London

Travel Guide
Tower Bridge showing a bridge, a monument and heritage architecture
London is dizzyingly vast, thrillingly cosmopolitan and packed with culture at every turn there is no other city quite like it.

Take a trip in the London Eye, the giant wheel that sits on the banks of the River Thames, to get a sense of what makes London such an amazing city. Look below you to see immediately recognizable landmarks and streets bursting with life. As well as offering unparalleled sightseeing and culture, London today also promises a thriving foodie scene and peaceful parks, for when you need to escape the restless rush of the city.

Visit the Museum of London to find out about the fascinating story of Britain’s capital city. Learn about its origins at the Roman settlement Londinium, as well as the invasions and occupations that shaped the city in the following two millennia.

One of the best ways to spend your time in London is hopping between its numerous world-class museums and galleries, most of which are free to enter. The British Museum and the National Gallery are two of the most famous, but there are dozens more to discover. Learn about the history of healthcare in the Wellcome Collection or chart the story of design in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Saatchi Gallery also offer hours of entertainment.

The U.K.’s capital has no shortage of iconic landmarks, from Trafalgar Square to St. Paul’s Cathedral to the Houses of Parliament. Meet the silent, stoic soldiers that stand outside Buckingham Palace and encounter the crown jewels at the Tower of London.

Modern London hosts a thriving arts scene that every visitor needs to experience. Amble along Southbank to pass the Tate Modern, the British Film Institute and the National Theatre. Book tickets to see world-famous musicals in the theatres of the West End. Alternatively, seek out something more classical at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden for a night of extravagant entertainment.

Travel to London at any time of year, although wrap up in waterproofs if visiting in the rainy winter months between November and February. While the London Underground makes getting around easy, the city center is also an exciting area to explore on foot.

London Travel Guide Video

Where to stay in London

Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington
Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington
4 out of 5
Scarsdale Place, Kensington, London, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is $83 per night from Oct 8 to Oct 9
$83
per night
Oct 8 - Oct 9
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast. Our guests praise the restaurant and the bar in our reviews. ...
7/10 Good! (2,042 reviews)
"Very central but our room overlooked the train station which my sister could hear the trains."

Reviewed on Sep 29, 2023

Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington
Strand Palace Hotel
Strand Palace Hotel
4 out of 5
372 The Strand, London, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is $212 per night from Oct 8 to Oct 9
$212
per night
Oct 8 - Oct 9
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and room service. Our guests praise the bar and the bathrooms in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,436 reviews)
"Friendly and helpful staff. Great rooms and facilities. The location is perfect and close to lots of good things. The elevators can be a bit slow and you may have to wait a little while as they fill up at busy times."

Reviewed on Sep 29, 2023

Strand Palace Hotel
Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
3 out of 5
Great Windmill Street, London, England
The price is $119 per night from Oct 22 to Oct 23
$119
per night
Oct 22 - Oct 23
Stay at this 3-star hotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the comfy rooms in ...
7.6/10 Good! (2,501 reviews)
"This was an excellent stay!"

Reviewed on Sep 29, 2023

Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Gate
The Gate
4 out of 5
41 White Church Lane, London, England
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified aparthotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a 24-hour fitness center. Popular attractions Tower of London and Tower ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (219 reviews)
"Nice property one of managers was very rude though was not happy with the way I was treated when I entered"

Reviewed on Aug 30, 2023

The Gate
Citadines Trafalgar Square London
Citadines Trafalgar Square London
4 out of 5
18/21 Northumberland Avenue, London, England
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly aparthotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Trafalgar Square and London ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (3,330 reviews)
"One of the best locations to walk the parks, museums, embankment, restaurants, and entertainment."

Reviewed on Sep 23, 2023

Citadines Trafalgar Square London
Leman Locke
Leman Locke
4 out of 5
15 Leman St, London, England
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, a fitness center, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the property condition in our reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,170 reviews)
"Great Staff. Thank Anika."

Reviewed on Sep 26, 2023

Leman Locke
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Getting around London

Travel all over the city on the vast London Underground subway system. For certain attractions and areas, making use of the comprehensive public bus network may get you there more quickly. Various above-ground rail options are also available throughout the city, including the Overground, the DLR, National Rail trains and TfL trains. You can pay for all transportation with a reloadable Oyster card. Visit the Transport for London (TfL) website. Browse London rental cars.

Best time to visit

The sun is at its hottest in London from early June to early September. This can be a good thing, but temperatures can sometimes get uncomfortably high, and the lines to get into popular attractions will often be very long at this time of year. Aim to travel in spring or fall for a quieter visit. In these seasons, pack for moderate temperatures during the day but bring a coat for the cooler evenings.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of London

4.6
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
8436
" "5 - Excellent 67.63951250801796%
4 - Good
3439
" "4 - Good 27.573765234124437%
3 - Okay
505
" "3 - Okay 4.049069916613214%
2 - Disappointing
63
" "2 - Disappointing 0.505131494547787%
1 - Terrible
29
" "1 - Terrible 0.2325208466966004%

5/5 - Excellent

S.Brewer
May 12, 2020

I Love London it's my favorite city to visit, I would live in or near there if I was ever given the chance!!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Apr 27, 2020

This is a very beautiful country. The gateway to Europe.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Apr 9, 2020

I love London as a city. I grew up near New York City and it reminds me a lot of New York. We have direct flights from Orlando to London so Its not too much of a hassle to get there. Love it and looking forward to returning!

5/5 - Excellent

Remy
Apr 1, 2020

Go with someone special to you. it makes all the difference :)

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
Mar 28, 2020

If you are using tube/underground for getting around be prepared for a lot of stairs!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 25, 2020

This was our first time in London and we loved it. It was unfortunate that it was just before the COVID-19 shutdown, but that worked to our advantage since it was less crowded than usual. We loved staying in Trafalgar Square and loved the sites.

Read travel guides and advice on visiting London

Cities near London