London Travel Guide
London layers two thousand years of history beneath a restlessly modern skyline, where royal palaces sit blocks from cutting-edge galleries and world-class free museums. It is a city of villages, each neighborhood with its own character, best explored on foot with a red bus ride thrown in for good measure.
London — Highlights in photos
Top things to do
Tower of London
This medieval fortress guards the Crown Jewels and nearly a thousand years of grisly royal history, brought to life by the Yeoman Warder tours. Arrive at opening to see the jewels before the queues build, and don't miss the ravens.
British Museum
Home to the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies and the Parthenon sculptures, this vast collection spans human history and is free to enter. It's enormous, so pick two or three galleries rather than trying to see it all.
Westminster & Big Ben
The Houses of Parliament, the newly restored Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) and Westminster Abbey cluster along the Thames in the ceremonial heart of the city. Cross Westminster Bridge for the classic photo, then continue to the South Bank.
Buckingham Palace
The monarch's official London residence is famous for the Changing of the Guard ceremony, held on select mornings. The State Rooms open to visitors in summer, so check dates if you want to go inside.
The London Eye & South Bank
The giant riverside observation wheel offers 30-minute rotations with panoramic city views. The surrounding South Bank is a lively walking strip of theatres, food markets and street performers.
Tower Bridge
Often confused with London Bridge, this is the ornate Victorian bascule bridge with the glass-floored high-level walkways. Time your visit to see the bridge lift for tall ships, which happens on a published schedule.
Borough Market
A foodie paradise near London Bridge, packed with artisan cheese, fresh oysters, street food and produce. Go on a weekday for a slightly calmer graze, and come hungry.
Covent Garden & West End
This buzzing piazza mixes street performers, boutiques and restaurants, all steps from the theatres of the West End. It's the perfect pre-show dinner spot and a great place to people-watch.
Museums & entry info
The British Museum
An unrivaled collection of world antiquities including the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies. Admission is free (donations welcome), typically open daily around 10am-5pm with later Friday hours. Check the official website for current prices and hours.
The National Gallery
Masterpieces from Van Gogh to Turner and Van Eyck fill this Trafalgar Square landmark. Free entry, usually open daily 10am-6pm with a late Friday. Check the official website for current prices and hours.
Natural History Museum
A cathedral-like building famous for dinosaur skeletons, the whale hall and dazzling minerals. Free admission, generally open daily about 10am-5:50pm. Check the official website for current prices and hours.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The world's leading museum of art, design and decorative arts, from fashion to sculpture. Free entry with paid special exhibitions, open most days around 10am-5:45pm. Check the official website for current prices and hours.
Tate Modern
A former power station on the Thames now housing modern and contemporary art, with a free viewing terrace. Free admission except ticketed exhibitions, typically open daily around 10am-6pm. Check the official website for current prices and hours.
Signature experiences
A West End Show
London's theatre scene rivals Broadway, with long-running musicals and acclaimed plays across dozens of historic venues. Tickets range from about £25 in the upper tiers to £120+ for premium seats; look to the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for same-day deals.
Afternoon Tea
A quintessentially British ritual of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and pastries, served with a pot of tea or a glass of fizz. Expect to pay roughly £40-75 per person at a grand hotel or department store.
Thames River Cruise
Glide past Parliament, the Tower and Tower Bridge on a sightseeing boat, with hop-on-hop-off and evening dinner cruises available. Standard sightseeing cruises cost around £15-25.
A Traditional Pub Evening
Sinking into a historic pub for a pint of ale and a Sunday roast is a core London experience. A pint runs roughly £5-7, and many classic pubs date back centuries.
What to eat
British food has quietly become a serious draw, alongside London's superb global cuisine. Here are the local classics worth seeking out.
Late spring to early autumn (May-September) brings the warmest, longest days and lively outdoor life, though summer is busiest. Spring and autumn offer smaller crowds and pleasant, if changeable, weather.
The Tube, buses and Overground blanket the city and all accept contactless and Oyster tap-to-pay with daily fare caps. From Heathrow, take the Piccadilly line, the faster Elizabeth line or the Heathrow Express; Gatwick, Stansted and Luton link in by train.
Traveler tips
- Stand on the right on Tube escalators so people can walk past on the left.
- Just tap a contactless card or phone at the gates; no need to buy paper tickets.
- Look right first when crossing streets, since traffic drives on the left.
- Many top museums are free, so budget for special exhibitions and travel instead.