London is one of our favorite cities (you can probably tell, because we moved here!). It’s not like most cities that are clustered into one small area. London is very spread out and there are multiple neighborhoods that offer something different and unique. You can see all the major sights along the Thames in a day or two, then spend many more days exploring neighborhoods, like Notting Hill, Angel, Shoreditch, Soho and Camden.
If you’re planning a trip to London and would like to find the best things to do, places to eat and drink in the city, look no further than our shortcut travel guide to London (see infographic below). We’ve got it covered for you.
What to Do in London
If it’s your first time in London, you’ll no doubt be wanting to see the sights. We’ve got a full walking-tour guide to the top sights of London that you can do in one day. London is also full of iconic buildings to admire.
For us, foodie activities always take up at least a portion of our itinerary. Find some of London’s best foodie activities to do right here. One thing you can’t miss is visiting the various food markets, of which there are plenty, including my favorite, Borough Market.
Once you’ve seen Big Ben and Westminster, you might want to head further out of town to see Windsor Castle and the charming little town of Windsor. It doesn’t take long to get there on the train and is a perfect day trip from London. You can also visit Stonehenge on a day trip from London.
If you want to see and do some of the activities we’ve included in the infographic below, we recommend booking tickets on Viator. They make it super simple to book everything you want to see in one place!
- Classic London Landmarks Bicycle Tour
- Soho Food & Cocktail Tour (through Eating Europe)
- East End Food Tour (through Eating Europe)
- London Eye Fast-Track Ticket
- Tower of London with Crown Jewels & Beefeater Tour
- London Pass Including Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour and Entry to Over 60 Attractions
- Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour and read our full review of the tour.
⇒ Arriving to London at Heathrow or Stansted Airport? The express trains are the fastest, easiest way to get to central London from the airport. Click to book for Stansted
PRO TIP: To fully enjoy all of the attractions, I recommend getting a London Pass. It gives you access to 80+ London attractions, including the Tower of London, so you can skip the long lines and get right in. Some of the best attractions included are the Tower of London (£28), Hop on Hop off bus (£34), View from the Shard (£32), Westminster Abbey (£23), Tower Bridge (£10). A one-day pass is £75.
Where to Stay in London
There are many different parts of London, and each has a different feel to it. The best location for tourists is near Victoria and Oxford Circus, because they are so convenient to the typical tourist attractions of the city. Soho is also a great location if you want to be in the heart of the action, near tons of great restaurants and bars.
Here are our recommended places to stay in London
Airbnb
If you haven’t tried Airbnb yet, there are some really great options from Superhosts that can offer a more comfortable, feel-at-home, experience than a hotel.
- Stroll to Hyde Park 1bd/1bath (walking distance to all top sights)
- Designer Studio Apartment in Central London
Hotels
- Marriott County Hall: Great value for the price. Nice affordable luxury hotel in a great location. Read reviews or check prices
- Park Plaza Westminster Bridge: If you’re planning your time seeing the main tourist sights in London, this is the perfect location. Read reviews or check prices
- The Nadler Soho: Soho is one of the most fun neighborhoods in London for visitors. This hotel is prime location, and really nice. Read reviews or check prices
Shortcut Travel Guide to London
Before you go: Get the lowest price on London Attraction Tickets
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Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited 70+ countries.
Love the way you’ve laid this out, much easier to read than an article! We’re headed there in January, reckon the chocolate ecstasy and gin tours need to be on the cards!
Glad you like it, Heather. We have a bunch more under Destinations! Enjoy your trip to London!
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I would like your advice for my sister and me. We are planning a trip to London and The Netherlands from Atlanta next May, our first time. Thinking we would prefer heading on to The Netherlands for the first week then back to London for last week. Wondering about the first night. Stay in London then take Eurostar next morning to Rotterdam (we think we’d like staying in Delft)? Try to manage customs and getting Eurostar soon after we land? Just not sure the best way to plan our first night. Much appreciate your advice.
Hi Peggy. I sent you an email to answer your question, but for others wondering here, it’s definitely possible to go from Heathrow to Eurostar in about 2.5 hours. It’s a straight shot on the Piccadilly line.
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