London: places to go and things to do

Getting around London

Use the Underground and buses between neighborhoods, then walk within each cluster. London Bridge serves Borough Market; South Kensington serves the V&A. Greenwich is a separate journey by rail, DLR, or a paid river service. Check step-free access and weekend engineering works with Transport for London.

Plan for the weather

London outings benefit from an indoor backup even in summer. Carry a light rain layer, check park closing times in shorter-day seasons, and avoid assigning a river walk to the same time as a nonrefundable museum ticket. Wind beside the Thames can feel colder than the forecast suggests.

Places covered in these guides

• British Museum

  Bloomsbury · Museum. A large collection of objects and histories from many parts of the world, organized into galleries in Bloomsbury.

• Tate Modern

  Bankside · Art museum. Modern and contemporary art in a former power station on the south side of the Thames.

• Borough Market

  London Bridge · Food market. A food market with produce traders, prepared dishes, and surrounding restaurants near London Bridge.

• National Gallery

  Trafalgar Square · Art museum. European painting galleries beside Trafalgar Square, with a collection that can be explored in selected rooms.

• Hyde Park

  Westminster · Park. A large central London park with waterside paths around the Serpentine and space for an unhurried walk.

• Queen’s House

  Greenwich · Art and architecture. An art gallery in a historic royal building within Greenwich’s maritime museum setting.

• Tower Bridge

  Tower Bridge · Historic attraction. The bridge’s visitor experience includes high-level walkways and displays about its engineering.

• V&A South Kensington

  South Kensington · Design museum. A museum of art, design, and decorative objects with galleries covering materials, fashion, and different cultures.