There are more things to do in London than anyone gets through in one trip, and a lot of the best ones are free. This guide is written from a slightly different angle to most. We are Airports Taxi UK, and we spend our days driving visitors between the airports, their hotels and the places they want to see. So as well as the famous sights, it covers what to do on the day you arrive, when you are tired and your room is not ready, and the day trips that are easiest by car from Heathrow or Gatwick.
Where we mention a taxi fare, it is the fixed price our booking system is currently quoting for a saloon, which takes four passengers with two large cases. The booking form at the top of the page gives an exact price for any address, date and time.
Your Arrival Day
Most long-haul flights into London land in the morning, and most hotel rooms are not ready until mid-afternoon. The first day is best kept simple: drop your bags at the hotel, get outside in daylight and stay awake until the evening. A few ideas that work well when you are tired:
- Walk through the royal parks. Green Park, St James’s Park and Hyde Park join up into one long green walk from Buckingham Palace to Kensington, and it is flat and free.
- The South Bank. The riverside path from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge passes the London Eye, the Southbank Centre, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and Borough Market. You can stop and start whenever you like.
- A river boat. The riverboat services on the Thames run between Westminster, the City, Greenwich and beyond. It is a restful way to see the city from the water, and you can use a contactless card.
- A museum with a café. The big free museums are indoors, warm and easy to leave when you have had enough.
The Free Museums
London’s national museums are free to enter, which is unusual for a major city. The British Museum in Bloomsbury holds collections from around the world. The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square has one of the finest collections of European paintings anywhere. In South Kensington, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A sit side by side, and they are ideal for families. Tate Modern, on the South Bank in a former power station, has modern and contemporary art. Some special exhibitions charge a fee, and at busy times it is worth booking a free timed entry slot online.
The Big Sights
The Tower of London, with the Crown Jewels, is one of the busiest paid attractions in the city, so arrive early or book ahead. Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral are both working churches as well as historic sights, with entry charges for visitors outside services. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are best seen from Westminster Bridge or from across the river. Buckingham Palace is open to visitors for part of the summer, and the Changing of the Guard takes place outside on set days. Check the schedule, as it does not happen every day.
The London Eye gives the best view in the centre, and The Shard, near London Bridge, is the tallest building in the city, with a viewing gallery near the top. On a clear day either is worth it. On a grey day, save your money for another time.
Markets and Neighbourhoods
Some of the best London days are spent wandering rather than queueing. Borough Market, by London Bridge, is the city’s best-known food market. Covent Garden has street performers and small shops. Camden has its markets and canal. Notting Hill has Portobello Road, busiest on Saturdays. Columbia Road in east London has a flower market on Sunday mornings. Shoreditch and Brick Lane are good for street art, vintage shops and food. Greenwich, reached by river boat or the DLR, has the Royal Observatory, the Cutty Sark and a large park with views back over the city.
An Evening in London
The West End has more than 40 theatres, from long-running musicals to new plays. Day-of-performance tickets are often cheaper, and many theatres run lotteries or cheap seats for some shows. Pubs are part of London life too, and the old ones in the City and around Fleet Street are full of history. After the theatre, many restaurants in Covent Garden and Soho serve late. If you are staying out of the centre, a pre-booked car home is easier than working out night buses.
Close to Heathrow: Windsor, Kew and Hampton Court
If your hotel is near Heathrow, or you have a spare afternoon before a flight, three of the best places near London are closer to the airport than to the centre:
- Windsor Castle, the oldest occupied castle in the world and one of the royal residences, is 20 to 30 minutes from Heathrow by car. A saloon is about £45. The town, the river and the Great Park are worth an afternoon on their own.
- Kew Gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens, is about 20 minutes from Heathrow on the way into London. Its glasshouses are a good choice in any weather.
- Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII’s palace on the Thames, has its famous maze and gardens and is about 20 to 30 minutes from Heathrow.
Windsor is also an easy stop on the way to or from Heathrow. If your flight lands in the morning and your London hotel will not be ready until the afternoon, a few hours in Windsor, then a car into London, is a good way to use the day.
Close to Gatwick: Brighton and the South Downs
Gatwick is 30 miles south of London, and the south coast is closer than the capital. Brighton is about 45 minutes to an hour by car, with the pier, the Royal Pavilion and the Lanes, a maze of small streets full of independent shops. A saloon from Gatwick is about £73. The South Downs National Park, with its chalk hills and long walks, lies between Gatwick and the coast. For a relaxed first day, or a last day before a flight home from Gatwick, both are hard to beat.
Day Trips by Car
Some of England’s best-known places are a train ride from London, but by car from the airport or your hotel they are often simpler, especially for groups. These are the fixed fares our booking system currently quotes for a saloon from Heathrow:
| Destination | Time by car from Heathrow | Saloon, one way |
|---|---|---|
| Windsor Castle | 20 to 30 minutes | £45 |
| Oxford | About 1 hour | £97 |
| Stonehenge | About 1 hour 20 minutes | £118 |
| Central London | 45 to 75 minutes | £67 |
Oxford has the colleges, the Bodleian Library and the covered market, and it is a good full day. Stonehenge is the famous prehistoric stone circle on Salisbury Plain. You book entry in advance, and many people combine it with Salisbury Cathedral or Bath. The Cotswolds, with their stone villages, are about an hour and a half from Heathrow. For larger groups, a people carrier or 8-seater splits the fare several ways, and the fares for those vehicles are shown in the booking form.
London With Children
Children tend to love the Natural History Museum’s dinosaurs, the Science Museum’s hands-on galleries, the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden and ZSL London Zoo in Regent’s Park. The Tower of London, with its Yeoman Warders and stories, works well for older children. Hyde Park has the Diana Memorial Playground, and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, outside London near Watford, is a big draw for Harry Potter fans. It is easiest to reach by car. Enter the address in the booking form for a fixed fare.
Getting Around London
For most sightseeing, the Tube, buses and your feet are the quickest way round the centre. Contactless bank cards and phone wallets work everywhere on the network, with daily caps on what you pay. Black cabs can be hailed in the street. A pre-booked car makes most sense for the airport journeys at each end of your trip, for trips out of London with a group, and for late nights when the Tube has stopped.
Planning Your Trip
- Visitors from the US, Canada, Australia and many other countries need a UK ETA before travelling. It costs £20 and is applied for online.
- Book the Tower of London, the London Eye, Stonehenge and popular shows in advance, especially in summer.
- Pack a light rain jacket whatever the season.
- Many attractions are closed or busy on bank holidays and over Christmas, so check before you go.
Questions
What are the best free things to do in London?
The national museums, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum and Tate Modern, the royal parks, the South Bank walk and the markets are all free to visit.
What can I do near Heathrow before a flight?
Windsor Castle, Kew Gardens and Hampton Court Palace are all within about 30 minutes by car.
Can I book a taxi for a day trip to Oxford or Stonehenge?
Yes. Enter the destination in the booking form for a fixed fare, and add the return journey if you need it.
What should I do on my first day after a long flight?
Keep it simple. Walk in the parks or along the river, eat at London times and stay up until the evening.