As London is named the world capital of culture, the Daily Mail Travel team reveal their must-do experiences from the UK city READ MORE: Revealed: The best culturally vibrant towns and cities to live in the UK - with grand, historic venues and international cuisine By DAILY MAIL TRAVEL TEAM Published: 00:24 BST, 15 May 2026 | Updated: 00:32 BST, 15 May 2026 London, home to Buckingham Palace, the British Museum and Sherlock Holmes, is not everyone's cup of tea.

But for those looking to soak up some culture, enjoy the best of theatre and peruse a museum or two, it's perhaps one of the best places in the world.

In fact, this year it has been named the best in the world.

Earlier this week, the land of double-decker buses and red phone booths was named number one in Time Out's Best Cities for Culture 2026, beating the likes of Paris and Rome to first place.

The travel expert put the prestigious award down to the fact London boasts diverse communities and historic landmarks, alongside a range of world-class museums and galleries – many of which are free to visit.

Following this news, the Daily Mail Travel team has shared their favourite places and cultural experiences across the UK capital.

Here's the insider guide to some of London's top cultural highlights...

The Photographer’s Gallery, Soho - Erin Deborah Waks, travel writer The Photographer’s Gallery is a small exhibition space that is not to be missed Harrowing snapshots taken in women's prisons, intimate portraits from New York in the 1950s and 1960s, and everyday life captured on film are just some of the displays on offer at The Photographer’s Gallery, located just five minutes from Oxford Circus.

Given its central location, it's hard to understand why so few people visit this gallery, and even for locals, it's a win, staying open until 8pm on Thursdays and offering free entry on Fridays after 5pm.

Check out The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize, currently on display, as well as other exhibits included with your ticket, such as the thoroughly modern Connection Established: Digital Folklore and Web Craft.

Don't forget to stop at the gift shop on the way out - it's a real haven for artsy and creative types.

Marianne North Gallery, Kew Gardens - Tom Chesshyre, travel writer The Marianne North Gallery and walks, in Kew Gardens, are top of Tom's list Tucked away in a purpose-built gallery inside Kew Gardens, near the wall by the road to Richmond, are more than 800 exquisite, colourful botanical paintings by the Victorian biologist/artist Marianne North (1830-1890).

They cover countries across the globe from Australia to the Americas, South Africa, Asia and across Europe.

Entering is like going on a voyage of the imagination across the continents.

Simply wonderful, yet many people who visit Kew Gardens fail to take a look at the tucked-away gallery.

Royal Opera House bar - Joanna Tweedy, assistant lifestyle and travel editor As well as being home to opera and ballet, the Royal Opera House's bar is a real treat You don’t need to know the difference between a plié and an arabesque to enjoy one of London’s most beautiful buildings - you can just pirouette (or walk) right in.

Beyond the opera and ballet that plays out in the brace of stages, you'll find the red velvet-draped Main Auditorium and the smaller, more modern Linbury Theatre.

But the architectural showstopper is the 19th-century Floral Hall, now the Paul Hamlyn Hall.

This glinting vision of glass and cast iron is the perfect spot for a cup of tea if you need a breather from sightseeing.

The plum spot in the evening? Wait for theatre-goers to take their seats and then push through the doors at ‘walk-ins only’ Bar Cicoria, which offers pizza by the slice, a decent Negroni, and a serene rooftop vantage point on Covent Garden’s tourist mêlée below.

A hidden picnic spot in the V&A Museum - Alesia Fiddler, travel writer Alesia recommends a trip to the V&A Museum - especially if you fancy a picnic The Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington has a central garden space that is the perfect spot to sit down in the sun and enjoy a picnic after exploring the exhibitions.

It even has an expansive water feature along the edge, which feels refreshing on a hot summer's day.

You can often find children splashing around in it.

The museum is free to enter, and sitting outside with its red brick walls as a backdrop makes for a great afternoon.

Warner Bros Studios Tour - Hayley Minn, deputy travel editor Deputy travel editor Hayley Minn is pictured at the Warner Bros Studio Tour, just outside of London - which....