As the Olympic torch flames fade on August 11, London stands to capture the Paris Games’ post-event energy.
The U.K. expects around 2 percent more travelers and a 5 percent rise in visitor spending after the Olympics, according to Severine Tharreau, the country manager for France at Visit Britain. But those estimates maybe conservative. The spokesperson for Eurostar, the railway company connecting the two capitals, tells Robb Report the company has seen a “15 to 20 percent increase in tickets sold compared to last for travel in September and October.” Moreover, TripAdvisor stats shared with Robb Report show that “international travelers, particularly Americans, are making up a significantly larger share of check-ins in London during the post-Olympic period this year—with American share of check-ins increasing from 20 percent in 2023 to 26 percent in 2024 in the week after the Olympics.”
It’s no wonder: Sports fans will find a lot to love in London, from yachting the Thames to velodrome cycling. For those who are all Olympic-ed out, there’s luxury shopping, world-class restaurants and theaters, and exclusive tours to be had.
Below are summer experiences that will keep the spirit of the Games alive in London.
For the Love of Sports
Remnants of the 2012 Games are still hosting stellar sporting events.
Courtesy of Visit Britain
Explore London’s Olympic Legacy
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, built for the 2012 Summer Games, is now a sporting complex and park in East London. Visitors can experience the state-of-the-art indoor facility at the Zaha Hadid–designed London Aquatics Centre. Exercise like an elite athlete in one of two 164-foot pools or the 82-foot diving pool, where British diver Tom Daley won his first Olympic medal. Non-members can make a splash with day passes.
Increase your pedal power at Lee Valley VeloPark, host of the 2012 track cycling and BMX competitions. This attraction also offers mountain biking and road rides, making it the world’s only venue to support all four Olympic cycling disciplines. Experience an hour of coaching on a Velodrome Taster, racing on fixed-gear bikes around banked indoor tracks.
Next, catch a football game at the London Stadium, a former Olympic venue that now hosts events and concerts. It is also home to the Premier League football club West Ham United F.C. Guided tours peek behind the scenes and can include half-hour meet-and-greets with legendary players.
Horse Ride at Hyde Park
After the thrill of the equestrian competitions, extend the excitement at Hyde Park Stables and gallop through one of London’s most stunning parks. Ride along Rotten Row, a bridleway once frequented by highwaymen, who preyed on people traveling between Kensington Palace and Whitehall, the seat of government. Some sights here may be familiar from the 2012 Olympic triathlon and swimming marathon events.
Learn Boxing from the Best
Impressed by the jabs and hooks of world-class prizefighters? Then why not step into the ring at BXR London, a boutique boxing gym backed by British gold-medalist Anthony Joshua. The Bergman Design House architecture showcases an industrial aesthetic with 20-foot high concrete walls and murals of legends like Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali. Visitors at this private members’ gym can buy a single sweat class or trial pass.
Hoof It (Kick a Rugby Ball Hard)
Visit Twickenham Stadium, the world’s largest dedicated rugby union venue. Completed in 1910, it helped spark the sport’s golden age in Britain and now seats up to 82,000 spectators. Besides live matches, you can tour the England Changing Room, Players Tunnel, and pitch-side. Exit through the World Rugby Museum, which showcases memorabilia and also has interactive exhibits like kicking and scrum machines.
Dive Into Dining Delights
Stop by the Shard for high tea with the best views in London.
Courtesy of Shangri-La Hotel
Eat Your Way Around Borough Market
Borough Market has hosted shoppers and traders for over 1,000 years. By the 16th century, it had gained a bawdy reputation, but it straightened out—and relocated to unblock London Bridge traffic—in 1756. Today, the stalls serve culinary treats like Japanese robatayaki skewers (grilled over hot charcoal), Tel Aviv-style stuffed pitas, and Punjabi-inspired chutneys and pickles. It perfectly embodies London, one of the world’s most ethnically diverse and multicultural cities.
Savor Sandwiches, Scones and Sweets
Indulge in the quintessential British afternoon tea at Tīng, including Coronation Chicken finger sandwiches spiced with Madras curry. This exquisite service also features London-themed sweets such as the Iconic Shard (brie mousse and berries) and Big Ben at Ten (chocolate, toffee and banana). Finish with views of the skyline and Tower of London from the city’s loftiest dining spot. (Tīng sits on the 35th floor of the Shard, western Europe’s tallest building, within the five-star Shangri-La hotel.)
Go Whiskey Tasting
Toast the U.K.’s rich history of distilling at Milroy’s of Soho, a bar and shop specializing in whiskey since 1964. Connoisseurs should book private tasting sessions, which range from bootlegger-style American bourbons to the nuances of smoky peaty Scottish whiskies. Or just visit its underground, candle-lit cocktail bar with an opulent speakeasy feel. Don’t miss the innovative Coconut Butter Old Fashioned with cardamom instead of orange peel. Or head to the trendy GONG Bar for stunning views and a diverse selection of liquor.
Experiences London’s Luxuries
Peak inside 19 State Rooms inside Buckingham Palace.
© visitlondon.com/Jon Reid
Yacht the Thames
After witnessing the power and precision of Olympic rowers, immerse yourself in the elegance of yachting through London’s city center. Literary masterpieces celebrate this storied waterway, including Wind in the Willows and Three Men in a Boat, along with Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. It also hosts the ultimate rowing showdown, the Boat Race, where Oxford and Cambridge universities have battled since 1829. Sail past skyscrapers aboard a yacht like Illuminate, an Italian-designed Azimut vessel catering to guests at Shangri-La the Shard, London. Celebrating? Consider a two-hour Champagne cruise or dinner charter, including bespoke Asian French menus crafted by chefs who trained at Michelin-starred restaurants.
Be Enchanted by the Bard
Despite the allure of the West End theater district, no stage embodies London better than those at Shakespeare’s Globe. England’s greatest playwright co-owned the 360-degree, open-air auditorium, now rebuilt as the Globe Theatre and topped by the capital’s last thatched roof. Catch a theater-in-the-round performance or—for seats less exposed to the weather—try its companion venue, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. The cozy indoor space evokes the beeswax candle-lit theaters of Shakespeare’s era.
Sneak a Peek of the King’s Residence
Each summer, Buckingham Palace offers tours of its 19 State Rooms, where royal families host ceremonial, diplomatic, and personal gatherings. Standouts include the scarlet-carpeted Grand Staircase and, of course, the Throne Room. It also showcases artwork, from a Vermeer masterpiece to the first official portrait of King Charles III, a controversial red-hued painting by Jonathan Yeo.
