By rail
King's Cross St Pancras, the Eurostar and the lines north
United Kingdom
London, United Kingdom
Royal palaces, museums and markets
Getting there
By air
Heathrow (LHR), ~25 km; also Gatwick, Stansted and City
Best time to visit
May to September; December for the lights
Don't miss
The Tower of London
The British Museum
Buckingham Palace
The Houses of Parliament
Things to do
The Tower of London
The British Museum (free)
A West End show
Borough Market
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Ilya Grigorik · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Layers, an umbrella
A quieter corner
Little Venice's canal walk to Camden
Questions travellers ask
When's the best time to visit London?
May to September, or December for the lights. Pack layers and an umbrella whatever the month.
What are London's unmissable sights?
The Tower of London, the British Museum, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament — then end a day with a West End show.
Where should I eat in London?
Graze at Borough Market, head to Brick Lane's curry houses and make time for afternoon tea. Between meals, follow Little Venice's canal walk to Camden.
How do I get into London?
Heathrow (LHR) is about 25 km out, and Gatwick, Stansted and City airports serve the city too. By rail, King's Cross St Pancras handles the Eurostar and the lines north.
About London
- Riverside
Where it is
London is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England, on the River Thames in south-east England, at the head of a tidal estuary that runs about 80 km down to the North Sea.
History
The Romans founded Londinium around AD 47, and after the Norman Conquest William the Conqueror built the Tower of London. The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed much of the medieval city, which was rebuilt with Christopher Wren's St Paul's Cathedral, and from about 1831 to 1925 London was the largest city in the world and the capital of the British Empire.
People
London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, where more than 300 languages are spoken. Its culture ranges from pub life and Premier League football to the Notting Hill Carnival, a great Caribbean street festival held every August.
Known for
- The Tower of London
- The British Museum and the National Gallery
- Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard
- West End theatres
- Markets such as Borough and Camden
Did you know?
The London Underground, which opened in 1863, is the oldest metro system in the world.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.