Travelling to London?

Our routes, not a list of everything. Places that have been there for centuries: no opening times or prices, which go stale.

1. 01

   London in a day

   9 hBig Ben isn’t the tower, the famous bridge isn’t London Bridge, and a column marks the exact spot the city burned. All on foot, along the river.Westminster, and the Big Ben that isn’t Big Ben · Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery · The river and the Tate Modern · St Paul’s and the Monument · The Tower, and the bridge that isn’t London BridgeRead the full guide
2. 02

   London’s free museums

   8 hThe Rosetta Stone, a 25-metre blue whale and a power station full of art. All free, and by political decision since 2001.The British Museum · The National Gallery · The Natural History Museum · The Tate ModernRead the full guide
3. 03

   London in a weekend

   48 hOne day of river and museums, one of markets and neighbourhoods. And Sunday, which here isn’t a dead day but the best of the week.Friday night: the pub · Saturday: the river and the museums · Sunday: the markets in the east · Sunday afternoon: the roastRead the full guide
4. 04

   Eating in London

   2 hBritish food has a bad reputation and it’s been unfair for twenty years. The national dish was invented here and it’s a curry.The curry, and why it’s British · The Sunday roast · Borough Market · Fish and chips, done right · The English breakfastRead the full guide
5. 05

   London’s neighbourhoods

   6 hOne building on Brick Lane was a Huguenot chapel, a synagogue and a mosque. In that order. The whole city is explained there.Brick Lane and Spitalfields · Soho and Covent Garden · Greenwich · Camden and the northRead the full guide
6. 06

   Day trips from London

   9 hTwo eight-hundred-year-old universities, Roman baths still running hot, and a castle the royal family actually lives in.Oxford · 1 h · Cambridge · 1 h · Bath · 1 h 30 · Windsor · 1 h · Brighton · 1 hRead the full guide
7. 07

   Heathrow and Gatwick to the centre

   1 hThe Elizabeth line crosses all of London with no change and costs half the Heathrow Express, which only reaches Paddington.Heathrow: the Elizabeth line · Heathrow: the Express and the Tube · Gatwick: it’s all trainRead the full guide
8. 08

   London: practical tips

   1 hThe advice to get an Oyster card is now almost always wrong. And the UK is the one place in Western Europe where your roaming isn’t guaranteed.The Oyster is hardly ever worth it now · The UK is no longer in the EU · Tipping, and the pub · It rains less than you think · Data on your phoneRead the full guide

The real options, with what actually decides it: which terminal it leaves from and where it drops you. Fares and timetables live with the operator, who keeps them current.

• TrainElizabeth lineLHR → Paddington · West End · City · Canary WharfCrosses London end to end with no change: Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. For most central hotels, the best option.·Fares and timesTransport for London
• MetroPiccadillyLHR → South Kensington · Piccadilly Circus · King’s CrossThe classic Tube ride: slow but direct and the cheapest. With big luggage at rush hour, it’s a squeeze.·Fares and timesTransport for London
• TrainHeathrow ExpressLHR → PaddingtonNon-stop to Paddington and nowhere else: about 15 minutes, nearly double the Elizabeth line’s fare, and it doesn’t cross the city. Only worth it if Paddington suits you.·Fares and timesHeathrow Express
• TrainThameslink / Gatwick ExpressLGW → London Bridge · Farringdon · St Pancras · VictoriaFrom Gatwick it’s all rail: the Express runs to Victoria, Thameslink crosses town via London Bridge. There is no Tube.·Fares and timesNational Rail

Before you fly, or on the layover. Pay per visit, whatever airline.

• My Loungefrom €50.00
• Club Aspire Loungefrom €50.00
• My Loungefrom €53.00
• No1 Lounge Gatwickfrom €57.00