London tourist information
London rewards a little preparation. Most visitors need a UK electronic travel authorisation before they fly, and once in the city a contactless card pays for the Tube, buses and trams. The practical facts, the routes in from the airports, the sights to see first, this month's exhibitions and every London guide sit together, with a free map.
London visitor guides in one place
London tourist map
The London tourist map marks the 12 top sights, 30 hidden gems and a 6.9 km walking route through the centre, as a web map and a free printable PDF.
Tourist attractions in London
London's tourist attractions ranks the 12 top sights, from the Tower of London to Kew Gardens, with 30 hidden gems and the best time to go.
Free tourist attractions in London
Free tourist attractions in London lists 34 museums, parks, markets and viewpoints that cost nothing, with the booking rule for each.
Photo: "Panorama of London skyline" by Winniepix (CC BY 2.0).
Free museums in London
Free museums in London maps the museums with free admission all year and the paid ones with free evenings, floors or displays.
Free exhibitions in London
Free exhibitions in London gathers the free shows in museums and galleries this month, checked on each venue's own page.
Photo: "Portico of the Saatchi Gallery of modern art" by Anthony O'Neil (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Free views in London
Free views in London covers the rooftops and viewpoints open without a ticket, from the Sky Garden to Horizon 22.
Photo: "View from the Sky Garden (49071041557)" by Daniel from Glasgow, United Kingdom (CC BY 2.0).
Free parking in London
Free parking in London maps 27 places to park without charge and the road charges that still apply in the centre.
London tourist tax
The London tourist tax guide explains why hotels add no tourist tax today and how the planned visitor levy would work.
Photo: "At London 2025 566 - Westminster Bridge with Palace of Westminster" by Mike Peel (CC BY-SA 4.0).
London tourist office
London tourist office lists the visitor information centres in the city, who runs them and which bank holidays change their hours.
What to know before visiting London
A first trip to London runs more smoothly with a few practical facts in hand, from entry rules and money to holidays, safety and local customs.
- Best time to visit: May to September brings the longest days and the royal parks at their best, with June to August the busiest months. Spring and autumn are milder and quieter, and December trades daylight for Christmas lights and markets. When to go to London
- Days needed: Four full days cover the main sights at a steady pace, and three work for a brisker first visit. London's top 12 tourist attractions
- Money and costs: The UK uses the pound sterling. Many of the biggest museums, among them the British Museum and the National Gallery, charge nothing for their permanent collections, which keeps a city with a reputation for high prices within reach. Free museums in London
- Tipping: Tips are voluntary, and a service charge that the bill presents as discretionary carries no obligation to pay. Since 1 October 2024 employers must pass every tip and service charge on to staff without deductions. The UK code of practice on tips
- Tourist tax: London charges no tourist tax in 2026, and hotel prices already include VAT. A visitor levy on overnight stays is planned, but the law that would allow it had not been introduced in Parliament by 31 October 2026. London tourist tax
- Getting around: The Tube, the Elizabeth line, buses and trams all take the same contactless card, phone or Oyster card, and the centre splits into walkable clusters of sights. Walking, Tube and buses between the sights
- Bank holidays and Sundays: England has eight bank holidays a year, and when Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls at a weekend a substitute weekday follows. Many attractions, shops and restaurants close on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. On Sundays large shops may open for only six consecutive hours between 10:00 and 18:00, and they must close on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. Visitor centre hours on holidays are on the London tourist office page.
- Safety: Transport for London advises keeping phones and valuables close and never leaving belongings unattended. Unbooked minicabs are illegal and uninsured for passengers, so a minicab has to be booked through a licensed firm, while black cabs can be hailed in the street. Safer travel at night
- Local rules: Drinking from or carrying open containers of alcohol has been banned on the Tube, buses and trams since 1 June 2008. The Ultra Low Emission Zone, set up to clean London's air, operates across all London boroughs 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day, and vehicles that do not meet its emissions standards pay a daily charge to drive in it. Ultra Low Emission Zone on TfL
- Language: English is the language of daily life, although the 2021 census found London had the lowest share of residents with English as a main language of any region in England, at 78.4%. Census 2021 language results
- Entry rules: Most visitors who do not need a visa, including travellers from Europe, the USA, Australia and Canada, need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), one for each person including babies and children. It lasts 2 years or until the passport expires and covers repeated visits of up to 6 months. Apply for an ETA on GOV.UK
- Emergency numbers: 999 and 112 both reach the police, fire service, ambulance and coastguard, and NHS 111 helps with urgent medical problems that are not emergencies. When to use NHS 111
- Plugs and voltage: Sockets take the British BS 1363 plug, a 13-amp plug with its own fuse, and the mains supply runs at 230 volts and 50 hertz, so devices from countries with other plugs need an adapter. UK supply voltage regulations
- Free map and PDF: A free tourist map marks the 12 top sights, 30 hidden gems and a 6.9 km walking route from the National Gallery to St Paul's Cathedral, ready to print as a PDF. London tourist map
Top sights in London
How to get around London
Transport for London runs the Tube, buses, trams, the Elizabeth line and the river buses on one ticketing system, and a contactless card covers almost every journey a visitor makes.
From the airport
From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line reaches Paddington in 28 minutes and runs on through Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street. Six trains an hour serve the airport and all of them call at Terminals 2 and 3. The Heathrow Express runs to Paddington in 15 minutes, every 15 minutes, and the Piccadilly line runs on the Tube straight to the West End. Transport for London lists Piccadilly line upgrade works among its major works for every month from November 2026 to January 2027 and gives no end date, so its planned closures are worth checking before a flight.
From Gatwick, the Gatwick Express reaches London Victoria in as little as 31 minutes. From Stansted, the Stansted Express reaches Liverpool Street in 48 minutes.
What's on in London this month
Major exhibitions fill London's museums this month, and the London events calendar adds the free events, concerts, shows and sport.
The 90s, Art and Fashion
The 90s, Art and Fashion runs at Tate Britain until 14 February 2027, a look at the decade through its art and fashion.
Frida, The Making of an Icon
Frida, The Making of an Icon runs at Tate Modern until 3 January 2027, with over 30 of Kahlo's works beside garments and photographs.
Henry Moore, Monumental Nature
Henry Moore, Monumental Nature places sculptures across Kew Gardens until 31 January 2027.
The Bayeux Tapestry
The Bayeux Tapestry stays at the British Museum until 11 July 2027, on loan from France.
Ramses and the Pharaohs' Gold
Ramses and the Pharaohs' Gold shows more than 180 ancient Egyptian treasures at NEON in Battersea Power Station until 1 January 2027.