Top places to visit in London

• Brick Lane

  Market · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The vibrant heart of the East End Bangladeshi community, famous for curry houses, vintage shops, street art and a buzzing Sunday market.

• The Courtauld Gallery

  Museum · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · entry £12 (≈ ₹1,520), Adult \u00a312 (\u00a310 weekdays); under-18s free

  A jewel-box collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces in Somerset House, including works by Van Gogh and C\u00e9zanne.

• British Museum

  Museum · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · free entry

  One of the world's greatest museums with 8 million objects spanning human history — including the Rosetta Stone, Elgin Marbles, and Egyptian mummies. The Great Court glass roof is stunning. Free.

• Big Ben & Houses of Parliament

  Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Elizabeth Tower with its famous Big Ben bell towers above the neo-Gothic Palace of Westminster — the seat of UK Parliament and the most photographed landmark in Britain.

• Tower of London

  Fort · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · entry £32 (≈ ₹4,040)

  UNESCO World Heritage fortress founded by William the Conqueror in 1066. Home to the Crown Jewels, Beefeater Guards, six resident ravens, and 900 years of royal history.

• Buckingham Palace

  Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry £30 (≈ ₹3,790)

  Official London residence of the British monarch since 1837. Changing of the Guard is a free spectacle; the gold-and-crimson State Rooms open to visitors in summer.

• National Gallery

  Museum · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · free entry

  Over 2,300 paintings spanning 700 years of European art — da Vinci, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Turner, and Monet all hang here. Completely free, right on Trafalgar Square.

• London Eye

  Viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · entry £29 (≈ ₹3,660)

  Iconic 135m cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank, giving 30-minute rotating views across the capital.

• Westminster Abbey

  monastery · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry £27 (≈ ₹3,410)

  A UNESCO Gothic masterpiece. British monarchs have been crowned here since 1066. Poet's Corner, the Royal Tombs of Elizabeth I, Newton's grave, and the Coronation Chair are unmissable.

• Tower Bridge

  Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · entry £11 (≈ ₹1,440)

  London's iconic Victorian bridge (1894) with twin Gothic towers, a glass-floored walkway 42 m above the Thames, and original steam engine rooms now open as a museum.

• Tate Modern

  Museum · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · free entry

  The world's most visited modern art gallery, housed in the monumental former Bankside Power Station. Permanent collection is free; the turbine hall hosts vast installations.

• St Paul's Cathedral

  church · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry £21 (≈ ₹2,650)

  Sir Christopher Wren's Baroque masterpiece (1710) with its famous dome, the panoramic Golden Gallery 111 m above London, crypt with Nelson's and Wellington's tombs, and the Whispering Gallery.

Things to do

• London Eye Fast Track Sightseeing · 0.8 h · from GBP 35 per person
• Tower of London Crown Jewels Museum · 3 h · from GBP 33 per person
• Jack the Ripper Walking Tour Activity · 2 h · from GBP 14 per person
• Harry Potter Studio Tour Cultural · 5 h · from GBP 67 per person
• Thames Clipper River Boat Tour Activity · 0.7 h · from GBP 9 per person
• Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour & Performance Activity · 1 h · from GBP 17 per person
• Stonehenge & Bath Day Trip Day Trip · 11 h · from GBP 83 per person
• Buckingham Palace Tour Sightseeing · 3 h · from GBP 33 per person

Day trips and tours

• Stonehenge, Bath & Windsor Day Trip 11 h · from GBP 67
• Cotswolds Villages Day Tour 10 h · from GBP 61
• Cambridge Punting & University Tour 8 h · from GBP 54
• Oxford & Stratford-upon-Avon Day Trip 10.5 h · from GBP 59
• Canterbury & Dover Castle Day Trip 10 h · from GBP 57

Where to stay in London

• Westminster & Southbank about GBP 220 per night

  The heart of tourist London. Walking distance to all major landmarks — Big Ben, Tower of London, Tate Modern. Premium prices but unbeatable location.

• Covent Garden & Soho about GBP 180 per night

  Vibrant cultural hub with theatres, restaurants, and nightlife. Perfect for theatre-goers and foodies. Mid-range to luxury options.

• Shoreditch & East London about GBP 120 per night

  Trendy creative quarter with boutique hotels, street art, and excellent food scene. Best value in Zone 1 and 2.

Hotels

• Hotel 41 London 5-star · INR 55,000 to INR 180,000 per night
• Aman London 5-star · INR 120,000 to INR 500,000 per night
• The Savoy London 5-star · GBP 800 to GBP 4,000 per night
• Claridges London 5-star · INR 120,000 to INR 500,000 per night
• The Ritz London 5-star · INR 100,000 to INR 450,000 per night
• The Connaught London 5-star · INR 110,000 to INR 450,000 per night

Where to eat

• Dishoom Covent Garden Indian, Bombay café · about GBP 35 per person
• Beigel Bake Brick Lane Jewish Deli, Bakery · about GBP 5 per person
• Borough Market — Monmouth Coffee Coffee, Café · about GBP 12 per person
• Portobello Road Market Food Stalls Street Food, International, Caribbean · about GBP 15 per person
• Brasserie Zédel French, Brasserie · about GBP 35 per person
• Dishoom King's Cross indian, bombay, cafe · about GBP 35 per person
• Sketch french, modern_european, fine_dining · about GBP 220 per person
• Franco Manca Brixton italian, pizza, neapolitan · about GBP 15 per person

Getting to London

Airport: London, City Airport (LCY), London (LON)

How visitors arrive in London

• Flights into London airports By air · common

  London has six airports, led by Heathrow and Gatwick, all with public transport to the centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Eurostar to St Pancras By train from Paris, Brussels · common

  Eurostar runs through the Channel Tunnel from Paris, Brussels, Lille, Rotterdam and Amsterdam to St Pancras International. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Heathrow Express or Elizabeth line from Heathrow

  Both the Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth line run from Heathrow to Paddington. Heathrow sits inside the Oyster and contactless payment area. Source: heathrow.com

• Thameslink from Gatwick

  Thameslink trains link Gatwick's North and South terminals with central London, including St Pancras. Gatwick is within the Oyster and contactless area. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Luton Airport Express and Thameslink

  From Luton, take the shuttle to Luton Airport Parkway, then a train to St Pancras. Luton Airport Express and Thameslink both serve the station; a bus to Victoria is the alternative. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Docklands Light Railway from London City

  London City Airport is in East London near Canary Wharf. Onward travel is by Docklands Light Railway, local bus, taxi or licensed minicab. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  London's bus network runs a very large number of services each weekday, many with red double-decker buses, plus a night network.

  TfL Buses

• Metro

  The Underground, known as the Tube, has many lines, most of them linking the suburbs with central London.

  TfL Tube

• Transit Pass

  An Oyster card can be used on the Tube, Overground and DLR, and Oyster or contactless cards are accepted on some National Rail services.

  TfL pay as you go and Oyster

• Walking

Paying

• Heathrow and Gatwick are inside the Oyster and contactless fare area, so a contactless card can be tapped on the way in. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety and scams to avoid

• Fake Charity Collectors

  Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square

  Individuals with clipboards approach tourists claiming to collect for a charity, pressure you to sign a petition, then demand a cash donation. Often not registered charities.

  How to avoid it: Do not sign petitions from street collectors. Donate only to recognisable charities via their official websites or registered donation boxes.

• Overpriced Taxi from Airports

  Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted drop-off areas

  Unlicensed minicab drivers approach arrivals and quote a flat rate that is two to three times the legitimate fare. Refuse all approaches outside the official taxi rank.

  How to avoid it: Always use the official black cab rank or a pre-booked minicab from a licensed company. Use the Uber, Addison Lee, or Bolt apps for transparency.

• Distraction Pick-Pocketing

  Oxford Circus, Camden Market, Notting Hill Carnival

  One person distracts you (drops something, asks directions) while a confederate picks your pocket or bag. Common in crowded tourist areas.

  How to avoid it: Use a money belt or inner-pocket zip bag. Keep bags in front of your body. Be alert in crowds.

• Fake Big Ben Photo Tour

  Westminster Bridge

  Individuals offer to take tourists to a 'secret rooftop Big Ben view' for £20–50. No such paid vantage point exists — the view from Westminster Bridge is free.

  How to avoid it: Ignore all approaches from people on Westminster Bridge offering paid 'special views' of Big Ben or Parliament.

Best time to visit London

• Jan 9°C
• Feb 9°C
• Mar 12°C
• Apr 16°C
• May 19°C
• Jun 22°C
• Jul 24°C
• Aug 23°C
• Sep 21°C
• Oct 16°C
• Nov 12°C
• Dec 9°C

More in United Kingdom

• Edinburgh
• Bath
• York
• Oxford
• Cambridge
• Manchester

Frequently asked questions about London

What are the top-rated places to visit in London?

The highest-rated places in our London guide are British Museum, The Courtauld Gallery, Big Ben & Houses of Parliament, Tower of London, National Gallery.

Where should I stay in London?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in London: Westminster & Southbank, Covent Garden & Soho, Shoreditch & East London.

How do I get around London?

Ways to get around London covered in our guide: City bus, Metro, Transit pass, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in London?

Scams reported to us for London include Fake Charity Collectors; Overpriced Taxi from Airports; Distraction Pick-Pocketing. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in London?

Average daytime highs in London run from 9°C in Jan to 24°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to London?

The nearest airport to London has the code LHR.