London
Every neighborhood feels like a different city — rain included.
A week in London and you’ve seen maybe 10% of it. Nine million people, every neighborhood is a city of its own: Notting Hill pastel houses, Shoreditch street art, Camden punk market, Greenwich nautical, Soho nightlife. Even the rain feels intimate — you’ll hear “sorry” ten times an hour. Expensive, yes — but with the right tricks, London on a budget works.
Best time to visit
May–September is best: 15–22°C, long days (light until 9:30 PM in summer), park season, festivals. June–August is peak tourist and pricey hotels. December is atmospheric (Hyde Park Christmas market, lights, Boxing Day sales) but cold and dark by 4 PM. March–April is moody (rain + sun in one hour) but flowers and cheaper. The rain myth is overblown: less annual rainfall than Istanbul — just spread thinner.
How many days?
4–5 days balanced, 7 days ideal. Day 1 classics (Big Ben + Westminster + Buckingham + London Eye), Day 2 museums (British Museum + V&A + National Gallery — all free), Day 3 East (Shoreditch + Brick Lane + Borough Market), Day 4 West (Notting Hill + Hyde Park + Kensington), Day 5 day trip (Windsor, Bath or Oxford — 1 hour by train). Classics only? 3 days minimum.
What to see
Westminster + Big Ben + Parliament from outside (tours only inside). Buckingham changing of the guard (11 AM — crowded; Horse Guards 11 AM is nicer). Free museums: British Museum (Rosetta Stone), V&A (design), Tate Modern, National Gallery, Natural History (dinosaurs). London Eye at sunset. Walk Tower Bridge; Tower of London (steep entry ~£33). Borough Market for food. Hidden: Sky Garden (free, book), Little Venice, Hampstead Heath views, Leadenhall Market.
Food & drink
Traditional: fish and chips (Poppies — Spitalfields), full English breakfast (Regency Café), Sunday roast (The Ivy Café or Hawksmoor — pricey), pub pie + mash, Indian curry (Brick Lane or Dishoom). Global street food at Borough Market. Tea ritual: Fortnum & Mason or Sketch (afternoon tea ~£70). Lunch: Pret a Manger / M&S (£5–8). Pub: Greene King IPA, try a real ale. Coffee: Monmouth (Borough), Climpson & Sons.
Getting around
Oyster Card or contactless bank card is essential — cash is dead. Tube has 11 lines, 5 AM–midnight (Fri–Sat 24h on a few). Iconic red double-decker bus once for the experience. Traffic is bad, Black Cabs are pricey (£25 start). Santander Cycles works well. Heathrow to center: Elizabeth Line (35 min, £12) > Heathrow Express (15 min, £25) > Tube (60 min, £6 off-peak). Walking Westminster–Camden takes 75 min and teaches you the city.
Things to watch out for
Left-hand traffic — look right first at crossings. Hail Black Cabs from outside (hard in rain — book Uber/Bolt). “Sign this petition” → cash demand, ignore. Camden Lock has fake perfume/watch sellers — skip. Keep your bag in front, especially on the Tube. Living statues / pavement artists charge if you photograph. Don’t force closing Tube doors — alarms and fines.
Budget estimate
Economy €70–110/day (hostel/Premier Inn, supermarket meals, Tube). Mid €150–250/day (3★ hotel or central Airbnb, restaurants, one paid museum). Luxury €400–800/day (4–5★ hotel, fine dining, West End show). 5-day mid trip €1,000–1,500 (flights excluded). Flights from Europe €60–250 (Easyjet/Ryanair/Turkish). Most museums are free. London Pass only worth it if museum-heavy — usually no. Single Tube fare £2.80, daily cap £8.50.