London

One of the world's most visited cities, London has something for everyone: from history and culture to fine food and good times.

Time Travel

Immersed in history, London's rich seams of eye-opening antiquity are everywhere. The city's buildings are striking milestones in a unique and beguiling biography, and a great many of them – the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben – are instantly recognisable landmarks. There’s more than enough innovation (the Shard, the Tate Modern extension, the Sky Garden) to put a crackle in the air, but it never drowns out London’s seasoned, centuries-old narrative. Architectural grandeur rises up all around you in the West End, ancient remains dot the City and charming pubs punctuate the historic quarters, leafy suburbs and river banks. Take your pick.

Art & Culture

A tireless innovator of art and culture, London is a city of ideas and the imagination. Londoners have always been fiercely independent thinkers (and critics), but until not so long ago people were suspicious of anything they considered avant-garde. That’s in the past now, and the city’s creative milieu is streaked with left-field attitude, whether it's theatrical innovation, contemporary art, pioneering music, writing, poetry, architecture or design. Food is another creative arena that has become a tireless obsession in certain circles.

Diversity

This city is deeply multicultural, with one in three Londoners foreign-born, representing 270 nationalities and 300 tongues. The UK may have voted for Brexit (although the majority of Londoners didn't), but for now London remains one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities, and diversity infuses daily life, food, music and fashion. It even penetrates intrinsically British institutions; the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum have collections as varied as they are magnificent, while the flavours at centuries-old Borough Market run the full global gourmet spectrum.

A Tale of Two Cities

London is as much about wide-open vistas and leafy landscape escapes as it is high-density, sight-packed urban exploration. Central London is where the major museums, galleries and most iconic sights congregate, but visit Hampstead Heath or the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to flee the crowds and frolic in wide open green expanses. You can also venture further out to Kew Gardens, Richmond or Hampton Court Palace for beautiful panoramas of riverside London followed by a pint in a quiet waterside pub.

Must see in
London

  • British Museum

    With more than six million visitors trooping through its doors annually, the British Museum in Bloomsbury is Britain’s most visited attraction. You could spend a lifetime in this vast and hallowed collection of artefacts, art and age-old antiquity, and still make daily discoveries. If you're not sure where to start, join one of the highlights or eye-opener tours for a precis of the museum’s treasures. Whatever your approach, make sure you glimpse the Rosetta Stone, key to deciphering hieroglyphics, and the other-worldly mummies.

  • Tate Modern

    The favourite museum of Londoners (and quite possibly the world), this contemporary art collection enjoys a triumphant position right on the River Thames. Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, the Tate Modern is a vigorous statement of modernity, architectural renewal and accessibility. The permanent collection is free, and the gallery's ziggurat extension, opened in 2016, provides 60% more exhibition space and a new (and free) vantage point in London. Exhibition spaces are pushing the conceptual envelope, too, with installation and performance art.

  • National Gallery

    This superlative collection of (largely premodern) art in the heart of London is one of the largest anywhere, and provides a roll-call of some of the world’s most outstanding artistic compositions. With highlights including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Gainsborough, Constable, Turner, Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh, it’s a bravura performance and one not to be missed. The on-site restaurant is also exceptional, rounding out a terrific experience and putting the icing on an already eye-catching cake.

  • Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens

    London’s urban parkland is virtually second to none and is the place to see locals at ease and in their element. Hyde Park alone ranges across a mighty 142 hectares; throw in Kensington Gardens and you have even more space to roam and everything you could want: a central London setting, a royal palace, extravagant Victoriana, boating opportunities, open-air concerts, art galleries, magnificent trees, a tasteful granite memorial to Princess Diana as well as a magnificently overblown memorial to Prince Albert facing the grand form of the Albert Hall.

  • Victoria & Albert Museum

    You could spend a whole day in the huge Victoria & Albert Museum and still be astounded at its variety and depth. Located in stylish South Kensington, the world’s leading collection of decorative arts has something for everyone, from Islamic textiles to antique Chinese ceramics, photography, fashion, works by Raphael and modern design classics from iMacs to Nike shoes. And don’t overlook the fabulous architecture of the museum, which is a major attraction in itself.

  • Tower of London

    Few parts of the UK are as steeped in history or as impregnated with legend and superstition as the titanic stonework of this fabulous fortress. Not only is the tower an architectural odyssey but there’s also one of the world's largest diamonds, free tours from magnificently attired ‘Beefeaters’, a dazzling array of armour and weaponry, and a palpable sense of ancient history at every turn. Because there is simply so much to see, it’s well worth getting here early – you will need at least half a day for exploration.

  • London Eye

    You may have eyeballed London from altitude as you descended into Heathrow, but your pilot won’t have lingered over the supreme views that extend in every direction from London’s great riverside Ferris wheel. The queues move as slowly as the Eye rotates (though there are ways to fast-track admission), but you're rewarded once you’ve lifted off and London unfurls beneath you. Avoid grey days – if possible! If you’ve limited time, make this the first stop on your visit so you can at least say you’ve seen the sights.

  • Camden Town

    A foray into trendy North London, away from the central sights, is a crucial part of the London experience. Camden market – actually three markets in one great melange – may be a hectic and tourist-oriented attraction, but snacking on the go from its international food stalls is a great way to enjoy browsing the merchandise. At night Camden’s terrific music scene, throbbing nightlife and well-seasoned pub culture are magnets pulling in night owls from across the city.

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