Plan Your London Holiday: Best of London
Explore London
Essential London
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Traveller Guides
A London pub crawl
The Coach & Horses292Even in Soho, which probably has more pubs per square mile than anywhere else in London, the Coach & Horses stands out. With its literary traditions and quirky features—check out the spittoon by the bar—this is a must-visit, and that’s before you consider the exceptional quality of the beer. My order: London Pride, a traditional English bitter.
The Harp, Covent Garden588Few places are as enticing on a warm day as this traditional British ale house in Covent Garden—the front windows folded back and a happy atmosphere drifting out into the street. Like all good English pubs, the cask ale is excellent. Heads up: This slim space gets packed after work. Come during the day if you want to get a seat at the bar.
The Gladstone Arms54Run by brother-and-sister team Gaurav and Meg Khanna, the Gladstone is exactly what you need after elbowing your way around nearby Borough Market. The bijoux gastropub stocks a wide-range of taps—though if wine’s your thing, there’s an interesting (and affordable) list. There’s also some decent Anglo-Indian pub grub—think chicken tikka masala pies and Indian-style roast dinners.
Blythe Hill Tavern48The Irish landlord, Con, sets high standards at this unpretentious neighbourhood pub in southeast London: The staff wears ties and the beer is always perfectly poured. Thursdays are my favourite for performances by local musicians, but you can’t go wrong any day of the week thanks to the friendly, welcoming vibe.
Dog & Bell SE843Deptford—an up-and-coming area on the south bank of the Thames—used to be full of pubs, but most have shuttered over the past few decades. The Dog, though, goes from strength to strength—it even did a recent expansion. Come for the billiards table, live music, and the best Friday night atmosphere south of the Thames.
The Kings Arms12There’s a huge range of drinks available in this East End stalwart, from Kentish Ale to Finnish gin, not to mention killer cheese plates. Although it’s been modernized, the King’s Arms still retains an old-school ambiance, just the thing if you need an escape from the hipster scene in the surrounding Shoreditch neighbourhood.
King Charles I48Is it possible to find a village pub in the heart of Western Europe’s biggest city? Yes, and this is it. Small but perfectly-formed, the community-owned King Charles I is just a hop and skip from St Pancras station. Don’t forget to check out the jukebox.
The Mall Tavern366Parts of West London seem almost too posh for pubs these days, which is what makes The Mall Tavern such a delight. Modernized but unspoiled, it offers probably the best pub atmosphere in Notting Hill. The excellent beer and food doesn’t hurt either.
The Southampton Arms151The beer-lovers of North-West London swear by this place, and I have to admit they’ve got a point. Excellent drinks from independent producers, high-quality pub snack food (much of it pork-based), regular jazz sessions, and a charming back garden for sunny moments. The perfect place to while away an afternoon.
The Sutton Arms19Run by a father-and-son team, The Sutton Arms is the epitome of a high-class street-corner pub: handsome on the outside and cosy inside. Get a pint of London Black, a delicious porter from local brewery Anspach and Hobday, and soak up the atmosphere of a classic London pub.
Browse collections
Shop the city's marketsFood, fashion, and more
Autumn in LondonSee what makes the place so magical this time of year
All about the (afternoon) teaSip a “cuppa” and eat a mini sandwich or two
London on a dimeEats and activities that won’t break the bank
If you’re feeling fancy-ishGo-all-out experiences worth every penny
Beyond Big BenEasy day trips a train ride away
For the history buffMust-see museums, royal landmarks, and more
Do it like a localBest-kept secrets and hidden gems
A walk in the parkGorgeous green spaces, right in town
The city’s a stageWorld-class theatre, live concerts, and more
London, after darkThere’s lots to do when the sun goes down
More UK cultural capitals
London Travel Guide
Travelers' pro tips for experiencing London
Trockie
BE PREPARED: Regardless of the weather report, always have an umbrella and/or rain jacket on hand!
robbelcher
Don't use the hop-on-hop-off buses. Get an Oyster card each and use the normal buses and tubes, it is so much cheaper.
joannstringer
Walking tours … are a great way to see the city and the neighborhoods for a very reasonable cost (tip the guide at the end of the tour).
PMQuestions
The World City, both dynamic and historic; both multicultural and cultural; humming, loud and intimate. It is whatever you seek.
Misk8786
It's the greatest city on the planet.
CarpeNox
London is a destination that you can continue to come back to again and again and continue to enjoy its delights.
What is the best way to get there?
flying
London is served by six international airports: Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, London City Airport, Luton Airport, Stansted Airport and Southend Airport. Together, they make up the busiest airspace in the world by passenger numbers.
train
St Pancras railway station is the main terminal for high speed Eurostar and High Speed 1 services linking London with Europe.
Do I need a visa?
If you’re visiting London from overseas, use the government’s visa survey to see if you need a visa.
When is the best time to visit?
Summer (June to August): With average temps around 70°F (21°C) there’s no shortage of entertainment in London over the summer months, when Trooping the Colour, London Pride, Notting Hill Carnival, and Wimbledon Tennis Championships draw huge crowds to the capital.
Alternatively, the holiday season brings with it a host of festivities, including Christmas markets, the famous NYE fireworks, and spectacular illuminations.
Get around
bicycle
Santander Cycles is a bike-share system with hundreds of bicycle docking stations located across London.
Visitors can hire a bike using a bank card at the docking station or downloading the app.
train
London’s Underground rail network, or "the Tube," services Greater London between 5a.m. and midnight Monday to Saturday, with reduced operating hours on Sunday.
Five Tube lines run a 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays: Victoria, Central, Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines.
For more information about the network and fares, see here.
bus
London’s bus route network services the city on a 24-hour service.
For more information about the network and fares, see here.
taxis
Hailing down a taxi on the street in London can be difficult so it is best to find an official taxi stand. You can also book a taxi online or on your smartphone here.
trams
South London operates a small tram network, Tramlink, with trams running approximately every 10 minutes in the daytime on Mondays to Saturdays.
On the ground
What is the timezone?
Greenwich Mean Time
What are the voltage/plug types?
The standard voltage in the UK is 230V and the standard frequency is 50Hz. The plug has three rectangular pins.
What is the currency?
The Pound Sterling
Are ATMs readily accessible?
Yes
Are credit cards widely accepted?
Yes
Is it easy to find a bank?
Yes
How much do I tip?
Tipping is not always obligatory in the UK, however, it is customary to leave gratuity of 10-15% when eating out and it is polite to tip Black Cabs and minicabs 10-15%.
Are there local customs I should know?
Drinking
The federal legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 18 years old.
Walking
Walk to the right of the sidewalk and step off to the side of the sidewalk if you want to stop to check your phone, look up directions, or want to take in a view.
Public transport
Allow others to disembark before boarding, don’t take up more than one seat, and stand to offer seating to pregnant women or someone with a disability.
Queuing
Queuing is revered in British culture and it is considered incredibly rude to skip in front of people.
People will say “sorry” a lot — and you should too
British people are famous for saying “sorry” frequently — even if they are not at fault (such as apologizing for the weather or getting in someone’s way). It is considered polite.