Covent Garden
600 m from Trafalgar SquareTheatres, street performers and the covered market hall, a few minutes' walk from Trafalgar Square. Very central, busy until late and rarely cheap.
- Population
- ≈ 9,100,000
- Language
- English
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP)
- Time zone
- UTC+0
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Nearest airport
- LHR, 23 km
Start in the square: Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DU
Trafalgar Square is the city's main meeting point, with Nelson's Column in the middle, four bronze lions and the National Gallery along the north side. From here, Whitehall leads to Parliament and The Mall to Buckingham Palace. Look up at the Fourth Plinth, which shows a changing work of modern art.
Within a short walk
- National GalleryTrafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN100 m
- Houses of ParliamentThe Terrace, London SW1A 0AA1 km
- Westminster Abbey20 Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA1 km
Where to stay in London
Soho
600 m from Trafalgar SquareA dense grid of streets full of restaurants, bars and small venues between Oxford Street and Leicester Square. Ideal for nights out; light sleepers should ask for a quiet room.
South Bank
900 m from Trafalgar SquareThe riverside walk south of the Thames, from the London Eye past theatres, galleries and Tate Modern. Good for a first visit, with views back across the water.
South Kensington
3.9 km from Trafalgar SquareCalm, elegant streets around three large museums of nature, science and design, all free to enter. A good choice for families, close to Hyde Park.
Shoreditch
4 km from Trafalgar SquareEast London's centre for street art, independent shops, bars and markets, close to the City. Suits visitors who like to eat out and stay out.
Camden Town
3.8 km from Trafalgar SquareNorth of the centre, known for its markets, music venues and the Regent's Canal. Lively and loud at weekends, with good Underground links.
Things to do in London
British Museum
Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG
A free museum of world history and culture, home to the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon sculptures. It is huge, so choose a few rooms, and book a free time slot online in busy periods.
National Gallery
Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
European painting from the 13th to the early 20th century, from Van Eyck to Van Gogh's Sunflowers, right on Trafalgar Square. Entry to the collection is free.
Houses of Parliament
The Terrace, London SW1A 0AA
The seat of the UK Parliament on the Thames, with the clock tower of Big Ben at its north end. Guided tours run on Saturdays and during recesses; book ahead.
Westminster Abbey
20 Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA
The church where English and British monarchs have been crowned since 1066, with the graves of kings, queens, poets and scientists. It is a working church, so check opening times before you go.
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA
The King's official London home, at the end of The Mall. Watch the Changing of the Guard outside, or visit the State Rooms when they open to the public in summer.
Tower of London
Tower Hill, London EC3N 4AB
A medieval castle on the Thames that has served as royal palace, prison and treasury. The Crown Jewels are kept here; go early to see them before the queue builds.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge, London SE1 2LY
The Victorian bridge with two towers next to the Tower of London. Walk across for free, or pay to cross the high walkways, which have glass floors.
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD
Christopher Wren's cathedral with its great dome, rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666. Climb to the Whispering Gallery and the outside galleries for wide views over the City.
Tate Modern
Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Modern and contemporary art in a former power station on the South Bank. The main collection is free, and the top floor of the newer building has a free viewing level.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London W2 2UH
One of the largest parks in central London, with the Serpentine lake, rowing boats in summer and Speakers' Corner in the north-east corner.
Getting there
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Hillingdon TW6 1PZ
23 km from the city centre
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Hookwood RH6 0AQ
40 km from the city centre
London Luton Airport (LTN)
Luton LU2 9LY
44 km from the city centre
St Pancras railway station
London N1C 4QL
Main railway station, 2.4 km from Trafalgar Square
When to go
Average daytime high and night-time low per month (2005–2024). Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
- 7°Jan
- 8°Feb
- 11°Mar
- 14°Apr
- 17°May
- 20°Jun
- 23°Jul
- 22°Aug
- 20°Sep
- 16°Oct
- 11°Nov
- 8°Dec
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 7 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 11 | 8 |
| Low °C | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 3 |
| Rain mm | 62 | 54 | 51 | 38 | 57 | 57 | 57 | 61 | 49 | 76 | 73 | 72 |
| Rain days | 14 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
| Daylight h | 8.3 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.6 | 16.6 | 16.2 | 14.6 | 12.6 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
The year in London
The biggest events that come back every year, starting with the next one.
OctoberFilm
London Film Festival
Twelve days of new films from around the world, with premieres in the West End and screenings in cinemas across the city.
AprilSport
London Marathon
One of the largest marathons in the world, from Greenwich past Tower Bridge to The Mall. Crowds line the whole route, and many runners raise money for charity.
MayCulture
Chelsea Flower Show
Five days of show gardens and flower displays at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in late May. Tickets are sold in advance, and the popular days sell out.
JuneCulture
Trooping the Colour
June (a Saturday)
The King's official birthday parade, with hundreds of soldiers and horses on Horse Guards Parade and The Mall, ending with a flypast over Buckingham Palace.
Late June to mid-JulySport
Wimbledon
Tennis has been played on these grass courts in south-west London since 1877. Join the queue on the day for a chance at tickets, or watch on the big screen on the hill.
Late June or early JulyFestival
Pride London
A large parade through the West End, followed by music stages and parties around Trafalgar Square and Soho.
Mid-July to mid-SeptemberMusic
BBC Proms
Eight weeks of daily classical concerts, mainly at the Royal Albert Hall. Cheap standing tickets for the arena are sold on the day.
August bank holiday weekendFestival
Notting Hill Carnival
Europe's largest street festival, with Caribbean music, costumes, sound systems and food on the streets of Notting Hill.
Practical information
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP)
- 1 GBP = 1.19 EUR = 1.33 USD (ECB, 28 October 2026)
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type G, 230 V
- Emergency number
- 999, 112
- Time zone
- UTC+0 (summer UTC+1)
- Country calling code
- +44
- Traffic drives on the
- Left
Public holidays in the next 12 months
Shops and museums may close or keep Sunday hours on these days.
- Christmas Day25 Dec 2026
- Boxing Day28 Dec 2026
- New Year's Day1 Jan 2027
- Good Friday26 Mar 2027
- Easter Monday29 Mar 2027
- Early May Bank Holiday3 May 2027
- Spring Bank Holiday31 May 2027
- Summer Bank Holiday30 Aug 2027
London FAQ
When is the best time to visit London?
May – Sep, when the average daytime high is between 17 and 23 °C.
Which airport is closest to London?
London Heathrow Airport (LHR), about 23 km from the city centre.
What currency is used in London?
The pound sterling (GBP).
What plugs are used in London?
Type G, 230 V.
What are the biggest yearly events in London?
London Film Festival (October), London Marathon (April), Chelsea Flower Show (May), Trooping the Colour (June), Wimbledon (Late June to mid-July), Pride London (Late June or early July), BBC Proms (Mid-July to mid-September), Notting Hill Carnival (August bank holiday weekend).
Nearby cities
All guides in United Kingdom →England · 83 kmOxfordPopulation ≈ 160,000
England · 79 kmCambridgePopulation ≈ 150,000
England · 112 kmSouthamptonPopulation ≈ 270,000
England · 143 kmLeicesterPopulation ≈ 370,000
Last updated 29 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.