Planning a holiday to London? Take a look at our travel tips and guide for visiting London. Check out our London travel guide with tips on where to stay, where to eat, how much things cost and how to save money on entrance fees.
This article completes a previous article on transport in London.
Hotels in London
London is the most visited city in Europe. Hand in hand with this goes the offer of accommodation, which is wide and varied here. Unfortunately, sometimes the quality doesn’t match the price, and especially with cheap accommodation, it can seem like the cockroaches are crawling out of the garbage.
We’ve put together a few tips for good value for money accommodation:
- ibis London Blackfriars – Hotel is on the south side of the Thames near Waterloo station near Westminster and the London Eye; bus stop just opposite, restaurants and shops nearby
- Hotel Holiday Inn Express – One of the best hotels in London, clean and practical rooms, excellent connections to the city centre and airport (especially Stansted and Heathrow), quiet location
- ibis London City Shoreditch – Modern rooms near Liverpool Street Station (ideal for Stansted and Heathrow airports), next to Tesco Express hotel and nearby restaurants and markets, close to attractions
- White House hotel – Simply furnished but clean and very cheap accommodation in the centre of town, a short walk from Hyde Park and Paddington Station
- Hotel DC – A smaller, cosy hotel at an unbeatable price in the quiet Stratford area, with easy access to the city centre and airport by tube, train and bus
☞ Find out more about hotels in London in this article: The best hotels in London.
Map of London
To help you plan your trip to London, we’ve created a map with tips on things to do and hotels in London, where to eat and where the airport and mainline stations are.
HOW TO USE THIS MAP: Above you will find a detailed map of London travel guide. Click at the top left of the map to see separate layers with highlighted locations. You can hide and show the different layers or click on the icons on the map to see the names of the places I mention in the London guide. If you want to save the map, star it. For a larger version, click on the icon in the upper right corner.
Where to eat in London?
Traditional London cuisine is diverse, ranging from simple and rustic to complex gastronomy. You’ll find simple restaurants with authentic cuisine from around the world, as well as upscale dining experiences including Michelin-starred restaurants like Gordon Ramsay’s in Chelsea.
For great food, head to Shoreditch or Soho. There are great pubs of all price levels, traditional British pubs and international restaurants. A renowned area for Asian cuisine is Chinatown. You just have to be more selective, because some places are rather overpriced tourist traps.
We really like Shoreditch – here are some tips on where to eat:
- BOXPARK – a shopping mall that was built from shipping containers. In one place you will find food stalls from all over the world.
- Beigel Bake – excellent bakery with bagels, but also other pastries and cakes, open non-stop on Brick Lane
- Dishoom – excellent Indian restaurant in a stylish environment, open from morning till night, they also have a branch in the centre
- Gloria – authentic Italian cuisine in a beautiful setting
Other great businesses in the centre include:
- Mercato Mayfair – cuisine from all over the world in an old church just off Oxford Street
- Seven Dials Market – an indoor market with street food from around the world near Camden Town
- Pizza Pilgrims – authentic Italian restaurant in Soho at great prices
- Circolo Popolare – an upmarket Italian restaurant in a stylish setting just off Tottenham Court Road
- Churchill Arms – a traditional floral pub in Kensington
Food can be bought at small supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s Local or Tesco Express, and outside the centre at Aldi and Lidl.
What to taste in London?
- Full English breakfast: A hearty meal usually consisting of bacon, sausages, eggs (fried, scrambled or poached), grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, black pudding and toast. It is often accompanied by tea or coffee.
- Kippers: Smoked herring, a traditional British breakfast dish.
- Fish and Chips: Perhaps the most iconic British dish, this consists of breaded and fried fish (usually cod) served with chips.
- Pie and Mash: This is a traditional dish served with mashed potatoes and green peas.
- Bangers and Mash: This is a simple but popular dish consisting of sausages (“bangers”) served with mashed potatoes and onion gravy.
- Toad in the Hole: Sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding batter, often served with vegetables and onion gravy.
- Bread and Butter Pudding: A traditional dessert prepared by placing slices of toasted bread in a baking dish, spread with butter and sprinkled with raisins, and pouring egg custard on top.
- Sticky Toffee Pudding: Moist sponge cake with finely chopped dates, drizzled with caramel sauce, often served with vanilla ice cream or custard.
- Eton Mess: A traditional English dessert consisting of a mixture of strawberries, broken meringue and whipped cream.
- Scotch Eggs: Hard-boiled eggs coated in sausage, breadcrumbs and fried or baked.
- Welsh Rarebit: Basically cheese on toast, but with a mixture of cheese, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and sometimes beer, served on toasted bread.
- Tea: Afternoon tea is a well-known tradition that includes tea served with a selection of cakes, scones and sandwiches.
- Beer: In traditional British pubs, you can try a variety of beers and flavours.
City markets in London
The markets are one of the best things about London. It’s a great place to eat and has the right atmosphere (unless you catch the rush hour, when it’s sometimes unmovable). The best markets in London include:
Borough Market
South of London Bridge, under the roof of a Victorian warehouse, you’ll find London’s oldest food market, Borough Market.
If you’re looking for a great place to eat, definitely go here – gourmet food and quality food straight from the producers, with free samples on every corner.
Camden Market
Camden Market is one of the best and most visited attractions in the city, with over 100,000 people visiting in just one weekend.
Funky clothes, original gifts, street food stalls, shops dedicated to alternative music and clothing. Even if you don’t buy anything, you won’t regret your visit.
Greenwich Market
Greenwich Market is one of London’s best markets for arts and crafts, unique gifts, antiques and collectables. There are pubs, cafés, restaurants and food from all over the world.
Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road Market is a market in the beautiful Nothing Hill neighbourhood that served as the backdrop for the film of the same name. It is said to be the world’s largest market for antiques and collectibles. In addition, you can have a great meal here.
Brick Lane Market
Brick Lane Market is once again a market where you’ll find something of everything from second-hand furniture to fruit and vegetables. There are a number of curry restaurants, craft breweries and vintage clothing shops nearby.
Old Spitalfields Market
At Old Spitalfields Market you’ll find jewellery and clothing from vintage to contemporary, independent boutiques selling crafts, fashion and gifts, record stalls, great food and much more.
Prices in London
On average, the prices of basic food in London are as follows:
- Eggs 12 pcs – £3.51
- Bread 500 g – £1.54
- Chicken 1 kg – £7.71
- Milk 1 l – £1.31
- Water 1.5 l – £1.22
- Apples 1 kg – £2.40
- Bananas 1 kg – £1.25
- Potatoes 1 kg – £1.19
- Cheese 1 kg – £7.45
- Rice 1 kg – £2.04
Food prices in London are about 29 % higher than in Prague, with restaurant prices roughly double.
A meal in a cheap restaurant will set you back between £12 and £30, and in a mid-range restaurant between £30 and £60. Traditional fish and chips cost around £9-10, a few pounds more locally. The closer you are to the centre or a tourist attraction, the higher the prices.
Things to do in London
For all the information you need for sightseeing in London, see Things to do in London, including entrance fees, opening times and a map. To help you plan your trip to London, we’ve created a 5-day London itinerary of that you can use even if you’re planning a shorter or longer trip to London.
Or take inspiration from this itinerary for 3 days in London. Travelling with children? Here are our tips on things to do in London with kids.
How to save money in London?
Are you planning to visit more paid attractions (Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, The Shard, Kew Gardens or Windsor Castle, for example)? See if London Pass or London Explorer Pass can save you a significant amount of money.
London may be expensive, but on the other hand it offers as many free activities as any city in the world. You can visit the free museums, where one is better than the other, stroll in the beautifully landscaped royal parks or enjoy the views from the skyscrapers.
For more tips on what to do in London for free, see How to save money in London.
When to visit London?
London is one of those cities you can visit at any time of the year and never get bored. Below you’ll find a basic overview of what to expect in London at different times of the year:
Spring (March to May): Spring weather in London is mild, with temperatures ranging from 11°C to 15°C. The city is starting to bloom, so a stroll through the Royal Parks is one of the best things to do in London at this time. There aren’t as many tourists in the spring, so it’s the perfect time to visit the sights and museums.
Summer (June to August): Summers in London are characterised by temperatures of around 18°C to 30°C. However, at times the weather can be unpredictable with a few rainy days. Outdoor festivals and concerts are the order of the day, and outdoor restaurants and rooftop bars are also popular. On the other hand, there are a lot of tourists and prices are at their highest with the end of spring.
Autumn (September to November): Autumn is cooler with temperatures ranging from 11 °C to 19 °C. The city’s parks are beautifully coloured with autumn leaves and London is home to a variety of theatre and music events. Before Christmas, London is once again filled with tourists looking to enjoy the unmistakable Christmas atmosphere.
Winter (December to February): Winters are rather mild with temperatures of 2 °C and 6 °C and snowfall is rare. On the other hand, winters tend to feel colder, especially by the river. In December, the Christmas spirit continues to prevail, with January and February seeing the fewest tourists in London. This is also the perfect time of year for those travelling on a budget – flights and accommodation are at their best. Just be aware that some attractions may be closed for maintenance (London Eye).
So the ideal time to visit London depends on your preference. If you’re looking for a happy medium and want to enjoy relatively nice weather and fewer tourists, head to London in early spring (March, April) or later in autumn (late October, November). Most tourists are in London from May to about mid-October and then before Christmas.
Is London safe?
In London, as in any other big city, there are areas that are both safe and problematic. Overall, London is considered a relatively safe city for tourists and residents. Especially if you’re a tourist around Westminster, Covent Garden, the South Bank and the City of London.
This also applies to popular nightlife areas such as Soho, Shoreditch and Camden, where more caution is needed in the evening and at night.
There is increased security in tourist areas and cameras installed in public transport. All of this adds to the feeling of security, but it is still a good idea to follow a few safety tips:
- Pickpocketing and fraud: Like every major tourist destination, London is home to pickpockets and scammers. Keep an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded areas such as tourist attractions, public transport and busy streets.
- Road safety: Remember that in the UK you drive on the left, so always look both ways when crossing streets.
- Emergency services: The emergency number in the UK is 999.
FAQ London Travel Guide
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This was our travel guide to London and tips on how to spend the perfect trip in London. Do you have a question? We’ll be happy to answer it in the comments below. Have a safe journey!
More information about London
WHAT TO SEE IN LONDON: Get inspired by things to do in London. Here’s an 5 days London itinerary. Do you have less time? We also created an itinerary for 3 days in London or London for 1 day.
London is a great place for the whole family. Read our tips on things do in London with kids (+ more practical information).
LONDON TRAVEL GUIDE: In the article you can find out all about transport in London (airport, public transport, underground, bicycle). Read about accommodation, prices, food and safety in our London travel guide. Tips on the best hotels in London will help you make your accommodation choices easier.
Here are 7 tips on how to save in London. The London Pass is a popular way to save money in London – find out more about London Pass.
GREAT BRITAIN: Find tips on what to see and do in England in our list of the most beautiful places in England. Or head north to Edinburgh or visit beautiful Scotland.
