Start with a proper drink

The grand hotels run some of the best bars in the world, from the celebrated martinis at the Connaught to the art deco American Bar at the Savoy. Our guide to the best cocktail bars in London covers these and the quieter neighbourhood rooms worth knowing too.

Dress for where you are going

Smart-casual means different things in different rooms, and the grander hotel bars still expect collars and closed shoes. A quick look at a venue's dress code before you leave the house saves an awkward conversation at the door.

Let the neighbourhood set the tone

Some of London's most polished evenings happen simply because the setting is right. Mayfair remains the natural home for this kind of night out, with its townhouse hotels and quietly confident streets doing much of the work for you.

For more on London's luxury lifestyle scene, see Hubs Visit's luxury lifestyle coverage.

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Let the skyline do the work

You do not need a plan for this part. A walk along the South Bank after dark, with Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and the Shard all lit up across the water, is one of the best free things to do in London at any hour. Bring a coat and take it slowly.

Pick one kind of evening

Trying to fit in a show, a late museum and a rooftop bar in one night usually means enjoying none of them properly. Choose a single anchor instead, whether that is a West End performance or a quiet river walk, and build the rest of the evening loosely around it. Our full guide to things to do in London at night runs through the best options for every mood.

Getting home is part of the plan

The Night Tube and night buses run across much of the city at weekends, so check your line before you head out and you will not be caught watching the clock. See our guide to getting around London for the detail.

Want to go deeper into London's bar and nightlife scene? Hubs Visit covers the city after dark in more depth.

The post London After Dark, the Considered Way appeared first on London Guide UK.

First, when to go and for how long

There is no bad time to visit, only trade-offs in weather, crowds and price. Our guide to the best time to visit London walks through the year month by month. Once you have a season in mind, decide the length of trip with how many days you need in London. If you would rather follow a ready-made plan, the three day itinerary is a good template.

Then, where to stay

Your base shapes the whole trip, so choose the area before the hotel. Our guide to choosing your London neighbourhood explains who each area suits, and the full where to stay guide and neighbourhood guides take it from there.

Sort the practical bits

A little admin now saves a lot of friction later. Read up on getting from the airport into central London, then how to move around once you arrive in getting around London without the stress. For money, tickets and timings, our practical tips guide and our notes on doing London on a budget cover the essentials.

Pack and prepare

Two short reads round things off: what to pack for a London trip and a few notes on London etiquette so you feel at home from the first morning.

Then plan what to see

With the logistics handled, the fun part. Build your days around the attractions and things to do worth your time, leave room for a museum or two, and give a spare day to a day trip beyond the city. That is the whole plan: decide when and how long, pick your base, sort the basics, then enjoy it.

The post How to Plan a Trip to London appeared first on London Guide UK.

Which museum should you visit?

They are all free and all wonderful, so it comes down to taste. Our guide to which London museum to visit weighs them up, and the full list lives on the museums page.

Which market is your morning?

Food, antiques or vintage? See London markets compared, then browse them all in our markets guide.

Which day trip is worth it?

When the city is done with you for a day, read which London day trip is right for you and the wider day trips guide.

How should you get around?

Tube, cab or app? Our quick take on black cab, Tube or Uber sorts it, with the full detail in getting around London.

Where should you stay?

Three classic bases head to head in Mayfair vs Kensington vs Covent Garden, plus the complete where to stay guide.

Where are the best views?

From the heights to the free rooftops, see the best views of London compared. And if you are still at the start, our guide to planning a trip to London ties it all together.

The post London, Compared: How to Choose appeared first on London Guide UK.

The classics, still earning their place

New or not, the headline sights remain the backbone of any visit. Our attractions and places to visit guides stay current, so they are the first thing we update when something changes.

Markets and shopping worth a detour

We are always refreshing our markets and shopping guides as new spots earn a recommendation. They are a good barometer of where the city is heading.

Plan around the season

Whatever time of year you arrive, our things to do guide is kept seasonal, and a quick look at a ready-made itinerary is the fastest way to turn all of this into a real plan.

The post What's New in London for Visitors appeared first on London Guide UK.

The parks, properly used

A London summer is mostly spent outdoors. The royal parks are the obvious joy, and they are free, which is why they lead our free things to do roundup. Pack a book, find a quiet spot, and let an afternoon disappear.

Markets in full swing

Warm weather is market weather. Our guide to the best markets in London is the one we reach for, whether it is flowers in the morning or food stalls at lunch. Pair it with a wander through one of the city's neighbourhoods and you have a whole day sorted.

The big sights, minus the crush

Summer is busy, so timing matters. Early mornings and late afternoons are kindest at the headline attractions, and many of the places worth visiting are far calmer once the midday crowds thin. If you would rather stay cool, a great museum is always a good fallback.

We will keep adding to this as the season unfolds. For now, the city is at its most generous, and that is reason enough to be out in it.

The post London in Summer: What We Are Looking Forward To appeared first on London Guide UK.

Travelling solo

London is one of the easiest big cities to enjoy on your own: walkable, friendly and full of free museums. Start with our guide to visiting London solo.

With teenagers

Keeping older children interested is its own art. See London with teenagers, and for younger ones our family guide and London with kids.

Step-free and accessible

Getting around without stairs takes a little planning and London rewards it. Our accessible London guide covers transport, attractions and where to stay.

At a gentler pace

No rush, no crush. For slower days built around river, gardens and great art, read London at a gentler pace.

In style

Grand hotels, fine dining and quiet luxury are a London speciality. See luxury London for a first-class visit.

As a group of all ages

Pleasing everyone from eight to eighty is possible with the right plan. Our guide to multigenerational London shows how. When you are ready for logistics, our trip planning guide and London, compared series tie it all together.

The post London for Every Traveller appeared first on London Guide UK.

One headline attraction

Pick a single anchor for the day from our attractions guide, then keep the rest loose. The dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum are a reliable hit, and like most London museums it is free.

Lots of park time

Children need room to run, and London has plenty. The royal parks feature heavily in our free things to do guide for exactly this reason. Build a picnic around one and the day looks after itself.

Save the big trips for older legs

When everyone is ready for an adventure, a gentle day trip by train can be a lovely change of pace. Keep it short, keep it flexible, and let the children set the speed.

The post London with Kids: A Calm Family Day appeared first on London Guide UK.

The highest: the Shard

For the loftiest, most dramatic outlook, the Shard looks down on the whole city from western Europe's tallest viewing gallery.

The free option: rooftops and parks

You do not have to pay for a great view. Several rooftops and high parks are free, as our guide to free things to do shows.

From the river and the bridges

Some of the loveliest views are at ground level, from the bridges and the South Bank, taking in the classic London attractions across the water.

Plan the rest of your sightseeing with our attractions guide, or settle a different debate back at London, compared.

The post The Best Views of London, Compared appeared first on London Guide UK.

Tap and go

Forget paper tickets. A contactless card or phone works on the Tube, the buses and most trains, and the daily fare caps mean you will not overpay. Our practical tips page covers the details so you can stop thinking about fares and start enjoying yourself.

Use buses for the view

The Tube is quick, but it shows you tunnels. Buses show you the city. For shorter hops, especially between the central sights, the top deck of a red bus is the best cheap sightseeing in London. It is also the gentlest way to learn how the place fits together.

Walk more than you think you can

Central London is smaller than the map suggests. Many of the neighbourhoods sit within an easy stroll of one another, and walking is often faster than waiting for a train. Plan your attractions in clusters and let your feet do the work.

When you are ready to go further afield, the same calm approach makes day trips simple. Buy the ticket, find a window seat, and let London hand you over to the rest of the country for the day.

Want the full detail? See our complete guide to getting around London.

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