A Trip to London

London is one of the most powerful global cities with a direct impact on world events. It is also one of the largest multicultural areas worldwide. Within London's borders, you can hear up to 300 different languages. As you can imagine, it is a destination that can offer many thrills to travellers.

General Information

Flights to London can be found from just 35€ (Ryanair & Easyjet), provided you book them approximately 35 days before your departure and, of course, outside of high season (Christmas & Easter).

A trip to London requires an ID card (new, with Latin characters) or a passport. You will need currency as the currency of England is the pound.

Let's take a closer look at some of London's most popular attractions..

Palace of Westminster – Houses of Parliament

It is the meeting place for the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is located on the western bank of the River Thames, within the City of Westminster.

The Palace forms the centre of politics in the United Kingdom, and the country's system of governance is named Westminster after the Palace. The Palace's Clock Tower is perhaps the most famous London attraction. We are, of course, referring to 'Big Ben'.

The Houses of Parliament are open to visitors all year round from Monday to Saturday, where they can observe debates or take a tour of one of the most iconic buildings in the world.

On the website https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/ you can book your tickets to visit the Palace of Westminster. There are many available options depending on the type of visit you wish to make.

If, for example, you wish to attend a session, you need to book the appropriate ticket.

 

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is widely known as the coronation site for the monarchs of Great Britain. This Gothic-style church is located to the east of the palaces mentioned above. Of course, you can visit both attractions on the same day.

Many royal weddings have taken place at Westminster Abbey, and inside are the tombs of many famous figures. These include many monarchs and their spouses, as well as many well-known political figures, writers, architects, composers, actors, and scientists.

Westminster Abbey visiting days and hours

Monday to Friday from 09:30 to 15:30 for the last entry; the Abbey closes 1 hour after the last entry. It is also open every Saturday from 09:00 – 15:00, and on Wednesday, an afternoon slot is available from 16:30 -18:00.

Westminster Abbey entrance tickets are:

• Standard ticket: 20 British pounds
• Concession (students and over 60s): 17 pounds
• Children (6 to 16 years old): 9 pounds
• Family packages: 1 adult with 1 child 20 pounds

  2 adults with 1 child 40 pounds

On the website https://tickets.westminster-abbey.org/wa.ticketing/Calendar/Index, you can book your tickets and print them immediately upon receipt in your email. You will need to select the day and time of your visit, as well as, of course, your ticket type.

Next to the Abbey is St Margaret's Church in London, which you can also visit and photograph. A service is held there every week, usually on Sundays at 11 am. It is a traditional service that lasts approximately 1 hour.

Tower of London

Owned by Queen Elizabeth of England, the Tower of London is a historic, beautiful castle located on the north bank of the River Thames.

The Tower of London is open to visitors:

• Sundays and Mondays 10:00-17:30
• Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:30

The last entry to the tower is at 17:00.

To enter the Tower of London, you can book your tickets here: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/visit/tickets-and-prices/#gs.hQrxwDk

If you buy them from the page above, you will receive a 15% discount.

• Standard ticket: 22.70 pounds (18 to 59 years old)
• Concession ticket: 17.70 pounds (Students, disabled people, over 60s)
• Children from 5 to 15 years old: 10.75 pounds
• Infants 0 to 4 years old: free

The ticket grants access to all sections of the tower open to the public. These include the exhibition of the Crown Jewels of England, the White Tower, and the Bloody Tower.

Note

“If you wish to visit all the palaces in London, which are six in total, you can purchase a membership card costing 52 pounds, valid for an entire year. The palaces included in the membership card are Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Banqueting House, Kew Palace, and Hillsborough Castle, along with the Tower of London.”

Kew Gardens – Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

They are undoubtedly among the most impressive gardens you will ever have the chance to see. Kew Gardens are located in southwest London and constitute the largest botanical collection in the world, both in area and in the number of varieties.

You can visit the gardens daily after 10:00. Closing times vary depending on the season.

• Until 31 August 10:00 – 20:00
• 1-30 September 10:00-19:00
• 1-27 October and all of March 10:00-18:00
• 28 October to 20 November 10:00-16:00
• 21 November to 31 January 10:00-16:00

The last entry must be made up to 1 hour before closing.

Tickets, if purchased online, cost 16 pounds for standard and 4 pounds for children.

Note

“In many London museums, you will find that ticket prices are offered as standard but also with a donation towards each attraction. This happens because many attractions are maintained by public donations. You can choose the type of ticket you prefer accordingly.”

What to visit in London

The most famous attractions in London

Kensington Palace 

The impressive Kensington Palace, or in other words, the residence of Prince William and his wife, is another very popular London attraction. It is located in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Inside the palace, you will also be able to see the "Diana: Her Fashion Story exhibition" which is included with the entrance fee.

Opening hours and entrance fees for Kensington Palace

• Standard ticket: 19.50 pounds (18 to 59 years old)
• Concession ticket: 15.50 pounds (Students, disabled people, over 60s)
• Children from 5 to 15 years old: 9.70 pounds
• Infants 0 to 4 years old: free

https://www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/#gs.Wr6qodU

Madame Tussauds London – Madame Tussauds Museum in London

The most famous wax museum is located where else? In London. Don't miss the chance to take photos with the incredibly lifelike wax figures of your favourite stars.

You can even enjoy tea with Queen Elizabeth or take photos with all members of the Royal Family.

There are many ticket options to choose from for entry to the Madame Tussauds museum.

The standard ticket, which gives you access from the main entrance of the museum, includes the Star Wars and Marvel Super Heroes halls. The cost of a standard ticket is 29 pounds if purchased online, while it is 35 pounds if purchased on the day of your visit.

The premium ticket costs 49 pounds and gives you access through a separate entrance without queues. You can also visit all the museum's halls, including the one dedicated to the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and the Alien: Escape Room. You can also enjoy a 4D Marvel Experience screening.

Book your tickets for Madame Tussauds London here:

https://www.madametussauds.com/london/en/tickets/

National Gallery London – The National Gallery in London

The National Gallery in London is located in the famous Trafalgar Square in central London.

National Gallery London opening days and hours

It is open daily from 10:00 – 18:00 and on Fridays from 10:00-21:00. Entrance to the National Gallery in London is free, as the artworks exhibited are considered to belong to the British people.

It was founded in 1824 and now houses one of the largest collections of paintings in the entire world.

Inside, you will find works by many famous artists such as Botticelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, El Greco, Diego Velázquez, Francisco Goya, Eugène Delacroix, Claude Monet, Renoir, and many others.

Buckingham Palace

The Seat and permanent residence of the Queen of England boasts an incredible total of 602 rooms. These include royal rooms, ceremonial halls, guest rooms, staff rooms, and finally, 78 bathrooms.

Of these, the Queen only uses 12 rooms. All the others are open for visits only during the summer months when the Queen and the Royal Family are not in residence.

The rooms and halls are decorated with unique artworks by very famous artists such as Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Watteau, and Rubens.

Entry to the palace is permitted only for ten weeks each year, and for 2018, this period ends on 31 August.

Tickets cost:

• Standard ticket: 24 pounds (18 to 59 years old)
• Concession ticket: 22 pounds (Students and over 60s)
• Children under 17 and disabled people: 9.70 pounds
• Infants 0 to 5 years old: free

You can find more information here.

If you get the chance to enter Buckingham Palace, you will be able to see up close many of the rooms used for Prince William's Royal Wedding, as well as many other impressive rooms with exquisite decorations.

See the impressive grand staircase, a highlight of the palace tour, and you'll also be able to view the Throne Room. Perhaps the most unique of all the rooms you'll see in the palace.

You can enjoy all this while being guided through an audio guide by Prince Charles.

Among the best experiences you can have in London, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is one that will remain unforgettable. The Changing of the Guard takes place daily at 11:00 and lasts approximately 45 minutes.

 

The British Museum

It is a museum of culture and history. It holds almost seven million objects and is one of the largest collections worldwide, as its acquisitions come from all over the world.

The British Museum also houses the Elgin Marbles, as well as other artefacts from different countries that are campaigning for their return.

Entrance to the British Museum is free. There may be a charge for specific exhibitions held throughout the year.

Museum of London – Museum of London

The Museum of London is located near St Paul's Cathedral in the oldest part of the city.

It includes artefacts from London's prehistoric era to the modern day. Inside this museum, you will truly be able to see the city from its beginnings to what it is today.

The Museum of London is open daily from 10:00 – 18:00, and admission to this museum is also free.

 

St Paul's Cathedral London

The metropolitan church of London is a magnificent Baroque temple located in the City of London area.

The cathedral features an incredibly impressive dome, both externally and internally.

You can visit the cathedral daily, except Sundays, from 08:30 to 16:30. Note that the cathedral's gallery is open daily after 09:30 if you wish to enter there as well.

• Standard ticket: 18 pounds (18 to 59 years old)
• Concession ticket: 16 pounds (Students and over 60s)
• Children from 6 to 17 years old: 8 pounds
• Families with 2 adults and 2 children: 44 pounds

What to see in London

Tower Bridge – London Bridge

London Bridge with its towers is one of the most iconic attractions in London. It is incredibly impressive, especially when night falls and it is uniquely illuminated.

You can enjoy the wonderful city views from the tower and also admire the bridge as it lifts to allow a boat to pass. This is called a 'lift' and usually happens twice a day.

It is very impressive if you can watch the lift from the glass floor inside the bridge.

Tower Bridge is open daily:

April to September 10:00-17:30

October to March 09:30-17:00

Ticket prices:

• Standard ticket: 8.70 pounds (18 to 59 years old)
• Concession ticket: 6 pounds (Students and over 60s, disabled people)
• Children from 5 to 15 years old: 3.80 pounds
• Infants 0 to 5 years old: Free

These prices apply to ascending the tower. If you wish to enter the areas of the bridge that house the engine rooms and a museum space, the charges are different. See more here

 

Trafalgar Square

It is the most central square in London and one of the city's most visited attractions. There you will see many wonderful statues and a spot known as the Plinth, where various modern artworks are exhibited and frequently changed. Many gatherings also take place there, such as for Christmas in London and New Year's Eve.

Big Ben

The famous Big Ben is essentially the great bell located in the clock tower at the Palace of Westminster, which we discussed above. The clock tower has been there since 1858 and is London's most famous symbol.

London Eye

This is a huge Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the river. The wheel's height reaches 135 metres and includes 32 enclosed capsules symbolising the boroughs of London. You will enter these capsules if you wish to enjoy the view of London from above. If you book your ticket through the London Eye website, you will receive a 10% discount. The standard ticket with the discount costs 24.30 pounds, and you can purchase them here: https://www.londoneye.com/tickets-and-prices/

A full rotation of the wheel lasts 30 minutes.

Flights to London

On our homepage www.travelo.gr, using the flight search tool, you can find the cheapest air tickets.

Direct flights to London operate daily from Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) with Aegean and other airlines.

You can book Aegean airline tickets through our website at the lowest possible price, both for London and for any other destination you desire.

Similarly, you can find almost daily flights from Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki.

The flight from Athens to London takes 3 hours and 55 minutes, while the distance from Thessaloniki to London is covered in 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Seasonally, direct flights to London also operate from other major airports in Greece, such as Rethymno, Chania, Corfu, Rhodes, Skiathos, Samos, Preveza, Kavala, Kalamata, Santorini, and Mytilene.

If you are landing at Stansted, also check out our guide on how to get from Stansted Airport to Central London by taxi, bus, or tube!

London Shopping

London is one of the best destinations if you want to update your wardrobe. There you will find everything from Saturday morning markets in Notting Hill, large department stores with very affordable prices on Regent Street and Oxford Street, and of course, shops from the most expensive fashion houses on New Bond Street and Conduit Street.

Of course, make a stop at Harrods in Knightsbridge, London. Westfield Stratford City is one of Europe's largest shopping centres and is located in the Olympic Park area in east London.

Hotels in London

In a large city like London, finding the ideal area to stay is one of the most difficult things. The reason, of course, is that all of London's points of interest are scattered throughout the city. The best thing you can do is consult the London map below and, of course, choose beforehand which London attractions you want to visit.

Map of London

We recommend staying in the wider area of the British Museum in Convent Garden, both because it is a fairly central location and because it is a safe area. Another option is Mayfair, towards the eastern edge of Hyde Park in west London.

Book your ideal hotel in London here https://www.booking.com/London/

Getting around London

You will certainly need to travel some significant distance within London to see an attraction.

The best way to get around London is by Tube, or the 'lube' as the British say.

You can buy the well-known London travel card. The Travelcard offers unlimited journeys on all London public transport. For 7 days and for Tube zones 1 and 2 (which are most likely the ones you will need), it costs 34.10 pounds.

See the detailed London Tube map.

It is also advisable to arrange your transfer from the airport to your hotel in advance. Depending on the airport your flight arrives at, you will take the bus that will transport you to central London.

The route is return, so be careful not to discard your ticket. From each terminal, buses depart with great frequency, so you won't have to wait long.

If you wish, there is also the option of the London Pass. The London Pass gives you access to 80 London attractions. The package includes, among other things, fast track entry to attractions without queuing, a city guide, and a Hop on Hop off bus tour.

A special version of the London Pass also gives you unlimited access to all of London's public transport.

London Pass Cost

1 Day 69 pounds, 84 pounds with transport

2 Days 94 pounds, 114 pounds with transport

Things to do in London

Thames Cruise

One of the most unique experiences you can have in London is to take an unforgettable cruise on the River Thames.

You can travel from one side of the city to the other via the river and reach Big Ben, the London Eye, or Tower Bridge. Tickets for such a journey start from 10.25 pounds per person.

Other options include an evening cruise on the Thames where you can enjoy a 4-course dinner and dance while being entertained by a live singer. All this will last approximately 3 hours, and the cost is 80 pounds per person, or 85 pounds if you want a window seat. On weekends, prices are 5 pounds more expensive.

See all other available options here: https://www.citycruises.com/

Another unique experience you can have in London is to watch a theatrical performance at the famous West End Theatre.

Of course, performances change, and new ones are staged very often, so we cannot recommend any specific one.

If this is something you are interested in experiencing, you can view all available performances here, see what's playing, and book your tickets.

We wish you a wonderful trip to London; enjoy it and let us know what impressed you the most!

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