Traveling to London for the First Time: Tips & Tricks for Your Visit
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Traveling to London for the first time and not sure where to start? Planning a trip to London might be overwhelming indeed and especially so if this is your first time in the city!
How long do I need to spend in London? When to visit? What are the best places to stay in London? How to save time and money and still see the best that London has to offer?
To help you plan your first trip to London, I selected some of the best tips for visiting London. This no-nonsense practical guide will not only help you plan your London trip, but will also show you how to make the best of your visit, time, and budget. Find out!
Top 4 Experiences to Book in Advance:
- London Eye.
- Tower of London & Crown Jewels.
- Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio (book well in advance!)
- Westminster Abbey.
These are our top travel tips for visiting London:
1. Stay in Central London
The question that gets asked a lot by first-time visitors is what are the best places to stay in London.
Hotels in central London can be expensive, yet while it might be very tempting to choose cheaper accommodation outside the city center, it’s a choice that you’ll quickly regret. First, commuting into the city every day will cost a lot of money and time. Precious time, that you could otherwise use for sightseeing.
Visiting London for the first time? Stay in central London! By staying in central London you can see much more in less time. Ultimately this will save money not just on transportation, but also on your overall trip budget because you’ll need fewer days in order to see just as much.
Now that we established that central London is the best place to stay when visiting London for the first time, you might be wondering which neighborhoods are the best for sightseeing. If you want to be super central, stay near Westminster Bridge (both sides are ok) or near Trafalgar Square – Covent Garden.
Staying here, you are in the center of the action and can walk to most of the top sights but also musicals, etc. This makes visiting London so much easier because many of the main attractions are within easy walking distance or just a short bus/ tube drive away.
We really like the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel, which is located on the South Bank close to the London Eye. Another nice option is the Page8 Hotel near Trafalgar Square; this one is better for couples or friends traveling together.
In general, I’d say just look for the best deals that you can find for your group and travel dates and as long as it’s in Central London, you know you made a good choice.
LEARN MORE: Where to Stay in London
TIP: Using the map below, you can also easily see what’s available in central London for your travel dates and group size.
2. Avoid Bank Holidays and School Breaks
London is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK and one of the most visited cities in Europe. It’s an extremely popular destination that attracts millions of visitors from all over the world.
The busiest times to visit London are July and August, as well as European bank holiday weekends and school breaks. If you can, try to avoid these peak periods for fewer crowds and better prices and availability.
If you plan to see London during Holiday Season, it’s best to avoid the main shopping streets on the weekends and the last days just before Christmas.
TIP: Since spring school holidays in Europe usually fall later than in the U.S., London is a great European destination for spring break. It can also be very nice in June when most European countries still have school.
READ ALSO: Best Time to Travel in Europe
3. Foresee Enough Time and Don’t Try to See Everything
If you are traveling to London for the first time, you are probably wondering how much time you need in London. You have to realize that London is huge and there is no way to see everything in just a few days or even a few weeks… So don’t come to London thinking that you can see it all in just one or two days.
While you can see most of the main sights in London in one day or two days, for first-time visitors, I highly recommend spending at least 3-4 days in London. This should give you sufficient time to get acquainted with the city, see the main landmarks, and visit a few of the most popular tourist attractions in London.
However, we also suggest visiting at least a few places outside of the city as that will make your trip so much more special. In that case, you should really plan at least 5-7 days in London. More about day trip suggestions further below.
Also, don’t try to see ‘everything’ in London. This is simply not possible and will leave you tired and frustrated. Plan to visit no more than two or three bigger attractions every day and leave some time for unexpected discoveries.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in London
4. Book as Much as Possible in Advance
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when visiting London is not to plan your visit in advance. Long in advance!
Starting with flights and accommodations and ending with London attractions and activities – booking in advance means more choice, better prices, and less time wasted queuing. After all, you want to make the most of your trip to London and not spend all your precious time standing in line.
TIP: Often tickets for the main London attractions are cheaper if booked online at least a day in advance. For example, you can usually get cheaper tickets for Madame Tussauds, The View from The Shard, or the London Eye online (not even to mention avoiding the biggest queues and actually being able to visit).
For some places not reserving in advance usually means that you won’t be able to visit at all. For example, the Harry Potter Studio Tour, which is often booked up weeks and months ahead. To give you an idea, recently, we couldn’t find tickets for the day (let alone the time) when we wanted to go 16 weeks in advance! I checked all the possible websites and tour options and this day tour was the only one that still had availability, and only because it was just new at that time. And it’s not even the peak season!
If you want to see some musicals in London, book your theater tickets well in advance. Sometimes, there are last-minute tickets available as well, but not to the most popular shows and the seats you get are usually far from great.
TIP: If you didn’t think to prebook and are looking for last-minute theatre tickets in London, check the TKTS ticket booth on Leicester Square. You can buy theater tickets only in person for performances on the same day, or up to two days in advance.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in London with Kids
5. Save Time and Money on London’s Major Attractions
Visiting London for the first time means visiting at least some of the main landmarks and attractions in London. However, if you aren’t prepared, you will either waste hours standing in lines or not be able to visit at all.
TIP: If you want to make the most of your time in London, book skip-the-line tickets and priority passes at the most popular attractions. Yes, they are expensive but think of it this way. What’s the point of paying all that money to travel to London to then spend all your time queuing instead of sightseeing…
The London Pass
One of the best ways to see a lot of the major attractions in London with a priority entrance is The London Pass. For example, it includes entrance to places like The Tower of London, The View from the Shard, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge, or London Zoo and experiences like the Thames River Cruise or Hop-on Hop-off bus tour (to mention just a few)…
However, it only makes sense to get the pass if you visit at least 2-3 of the included attractions per day, so you need to decide if it’s worth it for you.
If you are planning to visit a lot of major attractions in a very short time, then the London Pass is definitely worth it. But plan well and make sure you get the most out of your pass during its validity period.
TIP: If you are staying in London longer, buying a pass for multiple days is more beneficial than just getting a pass for one day. Note that there are several different choices of passes in London (The London Pass, London Explorer Pass). Our research shows that the London Pass is one of the best options.
Fast Track, Skip the Line & Timed-Entry Tickets
The London Pass includes free entrance to 60 top attractions in London, but some of the most popular attractions like the London Eye are not included in this pass. Furthermore, many popular attractions now work with timed entry slots.
So for the most popular attractions, it’s best to book fast-track or timed-entry tickets well in advance.
We visited London with our three kids and used fast-track tickets wherever we could. I can’t imagine how different our experience would have been if we had to wait in line everywhere. We could have never seen half as much in the time that we had, not to mention our sanity, standing in line for hours with young children…
For example, you can buy fast-track tickets for the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, and some others. You can get timed-entry tickets for the Tower of London, The Shard, and many others.
A fast-track ticket to the most popular attractions like the London Eye or even Madame Tussauds can easily save you a couple of hours! The queues here can be 2-3 hours long, so believe me, a fast-track ticket is a real lifesaver. As a minimum, get a standard timed-entry ticket online before you go.
TIP: The London Eye also has several different prices depending on when you book and when you visit. For example, the early morning, late evening, or weekday tickets are usually a bit cheaper. Nowadays, they sometimes have an online offer with over 50% discount for 2-3 PM tickets. You can also save up to 20% off the regular price if booking tickets online and at least 24 hours in advance. You can find all the best ticket options for The London Eye on the official website.
6. Visit London’s FREE Attractions
Here are some places and activities that you should definitely add to your London travel list:
Free Museums in London
Visiting London is not cheap, but there are so many great things to see and do completely for free. Here are just a few London museums that can be visited free of charge: British Museum, Natural History Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Victoria and Albert Museum, Science Museum, Museum of London and many more.
London’s Parks and Gardens
London has many gardens, parks and playgrounds that are free to visit. It is also a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
London Views
While some places require a ticket, there are lots of great views in London that don’t cost anything at all. For more information, please see our guide to the best views of London.
London’s Shops
Don’t get me wrong – shopping in London isn’t cheap by any means. But visiting the shops is of course absolutely free and can be an attraction in itself. Don’t miss Harrods and Oxford Street! Kids will love Hamleys (the world’s largest and oldest toy store), the LEGO store, and the M&M store.
TIP: Try to avoid shopping streets and big department stores on the weekends and just before Christmas.
London Markets
London has lots of wonderful markets, scattered all around the city. With quirky, unique shops and food stalls that will leave you mouthwatering, it will likely be hard to resist buying something. But you can spend hours and days wandering around London’s markets without spending anything…
TIP: Some of our favorite markets include Camden Market, Greenwich Market, Spitalfields Market, and Borough Market (this is where some of the best food tours in London come too).
Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard is one of the free things to do in London that are not to be missed. The ceremony is free to watch and takes place at Buckingham Palace at 10.45 AM on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays (weather permitting). It’s very popular among tourists, so make sure to arrive early in order to secure a spot with a good view. For the exact location and up-to-date schedule, please consult the website of the Household Division.
READ ALSO: Top FREE Sights & Things to Do in London for Families (many suggestions will also be interesting for adults)
7. Don’t Worry About Cash
You hardly ever need cash for payments in the UK. Pretty much every place accepts credit cards, or you can just pay using your smartphone or smartwatch. You may want to get some cash for small purchases, but it’s not a must.
You can use all major credit cards in London, but VISA and Mastercard are by far the most accepted cards. Amex is not widely used in Europe and Diner’s Club is pretty much useless. Debit cards (or cash-only cards) are also accepted pretty much everywhere.
One thing you should know is that if you use a card, often, you need one with a chip and a 4-digit PIN. Make sure that you know your PIN number by heart! You’ll need a credit card with a PIN for most payments all over Europe. Some places might still accept a card with your signature, but often, they don’t even know that they can or how to approach it because nobody in Europe uses that system anymore.
PRO TIP: When using an ATM or paying for purchases, you’ll be asked to choose currency – either local currency (UK pound sterling) or your own currency (US dollar if you’re traveling from the US, or Euro if you’re from Europe). Always choose to pay in local currency (UK pound sterling) and let your own bank do the currency transaction – you always get a better rate.
TIP: If you are from the US and need a good credit card for travel, check out this selection of the best American credit cards for travel. We recommend choosing a card with no foreign transaction fees.
8. Use Public Transport
London is a big city and visiting everything on foot just isn’t feasible. The good news is that London’s public transport system is very efficient.
One of the best and quickest ways to get around in London is the metro, aka the London tube. It’s the best way to cover big distances. Here’s a tip I once got from a local: avoid the tube during rush hour and during Christmas.
However, while traveling underground, you don’t see anything of the city, so for shorter distances, I recommend walking, using boats, or taking one of the city’s buses. Riding these original red double-decker buses is a typical London experience you should try at least once.
Good to know: For public transport, you can either opt for the Oyster card or simply use your contactless credit card (or smartwatch/phone). You can scan it when entering the metro, then scan it again when you leave. If you take public transport several times a day, the maximum amount you spend will be capped at a daily ticket rate.
Note that children often travel free of charge (more information here). However, for older kids where kids’ tariff is applicable, you better get a ticket. Using your credit card for the kids as well would mean that you’re paying adult rates for them. On top of that, you need one card per person anyway.
TIP: An Uber or traditional London cab is the best option if you have lots of luggage. You really don’t want to take the tube with young kids and big suitcases, take my word for it. Furthermore, riding a traditional English cab is part of the experience of visiting London for the first time.
9. Walk or Take a Bike Tour
I know that I just told you that seeing London on foot isn’t feasible. However, you’d be missing a great deal if you take a tube or a bus every time. After all, one of the best ways to see a new city is to explore it on foot. London is no exception.
Another great way to see London and easily cover bigger distances is by bike. There are lots of self-service city bike stands where you can rent a bike, or you can join a guided bike tour.
If you are visiting London for the first time and don’t know the city well, renting a bike without a guide is maybe not the best idea, unless in the parks. London traffic is really busy, it comes (for most of us) from a different side than what we are used to, and if you also need to read the map, it can get quite dangerous.
TIP: If you want to explore London by bike, book a tour with a local guide. There are several great options, e.g. this half-day bike tour that covers the main highlights of London, or this ‘secret London’ bike tour that brings you to the lesser-known places.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in London with Teens
10. Use Hop-on Hop-off Buses and River Cruises
There are so many ways to see London! For the complete experience, I recommend you try as many different means of transport as you can during your London trip.
Hop-on hop-off buses are extremely popular and are a great way to see the city and major attractions.
One of my favorite ways to see any city is by taking a boat where possible. There are so many boat trip options in London, so you really have no excuse not to see London from the Thames. One of the most popular options is the hop-on hop-off boat on the River Thames. It allows you to see many attractions that are located close to the river in an easy way. If you want to visit Greenwich, the best way to get there is by boat.
TIP: Hop-on Hop-off bus tickets usually include one FREE Thames River cruise ride and a FREE walking tour.
READ ALSO: Things to Do in Greenwich
11. Get off the Beaten Path
It’s understandable that you want to see the main landmarks when traveling to London for the first time. However, London is so much more than Big Ben or Buckingham Palace!
There are so many quirky neighborhoods, local markets, lesser-known museums, and beautiful gardens in London. Visiting a few less known places like this will just make your first trip to London even more special and memorable.
TIP: Here you can find some really nice ideas for our favorite hidden gems of London. In addition, check out our guide to the best views and viewpoints in London.
READ ALSO: Camden Town – one of the coolest neighborhoods in London
12. Eat Like the British
London is an expensive city and dining out can be a pricey experience. Furthermore, restaurants located close to tourist attractions don’t always serve the best food, so researching restaurants in advance can be a good idea.
Here are some insider tips on where to find the best food in London and save money:
- Try traditional Fish&Chips where locals eat (e.g. Poppies Fish&Chips or The Golden Chippy).
- Local supermarkets offer lots of affordable options for sandwiches or salads – perfect for a picnic in the park.
- Borough Market is the best food market in London, but there are also so many other smaller markets and food stalls.
- Ottolenghi deli sells delicious packed lunches.
- Harrods food hall is not to be missed.
- Lots of fine restaurants cost a fraction of the price if you go there for lunch rather than dinner.
- Traditional afternoon tea experience is a must in London and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. We once had afternoon tea with kids at St. Ermin’s and loved it! There are many easily accessible and very affordable high tea experiences all over London (see here for some of the best options).
READ ALSO: British Food to Try in the UK
13. Take a Day Trip Outside of the City
While London has so much to offer, there are also so many nice places to visit outside the city as well! From the most popular destinations like Windsor Castle and bucket-list places like Stonehenge to the English countryside and charming villages of the Cotswolds, but also some of the UK’s best towns and cities such as Bath, Oxford, or Cambridge – there are so many amazing possibilities near London.
So if you can, plan a longer stay in London and take at least a few day trips to explore more of England. This will make your trip so much more special!
TIP: If you are short on time, we recommend that you take organized tours that cover some of the nicest places in one day. That way you can see a lot in just a few days – much more than you’d ever be able to do on your own. And yes, it’s not exactly exploring deeper, but if this is your first time in the UK, it’s better than nothing.
Here are some of the best day tours from London that we recommend for first-time visitors:
- Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath.
- Oxford, Stratford & the Cotswolds.
- Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio with Transfer.
- Liverpool and The Beatles (a very long day, but well worth it for The Beatles fans). See also our guide on how to visit Liverpool from London.
READ ALSO: Best Day Trips and One Day Tours from London
14. Don’t Forget The Little Important Details
Here are some more practical tips to consider when traveling to London for the first time:
- You can pay by credit card pretty much everywhere, but it’s always useful to have some cash as well. And no, you can’t pay in Euro or US Dollars in London, you really need to get Pound sterling from an ATM.
- You are not expected to tip in the UK and service charge is often included in your restaurant bill. In most London restaurants, you’ll get charged 10-15% in addition to your bill. Locals say they don’t typically tip at the bar, but would usually leave a 10% tip at a restaurant if the service was good and not yet included in the bill.
- Don’t forget your travel adapter. UK uses Type G plugs, which are very different from other European countries, or the US.
- You’ll be walking a lot, so wear comfortable shoes. Nowadays, Europeans wear sneakers in the cities too, and London is no exception. However, we tend to wear more fashionable sneakers (something like this), not the ones you wear when playing tennis… Some places in London still throw upon (and some doormen give you ‘the look’ or even refuse entry) if your clothing and/or footwear looks too casual…
- Look right(!) when crossing a street in London. Yes, right, because they do drive on the other side of the road in Britain. If this is your first trip to the UK, it might take some getting used to. So be careful!
- You may want to consider buying a local SIM card or a pocket Wi-Fi to save on roaming charges.
- Pack an umbrella or a good rain jacket. It rains a lot in London, especially in the colder season, so it’s always best to check the weather forecast before your trip. Wearing layers is always the best way to go!
READ ALSO: Best Secret Places of London That Most Tourists Never See
So, these are some of the most important practical tips you should know when traveling to London for the first time. If you are planning a multi-city trip to Europe, we have similar guides for other major cities as well – see below.
London Travel FAQ
- Is London worth visiting? Yes, of course! London is one of the best cities in the entire world and definitely worth visiting! With famous landmarks, royal history and traditions, fun tourist attractions, world-class museums, theaters, and a unique cultural mix, London has something to offer for any type of traveler. It’s a bucket list destination that everyone should visit at least once in a lifetime!
- How much time do you need in London? London is huge and there’s no way to see everything in one trip. If you are visiting for the first time, we recommend spending at least 3-4 days in London. This will allow you to see the main landmarks and visit a few tourist attractions. If you also plan to take day trips and see some of the UK from London, then plan to stay for at least a week. Here you can find our recommendations for a short visit: 1 Day in London and 2 Days in London.
- What is the best way to explore London? The best way to explore London is by focusing on one area at a time and walking between the main attractions that are located next to each other. For bigger distances, use the London subway, hop-on hop-off buses, or river cruises.
Travel tips for other major cities in Europe:
- Amsterdam Travel Tips
- Barcelona Travel Tips
- Paris Travel Tips
- Rome Travel Tips
- Top European Attractions to Book in Advance
- Read also our step-by-step guide with planning info and tips for traveling to Europe.
If you found this post useful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends who are planning their first trip to London. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!
We are in London at the moment and all your guides and tips have been a lifesaver! Thank you!!!
Glad to hear that, Sam. Enjoy London (you’re lucky with the weather)!
Hello – your article has been very helpful – I do have a few specific questions with regard to the ‘skip the line’ or ‘fast track’ tickets – I am not clear on where to buy those? Do I buy from the individual attractions like St. Paul’s, Tower of London or some other way? And when it says to book well in advance using one of the apps such as the London Pass – is that days in advance or weeks in advance? (we will be there in late August, just 2 adults). Does the London Pass include/automatically give you Priority entrance? Thank you so much!!
Hi Tracy, ‘fast track’ or ‘skip the line’ might mean different things depending on attraction. It’s usually indicated when you book tickets. Nowadays, many of the most popular attractions also work with timed-entry tickets, so you book a specific time slot and the wait is limited.
A few examples:
* the London Eye tickets. You can choose standard, or fast-track tickets, and many other options like multi-attraction tickets, etc. In most cases (unless you opt for flex tickets), you have to choose a time slot. However, even with the reserved time slot, the fast-track ticket will give you a much faster entry (skipping most lines) than the standard ticket where you’ll have a much longer queue with everyone who reserved those tickets for the same time.
* The Tower of London tickets – here, you book a specific time slot. It’s not completely skip-the-line, but the line will be limited to only those people who reserved the same time slot.
* Madame Tussauds – you can choose between standard and fast-track tickets.
* St Paul’s Cathedral tickets are now valid on the specific date, not time, and it shouldn’t be too busy. Entrance to the Golden Gallery might be limited if it’s very busy, but it’s not something you can reserve in advance.
If you buy any multi-attraction pass, then you will usually receive instructions from them and they will advise you for which attractions it’s best to reserve time slots separately. Each place has different ways how they work, but e.g. if you get this London Pass, you will find all the instructions for each of the attractions. The majority of less popular places will be simple to enter just like that, but for the most popular ones, you will need to make a reservation. It’s a bit more complicated that way, but you might save quite some money depending on which pass you get, for how long, and which places you choose to visit.
Let’s just say that if money isn’t an issue, it’s usually simpler to get the tickets for the most popular attractions separately, with reserved time slots, and potentially fast-track/skip-the-line access where available.
As for how long in advance to book – as soon as you know your travel dates and/or when tickets become available. The earlier you book, the more options you will have and time slots to choose from. That said, some places only open their booking system a month or two/three in advance. But there are also others that get completely sold out half a year in advance. August is a peak season, so I’d book everything that you absolutely want to do asap. If you use GetYourGuide and other websites which we personally use and recommend for most tickets and tours, you will see that they offer a free cancelation option for most of the attractions for up to 24 hours before the visit, so you have nothing to lose. All this information is available for each ticket/tour separately, and you can see it all before you book.
Alternatively, book guided tours for the most popular places. Most of them have skip-the-line access and some even offer something unique. For example, we are visiting London again soon, and this time we reserved this early-access tour to the Tower of London. The same company also has this amazing after-hours tour.
Hope this helps a bit. I know how overwhelming it can be, but nowadays not making advance bookings often means that you will not be able to visit the most popular places at all. It’s not just London or Europe, but pretty much any big city in the world. In the USA, you even have to make reservations for many national parks and similar… So if you want to have a truly fun and relaxing trip, you have to do your homework.
Have a great trip!
@Jurga, Thank you! This is indeed super helpful – I appreciate all the tips!
My name is Wendy! I am planning to visit London soon .I very enjoyed your article. It was really helpful .thanks a lot
Glad to help, Wendy. Enjoy London!
I really enjoyed your article and it was VERY informative. It helped me decide not only what to do, but what not to do. I have 2 teenagers. I was wondering if the Harry Potter studio is considered a “must-do” or is it a tourist trap or falls somewhere in between. It seems like all-tolled it will take about 7-8 hours, and that is a lot of time spent out of the city for 1 place. We will have 5 1/2 days in London and already planning 2 full-day excursions, so will have 3 1/2 days. Thank you in advance for your help!
Hi Brian, I know exactly how you feel. We ourselves are going to London soon with our three teenagers, for just 3 days, and we’re also considering Harry Potter Studios on one of those days. It is a long day, indeed, and not cheap either. But from everything I read and heard, it’s extremely well done and everyone I know who visited with teens was very enthusiastic about it. We recently visited Harry Potter studios in LA and the whole family found it amazing. From what I understand, the ones in London are much bigger and even more impressive. But we have a couple Harry Potter fans in the family AND we have been to London many times before, so we are less worried about ‘missing’ something else out. We are actually going for the more special experiences this time (ABBA Voyage, Tina Musical, maybe one of the Walks’ exclusive tours, street art, markets, etc.) rather than traditional sightseeing.
I guess it all comes down to your family’s interests and which alternatives you consider instead. But remember that most of the places you’ll visit will likely be less interesting to your kids than to you, so sometimes you have to balance things out to make sure the trip has something for the whole family. I know from experience that there are only that many churches and museums that our kids can handle… 😉
So I’m afraid I can’t help you much, and you’ll have to ask your kids and decide together with them. Maybe make two alternative plans for a day, present it to the kids, and let them choose which one they prefer.
If you decide to go, the research I just did for our own trip shows that – at the moment – this transfer + Harry Potter Studios entrance ticket is the cheapest option (about 50£ savings for a family of 4 vs other providers).
Have a great time in London!
My name is Albert, I was very impressed after reading your article and I also got a lot of useful information. Thank you.
Glad to help, Albert. Have a great time in London!
Wow !!Planning to visit London along with out of city October, Thank you for helping me find thé information I needed ,it’s so helpful and informative! looking forward to hear you more 💙
Glad to help, Diki. Enjoy London!
you did a great job of providing all the essential information that visitor need to know, such as the best time to visit, where to stay, what to see and do, and how to get around
Glad to help, Maran. Have a great time in London!
This post was amazing. Thank you for all of the wonderful and helpful information. My boys (21 & 17) will be visiting London for 8 days and the end of July. We are all looking very forward to it. I forgot all about adapters, so I am glad that you posted about them. My older son wants to visit Paris while we are there, but the train tickets seem pretty pricey.
Glad to help, Aja, and have a great trip!
As for Eurostar tickets, they are never really cheap and they only become more expensive as the travel dates get closer, so if you absolutely want to visit Paris from London, be sure to book the train tickets asap. But there’s so much to see in and near London that’s probably worth the time and money more, especially if you only have a day for the excursion. You may want to check our guide to the best day trips from London for some inspiration.
If you decide to go to Paris, you can find information and a few suggested itineraries here.
Wow !!! You really helped me sort out our upcoming visit to London . I was feeling so overwhelmed before I read your blog …. Cannot thank you enough.
Glad to help. Have a great time in London!
Thank you for this great post – very informative… we are likely taking our son to London for his HS graduation trip next year – we’re thinking along the same lines as you specify: staying in the heart of the city, as centrally located as possible. We considered a guided tour that includes either Paris or Scotland as well, but we are thinking we will just stick with London to soak up as much as possible. My only question is, was your hotel near the Metropolitan Tabernacle?
thanks again!
Hi Zach, it’s a good idea to spend more time in London rather than rush from place to place spending more time in transit.
For the hotels, we have been to London many times, but we never stayed in the area that you mentioned. We always stay much closer to the center. See our guide on where to stay in London for more information. But if you decide to stay further away, it shouldn’t be a big deal as long as there is a metro line nearby and it’s not that far away from the main attractions. Just keep in mind that it will add some travel time/cost every day.
Good luck with the planning!
very informative thanks for sharing. have you visited Paris when your in London?
just wondering how many days to book if visiting London and Paris in one trip.
Thanks again for this very useful information.
Hi, it really depends on how much time you can spend and what other plans you have. Some people just quickly visit these cities for a day or two and move on, while others spend a week at each place and leave feeling that they haven’t even scratched the surface… So it’s really your choice.
I personally would recommend spending at least 2-3 days in each city, ideally 3-4, so about a week for London and Paris together. This will give you the time to see all the ‘musts’ in both cities. Take a look at our Paris itinerary for 4 days and also this 2-day London itinerary for some inspiration. If you have more time, you could take one or two day trips from London and also from Paris.
So there is not one right answer. But if you give yourself some extra time, you’ll enjoy your visit so much more!
Very useful information. Appreciate it!
Glad to help, Uma. Enjoy London!
Thank you this was VERY helpful!
Glad to hear that, Cecy. Have a great time in London!
It was a very useful page. Thank you for all information.
Glad to help. Have a great time in London!
Super helpful 👍
Glad to hear that. Have a great time in London!
This was perfect: it gives us the foundation of where to start planning our trip. I have read that the more you know before you go the better your trip will be. I will certainly recommend “Full Suitcase” to everyone I know.
Thank you for your kind feedback, Deborrah. Have a great trip!
Fantastic article! I have researched and this article has everything in it. Thank you!
Glad to hear that that, Sherrie.
Have a great trip!
Thank you for such a great article! It really helped with my planning.
Glad to help, Karen. Have a great time in London!
I’m going to London at the end of November and staying 3 nights. What 4 star hotel do you recommend in Central London. Thank you for all your helpful information! I’m also going to the Christmas markets in Brussels:D
Hi Nery, we have some hotel recommendations in the article. Citadines at Trafalgar Square is a great 4-star hotel with an excellent location, or Park Plaza at Westminster Bridge. There are tons of really nice hotels in that area, so maybe see what the prices are for your travel dates and decide based on that.
As for Brussels, if you haven’t seen it, we have a guide to Brussels Christmas Market.
Have a great trip!
I loved all your helpful details & info. I have a 9-hour layover in November.I`ve already bought the HeathrowExpress tkt to get to Central London. I hope a 4-hour CityTour by myself is feasible to have some fun.
Hi Rita, it all really depends on how smoothly everything goes at the airport. 9 hours layover isn’t much – also because it takes a while to actually get out of the airport AND you have to be back at least 2 hours before your flight. But I hope it all works out well for you and you can see some of the main landmarks of London.
Happy travels!
Wonderful information, I’m flying to London in early September and will be staying with friends in Kent. Anything special out that way? Jo
Hi Jo, all the info we can offer is already on our blog. You may find some suggestions for that area in our London day trips guide.
Have a great trip!
London is my favorite destination and would like to go there soon.
Hope you can make it happen soon!
So much helpful information!! Thank you so much!!
Glad to help, Sarah. We have many more articles about London, so check it out if looking for more info and ideas.
Have a great trip!
Your site is wonderful (so thorough) and the most helpful I’ve found for planning our own two week trip to London. We plan to go at the end of May, 2022. We also plan to rent a flat. Any suggestions for our trip. (2 Adults)
Hi Ava, glad to hear that you find our website useful. Your trip sounds amazing – with two weeks in London, you can really experience the city, with all the must-see sights and quite a few hidden gems. I’d definitely also take at least a few day trips nearby.
You can find info for all of these on our blog. See the overview of all our articles in our UK travel page
It’s really difficult to suggest something specific beyond what’s already on our website since we already covered so many popular and lesser-known places and sights in London. I’d say pick a specific area each day, select two main sights you want to visit inside (museums, tourist attractions), and then fill the rest of your time by adding some nice extras – a local market, some of the nicest viewpoints, some hidden gems in that area. That way you won’t have to run around from one side of the city to another all the time, and can get to know one area really well.
As for renting a flat, with two weeks in the city, it’s definitely a good idea, but the longer you stay, the more difficult it will be to find a place that’s available for the entire duration, so book soon! Also, try to pick an area that has a metro station nearby, so that you can easily get anywhere you need to be. If you are looking for ideas where to stay, check our guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in London.
Hope this helps. Good luck with the planning and have a great time in London!
I want to stay a couple of nights in a castle turned hotel. Do you have a recommendation?
Hi Roxanne, in London, I don’t really know about any castles/hotels. But there are quite a lot of them around the UK. Here are just a few examples:
Amberley Castle- A Relais & Chateaux Hotel (not too far from London)
Hever Castle (not too far from London)
Langley Castle
Pentillie Castle
Thornbury Castle (also not too far from London)
Sneaton Castle
Tregenna Castle Resort
Château Rhianfa
Hope this helps.
What are your thoughts on St. Martin’s Lane? Is it central enough? We are planning a first time trip for our 20th anniversary in 2022.
St. Martin’s Lane is VERY centrally located, close to Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square. It will be perfect for most places in the city center and all the shops and theaters are nearby. So yes, definitely a very good place to stay for sightseeing in London.
I’m not sure if you also meant the hotel (St. MArtin’s Lane Hotel) or just the street, but anyway, the location is excellent. And the hotel looks great too, wonderful reviews.
Good luck with the planning and I’m sure it will be an amazing trip!
I have been facinated by London. These are some great tips for a new traveller to check some points and add to their plan. Great article, keep it up 🙂
Thanks, Javier. Yes, London is a truly fascinating city with so much to discover still. Every time I visit, I find so many new places I never saw before.
Happy travels!
hi jurga,
thanks for the tips, am traveling to uk for the first time for a 4 day tour and i was hoping where to find most people from my country (Nigeria), so i can interact freely and feel at home.
Hi Anderson, London is a very multi-cultural city and you meet people from various backgrounds. So I really don’t think you should worry about not feeling ‘at home’ there. But if you absolutely want to meet some locals with Nigerian roots, you should probably try to search for local communities or maybe Facebook groups, or ask some of your friends. No idea, really.
Enjoy your trip!
Lived in London all my life, great place to walk around. My favourite ways of seeing a city is by a boat trip. A boat trip from Westminster Bridge/ Embankment to Greenwich is a fantastic trip . Great journey and you get to see lots of sites. Greenwich has the Royal Naval College, Greenwich Market and the National Observatory, all good places to visit.
Agree with you, Martin! A trip to Greenwich is well worth it and it’s also nice to rest your legs a bit on the boat after all the walking in the city.
As for Greenwich itself, such a nice place! I was completely blown away by the Painted Hall! And the food market was such a great experience as well.
Thanks for sharing your tips. I’m sure they’ll be useful to our readers planning their first trip to London.
Hi Jurga,
I will going to London & Scotland in mid Oct this year. This will be my first solo trip. I plan to stay at Paddington area. Plan to go Cotswolds and Oxford too. Do you think a stay over in Cotswolds is necessary?
Hi LaiMun, I don’t think so. It’s a small place and most people only visit it for a few hours, usually as a day trip, often in combination with other places nearby.
This is exactly what I was looking for since I”m visiting London for the first time. Great tips and advice! I’ll continue to follow your blog for future travel adventures!
Glad to help. Enjoy your trip to London!
My husband, in his late 70’s, and I are traveling to London over Easter in April – staying in and visiting family in East Finchley. I had recent back surgery and my husband has bad knees and we cannot walk far. We can walk – just not distances. We will be using wheelchairs within the airports, but what accommodations might be made that could be helpful that relate to a handicapped parking tag in the US. We won’t be driving of course, but think you understand. I may rent a walker for him or are their tours that take disabilities into consideration? Do the busses? Am sure we will be on and off busses even from where we are staying to their house which is just over 1/2 mile. They do not have a car and have recently moved there. Any thoughts? Thank you!
Hi Bonnie, I’m sorry, but I have no experience with accessible travel in London. Try googling, I’m sure there is more information online.
Hope you have a great time in London!
Thank you.
Thanks for the tips, Jurga. I now feel more confident about my upcoming trip. Any idea about travel documents now that Brexit is a fact?
From everything I see, at the moment, nothing has changed in terms of travel documents to the UK. The Brits still have 11 months to work out the deal with the EU, so whatever changes are coming, they will probably not take effect before 2021.
Hi! Thanks for the awesome tips! My husband and I are traveling to London March 2020 (it’s our first trip alone since our honeymoon 26 years ago). We are there for 5 full days and then the 6th day we depart late afternoon. We are thinking of taking the Windsor, Stonehenge, Bath tour and possible going to Paris for the day. I’ve been to both London & Paris before many, many years ago, but it’s the first trip for my husband. We’re staying at the Nadler Victoria. What tour companies would you recommend to use for our two day trips? THANK IN ADVANCE!!
Hi Maria, sounds like a great trip and I’m sure you’ll both enjoy it.
I don’t have personal experience with the tours you asked, but based on itineraries and customer reviews, I found several options that look good:
– Paris from London: You can either take an unguided day trip where a lot is arranged for you or a guided day trip where you always have a guide with you. Both these tours start at St Pancras International Train Station, from where you take a train to Paris.
– Windsor, Stonehenge, Bath : There are also many options. These two tours have hundreds of excellent reviews and both include entrance to Stonehenge and entrance to Windsor Castle. This tour also includes Roman Baths entrance ticket, while this one includes everything except the Roman Baths. Both these tours depart from Victoria Coach Station.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
My daughter and I are going to London in May 2020.
We were thinking about staying at Montague Gardens across from the British Museum.
Do you think this is too far out? I wasn’t sure if this was considered central London.
Second choice would be Rubens at the Palace acros from the Royal Mews and third choice is Chesterfield Mayfield.
Hi Debra, while they are all in Central London, the first hotel is a bit far away from most places you’ll want to visit, so you’ll have to take a tube everywhere. The last two are more centrally located.
If you have the budget, Rubens at the Palace looks absolutely amazing and the location is great. If I had to pick one of those three, it would definitely be this one!
Have a great trip and enjoy London!
Thanks for sharing the article. London is the most beautiful city in the world. I like your all points but especially I like the point ” Avoid bank holidays and school breaks” if you cant avoid this then crowds and prices become higher.
I would suggest you once visit Hyde Park, set right in the heart of London. The park not only offers world-class events and concerts but also ample of quiet places. Good way to avoid the crowds.
Hi Dominik, thanks for your suggestion. I like Hyde Park as well. I find that pretty much any park in London offers plenty of opportunities to avoid the crowds. Just like anywhere else in the world, everyone seems to be concentrated in a couple of busier areas, but if you want to, there are so many ways to get off the beaten path. Also in London.
Hey,thanks for the info, I am going to the UK for buisness / leisure end of December , I am staying there for about 12 days , I am planning to stay the whole time in London so that I get the time to explore the city well and yet be chilled and relaxed while doing that and not rush to places .
Do you think that’s a good idea ?
And do you think staying 4 kms from the center is a good idea also?taking into account that hotels are somehow cheaper there .
Thanks
Hi Mohammed, I think London is always a great idea and having 12 days will allow you to see a lot. If you are combining it with business, you definitely won’t feel like you have too much time I think, but I suppose, it depends on your interests.
There is so much to see and do in the city!
As for where to stay, we prefer to stay in the center so that we can walk to most of the main attractions, have nice restaurants nearby, etc. But you can’t really avoid taking a metro or other means of transportation if you want to see everything in London anyway. I can imagine that the cost difference for accommodation outside the city center compared to staying in the center is quite significant, especially when staying in the city for 12 days. So it’s really your choice. As long as there is a metro station nearby and you don’t mind spending some extra time commuting, you’ll be fine.
Enjoy your trip!
Hey Mohammed,
I’ll be in London the same period, what a coincidence. hope you’ll enjoy you trip !
Hi I am organising a five day (from 14/11 to 19/11) trip to london for my family (2 adults and 3 children 17,14,12).The “problem” is that our last day our flight is around 17:30, tour hotel is about 90 min away from the airpor and 45min from central london . Do you have any recommendations for what we can do that day? I am stuck and out of ideas.
Hi Nicole, it’s really hard for me to give recommendations as I have no idea where your hotel is, whether you can leave your luggage there (and if it makes sense logistically), etc.
I think your best bet would be to find something nice to do not too far from your hotel, so that you can leave your luggage at the hotel while you explore. Then pick-up your luggage and head to the airport keeping in mind that you probably need to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight.
London is so big and there is so much to see and do everywhere. You can always check on the website of your hotel to see what there is to do nearby. If they don’t have that info, try google maps and see what you can find.
Another option is to go to central London, leave your bags in the lockers at one or the other train station, and explore something there.
Thank you!!
Hi Jurga ,
me & My husband plan to visit around 19th December.. we are plnning for a tour scotland & London … in your blog you’ve suggested to avoid pre chritsmas days ..any specific reasons because we want to itness christmas in London .. Kindly suggest
Hi, the only reason you’d want to avoid pre-Christmas days in London is because it is extremely busy there. Pretty much as busy as London gets.
But if you are ok with that and you want to do some Christmas shopping, visit the markets, and soak up the Christmas atmosphere, then there is no reason not to go. You can have all the same things by going a week earlier but with somewhat lesser crowds, but if those days are the best for you, just make the most of it and enjoy your trip!
We are headed to London at the end of September. I’m trying to figure out the best tour of Buckingham Palace, the Royal Mews and the changing of the Guards. I’ve tried to book at the Royal Trust and it doesn’t seem to work. Do you think Viator app is a better way to go? Thanks!
Hi Judy, you don’t really need a tour unless you want to have a guide – in that case, you can find some guided tours like this one that includes the palace and changing of the Guardor this one that includes the Royal Mews and changing of the Guard. I haven’t found a tour that would do all three together.
Here is an alternative. Changing of the guard is free to watch, you just need to be at the good spot at the right time. Then you can buy tickets to visit the Buckingham Palace (that’s indeed only open for a limited time, usually in September). You can then also get separate tickets for the Royal Mews. This is quite a bit cheaper than taking a guided tour and – at least at the Royal Mews – they have a free audio guide. I would think that there will be audio guides available at the Buckingham Palace as well. So it’s up to you if you think it’s worth paying that much more extra for a guide.
PS I have no experience with booking tickets through Royal Trust and we personally use GetYourGuide for all our tour bookings when we travel, because they have the most flexible cancelation policy and great customer service.
Hope this helps.
my husband and I are planning our first trip to London the second week of November 2019. I have cancer, but, have been taken off chemo for 6 months, as it’s too much on my body. Due t0 the meds I’m on sometimes I have an urgency to use the restrooms. How accessible are they?
Do they have them on boats, trains or buses? Thank you so much! I’d like to really have a stress free time before I start back up on chemo. We will only be there for 3-4 days. Thank you again.
Hi Dorothy, sorry to hear about your illness. Hope you get better soon!
Places like museums, cafés, and big boats have bathrooms. Also intercity trains have bathrooms, of course. I’m not sure about city buses, but I don’t think they do. I also never saw a public bathroom in a metro… Normally, in the city, there are always some restaurants or shops where you could just ask to use a bathroom, but it really depends on where you are. Sometimes you might have to walk quite a while to find one (especially on bigger boulevards or parks, etc). I’d say that if you choose carefully where you visit, it shouldn’t be a problem, but I’d try to stay in the vicinity of shops, restaurants, and museums if it’s really an issue.
Hope you have a wonderful time in London. It’s an amazing city!
is it necessary to rent a portable WiFi? for 4days trips in London. is the public WiFi safe? Thanks
Hi Helen, I never rented one and just used my phone and hotel Wi-Fi, but then I don’t really do any special transactions like banking or so when traveling. So I guess it depends on what your needs are.
Hi we have a long (6hours) lay over in Heathrow airport traveling from NY to South Africa any suggestion how and what tourist attraction we can see like just a quick one.
Hi Anna, yes, that’s indeed a long layover, but I’m afraid it’s not long enough to do much. Heathrow is so big and so busy. You might spend an hour after arriving just to get out of the airport and then you definitely want to be back 2-3 hrs before the flight. That leaves you with maybe 2 hours to spare, so definitely not enough time to go to town.
I’m not sure if there is anything to do in the close vicinity of the airport, but maybe you can find something by checking Google Maps to see what’s nearby. I have no personal experience with that area, so I can’t really help you any further.
Take a good book to read, have a nice meal at the airport – as much as it can be frustrating to wait, I think it’s the best option.
Thanks for the info I was trying to do a very quick one like a glimpse of the city. Planning to take the tube Piccadilly line to Westminster station there I can see the big ben, the london eye, westminster abbey, and other attractions within walking distance just to see and take pictures for now, will be coming back next year to spend a week in London to immerse in the city’s culture. Do you think this is feasible?
Hi Anna, it depends on how much time you have and if you plan to visit any attractions and not just see them from the outside. It’s definitely possible to see all these in a short time since they are within such a close walking distance from each other.
If you want to visit Westminster Abbey or the London Eye, make sure to book your tickets in advance (you can get them here: Westminster and London Eye). Waiting times can get really long.
Have a great time!
Hi Jurga,
Myself Shristi and I am from India, Mumbai. Me my husband and 3 year old daughter are planning a trip to London in first week of October. We have requested a travel agent to plan an itinerary and send it to us but that is going beyond our limit.. We are planning to say 2 days in Edinburg and 4 days in London. Could you suggest what all places we can cover with our child in London so that we can book online and by this way we could save little
Hi Shristi, London can be as expensive or as cheap as you choose to. Here you can find all of the most popular things to do in London with kids with some tips on how to make it a bit cheaper.
But there are so many things that you can do in London that don’t cost much – many museums are free of charge and have excellent kids-oriented activities as well. For example, Natural History Museum is one of the best choices and it’s free.
There are lots of parks and playgrounds as well, but of course, if you are visiting London for the first time, you want to see at least some of the highlights. I think it’s best to choose just one or two ‘must-see’ place every day and then fill the rest of your day with some extra free or cheap activities. Once again, please check our London with kids article for some tips.
Hi, I will be visiting London in September and I will arriving at Gatwick Airport. Would you know the best way to get to central London from Gatwick and are there things to do in Gatwick?
Hi Lawrencia, the easiest cheap way to get to London from Gatwick airport is probably by bus (you can book it here). I don’t know if there is much to do in Gatwick, but I think that central London is worth your time much more. Enjoy your trip!
Hi. I am coming to London in August and would like to visit Chartwell. Can you recommend any tours?
Hi Dianne, I haven’t been there, so no personal experience. Here you can find some organized tours that can bring you from London to Chartwell. These are all private tours, so quite pricey if it’s just you alone, but that’s all I could find. Hope this helps.
Thank you so much for your reply. And thank you for your wonderful site.
Dianne
We will be in London for 6 days in late August. One adult and 2 kids aged 4 and 7. Coming from the States. Would you advise for or against trying to do a quick one day/one overnight trip to Paris so we can check the Eiffel Tower off of our list? Or is that too much?
Hi Amy, my first reaction was that one day is too short for Paris, but then I realized that we ourselves do it all the time : ) We live in Belgium and drive to Paris for a day once in a while too (and it takes us longer by car than the train from London does).
So sure, you can do that. I think that if you are coming from the US and don’t have immediate plans to return to Europe soon, you’ll probably regret it if you don’t do it.
That being said, if you decide to go for just a day, consider visiting Paris with a guide – they’ll make sure you make the most of your short time in the city. There are tours that you can book, this Paris from London day trip is one of the best options that I was able to find. Click on ‘show more’ to be able to see kids prices.
If you rather book everything yourself, I’d say go for at least one night and take a hotel close to the train station in Paris – that way you can leave your luggage there upon arrival and the next day again (one worry less). One of the best-rated hotels at the North station is Hotel Whistler, alternatively check Libertel Gare Du Nord Suede.
P.S. For London 4-5 days are ok for the first visit. Here you can find some ideas of the most popular (and some more unusual) things to do in London with kids.
Enjoy your trip!
Hello, my 13 yo daughter and I will be staying in London for 4 days in June 15,16,17 and 18. It will be first trip for us. We r staying near Buckingham palace. We have some planned trips ahead of time. I am trying to see what I should do about currency. I know you said use credit which I will. However do you recommend I get some currency ahead of time or at an Atm when we land. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Jerry
Hi Jerry, I just visited London this weekend and I just took some cash from an ATM upon arrival. You don’t need cash in most places, but it was nice to have some for street food and local markets.
Thanks for this advice for visiting London. I’m glad you mentioned that you should try to eat out London food while you are there by seeing what local supermarkets have. Honestly, this seems like a great time to try new dishes or meals and see how they taste.
Hi, great article. We were considering visiting London for christmas. Any tips on how many days should we stay? It is our first time.
Hi Erika, I think 3 days is an absolute minimum for London, but you can easily fill a week or even 10-14 days in London. There’s so much to see and do! So it’s really up to you, how much time you have, and what interests you the most.
Museums, musicals, main landmarks, but also shopping and Christmas markets, etc. – plenty to keep yourselves busy for many days. Not even mentioning day trips if you want to see places outside the city…
PS Christmas is a busy and expensive time, so make sure to book your London accommodations asap – it’s much easier to make your trip more affordable by booking in advance, when you still have more choice.
You’ll love London!
Hello. I’m planning to visit London on September. I am trying to see what I should do about currency. I know you said use credit which I will. However do you recommend I get some currency ahead of time when i land or at an ATM. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Hi Rajee, you can just take some cash at an ATM upon arrival – it’s easy enough. Just be careful to not let the ATM do the currency conversion for you – it’s a common travel scam and costs you a fortune. So when you take the money, make sure to choose LOCAL CURRENCY and let your bank do the conversion. Enjoy the trip!
Hello Jurga,
I am planning for a trip to London and willing to live in North-London. Have you any suggestions for the budget hotels in North London? I love to share my experience after my trip!!
Hi Ammy, I’m not sure what exactly you mean by North London, but here are a few budget options on that side of town, close to King’s Cross / St Pancras stations: Keystone House and Clink78 hostel.
Hope this helps.
Any recommendations for private transportation from airport to our hotel that can accommodate 8 persons and their luggage.
Hi Linda, yes, there seem to be many options. You didn’t say from which airport you’re going, but here you can find pretty much all of them – private transfers from London airports . You can choose your dates (sometimes not longer than 2 weeks in advance though) and group size and it gives you the price. Just out of curiosity, I checked what the private transfer from Heathrow to Central London would cost for 8 people, and it shows me the price of around 100EUR. So quite reasonable, considering taxi prices in London and the distance to town, I find.
Hope this helps.
What would be your top 3 places to visit in London. I’m going to be in London for only 1 day and a half on our way to Stuttgart Germany. Your article was very informative and I will book a hotel in central London.
Hi Jane, if you do just a few things, then don’t miss the London Eye, Westminster Abbey with Big Ben tower (all these are close to each other), also the Tower Bridge and the Buckingham Palace (from outside). I think that your best bet in such a short time is to take a Hop-on Hop-off bus. It will pass most of the highlights, give some info about the places, will enable you to jump off and visit a few of them, and the ticket usually also includes a boat tour on the Thames, which is also quite informative and gives you another perspective on London.
I recommend either the Original Tour or Big-Bus tour. For the main route (highlights) they are very similar, it’s really just a matter of personal preference.
For the London Eye, make sure to book in advance and if you really want to save time, get a fast track ticket – otherwise you’ll waste half a day there. You can book the tickets here.
Hope this helps and yes, indeed, stay in the city center.
Any recommendation on air Bnb in central London???
We are group of 6adults and 4kids including an infant.
Hi, it’s a bit difficult for me to advise much as I have no idea when you travel or what your budget is. Most houses/apartments of that size in Central London will cost at least 500-600 pounds, often more. The only cheaper ones I saw have quite bad customer reviews.
Here is one that is quite cheap, is somewhat close to the city and has good reviews – Hoxton Loft apartments.
If budget is not an issue and you want a really good location then check this one out: The Grand, Covent Garden Townhouse.
If you don’t mind splitting up in two apartments (at the same place), then this seems to be one of the most affordable options with good ratings and close to the centre: Apartment White Piccadilly Luxury Flat.
Other nice somewhat affordable options are Large Family Home near Brick Lane & Spitalfields or Westminster Cosy 2bed mins to Start.
This one is also very well located and somewhat in the middle price-wise: Ennismore Mews.
These are all houses/apartments with excellent guest reviews, but not on Airbnb. We never use Airbnb, so if you are specifically looking there, I’m afraid I can’t help.
Hi very helpful information going London on May 2019 or 7 days. any suggestion of hotel where can stay thank you.
Hi Vilms, there are SO MANY hotels in Central London. We stayed at the Premier Inn County Hall the last time we visited and it is one of the best price/quality hotels we found in London. You can’t beat the location!
The problem with London is that it also gets booked-up so quickly, so it’s more a matter of what you can still find for May at this moment, especially for such a long stay… I’d say, select the dates for your stay in London and then use the map function to see what’s still available in the city centre at somewhat affordable rates.
Thank you. This has been very helpful. I am planning to celebrate my 50th in March 2019. I want to learn as much before my trip. Thanks again..
Enjoy your trip to London and happy birthday!
Very useful information since i will be traveling to London by march, especially when i don”t have an ideal of where to stay but now i know (hahahah) central London.
Thank You
🙂 Yes, Jemima, the more centrally-located your hotel, the easier it is to explore the best of London without wasting too much time in the traffic. Have a great trip!
Very informative. Going on October 11, 2019 for 4 days and hope to see a changing of the guard. Do they do them in October?
Hi Amelia, yes, I think they do it the whole year round, but not every day (I think it’s on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday; maybe more in summer – not sure). You can find the exact dates for Changing of the Guard on this website, but they usually only publish them a few weeks in advance.
Hi Jurga,
It’s been awesome seeing some of your articles.
My family and I are coming to the UK and hoping to do a Europe tour in July 2019. That’s my husband and I (27 & 30), my brother (15), and my parents (in their 50s)
We were firstly looking at doing a tour with a tour company but thought it could be limiting.
A lot of people said for us just to use public transport, and that driving in Europe is very hard.
I guess I am asking for your recommendation on whether we should use public transport (trains, uber etc) to get around, or if it would be beneficial in us hiring a car.
Many Thanks in Advance
We are from New Zealand btw
Hi Dipal, it’s really hard for me to advise much because ‘Europe’ is really big and every country has its own special ways.
In general, you definitely don’t need tours in order to see Europe. Figure out the places you want to see and how much time you want to spend in each. Depending how far they are from each other, it might be wise to take a train, or otherwise you should really look into flying. There are some really cheap flight deals all over Europe, so if you want to visit UK and e.g. Italy, you better fly.
If you are mainly staying in big cities, do yourself a favor and don’t rent a car. You can’t do anything with it. In most countries you can use Uber in the cities, but public transport is usually very good too. For places like London or Paris, public transport is the way to go.
However, if you want to see the countryside, then yes, driving is still the best way to do it.
I can’t really say that driving in Europe is difficult, but then I live in the country where we have the most traffic jams in the world I think. 🙂 Also, except for the UK, all the other countries drive on the other side than what you are used to… Imagine the worst traffic day in New Zealand and then multiply it by two, that’s pretty much what you can expect around any big city in Europe. Once you get further from the cities, it’s usually quieter, but still, compared to NZ, it will always be busy…
Hope this helps a bit. Enjoy your trip!
Coming from London Originally I can say that NO it does NOT rain a lot in London. This is 15 Jan 2019 and have had few days where it rained !!
🙂 I have to agree with you – this past year has been incredibly dry here in Belgium as well. Still, plenty of rain compared to most other places in Europe, so I think it never harms to check the weather forecast and pack an umbrella if it shows rain. Don’t you agree?
We are planning first trip to London with kids in June. Very useful information.
Please share which country side we can visit in England and Scotland along with London.
If we will come, will definitely post the experience.
Thankyou so much.
Hi Sidhi, please check our article with some suggestions on what to see and do in London with kids. It has a couple of suggestions outside the city, but for the rest we aren’t that familiar with the English countryside, so I’m afraid I can’t help.
As for Scotland, Isle of Skye is amazing. Here you can find suggested Isle of Skye itinerary for up to 5 days. My husband also did a Scottish whisky tour and loved it, but not sure if it’s something I’d do with kids :).
Enjoy you trip!
Ah, would love to return to London soon. Thanks for all these great tips! Agree on those fast skip the line tickets, saves so much time.
They sure do! And London just does that to you, doesn’t it? Once you’ve been there, you always want to go back for more.
Happy travels!
Great tips and very useful. Saving for my first visit to London.
Thank you, Madhu. Glad you found this useful. Enjoy your first trip to London. It will definitely leave you wanting to return.
Thank you – always love your tips. We’re from Australia, and having a short but hopefully full trip in November for 3 weeks to London, onto Europe then Iceland & can’t wait, as a taste before we do a 2 month to in 2020. I’ve read lots of your tips & find them practical & useful. Keep them coming!
Thank you Evette, glad you found it useful. Sounds like an amazing trip you have planned. 3 weeks and then again 2 months next year – wow!
Enjoy London and Iceland. If you are looking for some tips for traveling in Iceland in November, or general travel tips, check our Iceland travel page for more information.