London

Two thousand years of history, free museums and West End nights.

London rewards curiosity: royal palaces and medieval towers, some of the world’s greatest museums with free entry, markets that have traded for centuries and a theatre district second to none.

Best time to visit: May to September for long, mild days. Language: English. Currency: Pound sterling (GBP).

Did you know?

The London Underground, opened in 1863, is the oldest underground railway in the world.
Big Ben is the name of the great bell; the tower itself is the Elizabeth Tower.
The British Museum and the National Gallery are free to enter.

Things to do in London

Trafalgar Square (Square, free): Trafalgar Square is a public square in the City of Westminster in Central London.
National Gallery (History museum): The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London, England.
Kensington Palace (Palace): Kensington Palace is a royal residence situated within Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England.
The Crystal Palace (Palace): The Crystal Palace was a cast iron and plate glass structure, originally built in Hyde Park, London, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851.
National Portrait Gallery (Art museum): The National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery in London that houses a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people.
Charing Cross (Monument, free): Charing Cross is a junction in Westminster, London, England, where six routes meet.
Palace of Whitehall (Palace): The Palace of Whitehall – also spelled White Hall – at Westminster was the main residence of the English monarchs from 1530 until 1698, when most of its structures, with the notable exception of Inigo Jones's Banqueting
London Zoo (Zoo): London Zoo, previously known as ZSL London Zoo or London Zoological Gardens and sometimes called Regent's Park Zoo, is the world's oldest scientific zoo.
Regent's Park (Park, free): The Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London.
Leicester Square (Square, free): Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England, and is the centre of London's entertainment district.
St Martin-in-the-Fields (Church, free): St Martin-in-the-Fields is a Church of England parish church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London.
Admiralty Arch (Monument, free): Admiralty Arch is a historic landmark building in London, providing road and pedestrian access between The Mall, which extends to the southwest, and Trafalgar Square to the northeast.
Banqueting House (Theatre): The Banqueting House, on Whitehall in the City of Westminster, central London, is the grandest and best-known survivor of the architectural genre of banqueting houses, constructed for elaborate entertaining.
Hampstead Heath (Park, free): Hampstead Heath is an ancient heath in London, spanning 320 hectares.
His Majesty's Theatre (Theatre): His Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre situated in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster, London.
Horse Guards Parade (Square, free): Horse Guards Parade is a large parade ground off Whitehall in central London.
Kenwood House (Museum): Kenwood House is a stately home in Hampstead, London, on the northern boundary of Hampstead Heath.
London Central Mosque (Mosque, free): The London Central Mosque is an Islamic place of worship located on the edge of Regent's Park in the City of Westminster.
Dulwich Picture Gallery (Art museum): Dulwich Picture Gallery is an art gallery in Dulwich, south London, and the oldest public art gallery in England.
London Coliseum (Theatre): The London Coliseum is a theatre in St Martin's Lane, Westminster, built as one of London's largest and most luxurious family variety theatres.
Hammersmith Apollo (Theatre): The Hammersmith Apollo, called the Eventim Apollo for sponsorship reasons, previously and still commonly known as the Hammersmith Odeon, is a live entertainment performance venue opened in 1932 as a cinema named the Gaum
O2 Academy Brixton (Theatre): O2 Academy Brixton (originally known as the Astoria Variety Cinema, previously known as Carling Academy Brixton, or Brixton Academy, is a mid-sized concert venue located in South London, in the Lambeth district of Brixto
Churchill War Rooms (History museum): The Churchill War Rooms is a museum in London and one of the five branches of the Imperial War Museum.
Battersea Park (Park, free): Battersea Park is a 200-acre green space at Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth in London.
Savoy Theatre (Theatre): The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England.
Apollo Theatre (Theatre): The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster, in central London.
Horniman Museum and Gardens (Museum): The Horniman Museum and Gardens is a museum in Forest Hill, London, England.
Theatre Royal Haymarket (Theatre): The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use.
East London Mosque (Mosque, free): The East London Mosque is situated in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets between Whitechapel and Aldgate East.
Finsbury Park Mosque (Mosque, free): The Finsbury Park Mosque, also known as the North London Central Mosque, is a five-storey mosque located next to Finsbury Park station close to Arsenal Football Club's Emirates Stadium, in the London Borough of Islington
Savoy Palace (Palace): The Savoy Palace, considered the grandest nobleman's townhouse of medieval London, was a residence of prince John of Gaunt until it was destroyed during rioting in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.
Adelphi Theatre (Theatre): The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London.
Parliament Hill (Park, free): Parliament Hill is an area of open parkland in the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath in north-west London.
Royal United Services Institute (Museum): The Royal United Services Institute is the world's oldest defence and security think tank, founded in 1831 by the first Duke of Wellington, based in Whitehall, London, United Kingdom.
Sondheim Theatre (Theatre): The Sondheim Theatre is a West End theatre located in Shaftesbury Avenue on the corner of Wardour Street in the City of Westminster, London.
Whitechapel Gallery (Art museum): The Whitechapel Gallery is a public art gallery in Whitechapel on the north side of Whitechapel High Street, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Leighton House (Art museum): Leighton House is an historic house in the Holland Park area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in west London.
The London Mosque (Mosque, free): The Fazl Mosque also known as The London Mosque, is the first purpose-built mosque in London, England.
St Paul's Church, Covent Garden (Church, free): St Paul's Church is a Church of England parish church located in Bedford Street, Covent Garden, central London.
Piccadilly Theatre (Theatre): The Piccadilly Theatre is a West End theatre located at the junction of Denman Street and Sherwood Street, near Piccadilly Circus, in the City of Westminster, London.
Finsbury Park (Park, free): Finsbury Park is a public park in Harringay, north London, England.
Almeida Theatre (Theatre): The Almeida Theatre is a 325-seat producing house located on Almeida Street off Upper Street in the London Borough of Islington.
Suleymaniye Mosque (Mosque, free): The Suleymaniye Mosque is a Sunni mosque, located on Kingsland Road in Haggerston, London, England, in the United Kingdom.
Shepherd's Bush Empire (Theatre): The Shepherd's Bush Empire is a music venue in Shepherd's Bush, West London, run by the Academy Music Group.
Metropolitan Tabernacle (Church, free): The Metropolitan Tabernacle Baptist Church, shortly the Metropolitan Tabernacle, is an Independent Reformed Baptist church in the Elephant and Castle area in London.
Duke of York Column (Monument, free, hidden gem): The Duke of York Column is a monument in London, England, to Prince Frederick, Duke of York, the second son of King George III.
Playhouse Theatre (Theatre, hidden gem): The Playhouse Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, in Northumberland Avenue, near Trafalgar Square, central London.
Harold Pinter Theatre (Theatre, hidden gem): The Harold Pinter Theatre, known as the Comedy Theatre until 2011, is a West End theatre, and opened on Panton Street in the City of Westminster, on 15 October 1881, as the Royal Comedy Theatre.
Hippodrome (Theatre, hidden gem): The Hippodrome is a building on the corner of Cranbourn Street and Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster, London.
Wyndham's Theatre (Theatre, hidden gem): Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by actor/manager Sir Charles Wyndham.
The Crime Museum (Museum, hidden gem): The Crime Museum is a collection of criminal memorabilia kept at New Scotland Yard, headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service in London, England.
Lyric Theatre (Theatre, hidden gem): The Lyric Theatre is a West End theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster.
Canada Square (Square, free, hidden gem): Canada Square is a square at Canary Wharf in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, located in London.
Mile End Park (Park, free, hidden gem): Mile End Park is a park located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Jack the Ripper Museum (Museum, hidden gem): The Jack the Ripper Museum is a museum and tourist attraction that opened in August 2015 in Cable Street, London.
Arsenal Football Club Museum (Museum, hidden gem): The Arsenal Football Club Museum is a museum in Holloway, London, run by Arsenal Football Club and dedicated to the history of the club.
St Augustine's, Kilburn (Church, free, hidden gem): Saint Augustine's, Kilburn, is a Church of England church in the area of Kilburn, in North London, England.
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre (Theatre, hidden gem): Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is an open-air theatre in Regent's Park in central London, established in 1932.
Wimbledon Park (Park, free, hidden gem): Wimbledon Park is the name of an urban park in Wimbledon and also of the suburb south and east of the park and the Wimbledon Park tube station.
Burgess Park (Park, free, hidden gem): Burgess Park is a public park situated in Camberwell in the London Borough of Southwark.

Where to eat and drink in London

Borough Market, Southwark: London’s most famous food market, trading for centuries.
Hawksmoor Spitalfields, Spitalfields: British beef from native breeds, cooked over charcoal.
Rules, Covent Garden: London’s oldest restaurant, serving game and pies since 1798.
Dishoom Covent Garden, Covent Garden: Bombay café; the bacon naan breakfast is famous.
Sky Garden, City of London: Free-to-book garden and bar 35 floors up.
Ronnie Scott’s, Soho: Soho’s legendary jazz club since 1959.
The Ivy, Covent Garden: Theatreland’s glamorous dining room since 1917.
Wright Brothers Borough Market, Southwark: Oysters and seafood in a converted market building.
Duck & Waffle, City of London: Open around the clock, 40 floors up.
Tiella, Bethnal Green: Dara Klein’s regional Italian cooking.
Arcus, Bloomsbury: Bloomsbury’s first rooftop restaurant.
Saltwater, Soho: An Australian-inspired handroll bar.

Also in Europe

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