United Kingdom
London
Base for 3–4 days of museums, markets and riverside walks. We have mapped 4 sights, 2 outdoor spots and 2 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- November
4 See · 2 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop
London, the Cotswolds & Bath
from our route notes
23°C / 73°F avg high
7°C / 45°F avg high
about 74 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in London
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in London across Bloomsbury, Tower Hill and Bankside. 3 of them are free.
Photo: Ham · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeBritish Museum
Two million years of human history, from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures. Free entry.
Tip Go at opening and head straight to Room 4 before groups arrive.
Photo: [Duncan] from Nottingham, UK · CC BY 2.0SeeTower of London
Norman fortress on the Thames holding the Crown Jewels, led by Yeoman Warder tours.
Tip See the Jewel House first; the queue builds by late morning.
Photo: Acabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeTate Modern
Modern art in a former power station on the South Bank, with a free viewing level over the Thames.
Tip Walk over the Millennium Bridge from St Paul's to arrive.
Photo: Mr Wrong · GoogleSeeVictoria and Albert Museum
Design, fashion and decorative arts across 145 galleries, with a courtyard café in the original tea rooms.
Outdoors
Trails, views and open space in and around London.
Photo: Dudley Miles · CC BY-SA 3.0OutdoorsHampstead Heath
Rolling heath with ponds and a city view from Parliament Hill.
Tip Pair with Kenwood House, free and at the northern edge.
Photo: Karin Langner · GoogleOutdoorsRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
UNESCO-listed gardens with Victorian glasshouses and a treetop walkway.
Tip Take the District line to Kew Gardens station.
Eat
2 places to eat across Southwark and Covent Garden, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: Øyvind Holmstad · CC BY-SA 4.0EatBorough Market
London's oldest food market, packed with cheese, oysters, pies and street food stalls.
Tip Come hungry on a weekday; Saturdays are crowded.
Photo: Dishoom Covent Garden · GoogleEatDishoom Covent Garden
Bombay café-style restaurant known for bacon naan rolls, black daal and chai.
Tip Breakfast has the shortest wait.
Drink
1 bar or café in Southwark for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: Ewan Munro from London, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0DrinkThe George Inn
London's last galleried coaching inn, 17th century and owned by the National Trust.
Tip Grab a courtyard table in summer.
Shop
1 shop in Bethnal Green for browsing and souvenirs.
Photo: SunDawn · CC BY-SA 4.0ShopColumbia Road Flower Market
Sunday street market crammed with flowers, plants and small independent shops.
Tip Sundays only, roughly 8am–3pm; prices drop near closing.
How to fit London into a trip
London is stop 1 of 3 on our London, the Cotswolds & Bath route. Follow it as-is or lift London into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 3
London, the Cotswolds & Bath
Museums, stone villages and Georgian spa streets
- Trip length
- 8 days
- Best season
- May – Sep
- Pace
- easy
- Next: The Cotswolds
Getting here and onward
- London to The CotswoldsThe Cotswolds is about 122 km / 76 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
London month by month
Average daily highs run from 7°C / 45°F in January to 23°C / 73°F in July. November is the wettest month, with about 74 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan7° / 45°F average high
- Feb8° / 46°F average high
- Mar11° / 51°F average high
- Apr14° / 58°F average high
- May18° / 64°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun21° / 69°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul23° / 73°F average high, in our recommended season
- Aug23° / 73°F average high, in our recommended season
- Sep20° / 68°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct16° / 60°F average high
- Nov11° / 51°F average high
- Dec8° / 46°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. London weather and the best time to visit →
Near London
8 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.
London questions, answered
How many days do you need in London?
Our route notes suggest 3–4 days in London. On our London, the Cotswolds & Bath route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 21 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is London best known for?
Base for 3–4 days of museums, markets and riverside walks. Standouts on our list: British Museum (Two million years of human history, from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures. Free entry); Tower of London (Norman fortress on the Thames holding the Crown Jewels, led by Yeoman Warder tours); Tate Modern (Modern art in a former power station on the South Bank, with a free viewing level over the Thames).
When is the best time to visit London?
Our London, the Cotswolds & Bath route is best May – Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (23°C / 73°F), the coolest in January (7°C / 45°F) and the most rain in November (about 74 mm).
What are the best things to do in London?
Start with British Museum, Tower of London, Tate Modern, Victoria and Albert Museum and Hampstead Heath. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 4 sights, 2 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.
Where should a group eat in London?
Our picks: Borough Market (Southwark); Dishoom Covent Garden. Come hungry on a weekday; Saturdays are crowded (Borough Market).
What is near London?
The closest destinations in our guides are The Cotswolds (about 122 km / 76 mi), Bath (about 155 km / 96 mi) and Bruges (about 235 km / 146 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan London with your crew
Open the London, the Cotswolds & Bath route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.
Plan around London
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