28 Best things to see & do in Los Angeles

The mouse-tastic magic lives on at Walt Disney’s world-famous California theme park, the first, original Disneyland and reputably the ‘happiest place on earth’.

The indomitable heart of the movie industry, where dreams are still made. See the star-studded Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theater – where the biggest premieres still take place – and the Dolby Theater, home of the Academy Awards.

Get a deep insight into the movie world and how Hollywood’s blockbuster movies are made with fascinating behind-the-scenes tours of the four international film studios.

A marble-clad modernist complex husing the late billionaire oil tycoon J. Paul Getty’s art collection. Highlights include works by Titian and Van Gogh, illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages, Louis XIV-era furniture and decorative arts.

A 20-acre compound of galleries and pavilions housing more than 100,000 works, from ancient Mayan bowls inscribed with bat heads and Japanese sculptures dating from 3000 BC to paintings by Rubens, Cezanne and Degas.

The La La Land outpost of this movie-themed amusement park feels more grounded in actual Hollywood than the others, thanks to its popular tram tour that takes visitors behind the scenes of a real working studio.

LA is home to one of the buzziest food scenes in America, from food trucks serving dishes from all over the world and farmers’ markets packed with fresh local produce to strip mall sushi joints and swanky fine dining spots in Beverly Hills.

Hike the picturesque but little-known Hollyridge Trail to the summit of Mount Lee, offering spectacular views and the closest point to the sign.

An iconic, old-school amusement park and a two-mile stretch of golden beach offer the perfect day at the beach. Great surfing & cycling too.

The world’s largest museum dedicated solely to the art of film, home to a collection of movie treasures, a rotating roster of exhibitions featuring industry creators and an experience where you can hold a coveted Oscars statuette.

LA’s most vibrant neighbourhood, beachside Venice is a unique blend of boho and kitsch. Surf lessons too.

The Art Deco observatory is one of LA’s most instantly-recognisable buildings, home to captivating exhibits, an out-of-this-world planetarium, and the site of some of the best views in Los Angeles.

A stunning 40-minute coastal drive from Santa Monica to the golden sands of Malibu, one of LA’s best beaches.

The most popular of Downtown LA’s contemporary art museums, the Broad houses the collection of Edythe Broad as well as notable pieces by the likes of Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha and Basquiat. It’s always packed, so book in advance.

You know you’ve really made it in Tinseltown when you get your own star. Spread across both sides of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, everyone from Marilyn Monroe and Walt Disney to Jennifer Aniston and John Travolta is immortalised here.

Inspire your kids with physics, biology and more, at this seriously fun complex with interactive exhibits demonstrating how the world works.

A 22-mile bike path called the Strand runs from Southern LA’s Manhattan Beach up to Pacific Palisades, just north of Santa Monica. It’s a fun ride if you’re feeling fit. Hire bikes from Hermosa Cyclery – there’s a detailed map of the Strand on their website.

John Paul Getty’s homage to ancient Rome and Greece is a Malibu gem, filled with ancient art, beautifully landscaped gardens offering up sparkling ocean views and a 500-seat amphitheatre that hosts some of the city’s finest outdoor classical productions.

This LA institution in West Hollywood first opened in 1934 and is home to over 100 food stalls and grocers, who specialise in everything from doughnuts and ice cream to beef jerky and gourmet pickles.

Head to Santa Monica’s farmers market on a Wednesday or Saturday morning and you’re bound to bump into one or two of the city’s top chefs, who all head here to pick up the freshest organic local fruits and vegetables.

This ever-popular food hall feels like a little slice of NYC in Downtown LA, with its neon signs and seemingly never-ending queues. Go hungry and try everything from wood-fired pizzas and fried chicken to spicy Filipino rice bowls.

It doesn’t get more Hollywood than the home of the actual Oscars. It was custom designed for the Academy Awards themselves and features 3,400 seats, three balcony levels and 20 opera boxes. Formerly known as the Kodak Theatre.

On Wilshire Boulevard, during the last Ice Age, asphalt bubbled from the ground, trapping sabre-toothed tigers, mammoths and giant sloths. Excavations continue to unearth new plants and animals and visitors can come to watch, or explore one of the world’s largest collections of fossils, on display in the museum.

Set amidst the glitz, glamour and occasional grime of Hollywood Boulevard, the former Grauman’s Chinese Theater is often billed as the world’s most ornate and opulent cinema complex, home to some of film’s biggest movie premieres over the years. It’s still the place where the biggest premieres still go down. 30-minute walking tours available.

Held on the second Sunday of every month, this flea market has become a mecca for vintage lovers, who come to trawl its sprawling rabbit warren of stalls for everything from second-hand clothes and furniture to wonderfully weird collectibles.

If this Tudor Revival mansion in Beverly Hills looks more than a little familiar it’s due to its stellar Hollywood lineage, having appeared in films including The Big Lebowski and X-Men. Come to explore its formal English gardens and elegant grounds.

This botanical garden and museum offers a tranquil respite from the city’s hectic hustle and bustle, with 16 themed gardens spread over 120 acres, including fragrant displays of roses, camellias and orchids as well a popular children’s garden.

For a fascinating insider look at a period mansion and estate in Beverley Hills, call ahead to reserve a tour of the Virginia Robinson Gardens. The Beaux Arts mansion from 1911 is surrounded by stunning botanical gardens in a range of styles.