London Travel Guide

London Travel Guide picture of Tower Bridge.

Welcome to our London Travel Guide. London is one of the most popular cities for visitors in the world. Every year an estimated 18 million people flock to sample the culture and history which make it so special.

Nearly 9 million people call London home and it is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.

It is also where you will find some of the world’s most iconic buildings – Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London as well as 170 museums, numerous parks, restaurants and shops.

With so much to see and do what are you waiting for?

Below you will find links to all the information you need to plan your visit to London.

For general planning advice take a look at our UK travel planning page and guide to the best booking websites for UK travel.

Check out our sister site – London Travel Planning, which is totally dedicated to all things London!

Table Of Contents
  1. ✅ London Destination Snapshot
  2. 🚶‍♀️ Recommended Tours in London
  3. London Podcast Episodes
  4. 📚 London Planning Resources
  5. London Travel Guide – Itineraries
  6. London sights, landmarks and attractions
  7. London with kids
  8. London Tours and Tickets
  9. London Tips
  10. London in winter
  11. London in spring
  12. Getting around London
  13. Food and drink
  14. Where to stay in London
  15. Harry Potter
  16. London TV and movies
  17. London sport
  18. Day trips from London
  19. Beyond London
  20. London Packing
  21. Visiting London – FAQs
  22. ⭐️ Everything You Need to Plan the Perfect London Trip

⭐️ Everything You Need to Plan the Perfect London Trip

LONDON MAP
LONDON TRAVEL GUIDE

✅ London Destination Snapshot

AreaWhy Visit
WestminsterBig Ben, Buckingham Palace, Parliament, Westminster Abbey
South BankLondon Eye, riverside walks, Tate Modern, Southbank Centre
City of LondonTower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Sky Garden
Covent GardenShopping, street performers, Royal Opera House
Notting HillColourful houses, Portobello Road Market
South KensingtonNatural History Museum, V&A
GreenwichPrime Meridian, Cutty Sark, Maritime Museum
CamdenCamden Market, canal walks, music scene

🚶‍♀️ Recommended Tours in London

  • Devour Tours – Food & history walking tours (e.g. Borough Market)
  • Walks Tours – Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, Changing of the Guard
  • Go Cotswolds – Day trips in the Cotswolds

➡️ See all our recommended UK tour partners

London Podcast Episodes

📚 London Planning Resources

Get your trip off to the best start with these helpful guides

London Travel Guide – Itineraries

London sights, landmarks and attractions

London with kids

London Tours and Tickets

London Tips

London in winter

London in spring

Getting around London

Food and drink

Where to stay in London

Harry Potter

London TV and movies

London sport

Day trips from London

Beyond London

London Packing

If you are unsure about what to pack for your London trip I recommend including the following items.

You can find a detailed packing list (including a free printable) in this packing guide for London in winter or this all-seasons packing guide for the UK.

Visiting London – FAQs

Below you will find the answers to frequently asked questions about planning your London trip.

When is the best time to visit London?

London is busy pretty much all year round so deciding when to visit can be tricky if you are hoping to avoid the crowds!

London is particularly busy in July and August during the UK summer school holidays and again in December during the festive season.

To help you plan your visit to London read my guide to “When is the best time of year to visit the UK?” which looks at every season as well as detailing a month by month guide to events and festivals occurring throughout the year in London and the UK.

How much time do I need in London?

I recommend planning to spend at least 3 to 4 days in London to see some of the main sights and attractions.

Tip – If you are jet lagged on day one why not take a hop-on hop-off bus tour to get your bearings of the city.

Don’t underestimate how tiring visiting London can be especially if you pack a lot of attractions into a short period of time.

How can I get around London?

Public transportation is excellent in London with a choice of the Tube, buses, trains, riverboats, trams and even bicycles to get around.

The cheapest way to get around London is to use an Oyster Card or go contactless, both of which allow you to travel between all parts of London using public transport.

Read more about London transportation in our guide.

How can I get from the airport to my hotel?

There are various options to travel from Heathrow into London including the Tube, cab, bus or Heathrow Express train.

You can read more in our guide which details the various options including costs, time and availability.

How much money should I budget for London?

Plan at least £120 per day per person in London. This will cover food, transportation, and accommodation costs. Consider the time of year that you plan to visit as prices for accommodation will be substantially higher during those times.

Whilst London is not a cheap city to visit there are ways to save money including purchasing an Oyster Card, visiting free attractions, and buying lunch from supermarkets. Read my guide to visiting London on a budget.

What should I pack for London?

Pack layers! Even in winter it can be hot in shops and on the Tube so take clothes that you can layer off and on.

An absolute must are comfortable shoes. London is a walkable city so be prepared with sneakers or boots. Don’t wear heels!

Assume it will rain whatever time of year you are visiting and pack a waterproof.

Read more in my UK packing list.

> CLICK HERE FOR MY STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO PLANNING YOUR UK TRIP!

How to budget for your UK trip

What to budget

When to visit the UK 2

When to go

What to pack

What to pack