Heathrow: Elizabeth line
Direct to Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and beyond. The best balance of speed and price.
London Travel Guide
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.
Plan your London trip
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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.
Airport to the city
Heathrow: Piccadilly line (Tube)
The cheapest option, running straight to Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus. Slower and awkward with lots of luggage.
Gatwick: Gatwick Express / Thameslink
Gatwick Express runs non-stop to Victoria; Thameslink serves London Bridge and the City. Advance tickets can be cheaper.
Stansted: Stansted Express
Mainly used by low-cost airlines, with trains to Liverpool Street. Coaches are cheaper but slower.
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.
Top sights
British Museum
Free permanent collection. Plan 2-3 hours around the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian galleries and Parthenon sculptures.
Westminster Abbey & Big Ben
Big Ben and Parliament are best admired from outside, ideally from across the river; the Abbey interior is paid.
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).
Tower of London & Tower Bridge
See the Crown Jewels (paid). Head to the jewels right at opening to beat the queues.
National Gallery & Trafalgar Square
Free masterpieces by Van Gogh, Monet and more. Enjoy the view down Whitehall from the square.
Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
Free parkland for relaxed walks; pair with the Natural History Museum for a half-day.
Borough Market & South Bank
A food market by London Bridge station. Weekend lunchtimes are packed, so try a weekday morning.
West End Musicals
Use the official discount booth in Leicester Square or day seats and lotteries for cheaper tickets.
What to eat
Fish and Chips
Battered white fish with thick chips at pubs or chippies, about £15-20 (~$20-26).
Sunday Roast
The classic Sunday pub meal of roast meat, Yorkshire pudding and vegetables, about £18-28 (~$24-37).
Full English Breakfast
Eggs, bacon, sausage, beans and toast; about £10-15 (~$13-20) at a cafe.
Afternoon Tea
Scones, sandwiches and cakes with tea at hotels or tearooms, about £40-80 (~$53-105); booking often needed.
Indian Curry
London excels at South Asian food; try Brick Lane or anywhere in town for about £15-25 (~$20-33).
Daily budget (per person)
Budgetabout £80-100 (~$105-130) per day - hostels, supermarket and pub meals, free museums
Mid-rangeabout £200-280 (~$260-370) per day - mid-range hotel, restaurant meals, one or two paid sights
Comfortabout £500+ (~$660+) per day - luxury hotel, fine dining, premium theater seats
Sample itinerary
- Day 1
Westminster Abbey and Big Ben → Buckingham Palace → St James's Park → Trafalgar Square and National Gallery → dinner in Covent Garden.
- 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.
- Day 3
Tower of London in the morning → Tower Bridge → lunch at Borough Market → explore Shoreditch → West End show.
- Day 4
Natural History Museum or V&A in Kensington → Hyde Park → Notting Hill, or a river boat to Greenwich.
Local tips
- Most visa-free visitors (including US, EU and Korean passport holders) need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travel. Apply via the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK (about £16). Irish citizens are exempt.
- London is largely card-based and public transport does not accept cash. A card with low foreign transaction fees helps.
- Restaurants often add a service charge of about 12.5%; if included, no extra tip is needed. No tip is expected when ordering at a pub bar.
- Stand on the right on escalators and leave the left side for people walking.
- Watch out for pickpockets and phone snatching around tourist sights and on crowded trains.
- VAT is included in displayed prices, and there is currently no VAT refund scheme for tourists.
- The UK uses 230V and Type G (three-pin) plugs, so bring an adapter.
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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.