London, England
London is one of the most recognized and historic cities in the world and because of that it’s also one of the top visited places in the world. It has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is full of museums, entertainment, history and much more. The metro area is the largest in Europe with over 15 million people. It’s one of the largest economic and travel hubs in the world. I am writing this while on the way to London for the reason of transiting through London Heathrow on the way further East. We have been to London many times but haven’t even come close to seeing it all. Here are our stories from London and what you can see and do!
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Getting to London and Transportation
London is one of the most connected cities in the world so finding your way there is easy. British Airways flies to all major and many medium sized cities in the US. All major US airlines that have overseas flights service London. London has multiple airports with London Heathrow on the West Side of the city being the busiest gateway followed by Southside London Gatwick and short haul airport London City. London Stansted is a hub for low-cost airlines like Ryanair and is North of the city. If you are in mainland Europe, you can take high speed rail from France that heads under the English Channel and ferry service from the mainland.
As for transportation around London, you have pretty much any option there is transportation wise. You can rent/hire a car but that’s not needed and can be painful with the traffic if you go into the city itself. From London Heathrow you can take the Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station and then use “The Tube” (London’s Subway System) to head pretty much anywhere you want to go. The Elizabeth Line of the Subway will take you into London as well. There are trains from Heathrow and Gatwick, and the National Express Bus Service is a good way to get to different areas of the country. We have used all those methods to get around. There are also the famous double-decker buses and hop on hop off tour buses. We have used those as well. Uber is available Including Uber boats on the Thames River and the famous black taxi cabs. As you can see getting to and around this famous city is not difficult.
Airport and other London Transportation Options
The London Underground (The Tube)
The London Underground (also called “The Tube”) is the oldest Subway System in the world having begun in 1863. Today it has grown to 11 lines with 272 different stations and has over a billion riders a year. It’s a great way to get around London without getting into the traffic on the streets. It’s easy to use the underground as you can go to a ticket kiosk in the stations and you can book a single ride ticket or there are day ticket options available. We did both when using the tube. You also can purchase a refillable Oyster card where you use it like a gift card that refills once it gets to a specific level of money. It is a complex system so you’ll need to know the station you need to go to and figure out the last station in the direction you need to go to so you can determine the platform/direction you need to go on as the train will say the line number and the final stop its heading to. An example might be the District Line (Green) and it will say Edgware Road as that’s a terminus of the line going in that direction. Another tip is knowing which street is closest to your attraction as the stations might have multiple exits and they have them labeled which street the exit takes you too. It might add a lot of walking and time if you go out the wrong exit. Also expect to hear the iconic phrase “Mind the Gap” a lot as sometimes the train cars do not line up correctly with the station platform leaving a gap. We have used the Underground multiple times and especially during our layover trips when we take the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station and then take the Underground to the attraction we are heading to. A single ride ticket depending on the length of the journey might be between 2.5 to 4 pounds. It’s a unique experience and a good and affordable option!
The National Express and Victoria Coach Station
The National Express is the British Equivalent of Greyhound or Megabus in the United States. We have never ridden Greyhound or Megabus, but National Express service is very nice. The buses have comfortable seats that recline, the floors are a faux wooden floor and there is a restroom. A carryon and a checked bag are included. You can reserve seats or just sit anywhere. We reserved our seats once on a bus ride from London Gatwick to London Heathrow Airports. Our flight was delayed and due to the reserved seats, they waited for us. We also took the bus from the London Heathrow central bus station to Southampton. It’s an affordable and easy way to get around to areas like that. It can be for the trips we took between 13 to 16 pounds one way (prices can change).
Victoria Coach Station is the London Central Station for buses. We have never taken a National Express bus service from there, but we have taken day tours from it as the large buses don’t usually pick up at hotels and depart from the Victoria Coach Station. It’s not too far from the Westminster area but taking an Uber or Taxi is recommended as it’s a bit of a walk
Country Information
The United Kingdom and especially England is one of the most well-known countries in the world. It has a very long and interesting history from the monarchy, literature, famous landmarks, colonialism, The BBC, James Bond and so much else that England is known for. AS you would expect English is the language spoken but its not quite like the English spoken in the US. As some would say its “Proper English”. Some differences are potato chips are crisps in the UK and French Fries are chips. The currency is the Pound Sterling, and it is worth more than the US Dollar, but that amount of difference varies. The US Dollar is not accepted anywhere except the airport, and the change will be in Pounds. The UK is a relatively expensive place to visit with the exchange rate. Like most European countries the public transportation is very good so you will not have trouble getting around. Safety-wise the UK is generally safe, but crime does happen. Pick pocketing at tourist areas is a major concern.
Where we Stayed
The number of hotel choices in the London area is immense, and we have stayed in multiple different places over the years. In the Westminster area we stay at The Westminster Hotel that is a Curio by Hilton, that has nice rooms, a good breakfast and is within walking distance of Westminster Cathedral, The Houses of Parliament and museums like the Imperial War Museum.
We find the Hilton Garden Inn at Terminal 2 at London Heathrow a great place to stay as it has a good breakfast and a nice rooftop restaurant that overlooks the airport for plane spotting. It’s easy to get to the Terminal you need to get to by using the free Heathrow Express train service that goes to different terminals (if you take the Heathrow Express into London itself there is a cost).
How we have Toured London
We have flown into London multiple times and stayed there and had the opportunity to tour different parts of the city. We have based entire trips visiting London and taking day trips out of London to places like Stonehenge, Windsor and Bath.
We also spent time in London before and after a cruise out of Southampton, England where we had the chance to tour Southampton and also visit a few sites in London.
Another way we have toured London is by long layover trips from Heathrow into London. Sometimes layovers can be 8 hours or more like when we went to Jordan, we arrived around 7am and our flight to Jordan was at 6pm. If there is a layover over 7 hours, we store our bags at a store called” Excess Baggage” and head into London on the Heathrow Express. We only have the time to do one attraction per layover but have seen things like The Tower of London, the Churchill War rooms, HMS Belfast and other places on separate trips. So, there are multiple ways you can see the sights in London!
London by Double Decker Bus
A great way to see London and get a good feel of the city is by a hop on hop off/double decker bus that gives a narrated drive. The very first time we visited Europe many years ago was on a Glimpse of Europe tour where we visited 7 different countries in the span of a week. On the day we flew into London in the evening we took a tour we love in London and have since taken it again is the See London by Night open air bus. It’s a narrated tour where we saw places like Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament Piccadilly Circus and many more lit up at night. During the day there are many different bus tours that will let you get on and off when you want while seeing the city. There are also specialty bus tours like a teatime tour as well.
Hop on Hop Off Tours
London by Night Tours
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is among the most famous structures in the world and has over 1,000-year history. It was built by William the Conquer and expanded over the years. It’s been a Royal Palace, a fortress, a prison and more including gruesome history. The tower is referring to the White Tower or central keep in the center of the fortress. It’s surrounded by castle walls. It’s on the Thames River close to the famously ornate Tower Bridge. Inside the Tower of London there is a lot to see and do. On Tower Green you can see where people like Queen Ann Boylen and Catherine Howard (wives of King Henry VIII) and many others where beheaded. Inside the White Keep are armor and other artifacts. The British Crown jewels are available for viewing and we did so while there on a layover trip. The line can be long to visit. You can also walk the walls and visit many different rooms. The Tower of London is guarded by the Yeomen Warders that are known as Beefeaters and still live in the Tower of London. There is a cost to visit of over 30 pounds but it’s well worth it to see this iconic site.
Tower of London Tour Options
The British Museum
While not the largest museum in size, the British Museum is one of the top 5 most visited and is one with over 8 million artifacts. Its one of the most famous museums in the world that holds artifacts such as the Rosetta Stone that allowed Egyptian Hieroglyphs to be translated and the sculptures of the Parthenon in Greece. It has artifacts from civilizations from all over the world. We spent half a day there and that was viewing the exhibit halls at a quick pace. There is controversy around the artifacts of the museum with many countries wanting priceless pieces of their heritage sent back after British Colonialism. It is something that the museum and the people are working through as no nation has a completely rosy past. Admission is free to everyone except for a visit to a temporary exhibition but it’s highly recommended to get tickets early as we did online as it does fill up quickly!
Guided British Museum Tours
The Imperial War Museum
The saying goes “The Sun never Sets on the British Empire” and to protect British interests the British have had one of the strongest militaries in the world. The Imperial War Museum London is the flagship museum in a series of different museums and sites around the United Kingdom. It opened in 1920 and originally showcased Britain’s involvement in World War I. Since then, it’s a museum that houses artifacts from all the conflicts the British Armed forces have been a part of since then. It goes over the heroic soldiers who fought in battles like “The Battle of Britain” and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It has multiple floors of great exhibits and outside has cannon barrels from British Battleships. The museum took us a couple of hours to visit, and the admission is free with donations appreciated. There are multiple other Imperial War Museums sites in London.
The Churchill War Rooms - Part of the Imperial War Museums
Another great Imperial War Museums site is the famous Churchill War Rooms used during World War II. It is located near 10 Downing Street (the home of the Prime Minister) and is where Churchill and the British Military conducted operations during World War II. It is a series of underground bunkers where you can see Churchill’s office, command, communication, and the map room. In 1945 when the War ended the rooms were sealed and left untouched until opened for visitors in the 1980s. In the map room you can see all the papers, Military positions pinned on the map and more. There is also a great exhibit on Churchill himself. It’s a rare opportunity to go back in time and see things just as they were. We spent a couple hours on our unguided tour. It’s recommended to get tickets ahead of time as it is a popular site and as of the time of the writing in 2025 it’s a little over 30 pounds for the entry fee.
World War II London and Churchill War Rooms Tours
HMS Belfast - Part of the Imperial War Museums
Another great Imperial War Museums site that we headed to during a long layover is the HMS Belfast Light Cruiser that is on the Thames River. There are few Cruiser class ships left around the world (larger than a destroyer but smaller than a Battleship) and this is one of them. It has a storied career as in World War II it was hit by a German Mine, fought in the Battle of the North Cape that led to the sinking of the Nazi Battleship Scharnhorst, was part of the Normandy (D-Day) landing support and was active in the Korean War. Today you can tour most of the ship on your own and see what it was like on a British Cruiser during World War II and other conflicts. We spent a couple hours touring the ship and speaking with a Frenchman touring who told me to tell my fellow Americans that France remembers the American sacrifices and thanks us all. There is a cost of around 25 pounds for entry.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is an Iconic Site in England and a UNESCO World Heritage site along with the Houses of Parliament and St. Margaret’s Church. The church was founded in 959 but the current Anglican Church building was not completed until the 1200s. It’s been the place of all Coronations of British Monarchs since 1066. It’s coronated 40 Kings and Queens, 16 royal weddings have been there, and many monarchs are buried there. Some Scottish royalty is also buried there such as Mary Queen of Scots. There are also many other authors, political and important people in British history are also buried there. It is an active Anglican Church today. We spent a couple hours touring the church and seeing the many crypts and the coronation chair. It is HEAVILY recommended to get a ticket in advance, as you can imagine it’s a very popular and a must-see destination. It costs at the most a bit over 30 pounds. It is closed on Sunday for services, but you can attend a service with no sightseeing.
Westminster Abbey Tours and Skip the Line Tickets
A Walking Tour of Westminster
You can see a lot of great places just taking a leisurely walk through the Westminster area. There are many statues and sites to see. You can walk past Buckingham Palace that was a short walk from our hotel. While we have not seen the changing of the guards there, it’s a great show of British heritage and pride. The beautiful Queen Victoria statue sits right in front of the palace. Near the palace is the beautiful St. James park that has lakes with all kinds of birds and wildlife and has nice cafes you can relax in. Its near St. James Palace. Walking closer to the houses of Parliament on, Parliament Street you can see memorials such as the Cenotaph in the center honoring Britain’s fallen soldiers and on armistice day poppies are placed there in remembrance of the “Great War”. In Parliament Square you will find statues of Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Ghandi and others right in front of the Supreme Court. On one trip while walking by we asked if we could visit the Supreme Court building and the answer was yes. We went through airport style security but were able to walk into the courtrooms WHILE cases were being held. It was surprising to us the openness (at least at that time as I’m not sure if that has changed as it was pre-covid). Right next to that is one of the most famous churches in the world that has seen the coronation of many Kings and Queens and is the final resting place of many famous and important Britains. I’ll save Westminster Abbey for later, but you can see outside during your walk. Continuing down Parliament that becomes Whitehall Street, you will pass by other memorial statues after the Cenotaph and many government buildings like Scotland Yard. The Horse guards’ parade is another interesting stop on the way to Trafalgar Square. It is home to the household cavalry and has usually two horse guards there you can see and take pictures of (don’t approach or talk to them as they won’t talk back). There is a parade ground and a museum to the household cavalry that we haven’t been to yet but want to go. Another entrance to St. James Park is through the Horse guard’s parade. The famous Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column celebrating one of the best Naval Admirals in history and the Battle of Trafalgar where Horatio Nelson was killed but still a great victory against the British and French in 1805. Nelson stands atop the column and at its base are four golden lions symbolic of his four major victories. If you walk along the waterfront near Parliament there are other large memorials in front of the Ministry of Defense for each of the conflicts the UK has been a part of and a large memorial to the airmen and people that served during the Battle of Britain. It’s well worth taking a walk on your own or booking a walking tour with a guide!
The London Eye
The London Eye is another iconic structure in London that was built back in 2000. It was originally a temporary observation wheel called the Millennium Wheel for the turn of the Millennium. It was originally hated but it grew on the people of London. It was once the tallest wheel in the world at 443 feet tall but has since been eclipsed by others. It is located right on the Thames that overlooks the Houses of Parliament including the Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben is the bell in the tower). It takes around 30 minutes for a complete circle in the large pod. It was the very first thing we did in London on our first trip to Europe. We really enjoyed getting a relaxing view of the area and getting to see London from a different perspective. We have seen it from the air multiple times flying into London Heathrow. It’s best to get your ticket ahead of time as it’s more expensive when you buy it at the wheel and it could be sold out as well. You can book a skip the line ticket as well. There are many different ticket options, from a normal ticket in advance at 30 pounds and specialty experiences like afternoon tea and a champagne drinking ride.
London Eye Ticket Options
The Royal Airforce Museum - London
Another great museum we visited while staying in London after a cruise to Norway is the Royal Airforce Museum London. There are two Royal Airforce Museums with the other being the Royal Airforce Museum Midlands that is further North in England. The Museum in London is built on the former Hendon Aerodrome that was used during WWII as a base. The Museum opened in 1972. It houses 5 buildings and hangers of exhibits and has a collection of many very rare and one-of-a-kind aircraft. They have exhibits on aircraft from all the conflicts and the cold war starting with World War I and continues to the present day. Some of the very rare aircraft there are planes like the Ju-87 ‘Stuka’ German dive bomber (only 2 left in the world), the last remaining Hawker Typhoon that is an aircraft type that fought in the Battle Britain, a Supermarine Spitfire, a Avro Lancaster heavy British Bomber that flew over 100 missions and much more. They have aircraft from Italy and Japan as well. They have a section of aircraft that represents all the Battle of Britain aircraft, and they served in the battle. You can see large jet bombers and modern fighters. They have a Red Arrows jet (the Royal Airforce equivalent of the US Blue Angels or Thunderbirds) and much more. The staff there were very friendly and told us a lot about the aircraft. Admission is free but you need to reserve a timed entry slot ahead of time online. We spent a few hours there and could have spent longer as it’s a large Museum. It’s in the Northwestern part of the city and there is public transportation options but we took an Uber there.
Day Trips out of London
There is absolutely no shortage of things to do in London as we have not done it all and have many other things on our list to do. There are great day and overnight trips you can do to see other areas like we have done. We did an overnight (pre-cruise) trip to Southampton and day trips to Bath, Windsor, Stonehenge and the New Forest. There are plenty of other options, but we have done the ones above.
Windsor Castle
Windsor is a smaller sized city 20 miles to the West of London that is famous for being the home of the British Monarchs. Windsor Castle has been the home of 40 Monarchs since William the Conqueror built it in 1070. It’s over 1000 years old and has over 1,000 rooms. Today you can visit the castle to see the public areas as you do not see the private living area of the King or Queen. You also see gifts to Kings and Queens and many rare artifacts from British History. It is nice walking through the Grand rooms and the beautiful gardens of the largest and oldest continuously occupied castle in the world. You need to get tickets ahead of time as they do sell out. If you go on a Sunday like we did St. George’s Chapel is closed for services. As of 2025, the cost for entry is 31 pounds but I recommend booking a tour out of London to give you transportation and a guide.
There are other sites around Windsor like the Royal Ascot Horse Race park that holds the largest horse racing event in the UK. Runnymede is also nearby, the spot the Magna Carta was signed/sealed in 1215 that set the standard for modern law around the world. There are multiple memorials where it was signed. There is also a memorial dedicated and gifted to the United States dedicated to President John F. Kennedy. We saw this area on our bus but didn’t get to stop.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is one of the most recognizable sites in the world that has been in countless movies and pop culture references. It’s a Neolithic monument that was built over 1,500 years in different phases by the inhabitants of the area. It begun around 3100 BC making it older than the Egyptian Pyramids. Being a “henge”, it is a circular ditch with inner stones in a circle. The stones are aligned with the solstices like other ancient structures around the world. There are two types of stone used with one being the larger outer Sarsen Stones quarried around 20 miles away and the older and smaller inner Bluestones that came from Wales over 150 miles away! It’s an engineering marvel as the stones weigh from 4 to 30 tons and were transported without modern equipment. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one that still has a mystery about what it was built for as no written records were left. Guesses from scientific research are it is built as a cemetery or astronomical observatory. There is a great museum there that goes over the history and the scientific research of the site at the visitor’s center. There is a replica as well of how it is believed the stones were transported. The visitors center and parking area are a long walk from Stonehenge itself but there is a shuttle that will get you closer that you should take (included in the ticket price). We visited twice and found it very interesting and not a “pile of rocks” as I’ve heard some say. It does cost above 20 pounds to visit but it’s well worth it. Each time we visited we had around an hour to visit there.
Bath, England
Located a couple hour drive to the West of London is another amazing historic city and site in England. Bath like the name suggests is the home of an ancient Roman Bath at the only hot springs in the United Kingdom. The Romans built the bath in 43 AD and built a large complex. The waters were thought to have healing qualities. The bath complex had pipes for heating and many advanced technologies that today we take for granted. Today you can visit the well-preserved complex that has great exhibits and technology that does well to show what it was like in Roman times. Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was impressive to us. We didn’t know what to expect but we’re very glad we made it there. They have timed entry that is strict so pay attention to that and get your tickets early. We spent over an hour there and could have spent more time. It costs 20 pounds and above to visit this site. The city of Bath is very nice to visit in general with Georgian Architecture and other museums and sites we didn’t get the chance to visit.
Stonehenge, Windsor and Bath Day Trip Options
The New Forest National Park
The New Forest is a national park that is not “new” as its over 900 years old. It was built by William the Conqueror as a hunting ground but today its home to many free roaming ponies, cattle, deer, sheep and more. We saw many of them roaming while we drove through. There are also many beautiful, thatched roof homes in the forest. It was a nice scenic drive from Southampton to Stonehenge.
The White Cliffs of Dover
Another interesting day trip or another way to head to the mainland of Europe is to head to the Southeast of London to Kent County. In Kent County there are many castles and gorgeous scenery. The most famous site there are the White Cliffs of Dover that stand in some places up to 300 feet tall. They are made of chalk which gives it white color. It’s a meaningful place for many British including those who fought in World War I and World War II as it was the last place they saw of England before heading to France or the first place they saw coming home. The French city of Calais is not far across the English Channel from there and there are many different ferries that go between the countries. In World War II, the allies faked a buildup of troops as the Nazis believed that since it’s the closest point between the UK and France. On our very first trip to Europe, we left the United Kingdom by ferry and sailed across the English Channel and watch the White Cliffs of Dover fade away as so many have done before us. We have also seen them from the air as well.
White Cliffs of Dover Day Trips
Food and Drinks in London
London and the UK in general have many iconic dishes and drinks that are known worldwide. Cadbury is one of my favorite chocolate brands and I especially like the Cadbury “Curly Wurly” candies. I am also a fan of HP Sauce that is also known as “Brown Sauce”. London is a very diverse city so you can also get any kind of food from around the world. In this next section I am going to go over a few of my favorite dishes in when visiting the UK.
The Full English Breakfast
There are many great types of food to get in London with it being such a diverse city full of different cultures. We do like to get some of the traditional English food while in London and the UK in general. While some Americans don’t like European style breakfast, but we do (me especially-Jason). The Full English Breakfast usually consists of two fried or poached eggs, ham (not the US style crispy bacon), grilled mushrooms, baked beans, black pudding (a type of blood sausage) and a grilled tomato. It’s a very nice hearty breakfast and to me it is tasty. In Scotland it’s a bit different with the addition of Haggis. In the Isle of Man, we had Kippers for breakfast which is herring fish with poached eggs was not for us with its extremely fishy taste.
Fish and Chips
Another legendary and the unofficial national food is Fish and Chips. In the UK chips are French fries and crisps are chips in the US. It’s fried Cod or another type of fish and is usually served with mushy or regular peas. You can find it on the promenade near the Tower of London as a more fast-food option, but you can get proper fish and chips at pubs and restaurants. We had an amazing Fish and Chips at the Duke of Wellington pub in Southampton for example. It’s something you should try while there!
London Food and Drink Tours
English High Tea
Another interesting and important cultural experience is English High Tea or Afternoon Tea. It’s more than just drinking tea but includes scones, small cakes, small sandwiches and other “finger food”. It’s a great and relaxing experience. As most know tea is important in English culture. There are types of tea named after the country (English Breakfast Tea). Events like the Boston Tea Party show the importance of tea. Twinning’s tea is one of the most popular brands you can find in the US.
English Tea Tours, Cruises and Experiences
Other Things to see and do
There is so much more to see and do in London and the surrounding areas. We have not nearly seen it all but are familiar with many other areas. The West End is London’s theater district and where hits and one of our favorites Les Misérables began. If you head over to Greenwich, it is a place we really want to go to the next time we are in London. It’s home to the Royal Observatory and the Prime Meridian where you can stand in the Western and Eastern hemisphere. The last surviving 19th century Tea Clipper named the Cutty Sark that you can tour. The National Maritime Museum is there with Lord Nelson’s Trafalgar uniform and exhibits on one of the world’s greatest Navies in history. There are great sporting venues like Wimbledon and multiple Football (Soccer) to visit. You can visit Paddington and see Paddington Bear. There are over 200 different museums in London itself of various sizes and subjects. There are great shopping opportunities like seeing Harrods. There are parks and great food options. A cruise on the Thames would be great. Trying the different types of Cadbury candies and Walkers Biscuits. There is so much to see and do in London and for any type of traveler.
A few tips for your London trip from our experiences. Be prepared for any type of weather as the British Isles are known for their rainy and foggy weather. Be prepared for high costs for things like food with the exchange rate of the USD or the CAD to the British Pound. Do use public transportation from time to time as it works well. We consider London a safe place as it’s safer than most major US cities but do be aware and safeguard yourself for pick pocketing as its common in crowded tourist attractions. Contact us at ET Family Travel for any booking help as we have been to London many times and have planned multiple London trips for clients from scratch (customized).
Other London Tour Options
Conclusion
London and the UK in general feels like a home away from home for us as we have been many times and are used to British culture. In the past few years, I’ve had a wide variety of people including a man from England ask if I am from England as they detect an English accent at first. This is probably due to our many visits, our viewing of British Television like BBC news and more. The people are friendly and polite and it’s always a joy for us to be woken in the morning on a long transatlantic flight and find ourselves in London. I think you will fall in love with the United Kingdom just as we have!
If you are Interested in this trip:
Contact Donna or Jason Miller with ET Family Travel and we can help you book your dream trip today including customized trips, guided tours, cruises and much more. Our travel planning services are completely free if you book with us. Contact us at donnamiller.etfamilytravel@gmail.com or jasonmiller.etfamilytravel@gmail.com to book today
