British Museum
A vast museum of world history and culture, with collections that run from the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies to sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens.
London
Many free museums, West End theatres, the Tower of London, the British Museum and Buckingham Palace are all part of London, the capital.
Attractive locations
Buckingham Palace
The London home and workplace of the British monarch, with a grand front facing The Mall. Crowds gather outside for the Changing of the Guard, and the State Rooms open to visitors at set times of year.
Westminster Abbey
A Gothic church beside Parliament where English and British monarchs have been crowned for centuries. It also holds the tombs and memorials of kings, queens, poets and scientists.
Tower of London
A medieval fortress on the north bank of the Thames, once a royal residence and prison. Visitors can see the Crown Jewels and meet the Yeoman Warders who live on site.
Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament)
The Gothic Revival home of the UK Parliament, rising from the Thames. Its clock tower holds the bell known as Big Ben, and tours of the chambers are offered on set days.
London Eye
A huge observation wheel on the South Bank that turns slowly, giving wide views over the river, Parliament and the city skyline from enclosed glass capsules.
St Paul's Cathedral
Christopher Wren's domed masterpiece on Ludgate Hill. Visitors can explore the grand interior and the crypt, and climb to the dome's galleries for a view across the City.
Trafalgar Square
A broad public square with fountains, lion statues and Nelson's Column. It sits in front of the National Gallery and is a common meeting point and gathering place for events.
National Gallery
A major art museum on Trafalgar Square with a large collection of European paintings from the medieval period to the early twentieth century, including famous works by Van Gogh and Turner.
Tate Modern
A modern and contemporary art museum inside a converted riverside power station. Its huge turbine hall hosts large installations, and upper floors offer views across the Thames to St Paul's.
Tower Bridge
A Victorian bridge over the Thames with two stone towers and roadways that lift for tall ships. High walkways give views along the river, and a glass floor lets visitors look down.
Natural History Museum
A museum in a grand Victorian terracotta building, known for its dinosaur skeletons and a huge blue whale skeleton hanging in the main hall. Other galleries cover minerals, volcanoes and wildlife.
Airports
London Heathrow Airport LHR
It is about 23 km in a straight line from London.
London City Airport LCY
It is about 13 km in a straight line from London.
London Gatwick Airport LGW
It is about 40 km in a straight line from London.
Getting around
From Heathrow Airport
Three rail routes into central London are listed on Heathrow's own site. Heathrow Express is non-stop to Paddington, a trip of about 15 minutes from Terminals 2 and 3. The Elizabeth line takes under 40 minutes, serving Terminals 2 and 3, 4 and 5 and calling at stations that include Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street. The Piccadilly line calls at all terminals and takes about 50 minutes to reach central London.
- Source: Heathrow Airport: By rail or train (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Heathrow Airport: Elizabeth line (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Heathrow Airport: London Underground (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Heathrow Express (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Tube, buses and trams
The city's public transport is run by Transport for London and covers the Tube, buses, DLR, London Overground, the Elizabeth line, trams, the London Cable Car and river services. The Tube network has Bakerloo, Central, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria and Waterloo & City lines. In TfL's journey planner you can choose which modes to use and ask for step-free routes, and TfL also provides the TfL Go app for planning journeys.
- Source: Transport for London: Tube (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Transport for London: Getting around London (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Contactless and Oyster
Pay as you go is accepted in London on buses, the Tube, trams, DLR, London Overground, the Cable Car and river buses, plus most Elizabeth line services and most National Rail services. Many contactless cards issued outside the UK work, but the card issuer may add charges. On rail, use the same card or device to touch in and to touch out; on buses and trams, touch in only. Missing a touch results in a maximum fare, and Oyster is not accepted between Reading and Iver.
- Source: Transport for London: Pay as you go (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Transport for London: Touching in and out (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Scams and safe taxis
Black cabs and minicabs
Black taxis in London can be flagged down on the street or taken from a rank, with fares set by TfL and worked out by meter. Drivers wear a badge, and their licence is shown in both the front and rear windscreens. Minicabs, known as private hire, may not use ranks and must be booked in advance through an operator licensed by TfL, which confirms the vehicle registration and the driver's first name. A licence checker from TfL shows if a minicab's driver, vehicle or operator holds a licence.
- Source: Transport for London: Guide to taxis and private hire (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Transport for London: Taxis and minicabs (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Touts and unbooked minicabs
Minicabs that have not been booked are illegal, uninsured for carrying passengers and a serious risk, TfL says, and touting is a recordable offence. Canada's advice also reports passengers robbed or assaulted in unlicensed taxis. Both point travellers to licensed vehicles; TfL's preference is taxis or minicabs that are booked and licensed, and Canada's is licensed and marked taxis or private hire vehicles only.
- Source: Transport for London: Compliance and enforcement (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Government of Canada travel advice: United Kingdom (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Phone theft in busy areas
In certain tourist areas of London, cellphone theft is common, says Canada's travel advice, with thieves most active around Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square, as well as on public transport, in hotel lobbies and at outdoor cafes. Groups may be involved, and distraction is used. It advises caution toward unsolicited offers or advice from strangers and when other people handle your cards.
- Source: Government of Canada travel advice: United Kingdom (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan4.1 °C65 mm
- Feb4.3 °C54 mm
- Mar6.1 °C50 mm
- Apr9.0 °C42 mm
- May12.3 °C55 mm
- Jun15.5 °C56 mm
- Jul17.6 °C60 mm
- Aug17.3 °C66 mm
- Sep14.7 °C44 mm
- Oct11.3 °C73 mm
- Nov7.3 °C74 mm
- Dec4.8 °C71 mm
Driest months: Mar, Apr, Sep. Wettest months: Oct, Nov, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 89% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
festival
Christmas lights and Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park holds a fair, while lights decorate Oxford and Regent Streets.
trade
World Travel Market (WTM)
ExCeL London is the venue of a large travel trade fair.
culture
Chelsea Flower Show
No other garden show is as widely known around the world.
sport
Wimbledon
No tennis Grand Slam is older.
Official sitefestival
Notting Hill Carnival
This street carnival, held on the August bank-holiday weekend, is the biggest in Europe.
festival
Christmas lights and Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park holds a fair, while lights decorate Oxford and Regent Streets.
trade
World Travel Market (WTM)
ExCeL London is the venue of a large travel trade fair.
Who can help
Emergency
999 (or 112) for police, fire and ambulance.
local government
Emergency number 999 (NHS guidance)
Helps with: Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. NHS England guidance for visitors from abroad also points to 111 for urgent but non-life-threatening problems.
Who qualifies: Anyone in England, including visitors from abroad, in a life-threatening situation.
Phone: 999
local government
NHS 111
Helps with: NHS service for urgent medical help or advice that is not life-threatening, or when you are unsure which NHS service you need. Symptoms can also be checked online at 111.nhs.uk.
Who qualifies: Anyone in England, including visitors from abroad, who needs urgent medical advice.
Phone: 111
local government
VisitBritain (British Tourist Authority)
Helps with: Britain's national tourism agency. Its websites cover trip planning for Britain and England. The contact page says it cannot reply to individual holidaymakers asking for travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone planning a trip to Britain; use the websites rather than the contact form for travel questions.
ngo
British Red Cross
Helps with: The UK's Red Cross society. Its website covers first aid, an international family tracing service, support for refugees and asylum seekers, and guidance for people affected by emergencies such as floods.
Who qualifies: People in the UK needing its support services; family tracing and refugee support are open to those affected.
Phone: 0344 871 11 11
Address: 44 Moorfields, London, EC2Y 9AL
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) United Kingdom
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In the UK it runs resettlement, support and protection activities for migrants, and has had a presence there since 1995.
Who qualifies: Migrants and refugees in the UK. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Address: Heron House, First Floor, 10 Dean Farrar St., London, SW1H 0DX
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in the UK (official list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The Foreign Office publishes a list of embassies, high commissions and consulates in the UK, including their addresses and contact details.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy, high commission or consulate.
local government
Transport for London (TfL) customer contact line
Helps with: London's transport authority. Its contact line helps with journey planning, reporting crime or safety concerns on the network and noise complaints, and it takes lost property reports online.
Who qualifies: Anyone using London's transport network, residents and visitors alike.
Phone: 0343 222 1234
Address: TfL Customer Services, 9th Floor, 5 Endeavour Square, London E20 1JN