London Things To Do

South-east England · Greater London

Crown Jewels, Westminster Abbey and the Thames in London

Where to stay, the best tours and realistic itineraries — everything you need to book London with confidence.

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LondonTower Bridge's Gothic tower and suspension chains glowing in warm sunrise light.
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London spreads along both banks of the Thames, served by six international airports and an Underground of 11 lines. The Tower of London holds the Crown Jewels and more than 900 years of royal and political history. Westminster Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has memorials to more than 30 kings and queens. The London Eye's glass pods take 30 minutes to turn above Big Ben and The Shard, and Buckingham Palace opens to visitors only for a few summer months.

Good to know

  • Six international airports
  • Elizabeth line from Heathrow
  • Eurostar terminal at St Pancras
  • Pay by contactless or Oyster

Why visit London

  1. Museums and galleries

    The National Gallery, Tate Modern and the Churchill War Rooms, plus late openings during Museums at Night in spring.

  2. The Thames on foot

    Walk Bankside past Tate Modern with Tower Bridge in view, or take quieter river paths in Greenwich and Chelsea.

  3. Markets and street life

    Spitalfields and Brick Lane in the East End, Camden's music venues, and vintage shops in Notting Hill, Hackney and Brixton.

  4. Attractions for families

    The Warner Bros. Studio Tour, London Dungeon, Paddington Bear Experience and ZSL London Zoo all make the city's top lists.

  5. Trains to Paris and beyond

    Eurostar runs from St Pancras to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, so a second city is easy to add.

Where to stay

Where to stay in London

Covent Garden and Soho

First-time visitors

Walk to West End theatres, Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery and the river, with restaurants on every street. Expect higher prices and crowds.

Which area suits you?

South Kensington and Bloomsbury

Museum lovers

Museum districts with major sights close by and simple transport links; King's Cross next door adds Eurostar at St Pancras.

Which area suits you?

Bankside and Greenwich

Riverside walks

Riverside bases with Tate Modern and Tower Bridge views at Bankside and calmer Thames paths in Greenwich.

Which area suits you?

Shoreditch and the East End

Nightlife

The centre of London's creative scene: street art, late bars and the markets of Spitalfields and Brick Lane.

Which area suits you?

Camden and Notting Hill

A lively stay on a budget

Markets, music venues and vintage shops in neighbourhoods that stay busy into the evening; Camden is known for good value.

Which area suits you?

Start here

Things to do in London

When to go

  1. April–May

    Mild temperatures and fewer crowds than summer. Museums at Night makes this the best time for museum lovers, and May has some of the most comfortable weather.

  2. July–August

    July is usually the warmest month, with long evenings, open-air theatre, picnics and Wimbledon. Schools break up late July, so hotels cost more and attractions are packed.

  3. September–October

    September brings some of the year's most comfortable weather, and autumn suits sightseeing without the summer rush.

Weather

Weather in London

Weather by month →

London weather by month

London weather by month
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSeptOctNovDec
High / Low (°C)
7°
1°
7°
1°
10°
2°
14°
4°
17°
7°
20°
11°
23°
13°
22°
12°
19°
10°
15°
7°
10°
4°
7°
2°
Rain (mm)
65
54
50
42
55
56
60
66
44
73
74
71

Average daily high and low (°C) and monthly rainfall (mm) · Forecast: MET Norway (yr.no) · Climate averages: NASA POWER

Tips for getting around

  • Tap a contactless card, phone or Oyster on the yellow reader when you enter and leave Tube, DLR, Overground and rail stations.
  • On buses and trams, tap only when you board, and the Hopper fare gives unlimited bus rides within one hour of your first tap.
  • Once you reach the daily cap, all further Tube and rail journeys that day are free.
  • Children under 11 travel free with a fare-paying adult, including on contactless, using the wider ticket barriers.
  • Stand on the right and walk on the left on escalators, and don't tip at the pub bar or on top of a restaurant service charge.

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