A Complete Guide to Visiting London

Having been to London four now, this city always manages to captivate me and leave me with nostalgia for the “old days”.  In all its fame and glory, London is a city that has managed to maintain its historic charm while keeping up with the modernity of the rest of the world.  It will never fail to amaze me how you can be standing in an old castle where Kings and Queens used to live, while looking over the skyline at more modern buildings and skyscrapers.

If you’re new to traveling within Europe, London is truly an excellent city to start in.  It’s easy to get around, everyone speaks English, and the city is brimming with things to do.  If you’re visiting London, below you’ll find my favorite recommendations for the capital of England.

 

If it’s your first time to England, don’t miss…

• What You Need to Know About Visiting England for the First Time

 

How to Get to London

You can easily reach London by both train and by air.  If you’re traveling from another country in Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, France, etc), your best option is to travel by train to St Pancras International.  When searching for train options, I prefer to use Omio.

If you’re flying into London, the two main airports are Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW).  I prefer to use Skyscanner or a search engine when searching for flights.  If you’re traveling into Heathrow, taking the train into the city is much faster than driving clocking in at around 20 minutes (and an hour to drive).  Similarly, if you’re arriving to Gatwick, it’s also faster to take the train into the city which will take about 30 minutes versus the 1 hour 20 minute drive time.

If you want to book a private driver waiting for you upon arrival, you can do that here.

 

The Best Time to Visit London

I would argue that there are two magical times to visit London.  The first would be in the summertime when it’s sunny and warm, and the second would be during Christmas when the city is adorned in Christmas lights and ornaments.  However, both of these times are also busy season so prices will be higher and things will be more crowded.

If you’re aim is to avoid the crowds, then traveling in shoulder season – September-October or March-April – is probably your best bet.

 

Getting Around London

While London is pretty big and spread out, it’s still easy to get around thanks to its underground metro and other forms of public transportation.  While you can walk, if you’re going to the other side of town, the quickest and cheapest way would be to take the underground metro.

If you don’t want to take public transportation, you can easily hail a famous black taxi (the drivers must pass several tests about the city in order to drive these cars), or grab an Uber.

 

Where to Stay in London

There are so many incredible neighborhoods in London and equally as many great places to stay!  My favorite neighborhoods include Covent Garden, Notting Hill, Mayfair, Soho, and Shoreditch.

During my last visit I stayed at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel, a five-star Hyatt hotel, and was blown away.  The hotel had great amenities and was in a great location and I would highly recommend staying here.

 

For more affordable hotels in London, don’t miss…

• 6 Best Mid-Range Hotels in London

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN LONDON HERE!

 

The Best Restaurants in London

While England isn’t well-known for its food, London does boast some of the best international restaurants in the world.  Below you’ll find my favorite places in London to eat!

 

BAO SOHO – Taiwanese

I’m a major fan of bao so when I stumbled upon BAO Soho, I couldn’t help but stop in and try it out.  The bao here was absolutely phenomenal, I urge you to give it a try.

 

BOROUGH MARKET – Outdoor Food Market

The Borough Market is one of my favorite things to do in London.  You can walk around with a glass of wine in hand and check out all of the different food stalls (there are 100 choices!).  I recommend taking your time and just getting small bites at each stall so that you can try a variety of different foods.  Better yet, book a food tour of Borough Market with Devour Tours!

 

DISHOOM – Indian

Dishoom has been on my restaurant “bucket list” for as long as I can remember; and luckily, it lived up to the hype.  There are several Dishoom’s located throughout London and none of them take reservations.  While the lines can get long, I would highly recommend waiting it out.  The Indian food at Dishoom is well worth the line.

 

DUCK AND WAFFLE – Modern European

Duck and Waffle is a complete vibe of a restaurant.  It’s open 24 hours a day, is the highest restaurant in all of London, and the food is excellent (especially the duck and waffles).  Plus there’s a fun lounge to hang out in with a great bar and depending on the time and day – a DJ.  If you’re visiting London, I highly recommend making reservations here!

 

LILY VANILLI BAKERY – Pastries

Lily Vanilli Bakery is tucked away in an assuming alleyway.  It’s evident based on the line that usually accompanies the quaint bakery window.  A peak inside will give you an idea as to why Lil Vanilli is so popular, and based on experience, the taste matches the hype.

 

MERCATO MAYFAIR – Indoor Food Market

Mercato Mayfair is an indoor food market located in an old church.  There are food stands from around the world – everything from Thai food to Mexican, and the best part is is that the church has been well-preserved so you’re dining amongst beautiful interior decor and stained glass windows.

 

PADELLA – Italian

Padella is a quaint Italian restaurant located near Borough Market.  Because of how good it is, you can probably expect a line – but trust me, it’s worth the wait.

 

SEVEN DIALS MARKET – Indoor Food Market

If you’re a food market fan (like me), you can’t miss checking out Seven Dials Market.  The great thing about this market – aside from the many different food options – is that it’s completely indoors so if there’s bad weather (which can happen often in London), it won’t ruin your experience.

 

The Best Bars & Pubs in London

If London is known for one thing – it’s its pub scene.  Locals flock to the pubs throughout the day, and you can truly find a bar or pub on every street!  Here are my favorite cocktail bars, wine bars, breweries, and pubs in London…

 

GORDON’S WINE BAR – Wine Bar

Gordon’s claims to be London’s oldest wine bar.  Built in 1890 in an underground cave, Gordon’s has all of the feelings what you’d think an old wine bar would be like.  Only lit by candlelight, if you’re tall, you can’t even stand up straight once you get inside.  It’s truly an experience to drink here – I just wouldn’t recommend it if you’re claustrophobic.

 

HOWLING HOPS BREWERY AND TANK BAR – Brewery

Howling Hops is a brewpub located in the cool neighborhood of Hackney Wick.  One of the coolest things about this brewery is that they have a live DJ on Friday and Saturday who plays straight from vinyls.  If you like beer and dancing – Howling Hops is for you!  (I’d also recommend checking out Hackney Wick because you can walk to tons of different breweries here).

 

PRINCESS LOUISE, THE LAMB AND FLAG, YE OLDE CHESHIRE CHEESE – Pub

When you visit London, it’s essential that you visit a pub.  And there are tons to choose from!  My favorite three pubs that I’ve been to in London are Princess Louse, The Lamb and Flag, and Ye Old Cheshire Cheese.  They are all quintessential London and each of these are the perfect place to sit down for a drink.

 

SATAN’S WHISKERS – Cocktails

Satan’s Whiskers is a funky and unique cocktail bar located in the Bethnal Green neighborhood of East London.  Because it’s a bit outside of central London, it feels a lot more local and like you’re getting a taste of the real London.  You can order both small plates and (delicious) cocktails, and I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time.

 

THE CHURCHILL ARMS, KENSINGTON – Pub

You’ve probably heard of The Churchill Arms or at the very least, seen it splashed all over social media.  It’s famous for going all out for Christmas, decking the pub from head to toe in Christmas decorations.  So while it’s touristy, I’d recommend it – even if you aren’t in town around Christmas.  Plus, they serve great Thai food so if you’re looking for something a bit different, head here for drinks and Thai food!

 

THE COCK AND BOTTLE – Pub

The Cock and Bottle is another pub that comes highly recommended (by me!).  It’s located in Notting Hill and has all of the charm that you think of when you think of a pub in London.  Friendly bartenders, locals, beer on tap, and pub food!

 

VIAJANTE87 – Cocktail Bar

Located in Notting Hill, Viajante87 is a swanky and energetic cocktail bar.  It’s previously been recognized as one of the top 50 cocktail bars in the world, and has also received an award as the best cocktail bar voted by bartenders.  One thing is certain, the cocktails at Viajante87 are unique and all very delicious!

 

The Best Things to See and Do in London

From grabbing afternoon tea to seeing a broadway show on the West End, there are tons of things to see and do when you travel to London!  Below you’ll find my favorite activities in the city.

 

AFTERNOON TEA

Having afternoon tea is a quintessential London experience.  You can go the traditional route, or a themed route (either way you can’t go wrong) where you can expect to be served tea and small bites.  There’s also an option to add on alcohol if you’re wanting more of a boozy tea experience.

I chose to do a themed tea at the Sanderson Hotel – “Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea” – and I really loved the experience.

 

CHURCHILL WAR ROOMS

If you’re a history nerd, you can’t miss the opportunity to visit the Churchill War Rooms.  Not only will you learn about the life of Winston Churchill, but you’ll also get a look at what it was like defeating Germany during WWII.  The rooms have been well-preserved so you truly feel like you’re living through the formative years that England was coming up with and executing on a plan to defeat Germany.

 

COLUMBIA ROAD

Columbia Road is one of my favorite streets in London.  It’s located in East London’s Bethnal Green neighborhood and is most famous for its flower market every Sunday.  However, I enjoy Columbia Road for its independent shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants, and more.  If you’re visiting London, I highly recommend carving out an afternoon to spend on Columbia Road!

 

DAY TRIP TO BATH

Bath is one of my favorite towns in England and it’s only an hour and a half train ride from London, or a 2.5 hour drive.  The city is well known for its “healing” thermal baths that the Romans (and others) would travel across the continent for.  It’s the perfect day trip if you want to get out of the busy-ness of London and see other aspects of England.

 

HDYE PARK

There’s nothing like strolling through Hyde Park on a beautiful London day.  Not only are there many walking trails, but you can also rent small boats and get out on the water.  I highly suggest coming during the day and bringing lunch with you so that you can sit down and people watch and enjoy the nice weather.

 

PORTOBELLO ROAD MARKET

Portobello Road Market is the largest antique market in the world located in London’s Notting Hill.  It has tons and tons of antique stores and goodies – you could walk around for hours here!  Plus there are also places to stop for coffee, drinks, and food; so I suggest making a day of it!

 

SEE A SHOW IN THE WEST END

The West End of London is famous for its broadway shows!  When you visit London, I highly encourage you to see a show.  They are always rotating so there’s always something new playing, and there’s such a wide variety of shows to choose from.

When I visited I saw Matilda and absolutely loved it.  If you want to buy tickets to a show, you can find tickets and showtimes here.

 

TOWER OF LONDON

Tower of London is an iconic castle in the heart of London.  It’s where many Kings and Queens have lived and where people still reside!  I highly recommend a visit to the Tower of London if you’re interested in learning about London’s history and interesting facts about the castle itself.  Oh, and it’s also home to the Crown Jewels!

You can purchase tickets here and I would highly recommend doing the free Beefeater tour once you get inside.

If I were to go back and do it again, I would also add in a river cruise and see the changing of the guard, which you get on this tour.

 

BOOK YOUR TICKETS FOR TOWER OF LONDON HERE!

 

 

Practical TipsAbout Visiting London & England

Below you’ll find practical tips about visiting London and England in general.  These are always my “go-to” tips when traveling to a new country, and I figure that everything else can be learned along the way!

• Language:  English
• Currency:  Pound (£); everywhere I went accepted debit/credit, so you don’t need to get cash out (unless you want to).  When paying with a card, always pay in the country’s currency (in this case £), to avoid fees.
• Visa:  Americans traveling to England do not need a visa (unless you’re planning to stay for over 6 months)
• When traveling abroad, I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover your trip in case anything were to happen.  I use and and recommend SafetyWing.
• In case of emergency, the number for police in England is 999

 

England Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting England

 

Visiting London is such a fun experience and a great way to jump start travels throughout Europe.  I hope that you found this guide helpful, but if you have any questions, let me know in the comments below!

 

If you’re planning to travel to Scotland from London, don’t miss…

• Taking a Train from London to Edinburgh

 

---

For a more visual look at London, and more ideas on what to see and do, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “ppinengland” or look for my “England” highlight; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search “England” in my highlights

---

 

Pin Me!

Disclosure:  This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no cost to you.  Passports and Preemies is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.