RuPaul’s top 5 things to do in London

RuPaul’s list forsakes most of the UK capital’s traditional tourist haunts.

Mark Mark
Apr 10, 2026 - 20:00
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RuPaul’s top 5 things to do in London
RuPaul
RuPaul (Photo: Shutterstock)

RuPaul is a longtime Anglophile. It’s one of the reasons he jumped at the chance to host a UK version of RuPaul’s Drag Race. It means he and Michelle Visage spend a chunk of time in London each year.

A fun social media video he posted last week has earned praise and over a thousand comments. In it, he offers his five favorite things to do in the UK capital.

1. The Elizabeth Line

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“Number one is use the Elizabeth line, which is part of the tube system,” RuPaul begins. “I was living in Ealing, and I could get into central London in 25 minutes. It’s brilliant. Of course, you can get on with your phone. And I think it caps out at about $8 per day, uh, uh, maybe 13. I am not sure. I’m not a mathematician.”

    The Elizabeth Line
    Bond Street station on The Elizabeth Line (Shutterstock)

    The Elizabeth Line is the newest addition to the London Tube network. Named after Queen Elizabeth, it opened in 2022, at an estimated cost of $25 billion. As such, it’s the most state-of-the-art tube line in the capital, with air conditioning, Wi-Fi throughout most of its length (even when deep underground), and the longest trains on the network. It has transformed the speed with which people can travel from east to west across central London and beyond (and it runs to Heathrow Airport). If RuPaul stayed in Ealing (Zone 3), the TfL daily cap for unlimited travel is £10.50 ($13.88). You can use your phone to tap in and out.

    2. Selfridges

    “My second favourite thing to do in London is shop,” continued RuPaul. “I love the shopping. Selfridges is a brilliant store, but there are so many great stores to shop.”

    Selfridges on Oxford Street, London
    The flagship Selfridges store on Oxford Street, London (Photo: Andrew Meredith/Selfridges)

      Selfridges is one of London’s best-known department stores. It was founded by the American Harry Gordon Selfridge in 1909 on London’s Oxford Street. It shook up the retail trade. The building’s steel frame meant it could offer large, open interiors. It also offered a range of eating options, maximising socializing and the time customers spent in store.

      It’s hard to believe now, but it was also the first British department store to sell cosmetics openly on the shop floor. They were displayed near the entrance, and staff encouraged women to try out new lipsticks. Before this, makeup was considered a female secret, something to be retrieved from the backroom of a store.

      3. Wagamama

      “My third favourite thing is to go to Wagamama,” says RuPaul. “It’s a chain restaurant, but their food is so good. I ordered the Firecracker Chicken. They change the menu a lot. I think they have a few of them in New York, too.”

      Wagamama
      (Photo: Wagamama)

        Wagamama is the best-known Japanese restaurant chain in the UK, with over 160 outlets nationwide and around 35 in London. Fans love it for its ramen and noodle dishes. And RuPaul is correct: There are half a dozen Wagamama in the US, including three in New York City, plus Boston, Arlington, and Tampa.

        4. Marks and Spencer

        “My fourth favourite thing to do in London is go to Marks and Spencer’s. It’s a grocery store, M&S, and they have the most delicious lemon drizzle cake. Oh, my gosh. My mouth is watering.”

        Marks and Spencer stores
        (Photo: Marks and Spencer)

          RuPaul’s description of M&S as a “grocery store” had some Brits shrieking. M&S is the country’s best-known department store, with a history dating back to 1884. It has over 1,000 stores in the UK, and is as well known for its clothing as for its food. It also does homeware. M&S does have food-only stores, which is perhaps why RuPaul thinks of it only for its high-quality food. This includes classic British sandwiches, cakes, and ready meals.

          5. ABBA Voyage

          “My fifth favourite thing to do is to go to ABBA Voyage,” concludes RuPaul. “It’s a show in East London … They’re not holograms. I think they’re LED images. Anyway, we love ABBA. I’ve seen it six times.”

          ABBA Voyage
          (Photo: ABBA Voyage)

            ABBA: Voyage opened in 2022. It takes place in the ABBA Arena, a purpose-built venue in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

            The digital versions of ABBA were created with motion capture and performance techniques with the four band members and the visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic. The projections are accompanied by a live band and thousands of computer-controlled lights. It is one of the most amazing concert experiences you’re likely to experience and a must for any ABBA fan. The show has consistently sold out since launching and has extended its run several times. It could probably continue to do so for many more years, but its lifetime is limited as the temporary arena sits on a site earmarked for future property development.

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