London Vacation Guide & Travel Information

About London

Vast, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is one of the world’s great cities. Located in the southeast of England, on the River Thames, it is the capital of the United Kingdom (UK) and has been the heart of its political, cultural and business life for centuries.

As Europe’s largest city, London is host to more than 25 millions visitors a year; yet, it is never too crowded to be enjoyable. There is always time for tea and a leisurely stroll through London’s famous parks and boroughs. Popular destinations abound, including theatres, concert halls, shops, restaurants, sports venues, world famous landmarks and hundreds of restaurants with cuisine from around the world.

Millions of visitors from around the globe can attest to the continuing popularity of shopping at Harrods, visiting the Tower of London, seeing London Bridge, and touring Buckingham Palace and the Parliament building. Relive the glories of the vast expanse of the British Empire, while enjoying the animals native to those regions at the London Zoo. Stroll through the British Museum and marvel at some of its 6 million exhibited items. Tour Westminster Abbey and the Royal Parks and gardens. Evenings begin with dinners at fabulous restaurants found in dozens of ethnic neighborhoods across London and continue with an evening at the theatre or the London Symphony and perhaps a late evening stop in a neighborhood pub for a snack and a local brew before the last bell sounds.

We constantly update London vacation deals and flights + hotel packages for Europe. There are great last minute London vacations or if you just need a hotel, check out our discount hotels in London. You can also book popular sightseeing tours in London and save your vacation time.

The city of London is served by five airports: Heathrow (15 miles west of the city), Gatwick (28 miles south of the city center), Stansted, Luton and City. Most international flights are likely to arrive at either London Heathrow or London Gatwick. London is also well served by British road and rail networks.

Heathrow Airport is accessible by bus, London Underground (Piccadilly line) and the Heathrow Express, which makes the journey from Paddington Station to Terminals 1-3 in 15 minutes and to Terminal 4 in 20. The Gatwick Express runs between Gatwick Airport and Victoria Station in 30 minutes or you can take Airbus No 5 to Victoria Coach Station. The Stansted Express will get you to Stansted Airport from Liverpool Street Station in 45 minutes. Cabs to all the airports are only an option for the seriously loaded.

Two services operate through the Channel Tunnel: Eurotunnel operates a rail shuttle service (Le Shuttle) for motorbikes, cars, buses and freight vehicles between terminals at Folkestone in the UK and Calais in France; and the railway companies of Britain, France and Belgium operate a high-speed passenger service, known as Eurostar, between London (mainly Waterloo Station), Paris, Lille and Brussels. Within the UK, fast InterCity trains whisk you to destinations from 10 mainline terminals around London.

There is a bewildering choice of ferries travelling between Britain and Ireland and mainland Europe. Ferries will carry your car, motorcycle or bike, and they can be a cheap option - but book early.


Buses — Although contemporary-style buses are becoming more common, most London buses are still of the red double-decker variety. Buy tickets on board, except in some parts of central London where new ticket machines have been introduced alongside bus stops. London Buses

Subway — The London Underground, otherwise known as the Tube, is the system of subways in London and out to the suburbs. Tube Map

Water Taxis — Boats carry passengers from the center of London to destinations along the Thames, including Greenwich, the Tower of London, Kew Gardens, Hampton Court, Canary Wharf and Bankside.

Taxis - Taxis are plentiful in London in the regulated form of the distinctive black cab. Hail them when the yellow "For Hire" sign is illuminated, or call 020-7272-0272 or 020-7286-0286. There are taxi ranks at major train stations such as Victoria, King's Cross and Waterloo.

Trains - In the great age of steam, the Victorians built a series of imposing railway stations around the fringes of central London, with lines slicing boldly outward through the suburbs to the far corners of the island. For information on train services, phone 0845-748-4950. London Rail

London is full of attractions for all ages. Below is a list of some suggested things to do in London. You can also book some of these attractions online and save your vacation time. The London Pass is your passport to London! It gives you free entry to over 50 favorite London attractions as well as travel on public transport on buses, tubes and trains.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE Open early August to late September. 18 rooms are available to view including the Throne Room. The famous changing of the Palace Guard is at 1130am daily during the summer months (on alternate days during the rest of the year).

BRITISH MUSEUM Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury - Monday-Saturday 10am-5 pm, Sunday 2:30 to 6 pm. Guided tours Monday-Saturday at 10:45 am, 94 galleries contain the world’s finest collection of antiquities. The depth of each gallery and the variety of attractions is almost overpowering.

HYDE PARK Closes at midnight. Some 360 acres of landscaped park, tree-lined avenues and lakes in the heart of the city attract visitors from around the world. Sunday mornings find street-corner orators is fine form at Speaker’s Corner near Marble Arch.

LONDON PLANETARIUM Marylebone Road. Travel on a journey to the stars, guided by world-celebrated experts. The Spirit of London ride is a fascinating attraction and is updated frequently.

LONDON ZOO and REGENT’S PARK Off Marylebone Road near Baker Street. Open 7 am until dusk The London Zoo, one of the world’s great zoos, is found in Regent’s Park. Zoo features include a children’s zoo, a reptile house and more. Other attractions in the Park include a rose garden, a mosque, areas for boating and tennis, and an outdoor theatre.

LONDON AQUARIUM Monday-Friday 10 am - 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9:30 am - 7:30 pm. Over two million liters of water house an incredible number and variety of aquatic creatures. Thousands of species are represented in a number of extensive marine habitats. The London Aquarium has rightfully earned its reputation as a world-class attraction.

MADAME TUSSAUD’S Marylebone Road, daily 9 am - 5:30 pm. Wax statues of the world’s most famous (and infamous) citizens throughout history line the galleries of this famous attraction. Recent innovations include interactive areas. Note: The popular Chamber of Horrors (murderers in history) may be too intense for some younger children.

LONDON DUNGEON 28-34 Tooley St. April-September daily 10 am - 6 pm, October-March closes 5:30 pm. Live actors and various realistic tableaux recreate the hard and seamy life of the underside of London in its past days. Historic representations of the tortures in the Tower and Old Gaol join Jack the Ripper. Not recommended for the faint of heart or for younger children.

BRITISH AIRWAYS LONDON EYE County Hall, London SE1 1GZ. Standing 135 metres high on the South Bank of the River Thames, opposite Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, this amazing structure offers stunning views across the whole of London and beyond.

MUSEUM OF LONDON London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN. The history of London from prehistoric times to the present day is depicted here in one of the largest and most comprehensive collections in the world. Temporary exhibitions are held regularly, with a fascinating look at modern design and history in the making.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN. Western European paintings dated between 1260 and 1900 are displayed in the four wings of the National Gallery. Many famous works can be viewed, including paintings by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Gaugin, Turner and Picasso. Lesser-known paintings appear in Lower Gallery A.

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