London travel guide: sights, food and transport
A layered capital combining royal history, world-class museums, neighbourhood markets and an ever-evolving cultural scene.
Weather is changeable year-round; summers are usually mild and winters cool and damp. Layers suit the short showers possible in any season.
- Major museums are free, while special exhibitions often need timed booking.
- The UK uses type-G plugs and drives on the left; follow pavement direction markings.
- Explore by neighbourhood rather than repeatedly crossing the city.
- South Bank/Waterloo: Riverside walks and easy landmark access.
- Bloomsbury: Museums, quiet squares and a central location.
- Shoreditch: Food, street art and nightlife.
- Kensington: Museums, parks and an elegant residential feel.
- Sunday roast
- Fish and chips
- Pie and mash
- Afternoon tea
- Indian and global cuisines
- London New Year’s Day Parade — January
- Chelsea Flower Show — May
- Trooping the Colour — June
- Wimbledon — June/July
- Notting Hill Carnival — August
- Christmas lights & markets — November/December
British Museum
A free essential stop for the Rosetta Stone and global archaeology collections.
Tower of London
Crown Jewels, fortifications and nearly a thousand years of history.
Tower Bridge
Glass walkway, engine rooms and the Thames’ most recognisable bridge.
Westminster Abbey
A Gothic masterpiece of coronations and major figures in British history.
Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
The Westminster skyline icon, striking from across the river at sunset.
Buckingham Palace
Royal headquarters and the Changing of the Guard on selected days.
St Paul’s Cathedral
A Baroque London icon with dome galleries and City views.
National Gallery
See European painting masterpieces free on Trafalgar Square.
Tate Modern
Modern art and free terrace views in a former power station.
Victoria and Albert Museum
An exceptionally broad collection of fashion, design and decorative arts.
Natural History Museum
Famous for its Romanesque hall, dinosaurs and family-friendly science galleries.
Borough Market
A lunch stop for British and global flavours beneath historic arches.
Covent Garden
Historic market halls, street performers and West End atmosphere.
Camden Market
Alternative fashion, street food and a lively canalside neighbourhood.
Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
A broad central green space for lakes, galleries and long walks.
Greenwich
The Prime Meridian, maritime museum and hilltop Canary Wharf views.
Kew Gardens
Global plants, historic glasshouses and a full-day escape outside the centre.
Sky Garden
A free, bookable elevated city view within an indoor garden.
Portobello Road & Notting Hill
A long walk of colourful houses, antiques and neighbourhood cafés.
South Bank
A landmark-rich riverside walk from the London Eye towards Tate Modern.
Tube, buses, the Elizabeth line, Overground, rail and river services form a broad network. Tap in and out with the same contactless card or device.