right in the city centre.

If you’re in a rush to pick up some typically English souvenirs before your flight home, head to Fortnum & Mason, a fancy grocery store favoured by the British monarchy. There are several branches and you will find something special for the whole family here. For business travellers, the St. Pancras branch is probably the most convenient.

Fortnum & Mason is famed for their hampers, which make popular gifts. You’ll find a mix of chocolates, jams, teas, liquor, crockery and other specialities packed into hampers of different sizes. They also stock perfumes, accessories, flowers, stationery and teddy bears.

Tower Bridge is an enduring icon of London, and it looks pretty at any time of day or night. In fact, it’s probably better to visit of an evening, when it’s lit up in soft lights. Be sure to snap a photo of this unique London sight. 

Head to Tower Hill underground and Tower Bridge is just a 5-minute walk from the station. If you have time, head to the Tower of London nearby to see another classic British landmark.

Over 304 metres (1,000 ft) tall and entirely glass fronted, you can’t help but notice The Shard from any borough of London. It’s even more impressive when you’re on top of the building looking down, especially at sunset.  

If you aren’t lucky enough to be staying at the opulent Shangri-La hotel (the hotel occupies the 34th to 52nd floors), then head up to the Gong bar on the 52nd floor for panoramic views of England’s capital. The Luxurious, Asian-themed cocktail bar is said to be the highest hotel bar in Western Europe, with view to match and even an infinity pool.