This list of top London travel tips will help you prepare for a trip to one of the world's most incredible cities, which we're sure will surprise and delight you in equal parts.
Known for its multicultural neighbourhoods and 24-hour cultural and leisure activities, London is perfect for relaxing in the well-kept parks, bargain hunting in the many markets, sampling local and international cuisine, shopping in shops of all kinds, learning about the fantastic museums, visiting all the famous tourist attractions and much more.
Using as a reference the last two times we visited the city, the penultimate one on a 6-day trip to London and the last one on a trip where we stayed for a month in the Notting Hill neighbourhood, from where we wrote this travel guide to London, we have made a list of what are for us, the 10 essential tips for travelling to London. Let's start!
1. When is the best time to travel to London?
Although it is always a good time to travel to London, the best time is from May to September, when the weather is more pleasant and you can enjoy the splendour of the parks to the full. It's worth bearing in mind that rainfall in London is common throughout the year and only July and August are more likely to be rain-free.
The winter months are short, cold and rainy, making it relatively unadvisable to visit if you don't want to spend many days visiting museums and indoor venues, to protect yourself from the weather.
In winter, a good time to visit the city is at Christmas, when the streets are lit up and shop windows are decorated, creating a magnificent Christmas atmosphere.
2. Entry requirements and travel insurance
Pending the changes that Brexit, the UK's exit from the European Union, may bring, the entry requirements for Spanish and EU citizens to London are limited to carrying an ID card or passport. In any case, if you are planning to travel to London in the coming months, we recommend that you keep an eye on the news to find out the new conditions for entering the United Kingdom if Brexit is completed.
If you are from another country, you can consult the website of the British Embassy or the Foreign Office of your country to find out what documents are required and whether you need a visa.
Another highly advisable requirement for travelling to London is to carry a European Health Insurance Card, which allows you to receive free medical care in the city's public hospitals.
If you don't have the card or want to be covered for more exceptional situations such as repatriation, we recommend you take out the best possible travel insurance.
Due to the current health situation, all Mondo insurances include medical assistance in case of coronavirus infection. Also included is the extra stay you need in case of quarantine infection and of course, the test in case it is necessary.
3. Money exchange
London, although it is a country of the European Union, has as its official currency the pound sterling, which is equivalent to approximately 1.20 euros.
To get pounds sterling, known as pounds, it is preferable to withdraw cash at cash machines in the city with your card, rather than change euros at the exchange offices or bring pounds from your bank in your country, something that will generally be more expensive because of the commissions and the exchange rate that you will be charged.
You can find more information in this article on the best cards for commission-free travel.
Pound Sterling4
How to get from London airport to your hotel?
London has 4 main airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, all located on the outskirts of the city. From these 4 airports you can choose from all types of public and private transport to make the transfer to the city centre or to your hotel as comfortable and quick as possible.
Luton Airport: the Thameslink train will take you to Victoria Station in one hour and you also have the Green Line, Easybus and National Express bus companies which take 90 minutes to get to the station and a taxi.
You can find more information about the transfer in this post about how to get from Luton Airport to London.Stansted Airport: it has the Stansted Express train that will take you in 45 minutes to Liverpool Street Station, the Terravision, National Express, Easybus, which will take you to Victoria Station in an hour and a half and the taxi.
You can read more in this post on how to get from Luton Airport to London or buy Terravision tickets here.Heathrow Airport: you have the underground which will take you to Piccadilly Circus station in 50 minutes, the Heathrow Express train which takes 15 minutes to get to Paddington station and the National Express bus which drops you off at Victoria Station in 45 minutes.
More information on how to get from Gatwick Airport to London in this article.Gatwick Airport: there is the Gatwick Express train which will take you to Victoria Station in 30 minutes, the Easy Bus which is cheaper than the train but takes about 90 minutes and the taxi.
More information on the transfer in this article on how to get from Gatwick Airport to London.
One of the best tips for travelling to London and the most comfortable way to travel from these 4 airports, which can be even cheaper if you are several people, is to book this private transfer, in which a driver with a sign with your name on it will be waiting for you at the terminal exit and will take you directly to the door of your hotel.
When it comes to London accommodation near the airport, the Barbican Rooms by Montcalm is a fantastic option for travelers seeking comfort and convenience. Located in the heart of the city, this hotel offers modern and stylish rooms with all the amenities needed for a comfortable stay. The hotel's proximity to major airports, such as Heathrow and Gatwick, makes it an ideal choice for those with early morning or late-night flights.
London taxis5. Where to sleep?
If you're travelling to London for the summer or holidays and don't want to pay top dollar for accommodation, we recommend booking as many months in advance as possible, although it's worth bearing in mind that hotels in London are quite expensive all year round, especially in the centre and in the most charming neighbourhoods.
Our favourite neighbourhood to find a hotel in London is Notting Hill, between Bayswater and Notting Hill Gate. As well as being well connected by underground to all the tourist attractions in the city, you'll enjoy a great atmosphere, especially in Portobello Street, and a wide range of restaurants and local shops.
Our recommended hotel in this area is the Garden Court Hotel, located near Hyde Park and offering some of the best value for money in the city.
Another good area to stay in is around Victoria Station, where you will be well connected by public transport to the airport and central London.
On our first trip to London we stayed at the Park Plaza Victoria on park-plaza-victoria-london.londonhotelsuk.net , a small, family-run hotel with a good breakfast, located very close to Victoria Station.
If you're on a budget, you can look in the central area between Oxford Street and Soho, or in quieter neighbourhoods such as upmarket Chelsea.
If you want to save on accommodation, we recommend Camden Town or around Kings Cross station, which tend to be cheaper.
You can use this popular search engine to find the best hotel in London at the best price.
For more information you can check out this post on recommended neighbourhoods and hotels to stay in London.
Stay in Notting Hill, one of our tips for travelling to London6. Transport in London
When travelling to London you have to take into account that the price of public transport and taxis is quite expensive.
With this in mind, the best option to save money on the tube, bus and underground is to buy an Oyster Card or Travelcard. The choice between the two will depend on how many days you are in the city and the number of journeys you make each day.
The Travelcard can be cost-effective if you are staying for more than 4 days, as it is for unlimited travel as well as being more convenient as you don't have to top it up, while the Oyster Card is a prepaid card that allows you to save on single tickets and has a daily maximum amount, after which extra journeys are free.
If you have a contacless card, such as N26 or Vivid, you can use them as if you had an Oyster Card, with the same prices and conditions.
You have much more information and details in the post "How to use the London Underground".
Another option is to use the typical London double-decker bus and use Google Maps or the boards at each stop to find out which one to get on, although we've always found this mode of transport to be a bit slower and more time-consuming.
Taxis, while it can be a good experience to get in one to see the spacious interior and the professional service they offer, are quite expensive, so we don't think it's a recommended option for regular use in the city.
If you're short on time in the city, it might be a good option to book this tour bus with recorded commentary in English and stops at all of the city's attractions.
London Bus7. Places to visit when travelling to London
London has plenty of places to visit such as markets, museums, monuments, parks, historic buildings, viewpoints and neighbourhoods full of magical corners.
Among the most recommended museums in London and among our favourites are the British Museum, one of the most important museums in the world, the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern and Madame Tussauds, a wax museum with exact replicas of the real thing.
The museums can be combined with visits to monuments and historic buildings such as the Palace of Westminster, Big Ben, London Bridge, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace, with its famous changing of the guard.
And to relax after visiting museums and tourist attractions, there's nothing better than a stroll through one of the city's well-kept parks such as Hyde Park, St James's Park or Regent's Park.
In addition to these visits, you can complete a morning with some of the best markets in London such as Camden, Portobello, Brick Lane, Covent Garden, Borough Market or the beautiful Leadenhall Market, among many others. Remember to check the opening hours of each market as some are only open on certain days of the week.
And in the afternoon you can lose yourself in some of the city's most charming neighbourhoods such as Soho and Chinatown, Marylebone, Notting Hill or the exclusive Mayfair, all of them very different from the more touristy London, but which we are sure will surprise you as much or more than these.
To put the icing on the cake, we recommend you to visit some of London' s best viewpoints such as The Shard, the Sky Garden or the London Eye, where it is advisable to book your tickets in advance to avoid the long queues.
Besides visiting all these tourist attractions, London is perfect for shopping in shopping streets such as Oxford Street and Regent Street, shopping centres such as Harrods or neighbourhoods full of original shops such as Soho or Notting Hill.
Remember that tickets to most attractions, except museums which are free, are quite expensive so a good option to save on your trip is to book the London Pass which allows you entry to 80 of London's top attractions, some of them skipping the queues. For more information on the London Pass, check out this post on the London Pass: how it works, what it includes and prices.
Another good option to save up to 40% on entrance fees is to book the London Explorer Pass which gives you access to 3, 5 or 7 of the city's top tourist attractions. In addition, this card offers great flexibility as you can choose the tickets you want from the 20 attractions available, right up to the last minute.
You can find more information about this tourist card in this post about the London Explorer Pass.
Another of the best tips for travelling to London is to complete this list of the must-see places to visit in London and this list of the best free things to do in London.
8. City tours
Before travelling to London or leaving the hotel, it is advisable to prepare well the routes around the city to make the most of your time.
Depending on how many days you have, we recommend between 4 and 6 days if it is your first trip, you will be able to visit most of the tourist attractions in the city.
A good option to include in these routes are these free tours in London or this complete tour of the city that will help you learn about the history of the city from the hand of a guide in English.
Based on our experience in the city we have made these personalised guides so you won't miss anything important in London if you have 1 to 5 days.
Guide to London in one day
Guide to London in two days
Tower Bridge9. Where to eat in London?
Another reason to travel to London is to try the varied international and local food, accompanied by a good pint of beer.
Some of the most typical dishes in London and the UK are:
Fish and Chips: fish andchips, the most famous and common dish in the country.
English Breakfast: a hearty breakfast of grilled eggs, bacon, mushrooms, tomato, toast and other ingredients.
Sunday Roast: This typical Sunday dish consists of a roast beef roast, accompanied by roast potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding (baked dough in the shape of a bowl) and a gravy of beef stock.
Apple Pie: hot apple pie.
Shepherd's Pie: fried mince with onions, peas, carrots and vegetables, topped with a layer of baked mashed potatoes.
Beef Wellington: Beef tenderloin covered with pâté, wrapped in puff pastry and baked.
Cock-a-leekie: white potato baked in the oven for two hours, then cut in half and spread with butter, grated cheese or coleslaw.
Cornish pasties: Breaded pasties with a raw filling of meat and vegetables baked in the oven.
Banger and mash: sausage dish with mashed potatoes and gravy.
Some of the best pubs and restaurants for all these dishes, and others specialising in international food, include: Duke of Wellington, The Swan, The Red Lion, the Greek Kalamaras, the modern MBER, the Lebanese CERU, Honest Burgers and the Indian Dishoom.
In addition to trying all these restaurants, we recommend you try the delicious Ben's Cookies at one of their many stalls in London and the desserts at Chin Chin, which are simply perfect.
You can find more detailed information in this post about where to eat in London.
Fish and chips10. Tours and excursions
When travelling to London with more days than usual, you can combine the must-see sights of the city with some of the best excursions from London.
One of our favourite tours is a visit to the Harry Potter Studios, located about 30 kilometres from central London.
During a visit to these magnificent studios, you'll be amazed by the large, elaborately decorated film sets and original props from the 8 films in the popular saga.
To get to the studios you can use a combination of tube, train and bus or book this convenient tour, which includes entrance and private transport.
Another of our favourite excursions from London is a visit to the prestigious university city of Oxford. As well as visiting the city's most historic colleges, we recommend strolling the streets of the beautiful historic centre, eating in a traditional pub and completing this list of must-see places to visit in Oxford.
You can get to Oxford from London in an hour by hopping on one of the trains that leave every half hour from London Paddington Station.
Another option to make sure you don't miss out on anything and learn about the history of the city is to book this tour of Oxford with an English guide or this one that includes Stratford, the birthplace of Shakespeare.
The third recommended excursion is a visit to Stonehenge, the world's most famous megalithic monument and a World Heritage Site.
To get there by public transport, the best way is to take one of the trains that leave every hour from Waterloo station, and in a journey of an hour and a half to Salisbury and from there, take a bus that in half an hour will take you to the Stonehenge entrance.
Another easier way to get there is to book this tour with an English speaking guide or this one which includes the beautiful cities of Bath and Salisbury.
For more information you can check this post about how to get from London to Stonehenge.
Other recommended tours and excursions in London here.
The Hogwarts Express Locomotive
