London Travel Guide

There’s more to London Holidays than pub crawling and royal watching. The UK’s largest city is bursting with life, history and culture. Within this metropolis you can view some of the world's most iconic landmarks and experience the city's vibrant lifestyle.

Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP)
Languages: English
Airport: London Heathrow Airport
Population: 7,830,000
Time Zone: UTC +0

Where to Stay

Accommodation in London reads a little like a Monopoly board game. If you prefer a lavish style of travel, why not live like a royal in the luxury hotels of Piccadilly Circus or West End. For something a little less opulent, try the trendy boutique hotels of Soho and Kensington. Quality backpacker hostels can be found throughout Central London, while some of the larger hotel chains scattered throughout the city make for affordable, family-friendly accommodation. Browse through our range of London accommodation deals.

Transport

Between walking the historic streets and using London’s Underground, known to locals as ‘The Tube,’ you can easily navigate your way around the city. Hiring a car is unnecessary unless you're planning a drive through the countryside. For those times when your feet fail you but you want to avoid the crowded Tube, hailing one of London’s iconic black taxis is an ideal quick fix. A trip to the UK’s capital wouldn’t be complete without a guided London tour or a trip around town on a double-decker bus.

Flights

A large number of international airlines fly to London including Qantas, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines. Flight durations vary depending on the airline and stopover destinations. The shortest journey from Sydney to London Heathrow is 30 hours in duration. View the latest cheap flights to London.

Climate

When you fly into London, don’t expect to be greeted by the sun. London days are notoriously cloudy, even during the height of summer in July and August. In winter, from December to February the weather is generally gloomy, wet and cold with maximum temperatures below 10°C and just 8 hours of sunlight a day. Summer and spring are the best times to visit as temperatures are warmer and locals are noticeably happier and more social.

Food

Traditional English cuisines was once roasted or stewed meat, bread and cheese, boiled vegetables, broths and pies. But with the diverse range of cultures thriving in London today, the international influences are just as prominent as the local ones. The outcome is a plethora of food options, including Indian, Chinese, Italian, Middle Eastern and of course, traditional English pub food.

Insider Tips

The list of things to do in London is almost unconquerable, but here are our top picks to get you started. Take a cruise down the River Thames from Central London to Greenwich, before exploring the Royal Observatory and Greenwich Markets. Witness the ceremonial Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, then get lost in a maze of ancient stone passageways inside the Tower of London. For a day of family fun, mingle with celebrity sculptures at Madame Tussauds wax museum before exploring a world of bugs, fossils and bones at the Natural History Museum.