London City Guide

What can I expect from London?

London is home to some of the most well known landmarks such as Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. A city with thousands of years of history on display but at the same time very modern with its restaurants, art, and culture. These two contrasts are what make London such a cool place to visit.

Visit some of the historic spots such as The Tower of London, St. James Park, or take a ride up the River Thames. London is also home to incredible fashion and shopping, amazing restaurants, and a cool nightlife. Read below for the London City Guide.

Getting the London Pass is a must. It not only gets you into most of the attractions you will want to see at a fraction of the cost but you often get to skip the long lines.

London is made of many different boroughs and neighborhoods; each offering something different. The most popular areas worth visiting are:

Covent Garden: Covent Garden is the entertainment and theater district. Here you will find the Royal Opera House and home to many fashion stores.

SoHo: SoHo is home to many high end boutiques, restaurants, clubs, and art galleries. It is a very trendy place.

Kensington + Chelsea: This part of London is home to some of the most affluent in the world. This is home to several museums including V & A Museum.

Camden: Camden is the eclectic area that is full of counter culture. It has the famed Camden Town Market. You will find a lot of jazz clubs and pubs in this area.

The City of London: The City is actually only about a square mile in size, and is home to London’s biggest skyscrapers and financial district.

Westminster: The tourist center of London, sights include the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Visitors can see the British Government in action by visiting the Strangers’ Gallery at the House of Commons.

Shoreditch: Known as the creative hub of London’s trendy East End. Come here for great food, nightlife, street art, and vintage shopping.

Typical Costs When Traveling

Accommodation – There are several options when staying in London.

You can get a hotel at the different price points or you can rent a flat through Airbnb. Use this link for up to $30 off your booking. Airbnbs in London start at around $50 USD.

Hotels will run from about $150 and up in London.

We stayed at this hotel at Charring Cross. We loved the hotel and the location. It was right across the street from the Tube allowing us to travel anywhere in the city. It was very convenient.

Another good option that is close to Kings Cross Station which makes getting around town a breeze is the Hilton at Kings Cross. It is clean and comfortable.

A nice neighborhood to stay in is to stay by Camden, it has a cool artsy vibe with plenty of pubs and restaurants and close to the Camden Market. A good choice is Holiday Inn London Camden Lock.

Food – London is such a large city that you have so many options to choose from when it comes to dining out. There are so many ethnicities and cultures that it can be fun to experience different cuisines. You can expect to pay $20-$30 USD for most meals in London.

Transportation – The cheapest and most convenient way to travel in London is the public transportation called the Tube. It is very intricate and well laid out. The maps are for most part easy to understand and you can get to anywhere you need to go.

I recommend taking the Tube to and from the airport unless you are traveling with a ton of luggage then it may be difficult.

There are taxis everywhere in London but they will cost you quite a bit, so I really recommend the Tube.

A cheaper and convenient way to travel on tube is by preloading money onto an Oyster Card and then you swipe the card for all the tube fares.