London
Travel destinations and tourist attractions in London (United Kingdom) span iconic landmarks and world-class museums. The British capital is famous for Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and free museums such as the British Museum.
General information
London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is one of the world's great global cities — a sprawling, endlessly varied metropolis on the River Thames where two thousand years of history meet cutting-edge culture. Royal palaces, ancient churches and the Tower of London sit alongside gleaming skyscrapers, world-class museums and a legendary theatre and music scene. Famously multicultural, it is really a collection of villages, each neighbourhood with its own character, markets and pubs. English is the language, and London's mix of pageantry, green parks and creative energy makes it a city you can return to again and again.
Transport and how to get there
London is served by five airports — Heathrow (LHR), the largest, plus Gatwick (LGW), Stansted, Luton and London City — all connected to the centre by train or coach. The Eurostar links London directly with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. Around town, the Underground (the "Tube"), the Elizabeth Line, buses and the DLR reach everywhere; simply tap a contactless card or phone, and a daily cap keeps fares reasonable. The centre is also very walkable, with the river tying the main sights together.
Prices
London is one of Europe's most expensive cities, especially for accommodation. Expect roughly 120-260 GBP per night for a mid-range hotel, with hostels from about 30 GBP. A casual meal runs around 15-30 GBP, a pint of beer 5-7 GBP and a coffee about 3.50 GBP. A contactless Tube journey in the centre is around 2.80 GBP with a daily cap near 8.90 GBP. The great saving grace: most of London's finest museums — the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate galleries, the Natural History Museum — are free. Prices are approximate and vary by season.
Main attractions
The classics line the Thames: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and the historic Tower of London beside Tower Bridge. Watch the guards at Buckingham Palace, gaze up inside St Paul's Cathedral, and cross the Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern. World-famous museums fill rainy days for free, the West End stages top theatre, and markets like Borough and Camden buzz with food and finds. Add the royal parks and viewpoints like the Shard, and London never runs short of things to do.