London is a cosmopolitan city with diverse cultures and neighborhoods, reflected in its rich mosaic of arts, music, cuisine, and architecture.
Home to a large number of world-class galleries and museums.
Theater and music are a big part of London attractions. The West End is a cultural center, Covent Garden, and Leicester Square.
The city’s neighborhoods are diverse; each has its character from SOHO, Notting Hill, and Shoreditch. You will find trendy, hipster culture and historical.
Transportation:
London has a pervasive transportation system. The double-decker buses, black cabs, and underground trains are called the tube.
From the Airport:
There are two main airports, Heathrow and Gatwick.
Both have direct express train lines to the city center. Heathrow is connected directly to the Tube system.
You could also take a taxi, but the trip is much longer than the train. Renting a car is complicated in London; there is a congestion charge in addition to driving on the left side.
Buses are cashless; you need an Oyster card, travel card, or contactless payment card.
The double-decker tour buses serve the main city sites. You can get on and off at any point the bus stops.
Best time to visit:
November to March is the cheapest, but the weather is colder.
June to August are the busiest when significant activities occur, and the weather is the best. You must keep an umbrella in your backpack; it drizzles in the summer.
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1 DAY
Tower of London
London Bridge
Queens Walk Promenade
Borough Market
Tate Museum
Millennium Bridge
St Paul Cathedral
Big Ben, Parliament
London Eye
Westminster Abbey
10 Downing Street
2 DAYS (add to 1 day)
Piccadilly Circus
Trafalgar Square
National Museum
Admiralty Arch & the Mall
Saint James Park
Buckingham Palace.
Information describing each site is found below.
5 DAYS PLAN
DAY 1
The plan will allow you to walk at a comfortable pace.
If you are interested in getting tickests and reserving tours in advance click here.
The Tower of London
It is a fortress that traces back 900 years. It served as a royal palace, a prison, an armory, and a treasury. It is on the north bank of the River Thames.
Originally was built as a royal residence by William the Conqueror. Subsequent monarchs kept adding to the tower, making it a fortress. The tower that gives it its name sits in the center of the complex.
The crown jewels, including an extravagant Imperial State Crown, reside there.
London Tower Bridge, often simply referred to as Tower Bridge,
is a historic bridge that spans the River Thames connecting Tower Hamlets and Southwark.
The bridge was designed and built in the 19th century by Sir Horace Jones, following the Victorian Gothic style. It has two towers connected by two walkways and a central bascule bridge, raised to allow passing ships.
Borough Market
A historic market is famous for its high-quality products and specialty foods. A melting pot of diverse culinary delights reflecting the city’s cultural mix. You will enjoy a vibrant environment.
HMS Belfast
Is Located near the Borough market. A historical Royal British Navy ship commissioned in 1939 saw action in most major conflicts, from the second world war to the Korean War.
Presently, it is a floating museum celebrating the history of the ship.
The London Tate Museum, also known as Tate London
It, is a significant art museum in the heart of London and houses an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art.
Founded in 1897 as the National Gallery of British Art, then converted to the Tate Gallery after Sir Henry Tate, the founder.
The collection is diverse from the 16th century to today. It houses works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, Dali, and Mark Rothko. It also houses an extensive collection of British art.
The building is a marriage between industrial and modern architecture on the banks of the River Thames.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Is located in the heart of London. To reach it, cross the Millennium Bridge to the other bank of the Thames.
The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed the original wooden church built in the 7th century, replaced in 1710 by the present Cathedral.
The Cathedral’s exterior has decorative motifs made from Portland stone. The design is English Baroque style. The interior has a 365 feet high dome.
The church is famous for its Whispering Gallery; when whispering against the wall, the acoustics transfer the sound to the other side.
It houses a 7000 pipes organ still used during services.
The crypt has several famous people buried, like Admiral Wilson and Winston Churchill.
DAY 2
London’s Covent Garden
Is A vibrant historic area on the west side where culture, entertainment, and shopping blend together.
It has a 19th-century covered market housed in a Victorian-style building. It is a shopper’s dream, from designers to artifacts and artisanal food products.
The area is packed with restaurants, cafes, and pubs. You will find Micheline stars restaurants run by renowned chefs
The London Transport Museum
Celebrates the transportation history of the city from the 19th century to today.
Double-decker buses, trams, trains, and London taxis can be appreciated and enjoyed.
Piccadilly Circus
A lively square lit up with lights and neon billboards offering entertainment, restaurants, and shopping. You will find theaters, cinemas, and culturally diverse restaurants.
Regent Street
Located in the west end, is a historic and high-end shopping destination. It was built in the 19th century, with intricate facades. It has flagship stores of expensive brands.
Oxford Circus & Oxford, Street
Oxford Circus is on the corner of Regent Street and Oxford Street. It is a major transportation and shopping point.
Oxford Street is a major shopping destination. You will find high-end shops and department stores such as Selfridges and John Lewis.
During the Christmas season, the street is open only to pedestrians. Beautifully decorated with holiday lights.
London’s Soho
It is an eclectic vibrant neighborhood with a history that goes back to the 18th century, where it served as a bohemian lifestyle. Its past can be seen in the hidden alleys and cobblestone streets.
It is a diverse neighborhood where different immigrant groups and, recently, the LGBTQ community have lived in harmony.
The entertainment scene, lively nightlife, restaurants, pubs, bars, and clubs cater to every taste.
Carnaby Street is a famous shopping area in the SOHO district. It is known as the past “Swinging London Scene.”
The British Museum (extra)
Located minutes from SOHO, Oxford Street, runs into it.
Houses ancient artifacts covering two million years of history exhibiting treasures from Rome, Greece, Egypt, and all throughout the world. The museum has become controversial with many countries trying to expatriate their treasures and antiquities illegally acquired from these countries.
The building is a neoclassical design opened to the public in 1852.
DAY 3
Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament
Also known as the Palace of Westminster, It represents the democratic heritage and history of the country. It was initially built as a resident royal residence in the 11th century by Edward the Confessor.
The complex was renovated in the 19th century after The Great Fire of London mostly destroyed it.
The Tower known as Big Ben is Elizabeth Tower, named after Benjamin Hall, a British politician.
Westminster Abbey
Dates back to the 7th century as a small benedictine monastery, developed in the 11th century to today’s grand gothic cathedral.
The extravagant exterior features arches, vaults, and ornate stone carvings adorned by rose-stained glass windows.
The Abbey is the coronation church of all monarchs, royal weddings, and funerals.
It is also a final resting place for famous personalities like Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, and Charles Darwin.
The London Eye, also known as the Coca-Cola London Eye or the Millennium Wheel
It, is a giant Ferris wheel that has become a London skyline symbol on the river’s South Bank.
The modern-style wheel was opened in 2000 to celebrate the millennium. It is one of the tallest wheels in the world. A great way to absorb the majestic skylight of London.
The Churchill War Rooms
The secret underground nerve center below the streets of Westminster served as a command center during World War II for Winston Churchill and his cabinet. The complex was constructed in 1930 as bomb-proof.
Today it serves as a museum that gives insight into the experiences and history of World War II.
10 Downing Street
has been the official residence of the British prime minister since the 18th century. It has restricted access and is heavily guarded.
The Household Cavalry Museum
Houses the famous Life Guards and The Blues and Royals. They display changing of the guard’s duties and other ceremonial functions. In addition, you can see working stables and exhibits.
Trafalgar Square
Was named after a naval battle won by the British against the French in 1805.
In the center of the square sits Trafalgar Square Fountains and a statue of Nelson with giant lions guarding it.
The area is one of London’s liveliest and busiest squares, with street entertainers and musicians.
The London National Gallery
Located in Trafalgar Square, is one of the most respected museums in the world, housing Western European art dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries.
The building opened in 1838, a neoclassical style of architecture.
It houses 2300 paintings arranged and organized by artistic schools. Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Rembrandt, and Michelangelo, among many others work’s are also featured in the museum.
St. James’s Park
St James Park leads to Buckingham Palace. The park’s attractiveness includes Lush Gardens, a lake, Blue Ridge, and Diana Memorial Fountain.
The London Queen’s Gallery, also known as The Queen’s Gallery
Is part of Buckingham Palace and showcases part of the royal treasures. The gallery replaced a chapel destroyed in World War II and was expanded and renovated to its present state in 2002.
The stunning interior houses a collection of royal furniture, paintings, drawings, prints, and decorative art.
Buckingham Palace
Is the British monarch’s residence, initially known as Buckingham House, built in 1703 as a private residence for the Duke of Buckingham, later acquired by King George III in 1761 for his wife, Queen Charlotte. Queen Victoria, in 1837 made it the official royal residence.
It has 775 rooms, 19 staterooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 92 offices, and many other facilities. The staterooms are exquisitely decorated with luxurious items.
The Changing of the Guard ceremony, where the Household Cavalry and the Foot Guards change duty in their distinctive uniforms, attracts visitors worldwide.
DAY 4
Wellington Arch & Hyde Park
Wellington Arch welcomes visitors at the entrance of Hyde Park. They are located in the heart of London, with spacious greens and beautiful landscapes covering 350 acres. It is a relaxing area in the middle of London’s bustle.
King Henry VIII acquired it in 1536 to use as a hunting ground.
The Serpentine Lake is one of the park’s main features; it snakes like a river.
The Rose Garden features 12000 roses with various colors and fragrances—the Italian Water Gardens. Italian-style fountains and ornate architecture offer a serene and beautiful environment.
The Speaker’s Corner, in the northeast corner of the park. For centuries people gathered to express their views and debate topics close to their hearts. It is all about free speech.
Kensington Palace
A royal residence located in Kensington. It is one of the Royal residences dating back to the 17th century. Many members of the royal family resided in it, such as Queen Victoria, Princess Diana, and presently Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, and Catherine
Parts of the palace are open to the public. The private area where the royals live is restricted.
The Gardens are beautiful and available for visits.
DAY 5
The Royal Albert Hall
A historic concert hall in the Kensington district, was built by Queen Victoria in 1871 in honor of her late husband, Prince Albert.
It has a circular shape and a domed roof. The venue has hosted world-famous shows and artists like Elton John, The Beatles, Adele, Beyonce, and others.
The London Natural History Museum
located in South Kensington, was established in 1881dedicated to studying and preserving the natural world. It houses specimens that date back billions of years.
The building is designed with Victorian-style architecture with terracotta facades. It houses a colossal skeleton of a blue whale suspended from the ceiling.
The museum exhibits 80 million specimens collected by famous scientists.
The London Science Museum
The museum focuses on innovations in science and houses over 300,000 objects, including the Apollo 10 command module. It showcases the effect of science and technology on humanity. It is recommended if you are interested in science and technology.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, commonly known as the V&A
A world-famous museum named after Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert. It specializes in art and design.
The building is a Gothic Victorian architecture style. It has beautifully detailed and carved stones. The modern courtyard contrasts with the 19th-century structure.
It was established in 1852 as the Museum of Manufacture to teach about design and craftsmanship. It has grown over the years to house 2.3 million objects. It covers ceramics, furniture, metalwork, photography, sculpture, and textiles from different cultures and periods.
Harrods
Is A luxury department store located in Knightsbridge. The interior is extravagant. At Christmas, the exterior of the building is decorated with intricate light arrangements.
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