London Travel Guide

London is a massive, diverse global city with museums, neighborhoods, and food scenes. It's expensive, crowded, and genuinely overwhelming at times, but genuinely rewarding for those willing to explore beyond the obvious tourist sites.

Updated · On BootsnAll since 1999 · History

Overview and Things to Consider

London is one of Europe's largest cities, spread across both sides of the Thames. The West End (theater) and Westminster (Parliament, palaces) are obvious tourist zones. But neighborhoods like Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, and Elephant & Castle have truly interesting independent culture.

London's strength is its museums - most are free and world-class. British Museum, National Gallery, V&A, Natural History Museum. The pub culture is really strong. Markets like Camden and Portobello Road are worth exploring. Food ranges from Indian takeaway to Michelin stars.

London is remarkably expensive - accommodation, food, transport all cost more than comparable European cities. The weather is unpredictable - expect grey skies and drizzle. The city is massive - you need a strategy or you'll waste time on transport. But London notably rewards exploration.

Getting There and Around

London has five airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and City. Trains connect to the city center from each. The Tube (underground) is the fastest way to move around. Buy an Oyster card and load credit - it's cheaper than individual tickets.

Walking is seriously rewarding - you discover neighborhoods and street life. Buses are also cheap with an Oyster. Taxis are expensive. The city is sprawling so you need transport to cross it. The Tube is fast but crowded during rush hour.

What's Changed Since 2016

London has become distinctly expensive - accommodation and food costs have risen sharply. Tourism has intensified - major sites are packed. Neighborhoods that were edgy in 2016 have been gentrified and domesticated. Shoreditch is now establishment cool rather than especially alternative.

The food scene has truly improved with more diverse cuisines. Street markets remain vibrant. The Tube system is the same but more crowded. Brexit has had minimal effect on tourism. More neighborhoods have become desirable and expensive - you need to search harder for authenticity.

Ideas to Consider for Your Visit

Skip major tourist sites during peak hours - go early morning or late afternoon. The British Museum is really extraordinary - spend hours there. Walk across the Thames using different bridges - each offers different views. Explore neighborhoods like Bethnal Green and Hackney for real London.

Sit in a proper pub and watch locals. Visit markets like Borough, Camden, or Portobello Road for food and atmosphere. Eat at Indian restaurants in Brick Lane or Thai in Soho - remarkably excellent and affordable. Use buses to move between neighborhoods - watching the city pass slowly is notably rewarding.

Realities to Be Aware Of

London is seriously expensive - accommodation costs 100-200+ GBP for mid-range hotels. Meals cost 15-30 GBP in casual restaurants. Transport costs add up. The weather is unpredictable - pack layers. The city is massive - you can spend weeks here and not see everything.

Crowds are genuine at all major sites. Pickpocketing occurs on the Tube - watch your belongings. The city is safe but has rough neighborhoods - don't wander into unfamiliar areas late at night. Tap water is drinkable. Many venues are closed on Mondays.

If London Is Part of a Longer Trip

London is well-connected to Europe by train (Eurostar). Paris is 2.5 hours by train. Many visitors do a UK loop - London, Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, then Liverpool or Edinburgh. London is distinctly worth 5-7 days if you're moving slowly.

Day trips: Stonehenge (2 hours), Bath (1.5 hours), Windsor (45 minutes), Oxford (1 hour). The Cotswolds are especially beautiful but require a car. Four to five days minimum in London; a week or more is better if you want to explore neighborhoods properly.

Yearly Things to Consider

May through September are warmest - expect crowds and high prices. April and October are pleasant with fewer tourists. November through February are cold, grey, and depressing. Winter shows holiday lights but the weather is truly miserable for many.

Spring flowers are lovely. Summer is really busy and hot. Autumn colors are pleasant. Winter requires accepting grey skies - some find this atmospheric, others find it depressing.

Ideas for Itineraries

Day 1 - Westminster and South Bank (5 hours)

Start at Westminster Abbey or Big Ben. Walk to Buckingham Palace. Cross Westminster Bridge and walk the South Bank - London Eye, National Theatre, Millennium Bridge. Visit the British Museum if time. Have dinner in Soho or another neighborhood.

Day 2 - Museums and Markets (5 hours)

Spend hours at the British Museum or National Gallery - both remarkably excellent and free. Have lunch at a market - Borough, Camden, or Portobello Road. Explore the neighborhood where you have lunch. Afternoon coffee and cake at a local cafe. Evening pub dinner.

Day 3 - East London Neighborhoods (4 hours)

Take the Tube to Bethnal Green or Hackney and explore real London neighborhoods. Walk through residential streets and local shops. Have lunch at a local restaurant. Explore street art and independent galleries. This is London beyond tourism.

Day 4 - Day Trip to Bath or Oxford (full day)

Take a train to Bath (1.5 hours) to see Georgian architecture and Roman baths, or Oxford (1 hour) to see university and colleges. Spend the day exploring. Have lunch locally. Return by train. These are notably worth seeing if you have time.

Nearby on BootsnAll

  • Oxford - Oxford in 2026 is 52 minutes from London Paddington, with Botley Road finally open again and a new ban on paying your way through its traffic filters.
  • Bath - Bath in 2026 is a Georgian stage set of 94,000 people that takes about five million visitors a year, an hour and 20 minutes by train from Paddington.
  • Cambridge - Cambridge in 2026 is 49 minutes from King's Cross and has a brand-new third station, but less of the university opens to walk-in visitors than it did a decade ago.

From the BootsnAll archive

18 stories and articles about London, 2000 to 2012

Show all 18

FAQ

Four days minimum to see major sites. Five to seven days lets you explore neighborhoods and museums properly. Two weeks would let you really understand the city. Many people spend 3-4 days and feel rushed.

Yes, generally safe. Pickpocketing occurs on the Tube and in crowded areas. Avoid unfamiliar neighborhoods late at night. Avoid aggressive drunk people in evening. Standard city safety practices apply.

Central areas like Soho or King's Cross are convenient but expensive. Neighborhoods like Bethnal Green, Hackney, or Elephant & Castle are cheaper and more authentic. The Tube connects everywhere - you don't need to stay central.

Indian food, Thai, British classics (fish and chips, Sunday roast). Street food is excellent. Markets like Borough have prepared food. Ranges from cheap street food to expensive restaurants. Meals cost 10-30+ GBP.

Yes, British Museum, National Gallery, V&A, Natural History, Science Museum are all free. Donations are requested. Special exhibitions sometimes charge. This is seriously valuable for saving money.

Budget: 80-120 GBP daily. Mid-range: 150-250 GBP daily. Upscale: 300+ GBP daily. London is expensive by European standards.

Update history (29)▸

  1. · Links

    Added "Nearby on BootsnAll" links to the new last-mile guides: Oxford, Bath, Cambridge

  2. · Rewrite

    Updated for modern frameworks, with content updates and changes

  3. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  4. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  5. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  6. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  7. · Contributors

    1 message-board post from 1 traveler

    • 2014: 1 post from 1 traveler in the London Travel forum (source)

  8. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  9. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees: all content and prices updated July 2013

  10. · Contributors

    8 message-board posts from 6 travelers

    • 2013: 8 posts from 6 travelers in the London Travel forum (source)

  11. · Contributors

    41 message-board posts from 21 travelers and 6 member blog posts from 2 bloggers

    • 2012: 6 posts from 2 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2012: 41 posts from 21 travelers in the London Travel forum (source)

  12. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  13. · Contributors

    85 message-board posts from 46 travelers

    • 2011: 85 posts from 46 travelers in the London Travel forum (source)

  14. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  15. · Contributors

    124 message-board posts from 51 travelers and 2 member blog posts from 2 bloggers

    • 2010: 2 posts from 2 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2010: 124 posts from 51 travelers in the London Travel forum (source)

  16. · Contributors

    1 article, by Victoria Brewood, plus 100 message-board posts from 45 travelers and 2 member blog posts from 2 bloggers

    • August 2009: Places to Visit in England Besides London - Victoria Brewood (article) (source)
    • 2009: 2 posts from 2 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2009: 100 posts from 45 travelers in the London Travel forum (source)

  17. · Archive

    Travel guide on BootsnAll, at a new address

    Archived copy of /Europe-England-London

  18. · Contributors

    2 articles, by Jeanette Bergman and Roy A. Barnes, plus 277 message-board posts from 106 travelers and 5 member blog posts from 4 bloggers

    • August 2008: English Breakfast - London, England, UK - Jeanette Bergman (article) (source)
    • August 2008: Roy’s Offbeat London - London, England - Roy A. Barnes (article) (source)
    • 2008: 5 posts from 4 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2008: 277 posts from 106 travelers in the London Travel forum (source)

  19. · Contributors

    425 message-board posts from 150 travelers and 17 member blog posts from 8 bloggers

    • 2007: 17 posts from 8 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2007: 425 posts from 150 travelers in the London Travel forum (source)

  20. · Contributors

    1 article, by Jennifer L. Price, plus 130 message-board posts from 61 travelers and 10 member blog posts from 4 bloggers

    • September 2006: Traveling With a Clear Plastic Bag - London, England - Jennifer L. Price (article) (source)
    • 2006: 10 posts from 4 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2006: 130 posts from 61 travelers in the London Travel forum (source)

  21. · Contributors

    29 message-board posts from 23 travelers and 8 member blog posts from 6 bloggers

    • 2005: 8 posts from 6 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2005: 29 posts from 23 travelers in the London Travel forum (source)

  22. · Contributors

    23 message-board posts from 15 travelers and 7 member blog posts from 3 bloggers

    • 2004: 7 posts from 3 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2004: 23 posts from 15 travelers in the London Travel forum (source)

  23. · Contributors

    6 message-board posts from 6 travelers

    • 2003: 6 posts from 6 travelers in the London Travel forum (source)

  24. · Archive

    Covered in BootsnAll's round-the-world destination guides

    Archived copy of /rtw/destinations/europe/london.shtml

  25. · Contributors

    2 Insider dispatches, by Barbara Ballard and Sarah Jayne Anderson

    • January 2002: Tower Of London Events for 2002 - London, England - Barbara Ballard (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • September 2002: London, England Travel Guide - Greenwich - Sarah Jayne Anderson (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)

  26. · Contributors

    7 Insider dispatches, 1 article, by Stacy Ashworth, Barbara Cummings, Annie Mole and 2 others

    • April 2001: April 2001 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • May 2001: May 2001 - London, England - Barbara Cummings (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • June 2001: June 2001 - London, England - Barbara Cummings (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • June 2001: June 2001 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • July 2001: The London Underground - London, England - Annie Mole (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • August 2001: America Attacked - London, England - Phil Rado (article) (source)
    • October 2001: London Museums are Free - London, England - Barbara Ballard (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • October 2001: Victoria and Albert Museum to Open New British Galleries - London, England - Barbara Ballard (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)

  27. · Contributors

    11 Insider dispatches, 1 article, by Stacy Ashworth, Raymond J.G. Wells and Celeste Bobryk

    • January 2000: London, England - January 2000 - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • February 2000: London, England - February 2000 - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • March 2000: London Pubs...Along The Thames! - London, England - Raymond J.G. Wells (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • March 2000: March 2000 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • May 2000: May 2000 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • June 2000: June 2000 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • July 2000: July 2000 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • August 2000: European Tour, My Own Way #1: First stop: London - London, England - Celeste Bobryk (article) (source)
    • September 2000: September 2000 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • October 2000: October 2000 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • November 2000: November 2000 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • December 2000: December 2000 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch) (source)

  28. · Contributors

    10 Insider dispatches, by Stacy Ashworth and Simon Matterface

    • April 1999: London, England - April 1999 - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • May 1999: London, England - May 1999 - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • June 1999: June 1999 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • July 1999: July 1999 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • August 1999: London, England - August 1999 - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • September 1999: September 1999 - London, England - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • October 1999: London, England - October 1999 - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • November 1999: A Londoner on London - Simon Matterface (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • November 1999: London, England - November 1999 - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • December 1999: London, England - December 1999 - Stacy Ashworth (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)

  29. · Contributors

    Chris Heidrich, BootsnAll co-founder, has contributed to this guide since 1999, including dispatches from BootsnAll and AirTreks travelers