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Planning a trip to London is mostly a series of small, sensible decisions. Get the big ones right early, the when, the how long and the where, and the rest falls into place. This is our plain-English hub for planning a London visit, with a link out to the detail on every step.
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.
