London
Old empire, endlessly reinventing itself
London is many cities at once: royal pageantry past Buckingham Palace, world-class art that's free at the National Gallery and Tate, market feasts at Borough, and centuries of history along the Thames. Vast, layered, and electric, it rewards both the planner and the wanderer.
How long to stay?
Two days hits the icons: Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, a spin on the London Eye, the British Museum's treasures, Trafalgar Square, and the medieval Tower of London beside Tower Bridge.
Cosmopolitan and fast but quietly polite, with grand history and cutting-edge cool living side by side. Each neighborhood feels like its own world, from buzzing Soho to leafy Hampstead.
Covent Garden and Soho keep you central and lively. South Bank suits culture lovers near the river. South Kensington is elegant and museum-rich; Shoreditch is edgy, creative, and nightlife-heavy.
Many of London's best museums (the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, V&A) are free to enter. Build your days around them and splurge the savings on a proper Sunday roast.
May to September brings the warmest, longest days and a packed events calendar. Spring and early autumn balance decent weather with thinner crowds; pack a layer and an umbrella year-round.
Six airports serve London; Heathrow links to the center via the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express, Gatwick via the Gatwick Express. Eurostar trains from Paris and Brussels arrive at St Pancras International.
Currency is the pound sterling; contactless cards and phones work on all transport, no Oyster needed. Stand on the right of escalators, mind the gap, and look right when crossing.