London is one of the world's most fascinating and cosmopolitan metropolises, where centuries-old royal traditions coexist with cultural avant-garde. Big Ben, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and Tower Bridge sit alongside Shoreditch's contemporary art galleries, Brixton's multicultural markets, and Soho's underground clubs. London constantly reinvents itself while preserving its unmistakable British character.
London's food scene is one of the most diverse in the world. You'll find everything from traditional fish and chips wrapped in paper to a hearty full English breakfast, Sunday roast at the local pub, Brick Lane's Indian curry or China Town's dim sum. London now counts more Michelin-starred restaurants than Paris, driven by visionary chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal.
London pulses with incomparable creative energy, between Borough Market, Portobello Road and Brick Lane for alternative shopping, concerts at the legendary O2 or Royal Albert Hall, and Victorian pubs with gardens hosting Thursday night pub quizzes. After dark, Shoreditch, Dalston and Brixton offer some of the most innovative nightlife in Europe.
Practical tip: Most of London's museums and galleries are free, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, and Tate Modern. An Oyster Card will save you a lot of money on transport. Avoid black cabs, take the Tube or an Uber instead.
Estimated budget: Budget around EUR130-160 per day per person for activities, meals, and transport (accommodation not included): EUR15-20 for a pub meal, about EUR3 per Tube ride with an Oyster Card, and EUR25-35 for paid sites (Tower of London, Tower Bridge) - the major national museums remain free. London is one of Europe's priciest capitals.
Best time to visit: The best time is May to September, with milder temperatures and long days to enjoy parks and outdoor markets. The weather stays unpredictable year-round: always pack a waterproof jacket, whatever the season.
Prices and hours are indicative — please verify before your visit.
Day by day
Day 1
The British Museum
The world's largest free museum, housing 8 million objects spanning the history of every human civilization. The Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon Marbles are among its most-visited treasures. Set aside at least half a day to cover even the must-see rooms among more than 90 galleries, and aim for an early morning visit to beat the crowds.
Tube Central, Northern, or Piccadilly line, Tottenham Court Road or Holborn station - 5-10 min walk.
Shoreditch
A former industrial district turned London's creative epicenter, mixing giant street art, vintage thrift shops and a thriving tech startup scene. Its lanes become an open-air gallery that changes with the seasons. Neighboring Brick Lane, famous for its curry houses and Sunday market, rounds out a walking exploration of the area nicely.
Tube Central or Circle/Hammersmith & City line, Liverpool Street or Old Street station.
Tower of London
This thousand-year-old royal fortress on the Thames has served in turn as a palace, a prison and an arsenal. Today it holds the British Crown Jewels, guarded by the famous Beefeaters. Legend has it the monarchy would fall if the tower's resident ravens ever left — six of them live there permanently, just in case.
Tube District or Circle line, Tower Hill station - direct exit.
Tower Bridge
London's iconic Victorian bascule bridge, often wrongly mistaken for the plain London Bridge nearby. Its glass-floored walkways, suspended 42 meters up, offer a striking view over the Thames and the city. The bridge's two bascules still lift regularly to let tall ships pass through, on a schedule published online.
Tube District or Circle line, Tower Hill station - 5 min walk from the Tower of London.
Day 2
Borough Market
London's most celebrated food market, tucked under Victorian railway arches near London Bridge and trading for over 1,000 years. Producer stalls, street food from around the world and aged cheeses all mingle in a lively atmosphere. The market is closed Sunday afternoons and all day Monday: aim for a Thursday or Friday morning for the most authentic atmosphere.
Tube Northern or Jubilee line, London Bridge station - direct exit.
Tate Modern
The world's most-visited contemporary art gallery, housed in a converted former power station on the south bank of the Thames. Its monumental Turbine Hall hosts spectacular installations renewed each year. The permanent collection is entirely free, and the tenth-floor viewing level offers one of the best free views over the Thames as a bonus.
Tube Jubilee line, Southwark station, or walk across the Millennium Bridge from St Paul's.
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
The world's most famous clock towers over the neo-Gothic Palace of Westminster, home to the British Parliament since 1834. Its giant bell, 'Big Ben', which gives the tower its popular name, has chimed on the hour since 1859. Guided tours inside the Palace run on Saturdays and during parliamentary recess, best booked ahead.
Tube Circle, District, or Jubilee line, Westminster station - direct exit facing Parliament.
Day 3
Buckingham Palace
The British monarch's official residence since 1837, with 775 rooms and 16 hectares of private gardens. The Changing of the Guard in front of its gates remains one of London's most photographed rituals. A flag raised above the palace signals whether the sovereign is in residence that day, and the State Rooms only open to visitors in summer.
Tube Piccadilly, Victoria, or Jubilee line, Green Park or Victoria station - 10 min walk.
Hyde Park
The largest of London's royal parks, 142 hectares of lawns, lakes and bridle paths in the heart of the capital. Speakers' Corner, where anyone can address the public, keeps a uniquely British tradition alive here. Its artificial lake, the Serpentine, welcomes swimmers and rowers in summer, and the park flows seamlessly into the neighboring Kensington Gardens.
Tube Central or Piccadilly line, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, or Knightsbridge station depending on the entrance you want.
Kew Gardens
The world's largest botanical garden and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to over 50,000 plant species across 132 hectares. Its Victorian Palm House glasshouse holds one of the richest tropical collections on Earth. The elevated Treetop Walkway, 18 meters up, offers a unique perspective over the canopy.
Tube District Line or London Overground, Kew Gardens station - about 30 min from the center.
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