Travel guide · United Kingdom
London travel guide
Free national museums, royal landmarks, West End theatre and riverside walks
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ilya Grigorik, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
London spreads across 32 boroughs, but most visitors spend their time in a central band running from Westminster and the West End to the City and the South Bank, linked by the Tube and a riverside walk along the Thames. The great national museums — the British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern and the South Kensington trio — are free, which offsets some of the city's high hotel prices. Beyond the landmarks, London rewards time in its distinct neighbourhoods: food markets in Borough and Spitalfields, canals in Camden and Little Venice, and royal parks that cover huge stretches of the centre. Plan 5 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September.
Key facts
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September
- Ideal stay
- 5 days
- Main airports
- LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, LCY
- Mid-range daily budget
- $260–$420 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Big Ben and Parliament, British Museum, Royal palaces and West End theatre
Why visit London
- Most of the national museums, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum and Tate Modern, are free to enter.
- A riverside walk from Westminster to Tower Bridge passes Parliament, the London Eye, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe and St Paul's in about 5 km.
- The West End stages musicals and plays every night, with same-day discount seats sold at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square.
- Royal parks such as Hyde Park, Regent's Park and Greenwich Park give the centre unusual amounts of green space.
- Food runs from Borough Market and Brick Lane curry houses to Chinatown and Sunday roasts in centuries-old pubs.
- Windsor, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton and Bath are all day trips by train.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Museum · Bloomsbury
British Museum
Two million years of human history fill the British Museum, from the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies to the Parthenon sculptures and the Anglo-Saxon Sutton Hoo helmet.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
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Castle · Tower Hill
Tower of London
William the Conqueror's White Tower, begun in the 1070s, stands at the centre of a fortress that has served as royal palace, prison and execution site.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
Religious site · Westminster
Westminster Abbey
Coronations have taken place in this Gothic abbey since 1066, most recently that of King Charles III in 2023.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Landmark · Westminster
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
The Palace of Westminster, rebuilt in Gothic Revival style after a fire in 1834, houses the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours with a tour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
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Palace · St James's
Buckingham Palace and Changing the Guard
The monarch's official London residence faces the Victoria Memorial at the end of The Mall.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- History
Gallery · Trafalgar Square
National Gallery
Western European painting from the 13th to the early 20th century hangs in the National Gallery on the north side of Trafalgar Square: Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Turner's The Fighting Temeraire, Constable's The Hay Wain, Velázquez's Rokeby Venus and Van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait among them.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Where to stay
Covent Garden and Soho is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers and couples
Covent Garden and Soho
Theatreland, the market piazza and late-night restaurants in the West End
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and food lovers
South Bank and Bankside
Riverside arts quarter from the London Eye to Borough Market
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury, culture and quiet stays
South Kensington
Museum quarter, white stucco terraces and Hyde Park on the doorstep
$$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, culture and solo travellers
Bloomsbury and King's Cross
Georgian squares, the British Museum and Eurostar on the doorstep
What to eat
- Full English breakfast — Fried eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, grilled tomato, mushrooms, toast and often black pudding: the full English is a weekend institution and a filling start to a long day of sightseeing.
- Fish and chips — Cod or haddock in crisp batter with thick-cut chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce, usually sprinkled with salt and malt vinegar.
- Sunday roast — Roast beef, lamb, pork or chicken with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables and gravy, served from Sunday lunchtime onwards.
- Pie and mash — The old East End working lunch: a minced-beef pie with mashed potato and 'liquor', a green parsley sauce, sometimes with jellied eels on the side.
- Afternoon tea — Finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and jam, and small cakes on tiered stands with pots of tea.
- Curry — South Asian cooking is part of everyday London eating.
When to go
The best months for London are May, June and September, with long days, mild temperatures and the parks at their best, though June is also peak season. April and October are quieter shoulder months, and December trades short days for Christmas lights and markets. Pack for some rain whatever the month.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Blossom and daffodils in the royal parks, longer evenings after the clocks change and comfortable walking weather, with showers and busy Easter holidays. |
| Summer | June–August | Late sunsets, pub gardens, outdoor theatre and big events such as Wimbledon, the Proms and Carnival, but the most crowded and expensive season, with occasional heatwaves. |
| Autumn | September–November | Settled September weather, film and art festivals in October and autumn colour in the parks; it turns wet and dark by November, when prices ease. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold, short days but lively Christmas markets and lights, January sales and quieter museums; hotel prices dip after New Year. |
Getting there and around
Heathrow: the Elizabeth line reaches Paddington and Tottenham Court Road in about 30–40 minutes, Heathrow Express runs non-stop to Paddington in about 15 minutes, and the Piccadilly line takes about an hour. Gatwick Express reaches Victoria in about 30 minutes, the Stansted Express reaches Liverpool Street in about 50 minutes, Luton links by DART shuttle and train to St Pancras, and London City is on the DLR.
London's Underground has 11 lines, complemented by the Elizabeth line, the DLR and the Overground, and most central journeys take 15–30 minutes. Fares are paid by tapping a contactless bank card, phone or Oyster card, with automatic daily and weekly caps. Between nearby central sights, walking is often quicker than changing lines.
Plan your days
Three full days covers Westminster, the Tower, the British Museum and a South Bank walk. Five days adds South Kensington's museums, Greenwich and a market or two at a gentler pace; a week leaves room for Windsor, Oxford or Bath by train.
Practical information
- Currency
- GBP
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type G sockets (three rectangular pins), 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, and public refill fountains are increasingly common in parks and stations.
- Emergency number
- 999 or 112 for police, fire and ambulance; 111 for urgent medical advice
- Tipping
- Tipping about 10–12.5% is normal in sit-down restaurants when no service charge has been added.
London is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing and phone snatching are common around Oxford Street, Westminster, Covent Garden and on busy Tube platforms. Ignore street gambling games such as the 'three cups' trick on Westminster Bridge.
Flights to London
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in London?
Three full days covers Westminster, the Tower, the British Museum and a South Bank walk. Five days adds South Kensington's museums, Greenwich and a market or two at a gentler pace; a week leaves room for Windsor, Oxford or Bath by train. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit London?
The best months for London are May, June and September, with long days, mild temperatures and the parks at their best, though June is also peak season. April and October are quieter shoulder months, and December trades short days for Christmas lights and markets. Pack for some rain whatever the month.
+What is London known for?
Big Ben and Parliament, British Museum, Royal palaces, West End theatre, Historic pubs, Free museums, Tower of London and Red buses and black cabs. Most of the national museums, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum and Tate Modern, are free to enter.
+Is London expensive?
London is very expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $260–$420 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in London?
No. Central London has a daily Congestion Charge and an Ultra Low Emission Zone, parking is scarce and expensive, and public transport covers everything; hire a car only for countryside trips.