blog travel to london

London Travel Blogs And Travel Guides (Trip Planning)

These London travel blogs will help you create the perfect itinerary for your trip to one of the world’s most exciting cities!

One of my favourite parts of being a travel blogger is showcasing my home city via my blog. I mean, I adore travelling the world, but where do I know better than the city I live in?

I’ve built up lots of London travel guides on my blog, sharing my favourite quirky things to do in the city, where to eat , and some weird and wonderful places to stay too.

First time visitors should tick off the obvious sights like Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament. You’ll probably go on a free walking tour to see a few other sights too. But… after you’ve seen the obvious ‘in every movie about London’ landmarks, where’s next?

Well that’s where I come in! Once you’ve seen the top sights in Central London, it’s time to go local. Why not catch the tube north to beautiful, leafy Hampstead and mooch around Hampstead Heath or grab a bite to eat in one of the area’s characterful pubs?

How about heading west to Shepherd’s Bush , one of London’s vibrant areas, and enjoying neon crazy golf, tasty local food and some unique entertainment?

You’ve probably heard about Camden and its famous market, but would you know the best places to eat once you get there? My London travel blogs will guide you to the most delicious treats in the area.

In fact, if you travel with your stomach, I’ve got guides to the best food markets in London , some great ramen joints dotted around the city, a list of bizarre themed restaurants , as well as a few hot tickets if you’re travelling on a tight budget .

Find out about an amazing food tour of Borough Market, where Londoners go for cocktails in Covent Garden, and a few events at the Natural History Museum that are guaranteed to surprise you!

These London travel blogs are packed full of personal tips – things you’ll only learn from years of living in the city. Follow them and you’re guaranteed to plan a memorable, action-packed itinerary! 

London Travel Blogs And Travel Guides

After living in this incredible city for most of my life, it's time to share my top London travel blogs and guides with you!

If you have any questions, don't forget you can always email me or leave a comment below.

48 Quirky And Unusual Things To Do In London 

From afternoon tea with a twist, to solving mysterious crimes and playing captain for the day, this is the definitive guide to the unique, crazy and downright unusual things to do in London.

Quirky, Unusual And Unique Restaurants In London 

From watching circus performers as you tuck into your main course, to eating in the dark, in a prison or while watching some weird and wonderful entertainment, these unique restaurants in London all offer something very special.

London’s Best Food Markets

From Borough and Brixton to Camden and Hampstead, it's time to reveal the best food markets in London.

11 Quirky Hotels In London For 2021

Looking for quirky hotels in London? YES! From floating hotels, capsules and animal lodges, to arty rooms, old prisons and more, it’s time to find out about some of the BEST quirky hotels in London for this year.

The Best Escape Rooms In London

The best escape rooms in London will have you cracking codes, solving puzzles, escaping from Mafia bosses, perfecting your wizarding spells and stealing millions of pounds.

13 London Desserts You Have To Try

From super-duper freakshakes and croissant-donut hybrids, to the latest waffle sensation and ice cream filled macaroons, these are the top London desserts right now.

Best Ramen In London

Time to share where to eat the best ramen in London. From Tonkotsu and Ippudo to Bone Daddies and Kanada-Ya, where should you go for your bowl of noodle soup?

Amazing CHEAP Restaurants In Central London

This guide to the best cheap restaurants in London is perfect if you’re on a budget!

Best Cafes To Work From In London

Searching for the best cafes to work from in London? No doubt you’ll need Wi-Fi, power, good coffee and a relaxed but focused atmosphere. Find out which places I'd recommend.

Where To Go For Cocktails In Covent Garden, London

What are the best cocktail bars in Covent Garden? From secret and quirky bars to glam hotels, find out where to go for cocktails in Covent Garden, London.

The Best Things To Do In Shepherd's Bush Right Now

From immersive experiences, shopping and escape rooms, to crazy golf, spinning and delicious food, these are the best things to do in Shepherd’s Bush, London.

The Best Restaurants In Shepherd’s Bush

From cute cafes and romantic wine bars, to immersive dining experiences, delicious dim sum and tasty Middle Eastern cuisine, it’s time to reveal some of the best restaurants in Shepherd’s Bush.

Best Places To Eat In Camden Town

The definitive guide to the best places to eat in Camden, featuring the best pub for a Sunday roast, top burger, tasty curry, plus some great cheap eats in Camden Market.

A Helicopter Tour Of London

As bucket list activities go, a helicopter flight over London has to be one of them! Find out more about this once in a lifetime experience now.

The Best East London Street Art Tour

From incredible murals and unusual graffiti, to colourful hidden messages, it’s time for London street art tour. 

Top 10 Things To Do In Hampstead, London

With a great food market, adorable streets and of course Hampstead Heath, there are plenty of amazing things to do in Hampstead. 

The Best London Food Tour

Flavoursome salami from Sussex and Wales, English sparkling wines that compete with the best champagnes, and traditional pies filled with indulgent fillings – this London food tour is a reminder that British cuisine shouldn’t be overlooked!

When Is The Best Time To Visit London?

England is a country obsessed with weather. Don’t know what to say? Comment on the weather! Us Brits talk about it a lot, but contrary to what you may have heard, we don’t have awful weather in London. It’s just a little unpredictable and varies from region to region.

You can expect average lows of around 5 °C in London in January / February, and highs around 25°C in July / August.

If you’re wondering when is the best time to visit England, I’d suggest planning a trip in May or June. The weather tends to be warm and sunny, rain is at a minimum and it’s out of peak season, so you shouldn’t be battling any big crowds either. The longest day is around 20th June every year, so it’s a time you can enjoy maximum daylight hours exploring!

I’ve never been a fan of November in London. It’s the wettest month of the year, and while December can be pretty cold, there’s a Christmas magic in London which always puts a smile on my face!

Planning your trip to London? Here are a few quick highlights:

There are so many amazing things to do in London! What are you going to choose? 

Let me know if you have any questions about anything I’ve mentioned in my London travel guides, or any questions about public transport, safety or areas I’ve not mentioned already. If you want to check out any of my other travel guides about the UK, you can find them all here .

Chloe Gunning

With a passion for food, fun and adventure, Chloe is the content creator behind one of the UK's top travel blogs Wanderlust Chloe. From volcano boarding in Nicaragua, to sailing around Sicily and eating her way around Japan, her travels have taken her to some of the coolest spots on the planet. Named Travel Influencer of the Year in 2022, Chloe regularly works with a number of tourism boards, producing inspirational travel content across multiple platforms. Find out more about Chloe here.

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How to Spend a Week in London

London . The Big Smoke. It’s a sprawling city, covering over 600 square miles and home to almost nine million people. It’s also one of the most popular destinations in the world.

While referred to in the singular, London is actually a collection of cities. The City of London (aka “The City”) is just 1.1 square miles (and the site of old Roman settlement Londinium). What we think of as London today is actually other cities (Westminster, Camden, etc.) that “The City” gobbled up over the years. (Fun fact: The West and East Ends of London are so named because they were outside the ancient wall that enclosed London.)

My like for London turned into love on a visit several years ago. Maybe it was the beautiful weather that stood in stark contrast to my other visits, maybe it was the people who I suddenly felt bonded with, maybe it was all the good restaurants and bars I found. Maybe it just took a decade of visits for the city to just “click” with me. Maybe it was all of it. I don’t know.

But now it’s one of my favorite cities in the world.

With so much to see and do, planning a trip to London can be overwhelming. Where should you stay? How should you plan your days? What day trips are worth doing?

To help you make the most of your visit, have fun, and save money, here is my detailed itinerary for visiting London.

London Itinerary

Day 1 : Walking tour, Parks, Soho, & more!

Day 2 : British Museum, National Gallery, & more!

Day 3 : Buckingham Palace, War Rooms, & more!

Day 4 : Natural History Museum, Jack the Ripper tour, & more!

Day 5 : Art galleries, Tower of London, & more!

Day 6 & 7 : Bath, Oxford, Stonehenge, & more!

What to See and Do in London: Day 1

Take a Free Walking Tour Start your first day off with a free walking tour to orient yourself and learn about the history of London. They are the best way to get situated on arrival and get some tips from a local guide (you can ask the guide for suggestions about what to see and where to eat during your visit).

New Europe and Free Tours By Foot both offer tours that can show you the highlights and help you get your bearings. Just remember to tip your guide at the end!

If you’d prefer a more detailed and in-depth tour, check out Walks . They offer all kinds of cool tours around the city, including an early-access guided tour of the crown jewels .

For more walking tour suggestions, here’s a list of the best walking tour companies in London.

Explore New Neighborhoods London is a great city to explore on foot. You can follow the ancient Roman wall (part of the wall still exists and so does an old Roman amphitheater, which was rediscovered in the 1980s) from the Tower of London through the center of the city. The city maintains a series of panels about the wall and the history of the city along the way. Visit London has a free app that lets you create personalized maps and itineraries that you can use offline as well.

For in-depth paid tours that take you around specific neighborhoods, check out tour marketplace Get Your Guide . It’s where local operators can list their tours, so there are a ton of different tours for all interests and budgets, including a street art walking tour around East London and a Harry Potter tour around central London.

Relax in a Park After all that walking on the first day, chill out in any one of the city’s many parks. Some of my favorites include:

• St. James’ Park (Westminster)
• Green Park (Westminster/Central London)
• Regent’s Park (Camden Town)
• Kensington Gardens (Kensington)
• Hyde Park (Central London)
• Holland Park (Holland Park)
• Battersea Park (Battersea)

I like to pack up some food, bring a book, and just relax and watch the world go by. It’s what the locals do — and you should too!

Hang in Soho I love Soho. It has cute little parks, world-class restaurants, lots of popular bars, funky bookstores, beautiful buildings, and everything in between. I recommend you spend your evening (or many evenings) here eating and drinking and hanging out with the locals. Some recommended places include:

• Ceviche Soho – Great Peruvian food. 17 Frith Street.
• Flat Iron – Simple menu featuring steak and salad and a daily special. 17 Beak Street.
• La Bodega Negra – Amazing Mexican food. 16 Moor Street.
• Eat Tokyo – Delicious ramen. 16 Old Compton Street.
• Mr. Foggs – The best gin London can offer! Several differently themed locations.
• The Three Greyhounds – A fun traditional pub. Fun story: I ended up drinking with Rami Malek from Mr. Robot! He was nice. 25 Greek Street.

What to See and Do in London: Day 2

Museum Hop Take advantage of London’s incredible of museums and overload on history, art, weird oddities, and everything in between. Some of them are so big you can barely see them in a week, let alone a day. Here are some of the best ones to start with:

• British Museum – By far one of the best museums in all of Europe, this giant museum houses one of the most comprehensive art, cultural, and historical collections in the world. Be sure to budget at least three hours to get a good sense of the museum, though you could easily spend a whole day there. Great Russell St, +44 20 7323 8299, britishmuseum.org. Open daily 10am-5pm (8:30pm on Fridays). Admission is free but they recommend booking tickets in advance .
• National Gallery – This art museum was founded in 1824 and houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to around 1900. There are works by Johannes Vermeer, Sandro Botticelli, Rembrandt, and Michelangelo, among many more! It’s a really extensive and wonderful art museum. Trafalgar Square, +44 20 7747 2885, nationalgallery.org.uk. Open daily 10am-6pm (9pm on Fridays). Admission is free but they recommend booking tickets in advance. An official guided tour of the museum’s highlights is 19 GBP.
• National Portrait Gallery – Here you’ll find portraits of famous Brits from over the centuries, from kings and queens to celebrities and artists. St. Martin’s Place, +44 20 7306 0055, npg.org.uk. Admission is free but donations are welcome. Open daily 10:30am-6pm (10:30-9pm on Fridays and Saturdays).

What to See and Do in London: Day 3

Visit Buckingham Palace Start off with a stroll through Hyde Park’s lush and expansive grounds, with its picturesque walkways, ponds, and ducks, before heading to Buckingham Palace, the royal residence and administrative headquarters of the monarchy, to watch the changing of the guard at 10:45am. It lasts for about 45 minutes (arrive early to get the best view). Be sure to check the website first though as the changing of the guards doesn’t happen daily (it’s usually every other day).

If you’re visiting during the summer, Buckingham Palace is open to the public. Booking online in advance is recommended. Tickets cost 30 GBP if you book in advance and 33 GBP on the day . You’ll be able to explore the lavish State Rooms and see some of the crown’s treasures. Expect to spend a couple of hours. Note that the State Rooms are only open for 10 weeks each summer (this year from July 14 to September 24, 2023). Book your tickets to the State Rooms in advance here.

See the Churchill War Rooms

Next, meander over to the Churchill War Rooms. Located beneath the Treasury Building in the Whitehall area of Westminster, this includes the government’s command center during World War II and a museum about the life of Winston Churchill, who served as Prime Minister of the UK from 1940-1945 and again from 1951-1955. The centerpiece of the whole place is an interactive table that enables visitors to access digitized material from the Churchill archives. It is one of the best museums in London. Book online in advance to avoid the multi-hour wait! Admission is 30 GBP. Open daily 9:30am-6pm.

Tour Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament

Afterward, marvel at Westminster Abbey and Parliament. You can see the tombs of 17 monarchs dating back to Henry III (who died in 1272) in the Abbey. Other famous people buried here include Charles Darwin, Sir Issac Newton, Aphra Behn, and Charles Dickens. Westminster Abbey costs 27 GBP ( book online in advance here ) but you can visit for free if you go during a service. Just be quiet and dress respectfully. Open 9:30am-3:30pm (last entry).

On Saturdays, you can tour the Parliament. This is where the UK government conducts its business. Tours last 75 minutes and include visits to the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and Westminster Hall. You’ll learn about the history of the building (the first parliament was held in 1265), how the government was created, and how the UK political system functions. Amongst the ornate rooms, there are all kinds of artwork to admire, including statues of Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, and Winston Churchill.

Tours are 32 GBP and tickets can be booked online in advance. During July and August, tours are also offered Tuesday-Friday in addition to Saturdays.

Eat in Borough Market After that, hop on the tube from Westminster to London Bridge (or walk along the South Bank) and head to the famous Borough Market to grab a meal from one of the many vendors. It’s hugely popular with locals, especially around lunchtime. The market here dates back to the 12th century while the building itself is from the 1850s. It’s open daily from 10am-5pm. Bring an appetite!

Wander South London After you’ve satiated your hunger, wander around South London. See the site of the original Globe Theater (where Shakespeare put on his plays), visit the eerie Crossbones Cemetery that honors the working girls and lost souls of London, walk along the riverfront, marvel at Millennium Bridge, and pop into the Tate Modern for a few hours to take in some of the best modern art London has to offer (it’s free).

Then head back toward Borough Market for a drink at the George Inn, one of London’s oldest pubs and where Charles Dickens used to drink (it’s also likely that William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe drank here). The new Globe Theater is also here if you want to take in a Shakespearean play (standing tickets can be found for as little as 5-10 GBP).

What to See and Do in London: Day 4

Visit More Museums London is a museum city. It has some of the best in the world, so I suggest you visit a few more before you go:

• Natural History Museum – There are over 80 million items in this comprehensive museum, including specimens collected by Charles Darwin. It also has a great collection of fossils, making it a fun and educational stop if you’re traveling with kids. Cromwell Road, +44 20 7942 5000, nhm.ac.uk. Open Monday-Sunday from 10am-5:50pm (last entry at 5pm). Admission is free but you should pre-book your ticket online in advance .
• Science Museum – Founded in 1857, this is actually one of the most popular museums in London, attracting millions of visitors each year. There are some really neat interactive galleries on flight and space, and the temporary exhibitions are usually pretty amazing (though those often cost extra). Exhibition Road, South Kensington, +44 20 7942 4000, sciencemuseum.org.uk. Open daily from 10am-6pm. Admission is free but you should pre-book tickets online in advance as they cannot guarantee tickets at the door.
• Victoria and Albert Museum – Named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, this museum is home to over 2,000 works of art covering over 3,000 years of human history. Cromwell Road, +44 20 7942 2000, vam.ac.uk. Open daily from 10am-5:45pm (10pm on Fridays). Admission is free (temporary exhibits may charge a fee).

Eat on Brick Lane Head east to the famous Brick Lane and eat your heart out — it has some amazing Jewish delis (Beigel Bake is the most famous — and delicious) and Indian cuisine. On the weekends, this street becomes a bustling flea market and a hub of activity when it fills with antique and flea market sellers, food vendors, and people eating and drinking their way down the street.

Take a Jack the Ripper tour Jack the Ripper was a serial killer in London from 1888-1891 with at least 5 murders to his name. He’s one of the most infamous killers in the world and every night, you’ll find tons of people in the East End learning about Jack the Ripper on a ridiculous number of similar tours.

My favorite is the original Jack the Ripper Tour . Their guides are experts on the 19th-century murders and really bring this dark, gruesome topic to life. While dark, the tours are fun and informative, lasting just under two hours and costing 18 GBP. Every day at 7:30pm and weekends 5pm and 7:30pm .  

What to See and Do in London: Day 5

Wander Trafalgar Square Stroll around and admire the fountains and the famous monuments, such as the four bronze lion statues and Nelson’s Column. The column honors Admiral Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The naval battle saw over 70 ships and 50,000 men battle for control of the seas, with the English defeating the combined forces of Spain and France. Lots of people hang out here so it makes for a good place to people-watch and takes in the local pace of life.

Explore the Tower of London and See the Crown Jewels Built in 1070 by William the Conqueror to defend his royal power, the tower is actually a castle located on the north bank. The fortification was used as a prison and palace and was expanded many times over the centuries. Until the 1800s, weapons and armor were made here and all coins were made here until 1810 under the Royal Mint.

Today, it houses the famous crown jewels (royal ceremonial objects, including coronation regalia). Admission is 33.60 GBP ( book your tickets online in advance here ).

The Tower of London’s changing of the guard (known as the Ceremony of the Keys) takes place daily at 9:30pm and is worth seeing. Tickets are free but must be pre-booked because it fills up quickly. Make sure and get there beforehand as they won’t let anyone in after 9:25pm.

Be sure to also head to nearby Tower Bridge, which opened in 1894 (and a lot of people confuse it with London Bridge). You can access the bridge deck to take in the view or check out the Tower Bridge Exhibition, where you can see the old Victorian engine rooms and get a sense of just how epic an engineering feat the bridge’s construction actually was. Open daily from 9:30am-6pm. Admission is 12.30 GBP.

Take in a Show London is my second favorite theater spot after New York City . You can’t leave without seeing a show. Check out TKTS for discounted tickets for shows in the West End.  

What to See and Do in London: Days 6 and 7

See Stonehenge Stonehenge, located near Salisbury , is one of the oldest man-made structures in the world (it dates back to 2500 BCE). You can’t approach the stones anymore as they are now cordoned off, but it’s still quite a fascinating site to explore. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, each stone weighs around 25 tons and stands around 4 meters (13 feet) tall. And because Stonehenge was built by a culture that didn’t leave any written records, we still have no idea why they built it.

The audio guide is a must so you can get some historical context (it’s free to download here ). Admission ranges from 20.90-23.60 GBP depending on the time of year and you can book your tickets online here (though it’s possible to legally visit without paying by taking the nearby pedestrian path).

Day Trip to Bath Bath is named after its famous mineral baths and is home to an ancient Roman bath that is marvelously well preserved.

The Romans settled here when they invaded Britain because of the hot springs that bubble up from the earth. The locals thought this place had spiritual significance, and when the Romans came, they felt the same and dedicated this site to Minerva, the goddess of wisdom. Despite being on the edge of the frontier, the city grew to become a major religious and cultural center. People came from all around to pray to Minerva and use the baths, which they believed had special healing powers.

Admission costs 28 GBP on weekends and 26 GBP on weekdays. Audio guides are free. For a more detailed experience, take a guided walking tour around the city with Footprints Tours . You’ll learn a ton about the city and have a much more in-depth experience before you explore the baths.

Day Trip to Oxford Oxford is home to one of the oldest universities in the world (it was founded in the 11th century as a hub for theological learning). Exploring all the beautiful colleges here makes for a fun day trip. The University is the main attraction here and Bodleian Libraries offers guided tours of the university, including the inside of many historic buildings. During the tour, you’ll get a look at university life, the history of the school, the architecture, and more. You can take a 30-, 60-, or 90-minute tour, with costs ranging from 10-20 GBP.

Other highlights include South Park, the Bridge of Sighs, the botanical gardens, and punting on the river (pushing a small boat around the River Thames or the River Cherwell with a pole).

Day Trip to Cambridge Cambridge is similar to Oxford with some of the best universities, parks, museums, and theatrical productions in the country. I enjoyed the museums, wandering around the parks, and embracing the relaxed pace of life (there are only around 125,000 people here compared to the almost 10 million in London!). Visit the colleges, stroll along the Backs, visit the Fitzwilliam Museum, or go punting.

Most people visit for just the day; however, I recommend staying overnight. For such a small city, there’s a lot to see and do here!

Take Another Walking Tour During a recent visit to London, I tried out over 25 different walking tours. There are many amazing companies that have created some insightful, entertaining, and delicious walks for every type of interest. From Harry Potter walks to historic pub crawls, there will definitely be something for everyone. No matter your interests or budget, there is a tour for you.

Here are some of my favorite walking tours in London to help you get inspired and plan your visit.

London is one of the biggest — and best — cities in the world, with a ton of things to see and do (I didn’t even get to mentioning Camden, Notting Hill, and all the other neighborhoods!). It’s easy to get lost in every neighborhood as you explore this bustling, exciting metropolis.

And while a week in London barely scratches the surface, it is enough to get a good overview of the city, dive into its smaller neighborhoods, and experience the local history and culture. Use this London itinerary as a guide for your next trip and get a feel for why I love this city so much. You won’t be disappointed!

Get Your In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!

My detailed 200+ page guidebook is made for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel while in Europe. It has suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, bars, safety tips, and much more! Click here to learn more and get your copy today.

Book Your Trip to London: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

For suggested places to stay, check out this list of hostels .

And, if you’re wondering what part of town to stay in, here’s my neighborhood breakdown of London !

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want a Guide? London has some really interesting tours. My favorite company is Take Walks . They have expert guides and can get you behind the scenes at the city’s best attractions. They’re my go-to walking tour company!

Want More Information on London? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on London for even more planning tips!

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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London Family Travel Guide: How We Planned the Perfect Five Day Itinerary

London family travel guide for the perfect five day itinerary.

We recently returned from an early Summer trip that started in New York City, then to Paris, before ending our trip in London.  We spent five nights in London, which gave us four full days to explore the city, before flying back to San Francisco (SFO) from London Heathrow (LHR).   

In this new series titled, "Just Got Back", we go over a quick trip itinerary report on where we stayed, what activities we did, where we ate and our top recommendations on things to consider adding to your own trip to London.  

Where to Stay

There are many great options to consider staying at when visiting London that depend on your particular preferences, travel style, hotel location and budget.

One of the things to consider when traveling in Europe with kids is being able to find hotels that accommodate up to 4 people in one room or suite.  Most hotels max occupancy at 2 or 3 people per room, even for larger suites sometimes, so it can become very challenging to find a hotel and room category that will work and not break the bank at the same time.  And if you can't find a room for at least 4 people, then you may end up having to book two rooms (and not break the travel budget) and hope the hotel offers connecting rooms.

For this trip, we stayed at the Marriott London County Hall , which boasts a prime location on the River Thames, overlooking the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye.  The convenient location on the South Bank at the Westminster Bridge is perfect for exploring the sights of London.  

We stayed here for 5 nights in a Family Room that offered two double beds for a family of four and featured views of Big Ben and River Thames.  Staying for five nights was the perfect amount of time for exploring the city and still having enough time in London to relax and be spontaneous as well, instead of always feeling like we had to be on the go if we had less travel days here.    

We selected this hotel since we have hotel status (Marriott Bonvoy Titanium) that unlocks extra benefits/amenities like free breakfast (saved us ~$100+ a day) and since we had lots of Marriott Bonvoy points that could help cover the cost of our entire stay.  I plan on writing more about this in an upcoming post and how we used a lot of Marriott hotel points to cover a majority of our trips for 2022 and the reasoning behind it.

Things to do

Here are some of the sights we visited and things we experienced on our recent trip to London:

• The British Museum

• Natural History Museum
• Matilda the Musical at Cambridge Theater

• Big Ben, Houses of Parliament

• Tower of London and the Tower Bridge

• St. Pauls Cathedral

• Tate Modern
• Covent Garden
• Borough Market
• Platform 9¾ at Kings Cross Station and The Harry Potter Shop

• Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych Hotel

• Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park

• Trafalgar Square
• Piccadilly Circus 
• Shopping on Regent Street at Oxford Circus

I plan on writing more in detail about each of these items, including our experience with a private family tour of London with Context Travel, how to book and the best way to plan out each activity to maximize your day.

Places to Eat & Drink

London is very walkable and no matter where you are in the city, it seems like there is a restaurant, pub or cafe on every corner. 

The places we ate at largely depended on which part of London we were in around lunch or dinner time and location mainly dictated the available restaurant options for us.  

For example,  I always like to plan ahead and research food options closest to where we would be so we don't have to hunt around too long to get a bite to eat.  Knowing what options we have and where they are located comes in handy when traveling with younger children, but for this trip I didn't make a list of places to eat and figured there would always be something close by where we were that would work for everyone.

For breakfast each morning, we ate at the hotel (Marriott Bonvoy Titanium breakfast benefit) at The Library, which offered amazing views of River Thames and Big Ben, as well as helping us save over $100+ a day on breakfast alone.  Typically, breakfast would be served in the M Lounge, but we were pleasantly surprised to see it moved to the Library for breakfast at the moment.  

Other sit-down restaurants we enjoyed on this trip while exploring London include: 

• Dishoom (popular and trendy Indian Restaurant featuring amazing food)
• Oblix (at the Shard featuring great views of London)
• Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar
• Pizza Express near Borough Market (so many small restaurants and stalls)

• Sticks 'N' Sushi at Covent Garden (lots of restaurants here) 

• Osteria Dell'Angolo 
• Tower Bridge Cafe (just outside the Tower of London)
• Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych  

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THE ULTIMATE FIRST TIMER’S GUIDE TO VISITING LONDON

Luxury travel, october 2, 2022.

We have been getting a lot of requests to design custom trips to the United Kingdom lately. For many, it is their first time abroad! This reminds me of when we took our young twins to London when they were seven years old. We had lived in Mexico for three years, so we were not strangers to traveling in a foreign country. But for our first European trip, England was an easy introduction to another continent. We knew the language and a bit of the culture, but the fact that they drive on the “wrong side of the road” made it foreign enough for us to have a fun adventure!

If you’re unsure if a trip to this historical city is for you, close your eyes… Imagine yourself sitting in a parlor in an exquisite London luxury hotel, sipping perfectly-brewed tea and enjoying a three-tiered tray of delicious cucumber sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and clotted cream. Or shopping at the iconic Harrod’s department store in search of the perfect Christmas Stocking. Or experiencing the famous Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Or going behind the scenes on your very own private viewing of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. You can do all these things and much more on a trip to London!

London is a fun and exciting city filled with history and culture and should be on every traveler’s bucket list. Planning your first trip to London can seem daunting with so much to see and do. To help you plan your first (or even tenth) trip, I’ve outlined some of the best tips and tricks for visiting the city. 

Stay In Central London:  Central London is the heart and soul of the city. You’re only a few minutes’ walk from noteworthy sites, bars, and restaurants. You can easily hop on London’s underground (affectionately called “The Tube”) to zip around the city. Staying in central London will ultimately save you a lot of time and money!

Avoid Bank Holidays and School Breaks:  London is regularly filled with visitors due to its popularity as a travel destination. However, during bank holidays and school breaks, the number of tourists nearly doubles in size. People from other parts of the UK and Europe travel to London for a short weekend holiday, meaning even more crowds. 

Set Aside Enough Time:  London is a massive city, and the last thing you want to do is rush through Buckingham Palace or skip the Tower of London because you ran out of time. Plan to stay at least a week for your first time in London. This should give you enough time to see the historic landmarks and get to know some local neighborhoods. 

Book in Advance : This is essential! You can spend countless hours of your trip standing in lines if you don’t plan. From theaters to the London Eye, you’d be amazed at how many attractions you can purchase tickets for in advance. You can even get a discounted price if you aren’t buying at the door. When you book with a travel advisor, they will often have the best deals in town, help you plan your trip, and determine if you should purchase the London Pass. 

Visit Free Attractions:  London can get expensive quickly, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay top dollar (or pound) to see all the sights. Many of the museums in London have free admission, and the parks and gardens are also a must-see and cost nothing to stroll around and picnic. Seeing classic London sights like the Changing of the Guard and walking through the famous Harrods is also free of charge! 

Before visiting a city for the first time, there’s so much to know, but this list is a great place to start when planning a trip to London! Just reach out to us  HERE  to get the ball rolling!

Next week, I’ll tell you all about the different neighborhoods to stay in and what makes them unique to help you decide which is the best fit for your next trip to London.

Our bespoke itineraries are uniquely designed to completely immerse you in your destination, with delightfully unexpected surprises along the way. We have a special passion for all things culinary—and we would love to introduce you to your destination’s distinct (and delicious!) food and wine traditions through one-of-a-kind culinary experiences. The best part? You won’t have to do a thing except relax, recharge, and create memories that last a lifetime!

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Traveling to London for the First Time (2024): Tips & Tricks

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: March 18, 2024

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 5 Experiences in London:

• London Eye .
• Tower of London & Crown Jewels .
• Thames River Cruise .
• Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio (book well in advance!)
• The View from The Shard .

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.

There is probably no single best answer to this, but here is a short list of neighborhoods that we personally looked at when planning our recent trip to London with kids : Westminster, Trafalgar/ Covent Garden, Soho, Bankside, and South Bank. 

Ultimately we chose the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel , which is located on the South Bank close to the London Eye . We loved being in the center of the action and being able to easily walk everywhere. Staying in the center 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.

The area around Covent Garden/Trafalgar Square is another great choice. Check out Citadines Trafalgar Square if you are looking for a nice price/quality/location hotel.

TIP: Using the map below, you can also easily see what’s available in central London for your travel dates and group size.

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.

TIP: If you are looking for a lower budget stay in central London (although ‘budget’ is a relative term here), check out the Waterloo Station area (10 minutes walk to London Eye ). It’s one of the few places in the center where you can often find good quality budget accommodation. Here are two of the best choices in this area: Nox Hotel Waterloo and Point A Hotel London Westminster .

If you go further from the center, accommodation gets a bit cheaper. But a lot also depends on the specific area. In general, west/ northwest of the River Thames is better than going further east/ southeast because most of the main landmarks and attractions of London are on the western side of the river. Unless you stay very close to the river, in which case, it’s as good as it gets.

LEARN MORE: Where to Stay in London

2. Avoid Bank Holidays and School Breaks

London is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK , and one of the most popular 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.

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 go see a musical 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 theatre tickets only in person for performances on the same day, or up to two days in advance.

5. Save Time and Money on London’s Major Attractions

Visiting London for the first time means visiting all the main landmarks and attractions in London . However, if you aren’t prepared, it’s very likely you will waste hours and days standing in lines.

If you want to make the most of your time in London, consider 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…

Sunday 40% Off (2024 Spring)

If you are visiting London between March and May 2024, you might be able to take advantage of the 40% discount on some of the major London attractions if you book in advance and visit them on Sunday.

Below is the list of the attractions that offer this discount. Click on the links to activate the promo code and book the ticket directly on the official website:

• Madame Tussauds London .
• London Dungeon .
• SEA LIFE London .
• Shrek’s Adventure .

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 FREE 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. Plus, you can save up to 20% if booking 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 with Kids (many suggestions will also be interesting for adults)

7. Use Credit Cards (or Smartphone)

These days, you hardly ever need cash for payments in the UK. Pretty much every place accepts credit cards and most places now also accept payments directly via your smartphone. You may want to get some cash for small purchases, but it’s so much easier to just use your credit card or smartphone.

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.

Good to know: 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, or you risk losing a lot of money. A lot.

TIP:  If you don’t have the right credit card with a chip and a 4-digit pin, check out this selection of  the best American credit cards for travel . I recommend choosing  a card with no foreign transaction fees .

8. Use Public Transport & Use a Contactless Credit Card or Oyster Card

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 metro, aka the London tube . The biggest advantage of the tube is that you can quickly get to the other side of London without having to waste your time in the traffic. Here’s a tip for you 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 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.

TIP:  Get the Oyster card . It’s a sort of electronic ticket that can be used for all public transport in Greater London and is much cheaper than paying for single-ride tickets. You can find more information about the Oyster Card here .

Alternatively, just use your contactless credit card . You can scan it when entering the metro, then scan it again when you leave. It works the same way as the Oyster card and if you use 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: Since the recent Uber ban in London, a 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. We took a cab twice in London and it was much more affordable than we expected. Furthermore, riding a traditional English cab is part of the experience of visiting London for the first time.

9. Walk or Rent a Bike

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 bike tour that brings you to the less-known places of London .

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 hop-on hop-off boat on River Thames . It allows you to see many attractions close to the river in an easy way.

TIP: Hop-on Hop-off bus tickets usually include one FREE Thames River cruise ride and a FREE walking tour.

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 great ideas for different things to do, the hidden gems of London . And here you can find some nice ideas for 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 had  afternoon tea with kids at St. Ermin’s and loved it! Nowadays, 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… However, 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. Although, as climate changes, the weather has gotten significantly drier here too. So check the weather forecast before your trip. Wearing layers is always the best way to go!

So, these are some of the most important practical tips you should know when traveling to London for the first time.

Do you have any questions or maybe want to share your experience and tips from visiting London? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!

READ ALSO: Best Secret Places of London That Most Tourists Never See

London Travel FAQ

The best time to travel to London is in the warm season between March and October. Summer is the peak season with big crowds. For mild weather and fewer people, come in spring or in the fall. The very best months to visit London are April-May and September-beginning of October.

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.

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.

If you are visiting London for the first time and want to see all the main landmarks and attractions, we recommend staying in Central London. The areas around Big Ben – London Eye have the prime location for sightseeing. Staying here will save you lots of time for commute and will allow you to make the most of your trip.

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!

More inspiration for your trip to the UK:

• Best Things to Do in London
• 1 Day in London
• 2 Days in London
• Things to Do in Greenwich
• Best Things to Do in Liverpool
• Best Things to Do in Manchester
• Yorkshire Day Trips
• Best Places to Visit in Cornwall
• London with Kids
• Isle of Skye Itinerary
• Scotland Whisky Tour
• Top Things to Do in Blackpool
• Tips for Visiting Blackpool
• Best Things to Do in Edinburgh
• One Day in Glasgow

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!

Travel tips for other major cities in Europe:

• Amsterdam Travel Tips
• Barcelona Travel Tips
• Paris Travel Tips
• Rome Travel Tips
• Read also our step-by-step guide with planning info and tips for traveling to Europe .

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Monday 18th of March 2024

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!!

@Jurga, Thank you! This is indeed super helpful - I appreciate all the tips!

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!

Wednesday 21st of February 2024

My name is Wendy! I am planning to visit London soon .I very enjoyed your article. It was really helpful .thanks a lot

Friday 23rd of February 2024

Glad to help, Wendy. Enjoy London!

Sunday 26th of November 2023

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!

Monday 27th of November 2023

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!

Thursday 12th of October 2023

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!

Sunday 6th of August 2023

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!

London 2-Day Itinerary: 25+ Epic Things To Do In London In 2 Days

Posted on Last updated: April 21, 2024

Having lived in London for 9 years I never thought I’d write about it in my blog from a travellers point of view.

But despite considering myself a Londoner I’m not actually a local, and I enjoy a touristy sightseeing day in London as much as anyone.

I get a lot of questions from people that want to visit London in a weekend, so this London 2-day itinerary focuses on all the best things you can do in London in 2 days.

It’s a packed itinerary with lots of walking, but for anyone wishing to maximise their time in the British capital, this guide has all the information you need to make the most of your 2 days in London.

So without further ado, let’s dive in and plan the perfect two days in London!

• 1.1 Oxford Street
• 1.2 Piccadilly Circus
• 1.3 Leicester Square 
• 1.4 Covent Garden
• 1.5 Trafalgar Square
• 1.6 Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
• 1.7 London Eye
• 1.8 Borough Market
• 1.9 The Shard
• 1.10 Tower Bridge
• 1.11 Tower of London
• 1.12 Sky Garden
• 2.1 Portobello Market
• 2.2 Notting Hill
• 2.3 Hyde Park
• 2.4 South Kensington & the museums
• 2.5 Harrods
• 2.6 Buckingham Palace
• 3.1 Shoreditch
• 3.2 Camden Town & Market
• 3.3 Chinatown
• 3.5 Afternoon tea bus tour
• 3.6 British Museum
• 3.7 Go for a showboat dinner cruise
• 3.8 See a musical!
• 3.9 Regents Park
• 3.10 St Pauls Cathedral
• 3.11 Do a Harry Potter walking tour
• 3.12 Visit the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios
• 4.1 What to pack for two days in London
• 4.2.1 Budget accommodation
• 4.2.2 Mid-range accommodation
• 4.2.3 Luxury accommodation
• 4.3.1 Street food
• 4.3.2 Eat on the go
• 4.3.3 Chain restaurants
• 4.3.4 Fancy or Michelin-starred restaurants
• 4.4 Do you need travel insurance for 2 days in London?
• 4.5 How to get into London
• 4.6 How to get around London

Reflections of St Paul’s Cathedral at One New Change in London, UK

Essentials to book before you read on!

Best tours in London

River Thames Sightseeing Cruise

Magical London: Harry Potter Walking Tour

Classic Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

Best hotels in London

Budget: Wombat’s City Hostel London

Mid-range: Hilton London Angel Islington

Luxury: St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

Get 5% off your travel insurance here!

London 2 day itineary: Day 1

Oxford street.

We’re starting day one of our  2-day London itinerary at the famous Oxford Street. You want to start your day here fairly early because as time goes on it will get considerably busier.

By considerably busier I mean basically hell on earth for anyone that hates crowds like me.

So get there nice and sharp in the morning and you’ll be able to do some high street shopping without having to queue hours for a changing room.

Red buses in Oxford Street, London

Piccadilly Circus

From Oxford Street you can walk to Oxford Circus, down Regent Street and to the popular Piccadilly Circus. This is London’s equivalent of Times Square in New York.

With the big bright advertising billboards, multiple road crossings, street buskers and crowds it’s quite the sight.

An alternative road you can take is the colourful Carnaby Street, it’s just parallel to Regent Street and while it’s always busy, it’s completely pedestrian so it’s a bit more pleasant to walk along.

Exploring Regent Street in London, UK

Leicester Square 

From Piccadilly Circus it’s a very short walk over to Leicester Square. Leicester Square is that place you always see on TV when they do movie premieres in London.

There are a number of very cool cinemas here but if you’re only in London for 2 days, you probably don’t want to spend a couple hours of your time locked up in a dark room.

There are loads of quick takeaway food places in Leicester Square but they will most likely be over priced and not that great.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is a short 5-minute walk away from Leicester Square and one of the most famous spots in London.

The central covered area of Covent Garden, known as the Apple Market, is full of cool shops, bars and restaurants, and also a few touristy but quirky market stalls.

The Apple Market in Covent Garden at Christmas

Trafalgar Square

After Covent Garden you can walk down to Trafalgar Square where you can visit the National Gallery. Entry to museums in London is generally always free, you only pay for the exhibitions that are on at that specific time.

If like me you’re not a museum person (I’ll admit I’ve only been inside the National Gallery once) Trafalgar Square is still a nice and famous spot of London that you can admire, and from there walk on to your next stop.

Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

From Trafalgar Square it’s a short walk down to the river, where you will see two of the most iconic London sights.

Big Ben is under restructuring works at the moment, but you can still visit Westminster Abby and the Houses of Parliament.

Click here to purchase your entrance to Westminster Abbey!

The iconic red phone box, red bus and Big Ben in the background (even if he’s under construction)

The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben under reconstruction works

Just across the river you will see the London Eye, it’s hard to miss. In 9 years of living in London I have only been up the London Eye once, but I can say it’s really something.

Yes it’s super touristy, but the view is incredible. You get amazing 360 views over the Thames River, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben on one side, and St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Shard on the other.

It’s one of the most famous attractions in London, so the queue can get huge. I 100% recommend purchasing tickets online beforehand , so that you can skip the queue.

After all, if you only have two days in London, you don’t want to waste them queuing around!

Click here to purchase your London Eye Fast Track ticket!

View over Westminster from the London Eye

Borough Market

After seeing the London Eye I suggest walking all along the river to Borough Market.

You could also take the tube from Waterloo to London Bridge, which would save you some time, but the walk along South Bank is one of the most beautiful spots in London in my opinion.

Especially if you’re visiting London in summer or on a sunny day, walking along the Thames and seeing the skyline of London is pretty epic.

You will see some main landmarks along this walk including the Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and Millennium Bridge.

Millennium Bridge in London, with St Paul’s Cathedral in the background

Borough Market is a great place to try some of London’s famous street food. There are tons of different stalls that sell food from all over the world.

It’s the perfect place to stop for a quick lunch on the go without wasting hours sitting down at a restaurant and waiting to be served.

One of the fresh fruit and vegetables stalls at Borough Market, London

Just next to Borough Market is the Shard, a skyscraper with 95 floors and one of the best views over London.

There is a viewing platform on the 70 th floor, the tickets cost between 24 GBP and 32 GBP depending on how far in advance you book them.

However, there are a couple bars in the Shard just a couple floors below that you can access for free.

Cocktails are around 15 – 20 GBP which is expensive, but considering you’re at the highest bar in London, it could be much worst.

I’d recommend going to the bar instead of the viewing platform since you end up paying a similar price, but at least you get a drink while you enjoy the view.

If a cocktail doesn’t fit your travel plans, book your ticket to The Shard viewing deck here!

The view over London from the Shard

Tower Bridge

From the Shard it’s a short walk across More London Place to reach Tower Bridge.

If you’re visiting in summer they usually have a Mexican food truck down next to the river with sun bed chairs, and they often have shows on in The Scoop (the round theatre-like area along the river).

From along the river you can walk right up to Tower Bridge and then you’ll see a set of stairs that you have to walk up to cross the river.

Prime sunset spot over Tower Bridge and the Thames

Tower of London

This is where I admit that I haven’t actually visited the Tower of London yet.

I’ve walked past the Tower of London numerous times, been on river cruises that set off from Tower Pier (a lot of university student clubs do that), even been ice skating at the Tower of London, but I’ve never been inside.

If you want to see the Crown Jewels and learn more about the Tower of London you will have to go inside, however if you’re happy with just seeing it walking around it is enough.

Click here to book a visit to the Tower of London & Crown Jewels Exhibition!

Tower Bridge and the Tower of London at golden hour

You’re probably thinking these are quite a lot of things to do in one day so don’t worry, we have arrived at the last stop of this London itinerary.

From Tower of London it’s less than a 10-minute walk to Sky Garden. Similarly to the Shard Sky Garden also has epic views over London, just from the opposite side of the river.

Access is always free but if you visit during the day you have to book a ticket beforehand with specific time slot, after 6PM you can visit on a free walk-in basis but there is a fairly strict smart casual dress code.

Drinks are fairly pricey at the bars in Sky Garden but once again, considering the venue it could be much worst.

I recommend trying to get here for sunset since watching the sun go down over London, turning everything golden, and then the skyline slowly lighting up is pretty magical.

View over the roofs of London from Sky Garden

I’ve embedded below a map of this walking itinerary, or you can click here to open it in Google Maps. As you can see this big long list of things to do only adds up to about two hours of walking time.

Obviously it depends on how long you decide to spend in every location.

Whether you want to go on a crazy shopping spree on Oxford Street or spend hours inside the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, but roughly speaking the above itinerary can be done in one day and would make for a perfect start to your 2 days in London.

London 2 day itinerary: Day 2

I hope you’re not knackered by yesterday’s activities, because you have another full day of excitement awaits!

Portobello Market

For your second day in London we’re moving away a bit from the hustle and bustle of central London and starting our day in Portobello.

Portobello is a lovely area of London with cute colourful houses and a popular market.  The market and shops in Portobello sell all sorts of cool vintage things but also the standard street food and touristy souvenirs.

The coloured houses of Portobello Road, London

Notting Hill

Portobello is just around the corner from the beautiful white houses of Notting Hill.

There isn’t one specific spot that you must see; it’s just a beautiful area of London that you can walk around for a bit and admire the Victorian architecture of these  beautiful London streets .

If you want, you can also join a guided walking tour of Notting Hill . It’s a great way to make sure you see all the prettiest spots, with a local guide teaching you about the history of the area.

Click here to book your Notting Hill walking tour!

The beautiful white houses of Notting Hill, London

After Notting Hill you will arrive at Hyde Park, London’s most famous and biggest park (in central London anyway). If you’re visiting in summer or on a sunny day you will find crowds of Londoners basking in the sun.

Even in winter it’s a very peaceful area and you can enjoy the beauty of it walking around Kensington Palace and the Serpentine.

Click here to book your visit to Kensington Palace in Hyde Park

South Kensington & the museums

Just make sure that you’re crossing the park in the right direction so that when you pop out on the other side you’re right next to South Kensington and all the museums.

Walk past the Royal Albert Hall (a pretty stunning building in itself) and you’ll reach the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

They’re all very different in style and seeing all the exhibitions inside all of the museums would take days.

The Royal Albert Hall, London

Unfortunately you only have 2 days in London but its still worth popping inside one or two of the museums depending on your interests. I’m a personal fan of the Natural History Museum and their dinosaur display.

Entry to the permanent exhibitions is free anyway you can just go in and wander around for a bit without feeling like you have to see everything in one go since you paid a ticket for it (or is that just me?)

If you’re visiting London at Christmas they always put up a beautiful ice rink at the Natural History Museum where you can try ice-skating.

The Natural History Museum in London from outside

Once you’re done exploring the museums it’s time to walk on to the famous Harrods.

Harrods is a huge department store founded in 1824 where they sell all sorts of things. One thing to note is that Harrods is very expensive.

While I wouldn’t recommend buying anything there I still think it’s a pretty cool place to see and wander around for a bit, especially if it’s your first time in London and you only have two days.

Buckingham Palace

From Harrods you can walk through Green Park and arrive at Buckingham Palace in less than 20 minutes. Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the royal family.

If you time your visit right you might also be able to see the change of the guard outside the Buckingham Palace gates.

You can also visit the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace . If you’re interested in history and the Royal Family, it’s a very fun and interesting visit!

Book your visit to Buckingham Palace here!

My first and last trip to Buckingham Palace in 7 years of living in London

That’s all the walking I’ve got in store for you today, wasn’t that bad was it? I’ve included the map with walking itinerary below or click here to see it on Google Maps.

It’s around 1.5 hours of walking but depending on how long you want to spend inside the museums or shopping inside Harrods, it can take up the whole day.

Cool things to do in London not included in this London 2 day itinerary 

As I previously mentioned the British capital is pretty huge and seeing all of London in two days isn’t very realistic.

There are some areas of London that I personally love but haven’t included in my London 2-day itinerary since they’re not considered the main tourist attractions and landmarks.

However, if for example you want to see some markets and aren’t interested in museums you can skip South Kensington and visit the quirky Shoreditch or Camden instead.

Most of these areas are very popular in evenings so you can always visit them after the itineraries I wrote above.

Shoreditch is the hipster and artsy area of London. There are tons of cool bars, restaurants, pubs, clubs and shops all over the neighbourhood.

It’s a cool area to wander around during the day to explore the vintage and design shops and colourful graffiti, but it’s especially popular in evenings. The nightlife in Shoreditch never disappoints.

A very Shoreditch donut shop with colourful graffiti facade

Camden Town & Market

Camden was the hipster and edgy area of London before Shoreditch become popular.

There’s a big market with lots of street food, clothes, jewellery, vintage things, home decor, souvenirs and pretty much anything you can think of being sold there.

It used to be the rebel punk area (to give you a better idea, Amy Winehouse used to live in Camden) and even today there are still tons of tattoo and piercing parlours.

It’s become a bit more touristy and less edgy in recent years but is still a cool area to walk around.

The market is closed in evenings but there are loads of bars, pubs and clubs and there is a lively nightlife so you can always visit Camden in evenings.

Camden Market in London, UK

Chinatown in London is actually just next to Leicester Square, but I chose not to include it in my London 2-day itinerary as it takes time to explore it properly and it wouldn’t have fit in the day 1 schedule.

Also the best part of Chinatown is the food so I recommend going around dinnertime to try one of the many Chinese restaurants.

Exploring Chinatown in London

Soho is another neighbourhood very close to Chinatown and Leicester Square that I chose not to cover in your day 1 itinerary.

It’s a vibrant and very cool area to explore but you can do so in the evening, discovering all the cool dining and nightlife options.

Afternoon tea bus tour

Afternoon tea is a very British tradition consisting of savoury sandwiches, cakes, scones and obviously, lots of tea.

There are loads of places that do very good afternoon teas in London but inevitably will take up a large chunk of your day (if you’re a fast eater like me, you might not love afternoon tea, it’s one of those things you’re supposed to take slow and enjoy the experience…)

If you only have two days in London a good solution is doing an afternoon tea bus tour . This allows you to enjoy the experience while also touring around London and seeing all the main tourist highlights.

Click here to book your spot on a B Bakery afternoon tea bus tour!

Getting ready for our afternoon tea bus tour in London

Our afternoon tea selection on the B Bakery bus tour

British Museum

The British Museum didn’t feature on my essential London 2-day itinerary since it’s not quite along the walking routes I’d planned out.

However it’s not too far don’t worry, it’s in central London less than a 10-minute walk away from Oxford Street. Entry is free and there are loads of cool things you can see like Rosetta’s stone and more.

Go for a showboat dinner cruise

If you want to spend a bit of a different evening enjoying good food and touring around London, you should definitely do a dinner showboat cruise .

As you might have guessed from the name, this is a cruise along the Thames where you will be served dinner as live music and singing takes place.

We enjoyed a lovely 4-course dinner while admiring the view over main sights of London, such as the London Eye, St Paul’s, Tower Bridge and Greenwich.

It combines good food with sightseeing and live music, the perfect evening out in London!

Click here to book your showboat dinner cruise!

Enjoying my 4-course meal during the showboat dinner cruise

See a musical!

The West End of London is famous for its theatres and musicals. If you have the time I would highly recommend trying to squeeze in watching a show in your London 2-day itinerary.

Over the past 7 years I’ve been to see The Lion King, Aladdin, Wicked, Billy Elliot and The Phantom of the Opera and they were all pretty amazing. There are tons of shows I still haven’t seen myself!

Regents Park

Regents Park is smaller than Hyde Park and a bit more of a local hangout spot. On one of the park you will find Primrose Hill, where all the Londoners go hang out and have picnics on sunny summer days.

View over Regents Park and the London skyline from Primrose Hill

St Pauls Cathedral

St Pauls Cathedral should have probably featured much higher on my list of things to see in London in two days, however I chose not to include it before since you will be seeing plenty of it even without actually visiting it.

As you walk along the river and from all the viewpoints you will be able to see the dome of St Pauls towering over the roofs of London.

If you have time you can go see the inside of the cathedral but if not, no harm done (in 7 years I don’t think I’ve ever been inside myself)

Click here to book a fast track ticket to St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral in London, UK

Do a Harry Potter walking tour

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you have to do this. I didn’t list it in my main 2-day London itinerary because I realise not everyone is as Harry Potter obsessed as I am, but it’s definitely worth doing.

It will allow you to not only see all the Harry Potter filming locations in London , but you’ll also learn some fun facts about the movies. It will go past some of the main London landmarks, so you will still see a lot of London.

If you follow my guide, you can easily visit all the filming spots alone, but I personally think it’s more fun to do a guided tour . Sharing the experience with other Potter-heads will make it all the more fun!

Click here to book your Harry Potter walking tour!

Platform 9 and 3/4 in London King’s Cross station

Visit the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios

This is another activity that is definitely worth mentioning, but given not everyone is a Harry Potter fan, I didn’t want to include it in my main London 2-day itinerary.

Whether you’re a family with children, or a group of millennials who grew up reading the books and watching the Harry Potter movies, the Harry Potter studio tour is great fun.

Even though it spoils the magic a little bit, seeing how the movies are made is really interesting. Plus you can stock up on butter beer, chocolate frogs and fun Harry Potter gadgets!

It’s outside London and planning your transfer there can be a bit complicated, which is why I recommend booking this tour , since it includes both entrance to the studios and transfer there.

Click here to purchase your Harry Potter Warner Bros Tour with Transfer from London!

Me in 2015 visiting the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios

Logistical tips for your weekend in London

What to pack for two days in london.

Not that there is a shortage of shops in London where you can buy things if you were to forget anything, however there are a couple essentials things that you might want to bring with you for your two days in London.

Umbrella : Yes, laugh as much as you want, but the stereotypes of the British capital are unfortunately largely true. It rains a lot here.

You don’t want to be caught out in the rain so it’s just easier to always carry one of those tiny foldable umbrellas with you.

Power bank : After all if you’re going to be walking around all day, you won’t have time to sit down and charge your phone!

Also you will need your phone to check Google Maps and that you’re headed in the right direction, or what time things close.

Comfortable walking shoes : My London 2-day itinerary has a lot of walking involved, so you wan to make sure you to do so in comfortable trainers to avoid having painful feet at the end of the day.

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London, UK

Where to stay in London

Despite living in London over the years I’ve stayed in a number of hotels throughout London, whether with family when they came to visit (and couldn’t fit in my tiny student halls room) or more recently with blog collaborations and I can recommend some hotels in London for every budget.

However more than a specific hotel I can suggest areas of London where you can stay .

If you only have two days in London you will want to stay very central or you will waste time travelling around, if you go a bit further out make sure to be within 5 minutes walking distance to a tube station.

Personally I would recommend staying either in Camden, Angel or even more central around Holborn and Bank.

Click here to see the latest prices and availability for accommodation in London!

Leadenhall Market in London, UK

Budget accommodation

There are tons of hostels in London. I’ve never personally stayed in one but have heard great things of Wombats .

There are also loads of hotel chains with numerous properties around London like Holiday Inn or the Travelodge that are more affordable than independent hotels.

The more central ones are a bit more expensive but usually still offer good value for money.

Mid-range accommodation

Just like there are budget chain hostels and hotels, there are also a number of mid-range chains you can go for like Hilton or Marriott spread all over London.

My parents stayed at the Hilton in Angel back when I used to live in the area and loved it, Angel is also a great area to stay as its a bit outside the tourist chaos of London but still within easy reach of all the main attractions.

These options are a bit fancier than the previous budget suggestions but at more reasonable prices than the luxury properties in London.

Luxury accommodation

I spent one night at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel  for a blog collaboration and that was the fanciest place I have slept at in London.

The property is beautiful, the service excellent and the location perfect as base to explore London, especially if you only have 2 days in London.

I also spent an afternoon at Cheval Three Quays where a friend of mine was staying and can highly recommend it, the apartments are new, have a great view of the Thames and are in a great location to explore London.

The Grand Staircase of the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London, UK

Where to eat in London

When I first moved to London from Italy everybody told me how the food in London was shit. Having lived here for 7 years now I can strongly disagree with that.

For Italian standards sure there is a lot of junk food out there (I’m looking at you Pizza Hut and your pizzas with burgers in the crust) but there are also a lot of amazing dining options for every budget.

London is a very international city and that’s reflected in the variety of cuisines you can find.

Since you’re only in London for two days I wouldn’t waste too much time sitting in restaurants, but there are cool and cheap dining options on the go.

Street food

The street food in London is awesome.

There are famous street food markets like Borough Market and Camden Market but you will also find street food trucks here and there all over London, especially in the busy touristy spots.

The prices vary massively depending on the cuisine, how big a portion you get, where in London it is and lots of other factors, but I’ve had meals from street food trucks in London for anywhere between 3 GBP and 10 GBP.

The halloumi fries at Camden Market, London

Eat on the go

If you don’t want to eat street food but you also don’t want to sit down at a restaurant there are tons of places you can eat on the go in London.

All the Pret A Manger, Eat, Wasabi, Itsu, LEON, Pod, Starbucks and other chains you see around serve food fresh and ready to go.

The scotch egg and sweet potato fries of Borough Market, London

Chain restaurants

If you want to sit down for a proper meal without spending a fortune, worry not, there are thousands of restaurants all over London, both independent and chains.

As a tourist it can be a bit hit and miss going to an independent boutique hotel, as you can’t know if they’re good or not.

While they’re less authentic, with chain restaurants you’re always sure that a certain standard will be met. The ones of ethnic cuisines are also easier to eat at as the flavours are adapted for Western tastes.

Some of my personal favourites are Wagamama, GBK, Wahaca, Franco Manca, Rosa’s Thai, Nando’s and Pho.

Starters at Lima Floral, a Peruvian chain restaurant in London

Fancy or Michelin-starred restaurants

If you want to go fancy, London can do fancy very well. London has 70 Michelin starred restaurants (and there many more fancy and delicious restaurants that don’t have Michelin stars) that you can try.

I was a student in London  so I can’t say I have much experience with these, so you might want to check out this guide by Secret London instead.

Enjoying the sunset at the London Eye

Do you need travel insurance for 2 days in London?

After my personal experience spending two nights in a private hospital in Tenerife, and having to pay for it out of pocket (it wasn’t cheap), I always recommend getting travel insurance.

You might not end up needing it, but for a small fee you can travel without worries. Personally, I suggest getting your travel insurance with  Heymondo .

Heymondo offers tailor made travel insurance, providing the best value for money for your specific trip. You can also buy it once you’re already abroad and have forgotten about it before flying (which, if you’re anything like me, is quite likely).

Besides the usual cancellation, medical expenses, luggage coverage and general travel insurance services, Heymondo also has a 24/7 doctor chat and instant assistance through their app.

As a Greta’s Travels reader, you get 5% off your Heymondo travel insurance !

Click here to get your 5% off Heymondo travel insurance!

Exploring Westminster in London

How to get into London

First things first, how do you get into London?

London has six major airports, and depending on where in the city you’re staying, it can be quite the journey getting to your accommodation from the airport.

If you’re flying internationally from a long-haul destination you would usually arrive at Heathrow, whilst if you’re flying from a European destination with a low-cost airline you would usually arrive at Luton, Gatwick or Stansted.

From all of these major London airports you can catch a train that will take you directly into Central London, usually at either Victoria Station, St Pancras Station or Liverpool Street depending on the airport.

However if you’re not a train person, you can also check out these coach transfers:

Bus Transfer from Gatwick Airport

Bus Transfer from Stansted Airport

Bus Transfer from Luton Airport

PRIVATE Transfer from Heathrow Airport – this is preferable if you’re a family travelling with children and don’t want to wait for trains or buses!

If you’re a family or group, getting a private transfer won’t be much more expensive than the train, and it will save you time. If you only have two days in London, you don’t want to waste time getting into the city!

Golden hour over the London Eye and Westminster in London, UK

If you want to save money I recommend getting the normal train service as opposed to the express airport ones.

For example Gatwick Airport has the Gatwick Express that takes you into Victoria station in half an hour for around 20 GBP.

Instead if you get the normal Southern trains service this usually stops at London Bridge, City Thameslink, Farringdon and then St Pancras International and only costs around 10 GBP.

I prefer this option because it saves me money and time, since even if the train is a bit slower it does more stops in central London where you can get off and be ready to see the city without having to take public transport from Victoria.

Similarly the Heathrow Express costs around 20 GBP and takes you to Paddington, which is pretty far from all the main attractions.

If you get the Piccadilly line you will pay around 6 GBP and it takes you straight into central London. To find the most convenient train I always check online on the Trainline .

| READ MORE: THE ULTIMATE LONDON BUCKET LIST |

Enjoying the sunset over the rooftops of London and St Paul’s Cathedral from Madisons Rooftop Bar

How to get around London

Ok so you’ve arrived in London, how do you actually move around this huge city? You might think me crazy but the best way to get around London is actually walking!

All the main attractions in central London are fairly close to each other, and walking from one to the other actually allows you to see the beautiful architecture around and take in the London atmosphere.

Transport for London actually put together a map with the walking times between tube stations in London (tube – that’s what Londoners call the underground system here).

Admittedly some are pretty far but look at the centre of zone 1, some stops are only 3 minutes away from each other!

| READ MORE: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL & PHOTOGENIC PLACES IN LONDON |

London tube map that shows the walking times between stations, image by TfL

If you don’t want to walk London has a very efficient public transport system. Both the tube and buses run super regularly and cover pretty much every corner of central London.

You can get an Oyster travel card or if you have a contactless credit or debit card you can tap that to get on buses and in the tube.

Per journey you pay 1.50 GBP for the bus or from 2.40 GBP upwards for the tube depending what zone you travel to.

TfL put a daily cap in place at 7 GBP, which means after three tube journeys you’re not paying anymore for additional trips.

You can also find black cabs and ubers everywhere in London but I personally only take them in evenings if I’m going home late.

Getting in a car in central London during the day basically means wasting your whole day given the traffic situation. Ubers are also generally cheaper than black cabs.

Sunset with a view over Tower Bridge and the Shard in London, UK

Final thoughts on my London in 2 days itinerary

Have you been to London before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

Conscious this London 2-day itinerary turned into a pretty huge guide so if you have any questions, just let me know, happy to help if I can.

Having lived in London for 9 years I consider myself a Londoner, I hope this post will help you plan your two days in London and that you’ll love this city as much as I do.

Looking for more UK travel tips? Check out these guides:

• Weekend getaway to Bath
• The ultimate Brighton weekend itinerary
• Best things to do in Stratford Upon Avon according to a local

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Everything you need to know before you go to London in 2024

Mar 10, 2024 • 7 min read

Make the most of your trip to London with these expert tips © FilippoBacci / Getty Images

Even though I was born and raised in London, I’ve been caught out without a brolly (umbrella) in the rain countless times. I’ve felt the scorn of others when not noticing there’s a queue, and I’ve made the costly error of driving into the city. But as a local, I’ve made these mistakes so you don’t have to; I hope my experience and top tips help inspire a smooth and memorable trip to the UK capital.

1. Know your Tube etiquette

One easy way to annoy commuters is to not follow these very easy rules when traveling around on London’s Underground. Get your ticket, bank card or smart phone ready before you reach the ticket barriers so you don’t create a queue. Stand on the right when using escalators so passengers wanting to walk can pass. Let passengers off the train first (stand to either the right or left of the doors) before you board. Offer your seat to someone who may need it more, such as a pregnant person, an elderly person, someone who is disabled and so on. And definitely don't try to strike up conversations with the locals (if you want to blend in). 

2. Skip the car

London ’s roads are small, its traffic is chaotic, and there’s hardly anywhere to park. Plus, you’ll be charged for driving your car in to the center of London – the congestion charge is £15 a day, while the separate ULEZ charge starts from £12.50 and only certain energy efficient or electric cars are exempt. The best way to get around is on public transport (although check on the TFL website or app for information on industrial action and weekend engineering works). Use the Tube, hop on a bus, or rent a bike or e-bike if in the center of the city; cycle maps, highlighting designated paths for bikes, can be downloaded online.

3. Bring layers (and a raincoat)

London’s weather is changeable – temperatures have been known to rise and fall by 20°C in a matter of days. Showers can happen any time of year so pack a brolly (umbrella) or raincoat in your day bag and wear layers that you can easily take off. In summer, always carry a bottle of water on the Tube (the deep tunnels were built before air-conditioning). And while the climate may be mercurial, don’t let bad weather put you off going about your day – simply switch to more indoor-based activities, there are hundreds of them to choose from.

4. Opt for comfort over fashion when it comes to shoes

Most people cover a lot of ground when exploring London, plus different terrains: grass in the many green spaces, long Tube escalators, slippery pavements and even cobblestones. Museums require leg work, as do bridges, boats and parks. Heels are pretty pointless in London, unless you are getting a door-to-door cab to a venue. 

5. Make reservations for top restaurants

While there are plenty of terrific places to eat that welcome walk-ins (although be prepared to queue for the best joints), many of the best restaurants are booked up weeks in advance, especially new ones or those run by celebrity chefs. More restaurants have adopted booking policies and deposits since the pandemic, so if you’re looking for a unique dining experience, you will need to book ahead.

6. Do as the Londoners do and go to a supper club

Embed yourself in London life with a dinner party with locals; a supper club is a superb way to try home-cooked local food from London’s diverse community. These are locally run endeavors, taking place in people’s homes or taking over whole restaurants – try The Bridge Club  serving British eats made with French cooking techniques in South London, Dinner Ladies putting on immersive food experiences, or Indian street food run out of local chef Dhruv Mittal’s flat.

7. Know how to order at a pub

There are unspoken rules when visiting a pub. One person – not a whole group – should go to the bar. Stand anywhere and wait your turn. If someone was waiting before you, it’s polite to signal for the bar staff to serve them first if they come over to you. When you go back to your table with the drinks, you just bought "a round". Now everyone at the table owes you a drink throughout the evening, each person has a turn at buying a round. Last orders are when the bell rings, and from this moment you have 20 minutes to finish your drink.

8. Go to a football game

Football rivalries run high in the city, with 17 football clubs, including seven Premier League teams and four Women’s Super League Teams. Giant temples to "The Beautiful Game" sit around London and are great places to feel the collective energy of the city, as locals congregate (come rain or shine) to watch their heroes on the field. You'll need to book tickets far in advance for Premier League Games, but women’s and lower league men’s games are usually easier to come by – and arguably far more fun to watch. Visit local team websites to book.

9. Be polite and embrace the art of queueing

Londoners (and British people alike) are big on manners, and not having any will get you into trouble. Say "please" and "thank you", and apologize if you bump into someone. Don’t stare at people on the Tube, and hold a door open for people behind you when you walk through one. Let people pass, and be sure to help people in need (people with buggies at the top of stairs, older people crossing the road etc). If there is a queue to the attraction you want to visit or a stall you want to buy from, join it – you’ll might not get into a confrontation if you skip the line, but you will be judged. 

10. Make a plan, but don't go overboard

London is massive, so getting from one side to the other takes a couple of hours in a car (and that's if there is light traffic). Riding the Tube is quicker, but journey times can still be long if attractions are on either side of the city. Minimize travel times by exploring by neighborhood – do a day in Central London, another day in West London and so on. Plan on spending at least a few hours in the big museums and galleries, as there is so much to see. Take many breaks, grab lunch at a cafe or pub and pause to take in the views. It’s easy to get carried away with the energetic pace of London, but sights are more enjoyable if you adopt a more leisurely approach.

11. Don’t leave your stuff lying around

Don’t leave your bags unattended at public venues like stations, buses, theaters or museums, as this is likely to cause alarm and your bag may be removed – or stolen. Only take with you what you are able to carry for several hours. Luggage storage is generally rare in London, but hotels will likely store bags once you check out. Avoid carrying mobile phones in back pockets or where they can be easily swiped from your hand in the street. Never leave your phone or purse on a cafe table, opportunistic thieves will distract you and it will be gone before you realise what's happening. 

12. It's an election year in London

The incumbent mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, will face an election race in May 2024 (he's been in the top job since 2016). This might not be particularly noteworthy for travelers, but it does mean there's greater incentive to make sure London is working well. Policing, housing and public transport are high on the agenda for all the candidates. Services have been expanded to support the rising number of "rough sleepers" in the city, with the visible issue of homelessness a concern for locals and visitors alike. Tube strikes, which brought the city to a standstill in 2023, have been averted but industrial action on national rail services in and out of the city continue. The city goes to the polls on Thursday 2 May, 2024. 

This article was first published September 2023 and updated March 2024

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Ultimate Beginner’s Guide To London: A 5D4N Itinerary Of What To See & Eat In This Capital City

Ahh … London. My love for this city has grown with every visit and while I’m by no means a Londoner just yet, I’ve spent a solid year exploring this exciting capital of the United Kingdom.

There are so many new things to do all the time that it’s just impossible to cover everything in one visit. If you’re planning your first-ever trip to London, I’m here to help you cover the basics with this 5D4N itinerary for gung-ho travellers .

And even if you’re already a serial repeat-visitor like me, you might still find something you haven’t ticked off the list yet. Either way, pack some comfy shoes and a seize-the-day attitude.

I crafted this itinerary with a Wednesday-to-Sunday trip in mind to make full use of the weekend, but you can customise it however you please. You ready?

Getting Around

Once you land at the airport (I’m guessing Heathrow), you can easily find your way to central London by either taking the normal Tube a.k.a MRT (longer journey time but only approx. £3.10 each way), or by getting a Heathrow express train (very fast, One-way ticket; £22 – £25 , Return ticket ;  £37 ).

Whatever you decide, it’s pretty straightforward to find out how to get tickets when you’re at the airport. If you’re taking the Tube, get an Oyster Card (which is essentially an EZ-Link card) and top it up since you’ll need it to ride the London Underground, or see what Tube travel passes are available.

If you plan on having access to mobile data, download an app called Citymapper  (this isn’t an ad, it’s just really useful!) which will make your life super easy. It also works in Singapore and basically gives you detailed routes, live bus timings, train timings etc. in getting from point A to point B.

— Day  1 (Shopping) —

1. oxford street/ regent street/ marble arch.

Now that that’s out of the way… SHOPPING! Taking into account jet-lag, time spent finding your accommodation and general travel lethargy, you’ll probably want to take it easy on the first day, so go about some own-time-own-target shopping.

Hit up Oxford Circus, Regent Street and the Marble Arch area for pretty much every brand under the sun, and don’t forget a stop at Primark.

Primark: 499 – 517 Oxford St, Mayfair, London W1K 7DA | Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Mon – Sat), 11.30am – 6pm (Sun) | Website

2. Afternoon Tea at Sketch (Mayfair)

Afternoon tea is a must when you visit London (scones!) and while you’ll be spoilt for choice, I recommend treating yourself to the one at Sketch because the restaurant is just so beautiful. Reservations are very important, so check out the website before your trip.

The Gallery in Sketch where afternoon tea is served is decked out with quirky artwork by David Shrigley and makes for a very Instagrammable experience. Oh, and don’t forget to visit the toilets before you leave (trust me).

Prices: Afternoon tea sets start from £59 per person

Sketch (The Gallery): 9 Conduit St, Mayfair, London W1S 2XG | Tel: +44 20 7659 4500 | Opening Hours (Afternoon Tea): 11.30am – 4.30pm (Daily) | Reservations | Website

Harrods is a classic stop on any London itinerary and a shopper’s paradise. The upscale department store is known for its variety and home brand offerings, with an elegant interior and store design.

Wander the food halls and sample quality ingredients or splurge on that designer handbag you’ve wanted for the past five years.

Harrods: 87 – 135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL | Tel: +44 20 7730 1234 | Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon – Sat), 11.30am – 6pm (Sun) | Website

4. Dinner at Burger & Lobster (Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge)

Once you’ve had your fill of Harrods, it’s time to tick off another London staple. Head next door to Harvey Nichols (another department store) but go straight to the fifth floor and get ready for some lobster at Burger & Lobster .

Prices have increased over the years so it’s not that value-for-money anymore, but the Original Lobster (Steamed) (£31) still hits the spot with the delicious lemon garlic butter sauce.

Burger & Lobster (Harvey Nichols): 109 – 125 Knightsbridge, Level 5 Harvey Nichols, London, SW1X 7RJ | Opening Hours: 12noon – 10.30pm (Mon – Sat), 12noon – 10pm (Sun) | Website

5. Cocktails at Mr Fogg’s Residence

Your eyes will probably be heavy by now, but if you can keep yourself going past dinner, squeeze in a stop at Mr Fogg’s Residence for a nightcap. Themed after Jules Verne’s ‘Around The World In 80 Days’, the bar itself will transport you into a different world altogether.

The whimsical cocktails here were inspired by fictional adventurer Phileas J. Fogg’s travels around the world. Rep’ Singapore by ordering the  Jungle Flora (£14) which was created as a nod to our little red dot.

Mr Fogg’s Residence: 15 Bruton Lane, Mayfair, London W1J 6JD | Tel: +44 20 7036 0608 | Opening Hours: 4pm – 2am (Mon – Fri), 1.30pm – 2am (Sat), 3pm – 12midnight (Sun) | Website

— Day 2 (Sightseeing) —

6. breakfast picnic in hyde park.

Given your inevitable jet-lag, you’ll probably be up bright and early the next day. Make the most of your British morning by getting breakfast and chilling in Hyde Park . I recommend getting takeaway from Pret a Manger (a cafe chain that you’ll pretty much see everywhere ).

Even if you’re there in the colder months, just wrap up warm and you can still slowly stroll through the park with a hot cuppa and a bagel.

Pret a Manger: Outlets

7. Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus Tour from Hyde Park Corner

Day Two is all about sightseeing, so once you get your breakfast and some chill-time in, prepare for a busy day. London is home to sooo many iconic sights, and unless you’re visiting for 10 days, you’ve got to be strategic about what you actually want to see.

Your best bet would be to get a day ticket for a hop-on/hop-off sightseeing bus tour. There are many companies offering tours, but I recommend Big Bus Tours because they offer a ‘RED Tour’ that gets you around most of the main sights for a first-timer.

The first bus leaves from Hyde Park Corner at 8.30am, and you can just buy tickets from the guide at the bus or online in advance (save 10%). Try to score a seat at the top!

Prices: 1 Day (Bus-only) tour starts from £34 (online price)

Big Bus Tours: Website

8. Trafalgar Square

You’re on a hop-on/hop-off bus so you can get on and get off as many times as you like from the official bus stops (look at the map given to you) for however long your ticket lasts.

Like I said, have a think about what’s worth getting off to explore further, or what you’re happy to just see from the bus. Trafalgar Square is a good example of a stop you can see from the bus and then decide to return to if you have time over the next few days.

Trafalgar Square: London WC2N 5DN

9. Coca-Cola London Eye

The famous London Eye (now known as the Coca-Cola London Eye ), is an iconic part of the London skyline and worth a visit if you fancy paying for a bird’s eye view of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

It’s right next to the River Thames and if you know in advance that you want to ride this Ferris wheel, get tickets online.

Prices: Standard ticket online starts from £27

Coca-Cola London Eye: Lambeth, London SE1 7PB | Opening Hours | Website

10. St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral is a beautiful structure that’s worth a visit if you’re the kind of person who likes marvelling at church architecture and history.

It’s been around for more than 1,400 years and has been built and rebuilt five times! Visitors are welcome but it’s still a church, so be mindful of visiting hours and decorum.

Prices: Online admission rates start from £17

St Paul’s Cathedral: London EC4M 8AD | Opening Hours: 8.30am – 4.30pm (Mon – Sat, Last entry at 4pm), Open on Sundays for worship only | Website

11. Tower Bridge & Tower of London

Loads of people mistake Tower Bridge for London Bridge (the latter is much less impressive) and it’s worth getting off here to get a good picture or explore the bridge itself (yes you can go in and up for a fee).

The Big Bus stops at the Tower of London and Tower Bridge is right next to it. The Tower of London is a historic castle, former prison and former grand palace that used to be surrounded by a moat. It’s now open to the public and also houses the Crown Jewels.

Prices: Online ticket for Tower Bridge is £8.70; Tickets for Tower Of London start from £22.70

Tower Bridge: Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP | Opening Hours & Website

Tower of London: St Katharine’s & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB | Opening Hours: 9am – 4.30pm (Tue – Sat), 10am – 4.30pm (Sun & Mon) | Website

12. Lunch at Coppa Club (Tower Bridge)

If you’ve gotten off the bus to explore the Tower of London/Tower Bridge area, stop by the Insta-worthy Coppa Club for lunch. The restaurant has become known for its Paradise Pods (Summer)/ Igloos (Winter), and bookings for a seat in those sell out months in advance.

Still, normal seating is available right next to the pods where you’ll be able to get a great picture and a view of The Shard. Walk-ins can sometimes also score a seat in the pods/igloos so try your luck!

Coppa Club (Tower Bridge): 3 Three Quays Walk, Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6AH | Tel: +44 20 8016 9227 | Opening Hours: 7.30am – 11pm (Mon – Thu), 7.30am – 12midnight (Fri), 9am – 12midnight (Sat), 9am – 10.30pm (Sun) | Website

13. Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminister Abbey

Interested in British politics? Then a stop at the Houses of Parliament is a must. Visits are allowed but remember to check the opening hours. You’ll also be able to see Big Ben , the famous clocktower, which is currently undergoing refurbishment* so it’s sadly surrounded by scaffolding.

Still, the Westminister area and pier is worth exploring and you’ll get a great view of the London Eye from this side.

*Note: Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower tours are suspended due to refurbishment. They are scheduled to resume in 2021.

Houses of Parliament & Big Ben: Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA | Opening Hours & Website

Westminister Abbey: 20 Dean’s Yard, London, SW1P 3PA | Opening Hours & Website

14. Buckingham Palace & The Royal Mews

Everyone wants to go to London to meet the Queen and while that’s probably not going to happen, you can see where she lives (in a non-creepy way). Buckingham Palace tops the list of very-touristy-things-to-do-in-London and is worthy of a hop off the bus.

You can even enter certain parts of it and watch the changing of the guard.  Or you can visit The Royal Mews beside the palace where the royal carriages are kept, and where one of the finest working stables in existence operates.

Buckingham Palace: Westminster, London SW1A 1AA | Visit – The State Rooms | Visit – The Queen’s Gallery |  Visit – The Royal Mews

15. Dinner & Drinks at Duck & Waffle (Heron Tower)

After a super long day of sightseeing, you’ve earned yourself a good meal with a view to remember. Head back to your hotel to freshen up and don’t worry about taking your time, because Duck & Waffle is open 24-hours every day.

Situated on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower, the restaurant offers sweeping views of the city, and you can take it all in because of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Book a visit at sunset and order the Duck & Waffle (£18) which is a delicious medley of crispy duck leg confit, fried duck egg and mustard maple syrup over waffles. Stay on for drinks because the cocktails are equally yummy.

Duck & Waffle: Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY | Tel: +44 20 3640 7310 | Opening Hours: 24 Hours (Daily) | Website

— Day 3 (Museum & Musical) —

16. brunch/nibbles at borough market.

If you go to London for the first time and you don’t go to Borough Market … you’re missing out. One of the oldest and largest markets in London, I recommend getting there early to sample some really fresh produce.

The oysters from Richard Haward’s Oysters are to-die-for as well as the coffee from Monmouth Coffee.

Borough Market: 8 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TL | Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm (Mon – Thu), 10am – 6pm (Fri), 8am – 5pm (Sat), Closed on Sun | Website

17. Lunch at Padella (Borough Market)

The key word at Borough Market is to “sample”, because you’ll want to leave room for some pasta from Padella . It’s a small restaurant located at the edge of Borough Market, serving up affordable and delicious handmade pasta.

There’s always a queue, but it moves pretty quickly so just hang in there. When ordering, don’t miss out on the  Pappardelle with 8 Hours Dexter Beef Shin Ragu (£10) and the Pici Cacio & Pepe (£6.50) .

Padella: 6 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TQ | Opening Hours: 12noon – 3.45pm & 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Sat), 12noon – 3.45pm & 5pm – 9pm (Sun) | Website

18. View Of The Shard From Sky Garden (Walkie Talkie Building, Free Entry With Booking)

This next stop is still pretty unknown to Singaporeans – did you know that you can get an awesome view of The Shard (the tallest building in London) FOR FREE from a “Gardens by the Bay”-type setting?

The Sky Garden is on the 43rd floor of the ‘Walkie Talkie’ building and offers 360-degree views of London.

It’s free to enter but you’ll need to book a visit online in advance. There are several eateries housed in the garden as well so you can always have a meal or coffee while admiring the view and the indoor greenery.

Sky Garden: 20 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 8AF | Opening Hours (Public Ticketed Visits): 10am – 6pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 9pm (Sat & Sun) | Book free visit | Website

19. National History Museum/ Tate Modern/ British Museum (All Free Entry)

Another thing that London is known for is its museums. There are quite a few to choose from, so I recommend just picking the one that will interest you most and save the others for your next visit.

The Natural History Museum , Tate Modern and British Museum have all stood out to me, and are also all free to enter (for general exhibits).

National History Museum:  Cromwell Rd, Kensington, London SW7 5BD | Opening Hours & Website

Tate Modern: Bankside, London SE1 9TG  | Opening Hours & Website

British Museum: Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG | Opening Hours & Website

20. Covent Garden

Covent Garden is always bustling with activity and tourists and it’s no surprise since there’s quite a bit to do here.

From a variety of shops, to markets, restaurants and random opera singing in the basement… it’s worth spending a bit of time taking it all in. Oh, and there’s also a Shake Shack .

Covent Garden: The Market Bldg, 41, London WC2E 8RF | Website

21. Dinner at Flat Iron (Covent Garden)

If you can tear yourself away from Shake Shack and save some space for dinner, head to the nearby Flat Iron for an affordable meal – by London standards anyway.

Flat Iron serves up £11 steaks that are grilled to perfection and has become a successful chain in London. Only the Covent Garden outlet gives out free salted caramel ice cream after your meal though, so… you know what to do.

Flat Iron (Covent Garden): 17 – 18 Henrietta Street, London, United Kingdom WC2E 8QH | Opening Hours: 12noon – 12midnight (Mon – Sat), 12noon – 11.30pm (Sun) | Website

22. Musical & Drinks

No virgin London trip is complete without a musical and you’re in the best place to watch one. There are so many to choose from, but my recommendations would have to be: The Book Of Mormon, Wicked, The Lion King and Kinky Boots .

Try to get cheaper tickets in Leicester Square (you’ll see many shops offering discounts) but just make sure you don’t end up with an obstructed view. Every theatre has a bar so get there early for a bevvy .

London Musicals: Schedules & Tickets

— Day 4 (Markets & Central London) —

23. portobello road market (notting hill).

Start your weekend bright and early by travelling to Notting Hill to check out Portobello Road Market . It’s the world’s largest antiques market and you’ll find loads of the stalls literally by the road.

The main market day here is Saturday, so that’s when you’ll find the most variety of stuff. There are also a few quaint cafes where you can have breakfast ( GAIL’s Bakery , Lowry & Baker ) or if you fancy a cupcake, stop by The Hummingbird Bakery .

Portobello Road Market: 306 Portobello Road, London W10 5TA | Opening Hours: 9am – 7pm (Sat), Other Days  | Website

24. Pretty Pastel/Colourful Houses (Notting Hill)

Since you’re in the area, Notting Hill is also known for its beautiful pastel and colourful houses. In fact, a scene from the movie ‘Love Actually’ was actually filmed here.

Try to look for it ( *hint St Luke’s Mews hint* ) and get a photo for the ‘gram !

25. Camden Town & Market

Camden Town is like a whole different world in London; the streets are lined with shops selling everything from souvenirs to punk-rock and gothic outfits.

There are a few markets in the area and the main one ( Camden Market ) is home to many stalls selling food from all over the globe. If you’re up for a crazy shopping experience when you’re there, stop by Cyberdog  (fair warning).

Camden Market: Camden Lock Place, London, Nw1 8AF | Opening Hours: 10am – Late (Daily) | Website

26. Lunch at The Cheese Bar  (Camden)

If you can’t decide what to have and love everything cheese-related, have lunch at The Cheese Bar . The super-melty Mozzarella Sticks (£7) make for a great Boomerang and if you visit in winter, you won’t want to miss the fondue.

The Cheese Bar (Camden): Unit 93 – 94 Camden Stables, Camden Town, Chalk Farm Road, London, United Kingdom NW1 8AP | Opening Hours: 12noon – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat), 11am – 8pm (Sun) | Website

27. Piccadilly Circus

From Camden, make your way back to central London and experience the crowds at Piccadilly Circus . Sit on the steps of the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain and watch a nearby busker while soaking in all the magical city vibes.

Just remember to watch your stuff as this capital isn’t immune to pickpockets (same goes for any busy area).

Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain: Piccadilly Circus, London W1J 9HS

28. Leicester Square

If you only stopped by Leicester Square to get discounted musical tickets, head back to explore the many shops. There’s a four-storey M&M’s World store that’ll make any chocolate-lover go crazy!

Leicester Square: London, WC2H 7LU |  Website

29. Chinatown

Yes, you just came from an Asian country but trust me, wandering the streets of London’s Chinatown is still pretty enjoyable. It’s right next to Leicester Square and naturally, you’ll find lots of amazing Chinese food to be had.

Save space for dinner though and just grab a small snack if you’re hungry – Bubblewrap does delicious Hong Kong waffles that you’ll want to share so you don’t spoil your appetite.

Bubblewrap: 24 Wardour Street Chinatown London, W1D 6QJ | Opening Hours & Website

30. Dinner at Dishoom (Carnaby)

Why save space for dinner? Because you need to squeeze Dishoom into your itinerary. The Bombay-inspired chain has become a hit amongst Londoners, serving up palatable Indian-Irani food that’s great to share.

All the outlets are beautifully designed and decorated, but you should head to the one in Carnaby so you can check out the area after. Reservations are highly recommended (but only allowed if you’re >6 pax), so go early unless you don’t mind waiting.

Whatever you do, order the House Black Daal (£6.20) with some Roomali Roti (£2.90) .

Dishoom (Carnaby): 22 Kingly Street, Soho, London W1B 5QB | Tel: +44 20 7420 9322 | Opening Hours: 8am – 11pm (Mon – Thu), 8am – 12midnight (Fri), 9am – 12midnight (Sat), 9am – 11pm (Sun) | Website

31. Drinks in Carnaby/ Soho/ Fitzrovia

Carnaby Street is a popular shopping street in Soho, but you need to visit purely because of the street decorations and how pretty everything is when lit up at night.

You’ll find many places in Soho as well to get a cocktail after dinner, or you can head to Berners Tavern in The London Edition hotel (Fitzrovia) for a fancy drink in a fancy setting.

Berners Tavern: London Edition Hotel, 10 Berners St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3NP | Tel: +44 20 7908 7979 | Opening Hours & Website

— Day 5 (Sunday Roast & Shoreditch) —

32. columbia road flower market.

Want to feel like a London local? Wake up early on a Sunday and find your way to Columbia Road Flower Market (Citymapper to the rescue!).

The market is only open on Sundays and is a sight to behold, filled with rows and rows of plants and flowers looking for a home.

While you probably shouldn’t buy anything green to bring back, you can still soak in the atmosphere and pop into one of the many neighbouring shops selling quaint knick-knacks and vintage clothes.

Columbia Road Flower Market: Columbia Road, London E2 7RG | Opening Hours: 8am – 3pm (Only open on Sundays) | Website

33. Sunday Roast Lunch at Marksman Public House

Bet you were wondering when I was going to get to the Sunday Roast. If you go to Columbia Road Flower Market, it’s a short walk to Marksman Public House , a Victorian pub selling one of the best Sunday Roasts in the city.

The menu changes occasionally, but the Sunday Roast Lunch is always featured and you can get that and a starter for £29 (two-course) or throw in dessert as well for £33 (three-course) . Reservations are highly recommended.

Marksman Public House: 254 Hackney Road, London E2 7SJ | Tel: +44 20 7739 7393 | Opening Hours: 12noon – 4pm (Sun) | Reservations |  Website

34. Old Spitalfields Market

Since you’re already in Hackney, walk off your roast lunch and pop by the Old Spitalfields Market in Shoreditch.

I’m guessing you’ll be full by this point but you could always get an artisanal brownie or shop vintage at one of the many stalls set up.

Old Spitalfields Market: 16 Horner Square, London E1 6EW | Opening Hours: 9am – 5.30pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 5pm (Sat), 9am – 5pm (Sun) | Website

35. Afternoon Snack at Poppie’s Fish & Chips (Spitalfields)

If all that walking and browsing has made you a bit peckish ( #yolobecauseholiday ), stop by Poppie’s Fish & Chips for the best of a British classic.

Popular amongst tourists, the Fish & Chips here is pretty consistent and while not exactly cheap ( £12.20 for Cod/Haddock ), the portion is huge and can easily feed two not-so-hungry people.

Poppie’s Fish & Chips (Spitalfields): 6 – 8 Hanbury Street, London E1 6QR | Tel: +44 20 7247 0892 | Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Thu), 11am – 11.30pm (Fri & Sat), 11am – 10.30pm (Sun) | Website

36. Vintage Shopping at Brick Lane

If you’ve heard of London, you’ve probably heard of Brick Lane . Located a short walk from the Old Spitalfields Market, this area is worth a visit, especially if you’re looking for more of a cool-London-street-vibe.

Lined with vintage shops, quaint cafes, bookshops and curry houses, Brick Lane will make for a chill Sunday stroll as you wind down your holiday.

Brick Lane Sunday Market: 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QR | Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm | Website

37. Hot Chocolate from Dark Sugars

As you walk along Brick Lane, you’ll probably spot a shop called Dark Sugars selling wooden bowls of artisanal chocolate. This chocolate heaven has also been hailed for whipping up what’s apparently “the best hot chocolate in London”.

I guess you’ll only know if you try it for yourself, and at £4 – £5.50 a cup, you’ll get your money’s worth because it’s topped with an abundance of chocolate shavings. Hello, diabetes.

Dark Sugars Cocoa House: 124 – 126 Brick Lane, London, E1 6RU | Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily) | Website

38. Take Away Dinner at Beigel Bake

Okay, I think we can establish that your Sunday is basically going to be spent eating. If you’re in Brick Lane, it would be such a waste not to drop by Beigel Bake for an affordable Salt Beef Bagel (£4.50) .

The Jewish bakery serves up this hearty “sandwich” 24/7, and I’d get one to go if I were you.

Beigel Bake: 159 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB | Tel: +44 20 7729 0616 | Opening Hours: Open 24/7 |  Website

39. Drinks at Queen of Hoxton Rooftop Bar

It’s sad whenever a holiday comes to an end, but you can go out with a bang and knock back a few at a cool rooftop bar.

The Queen of Hoxton is in the area and beckons with fun, themed decor and a buzzing atmosphere amidst some London skyscrapers.

Queen of Hoxton: 1 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3JX | Opening Hours: 4pm – 12midnight (Mon – Wed), 4pm – 2am (Thu – Sat), 2pm – 10pm (Sun) | Website

40. Sunset Stroll along Southbank

If you have time, race to catch the sunset from Southbank where the city is extra pretty when bathed in an orange glow. Take one last look at the skyline and say goodbye till next time, because you’ve only just scratched the surface.

Southbank Centre: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX

— Bonus Recommendation —

41. warner bros. studios tour london – the making of harry potter.

AND YOU THOUGHT IT WAS OVER. No friends and fellow wizards, I did not forget the wonderful world of Harry Potter.

The  Warner Bros. Studios Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter just would not fit into a 5D4N itinerary (and let’s face it, some muggles may not be keen), but if you have another day to spare, you must go!

Hop on a train (not Tube) to Watford Junction and follow the signs to the tour where you can visit the Great Hall, walk through Diagon Alley and drink Butterbeer.  The latest addition, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, is opening 6 April 2019, so brooms at the ready everyone?

Warner Bros. Studios Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter: Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden WD25 7LR | Opening Hours: 9.30am – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 8.30am – 10pm (Sat & Sun) | Website

Written By Marissa Mir

I got 99 problems and wondering what to eat for lunch is 98 of them.

Ends today: 50% off Trip.com Malaysia destinations Super Sale

B.b.q seafood: is this jurong’s best bbq sambal stingray & fish, 10 best bak kut teh in johor worth crossing the border for, nasi lemak burung hantu: coconut rice with ayam berempah & sambal sotong, from rm12.50, available till 3am, moh swee kee — disagreement spurs sister of rui ji chicken rice to go solo, man accidentally charged $2020.90 for $20.90 steak at common grill by collin’s, takes to facebook to complain.

A Lady in London

And Traveling the World

Lady’s Ultimate London Travel Guide

Today I want to bring you A Lady in London’s ultimate London travel guide. I’ve spent more than a decade writing about London. From big attractions to secret spots, I’ve endeavored to share as much of the city as possible with you. And because I’ve written hundreds of blog posts about London, I thought it would be helpful to put them all in one place.

London Travel Guide

This London travel guide covers all aspects of the city, from sightseeing to restaurants, neighborhoods to afternoon teas. It offers advice for where to stay , what to do, how long to stay , and how to make the most of your time in London.

It also contains useful tips on the best day trips from London if you’re in the city long enough to want to explore further afield. I hope it helps you plan your trip to London!

London Travel Guide: When to Visit London

I’ll start my London travel guide with when to visit London, including the best time to be here, what to pack, and annual events and festivals.

Best Time to Visit London

There’s no right or wrong time to visit London, but there are a few things to consider when choosing your dates. This being Britain, weather and daylight hours are usually the biggest factors.

The best time to visit London is generally in the warmer months and over the summer , but Christmas is also a great season for visiting.

If you’re only here on a long layover, here’s what to do , and if you’re here on a rainy day, here’s how to spend it .

What to Pack for London

Once you’ve decided when to come, you have to pack for London. Depending when you visit, that will mean different things.

I’ve written packing lists for summer , autumn , winter , and spring that can help you decide what to wear in London , and a general list of things to bring all year.

London Events and Festivals

If you want to plan your trip around a specific event or festival, you have a lot of choices. There are 51 great events to experience in London during the year, and I’ve included some of the highlights below.

The big New Year’s Eve fireworks kick off the calendar, followed by Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year .

In spring there’s the London Coffee Festival , the renowned Chelsea Flower Show , the Chelsea in Bloom floral art festival, and Open Garden Squares weekend, when many of the city’s most secluded gardens open to the public.

The summer season gets underway around this time, with highlights like the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival .

Then there are the Proms at Royal Albert Hall and the Notting Hill Carnival , which brings us into September.

Autumn sees great events like Open House London , when many of the city’s architectural gems are accessible to the public.

Then come Bonfire Night, Poppy Day , and the Lord Mayor’s Show in November, and the annual Christmas festivities to round out the year.

London Travel Guide: London Sightseeing

This section of my London travel guide covers London sightseeing. It has everything from London itineraries to attractions, parks, gardens, views, walks, and more.

London Itineraries

If you’re looking for a set sightseeing itinerary for London, I’ve written 1-day , 2-day , 3-day , 4-day , 5-day , 6-day , 7-day , 1-week , 8-day , 10-day , 36-hour , and weekend in London itineraries that can help. I’ve also written a lot of themed London itineraries for those with special interests.

London Attractions

The main attractions in London are well known. Buckingham Palace , the Tower of London, and the London Eye are iconic landmarks .

Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral dominate the city’s historic church scene, and Tower Bridge is the prime feat of Victorian engineering.

Tate Modern, the British Museum, and the V&A are some of the best museums in London , which is to say nothing of the Natural History Museum and the National Gallery.

Further afield, Hampton Court Palace and The Royal Observatory, Greenwich are worth a visit. And while there’s not a single location for it, no trip to London would be complete without taking in the city’s famous theater scene.

If you’re on a budget, I’ve written about 51 free things to do in London . If you’re here on your own, you can use my blog posts about planning a solo trip to London and the best things to do in London alone for ideas.

Under-the-Radar London Attractions

If you’ve already walked through Leicester Square and undergone sensory overload in Piccadilly Circus, there are a lot of lesser known places to explore in London.

Apsley House and Wellington Arch hide in plain sight on Hyde Park Corner and the Royal Mews is tucked away behind Buckingham Palace. There are plenty of hidden museums and secret galleries for every niche interest, too.

Away from the bustle of the city center, Eltham Palace is the prettiest place you’ve never heard of, and Strawberry Hill House is straight out of a fairytale.

But what I like best are the city’s accidental attractions, places that aren’t intended to be destinations in their own right but become so by virtue of their excellence or quirkiness. Like the 9 loos you have to visit , or the mysterious Eel Pie Island .

London Parks and Gardens

In addition to the sights, I’d be remiss if I left the parks and gardens out of my London travel guide. My favorite is the secret Pergola Garden in Hampstead , but there are lots more to discover.

Hyde Park is the obvious place to start, but there are 11 parks in London that are worth a place on any traveler’s bucket list. I also love Regent’s Park , Dulwich Park , and Hampstead Heath .

And that’s to say nothing of the spring gardens , summer gardens and secret gardens dotted throughout the city.

London walks

If you bring your walking shoes (and you should), there are a lot of places to explore on foot in London.

From the 5 best walks to a leisurely stroll along the Thames , there’s no shortage of ways to see London through its streets.

You can have a perfect Saturday walking around South Kensington and Notting Hill, a perfect Sunday in east London, and a great day off the beaten path in Hampstead Garden Suburb .

Or you can stick to the parks and gardens, which contain no shortage of things to enjoy.

If you want self-guided walks, I’ve written posts about Notting Hill , Hampstead , Kensington , South Kensington , Chelsea , literary London , and more .

London Views

If you want to get up high, London has a lot of good vista points.

The 9 best views of London offer a range of perspectives on the city, and river cruises on the Thames are a great way to see London’s attractions from a different angle.

Best Places to Photograph London

If photography is your thing, London will delight. I should know, and my London travel guide will help you find the places I’ve photographed.

You can start with the 9 most Instagrammed places in London , then work your way down to the smaller sights locals love. These include the beloved mews streets , pretty houses , and abandoned tube stations .

If you want to take the best photos of London, you can also take a look at my 7 photography tips for the city.

London Travel Guide: Best Places to Eat and Drink in London

This part of my London travel guide covers the best places to eat and drink in the city. From restaurants and afternoon teas to bars and pubs, it has you covered.

London Restaurants

Gone are the days of bad British food. Today London is one of the world’s leading culinary centers, with creative new restaurants opening all the time.

If you’re looking for a good breakfast, these 7 restaurants are worth a trip. If you’re on the sightseeing trail, there are lots of great places to eat near London’s top attractions , and some lovely museum cafes as well.

I’ve reviewed a lot of London restaurants over the years, so you can read about many of the top places in the city in my previous posts . If you’re looking for my favorites, they’re here . And this self-guided London food tour will take you to the highlights.

London Afternoon Teas

Afternoon tea in London is a must, and there’s no shortage of places to have it.

Sketch tops my list of the best afternoon teas in London, but there are a lot of others worth trying, too. I’ve written about 3 places you must try , as well as lots of reviews of the city’s favorite afternoon teas .

London Coffee Shops and Tearooms

If all you’re after is a quick coffee or tea, my London travel guide still has something for you.

There are coffee shops I can’t live without, and I love having a cup of tea at Candella Tea Room on Kensington Church Street.

I’ve also written about pretty cafes that will get your inner photographer excited, and London itineraries for tea lovers and coffee lovers .

Oh, and if you’re not British, you’ll want to brush up on tea etiquette with my quick expat’s guide to British tea culture . You’ll thank me!

London Pubs

No London travel guide would be complete without the mention of pubs. They’re not only part of the fabric of British society, but also great places to cozy up by a fire in the cooler months (and some years they’re all cooler months).

My favorite traditional pub in London is the Holly Bush in Hampstead. It’s everything a pub should be, from the warren of wooden rooms to the warm winter fireplaces.

But if it’s an amazing meal I’m after, there’s no better place than the Harwood Arms in Fulham.

When the weather heats up, there are 12 riverside pubs and 8 pubs with beer gardens I enjoy, and when I’m feeling adventurous there are 8 international pubs that allow me to travel the world without leaving the city.

As far as aesthetics go, there are 17 pretty pubs I adore. I’ve even written a pub-themed London itinerary .

London Bars

And speaking of watering holes, London’s bar scene is always lively. Given I’m a travel blogger, I love the city’s travel-themed bars . But when I’m in a more local mood, I never turn down a trip to the city’s best rooftop bars .

Out in east London there are lots of trendy options. I love the rooftop bar at the Queen of Hoxton in Shoreditch , and the cocktails go down a treat at Happiness Forgets in Hoxton Square.

If you want more, take a look at my cocktail lover’s itinerary for London .

London Travel Guide: Best Places to Shop in London

This part of my London travel guide is all about shopping. From farmers’ markets to fun souvenirs, shopping streets to bookstores, it covers everything you need to know to find what you want to buy in London.

London Markets

London’s markets are some of the best places to visit in the city, and they come first on the shopping list in my London travel guide. From fresh food to quirky antiques, there’s a market for pretty much every interest here.

My favorite London market is the Columbia Road Flower Market , but there are 14 markets worth visiting in the city, from the iconic Borough Market to the hip Maltby Street Market and Chatsworth Road Market .

There are also 7 under-the-radar markets and lots of Sunday markets that are fun to discover. Of the latter, Herne Hill Market is one of my favorites.

London Shopping Streets

I’m not a big shopper, but when I need something I usually head to one of two places: the King’s Road in Chelsea or Marylebone High Street .

Both have a good mix of shops and boutiques, and fewer crowds than Oxford Street and Regent Street.

I also like the fun pedestrianized area on Carnaby Street and Brick Lane in Spitalfields. If you want to dig deeper, take a look at my London itinerary for shopping addicts and my guide to the best shopping streets in London .

Places for London Souvenirs

When it comes to souvenirs, London has a range of places to browse.

General souvenirs can be found on every corner in the city center, but for more unique offerings I always send people to three places: Fortnum & Mason, the Buckingham Palace Shop, and Camden Market.

Fortnums’ edible goodies make great (if disappearing) mementos, not to mention perfect gifts for friends and family back home.

The Buckingham Palace Shop has a range of royal souvenirs, from commemorative dishes to tea towels and toys.

Camden Market has a huge variety of things to buy. From vintage goods to cool souvenirs, there’s something for everyone here.

If you want more inspiration, take a look at my lists of lovely London must-haves and things to buy in London .

London Bookstores

If you’re looking for books (or just love them), London’s bookstores are worth a browse.

From the top places for books in London to the 7 specialty bookstores and 9 independent bookshops you should visit, the city’s literary corners are worth exploring.

If there’s one place you can’t miss, it’s Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street. I’ve written a literary itinerary for London if you want more.

London Travel Guide: Where to Stay in London

This part of my London travel guide will help you figure out where to say in London for your personal style. It covers London neighborhoods and accommodation options.

London Neighborhoods

There’s no right or wrong place to stay in London. The city center is huge and the attractions spread out across it.

But if you’re looking to match your location to your personality, you can dig a bit deeper to find the perfect neighborhood. Here’s a helpful guide to choosing the best area to stay in London for your style.

Whether you want to stay in upscale South Kensington or literary Bloomsbury , newly revived King’s Cross or popular Earls Court , there’s somewhere for every taste.

To get a better feel for London’s neighborhoods, take a look at my interactive London map .

London Hotels

Once you’ve chosen a location, you’ll have to choose accommodation. London has no shortage of great hotels for every budget, so the hardest part is picking which one is right for you.

I’ve written about a lot of London hotels in my post about how to choose a London hotel for your style, and my best advice is to book early if you’re coming during the peak summer months.

You can use my guides to the best quirky hotels in London and the top themed hotels in London if you want to find somewhere unique to stay.

London Travel Guide: Trips from London

This section of my London travel guide is about day and overnight trips from London. It has information about the best day trips from London and great weekend trips in the UK .

Day Trips from London

If you’re visiting for more than a few days, you might want to take a day trip from London.

There are 15 day trips I highly recommend and 17 more I love , but if I had to choose a few favorites, they would have to be Brighton , Cambridge , and Oxford .

I’ve also written about the best day trips to take in the summer , autumn , winter , and spring if you want seasonal tips.

And if you only want to travel by rail or car, take a look at my blog posts about day trips from London by train and by car .

Weekend Trips from London

If you have even more time, it’s worth getting away for a bit longer or traveling a bit farther. There are 16 weekend trips I adore, but if you can only take one I recommend the Cotswolds or Kent .

You can take a look at my blog post about weekend trips from London by train for more ideas. If you have even more time, there are some great 3-day trips from London you can take. My guide to train trips from London has additional inspiration, too.

So there you have A Lady in London’s ultimate London travel guide. If you want more inspiration, these films will get you excited. Happy travels!

What would you include in a London guide? Any top tips for visitors?

Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!

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24 Comments on Lady’s Ultimate London Travel Guide

This is such a great guide! I’m going to recommend it to friends who live around the world, for the next time they visit. <3

Thanks, Bronwen! I really appreciate it.

Good example of sightseeings !

Thanks, Sarah!

Great post as always, Julie! Ironic timing for me to read it also, because just a few minutes ago I finished reading an article in Bloomberg Businessweek about the booming night food scene in London. A couple companies, London Union and Smorgasburg, were mentioned. What shocked me was that the article stated that food trucks are no where to be found late on Friday and Saturday nights. Why on earth is that?? Anyway, I thought of you the second I started reading it! I hope you have a fantastic week, my friend! 🙂

Thanks, Mike! Yeah, that’s funny about food carts not being a late night thing in London. They seem to be elsewhere, don’t they?

Wow, this is amazing. Also so jealous that you live in London, it’s one of my faves! I always recommend Borough Market and SoHo Garden and Notting Hill for people who are visiting, they’re some of my favorite spots in London 🙂

Those are great places! Thanks for sharing your recommendations.

I came across your blog on bloglovin and I wish I read this post before I went to London, however it was still an amazing trip and I need to go back just for afternoon tea alone.

I’m glad you had an amazing trip! Afternoon tea is definitely worth coming back for.

THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!! I am going to share on my Facebook, maybe make a mention on my blog, and have this for a reference for when I go!!!!! I have been planning for literally about 2 years now (Since I moved to Western Australia) I don’t like where I am currently living, and the city girl in me wants to BURST!!!!!!!! London is my dream destination, and when I move to Perth next month, I am going to make LISTS, GOALS and PLANS!!!!!!

Thanks! I’m glad you like it. I hope you enjoy London when you get here!

The information given here is sufficient for a person to check out the places with ease. Brilliant stuff !

Wow, this is Great.We got a lot of information about London.Actually next week we are planning to visit London.So it’s very helpful for us.Thanks for sharing this article.

You’re welcome!

Thank you for sharing this, it’s really helpful. Awesome!!

You’re welcome! I’m glad to hear that.

My friends are coming to London and I was struggling for ideas, when I found your lovely blog! Your pictures are so inviting. Such a great idea about stopping for an afternoon tea somewhere – walking in London all day can be so tiring! Thank you so much!

Your blog gave me a lot of amazing ideas that I can use on my trip to London. Actually on the coming month I am planning for a tour to London with my family and kids. Thanks for sharing such amazing tips.

There is literally so much to do in London. I feel like I could never get a chance to do it all even if I lived there!! :]

Definitely!

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40+ London Travel Tips for First Timers & Must Knows Before You Go

Last Updated: March 20, 2024

*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.

Whenever people say they dislike London, I get weirdly defensive.

I mean… Not like London? How dare you?!

In a city with attractions, shows and restaurants catered to every whim, I find the prospect outrageous. Which is why I’ve come to the following conclusion: most of those who ‘dislike London’ simply fail to prepare for it properly… an easy failure, given the many, many mistakes tourists can make here.

… But that won’t be you. You’re going to love London, because I’m arming you with every London tip and must-know you could ever possibly need, accumulated over a dozen visits ranging from two days to two months.

So, read on for a truly maniacal range of London travel tips for first timers, from London planning tips and culture shocks to niche, practical must-knows upon arrival.

Soon, you too shall be a violently defensive London fangirl. See you on the other side.

Save this List of London Travel Tips for Later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

1. Avoid visiting London in peak season

First, in terms of when to visit London… my number one rule is to avoid London in peak peak season, meaning July and August.

Sure, the city draws tourists year-round, but summer time is next level in terms of crowds, and there’s a bonus villain that comes in to guest star: muggy London heat , an absolute menace if you use public transport.

Overall, there’s a compelling reason for every season (you know it’s true because it rhymes), just avoid summer if you can, and also try to avoid school and bank holidays because London is a super popular family destination.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what every (other) season can offer:

• Spring: Flowers in bloom, May for wisteria hysteria, plenty of fun events like the Chelsea Flower Show/Chelsea in Bloom
• Fall: Gorgeous foliage and comfortable temperatures, fun events like the London Film Festival
• Winter: The sheer magic of London at Christmas (though this can be crowded too – plan for weekdays/earlier in the season for a slightly quieter experience). Winter can otherwise be a bit gloomy, but the relatively thinner crowds and lower prices help compensate

2. Plan to be in London for minimum four days

One of the best ways to hate London is to rush through it.

This is a city best enjoyed somewhat slowly – otherwise burnout is guaranteed.

I personally think first time visitors need at least four days to get a good feel for the city. You definitely won’t see everything in this time, but it’ll give you a good grasp of the main must-sees. I’d advise adding a few more days if you want to do some cool day trips too.

3. Research your airport to accommodation commute in advance

First time visiting London? Great news – the confusion starts before you even arrive!

When booking flights, you may find that there are actually six airports that service the Greater London area: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead, Luton, London City Airport, and London Southend Airport.

For most visitors coming from overseas, Heathrow and Gatwick will likely be your main point of entry, whereas the others are popular for shorter flights, typically from elsewhere in Europe (often with budget airlines like Ryanair , easyJet and Wizz Air , especially with Stanstead and Luton ).

When planning, you should remember to factor in costs getting from these airports to central London, as it’s often not cheap.

While the options vary by airport, the most convenient (and most expensive) is of course by taxi or private transfer. Welcome Pickups can be a good option for pre-booking, if you are prioritizing convenience and ease.

There are also public transport options for all of them which are much more cost-effective.

One general word of warning though: regardless of which airport you arrive at, make sure you research different ways to get to the city centre. Often times, the most popular and most advertised options aren’t the best solution.

For instance, with Heathrow, often visitors will hop on the Heathrow Express, a ride notorious for being the UK’s most expensive train journey per mile (though a new train from Luton is set to dethrone it) … only to find out they need to complete their journey with further means because their hotel is nowhere near Paddington Station.

So, definitely explore different options for getting into the city!

4. Prioritize comfort when booking accommodation

In terms of places to stay, there are thousands of hotels and accommodation options to choose from in London. Unfortunately, their prices will make you want to cry, regardless of quality.

As I discuss in my guide on how to book the best accommodation every time , often sacrifices must be made depending on whether you’re prioritizing price, quality or location.

For London, I would advise prioritizing quality or price.

Whereas in other cities, I’m more inclined to prioritize location, the truth is London and its attractions are very spread out, so booking a hotel close to one attraction won’t necessarily put you at an advantage when it comes to seeing other places.

Plus, staying in touristy areas can mean noise, crazy prices, and a lack of good-value places to eat nearby. Rather, in London, I think it’s smarter to prioritize an area with good food options nearby and proximity to a Tube station (preferably in more central zones like Zone 1 and Zone 2).

Apart from that, to make your decision, I think you should be looking more at the specifics of the hotel and whether they suit your needs in terms of amenities and comfort. At the end of a long day of sightseeing, you’ll want somewhere nice to come home to!

5. Thoroughly research your accommodation before booking

Related to the London planning tip above is the simple fact that many of London’s hotels are terrible value for money.

You’d assume (based on prices) that you’re getting a great place to stay, but oftentimes hotels will lack the amenities you typically expect.

This is because many (smaller) London hotels weren’t purposely built to be hotels, and are converted from old buildings, which may mean a lack of elevator and/or ‘quirky’ plumbing and temperature control issues.

So, be extra careful when you’re vetting hotels. Read the descriptions, comb through reviews, scroll through all the photos, and if amenities like Air Conditioning are important to you, triple check the hotel has it because many older ones do not.

Don’t automatically assume every hotel will have standard amenities (especially if the price seems too good to be true!)

6. Make sure you have a data plan

Another important London tip is to get a local SIM card or make sure you have an international data plan because having access to Internet in London is pretty crucial these days, with many restaurants/pubs offering their menus on QR code or confusingly stumbling around using Google Maps.

Three has really cheap data plans and you can pick up a card straight at the airport! You can also find their SIM cards on Amazon. An unlimited one costs less than my 5GB data plan back home in Canada. It simply doesn’t make sense.

7. Make sure you have a travel-friendly credit card

Another important London travel tip? Make sure you have a good credit card that travels well.

London these days is becoming very much a cashless city and you’ll be relying on card a lot more than cash, which is why it’s important to have a travel-friendly credit card like Wise , which doesn’t charge you foreign transaction fees or overinflated currency conversion fees.

8. Do not rent a car for your London trip

When in London, I wouldn’t advise renting a car. Driving in the city is a horrific pain, with copious weird fees that tourists aren’t used to.

Public transport is definitely the way to go. Renting a car may make sense for further trips out in to the countryside, but just know that when you’re in London itself, public transport or taxis should be your pick.

9. Learn how to book taxis quickly and easily

On the topic of taxis, I’d recommend downloading an app called FreeNow which is basically Uber but with licensed taxis.

This is way easier than flagging down a taxi on the street, plus you can see how much the fare will be, which helps you avoid getting scammed.

10. Avoid hop on/hop off buses to get around

Another London tip for getting around: I wouldn’t advise using those ubiquitous hop on/hop off buses as a means of transport.

Not only are they wildly expensive compared to local buses, their schedules also aren’t as consistent or reliable as regular public transport, so it’s really a lose-lose situation.

Instead, just use the vast public transport network that serves millions of locals everyday! Sure it’s stuffier and you might get lost or meet some characters, but it’s all part of the experience.

NOTE: I do think the open top buses are fun, but I’d advise doing a tour for the experience, rather than use it as a way of getting from Point A to Point B. Local transport will cost you far less, and will make you feeling more like a Londoner, if that’s what you’re after.

11. Make sure you have a contactless card for public transport

If you DO end up using public transport in London, the good news is it’s quite easy. Both buses and the Underground (AKA the Tube) rely on a card tap system that automatically charges you.

As a tourist, the easiest option is to just use a contactless card for all payments. You tap in on the bus as you board, then you can just get off at your stop without worrying again. Or, you tap in at Tube stations at the gates on your way in, and at the gates on your way out. Easy!

There is a reloadable card called an Oyster Card that you can buy to tap in/out easily, like a gift card you fill up with travel credit, but the prices and caps are the same for both contactless cards and Oyster cards.

Plus there’s a 5GBP activation fee for Oyster cards, so it’s not worth it for a short trip, unless you’re dealing with some specific scenarios which I’ll outline below, after this cute photo of a tap in/tap out machine.

12. Get an Oyster Card (in some situations)

There are only two situations where I think getting an Oyster card makes sense if you’re a tourist.

First, if you plan to buy a RailCard, this saves you 1/3 on all journeys, including on the Tube so you will need to get an Oyster Card and link the two to take advantage of that. Of course this only makes sense for visitors staying longer or who plan to come back often.

Second, you should maybe consider an Oyster card if you don’t have a travel friendly credit card and get charged individually for foreign transactions, as those costs might add up.

In most cases though, just using a contactless card is the simplest solution because it deducts amounts automatically. You can even use this to get far out to popular day trip destinations like Hampton Court Palace.

Just make sure you use the same card all day though because there are daily caps on how much they can charge you!

13. Understand when to take buses vs. the Tube

In terms of public transport in London, there’s Underground trains AKA the Tube, buses, and overground trains which connect to suburbs and neighbourhoods that are farther out.

As a tourist, you’ll most likely be relying just on the Underground and buses. 

Both have their pros and cons.

I do think buses are fun for tourists because they’re above ground so you see a lot more, especially if you ride at the front of a double decker (which is a mandatory must-do in my opinion), plus you can get phone service on them and they are cheaper as well, especially because it’s one price across zones.

The downside is they’re not as punctual (the time tables on Google Maps are notoriously inaccurate, so focus on the digital estimates at the stops themselves whenever possible)… and you can get stuck in traffic.

So, keep these pros/cons in mind when choosing how to plan your journey. If traffic a mess, the Tube may be a better choice. If you need phone service, want views, or are prioritizing low cost, then the bus may be better.

NOTE: Contrary to popular belief, the Tube does not run 24/7. It actually stops running surprisingly early, so check times before you head out, or prepare to get comfy on the night bus.

14. Always plan for lots of buffer time in case there’s delays with public transport

Regardless of which option you choose, be sure to plan things with buffer time in between obligations, especially if you need to be somewhere at a specific time.

The Tube may not get caught in traffic like buses do, but there’s still often random delays and unexpected failures.

So, if you have a tour, show or attraction booked, be sure to add in 30 minutes or more of wiggle room, just in case.

15. Walk as much as possible

Truthfully though, while I’m a big fan of London public transport, my preferred way to get around is walking as much as possible within neighbourhoods, then taking the Tube or bus to cover huge distances.

In busier tourist areas, there’s often signs you can follow to find big attractions so don’t worry too much about navigating on foot, and walking can sometimes even be faster than the Tube depending on how far you’re going.

16. Learn to ride the Tube like a pro

If you want to navigate the Tube system like a slick, terrifyingly efficient professional, then there are some basics to keep in mind.

First, I would never ride the Tube by choice between 7:30-9am and 5-7pm. It’s more expensive at this time so it’s a lose-lose, plus it’s rush hour when everyone and their mom’s landlord is trying to get to/from work. Don’t get caught in this as a tourist. Remember, you’re here to escape that kind of minutia!

Second, remember, when riding the Tube, you need to tap out to leave, so have your card ready to tap out upon exit, and don’t block everyone’s way as you shuffle through the deepest depths of your chaotic tote bag.

Also make sure you have your full journey loaded on your phone or written down before you head out. There’s usually no service so you won’t be able to Google directions when you’re down there, hence why you may want to bring a book or some form of entertainment.

One random hack I have for finding the right exit to take from a Tube station is to plot your journey on Google Maps, and then rotate your map to make it look like your train is headed straight North. This way, you have a sense of which direction you need to move towards once you get off the train, and which exit makes the most sense.

In this example for instance, as you exit the train, you will know your end destination is behind and to the left of you:

Some busier stations will also have an exit guide:

Lastly, be sure to exercise proper Tube etiquette:

• Let people off the train before you try to get on
• If there’s a crowded train, take off your bag or have it on your front so you’re not in everyone’s way
• Don’t stand on the left side of the escalator – this is meant to be left empty for people who choose to walk up

17. Consider a BritRail Pass if travelling farther

If you’re staying a while in London and plan to do many day trips or side trips, one potential pass worth considering is the London Plus BritRail Pass .

With it, you can get unlimited train journeys for a set period (either a consecutive few days or a set number of days within a month).

The London Plus Pass is especially good value because it covers the Greater London area, plus many of London’s most popular day trip destinations like Bath , Winchester , Windsor, Salisbury, Brighton , and Bournemouth.

This is a great option if you need a bit more flexibility and don’t want to buy tickets in advance, but overall if you plan to only do a handful of day trips, buying tickets well in advance will probably be cheaper. 

18. Don’t overload your London itinerary

Now let’s move onto some London itinerary planning tips. The first and most important one? Resist the urge to overload your itinerary!

London is a gargantuan city packed with fun attractions, so many in fact that even people born and raised there haven’t seen it all.

Which stands to reason that you, as a first time visitor, will not be able to see it all in one go either.

I would recommend limiting big paid attractions to 1-2 per day, then dedicating the rest of the day to just wandering, enjoying food, and pursuing more relaxed activities.

19. Plan your days by neighbourhood

Another important London must-know is that you should be organizing your itinerary based on strategic neighbourhood hopping.

London is really spread apart so planning things by neighbourhood is crucial for avoiding the inefficiency of doubling back. If you need help, I have a 3 Days in London itinerary you can steal.

Needless to say, it’s really worth getting out of Central London to explore other neighbourhoods during your visit. Notting Hill, Camden, and Shoreditch are super popular ones for instance, but if you want something quieter, Hampstead Heath or Greenwich are also great.

20. Consider the London Pass for potential savings

London is expensive, so I highly recommend you cap your paid attractions to only a few that you desperately want to do, then devote the rest of your time to free attractions.

That said, if you do intend on seeing lots of paid sights I can highly recommend the London Pass , especially if you can grab one on sale.

It’s essentially one card you pay for that then gets you into tons of paid attractions. If you plan correctly, this can save you SO much money. I bought a ten day one recently so that I could test out all of London’s paid attractions in one go. It was busy but I ended up saving a crazy amount of money.

Again, this would only be worth it if you planned to see a bunch of paid sights anyway, but it’s worth looking into if you’re a ‘see it all!’ type of visitor.

21. Prioritize uniquely ‘London’ attractions

We’ve already established that there’s a ton to see in London… so how can you decide which sights to prioritize above the rest?

Well, my advice would be to prioritize uniquely London attractions. There are many big name attractions in the city now that are fairly random and completely unrelated to the city, for instance Shrek’s 4D Adventure or Madame Tussauds.

And… Unless you are travelling with kids and need to entertain them, I think there’s way better attractions to be prioritizing, so try to pick ‘Londony’ attractions whenever possible.

22. Time your attraction visits strategically

Of course, it’s worth emphasizing how busy London can be when it comes to tourist sights, so if you want to enjoy attractions with minimal selfie sticks in your eyes, then avoid going to big attractions in the middle of the day.

Early morning or (even better) just before closing time is often way less busy.

23. Familiarize yourself with all the free things to do in London

I’ve mentioned this already, but it’s worth noting again just how many great free things there are to do in London!

You can visit parks, go to free museums, or simply absorb London’s most wonderful sights on a (very free) walk.

In terms of free/by donation museums, the V&A is my personal favourite – it’s full of amazing decorative art and also located very close to other free museums like the Science Museum and Natural History Museum.

There’s also the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the Imperial War Museum, the British Museum and more. So if you’re looking to save money, prioritize these sights over others.

There are some great free viewpoints as well, like at…

• Tate Modern – the views over the Thames from the viewing level terrace are too good to pass up
• Primrose Hill – a farther away view of the skyline in a very pretty park/colourful neighbourhood
• Greenwich Observatory  – the perfect place to see the London skyline at sunset

24. Learn when to book London’s most exclusive free/almost free tickets

While London is swimming with free things to do, some are harder to pursue than others due to limited tickets that are pre-released at set times before quickly being gobbled up by the eager freebie goblins.

SO, to help you prepare, here are some cool experiences in London that are free or almost free, but need to be booked in advance:

• Barbican Conservatory: Really beautiful and free green space in the heart of the City! Tickets released for next week Thursdays at 10am here
• Sky Garden: Free and stunning viewpoint, but you need to book in advance and the tickets go QUICKLY. Usually tickets are released every Monday up to a week in advance. Click here to book.
• Mithraeum: Cool ancient Roman temple underneath all the huge skyscrapers in the City of London. Tickets can be booked up to four months in advance here although they do accept walk-ins depending on availability.
• Ceremony of the Keys: Secret, centuries-old ceremony at the Tower of London where they lock up for the night. SUPER cool. Not free, but only costs 5 GBP. Tickets need to be booked in advance on the 1st working day of the month at noon, for the next month. You can book it here.

NOTE: If you don’t manage to book Sky Garden  for free, another fun way to see it which I prefer is to book it for breakfast to see it without crowds. It does cost 8.50 per person but you get a drink and a pastry so it’s not a bad deal!

24. Book important must-dos well in advance

From West End shows to reservations for popular restaurants, planning ahead is key in London, especially during peak season.

Some key attractions that tend to book out months in advance include the Harry Potter Studio Tour and tickets for shows at the Globe .

So, remember: preparation is key to avoiding disappointment! If you know what attractions you want to see, book in advance online and get a skip the line ticket. If there’s a special restaurant you want to visit, book a table. If there’s a non-negotiable show that you need to see, book those tickets.

… You can always book cancellable ones to secure your spot, then decide later!

25. Learn how to get the best deals on West End shows

On that note, if you’re hoping to get West End show tickets during your time in London, then here are some tips for saving money:

• If you’re flexible with what show you watch, get the TodayTix app – they always have great sales and deals and within that app you can enter different ticket lotteries and do day-of rush tickets
• In advance of your trip, enter different ticket lotteries – they have ones for Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and other popular shows. This is how I got these seats in Hamilton for only 10 GBP!
• And in a pinch, you can also visit the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for discounted day-of tickets

26. Read local blogs/websites to find special events

Another VERY underrated London travel tip is to scour local blogs and websites for fun events/pop-ups.

In a city like London, there’s always cool things happening, so if you want to spice up your itinerary beyond the tourist must-sees, there’s plenty of opportunities. London is home to millions of locals after all!

Some good local websites to check out include London x London , Time Out London , Londonist , Secret London.

27. Be sure to try plenty of English classics

Ahh, now for London food and drink tips!

I know most visitors will flock to London to try fish and chips, but besides this English classic, there are many other great British foods to try (alongside excellent international options, but more on that later).

If you’re craving local food, be sure to try some…

• Savoury pies
• A full English breakfast
• Sausage rolls
• Sticky toffee pudding

Those visiting on a Sunday should also make sure they try a Sunday roast, which tends to be eaten as a heavy lunch or early dinner, although booking for this in advance is strongly advised. 

28. Visit food markets if you have trouble with decisions

Beyond English classics, be sure to head out to some food markets in London as well (the city is famous for them!)

These vibrant foodie hubs offer a taste of London’s incredibly diverse food scene, all in a ‘grab and go’ manner that’s ideal for those who are indecisive, or simply bottomless pits of sustenance like me.

Borough Market is a foodie favourite that’s always busy but fun. Other markets I love for food include Greenwich Market, Brick Lane Market, nearby Old Spitalfields Market and (the much smaller) Maltby St Market… although these all have their own specific opening days, so be sure to research before you head out!

29. Learn where to grab a quick, cheap bite

If you’re in a rush, on a budget, or both, the most cost-effective and quick lunch you can get for yourself in London is a Meal Deal. These are set combos that include a main, a snack, and a drink for a set small price like 4 or 5 pounds. Most major supermarket chains do them.

Another place to get cheap snacks is bakeries or chains like Greggs, where you can get pastries and sausage rolls for less than 2 pound each.

I know how savage London can be on one’s budget, so keep these money saving tips in mind do help ease the pain a bit on some days.

30. Learn proper pub etiquette

Now, let’s have a quick chat about pub etiquette.

Going to a pub in London is an essential activity, even if you don’t drink. Pubs can be a great place to grab food, socialize or even listen to live music if you plan properly, so don’t write off the experience just because you’re not a drinker!

Of course, visiting a London pub for the first time can be an awkward experience for first timers, full of random little culture shocks, so here are some must-knows to help you prepare.

First – not all pubs in London have table service, so the most typical way to order (especially if you’re just getting drinks) is to go up to the bar and order from there. You can usually place food orders at the bar as well. If you plan to do this, take note of your table number (usually somewhere on the table) so that they know where to bring your food!

When ordering at the bar, you tend to pay on the spot, and not after the meal is over.

These days, it’s also common for pubs, especially chain ones, to have a QR code or app where you can order directly from your table using your Table number. If you’re feeling a bit anti-social, this can be an easy option.

Lastly, in terms of what to order, beers are most commonly ordered as pints which in the UK are 20 fluid ounces, but if you want something smaller, ordering a half pint (AKA just a half) is also possible, although not too common.

Bear in mind pubs don’t tend to have as wide a selection for drinks as in bars, so you’re probably best sticking to beer, wine, cider or whatever simple cocktails they list on their menu. Don’t go asking for anything too fancy or they may look at you like you’re an alien.

31. Learn how tipping in London works

Now, in regards to tipping, you’ll find that many restaurants in London these days add on a Discretionary Service Charge of about 12.5% which is automatically tacked onto your bill.

This isn’t a mandatory fee and you can ask them to remove it if you don’t think the service deserves that amount.

Otherwise, if you pay it, don’t worry – you’re not usually expected to pay an additional tip on top of that, unless you found the service to be really exceptional.

32. Be careful when crossing the street

Now, for some London safety tips.

Please, for the love of Peppa Pig, make sure you look the right way when crossing the street.

The first time I visited London, I almost died about five times. Brits drive on the left, which sounds cute enough until you realize it turns every street crossing into an auto-fuelled death trap.

This has become such a problem that most crosswalks in touristy areas literally have “LOOK LEFT” and “LOOK RIGHT” painted on the pavement in aggressive white block letters, so read them.

33. Keep your phone close at all times

While pickpockets do exist everywhere, the more common crime these days in in London is phone snatching. 

What thieves will often do is come by you on a bike or scooter, then snatch the phone from your hand and escape so be sure to avoid having your phone out when you’re in a busy area, especially next to the road.

… And review my guide on how to avoid pickpockets too.

34. Beware of commonly mispronounced words and names

If you’re a first time visitor to London, you may be shocked to find that many of the names you’ve been reading in your head actually sound nothing like how you’ve been pronouncing them.

That’s because British English is filled with fun little traps!

So, let’s review some of the most commonly mispronounced names in London:

• Thames is pronounced like “temz”, not THEY-mz
• Leicester Square is pronounced like “LEST-ER Square”, not like LAY-SESS-TER Square
• Greenwich is pronounced like ‘GREN-itch”, not green witch
• Clapham and Fulham are pronounced like Clap-mm Full-mm, not Clap-HAM or Full-HAM
• Southwark is pronounced like “Suth-irk” not South Wark

And trust me, that’s barely scraping the surface. SO, when in doubt, keep an ear out on the announcements at train stations and tube stations for the proper pronunciation of things. I still learn new pronunciation traps all the time!

35. Beware of differing words in British English

On a related note, remember there are quite a few day to day words that are different in England compared to North America, so remember…

• Bathroom = the toilet or loo
• Elevator = lift
• Garbage can = bin
• Line-up = queue
• Sidewalk = pavement

… Just to name a few examples.

36. Learn some basic London etiquette

Of course, norms vary from destination to destination. Here are a few to bear in mind for London specifically:

• Never jump a queue – this might as well be a punishable crime in England
• Avoid talking too loudly – North Americans have a reputation for being obnoxiously loud in public
• Don’t take up a seat on the bus or train with your bag if it’s busy
• And most importantly: don’t put on a fake English accent! You might think it’s funny or convincing, it’s probably not

37. Don’t bring too much cash out

I mentioned before how London is mostly a cashless city these days… but it’s an important must-know so I’ll mention it again!

Remember: there are now some places in London that are “card only” so you won’t be needing cash too often, hence why I’d recommend carrying very little with you at all times.

A good rule of thumb is to never bring more cash out than you could stand to lose. I usually just walk around with £20 juuust in case, but I’ve rarely had to use it.

38. Learn where to find free public toilets

If you need to find a public toilet while exploring London, either look for big train stations, McDonalds, Starbucks and department stores OR in a pinch, duck into a pub and order a drink.

39. A hooded jacket > an umbrella

If you’re running low on space and can’t decide what to pack, I would recommend packing a hooded jacket over an umbrella for your trip to London.

London’s rain can often come unexpectedly, and honestly the wind can be pretty vicious too, so having a hooded jacket is a better defense.

Because yes, it does rain a lot quite randomly in London, so make sure you’re prepared!

40. Remember to be respectful

Getting to the end of our list of London travel tips, please remember the importance of being a kind and respectful tourist!

Some examples of what NOT to do include…

• Trespassing private property to get a fake candid in front of a colourful wall
• Being loud and disruptive if you’re wandering around a cute residential neighbourhood
• Blocking the escalator/sidewalk/train door with huge suitcases and bags
• Stopping suddenly on the sidewalk to look at directions/take a photo

At the end of the day, there are a lot of tourists in London, sure, but there’s even more locals who call this city home… so let’s make sure we don’t ruin their day to day lives with our tourist debauchery.

41. Binge watch movies/shows set in London before your visit

Finally – last but not least, a very dorky tip: watch lots of movies and shows in advance of your visit which showcase London as the backdrop.

This will make your trip 1000x more delightful… trust me!

There’s way too many to choose from, but here’s a list to get you started:

• About Time (one of my favourite movies ever – please watch it)
• Paddington 1 & 2 (not just for kids. These are great and showcase London well)
• Bridget Jones’ Diary or Notting Hill (if you want a good rom com)
• Anything Sherlock Holmes related
• Love Actually (at Christmas time – a must!)
• The Harry Potter series (not a TON of London scenes, but still magical)

I hope this list of London Travel Tips was helpful!

I appreciate you trudging your way through this lengthy list of tips for London, my London fangirl in training. Hopefully this post answered most of your questions, but if you have any more, let me know in the comments. Safe and happy travels!

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

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London travel blog — the fullest london travel guide blog & suggested london itinerary 4 days.

If you’ve ever heard of Big Ben Clock Tower at Palace of Westminster, have been fascinated by the romantic works of the great writer William Shakespeare. Surely, you can’t help but make a trip to London, once stood by the banks of the River Thames overlooking the famous Big Ben clock tower. Or simply, come to England to experience a long-standing culture, with a lot of differences compared to the rest of Europe .

• Top day trips from London — 5 best day trips from London you should make
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• Cambridge blog — The UK Cambridge travel guide for first-timers
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• What to buy in England? — 25+ souvenirs must buy in England & best things to buy in England

The capital of England is a so famous city already. Located in the southeast and quite close to France, London is quite large and known for its cultural and historical values. You should spend at least 3-4 days to explore this wonderful city, of course the longer the better.

UK in general and London in particular, to get here you have to apply for a separate visa because the UK is not in the Schengen Area. The UK visa application is similar to the Schengen visa application, but it seems to be more paperwork and procedures.

London travel blog: How to get to London?

Fly from vietnam to london.

Currently, there are many airlines operating direct flights from Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City to London. These include Qatar Airways , Emirates , or Vietnam Airlines , most of which do not fly directly, but you have to transit at least once. Ticket prices fluctuate around $ 1.000/round trip.

If you go to London from other cities in Europe, the popular way is fly because London does not have borders adjacent to the rest of the old continent of Europe. However, if you go from Paris to London , you can take a train because there is a tunnel through the Manche strait (English Channel, Channel Tunnel) that connects England and France. The cheapest train fares to London or other cities in the UK from € 45, can be booked through www.eurostar.com or www.loco2.com .

Cheapest & Fastest Trains from PARIS to LONDON

How to travel from Heathrow Airport to central London?

By london underground (london tube).

This is the easiest and cheapest way to get from Heathrow airport to London city center. The train operates 24/24 on Friday, Saturday from Terminals 1, 2, 3 & Terminal 5. On weekdays the train operating hours from 5:10am and the last train at 11:45pm.

Ticket price of £ 5.10/trip during peak hours and £ 3.10/trip for the remaining hours. You should buy an London Oyster Visitor Card with the price of $25 at the airport, the traveling time to get to London center about 50 minutes and from here you can change trains to get to where you want.

London Visitor Oyster Card

If you arrive late at night on weekdays, then London Tube does not work, you may consider another option is to go to the city by night bus. Bus N9 departs from Terminal 5 and Central Bus Station (Terminals 2 & 3).

The bus departs from around midnight at 11:30pm, the fare is only £ 1.50 / way but cannot be paid with cash, you must use a contactless card or an Oyster card.

By Airport Express Train

There are two main types of trains going to central London: Heathrow Express and TfL Rail. The Heathrow Express run faster and takes only 15 minutes to get to London Paddington station, the TfL train takes 25 minutes because it will stops at some stations along the way.

Heathrow Express Ticket

Tickets cost only £ 5.50/trip if you book in advance, and if you buy on the day of travel, the price is up to £ 22/trip. You can use Trainline.com to reserve tickets in advance.

Prices range from £ 45 – £ 70, and take about 45-90 minutes because the traffic is quite crowded in London.

In addtion to above ways, you can use a private transfer service to get to the city center through Klook here .

Shared Coach Transfers Between Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Central London

London travel guide blog: Getting around the city

Like most other big cities in Europe, London has a developed and diverse public transport system. London’s Metro network – London Underground, also known as “the Tube”, is spread across the city so you can traveling around the city as quickly and conveniently as possible.

The whole city is connected by 11 Tube lines, and divided into 9 zones. The central area is zone 1 and zones 6-9 are located at the edge of the city. The useful tip when traveling in London is that you should buy an Oyster Card which like a credit card and use the money in that account to buy tickets, quite similar to the MRT card in Singapore or Seoul. Oyster Card can be used when taking bus, tram and railways in the city.

The fare for each route depends on the zone and the distance you want to go. The longer the journey, the more expensive. Buying Oyster card is always cheaper than buying single ticket, unless you only go one or two trips during the time you stay in London.

Note that not every Metro station has an elevator, so if you bring a lot of luggage, you need to consider, pretty heavy when have to carry it. In addition, if you planning to travel a lot, you can refer to the London Pass , you can get on any hop-on hop-off bus to reach the location you want when using this pass.

London Pass with 1 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

My trip to London blog: Where to stay?

In fact, London that people often known only occupies a very small part of The Greater London, an extremely large territory of England. Greater London is divided into 33 region, large and small areas, and the city of London only is one of them. The districts in London are also not named by the number as in Paris but they have separate names.

To experience the hotels / hostels in London we probably have to visit this city many times, and each time stay in a different neighborhood. Each neighborhood has a unique feature that you can refer to as below:

• Southbank ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) : A place for those who like sightseeing and exploring in London.
• Victoria & Marylebone ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) : Suitable for family.
• Mayfair , Notting Hill & South Kensington : For those who want a romantic vacation.
• Soho & Camden : A vibrant nightlife area, where there are many bar and restaurants.
• Camden & Shoreditch : For those who want to experience cultural with indigenous people.

Cheap hostels but good quality in London

In fact, hostels in London are not cheap, with average room rates ranging £ 25 – £ 40/night/dorm bed. You can find some hostels for less than £ 15/night but the quality will be quite low. Hostel prices often go up on weekends, so you should avoid these dates and book early for more options.

Some good hostels with good prices you can be referred like Wombat’s CITY Hostel – London ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) near the attractions and have a private bar. Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) is located in Victoria area but not near the center but very stylish and beautiful.

Upscale hotels in London

With good finance, you can choose to stay in luxury hotels come with have many beautiful views. I can suggest some here:

• St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) : Old hotel with an appearance like an old castle. Located just close to The British Library and the bustling downtown area, it is hard to describe the beauty of this hotel when the night is bright under the street lights.
• Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard, London ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) : The room here owns so beautiful view, wide glass windows with panoramic view to the London Tower Bridge.
• London Marriott Hotel County Hall ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) : This luxury hotel has plenty of views to the parliament building (Palace of Westminster), Big Ben Clock Tower and London Eye Ferris Wheel.

Below we recommend more best cheap, budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $165/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

InterContinental London – The O2 , a top rated 5-star hotel with room rates from $326/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

The Chesterfield Mayfair , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $182/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Park Grand London Kensington , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $137/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Amba Hotel Charing Cross , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $270/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

The Tower Hotel , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $270/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

London travel blog: What and where to eat in London?

If you come to London and want to taste Vietnamese food, don’t forget to visit Kingsland Road. With so many restaurants as well as Vietnamese branded cafes here like Pho House, Hanoi Cafe, Green Papaya Vietnamese Restaurant, .. make sure you will immediately forget homesickness.

London of course is also famous for international cuisine because this is an open city with many people living and working here from many countries. Asian food such as Indian, Chinese, Thai all available here. If you want to eat Chinese food, let’s go to Chinatown, Indian food is very much in Southall and Brick Lane, ..

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Are you planning the trip of a lifetime to London or a city break to the UK capital? Let us help you plan the best trip ever with our London travel blog.

I’ve spent almost a third of my adult life in London, now as a parent and earlier as a student, but I still look at this city through a visitor’s eyes.

On this page we share all our London resources including the best way to see the city’s classic sights and tourist attractions, places to eat and quirky things to do in London that you might not have thought of.

These ideas are suitable for all visitors – from the littlest members of your family, to seasoned travellers. As a mother I always call out fun things to do with kids in London as well as what is not suitable for children.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR LONDON TRAVEL BLOG

Practical information for helping you plan your trip to London – packing guide, accommodation guide, best apps and more

• A 3 day itinerary:  Classic London
• Where to stay   in London
• What to do in London at  night
• Best ideas for   visiting London with kids
• A  packing list   for London
• Visiting  London in winter
• Best   London apps

‘When you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life’ or so the saying goes, here are some of the many wonderful things to do in London

• Top  London art galleries
• Highlights of the  British Museum
• The  Wallace Collection
• Famous parks and  gardens in London
• London shopping –  souvenirs ,  books and gifts ,  Oxford Street shopping tips, Liberty of London  scarves , and  more
• Celebrating a  London Christmas

Try a uniquely London experience with these properly British tours and activities in the UK capital

• Tour and afternoon tea at the  Houses of Parliament
• A  canal boat ride   to Camden Lock
• Primrose Hill and  Camden walking tour
• East London  street art tour
• In full bloom –  Chelsea Flower Show

My family is winding down a week long trip to London and Edinburgh. The London part I planned using one of your blog posts. Everyone has been so pleased with the attractions and restaurants “I” chose. I had to tell them it was actually your blog that planned it – I just trusted your recommendations. Thank you for helping make our visit to London a happy one! Ann Miller – reader

From afternoon tea to fish and chips and Borough Market, here are some of the best food experiences to be had in London

• The best  coffee in London
• London’s best picks for  quick and tasty meals
• Where to go for  afternoon tea
• Dinner  overlooking Trafalgar Square
• Brunch at  Balthazar   – Covent Garden

Each neighborhood of London has its own quirks and attractions. Dind out more with our guides to the districts of London

• Glorious  Greenwich
• Shoreditch – coming soon
• Soho | Belgravia | Fitzrovia – coming soon

If you’re dreaming of the countryside or quaint towns and villages, take a trip out of London for the day

• Discover the Tudors at  Hampton Court Palace
• The famous university town of Cambridge
• Beachy fun in  Brighton
• A  Jane Austen roadtrip  in Hampshire
• Stepping back in time at  Sutton Hoo
• Visit the seaside at  Whitstable   in Kent
• Countryside and steam trains in  Hampshire

LATEST ARTICLES ABOUT LONDON

Best area to stay in london – accommodation and district guide [2024], best things to do in london with kids – sights, activities, free stuff and more, visit greenwich – one of london’s most fascinating districts, london in winter travel guide – things to do and where to stay, 20 amazing british museum highlights and facts, london after dark – the best things to do in london at night, best apps for london – download before you go, the ultimate london packing list – how to pack for london.

15 London travel tips & hacks no one told you about

Things to do in London London Travel Guide London Travel Tips

In the bustling metropolis of London, the pace can leave you breathless as you strive to keep pace with its energy. Yet, amidst its dynamic atmosphere, there are several simple tips for travelers to bear in mind. London, a city steeped in history, brimming with culture, and pulsating with life at every turn, rewards careful planning with the avoidance of tourist traps and the maximization of enjoyment. Although it may initially appear daunting, securing your tickets in advance serves as an excellent initial stride towards ensuring a seamless visit. Here are some invaluable travel pointers to ensure your time in London is unforgettable.

London Essentials

Starting with the essentials, here's what you must know before getting to London . Don't forget the pack the right adapter and maybe brush your British English! Also, get yourself used to British high tea maybe.

Read our complete London Travel Guide here

Language English

Time zone GMT+1

Country Code +020

Socket Type G

Currency Pound (£, GBP)

Best Time To Visit London

March to May

London's weather can be unpredictable, requiring both sunglasses and umbrellas at different moments! While Spring is often considered the optimal time to experience London's charm, don't worry if your plans are set for other seasons; each one offers its own distinctive allure. From March to May, temperatures fluctuate from chilly to pleasantly warm, making it an ideal window to explore the city. Be sure to carry a jacket to navigate the occasional weather shifts. Alternatively, if you're enchanted by the magic of Christmas, bundle up and visit between December and January to witness the city's spectacular festive celebrations.

Read our complete blog on the Best Time To Visit London .

London Travel Tips 101 - A First Timer's Holy Grail

Below are the tips and hacks you're here for. Read on and thank me later!

#1 Keep right on the escalators

Though it might seem peculiar, there's an unspoken convention in London advising individuals to stick to the right side of escalators to allow others to pass. In a bustling metropolis like London, where everyone's racing against the clock, even the smallest gesture of politeness can make a significant difference!

#2 Get yourself an Oyster card

An Oyster card offers both convenience and affordability, making it a smart choice for saving money during your city visit. Easily obtainable from the airport or your local station, simply top it up as needed. With an Oyster card, navigating London's subway network, known as The Tube, becomes effortless, eliminating the need to rush around or wait in lengthy ticket lines.

Here's all you need to know about using an Oyster Card in London

#3 London is the home of Hop On Hop Off Buses

With an excellent network and cost-efficient transportation, these buses will make sure you get acquainted with London in the best possible way! With a number of buses connecting and dropping you off at key attractions, Hop on Hop Off bus is ideal for those who want to explore the city at their own pace. Apart from that, these buses also provide you with an audio guide so that you don’t miss out on anything important during your journey.

#4 Crossing the streets are a task in London

The sidewalks and streets are labeled ‘Look Right’ or ‘Look Left’ to help you remember where the cars are coming from. Following traffic rules in London can help you escape unwanted fines, apart from keeping you safe. Keep in mind that cars are driven on the left side of the street in England and that designated pedestrian walkways exist on busy streets at all times.

#5 Tipping in London is not customary

Although considered a mandate in the US, tipping in London is not really a requirement when you’re dining at the restaurants. The service charge which is otherwise provided in tips is usually included in the cost of your bill in London, so don’t sweat it by trying to tip big money at restaurants! However, if you do feel like appreciating the service, a couple of pounds can be a nice gesture.

#6 Book ALL your attraction tickets in advance

While it is possible to avoid the crowd on the weekdays, some of the popular attractions of the city witness crowd throughout the week. Booking well in advance or getting yourself a skip the line pass could help you avoid the queues that are two to three hours long. This could not only help you save time but could also save you a good amount of money.

Check out discounted tickets to the top things to do in London and save big money by booking in advance.

#7 Pack for all weathers. Always carry an umbrella

London is best known for its erratic weather changes, where it can be sunny one minute and you can wind up feeling cold after an unpredictable shower! Pack your essentials wisely so that you have plenty of layers at hand to tackle any weather. Having an umbrella at all times is advisable.

#8 Keep an eye out for freebies

Although an expensive city, there are several museums, art galleries and architectural marvels around that can be explored for free. Do your research to find out more about these, which can also help you save some money during your stay. You may also take a stroll into some of its vibrant street markets which won’t charge you an entry fee as well.

15 Absolutely Free Things To Do In London

#9 sometimes walking is faster than the tube.

London is widely connected by the Tube, and while it seems like the best option to travel around, there are places which are accessed quicker by foot. For instance, Leicester Square to Covent Garden is located in the same vicinity and they can be easily reached by a brisk 2 to 3-minute walk.

#10 Visit Oxford Street on a weekday

If you’re in the mood to shop, differ it till its a weekday instead of stopping by on a Saturday. Not only does the area witness an upsurge of a crowd on the weekend, but there are also times the Tube is closed down for crowd control. Enjoy a quiet, uninterrupted shopping trip on a weekday morning and make the most of your visit to Oxford Street.

67 Experiences You Cannot Miss Out In London

#11 ride a bike around the city.

You may come across several bikers on a typical day in London, as bikes are quite an inexpensive mode of transport in the city. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind losing their way during their excursion, rent a bike which is easily available on bike-bays on the street using a debit/credit card.

#12 London follows military time

While most countries follow a 12-hour clock, you may find London displaying military timings on clocks across the city. Acquainting yourself to this system will help you avoid silly mistakes that can easily occur otherwise. Make sure to double check your train and bus tickets to know if you got the right time on it!

#13 Eat like the Brits

London is dotted with several flashy restaurants, however, make sure you enjoy a roadside plate of fish and chips for an authentic taste of Britain. Explore markets such as Borough market amongst others, which have affordable food stalls lined up. Experience the English palate by trying out various delicious street food that London has to offer instead of picking a usual restaurant for a change.

#14 Carry a type-G plug or a universal travel adapter

London, unlike the US, uses a type-G plug which requires a different type of pin. It is essential to carry a type-G converter for you to successfully charge your electronics of any sort. Make sure you buy one from your respective country, as it may become expensive hunting for one in London.

#15 London = West End Show is a MUST

West End shows, unlike Broadway, are affordable in London and can be easily booked both online as well as offline. There are plenty of shows if you’re not too picky, and you can also choose your seats according to your preference! But you simply cannot leave London without watching a Westend show.

Here's our complete guide to West End Theatre for first timers in London.

Book discounted London Theatre tickets for the best selling shows

Tips for saving money on transportation in london.

• Familiarise yourself to London’s zones : While it is impossible to become an expert with the London rail network due to its complexity and vast connectivity, keep an eye out for some of the zones that are helpful for your daily travel. Download the Underground Application for your phone to make sure you don’t board the wrong train.
• Get an oyster card : Get yourself an oyster card which would help you on saving both time as well as money during your trip in the subway. The card, which works for both metro and underground, can be easily topped up at any station in the city! Having an oyster card will also mean you will not have to wait it out at the long queues.
• Buses over cabs, always : London has an extremely well-connected network of public transport, and buses can be of great use during your trip. A bus journey across the city will cost you as less as £1.50, irrespective of the distance. Apart from that, the buses also have a cap of £4.50, which will mean that is all you can spend on public transport for the day!
• Rent a bike : Affordable, reliable and eco-friendly, bicycles are found almost everywhere in London and they only cost £2 per day! Find docking stations on the side of the street, and activate a bicycle using a debit/credit card. You can make a trip between two docking stations for thirty minutes before you get to activate it again.
• Walk most of it : Walking is a viable option in London as there are a multitude of places accessible by foot. Not to mention how great it is to escape the traffic that clogs the city on weekends as well! Book yourself a guided walking tour to make the most of your excursion in the city, along with simply saving your money on transportation!
• Ferry it if you'd like : Cruising on the Thames, whether for leisure or purpose is highly recommended. You could use the Thames to get around attractions in the city, or just take a luxurious Thames river cruise and enjoy a meal on the boat.

Tips For Saving Money On Eating In London

• Never eat around prime attractions : Avoid being sucked into touristy traps and make sure you go through the restaurant before investing money in it. Do a quick check on some of the local restaurants that serve authentic food instead of walking into the first restaurant you see. Asking a local to guide you can also be a great way to indulge in something worthwhile.
• Pick a Bed and Breakfast : Choose hotels or home-stays that offer you breakfast along with your stay. Most hotels in London offer a breakfast buffet that will consist of a variety of food. Filling up on a heavy breakfast before starting your day would mean you will wind up with an affordable, light lunch.
• Try street-side vendors : Fine dine is great, but you can taste some of the most authentic British food at local food stalls. Take a stroll through some of the city’s most famous street food markets (such as Borough Market, Camden Market and Maltby Street Market) to gorge on some delicious road-side food.
• Look out for BYOB and prefer tap water : Save up on bottled water during lunch or dinner by asking for tap water or regular water — which is considered safe to consume in London. You may also keep an eye out for ‘BYOB’ (bring your own beer/ alcohol) restaurants which will allow you to carry your drinks. This will help you save on the expensive drinks that the restaurant otherwise offers.
• Pick buffet food : An all you can eat buffet is a great idea if you’re worried about whether you’re going to like what you try. Apart from that, portion sizes at a buffet are not an issue, and you can invest in the kind of food you prefer. Run a quick search to locate restaurants serving up a buffet, and you’re good to go.

More Tips To Save Money In London

• Accommodation tips

Accommodation in London is expensive, so make sure you choose a hotel or Airbnb in the suburbs. Since traveling around the city is quite affordable with an Oyster card, choose a traveler’s hostel or a Bed and Breakfast instead of a regular hotel to cut down your expenses on accommodation.

Free attraction tips

Chart out your trip in a way where you can make the most of London’s free attractions. The city hosts several museums, art galleries, and landmarks that you can visit without spending a pretty penny. Apart from this, you can also its outdoor spaces without having to spend! Include some of the city’s most vibrant street markets, such as Camden Market and Portobello Road Market, in your itinerary to save up on expensive shopping. Apart from fruits and vegetables, these markets are best known for an eclectic collection of antiques, funky clothes, and music that you can buy cheap.

Free museum days

• While everything in London may seem expensive, there are plenty of museums to visit free of cost. Places like the British Museum, Natural History Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Science Museum and the Victoria & Albert museum are some of the attractions where you can visit for free! Make sure you do your research before setting out on an excursion around the city.

Online ticket purchasing

• Purchasing tickets ahead of time can save you not just monetarily, but also with respect to time. Keep an eye out for discounts and combo offers that can help you grab a great deal for your trip. If you’re someone who enjoys musicals, getting cheap West End show tickets can also be helpful.
• Chart out your trip in a way where you can make the most of London’s free attractions. The city hosts several museums, art galleries, and landmarks that you can visit without spending a pretty penny. Apart from this, you can also its outdoor spaces without having to spend!
• Include some of the city’s most vibrant street markets, such as Camden Market and Portobello Road Market, in your itinerary to save up on expensive shopping. Apart from fruits and vegetables, these markets are best known for an eclectic collection of antiques, funky clothes, and music that you can buy cheap.

Top 10 Things To Do in London

I'm sure you have your London itinerary all sorted, but here are my top 10 favourites in London. If any of these are missing from your itinerary, make sure you squeeze them in! There are a few recommended tours for each attraction, so if you haven't grabbed tickets as yet, now would be a great time.

1 Tower of London

The Tower of London is a defining British structure that has served as an armory, royal residence, and jail throughout history. The tower today houses the Crown Jewels and the famous Beefeaters, who guard them. A visit to the Tower of London is essential for any first-time visitor to London.

2 London Eye

The London Eye is the second highest observation point in London, surpassed only by The Shard. Its site on the river's banks provides an amazing view. The London Eye has been labeled as London's Eiffel Tower, allowing everyone a chance to see the huge metropolis from a new perspective.

3 Buckingham Palace

The Buckingham Palace is a veritable showcase of royal magnificence, and it served as the Queen's official residence until 2011. The entirety of Buckingham Palace is grandeur personified, and it's nothing short of regal opulence. This remarkable architectural beauty in the center of London is a must-see for all tourists.

4 Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is a large Gothic church in London, England, and one of the country's most significant religious structures. According to legend, a group of Benedictine monks arrived at this location and began a practice of worship every day during the Bishop Mellitus era. Westminster Abbey truly made headlines in 1605, when Edward the Confessor constructed his throne here where he was eventually buried along with his wife.

5 Harry Potter Tours

Harry Potter Tours, London will take you on a journey through the city of London (and beyond) to get your photo snapped at platform 9 3/4 and board the Hogwarts Express, experience Diagon Alley and drink butterbeer, among other things. Not to mention any number of film locations where you may go.

6 Kew Gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens, also known as Kew Gardens, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and London's largest. It is the world's biggest botanical collection and the world's biggest UNESCO World Heritage Site in London.

7 West End Theatre

West End Theatre is the most popular form of theatre in London and is typically associated with musicals. It encompasses a wide range of genres, from Shakespearean tragedies to contemporary comedies.There are currently 40 theatres operating in London’s West End, with a combined seating capacity of over 100,000.

8 Thames Cruises

What are some tips for traveling to London on a budget?

1. Travel during the off-peak season. You can save a lot of money by avoiding the busiest times of year.

2. Look for discounts and deals. There are often great discounts available if you book your travel in advance or look for package deals.

3. Stay in hostels or budget hotels. You don't have to spend a lot of money on accommodation to have a great trip.

4. Eat like a local. Take advantage of the many cheap and delicious eateries London has to offer instead of splurging on meals every day.

5. Use public transportation. London's public transportation system is extensive and relatively inexpensive, so make use of it as much as possible.

How can I avoid getting lost in London?

1. Get a good map. Before you even leave for your trip, make sure you have a good map of London so you can orient yourself and plan your route in advance.

2. Ask for directions. If you do get lost, don't be afraid to ask for directions from a local. People in London are generally very helpful and will be happy to point you in the right direction.

3. Use your smartphone. If you have a smartphone, make use of its GPS capabilities and download a map of London so you can always find your way.

4. Take a walking tour. A great way to orient yourself in a new city is to take a walking tour. Many hostels and hotels offer these for free or for a nominal fee.

5. Stay in a central location. If you're worried about getting lost, consider staying in a centrally located hotel or hostel so you're always within easy reach of the main sights and attractions.

What are some good restaurants to eat at while in London?

Pret-a-Manger, Wagamama, The Breakfast Club, Dishoom and Honest Burgers are popular fast food joints and coffee places in London!

What are some helpful tips for using public transportation in London?

If you're unfamiliar with the London Underground, it can be daunting to try and navigate your way around the city using only public transportation. Some useful things to do would be to plan your route in advance & purchase an Oyster Card among other things. Besides this, here's Everything you need to know about the Public Transport in London !

What is the tipping etiquette in London?

In London, it is customary to leave a tip of 10-15% for good service in restaurants and bars. If you're taking a taxi, it's common to round up to the nearest pound or give 5-10% of the fare as a tip. For other services, tipping is not required but always appreciated if you received great service.

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Lakshmi Menon

Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". Perpetually ensconced with a book in her hand and a mug of coffee in the other, she has been to over 15 countries in her 23 years of existence and is currently saving miles and money for her solo trip to Iceland. Always hustling towards the least trodden path, she has encountered some wonderful people during her escapades and if you ever meet her, she won't stop gushing about them.

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15 Essential Travel Hacks When Visiting London

O ne of the top places to visit in Europe or the U.K., London is a bustling city with ample things to see and do. Perfect for history lovers, theatre enthusiasts, luxury brand shoppers, foodies, and spa-goers especially, the Big Smoke has all the makings of a fabulous vacation, any way you slice it. Of course, with countless attractions, must-see museums, incredible restaurants, various entertainment districts, and a party till the sun comes up kind of nightlife, a trip to this iconic metropolis can seem overwhelming at first.

Even if this is not your first time heading to the Big Smoke, planning your itinerary is no small feat. And, regardless of what you decide to get into while vacationing, there are several important odds and ends, including lodgings and transportation, that still need to be sorted ahead of time. So, to ensure your whirlwind getaway goes off without a hitch, here are 15 essential travel hacks that are absolute game-changers when visiting London.

Read more: It's Time To Ditch These 10 Outdated Travel Tips

Visit During The Shoulder Season

When considering a trip across the pond, timing is everything. In the warmer months, London is overflowing with tourists and locals, which means many wonderful attractions are harder to enjoy, waiting in long lines is the norm, and popular activities sell out fast. What's more, travel prices tend to be higher across the board. So, booking a trip to London during the shoulder season is the more pragmatic way to go.

London's shoulder season is usually from September to mid-October and around March till the first half of May. During either time, the weather tends to be more amenable, and things are often more affordable. Plus, travelers do not need to concern themselves with the summer or winter holiday crowds. Though there are spectacular events during the holidays and more than a few outdoor concerts, sporting tournaments, and other happenings going on from late May to September, if you want to experience what this city has to offer sans the masses and without breaking the bank, then the shoulder season is definitely one of the best times to visit.

Look For Accommodations In Central London

With dozens of options available, if you prefer a hotel, an Airbnb, or a hostel, the Big Smoke has no shortage of places to stay. That said, the area you choose to stay in is actually more important here. As you are likely aware, London is a rather large city, so choosing the right area or neighborhood matters. If you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing, shopping, and more, then you should definitely look for accommodations in central London or the West End.

Though the center of London is a little pricier than, say, Victoria or Paddington, it is well worth the extra money, as you are closer to all the fun and entertainment. Of course, depending on the desired price range, travelers can peruse hotels and lodgings in West End and Westminster neighborhoods like Mayfair, Trafalgar, Soho, and Covent Garden. Here is where you will find fabulous options with ample convenience and nearby transportation, plus a range of attractions, pubs, and popular restaurants practically around every corner.

Pack For The Destination

Packing for a London getaway is pretty straightforward, no matter the season. Smart casual layers will work for almost any kind of weather. However, it is worth noting that people tend to dress well here, so make sure you have the proper attire for any nice dinners, plays, or nights out on the town.

In the shoulder season, you can expect, for the most part, mild weather that may require a jacket or fleece at night. Waterproof windbreakers and scarves are always a must in the U.K. If you happen to be visiting in September or October, gloves and a hat are also great to have with you. In addition to warm layers and seasonal accessories, your footwear is crucial in London. Even if walking tours are not your thing, there is still a lot of ground to cover in this thrilling city. Therefore, a pair of comfy, ideally waterproof shoes will ensure you can go the extra mile if need be.

Prepare For Rain

London is no stranger to rain, and a light shower can happen at any time as the weather in the city is often unpredictable. Thankfully, prolonged periods of rain or all-day showers are not all that common in the shoulder season. And the Big Smoke typically gets the bulk of its rain in November. Nonetheless, most months experience rainfall, approximately 11 to 15 days each month, to be exact.

As a result, preparing for rain, even at the start of the shoulder season, will make you a savvy traveler. A raincoat, an umbrella, or an alternative activity such as a museum day, afternoon tea, or a spa retreat for two in the event of a prolonged downpour is really all one needs here. Travelers can easily spend a few hours browsing art and ancient artifacts, enjoying a spot of tea with finger sandwiches, or catching up on self-care if they so choose. But remember, with the necessary preparation, you can always go about your day as planned, too.

Get An Oyster Card

There are more than a few ways to get around London, such as walking, taxi, or Uber. But when your destination is clear across town, it is highly recommended that you explore other modes of transportation. When doing so, you will quickly see that most options accept Oyster cards. If you are unsure what an Oyster card is, it is a convenient smartcard that allows you to quickly and effortlessly pay for your fare — for buses, on the Tube, as well as when taking trams, riding the National Rail, and aboard the River Bus.

The Visitor Oyster card , specifically, makes getting around London much more straightforward and is the more budget-friendly choice. Available in various amounts, travelers can order these handy cards before their trip and receive them at home. Even if you only plan on taking advantage of the Tube or the tram occasionally, you won't have to waste valuable vacation time waiting in line to purchase a ticket or trying to access the city's underground train. So, do yourself a favor and get a Visitor Oyster card.

Navigate The City Like A Local

Learning to navigate the city like a local is yet another travel hack to keep in mind when strolling about London on foot. The easiest way for visitors to take to the street like a Londoner is with a quick review of the walking etiquette rules, which you can find on the GOV.uk website. Of course, you are not expected to memorize all 30-plus rules. But you definitely should keep to the left when walking and match the pace with other pedestrians (most locals walk promptly, assertively, and without being glued to their cellphones).

Other useful rules, like thoroughly looking out for oncoming traffic and staying a reasonable distance from the curb for obvious safety reasons, are also important to know. Similarly, minding the gap on train platforms, obeying pedestrian crossing lights, and reading the relevant signage make getting around the Big Smoke much more pleasant and less hazardous. Plus, with millions of people out and about in London almost every day, being considerate of others comes with the territory and is not something visitors should overlook.

Remember You're On Military Time

When deciding what activities or excursions to book, it is vital that you pay attention to the date and time. The U.K., in general, uses both the 12-hour and 24-hour notations. But you will see more 24-hour clocks while on vacation in London. And, to avoid any confusion regarding daytime versus nighttime hours, people tend to stick to military time for departure times, business hours, showtimes, and more. So, get ready to do a quick math problem in your head if you are not used to the 24-hour clock.

Similarly, London visitors need to be on the lookout for how the date is written. Typically, you will see the date as day-month-year. Therefore, it never hurts to double-check your bookings and make sure your reservations are for the right day. Both the date format and the use of military time may throw you off at first. But you can save yourself a lot of trouble, especially when making travel arrangements online, by simply recalling these fun facts.

Book Everything In Advance

Speaking of bookings, there is a wealth of entertainment available in the Big Smoke, often only a few clicks away. From enjoying the royal jewels and afternoon tea bus tours to appreciating the arts and the iconic figures of yesteryear, you can indulge in it all. In fact, with so many things to do and see here, you may find you are short on time before you have even begun.

A tried-and-true travel hack to ensure you get the most out of your trip to London is to book everything in advance. Why spend valuable time waiting in long lines? The harsh reality is that seating for most activities and dining experiences is never first-come, first-serve, and everything tends to cost more the day of or at the box office. Likewise, popular events, day trips, and highly rated excursions are bound to sell out fast. So, take a second when planning your London getaway to book reservations, tours, plays, spa treatments, and anything else that piques your interest beforehand.

Make The Most Of Free Admission

Adding free-entry art houses, the best museums in London , and larger-than-life libraries to the itinerary is also a great travel hack, especially if you prefer to stay on a budget. Saving money in such an expensive city is always a win, and you can explore fine art spaces, world history, science, fashion, and more while you save. Several must-sees like the British Museum, the British Library, the Tate Britain and Tate Modern, the National Gallery, the Science Museum, and the Design Museum do not charge admission.

And even though there are just a dozen or so museums, galleries, and libraries in London that are free to the public, they are some of the most renowned. But free admission does not stop there — the Royal Parks and the City of London churches are also wonderful other no-cost options. Plus, the Big Smoke is known for its gratis events and festivals that happen all year round — providing more opportunities for visitors to make the most of free admission.

Hit The Shops During The Week

For luxury brand enthusiasts and avid shoppers, London does not disappoint. In fact, this city is home to some of the best brand-name outlets around. Spectacular shopping districts that will have you spending your vacation pennies include Oxford Street, Regent Street, Covent Garden, and St. James's. Unsurprisingly, these high-end shopping areas, in particular, are overflowing with people, especially on the weekends. As a result, if you come to shop, it is better to do so during the week.

Besides these above-mentioned districts, London visitors can also find incredible shopping at Bond Street and Mayfair, Westfield Shopping Centre, King's Road, Carnaby, and Seven Dials. Though these spots are often less crowded on the weekends in comparison, they still offer quite the selection and attract the masses. However, instead of luxury lifestyle brands,  shoppers will find emerging designers, the latest fashions, and one-of-a-kind home goods — making a weekday spree the better choice for snagging highly coveted items before they are gone.

Order At The Bar When In Pubs

Table service at a pub is quite uncommon in London. To avoid not being served, patrons must order and pay at the bar. The same goes for snacks or pub eats — ordering happens at the bar. Typically, patrons order drinks, pay, and then carry their pints and cocktails back to their seats. For food requests, you will likely be given (or have to provide) a table number for your grub so it can be brought to you.

Ordering at the pub bar while doing the complete opposite in restaurants or other dining establishments may initially seem odd or slightly annoying. But when you think about it, it actually makes life a little easier. You do not have to worry about giving a tip and flagging someone down for another round. Patrons also do not have to sit around aimlessly waiting for the bill so that they can pay and leave. Instead, when you are ready to move on to the next pub or call it a night, you simply get up and go.

Try The Cuisine

The British are not necessarily known for their cuisine, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try the food. The culinary experience you can have while visiting the Big Smoke may just surprise you. Not only are there diverse options in this multicultural mecca, but there are some classic dishes such as fish and chips, Beef Wellington, bangers (sausages) and mash, Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding, and other must-tries.

In addition to some quintessential Londoner eats, travelers who have never sat down for afternoon tea should add a classic London afternoon tea or two to their to-do list. Foodies willing to try it all can savor the hearty full English breakfast, shepherd's pie, Scotch eggs, and bubble and squeak (potatoes and cabbage fried to perfection). What's more, for travelers with a sweet tooth, London has more than a few desserts like the sticky toffee pudding, Eton mess, and a trifle that will satisfy your cravings.

Skip The Tip While Eating Out

Tipping in London is definitely tricky business. Many restaurants have a 12.5% service charge automatically added to the bill. So, tipping is not necessary there. Alternatively, drinking establishments do not have a service charge, and tipping isn't really part of the process. Therefore, skipping the gratuity when eating out or grabbing a few drinks with friends is perfectly acceptable.

However, tipping does come into play in hotels and with certain hospitality services -- spas, taxis, and private tours. In these instances, the general rule of thumb is to tip somewhere between 10% and 15% for hotel dining, porters, door staff, massage therapists, and so on. When taking a black cab, leaving gratuity becomes a little more discretionary. At the end of the fare, travelers can decide to tip or not — though it is considered polite to either round up or add on a few pounds if you are happy with the service.

Budget Accordingly

When visiting London, going over budget or getting carried away on Regent Street is not difficult to do. From eating out every single day and excursions (both near and far) to shopping, treating yourself, and transportation, things can start to add up quickly. Most travelers budget for flights, accommodations, and entertainment and aim to spend a reasonable amount of money per day per person in this famous old city.

Still, those same travelers forget to consider the exchange rate and are often shocked at the cost. London isn't cheap by any means. Thus, budgeting for any trip across the pond should incorporate the exchange rate, money-saving tips, and everyone's individual travel style. You should also factor in last-minute price changes in your itinerary and unforeseeable expenses (lost items, medicines, other modes of transportation, and more). And remember, when creating your travel budget for London, you need to be honest with yourself — are you trying to splurge or save? This way, there will be no surprises.

Make Room For Day Trips

Lastly, for travelers who have already seen most of the city sights, making room in your itinerary and budget for a day trip or two is highly recommended. Spending days on end in the Big Smoke is exciting, fast-paced, and full of amazement. Nevertheless, this may be one of the only times you are this close to the English countryside, fascinating ruins, castles, quaint seaside villages, vast hiking trails, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and the whole of Europe.

Even if all you need is a mini-break from the hustle and bustle of the city, more than a few phenomenal destinations (including other countries) are only a train ride away. Paris, for example, is only two hours away. Plus, wanderers staying for a couple of weeks can spend their weekends in other far-off and magical places. Ultimately, a semi-lengthy London getaway can be whatever you decide to make it — and with these travel hacks at your disposal, you can make visiting London and its surrounding bits an exceptional experience you will never forget.

Read the original article on Explore .

Money: Take-home pay calculator - find out how much extra you're getting this month with National Insurance cut

Your take-home pay will likely be higher this month due to a National Insurance cut. Use our calculator to find out how much, enjoy our weekend reads and leave a comment below, and we'll be back with all the latest personal finance and consumer news on Monday.

Sunday 28 April 2024 11:25, UK

Weekend Money

• Calculate how much your take-home pay will change this month with national insurance reduction
• '£2,000 landed in my account' - The people who say they're manifesting riches
• Iceland's new slogan and cash for grades: What our readers said this week
• Why are mortgage rates going up?

Best of the week

• The world of dark tourism - what is it, is it ethical and where can you go?
• Virgin Media customers share their bad experiences of customer service
• More Britons paying inheritance tax after chancellor freezes threshold - so how can you beat it?
• 'More important than a will': What are lasting power of attorneys and how much do they cost?
• 'I have a mortgage offer - will it change now rates are rising?'

Ask a question or make a comment

National insurance was cut this month, for the second time this year, from 10% to 8% on employee earnings between £12,570 and £50,270.

The change, announced by the chancellor in his March budget, impacts around 27 million payroll employees across the UK - starting this pay day.

The cut is worth almost £250 to someone earning £25,000 a year and almost £750 for those earning £50,000

Use our tool below for a rough guide to what tax changes can be expected for most people, as there are other variables not included which might affect how much tax you pay including being in receipt of the blind person's allowance or the marriage allowance. It also assumes you are not self-employed and are under pension age...

There are also national insurance cuts for the self-employed. This includes the scrapping of Class 2 contributions, as well as a reduction of the rate of Class 4 contributions from 9% to 6% for the £12,570 to £50,270 earnings bracket.

These will impact nearly two million self-employed people, according to the Treasury.

While many campaigners welcomed the national insurance announcement last month, they pointed out that the tax burden remains at record high levels for Britons - thanks in part to the threshold at which people start paying income tax being frozen, rather than rising with inflation.

By Jess Sharp , Money team

My journey into the world of manifestation (the belief that you can attract success in your life through positive affirmations and visualisation) has taken me places I never thought I'd go.

Like woods in Edenbridge, where I stood meditating under a tree in the pouring rain. I don't yet know where my journey will end (I've been hoping for an engagement ring but my boyfriend hasn't yet seen my visualisations), but it started with a conversation with Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, one of many people who say manifestation has transformed their lives.

"About a year ago, there was something happening and I thought we just need two grand to cover the expense," Jamie, a former dancer from London, told me. "The following day £2,000 landed in my account."

It sounded like a coincidence to me, too.

But Jamie was adamant. His husband calls him "the master manifester" because of his "ability to bring in money".

"It's happened on so many occasions, like four, five times," he said. "I've become very clear on what I want and the amount of money I need and literally it can be within 24 hours that I get a phone call for a job and it's almost identical to what I asked for money-wise."

When I asked the now-psychic where the £2,000 actually came from, he said it was payment for a modelling job he had been offered.

"With manifesting you don't get caught up in the how, and often it comes in ways that you don't expect," he added, explaining it could come as the result of a claim after being in a car crash.

"It's not always coming in the way that you think but money is out there for us to take in the world. It's just having the confidence to receive it and we are worthy of it."

"Even if it is a placebo effect, does it matter?" he said.

The 43-year-old also believes he manifested his husband Fiongal after being diagnosed with cancer. While going through treatment and dating "a lot" of people, he decided to take matters into his own hands, or rather his own head, and started visualising his perfect partner.

"I decided to spend a good couple of weeks getting really, really, super clear in my mind what this person looked like. Then I started creating lists asking about personality traits, and all the things that I wanted that person to be," the former dancer said.

"The day I got the all clear from cancer I randomly met my husband and when I look at the list of the things I asked for, he pretty much ticks every single box. I really, really believe that is because I got super clear on what I wanted and I put that out to the universe to bring to me."

Jim Carrey and manifestation

If you think this is a new practice, it isn't. Jim Carrey was doing it back in the 90s. He famously wrote himself a $10m cheque for "acting services rendered" and dated it years in advance. Then in 1995, he was told he was going to make the exact amount for filming Dumb and Dumber.

The idea shot up in popularity again in 2006 after Rhonda Byrne published her self-help book The Secret.

Since then, it has hit every inch of the internet and has resurfaced on TikTok with videos posted under #manifesting accumulating a huge 13 billion views.

I tried to learn manifesting - I felt like an idiot

After hearing Jamie's story and seeing the idea was popular with so many people, I thought it best to try to learn manifestation myself. I mean, who wouldn't want money landing in their account and a work promotion from the universe?

As I stood in the woods, in the pouring rain, being told to imagine roots growing from the soles of my feet, I felt like an idiot.

I was soaking wet (of course I had forgotten a coat with a hood) and while my mind kept wandering through thoughts about being cold, if I'd hit traffic on the way home and how dirty my white trainers were getting, a gentle, soothing voice kept bringing me back to what I was supposed to be thinking about.

"How we are all connected, how the trees and plants produce oxygen that we breathe, and we breathe out carbon dioxide which they need to survive"

While some people focus their manifestation practices on being grateful to the universe, Tansy Jane Dowman believes we need to get "out of our heads, into our bodies", connect with nature and find our true selves before we can practice it successfully.

My meditation in the woods was just one part of a six-hour workshop run by Tansy, which aimed to send me off with a clearer vision of what I truly desired.

Tansy charges anywhere from £25 to £580 for her courses, which range from one-on-one sessions and an online six-week programme, to forest bathing workshops and weekend-long nature retreats.

But some courses have popped up online which cost more than £1,000.

Tansy started practising manifestation in 2018 after going through a difficult period in her life. She eventually quit her job in events management and started teaching others how to do it successfully.

"The way I manifest is not to focus on material wealth or gain. I would ask my clients what an abundant life means to them in terms of feelings, experiences, connections, people and places," she explained.

"The more authentic you are, the more of a beacon you become for those things to find you."

After spending time walking in the rain and meditating under a tree, Tansy and I sat in her dining room and explored some of the happiest moments in my life and the feelings I experienced. It became clear I like feeling accomplished, needed and excited.

We also spoke about challenging times, but the conversation focused on the positives, like how I had overcome them and what I had learned.

"It's so important to bring in your values with manifestation because sometimes we can get really confused with what we want, with social media especially," she told me.

Throughout her house, Tansy has a number of "abundance boards" proudly on display - some she has made with her children, others are from her annual January tradition of setting out her desires for the year.

"I've had some really wonderful goosebump things happen to me. I did a board at the beginning of 2020... I put a picture of a microphone on it. I just thought I really like that image and I didn't immediately place any meaning onto it," she said.

"Then as the world was shutting down for lockdown, I did a press event and I met a lady who worked for Wellbeing Radio and she wondered if I would be interested in trying out as a presenter."

She explained that some people will be very specific with their desires, like selecting a photo of the exact car they want, or the perfect house, but that isn't how manifestation works. There needs to be an element of trust in the universe giving them what they attract.

As we created my abundance board, which Tansy describes as being like a "personal algorithm", she told me to select images and words from heaps of magazines that called to me intuitively.

As you can see from the picture below, mine calls for being "financially fabulous", travelling, getting engaged (coughs loudly in earshot of boyfriend) and living stress-free.

And while I'd love a big cash injection, Tansy explained to me that money is "only a stepping stone to a feeling" and, ultimately, I'm aiming to create an emotion with it.

Manifesters more likely to go bankrupt

While all the manifestation believers I spoke to said there was no downside to the practice, a researcher has been looking into whether it really does pay off.

Based in Australia, Dr Lucas Dixon (who specialises in consumer psychology) created a scale from one to seven to rank a person's strength of belief and found those who practice it are more likely to have been victims of fraud and declared bankruptcy.

He said there was a "danger" that manifesting could become harmful if taken to an extreme level.

He found those who believe in manifesting tend to think more positively and have a confident attitude when it comes to success, and while that can be helpful in business, it can also cause them to take unnecessary risks.

"They weren't more objectively successful in terms of having higher income or higher education attainment," he said.

"We also found that they are more likely to believe in get-rich-quick schemes, more likely to take higher risks... to have risky financial investments and more likely to have investments in cryptocurrency rather than traditional stock."

Using the scale he created, Dr Dixon found those who have "very strong beliefs", ranking at a seven, were 40% more likely to have gone bankrupt.

"The danger comes in a couple of different forms," he said, explaining that a "worst case scenario" could see people getting into financial difficulty by being encouraged to "just look at the positives".

"Someone might say it's not harmful because it is really just thinking positively but I think even that can be harmful because of what you might call an opportunity cost," he said.

"You're spending time, energy and money doing something that doesn't have a lot of evidence behind it. We found it does make you feel good but you don't need to pay thousands to do it."

Okay, so back to me...

I did my manifestation course about two months ago, and I have done as I was instructed - my abundance board is up in sight inside the flat, and I often have a cup of coffee in front of it.

But, so far I'm still using a credit card, the most travelling I've done has been to work and back and there is still no rock on my finger. I have been given an annual pay rise, though, and would say I am less stressed.

Perhaps believing that I'm just doing my best and there's a chance that I'll be rewarded for that one day, eventually, in the future, maybe, is making me feel better... who knows?

Each week, Money blog readers share their thoughts on the subjects we've been covering, and over the last seven days your correspondence has been dominated by these topics...

• Iceland's new slogan
• Rising mortgage rates
• Giving kids cash for grades

Iceland's new catchphrase

We learnt on Monday that Iceland had dropped its tagline "That's why mums go to Iceland", replacing it with "That's why we go to Iceland".

The move was made to reflect the store is for everybody, said brand ambassador Josie Gibson. Readers were split - with some feeling so strongly that they're prepared, they suggest, to sacrifice those frozen Greggs steak bakes forever...

I previously contacted Iceland about their slogan because I didn't think it did single dads justice, as dads can go to Iceland too. Their response was that people understood that it's not just mums that go to Iceland. It's about time they changed the message. Dave T  

Neither I, my wife or my children will shop in Iceland again due to this stupidness and woke attitude. To hell with you [Iceland boss] Richard Walker. John  

Banks hike mortgage rates

This week we reported that high street lenders such as Halifax, TSB, NatWest, Barclays, Leeds Building Society, HSBC and Coventry had all hiked mortgage rates. 

You said...

With house prices at already extortionate levels, now mortgage rates rising again, is there any hope for first-time buyers? Honestly, the situation is so bleak, people may need to consider other countries. GenZ 

Why would this happen? So many young couples struggling to get on the property ladder. I live in Dorset - a one-bedroom flat costs from £230,000. In Scotland, one can get a beautiful two-bed house for that price. Feel sorry for all couples living down in the South. Need huge deposits. Barbs

Why are they called high-street banks? Most banks in my town have closed. Martin J

Parents offering cash for good grades

A lot of views came in after our feature exploring the positives and negatives of parents incentivising good school grades with cash...

We had scores of comments on this - with a fairly even split...

We did it for our son at GCSE time. We think it made a difference of about a grade on most subjects. Got a two-grade lift on maths. Cost us £350. Thought it was good value as it has taught him how things work in the world. Andy

The whole world is built on a reward system which symbolises access to money commensurate with effort and excellence. The Nobel prize goes with a cash reward! Tom Deggs

Employees are offered incentives for achieving targets, so why not offer kids incentives for better grades? Claire228 

But others had concerns...

I think it puts too much pressure on kids who are under enough pressure at exam time. Parents should encourage their kids to do the best they can, not add to their stress levels. Emma

Children should value their education without it being monetised. My parents expected my brother and I to have the motivation, maturity and self-discipline to work hard for our GCSEs. We both achieved all As and A*s. Eliza 

When I was at school, from 1964-83, my parents never gave me money for good exam results, because "I should want to do well for myself". No matter what my grades were, they said that they would be proud of me if I had tried my best. Cash kills self-motivation. Nicola B 

The money story of the week has been mortgage rates - with a host of major lenders announcing hikes amid fears the Bank of England may delay interest rate cuts.

Swap rates - which dictate how much it costs to lend money - have risen on the back of higher than expected US inflation data, and concerns this could delay interest rate cuts there. 

US trends often materialise elsewhere - though many economists are still expecting a base rate cut from 5.25% to 5% in the UK in June.

The reliable Bloomberg reported this week: "Still, while some economists have since scaled back their predictions for BOE cuts, most haven't changed expectations for a summer move.

"Analysts at Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group, Capital Economics and Bloomberg Economics are all among those still anticipating a shift toward easing in June."

The publication also quoted Sanjay Raja, chief UK economist at Deutsche Bank, as saying: "Markets have superimposed the US cycle on the UK, but the US and UK are on very different tracks.

"The UK is coming out of technical recession. Inflation is falling more convincingly. Pay settlements are following inflation expectations. And crucially, real policy rates in the UK will be higher than in the US."

None of this reassurance changes the fact that financial markets, which dictate swap rates, are pricing in delays.

This week's hikes came from Halifax, BM Solutions, TSB, NatWest, Virgin, Barclays, Accord, Leeds Building Society, HSBC and Coventry.

This is what average mortgage rates looked like as of Thursday...

The next Bank of England decision on rates comes on 9 May - and pretty much no one is expecting a cut from the 16-year high of 5.25% at that stage.

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

The family home where Captain Sir Tom Moore walked 100 laps to raise nearly £40m for the NHS during the first COVID lockdown is up for sale for £2.25m.

The Grade II-listed Old Rectory is described as a "magnificent seven-bedroom property" by estate agents Fine & Country.

In a video tour of the house, a sculpture of Captain Tom with his walking frame can be seen in the hallway, while a photo of the fundraising hero being knighted by the Queen is on a wall in the separate coach house building.

Introducing the property, an estate agent says in the tour video: "I'm sure you'll recognise this iconic and very famous driveway behind me as it was home to the late Captain Sir Tom Moore who walked 100 laps of his garden, raising over £37m for NHS charities."

It comes less than three months after the demolition of an unauthorised spa pool block in the grounds of the property in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.

Speaking at an appeal hearing over that spa, Scott Stemp, representing Captain Tom's daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband, said the foundation named after the fundraising hero "is to be closed down" following a Charity Commission probe launched amid concerns about its management.

For the full story, click here ...

"Status symbol" pets are being given up by owners who get scared as they grow up, an animal charity has said, with the cost of living possibly paying a part in a rise in separations.

The Exotic Pet Refuge, which homes parrots, monkeys, snakes and alligators among others, says it receives referrals across the country, including from zoos and the RSPCA.

"They're a status symbol. People will say, 'OK, I'll have an alligator or a 10ft boa constrictor'," co-owner Pam Mansfield told the BBC.

"But when the animal gets big, they will get too frightened to handle them, and then the pet has to go."

She added people who want to get rid of the pets sometimes call zoos for help, which then call on her charity.

In some cases, owners don't have licences to own dangerous animals, she says, blaming a "lack of understanding" for what she says is a rise in the number of exotic animals needing to be rehomed.

She says people "just don't have the space" for some snakes, for example, with some growing to as much as 12ft and needing their own room.

The cost of living crisis has also forced owners to give their pets away, she says.

Her charity has also been affected by those increased costs, with the electricity bill rising to £10,000 a month at their highest, to fund things like heated pools for alligators.

Private car parks are accused of "confusing drivers" after introducing a new code of conduct - despite "doing all they can" to prevent an official government version.

The code of practice launched by two industry bodies - British Parking Association and the International Parking Community - includes a ten-minute grace period for motorists to leave a car park after the parking period they paid for ends.

It also features requirements for consistent signage, a single set of rules for operators on private land and an "appeals charter".

Private parking businesses have been accused of using misleading and confusing signs, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees.

That comes after a government-backed code of conduct was withdrawn in June 2022, after a legal challenges by parking companies.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: "We're flabbergasted that the BPA and the IPC have suddenly announced plans to introduce their own private parking code after doing all they can over the last five years to prevent the official government code created by an act of Parliament coming into force.

"While there are clearly some positive elements to what the private parking industry is proposing, it conveniently avoids some of the biggest issues around caps on penalty charges and debt recovery fees which badly need to be addressed to prevent drivers being taken advantage of."

BPA chief executive Andrew Pester said: "This is a crucial milestone as we work closely with government, consumer bodies and others to deliver fairer and more consistent parking standards for motorists."

IPC chief executive Will Hurley said: "The single code will benefit all compliant motorists and will present clear consequences for those who decide to break the rules."

Sky News has learnt the owner of Superdry's flagship store is weighing up a legal challenge to a rescue plan launched by the struggling fashion retailer.

M&G, the London-listed asset manager, has engaged lawyers from Hogan Lovells to scrutinise the restructuring plan.

The move by M&G, which owns the fashion retailer's 32,000 square foot Oxford Street store, will not necessarily result in a formal legal challenge - but sources say it's possible.

Read City editor Mark Kleinman 's story here...

NatWest says its mortgage lending nearly halved at the start of the year as it retreated from parts of the market when competition among lenders stepped up.

New mortgage lending totalled £5.2bn in the first three months of 2024, the banking group has revealed, down from £9.9bn the previous year.

The group, which includes Royal Bank of Scotland and Coutts, also reported an operating pre-tax profit of £1.3bn for the first quarter, down 27% from £1.8bn the previous year.

An unexplained flow of British luxury cars into states neighbouring Russia continued into February, new data shows.

About £26m worth of British cars were exported to Azerbaijan, making the former Soviet country the 17th biggest destination for UK cars - bigger than long-established export markets such as Ireland, Portugal and Qatar.

Azerbaijan's ascent has coincided almost to the month with the imposition of sanctions on the export of cars to Russia.

Read the rest of economics and data editor Ed Conway 's analysis here...

Rishi Sunak has hailed the arrival of pay day with a reminder his government's additional National Insurance tax cut kicks in this month for the first time.

At last month's budget, the chancellor announced NI will be cut by a further 2p - so some workers will pay 8% of their earnings instead of the 12% if was before autumn.

The prime minister has repeated his claim this will be worth £900 for someone on the average UK salary.

While this additional cut - on top of the previous 2p cut in January - does equate to £900 for those on average full-time earnings of £35,000, there are two key issues with Mr Sunak's claim:

• Once the effect of all income tax changes since 2021 are taken into account, the Institute for Fiscal Studies reports an average earner will benefit from a tax cut of £340 - far less than £900;
• Moreover, anyone earning less than £26,000 or between £55,000-£131,000 will ultimately be worse off.

In short, this is because NI cuts are more than offset by other tax rises.

We explain below how this is the case...

Tax thresholds

This is partly down to tax thresholds - the amount you are allowed to earn before you start paying tax (and national insurance) and before you start paying the higher rate of tax - will remain frozen. 

This means people end up paying more tax than they otherwise would, when their pay rises with inflation but the thresholds don't keep up. 

This phenomenon is known as "fiscal drag" and it's often called a stealth tax because it's not as noticeable immediately in your pay packet.

That low threshold of £12,570 has been in place since April 2021. 

The Office for Budget Responsibility says if it had increased with inflation it would be set at £15,220 for 2024/25.

If that were the case, workers could earn an extra £2,650 tax-free each year.

Less give, more take

Sky News analysis shows someone on £16,000 a year will pay £607 more in total - equivalent to more than three months of average household spending on food. 

Their income level means national insurance savings are limited but they are paying 20% in income tax on an additional £2,650 of earnings.

In its analysis , the IFS states: "In aggregate the NICs cuts just serve to give back a portion of the money that is being taken away through other income tax and NICs changes - in particular, multi-year freezes to tax thresholds at a time of high inflation."

Overall, according to the institute, for every £1 given back to workers by the National Insurance cuts, £1.30 will have been taken away due to threshold changes between 2021 and 2024.

This rises to £1.90 in 2027.

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Israel’s war on Gaza updates: Hamas says reviewing new Israeli proposal

Official Khalil al-Hayya gave no details of offer, as Israeli FM says Rafah invasion to be ‘suspended’ if deal reached.

This live page is now closed. You can continue to follow our coverage of the war in Gaza here .

• Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya says the group is reviewing a new Israeli truce proposal, as Israeli FM Katz says Rafah invasion would be “suspended” if a prisoner swap deal is reached.
• At least seven people were killed and others injured when the Israeli army bombed a home in southern Gaza’s Rafah, Palestinian news agency Wafa reports, citing local and medical sources.
• Hamas’s military wing has published a video of two Israeli captives held in Gaza, showing footage of them calling on PM Netanyahu’s government to make a deal to secure their release.
• Growing student protests in the United States against the war on Gaza and universities’ ties with Israel have spread into Europe and beyond.
• At least 34,388 Palestinians have been killed and 77,437 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attacks stands at 1,139, with dozens of people still held captive in Gaza.

That’s a wrap from us

Thank you for joining us for updates on everything related to Israel’s war on Gaza.

For more news, analysis and opinion on the conflict, click  here .

A look at what happened today

We will be closing this live page soon. Here’s a quick recap from today:

• US news site Axios, citing two Israeli officials, reported that a new Israeli proposal for a possible deal with Hamas included a willingness to discuss the “restoration of sustainable calm” in Gaza.
• Israeli FM Katz said the Rafah invasion would be “suspended” if a prisoner swap deal is reached.
• Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported that 30 rockets were fired from Lebanon towards Israel.
• An Israeli strike in Srebbine, southern Lebanon, destroyed a house and injured 14 civilians, two of them seriously, according to Al Jazeera’s reporter.
• Student protests  in the United States against the  war on Gaza and universities’ ties with Israel continued.
• Students at Columbia released their five demands from the US university, including a demand to divest from companies that aid the Israeli government and another to sever ties to Israeli universities.
• Some senior US officials advised Secretary of State Antony Blinken that they do not find “credible or reliable” Israel’s assurances that it is using US-supplied weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law, according to an internal State Department memo reviewed by Reuters.
• Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers in residential areas in the occupied West Bank.
• Hamas’s military wing released a video of two Israeli captives demanding the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reach an exchange deal.
• At least seven people were killed in an Israeli army attack on a home in Rafah, Wafa reported.
• A flotilla hoping to deliver aid to Gaza was blocked in Turkey after the West African country of Guinea-Bissau withdrew its flagged vessels.
• Muqtada al-Sadr, an influential Shia Muslim leader in Iraq, expressed his support for the pro-Palestinian encampments at universities in the United States.

WATCH: A 74-year-old Palestinian activist spends six months in Israeli jail

Omar Assaf has just been released from an Israeli prison after six months in custody.

Our cameras caught him reuniting with his family and a little bit of his story.

Watch our video for more: 

‘We’re living this war in all aspects of life’

Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary was one of the signatories of the letter calling on US White House journalists to boycott the correspondent’s dinner.

She spoke to us from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. Here is what she said:

I don’t have the words to describe what I have been going through since October 7.

This is not something that has been ending. It has been continuous every single day for more than 200 days. We have been killed, displaced and homeless, and we’re not only reporting on this, but we’re also living it with every single detail.

We’re living this war in all aspects of life. We have not seen our families as journalists. We have not been able to eat well. We have been dehydrated.

We have been reporting in one of the harshest conditions any reporter can go through despite losing a lot of colleagues, and it hurts our souls and our hearts every single day.

We have been constantly targeted by the Israeli air strikes and shelling.

All of these daily things we have been living as journalists are overwhelming [and] exhausting, but we still continue because there have been at least 100 Palestinian journalists whom I personally know that have been killed since October 7.

If they were here today with us, they would be reporting, and they would be raising the voice of the voiceless Palestinians.

Pro-Palestine protesters arrested at Indiana University

The Indiana University police department in Bloomington, United States, says that 23 protesters have been arrested.

Indiana State Police and Indiana University police told pro-Palestinian protesters they could not pitch tents and camp on campus.

When the tents were not removed, police arrested and transported protesters to the Monroe County Justice Center on charges of criminal trespass and resisting arrest.

A police statement read, “The Indiana University Police Department continues to support peaceful protests on campus that follow university policy.”

Protesters shout, ‘Shame on you’, outside White House correspondents dinner

Reporting from Washington DC, US

It’s astonishing. We’ve never seen a White House correspondent’s dinner like this.

At the Washington Hilton, the president is here to speak while being warmly applauded by the national US press core.

But these VIPs are all dressed up in the evening finery, and they have to run the gauntlet of hundreds of protesters out here who are shouting, “Shame on you”.

“Shame on you” for breaking bread when there are 140 journalists dead as a result of, as far as they say, Biden’s complicity in their murder.

Rockets fired from southern Lebanon at northern Israel

Al Jazeera’s correspondent reports that 30 rockets were fired from Lebanon towards Israel.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that rockets were fired from Lebanon towards the Meron area, which is located in northern Israel.

Israeli media and platforms broadcast scenes showing explosions over the area.

As we have reported, there were several exchanges of fire across the Lebanon-Israel border on Saturday.

An Israeli strike in Srebbine, southern Lebanon, destroyed a house and injured 14 civilians, two of them seriously.

Since October 8 , the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and the Israeli military have traded fire regularly.

You can read our in-depth analysis of these cross-border attacks here .

Photos: Day 10 of pro-Palestine protest at Columbia University

Students continue to occupy an encampment at Columbia University’s campus in New York.

They have been protesting the university’s investments in Israel and showing their support for Palestine for almost two weeks – inspiring other students across the nation to do the same.

Prominent US activist expresses support for campus pro-Palestine protests

Linda Sarsour tells Al Jazeera that she is “extremely inspired and encouraged by these young people all across this country”.

Sarsour, who is of Palestinian descent, was visiting the protest at Princeton University where students, as they are on campuses across the country, are protesting in support of Palestinians, as well as against their institutions’ investments in Israel.

“These young people are reaffirming and demonstrating that the tide is shifting on Palestine, that the Palestinian people have solidarity not just across the United States of America, but across the world,” she said.

When asked why no major university presidents are supporting the students in their protests, she said that the institutions “are beholden to their donors, instead of being loyal to their students”.

Police staying away from Emory University after Thursday’s violent scenes

Reporting from Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Over the last hour or so, the number [of protesters has] steadily been growing. At the moment, it’s probably more of a gathering than a protest.

But this is very much a peaceful affair, and that’s been very much what the organisers have been selling it as on social media. [They say] come along, bring a blanket, bring some food, bring something to drink, sit on the ground, make some posters, write some slogans on the floor with chalk, just show your solidarity through peaceful motives.

There’s also a significant lack of police here. The occasional officer walks by, but compared to Thursday, when we saw those scenes and those mass arrests, the police are very much staying away.

The president of this university is coming under increasing pressure because he is the man who said that the police were right to be here on Thursday when we saw those violent arrests . Yesterday, one of the faculties here held a motion to hold a vote of no confidence in him.

Israeli truce proposal includes possibility of ‘restoration of sustainable calm’ in Gaza: Report

US news site Axios, citing two Israeli officials, reports that a new Israeli proposal for a possible deal with Hamas includes a willingness to discuss the “restoration of sustainable calm” in Gaza after an initial release of captives on humanitarian grounds.

According to Axios, the Israeli officials said the new proposal was formulated jointly by the Egyptian intelligence delegation and the Israeli negotiations team.

The new proposal is reported to offer a response to several of Hamas’s demands, including a willingness to allow the full return of displaced Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Netzarim Corridor, which splits the north of Gaza from the rest of the enclave.

Axios states that “the proposal also includes a willingness to discuss the establishment of a sustainable ceasefire as part of the implementation of the second phase of the deal”, which would take place after the release of the Israeli captives on humanitarian grounds.

This would mark the first time since Israel began its war on Gaza that Israeli leaders have shown an openness to discussing an end to the war as part of a deal to release the captives.

WATCH: Aid ship delayed as Israel creates ‘administrative roadblock’

A flotilla aiming to deliver aid to Gaza has been blocked in Turkey after the West African country of Guinea-Bissau withdrew its flagged vessels.

“Sadly, Guinea-Bissau has allowed itself to become complicit in Israel’s deliberate starvation, illegal siege and genocide of Palestinians in Gaza,” said the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.

Watch our video to learn more:

491 Palestinians killed in West Bank since Oct 7: Ministry

The Palestinian Authority (PA) Ministry of Health has said that the number includes 123 children, five women, five elderly people and 10 detainees in Israeli prisons.

Earlier today, we reported that Israeli troops killed two men, ages 20 and 21, in Jenin, and injured two others moderately, according to medics at Jenin’s government hospital.

Palestinian journalists call for boycott of White House correspondents dinner

More than two dozen Palestinian journalists have called for a boycott of the upcoming White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, which annually brings reporters, politicians and a glitzy array of celebrities together.

With President Joe Biden heading a long list of VIP guests, Palestinian journalists penned an open letter urging their American colleagues not to attend the dinner.

“You have a unique responsibility to speak truth to power and uphold journalistic integrity,” said the letter. “It is unacceptable to stay silent out of fear or professional concern while journalists in Gaza continue to be detained, tortured, and killed for doing our jobs.”

According to the New York-based Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ), at least 97 journalists – including 92 Palestinians – have been killed since October 7. At least 16 others have been wounded.

In addition to the boycott call, an antiwar coalition is planning a demonstration not far from the Washington Hilton hotel where the dinner will take place.

The antiwar group Code Pink, part of the coalition, said it planned to “shut down” the dinner to protest “the complicity of the Biden administration in the targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli military”.

Four US state depts raise concerns in internal memo that Israel may be violating international law in Gaza

Some senior US officials have advised Secretary of State Antony Blinken that they do not find “credible or reliable” Israel’s assurances that it is using US-supplied weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law, according to an internal State Department memo reviewed by Reuters.

Under a National Security Memorandum (NSM) issued by President Joe Biden in February, Blinken must report to Congress by May 8 whether he finds credible Israel’s assurances that its use of US weapons does not violate US or international law.

By March 24, at least seven State Department bureaus had sent their contributions to an initial “options memo” to Blinken.

“Some components in the department favoured accepting Israel’s assurances, some favoured rejecting them, and some took no position,” an unnamed US official quoted by Reuters said.

A joint submission from four bureaus raised “serious concern over non-compliance” with international humanitarian law during Israel’s prosecution of the war on Gaza .

The assessment from the four bureaus said Israel’s assurances were “neither credible nor reliable.” It cited eight examples of Israeli military actions that the officials said raise “serious questions” about potential violations of international humanitarian law.

These included repeatedly striking protected sites and civilian infrastructure; “unconscionably high levels of civilian harm to military advantage”; taking little action to investigate violations or to hold to account those responsible for significant civilian harm and “killing humanitarian workers and journalists at an unprecedented rate”.

Protests in Israel constant reminder to the gov’t that it remains very unpopular

Reporting from Tel Aviv, Israel

There were perhaps as many as 30,000 people earlier on, both here outside the Defence Ministry and in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Modern Art, where the families of the captives gather every night.

These protests are gathering momentum. They have been here since long before October 7. I was here this time last year as people protested against the government and its attempts to change the way judges were appointed to the Supreme Court.

They picked up again in recent months as people called for an end to the war in Gaza and the resignation of the government, particularly [Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu.

Many of the protesters here saying that Netanyahu is deliberately prolonging this war in Gaza, because it saves him from the ultimate reckoning at the ballot box.

The difference this year from last year is that there’s a more mixed crowd because many people have lost faith and Benjamin Netanyahu.

All the polls say that if there’s a new election, then he will almost certainly lose.

Israeli army says it hopes Gaza aid pier ready by early May

The Israeli army has said it hopes a pier to deliver aid to Gaza will be ready by early May, as it pushes ahead with its war on the besieged coastal enclave.

“We will be working with our partners on this endeavour … in the upcoming weeks, hopefully to make it fully functional early May,” Israeli army spokesperson Nadav Shoshani told an online press briefing on Saturday.

Shoshani said, “There will be no American boots on the ground, so once the aid gets to the land, the international organisations are going to be the ones carrying them out.”

Plans for the pier were first announced by US President Joe Biden in early March as Israel continues to hold up aid deliveries by land.

UN agencies have said maritime deliveries alone cannot deliver sufficient aid to ward off the threat of famine and have called on Israel to open up more border crossings for road convoys.

Hamas reviewing Israeli proposal for Gaza ceasefire

Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya has given no details of Israel’s offer, but said it was in response to a Hamas proposal two weeks ago.

Negotiations earlier this month centred on a six-week ceasefire proposal and the release of 40 captives in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

A separate Hamas statement said leaders from three main factions active in Gaza discussed attempts to end the war. It didn’t mention the Israeli proposal.

The statements came hours after an Egyptian delegation wrapped up a visit to Israel.

Egypt has cautioned that an offensive into Rafah could have “catastrophic consequences” on the humanitarian situation in Gaza as well as on regional peace and security.

Israeli fighter jets target Hezbollah infrastructure: Israeli military

We reported earlier on an exchange of fire between Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and the Israeli military in the north of Israel.

The Israeli military now says that its fighter jets struck Hezbollah infrastructure in the areas of Markaba and Srebbine in southern Lebanon.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent, Zeina Khodr, reports that the strike in Srebbine destroyed a house and that 14 civilians were injured, two of them seriously.

Husam Zomlot, Jeremy Corbyn lead pro-Palestine protest in London

The official account of the Palestinian Mission to the UK has posted a picture of Husam Zomlot, Palestine’s ambassador to the UK, leading a protest in London.

Also pictured is Jeremy Corbyn , the former leader of the UK Labour Party and vocal critic of Israel’s war on Gaza.

#HappeningNow : Ambassador @hzomlot leading the massive protest in London to demand an end to the Israeli genocide in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/oHPECFV7fC — Palestine in the UK (@PalMissionUK) April 27, 2024

Injuries after Israel bombs town in southern Lebanon

According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, nine were injured in an Israeli raid on the town of Srebbine in the south of the country.

The Israeli raid targeted a house in the southern Lebanese town of Srebbine. NNA said one person was injured critically and that among the wounded were two Syrian citizens.

Police say they will not interfere in peaceful protests at George Washington University

It’s noisy at the moment. Several organisers have been speaking at a news conference, making clear their intent not to vacate this area.

At the moment, there are a little more than 100 students encamped in what is called University Square.

Unlike what is happening at other universities like Princeton, this is a public university, so effectively, this is all public space.

University administrators and the police are well aware of this. Administrators did ask the police to come in 24 hours ago and remove tents.

However, Washington, DC police declined to do so. They insisted that the demonstrations were peaceful and that they would not interfere as long as they remained so.

Now, some of the students have told us that the university is using retaliatory methods. It has suspended a number of the students who have been demonstrating. The university identifies them when they leave the square behind me and go into one of the adjoining buildings to use a bathroom, for example, and as they would need to log in to the system. They have then been identified by that login.

However, the students insist they will remain here. The police maintain that their job is to stand here and observe and take no action while these demonstrations remain peaceful.

Blinken set to travel to Saudi Arabia to discuss Gaza, regional security

The US State Department says that the secretary of state will make the visit on Monday and Tuesday to meet regional partners and discuss efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.

The State Department said in a statement, “[Blinken] will discuss the recent increase in humanitarian assistance being delivered to Gaza and underscore the importance of ensuring that increase is sustained.”

“The Secretary will also emphasize the importance of preventing the conflict from spreading and discuss ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the region, including through a pathway to an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel,” it added.

Israeli foreign minister says deal would defer Rafah operation

Israel’s foreign minister says that a planned incursion into the city of Rafah could be suspended should there be a deal to secure the release of Israeli captives held by Hamas.

“The release of the hostages is the top priority for us,” said Foreign Minister Israel Katz during an interview with Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.

Asked if that included putting off a planned operation that would target Hamas battalions in the city of Rafah, Katz answered, “Yes.”

He went on to say: “If there will be a deal, we will suspend the operation.”

Israel’s allies, the United Nations and major NGOs have urged Israel not to invade the southern Gaza Strip city, in which hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are currently sheltering.

Princeton protestors won’t leave until the university divests from Israel

Reporting from Princeton, New Jersey, United States

This is day three at Princeton University, and these students are walking a fine line.

The university has said that they are not allowed to sleep here, so they have been coming in shifts to continually occupy this space for these past three days.

On Thursday, the first day, when a couple of them put up a tent, police came in and arrested them. So that’s the line they have to walk.

I talked to a history professor and he was saying there was a bit of irony here that this university is instilling values in the students and then punishing them for practising those values.

These students have decided to take their stand on this issue: They’re demanding divestment from the university from anything invested in Israel or in the war on Gaza, and they say they’ll stay here until they get what they asked for.