London Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

London
London showing night scenes, skyline and a skyscraper
Albert Memorial featuring a garden, autumn colours and heritage architecture
London featuring a city, a square or plaza and a statue or sculpture
London

London Travel Guide Video

London is dizzyingly vast, thrillingly cosmopolitan and packed with culture at every turn; there is no other city quite like it.

Take a trip in the London Eye, the giant wheel that sits on the banks of the River Thames, to get a sense of what makes London such an amazing city. Look below you to see immediately recognizable landmarks and streets bursting with life. As well as offering unparalleled sightseeing and culture, London today also promises a thriving foodie scene and peaceful parks, for when you need to escape the restless rush of the city.

Visit the Museum of London to find out about the fascinating story of Britain’s capital city. Learn about its origins at the Roman settlement Londinium, as well as the invasions and occupations that shaped the city in the following two millennia.

One of the best ways to spend your time in London is hopping between its numerous world-class museums and galleries, most of which are free to enter. The British Museum and the National Gallery are two of the most famous, but there are dozens more to discover. Learn about the history of healthcare in the Wellcome Collection or chart the story of design in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Saatchi Gallery also offer hours of entertainment.

The U.K.’s capital has no shortage of iconic landmarks, from Trafalgar Square to St. Paul’s Cathedral to the Houses of Parliament. Meet the silent, stoic soldiers that stand outside Buckingham Palace and encounter the crown jewels at the Tower of London.

Modern London hosts a thriving arts scene that every visitor needs to experience. Amble along Southbank to pass the Tate Modern, the British Film Institute and the National Theatre. Book tickets to see world-famous musicals in the theatres of the West End. Alternatively, seek out something more classical at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden for a night of extravagant entertainment.

Travel to London at any time of year, although wrap up in waterproofs if visiting in the rainy winter months between November and February. While the London Underground makes getting around easy, the city center is also an exciting area to explore on foot.

Where to stay in London

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London City Centre

4.5/5(2 area reviews)

Known for its fascinating museums, stunning river views and acclaimed art galleries, there's plenty to explore in London City Centre. Top attractions like Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus are major draws. Catch the metro at Charing Cross Underground Station or Leicester Square Underground Station to see more of the city.

London City Centre
London showing heritage elements, markets and signage

Covent Garden

The lively bars and colourful gardens are just a few top-rate features of the neighbourhood. Make a stop by Covent Garden Market or London Transport Museum while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Covent Garden Underground Station to get around town.

Covent Garden
Admiralty Arch showing heritage architecture

City of Westminster

4.5/5(470 area reviews)

Big Ben and Trafalgar Square are a few top attractions in City of Westminster. Hop around the city on the metro at St. James's Park Underground Station or Victoria Underground Station and check out the area's fascinating museums, popular shops and acclaimed art galleries.

City of Westminster
The City of London which includes a skyscraper, a city and modern architecture

The City of London

4.5/5(80 area reviews)

The City of London is highly notable for its stunning cathedral, and you might want to visit top sights like St. Paul's Cathedral and Liverpool Street. See more of London by jumping on the metro at Bank Underground Station or St. Paul's Underground Station.

The City of London
Soho

Soho

Soho is beloved for its fantastic nightlife. Take some time to explore sights in the area like Oxford Street and Soho Square.

Soho
Paddington showing a city and a square or plaza

Paddington

The Grosvenor Victoria Casino London and Queensway are top sights in Paddington, and you should be sure to explore the popular shops. Hop aboard the metro at Paddington Underground Station or Edgware Road (Bakerloo) Underground Station to see more sights in the area.

Paddington
Strand Palace Hotel
Strand Palace Hotel
4 out of 5
372 The Strand, London, England
The price is NZ$409 per night from 27 July to 28 July
NZ$409
27 July - 28 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (4,115 reviews)
"We very much liked the hotel. Convenient location. Hotel lobby was often very busy but rooms were quiet."

Reviewed on 28 Jun. 2025

Strand Palace Hotel
Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
3 out of 5
Great Windmill Street, London, England
The price is NZ$294 per night from 6 July to 7 July
NZ$294
6 July - 7 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and premium bedding. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our ...
7.4/10 Good! (4,872 reviews)
"Good service and excellent"

Reviewed on 27 Jun. 2025

Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
The Tower Hotel, by Thistle
The Tower Hotel, by Thistle
4 out of 5
St Katharine's Way, London, England
The price is NZ$292 per night from 6 July to 7 July
NZ$292
6 July - 7 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (7,533 reviews)
"Great view to the Tower Bridge, great location. I understand is a busy hotel because its location and view, but I will recommend investing to perform a global updates/renovations, the carpets, rooms, bathrooms, cabinets."

Reviewed on 30 Jun. 2025

The Tower Hotel, by Thistle
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Vertus Edit Canary Wharf
Vertus Edit Canary Wharf
4 out of 5
3 & 15 West Lane, London, England
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour fitness center, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions O2 Arena and ExCeL Exhibition ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (269 reviews)
"Sam was wonderful! If I had any questions he would be on it right away. I had a great stay."

Reviewed on 24 Jun. 2025

Vertus Edit Canary Wharf
Marlin Apartments London Bridge - Empire Square
Marlin Apartments London Bridge - Empire Square
4.5 out of 5
34 Long Lane, London, England
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our ...
7.8/10 Good! (530 reviews)
"The view from the apartment is fantastic and our family of four appreciated having a second bathroom. The location is great and we were able to walk to everything - Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, etc. There's a Tesco next door and a great pub, The King's Arms, within easy ..."

Reviewed on 29 Jun. 2025

Marlin Apartments London Bridge - Empire Square
Rockwell East
Rockwell East
4 out of 5
99 Mansell Street, London, England
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (604 reviews)
"Good aparthotel. I did have some trouble with the washer/drying stopping mid cycle which presented some challenges for managing clean clothes. Also missed that there were no gym facilities, which were definitely missed."

Reviewed on 24 Jun. 2025

Rockwell East
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of London

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
826
5 - Excellent 52%
4 - Good
645
4 - Good 41%
3 - Okay
86
3 - Okay 5%
2 - Disappointing
13
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
5
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Kaela

Coronavirus wrecker the trip but it was great to be here!

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Hop on hop off buses are great to give you an idea about where to go.Dont expect to be able to do too many things in one day. Most shops in Oxford St dont open until 10am. There will be a bit of walking and steep stairs .

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Seemed less stressed this trip. Customer service everywhere was friendly, people smiled and generally were helpful when you asked questions. Was a nice sunny crisp spring day. Cleaner streets than usual too.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

We have been to London many times before and there was no need to visit any tourists attractions. We went for our mother’s 90th birthday. London was cold, windy and raining.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

We didn't plan to go here but decided to add the city to our trip and was really glad we did. Had an amazing time. Extrmely expensive however.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Busy !

Cities near London