View my London travel tips and make the most of your trip to one of the greatest cities in the world.
Weather and the Best Time to Visit
It doesn’t matter when you visit London, you will most likely encounter a rain shower or two.
The winter weather is cold, damp and quite wet. Winter can bring about a dismal disposition, but that doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying the masses of theaters, concerts and exhibitions that the city has to offer. Temperatures during the winter range from 38-45 degrees in December to 38-50 degrees in March.
If you want to avoid the rain as much as possible, book a trip for the months of May and June, where you will have the best chance of catching dry, sunny days. If you Visit London during the months of September and October, you will be surrounded by a pleasant climate, as well as the beauty of the changing leaves.
The busy peak high season is observed between June and August, where the largest flock of tourists gather. The temperature peaks in August at about 71 degrees. If you’re looking for the best time to visit, try shooting for May, September and October.
Getting to London
Find cheap flights to London with Skyscanner.
Where to Stay
There are thousands of hotels, hostels, B&B’s, guest houses and Airbnb’s available to book in London all year round. Prices are high, especially on weekends and at peak times like summer and the Christmas/New Year holidays.
Staying centrally is recommended so you are close to all the main tourist attractions, although if you stay outside of Zone 1 prices will be cheaper and it is easy to navigate the city due to the extensive transport network. Check out my tips for saving money on London hotels if you are on a budget or for the best deals check out accommodation on Booking.com..
Best Hostel in London
There are absolutely tons of backpackers style hostels, some are central and idea for party animals whilst others are more quiet and located further away from zone 1/2.
I recommend Barmy Badger Backpackers, a small hostel that is home to mostly long term travellers. I would stay here if you’re a backpacker passing through, and also if you’re heading to London with the intention of finding work and sticking around for awhile as there’s no better place to be.
The hostel isn’t super modern but has just over 50 beds with the largest dorms having 6 beds – and triple decker bunks! But this leaves the rooms very spacious with wooden lockers big enough for backpacks and more. Most long termers fill up the 6 bed dorms so you’ll rarely have strangers coming through and it’ll feel like a little family in your room if you’re lucky enough to have good people around. The hostel seems to attract fun-loving working holiday types, mainly from Australia and New Zealand, who have just arrived and will always be up for a party.
The kitchen is a great area for socialising and meeting people in the hostel is easy due to its small size. The lounge is packed with beanbag chairs and everyone cosies up to watch sports and movies at night. On the more lively nights the kitchen turns into a party room.
I often went back for visits and parties. I told a friend and she stayed about 4 months too so don’t just take my word for it. Rumour has it that there was a guy who lived there for FOUR YEARS and that wouldn’t surprise me at all.
So if you’re heading to London to live for a short time or even a working holiday in the UK and don’t know anyone, the Barmy Badger is a fantastic choice for meeting people and having a load of fun.
Transport and Getting Around
You can walk around many of the sights in central London but for the more scattered ones you’ll need to use London public transport system. Here is a brief description of each.
Sightseeing Tours
Booking on to a sightseeing tour is a great way to see as much of the capital as possible within a short space of time. Whether you want to see London from the top of a bus, by foot or cruising down the River Thames, there’s a tour catered to everyone’s needs. Find the best sightseeing tours and attraction tickets on GetYourGuide or Viator.
One of the capital’s most famous attractions is the London Eye, which is known to boast views of London’s most spectacular buildings, including Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. For a tour with a difference, consider nabbing a place on one of the city’s night-time bus trips, which can be followed up with a visit to some of London’s most prestigious bars and clubs.
Bus
Perhaps you would like to travel about the city on one of London’s red double-deckers. There is also the choice of riding on more modern double- and single-deckers. A bus trip in London that travels through the city center costs one pound, other costs can set you back £1.75.
London Underground
The fastest way to travel about London is to utilize the London Underground, also known as “the tube“. It can be quite crowded during rush hour, but it still isn’t that much of a set back, it is still the way to go. You can identify an underground stations by its red circle with a blue crossbar. There is also an extensive rail system in London but the tube is better for central tourist attractions it is more difficult to get to where you are going and it is better to go by bus or underground or to get a taxi.
Get some info before you start out – maps, schedules etc (see above). Also you might want to get a Oyster Card (Ask at Tourist Offices) or a Travel card for a day or a week. A day travel card starting at 9.30 in the morning is great value and allows you travel freely all day on any one of the Underground Lines or thousands of red buses.
A travel card price varies depending on how many zones you want it to cover – for most things you will want to see Zones 1 and 2 will suffice. A one day off peak ticket is about £8; a three day ticket covering peak hours is about £25 – great value when you think that a single underground ticket is £4.40. There are also family and group ticket options.
Taxi
I would recommended Uber, although it’s not as cheap as it was. If you want the help of a good cabbie, Black Cabs (Hackney Carriages) are convenient black cabs found throughout London. Keep in mind that cab drivers undergo extensive training to become a driver, learning every road in London.
They are good for short distances, but the price can get a bit overwhelming if you are traveling longer distances. The less expensive mode of taxi transportation is called a Mini Cab, which are not licensed by the city. These must be called and are not allowed to stop for you while you are on the street. Only black cabs can stop for you.
Driving in London
Renting a car in the city of London is simple to do and it can be done online. There are several agencies offering deals and discounts – rates can vary from one company to another.
When visiting London, you should know that the roads can get very congested and navigation is tricky, you also cannot enter the centre of London without paying the Congestion Charge – also parking is difficult. However, a car is great if you want to get out of the city and see some of the countryside. Remember in England, you drive on the left and speed limits and drink-driving limits are strictly enforced.
If you are arriving by plane, the airport is the best place to collect your car. Heathrow and the other airports in England all have a number of desks for all the major car rental companies and agency rentals. Most car rental companies will allow you collect at one airport and drop at another or drop the car downtown. Remember to follow the rules of the road and park only in designated places.
Popular Neighbourhoods to Explore
Soho
The vibrant heart of London with theatres, cinemas, restaurants, bars, clubs, tourist attractions and some of the most popular tourism locations in the city. Soho is perfect if you are looking for the best brunch in London, or for nightlife and entertainment.
Notting Hill
One of the most Instagramable places to visit in the city with expensive colourful houses and scenic streets.
Camden
A vibrant and unique suburb in north London with a huge market, bars, clubs and lots of places to eat. View my guide to the best things to do in Camden.
Attractions & Top Things to Do
London is full of great sightseeing opportunities and the real difficulty is trying to decide which go on the “must see” list. You could visit London for a week every year for the next ten years and still be finding new sightseeing treasures. We list out a few of the notable and famous sights below and you will have to pick and choose between these and many others.
Big Ben and Houses of Parliament
Bridge St. and Parliament Sq., SW1
The Houses of Parliament may be one of the most illustrious symbols of London. Here is where the assemblies gather that keep the royal powers in check. The current Gothic-revival buildings date back to 1840. If you pass by at night and you notice a light shining in the tower, Parliament is in session.
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus marks the beginning of Soho, where you can enjoy an array of glorious cinemas, theaters, nightclubs, restaurants and pubs. When you want to spend some of your hard earned dollars, there are also plenty of shopping options.
Buckingham Palace
St. James’s Park, SW1, at the end of the Mall
This where you will find the official residence of the sovereign, which doubles as an office and a home. Much of the palace is open for tours during an eight-week period between August and September when the royal family is usually vacationing outside of the city. London. Take the time to visit the Queen’s Gallery, which boasts a fine collection of art.
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
St. James’s Park, SW1, at the end of the Mall
You may have seen this display on television or have heard about it, but there is nothing like witnessing first-hand the changing of the Guard. Members of the Queen’s Old Guard wear dazzling uniforms, shout commands and have martial music playing in the background. The ceremony takes place in public view, in the forecourt of the palace, each day in the summer and on alternate days in winter. This occurs at 11:30am and lasts for a half-hour.
Tower of London
Tower Hill, EC3
Come and visit this beautiful medieval fortress, which is more than 900 years old. For a real treat, take time to enjoy the Jewel House, which is home to priceless crowns, gems, as well as coronation ornaments.
Westminster Abbey
Broad Sanctuary, SW1
This masterpiece which dates back to the 13th century, offers a beautiful experience with its twin towers and lovely archways. Here you will also be able to surround yourself the home of such tombs including a variety of British monarchs and heroes. Visit Poets’ Corner and pay your respects to such greats as Dickens, Chaucer, Ben Johnson, Milton, Wordsworth, and Hardy.
London Zoo
Located in the center of Regent’s Park, awaits a 36-acre conservation center featuring more than 650 species. The zoo’s collection includes an interesting array of reptiles, fish, birds, as well as small and large mammals like the majestic lion to the larger-than-life elephant. This zoo boasts a lot of world firsts, including the first reptile house (1849), the first public aquarium (1853), insect house (1881) and children’s zoo (1938).
Madame Tussaud’s
Marylebone Rd., NW1
Some of the world’s famous and infamous well-knowns have been immortalized in the form of a wax replication. Here you will see an array of politicians, television and movie stars, sport heroes, as well as criminals. They all seem so lifelike!
Parks
Despite its nickname of the ‘Big Smoke’, London is one of the greenest capital cities in the world and there are plenty of beautiful parks and outdoor spaces to explore. At the heart of London sits St James’ Park, which is brimming with wildlife. If you’re lucky, you might see a few pelicans being fed.
Perhaps most famous is Hyde Park – this 350-acre space is home to more than 4,000 trees, a huge lake and various flower gardens, making it a perfect chill-out spot after a day’s sightseeing. Meanwhile, animal lovers should go to Royal Park, where there are around 650 deer set against a gorgeous landscape of hills, woodlands and ancient trees.
Museums, Galleries & Culture
When you visit London, you may want to spend a day or more touring various museums and the evening enjoying a good play. There are many major national museums and galleries open daily for you to enjoy, offering shorter hours on weekends than weekdays.
To get the most out of your money, consider purchasing a money-saving pass. These cards are valid for admission to many of London’s major attractions, including Apsley House, Barbican Art Gallery, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Design Museum. They can used from 3 to 7 days and an adult 3-day card costs around £16 ($26) and a 7-day card goes for £26 ($42). Cards can be purchased online, at British tourist information centers, London Transport centers, airports, as well as various attractions.
British Library
96 Euston Rd.
When you visit this attraction, you will be able to view Shakespeare’s First Folio of 1623, a Gutenberg Bible, printed circa 1455, the Magna Carta (1215), as well as the rare Lindisfarne Gospels (c.700). Here is where you can find the earliest surviving manuscript of Beowulf and original manuscripts produced by greats, such as Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, Lewis Carroll, Virginia Woolf and George Eliot. There are also many religious, historical, and musical works in the handwriting ranging from greats such as Leonardo to Sir Paul McCartney.
British Museum
Great Russell St., WC1
Two million years of world history and civilization are held within the walls of this great museum. Here you can explore and experience artifacts dating back to prehistoric times to the present. Antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Rome, Western Asia, and Great Britain await your curious eyes and mind. Here is where you will find the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles.
Dickens’s House
48 Doughty St., WC1
Tour the 19th-century dwelling which served as home where Dickens wrote Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, as well as completed The Pickwick Papers. Here you will be able to view his study, manuscripts, personal relics, as well as first editions of many of his best-known works.
House of Detention
Clerkenwell Close, EC1
If you want a real scare, visit this prison from the 18th and 19th centuries. Come for the 40-minute guided tour and spend a bit of time browsing the research center, which holds over 19,000 prison records and accounts.
Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI)
South Bank Centre, underneath Waterloo Bridge, SE1
Calling all film buffs! This great museum deals with the history of film and television. Here you will find well-illustrated exhibits featuring the evolution of silent movies, newsreels, sound recording, television and anything else regarding the audiovisual world.
National Gallery
Northwest side of Trafalgar Square, WC2
Here you may happen upon one of the greatest collections of western European painting, created between the 13th to the 20th century. There are over 2,200 works for you to enjoy, including creations by Leonardo, Rembrandt, Botticelli, Giotto, Velazquez, Monet, van Gogh and Rubens.
Theatres
When you crave a night filled with the performing arts, take the time to experience London’s theater. Prices for shows vary from £10 to £100+ ($25-$130), depending on where you go to view a performance and how far away you sit from the stage.
You can buy tickets online or if you haven’t booked go to Leicester Square on the day of the performance in the late afternoon and queue for half price tickets for almost all the major shows (you need to go earlier for the chance of tickets for the top west end productions).
Almeida Theatre (Fringe Theatre)
Almeida St., N1
Here you will find a mixture of new and classic plays to ease your desire for a night with the theater with reasonable prices. Past productions have featured Ralph Fiennes in Hamlet and Dame Diana Rigg in Medea, both of which ended up at Broadway.
Apsley House, the Wellington Museum
149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, W1
Here you can tour the home of the first Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. The house is decorated with paintings by Goya, Rubens, Correggio, as well as Brueghel. One of the main attractions you must check out is the massive marble statue of Napoleon created by Canova, wearing only a fig leaf.
Royal National Theatre
South Bank Centre, SE1
There are three theatres which make up the National Theater, including the Olivier, the more traditional Lyttelton and the Cottesloe. Here is where you come to enjoy classic drama, as well as award-winning new plays. Come and check out the comedy, musicals and shows for young people. Six plays usually are offered at any one time. This full-time theater also features many bars, cafes, restaurants, music, exhibitions, book shops and terraces to explore.
Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore SW7
You will find that this attraction is most often used for classical concerts. You can also enjoy a variety of entertainment, including boxing matches, comedy and rock concerts.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1
Come to this theater and you will enjoy a wonderfully reconstructed replica of Shakespeare’s original theater-in-the-round. Located on its original site, you can catch a great performance of one of the Bard’s masterpieces.
The Society of London Theatre
Leicester Square
When you are looking for a discount ticket to a show you really wish to attend, this booth sells tickets for numerous shows at half-price. Note that there is a service fee. You can only obtain a ticket on the day of the performance. There is a limit of only four tickets per person.
Barbican Theatre-Royal Shakespeare Company
Silk Street, Barbican, EC2
Here you will find the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, which is considered one of the world’s best theater companies. Choose from one of three different productions offered each week.
Another great venue to watch a live show is the Shakespeare Globe Theatre.
Shopping
From high-end luxury designer chains to flea-markets and vintage shops, London is overflowing with treasures sure to grab the eye of any keen shopper. If you have the cash, browse the shelves in Harrods, before paying a visit to quirky Camden Market to stock up on trinkets and second-hand goods that make perfect gifts or souvenirs.
The latter is also famous for its buzzing pubs, kicking live music scene and trendy comedy venues. The smaller ones will be cheaper to get into, if you feel like you’re already starting to run out of money! I recently wrote a guide to the best street food markets in London and also the top rated bakeries in London which you might want to check out. You might also like to view my recommendations for the best things to buy in London.
Best Day Trips from London
Chessington World of Adventures
Leatherhead Road
Love an adventure and rollercoasters? Over 1.7 million visitors frequent this attraction every year. This is one of the United Kingdom’s top paid-for tourist destinations, offering many famous rides, including Rameses Revenge, a vampire roller coaster and a runaway mine train.
Other Places to Consider
Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton and Bournemouth.