Eurostar to Paris
2h20 direct — a classic 5–7 day pairing.
Destination guide
London
United Kingdom · Europe
Search all hotels in London 2026-10-16 → 2026-10-19 · 2 · 1
About London
London is a mosaic of walkable villages linked by the Underground — royal Kensington, theatre-district Covent Garden, riverside Southbank, Georgian Marylebone and design-led Shoreditch. World-class free museums, centuries of history and food from every continent make it Europe's most complete first-time capital.
At a glance
- Walkable villages linked by the Tube; contactless taps in and out with a daily cap.
- 6 airports; Heathrow → central London on the Elizabeth line in ~30 min for £12.80.
- Book West End shows, museum specials and Sunday roasts a week ahead in summer.
- Since 2025 all visa-exempt visitors need an ETA (gov.uk/eta) before travel.
- Currency £; Type G 230V plugs; tap water is safe to drink.
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Search all hotels in LondonWhen to visit
May–September delivers long days, rooftop bars and open-air festivals (14–24°C). December brings Christmas markets, ice-rinks and Oxford Street lights. November–February is quietest with the best hotel rates; expect rain year-round and pack layers.
Getting around
Contactless payment (any card or phone) taps in and out on the Tube, Overground, DLR, buses and trams with a daily fare cap — no ticket needed. The Elizabeth line reaches Heathrow in ~30 min; Gatwick Express and Stansted Express cover the other hubs.
Where to stay
Covent Garden / Soho
Theatres, restaurants and central sightseeing on your doorstep.
Kensington / Chelsea
Museums, Hyde Park and elegant townhouse hotels — great for families.
Mayfair / Marylebone
Grande-dame hotels, Michelin dining and boutique shopping.
Shoreditch / Hoxton
Design hotels, street art, cocktail bars and independent dining.
Southbank
Riverside walks with Thames-facing rooms near Tate Modern and the London Eye.
Your Marhaba Trip Plan
London at a glance
- Recommended trip
- 4–7 days
- Best time to visit
- May–September delivers long days, rooftop bars and open-air festivals (14–24°C).
- Getting around
- Contactless payment (any card or phone) taps in and out on the Tube, Overground, DLR, buses and trams with a daily fare cap — no ticket needed.
- Recommended areas
- Covent Garden / Soho · Kensington / Chelsea · Mayfair / Marylebone
Top experiences
- British Museum — Free entry; visit late-opening Fridays for a quieter experience.
- Tower of London — Book online; Yeoman Warder tours are included.
- Westminster & Big Ben — Pair with a walk across Westminster Bridge to the London Eye.
- West End theatre — Same-day tickets available at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square.
Book your trip
Do I need a visa for London?
- Policy
- Varies by nationality
- Typical stay
- 180 days
Most Western, GCC and East-Asian visitors enter visa-free for up to 6 months but now require an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation, £16) purchased before departure. Others need a Standard Visitor visa.
Official government sourceHow do I get to London?
Airports
- LHR · Heathrow · 25 km
Elizabeth line to central London in ~30 min (£12.80); Heathrow Express in ~15 min (£25).
- LGW · Gatwick · 45 km
Gatwick Express to Victoria in ~30 min (£22.80); Thameslink to St Pancras ~45 min.
- STN · Stansted · 55 km
Stansted Express to Liverpool Street in ~50 min (£22).
- LTN · Luton · 55 km
Luton DART + Thameslink to St Pancras in ~45 min.
- LCY · London City · 12 km
DLR to Bank/Canary Wharf in ~25 min — best for business travellers.
By rail
St Pancras International runs Eurostar to Paris (~2h20), Brussels (~2h) and Amsterdam (~4h).
ETA required for visa-exempt visitors; UK is outside Schengen so an ETA does not cover EU travel.
How do I get around London?
- London Underground — 11 lines running ~05:00–00:30; Night Tube on Fri/Sat on core lines.
- Overground / Elizabeth line — Fast east-west and outer-London coverage; airport rail.
- Buses — Extensive 24/7 network; contactless only — no cash on buses.
- Black cabs & rideshare — Regulated black cabs, Uber, Bolt and FREE NOW; congestion charge applies in the centre.
Passes & tickets
Any contactless card or phone taps in and out with a daily fare cap. Oyster cards work identically for visitors without contactless.
Stand on the right on Tube escalators; let passengers off before boarding. The Tube map exaggerates distances — some 'stops' are a 5-min walk apart.
What should I eat and know about food culture in London?
Signature dishes
- Sunday roast — Beef, lamb or pork with Yorkshire pudding and gravy — book gastropubs a week ahead.
- Fish and chips — Best at proper chippies (Poppies, Golden Union) not chain pubs.
- Indian curry — Brick Lane and Tooting are the classic curry corridors; try Dishoom for polished Bombay café food.
- Afternoon tea — Grand hotels (The Ritz, Claridge's) formalise it; Sketch is the design-led option.
Etiquette
- Queueing is serious — never jump a line at bus stops, tills or bars.
- Tipping 10–12.5% at restaurants is standard (often auto-added as 'service'); tipping is not expected in pubs or taxis (rounded up is fine).
- Pubs close at 23:00 in most areas; late-licence venues run to 03:00.
Tap water is safe and served free on request. Pubs pour cask ales at cellar temperature; craft beer, cocktail bars and natural-wine bars are thriving.
Is London safe for travelers?
Overall risk: LowEmergency: 999 (or 112)
- Watch phones on Central, Piccadilly and Jubilee lines and outside busy pubs.
- Use black cabs, Uber, Bolt or FREE NOW at night — never unlicensed minicabs.
- Emergency service via 999 or 112; non-emergency police is 101.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for London?
Most EU, US, Canadian, Australian, Japanese and GCC visitors enter visa-free for up to 6 months. Since 2025 all visa-exempt visitors need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before travel — apply at gov.uk/eta for £16.
Which airport is easiest for central London?
Heathrow (LHR) via the Elizabeth line (~30 min, £12.80) or Heathrow Express (~15 min, £25) is fastest. Gatwick uses Gatwick Express to Victoria (~30 min); Stansted and Luton are cheaper long-haul but 45–60 min out.
How much does an airport transfer cost?
Elizabeth line from Heathrow to central London is £12.80 contactless. Black cabs from LHR run £60–90; Uber/Bolt £45–70. Gatwick Express is £22.80 (single). Nightbuses (N9 from Heathrow) run under £2 on the daily cap.
Do I need cash in London?
Very rarely — contactless cards and mobile pay are accepted almost everywhere including buses (which no longer take cash at all). Keep £20 for tips and occasional market stalls.
How many days do I need in London?
Three full days cover the classic Westminster/British Museum/Tower loop; five let you add South Kensington museums, a West End show and a market Sunday; seven allow day trips to Oxford, Bath, Windsor or Brighton.
Is London good for families?
Excellent — the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A are free, Tower of London Yeoman tours engage kids, and Thames Clippers, Warner Bros. Studio Tour (Harry Potter) and the London Eye are easy family half-days.
What's the best area for a luxury stay?
Mayfair (Claridge's, The Connaught, The Dorchester), Belgravia (The Berkeley, The Lanesborough) and Knightsbridge (Bulgari, Mandarin Oriental) cluster the palace-grade hotels with private members' clubs and spa suites.
Is London safe for tourists?
Yes, with standard big-city awareness. Watch phones on the Tube (particularly Central and Piccadilly lines), avoid unlicensed minicabs, and use official black cabs or licensed rideshares at night. Central boroughs are well-lit and busy late.
You may also like
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British Isles loop
Fly or rail to Edinburgh in ~4h30 by LNER.
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7h non-stop; Emirates and BA daily A380s make London ↔ Dubai the reference long-haul pair.
