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Places / Europe / United Kingdom

London

Visited in 2000, 2018 and 2021

At a glance

Region
Greater London
Population
8.8 million
Best time to go
May to September
Main airport
London Heathrow (LHR)
Coordinates
51.47°N, 0.15°W

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Overview

London is really dozens of villages stitched together along the Thames, each with its own pubs, markets and personality. Royal pageantry and ancient landmarks sit a short walk from street food stalls and cutting-edge galleries.

Many of the biggest museums are free, so you can drop in for an hour rather than committing a whole day. Walk the river, ride the top deck of a bus and leave room for a long pub lunch.

Things to see

  • British Museum
    Photo: Ham, CC BY-SA 3.0

    British Museum

    Two million years of human history, from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures, free to enter.

  • Tower of London
    Photo: [Duncan] from Nottingham, UK, CC BY 2.0

    Tower of London

    A thousand years of royal fortress, prison and treasury, with the Crown Jewels and Yeoman Warder tours.

    Tickets and tours
  • Westminster Abbey
    Photo: Antiquary, CC BY 4.0

    Westminster Abbey

    Coronation church for nearly a millennium, packed with royal tombs and memorials to poets and scientists.

    Tickets and tours
  • Tate Modern
    Photo: Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Tate Modern

    A vast former power station on the South Bank filled with modern art, with free views from the top of the Blavatnik Building.

  • National Gallery
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    National Gallery

    Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Turner and Constable on Trafalgar Square, free and easy to dip into.

Things to do

  • Walk the South Bank
    Photo: Fuzzypiggy, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Walk the South Bank

    Follow the river from Westminster Bridge past the London Eye and Shakespeare's Globe to Tower Bridge.

  • Graze Borough Market
    Photo: Øyvind Holmstad, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Graze Borough Market

    London's oldest food market, under the railway arches by London Bridge.

  • See a West End show
    Photo: Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0

    See a West End show

    Theatreland around Covent Garden stages everything from long-running musicals to new plays.

    Find tours

  • Greenwich by boat

    Take a river bus downstream to the Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory and the Prime Meridian.

  • Hampstead Heath
    Photo: Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Hampstead Heath

    Wild meadows, swimming ponds and the view from Parliament Hill across the skyline.

Where to stay

  • Covent Garden and Soho

    In the thick of the theatres, restaurants and nightlife. Walkable to most central sights.

    Hotels in Covent Garden and Soho

  • South Bank

    Riverside hotels with views, close to the Tate, the Globe and Borough Market.

    Hotels in South Bank

  • South Kensington

    Elegant and calm, next to the Natural History Museum, the V&A and Hyde Park. Good for families.

    Hotels in South Kensington

  • Shoreditch

    Creative East London with street art, bars and independent shops. Best for nightlife.

    Hotels in Shoreditch

Getting around

The Tube and buses accept contactless cards and phones, with a daily fare cap. Many central hops are quicker on foot.

From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line reaches central London in about 35 minutes. Eurostar trains arrive at St Pancras.

When to go

Late spring and summer (May to September) bring long evenings and parks at their best, though the weather is changeable year-round. December is festive and busy; January and February are quiet and grey.

Plan your trip to London

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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.

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