London

United Kingdom · LHR

20 attractions 10 restaurants

London is the capital of the United Kingdom — 8.9 million residents across 1,572 km², making it Europe's largest city. The Tube network covers 270 stations and ties together neighbourhoods that effectively work as small cities of their own. Most travellers spend three to five days; first-timers can knock off Westminster, the South Bank and the City of London in a tight long weekend.

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About this city

Flight from Germany: 1h 50min
Airport ↔ centre: 24 km
Time shift: −1h vs. Germany
Population: 8,900,000
Area: 1,572 km²
Founded: 43 AD
Currency: GBP
Language: English
Timezone: Europe/London

Why visit

Free admission to the British Museum, V&A, National Gallery, Tate Modern and ~20 other world-class museums. Royal pageantry at Buckingham + the Tower. Cuisine scene now genuinely world-leading — UK cooking earned 192 Michelin stars in 2025. Drawback: 26 °C in summer is the new heatwave norm and pubs without AC suffer.

Neighbourhoods at a glance

·Westminster + South Bank — Big Ben, Parliament, London Eye, Tate Modern.
·The City — the financial Square Mile + the Tower of London + St Paul's.
·Soho + Covent Garden — theatres, restaurants, the West End nightlife.
·South Kensington — V&A, Natural History, Science Museum — all free.
·Camden + Shoreditch — markets, street art, indie music.
·Notting Hill + Portobello — pastel houses + Saturday antiques market.

Best time to visit

Month	Day temp	Crowds	Don't miss
Jan–Feb	5–9 °C	Low	Cheapest hotel rates of the year; museum quiet hour 17:00
Mar–Apr	9–14 °C	Med	Boat Race (Putney → Mortlake, end Mar); Easter at the Tower
May–Jun	15–21 °C	Med–high	Chelsea Flower Show (late May); long daylight to 21:30
Jul–Aug	20–28 °C	High	Wimbledon (Jul); Notting Hill Carnival (last Aug weekend)
Sep–Oct	13–19 °C	Med	Open House London (1st Sep weekend) — free access to private buildings
Nov–Dec	5–10 °C	High in Dec	Christmas lights on Regent + Oxford St; ice rink at Somerset House

Getting around

Mode	2026 cost	Notes
Tube (contactless)	£2.80–£3.40 / ride, £8.50 daily cap	Tap any Mastercard / Apple Pay — no Oyster needed
Bus	£1.75 / ride, £5.25 cap	Cheaper than Tube, great views from upper deck
Elizabeth Line ex-Heathrow	£12.80	40 min into Paddington / centre; far cheaper than Heathrow Express
Walking	Free	Westminster → St Paul's along the river is 35 min, all sights
Boris bike (Santander Cycles)	£3 / 24 h, free first 30 min	Best along South Bank + Regent's Canal