Ah, London, the city with the best cuisine in the world, the best music scene, the best hotels, and the most fascinating history and tea. The tea, who could forget? It's easy to move around London, which is a lovely place to visit, thanks to the excellent public transit system in England. Each London area has enough to offer, and you could easily spend a week or more taking it all in and still have stuff left over for your next trip.
It's no surprise that the "Big Smoke" is a popular tourist destination with landmarks and cultural hotspots including the National Portrait Gallery, Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Kensington Gardens, and a wide variety of cuisine, drink, shopping, history, and culture.
Time Zone
Greenwich Mean Time in the winter and British Summer Time (beginning with Daylight Saving Time) the rest of the year.
Ideal Time to Visit
Depending on what you want to experience, the best time to visit England is when the weather is the mildest and rainiest. Winter is lovely and festive for those hoping to get their fill of Christmas markets and traditional cheer, while spring, summer, and fall allow for taking in the parks and making the most of how walkable London is.
Facts to Know
England's world-class public transit system makes traveling between the many exciting areas that make up London easy and stress-free.
Americans connect with one another very differently than Londoners and English people in general do. Etiquette in London errs on the more private, courteous, and distant side, whereas an American might not think twice about smiling at a stranger they pass on the sidewalk or asking about work within the first few minutes of a conversation.
It's merely a variation in cultural conventions; don't take this to mean that people are being aloof or unpleasant when you meet them. Discuss topics other than work or family, such as movies, TV shows, books, your travels, and the like.
The fact that London offers significantly superior takeaway sandwiches than the United States is amusing and somewhat comforting. If your day is too busy for a sit-down lunch, a chain restaurant's sandwich will be genuinely wonderful. The majority of British museums are also free, allowing anyone to explore to their heart's content regardless of their financial situation.
How to Navigate around London
The large and well-kept Underground (also known as the Tube) makes getting about London incredibly simple. Contrary to American transportation systems, which sometimes charge per ride or per duration of travel, tickets for the Underground are paid in zones. The time of day and the method you choose to pay also affect the fare. To make your trip easier, consider purchasing an Oyster card, also known as the MetroCard or SmarTrip Card for the Underground.
Each of the nine zones is served by one of the 11 Underground lines. In each Tube station are maps of these areas. The majority of London's well-known attractions are in Zone 1, which includes the city's center. Everyday from 5 am to midnight, with shortened hours on Sunday, the Tube is open. Some late-night services are offered on the weekends, but normally, if you're out and about after midnight, you should be ready to take one of the many readily available London cabs or utilize a rideshare app.
Best Hotels London
Here are a few categories of the Hotels in London we highly recommend. Please be aware that we have tested and reviewed all Hotels ourself, so we only recommend Hotels we stayed our self and fully satisfied our needs.
Neighborhoods to Know
Notting Hill
That Notting Hill, yes, that one. It's just as endearing as you anticipate. Notting Hill, famous for Portobello Road Market and the vintage and antique shops that line it, is also home to upscale eateries, Ladbroke Square Garden, and some of London's loveliest and most picturesque residential areas.
Soho
The West End's vibrant, theater-filled Soho is the place to go for nightlife of all kinds. Go dancing, watch a late-night movie, eat dinner, attend a show, or do all of the above. Being close to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery makes it one of the most visited tourist attractions in London.
Camden
Also referred to as Camden Town, though no anyone uses that name these days. It borders The Regent and is home to Camden Market and the renowned venue Electric Ballroom. The London Zoo is easily accessible on foot, however it takes a little bit longer to go to Queen Mary's Rose Gardens.
Shoreditch
A hip district packed with bars, cafes, art galleries, and antique stores. Younger people tend to live in the neighborhood, which has chain eateries as well as fine dining establishments and artisan coffee shops. Explore this area for some of London's best shopping.
Covent Garden
This well-liked district, which is also known as Covent Garden Market, is full of quirky little treasures like tiny toy stores, bookstores, clothes boutiques, and more – as well as a variety of restaurants and cafes. Covent Garden is a bustling and lovely area to sit, enjoy a coffee, and people-watch; it is not a shopping center.
Kings Cross
Not just a rail stop, but also a neighborhood! However, the historic Kings Cross Station, which has a Platform 9 34 photo area and a "Harry Potter" retail shop nearby, is a major attraction. Previously a severely industrial district, Kings Cross has been transformed with gardens and compact green spaces.
The West End
The Broadway of London is the West End. But don't be misled; it's not only Broadway productions staged abroad. The theater community of the West End is vibrant, and new plays are frequently produced there.
Weather in London
On the other hand, no matter the season, London's weather does not frequently experience highs and lows. From the reverse hand, London experiences heavy rain. On average, nine to ten days per month. No matter when you travel, be sure to bring some waterproof clothing; you'll probably be pleased you did.
Spring:
In London and around England, spring is stunning. The parks and gardens in London, a very green city, come to blossoming, perfumed life in the spring. Although it can get chilly in the early spring, it can be worthwhile to travel then to avoid the summertime tourist rush.
Summer:
London experiences the same warm and beautiful summers as the rest of England. Rarely do temperatures rise over 75°F (around 24 degrees). Because of this, it is by far the most popular time to travel, and rates for hotels and flights reflect this. However, the season is also generally livelier and busier than others.
Autumn:
Once more, autumn is mild with somewhat more rain than summer. You might choose to postpone your trip until the autumn if you want to avoid the summer rush but still enjoy milder weather.
Winter:
Although it might get chilly throughout the winter, temperatures rarely drop below 30°F (-1 degrees) on average. Christmas is celebrated widely in England, where cheery markets can be found. It's difficult not to feel merry in the home of A Christmas Carol, so if you adore the winter holidays, London might be the ideal destination for you.
Comments