London Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best London tours, Tower of London and Westminster tickets, Thames cruises, hop-on hop-off buses and day trips to Stonehenge and Windsor. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect London itinerary.
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Explore London by interest
Whatever brings you to London — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Royal & historic London
The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Crown Jewels.
ExploreThames cruises
Sightseeing, afternoon-tea and dinner cruises past the landmarks.
ExploreSightseeing tours
Hop-on hop-off buses, black-cab tours and walking tours of the city.
ExploreHarry Potter
The Warner Bros. Studio tour and Potter-themed walks across the city.
ExploreViews & attractions
The London Eye, the Shard, Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral.
ExploreDay trips
Stonehenge, Windsor, Bath, Oxford and the Cotswolds.
ExploreFood & pubs
Borough Market food tours, afternoon tea and historic-pub crawls.
ExploreFamily activities
The Harry Potter studio, the London Eye and the Tower’s ravens and Beefeaters.
ExploreTop attractions in London
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Tower of London
A 1,000-year-old fortress guarding the Crown Jewels, with Beefeaters and ravens.
Buckingham Palace
The Royal Family’s London home, with summer State Rooms and the Changing of the Guard.
Westminster Abbey
The Gothic coronation church of British monarchs since 1066.
Big Ben & Parliament
The iconic clock tower and the Houses of Parliament on the Thames.
London Eye
The giant South Bank observation wheel with 360° views over the city.
Tower Bridge
The Victorian bascule bridge with high-level glass-floor walkways.
St Paul's Cathedral
Wren’s great domed cathedral, with the Whispering Gallery and city views.
River Thames
The river threading the city — best seen on a sightseeing or dinner cruise.
London in 1 day
- 1Tower of London & Crown Jewels
- 2Thames cruise to Westminster
- 3Westminster Abbey & Big Ben
- 4London Eye at sunset
London in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Tower, Thames & Westminster
- 2London Eye & South Bank
- 3Day 2: Buckingham Palace
- 4Harry Potter studio
London in 3 days
- 1Days 1–2: city icons & Harry Potter
- 2Museums & South Bank
- 3Day 3: Stonehenge & Windsor
- 4Farewell Thames dinner cruise
London with kids
- 1Harry Potter studio
- 2London Eye ride
- 3Tower of London ravens
- 4Natural History Museum
Harry Potter London
- 1Warner Bros. Studio Tour
- 2Platform 9¾ at King's Cross
- 3Leadenhall Market & film spots
- 4Locations bus tour
Rainy day in London
- 1British Museum, guided entry
- 2Afternoon tea indoors
- 3Covered markets & arcades
- 4West End show at night
2 hrs awayStonehenge
The 5,000-year-old prehistoric stone circle on Salisbury Plain.
1 hr awayWindsor Castle
The oldest occupied castle in the world and a favourite royal residence.
2.5 hrs awayBath
A Georgian city of honey-stone crescents and steaming Roman Baths.
1.5 hrs awayOxford
The ‘city of dreaming spires’ and its ancient university colleges.
2 hrs awayCotswolds
Honey-stone villages and rolling hills in quintessential English countryside.
1 hr awayHarry Potter Studio
The real film sets at Warner Bros. Studio — Diagon Alley and the Great Hall.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every London visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
May–June and September bring mild weather, long daylight and slightly thinner crowds than peak summer — the best balance.
Spring (Mar–May)
Blossom in the parks and mild days, ideal for walking and river cruises. Easter and bank holidays get busy.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Long evenings, festivals and the Buckingham Palace State Rooms open — but the busiest and priciest months, so book ahead.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Mild early autumn with golden parks and thinner crowds, often the best value of the year.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cold and often grey but festive, with Christmas lights, markets and ice rinks, and the lowest prices and quietest museums.
Events to plan around
Wimbledon (July), Christmas markets and major exhibitions spike demand — reserve tickets and the Harry Potter studio well ahead.
One day
Enough for the highlights: the Tower of London, a Thames cruise, Westminster and the London Eye with skip-the-line tickets.
Two days
Add Buckingham Palace and a big experience like the Harry Potter studio, plus a West End show.
Three days
The sweet spot: the icons, the free museums and a day trip to Stonehenge and Windsor.
Four to five days
Slow down: add Greenwich, more museums, markets and a second day trip to Bath or Oxford.
A week or more
Explore the neighbourhoods, day-trip to the Cotswolds or even Paris by Eurostar, and dig into London’s museums.
Travelling with kids
Add a full day for the Harry Potter studio alone, and keep the pace relaxed with the free museums.
The Tube
The Underground is the fastest way across the city. Tap in and out with a contactless card or phone — it’s capped daily and cheaper than paper tickets.
On foot
Central London is very walkable, and many landmarks along the river are just 10–20 minutes apart.
Buses
The red double-deckers are scenic and use the same contactless fares as the Tube — great for seeing the city above ground.
Thames Clippers
River bus services run between piers from Westminster to Greenwich — a scenic way to travel that doubles as sightseeing.
Cabs & cycles
Black cabs and ride apps are everywhere, and Santander Cycles (‘Boris bikes’) suit short hops in good weather.
From the airports
Heathrow links by the Tube (Piccadilly line) or the fast Elizabeth line; Gatwick, Stansted and Luton by express trains. Pre-book transfers if you prefer door-to-door.
Free museums
The British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern and the Natural History and Science Museums are all free — a huge saving.
Sightseeing passes
A London Pass or similar can pay off if you visit several paid attractions in a few days, with skip-the-line entry at sites like the Tower.
Book timed entry
The Tower of London, the London Eye and the Harry Potter studio use timed tickets that sell out — book ahead.
Contactless travel
Use a contactless card or phone to tap on all public transport — it’s cheaper than paper tickets and caps your daily spend.
Currency
The pound sterling (£) is used; cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, so little cash is needed.
Weather
Pack a light rain layer year-round — London weather is changeable, and an umbrella saves the day on river cruises and walks.
Harry Potter studio
Warner Bros. Studio tickets are timed and sell out weeks ahead, especially in school holidays — book early with transport.
Tower of London
Timed tickets for the Crown Jewels go quickly on weekends and in summer; book ahead to skip the queue.
Buckingham Palace
Summer State Rooms tickets are limited and sell out — reserve as soon as dates are released.
Stonehenge & Windsor trips
Popular day trips fill up on weekends and in summer, so book your tour ahead.
London Eye fast-track
Sunset and weekend slots sell out — book fast-track tickets to avoid the longest queues.
West End shows
The biggest musicals and plays sell out; book ahead for the best seats and dates.
Top attractions
Around £30–40 for the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey; the London Eye is similar with fast-track.
Harry Potter studio
About £50–110 including round-trip transport from central London — the transport adds a lot to the studio ticket.
Thames cruises
Roughly £15–25 for a sightseeing cruise; afternoon-tea and dinner cruises cost more.
Day trips
Full-day trips to Stonehenge, Windsor, Bath or the Cotswolds run about £50–110 including transport and admission.
Hop-on hop-off
Around £35–45 for a 24-hour ticket, often including a river cruise and walking tour.
How to save
Use the free museums, travel contactless, and consider a sightseeing pass if visiting several paid sites.
London through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Blossom in the parks and mild days ideal for walking tours and river cruises.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book outdoor experiences early — spring weekends and Easter fill fast.
- Best for
- Long evenings, festivals and the Buckingham Palace State Rooms open — the busiest months.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Reserve the Harry Potter studio and top tickets weeks ahead.
- Best for
- Golden parks and thinner crowds make early autumn a local favourite and good value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Shoulder-season prices return — a great time to visit.
- Best for
- Festive lights, markets and ice rinks, with quiet museums; cold but atmospheric.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book a warm indoor mix — museums, the Tower and a dinner cruise shine now.