London Travel Guide

The City of London skyline and St Paul's Cathedral along the Thames at dusk
London skyline along the Thames from Waterloo Bridge · Photo: Diliff / CC BY-SA 3.0

A city where royal tradition meets modern culture, with many world-class museums like the British Museum and National Gallery free to enter. Great for lovers of history, theater and parks, though hotels and dining are pricey.

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At a glance

Currency
GBP (£)
Power & plugs
230V · Type G
Driving side
Left
Tipping
Optional (small, for good service)
Local language
English
How long to stay
4 to 5 nights

Emergency numbers

When to go

May to September brings long days and the best weather; July and August are busiest and priciest. Winter is grey with short days but has festive markets and lights. Rain is possible year-round, so pack an umbrella.

Monthly climate normals

Warmest: Jul (avg high 23.9°C) · Coolest: Feb (avg low 2.6°C) · Wettest: Nov (66.6 mm)

High °CLow °CRain mm
Jan8.4°2.7°58.8
Feb9.0°2.6°45.0
Mar11.7°4.1°38.8
Apr15.0°6.0°42.3
May18.4°9.1°45.9
Jun21.6°12.0°47.3
Jul23.9°14.2°45.8
Aug23.4°14.1°52.8
Sep20.2°11.6°49.6
Oct15.8°8.8°65.1
Nov11.5°5.3°66.6
Dec8.8°3.1°57.0

Monthly averages of daily highs and lows, and average monthly rainfall. Any given year can differ.

Source: Met Office (UK) · Heathrow station · 1991–2020 normals —View source

Airport to the city

Heathrow: Elizabeth line

Direct to Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and beyond. The best balance of speed and price.

Time ~30-45 minCost about £14

Heathrow: Piccadilly line (Tube)

The cheapest option, running straight to Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus. Slower and awkward with lots of luggage.

Time ~50-60 minCost about £5-6

Gatwick: Gatwick Express / Thameslink

Gatwick Express runs to Victoria without intermediate stops; Thameslink serves London Bridge and the City. Advance tickets can be cheaper.

Time ~30-45 minCost about £12-22

Stansted: Stansted Express

Trains run to Liverpool Street. Coaches are cheaper but slower.

Time ~50 minCost about £20

Getting around

Tube with Contactless

Tap a contactless card or phone at the gates; daily and weekly fare caps apply automatically. Tap in and out with the same card.

Oyster Card

If you don't have contactless, buy and top up an Oyster card at stations. The same fare caps apply.

Red Double-Decker Buses

Cheaper than the Tube, with free bus-to-bus transfers within an hour. The top front seat is a free sightseeing tour. No cash accepted.

Walking the Thames

Walking the river from Westminster along the South Bank to Tower Bridge passes most major sights.

Uber Boat (Thames Clippers)

River buses along the Thames accept contactless and double as sightseeing, especially to Greenwich.

Where to stay

Covent Garden / Soho

Good for: First-timers, theater, nightlife

West End theaters and restaurants on your doorstep. Expensive and can be noisy at night.

South Bank / Waterloo

Good for: River walks, transport

Close to the London Eye and riverside promenade with excellent links from Waterloo station.

Kensington

Good for: Museums, families, safe feel

Near the Natural History Museum, V&A and Hyde Park in a calm, upscale area. Higher prices.

Bloomsbury / King's Cross

Good for: British Museum, rail and Eurostar

Walkable to the British Museum with many Tube lines. Some reasonably priced hotels.

Shoreditch

Good for: Trendy vibe, cafes and bars

Street art, vintage shops and bars in a young neighborhood, a little away from the main sights.

Map of stays in London

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Map & prices: Stay22 — you book on each site

Top sights

  1. British Museum

    Free permanent collection. Plan 2-3 hours around the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian galleries and Parthenon sculptures.

    Neoclassical main facade of the British Museum in London
    British Museum, London · Photo: Ham / CC BY-SA 3.0
  2. Westminster Abbey & Big Ben

    Big Ben and Parliament are best admired from outside, ideally from across the river; the Abbey interior is paid.

    The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben seen from above, with the London Eye in the distance on the left
    Houses of Parliament & Big Ben · Photo: Colin / CC BY-SA 4.0
  3. Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard

    The ceremony runs on set days, so check the official schedule and arrive 30 minutes early. State Rooms open only in summer (paid).

  4. Tower of London & Tower Bridge

    See the Crown Jewels (paid). Head to the jewels right at opening to beat the queues.

    The Thames at dawn, with City Hall, the Shard and the City skyline
    Tower of London & Tower Bridge · Photo: Colin / CC BY-SA 4.0
  5. National Gallery & Trafalgar Square

    Free masterpieces by Van Gogh, Monet and more. Enjoy the view down Whitehall from the square.

  6. Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens

    Free parkland for relaxed walks; pair with the Natural History Museum for a half-day.

  7. Borough Market & South Bank

    A food market by London Bridge station. Weekend lunchtimes are packed, so try a weekday morning.

  8. West End Musicals

    Use the official discount booth in Leicester Square or day seats and lotteries for cheaper tickets.

Tours & tickets →

What to eat

Fish and Chips

Battered white fish with thick chips at pubs or chippies, about £15-20.

Sunday Roast

The classic Sunday pub meal of roast meat, Yorkshire pudding and vegetables, about £18-28.

Full English Breakfast

Eggs, bacon, sausage, beans and toast; about £10-15 at a cafe.

Afternoon Tea

Scones, sandwiches and cakes with tea at hotels or tearooms, about £40-80; booking often needed.

Indian Curry

London excels at South Asian food; try Brick Lane or anywhere in town for about £15-25.

Daily budget (per person)

Budgetabout £80-100 per day - hostels, supermarket and pub meals, free museums
Mid-rangeabout £200-280 per day - mid-range hotel, restaurant meals, one or two paid sights
Comfortabout £500+ per day - luxury hotel, fine dining, premium theater seats

Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.

Suggested itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Westminster Abbey and Big Ben → Buckingham Palace → St James's Park → Trafalgar Square and National Gallery → dinner in Covent Garden.

  2. Day 2

    British Museum → St Paul's Cathedral → cross the Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern → walk the South Bank to the London Eye at dusk.

  3. Day 3

    Tower of London in the morning → Tower Bridge → lunch at Borough Market → explore Shoreditch → West End show.

  4. Day 4

    Natural History Museum or V&A in Kensington → Hyde Park → Notting Hill, or a river boat to Greenwich.

Local tips

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Prices and times are approximate as of 2026-09 and may change. Always re-check visa and entry rules with official sources before you travel.

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