Ultimate London Visiting Guide

Louise Hudson

Published: May 15, 2026

Updated: August 13, 2026

Whatever your age or interests, London – the UK’s vibrant capital city – has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to visit one of the city’s many family-friendly museums or parks with the kids, are travelling for a specific event like the London Marathon, are wanting to shop ‘till you drop on bustling Oxford Street, or are coming to see one of the West End’s iconic theatre shows, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

If you’re planning to travel to London by train, TrainPal’s Train Journey Planner makes it easy to find cheap tickets and organise your journey in advance.

Must-see attractions in London

The London Eye

Address: The London Eye, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB
Features: panoramic views of the city’s landmarks
Tickets: from £29 when booked in advance
Ideal for: first-time visitors to the city
Family friendly: ✩✩✩✩
Recommendation: ✩✩✩✩✩

The London Eye is a must-visit attraction for those visiting the capital for the first time. This iconic observation wheel in central London offers unobstructed views from its glass pods. During the 30-minute ride, you'll be able to see many of London's well-known buildings. For a premium trip, why not upgrade to a champagne experience so you can sip while you see the sights?

The London Eye is located just 5 minutes’ walk from Waterloo train station. Take a look at TrainPal’s Train Journey Planner to work out your journey there.

Madame Tussauds

Address: Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LR
Features: a wax museum with over 150 lifelike celebrity figures
Tickets: from £29 when booked in advance
Ideal for: celeb fans
Family friendly: ✩✩✩
Recommendation: ✩✩✩✩

Madame Tussauds is a dazzling attraction featuring waxworks of over 150 lifelike celebrity figures across 8 different zones spread over 3 floors. This immersive experience also includes a Spirit of London ride, where you can take a trip through time and discover the capital's history, plus the Chamber of Horrors, where you can discover London's darkest crimes.

If you’re taking a train to Madame Tussauds, Marylebone Station is the closest train station and is just a 10-minute walk away. For the cheapest train tickets to London, book online in advance using My TrainPal.

London Zoo

Address: Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY
Features: 755 species of animals
Tickets: from £35 when booked in advance
Ideal for: animal lovers, families
Family friendly: ✩✩✩✩✩
Recommendation: ✩✩✩✩

Located on the northern edge of Regent's Park, London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo.It houses 755 species of animals, making it one of the largest collections in the UK. The zoo is a fun day out for families, thanks to its outdoor play area, Animal Adventure. An indoor immersive role-play experience, Zoo Town, is coming soon.

If your train to London arrives at Euston station, the fastest way to get to London Zoo is to take a Northern Line tube to Camden Town, which is around a 15-minute walk away.

Day trip in London

Day trip in London with kids

If you’re planning a day trip to London by train, a must-visit attraction is the legendary Natural History Museum. They offer a special family-friendly self-guided tour walk, where you walk through some of the biggest sights and the new gardens.

The tour takes about two hours so is perfect for little legs. Tickets are free, but it’s best to book in advance as walk-up visitors usually have to wait longer to get in. If the kids need to burn off some energy afterwards, Hyde Park is nearby with a playground featuring climbing frames, a swing set and a slide. The whole of Hyde Park is a playground for adventurous minds, with everything from pond dipping and mini beast hunting to ice creams and pedalos.

Looking to venture a little further afield? LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, the UK’s leg-themed adventure park, is a fun-filled family day out near to London, and takes around 1 hour by train from Waterloo. Take a look at the TrainPal journey planner to work out the best way to get there.

Day trip in London for couples

Travelling to London by train with your other half? Looking for something a bit different to do than the usual well-known attractions? For a unique blend of delightful sightseeing and delectable afternoon tea, you could take a London afternoon tea bus tour on board a vintage Routemaster bus. Hop on and enjoy soaking in the vibrant culture of the city while you sip your tea. Buses set off from Victoria Coach Station, which is handy if you’re arriving at London Victoria train station.

If you fancy a spot of retail therapy while in the area, the nearby Victoria Place and Cardinal Place shopping centres have a variety of high-street shops. Several of the capital’s most historic buildings, including Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, are also within a 10-minute walk of the station.

Must-visit museums in London

Victoria and Albert Museum

Address: Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Features: applied arts, decorative arts and design
Tickets: free (some exhibitions and events have a separate charge)
Ideal for: art and design fans
Family friendly: ✩✩
Recommendation: ✩✩✩✩

The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world's largest museum of art, design and performance, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects. It features seven miles of inspiring galleries, and offers a world of creativity in the heart of London.

The museum is open daily from 10 am till 5.45 pm, with late-night opening until 10 pm on a Friday. Victoria Station is a 35-minute walk away. To plan your journey, why not take a look at the TrainPal journey planner?

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum

Address: 3 Church Rd, London SW19 5AG
Features: tennis memorabilia
Tickets: from £15 (museum only)
Ideal for: tennis lovers
Family friendly: ✩✩
Recommendation: ✩✩✩✩

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum is the ideal place to experience the history and traditions of The Championships. You can see the famous trophies, check out tennis fashions from the Victorian period, test your skills on the Batak wall and learn about how The Championships has developed since 1877. For an even greater insight, why not take a behind-the-scenes tour of the grounds, too?

The grounds are open daily from 10 am till 5.30 pm (April to September) or 10 am till 5 pm (October to March). Southfields Underground Station on the District line is the closest Underground station (a 15-minute walk). If you’re getting a train to Wimbledon mainline station, you can get the 493 bus to the museum.

London Museum of Water and Steam

Address: 3 Church Rd, London SW19 5AG
Features: the story of London’s water supply
Tickets: from £11.50
Ideal for: families, people looking to escape the bustle of the city centre
Family friendly: ✩✩✩✩
Recommendation: ✩✩✩✩

The London Museum of Water and Steam features hands-on exhibits showing the pumping engines that helped to make London the great city it is today. There’s also a fun splash zone where kids can use the Archimedes Screw, hand pumps, dams and pipes, plus a garden – the ideal spot for a picnic.

The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday term time and every day during school holidays. The nearest mainline train station is Kew Bridge, which is around a 5-minute walk away. To find the cheapest train tickets, head to the TrainPal website.

Parks, gardens, markets and more

Kensington Gardens

Address: The Magazine Storeyard, London W2 UH
Features: monuments, statues, playgrounds and more
Tickets: the park is free to get in
Ideal for: taking a break from sightseeing
Family friendly: ✩✩✩✩✩
Recommendation: ✩✩✩✩

Kensington Gardens is the ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of central London. Its many monuments, statues and fountains – such as the Albert Memorial, the elegant Italian Gardens and the charming Peter Pan statue – make a great introduction to its history. Art fans will love the two world-renowned art galleries, Serpentine Gallery North and South, which showcase innovative work of contemporary and emerging artists and architects. Meanwhile, the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, featuring a huge pirate ship, complete with its own beach, will keep children entertained for hours.

The gardens are open from 6 am till 9:45 pm. The nearest underground stations are Queensway, Lancaster Gate (both on the Central Line) and High Street Kensington (Circle and District Lines), both around a 10-minute walk from the palace entrance. To plan your journey, why not take a look at the TrainPal journey planner?

Borough Market

Address: 8 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TL
Features: gourmet food from across the world
Tickets: the market is free to look around
Ideal for: a spot of lunch
Family friendly: ✩✩
Recommendation: ✩✩✩✩

Borough Market is London’s premier food market. It is one of the city’s largest and oldest food markets, dating back to 1716. This historic setting offers an incredible range of food from all over Britain and the rest of the world – and every item has a story to tell. It’s open daily from 10 am till 5 pm, but bank holiday opening times may vary.

Borough Market is conveniently located next to London Bridge station, which is on the Northern and Jubilee Tube lines and links with mainline trains from all over London. To book the best-value fares for your journey in advance, take a look at the TrainPal journey planner.

Westfield Shopping Centre

Address: Westfield Stratford City, Montfichet Road, Olympic Park, East London E20 1EJ
Features: food, fashion and fun
Tickets: the shopping centre is free to look around
Ideal for: shopaholics
Family friendly: ✩✩
Recommendation: ✩✩✩✩

Westfield Stratford City shopping centre is the UK’s ultimate destination for shopping, food and drink, and entertainment. With over 200 shops all under one roof, you’ll find the latest fashion trends, must-have beauty products, everyday essentials and more.

The shopping centre is open 10 am till 9 pm Monday to Friday, 9 am till 9 pm on a Saturday and 12 pm till 6 pm on a Sunday. Stratford station is served by TfL Rail (including Elizabeth line), National Rail services and high-speed trains, making it easily accessible from areas including Kent, Essex and East Anglia. To plan your train journey in advance, take a look at the TrainPal journey planner.

London airport connections

Are you flying into London from another country? London’s many airports are seamlessly linked to the city via rail. And you can get up to 60% off peak fares when you book your train tickets in advance on the TrainPal website.

If you’re arriving at Heathrow Airport, the quickest way to get to central London is to take a Heathrow Express train to London Paddington Station. Trains run every 15 minutes and take just 15 minutes. The new Elizabeth Line now also connects Heathrow Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 with Central London, East London and Essex. Flying into Gatwick Airport? You can take a Thameslink or Gatwick Express to London Bridge or Victoria stations, with a journey time of around 30 mins.

If you’re flying into Stansted Airport, the Stansted Express train gets you to London Liverpool Street Station in around 47 mins. The journey from Luton Airport to central London involves taking the Luton DART shuttle bus from the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway (a 4-minute journey), followed by a Thameslink train to Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon or St Pancras International, with a journey time of between 35 and 50 mins.

Arriving at London City Airport? It takes just 22 mins to get to Bank Station on a DLR service. Southend Airport is a bit further afield, but you can still get to London Liverpool Street in under an hour on a Greater Anglia service.

Take a look at the airport trains section of the TrainPal website to plan your journey in advance and get the best-value fares.

Train & tube travel in London

The UK’s capital city is easy to get around by tube and train. The London Underground network (known as the Tube) is divided into nine zones. Central London is in Zone 1. The Tube network has 11 lines serving Greater London. The fare depends on how far you travel, the time of day and the payment method. It’s usually cheapest to pay with an Oyster card or contactless payment.

London also has an extensive train network that connects the city centre, London suburbs, other regions of the UK and even Europe. The train stations in London provide convenient access to various destinations, such as Edinburgh (direct from London King’s Cross in 4 hr 20 mins), Manchester (direct from London Euston Station in 2 hr 7 mins) and York (direct from London King’s Cross Station in 1 hr 50 mins). Or if you’re not looking to venture too far afield, you could take a shorter trip to somewhere like Windsor Castle. To do this, you get a Great Western Railway service from London Paddington to Slough (20 mins), then a shuttle to Windsor & Eton Central.

For more tips on booking cheap London train tickets and exploring popular London train routes, check out TrainPal now. If you’re travelling with kids, you might want to get a Family and Friends Railcard, which gives you 1/3 off adult rail fares and 60% off kids’ fares. We also recommend taking off-peak trains (after 9.30 am) for quieter journeys and lower fares.

FAQs

What’s the best way to buy tickets for the London Eye?

The best way to get tickets for The London Eye is by pre-booking through their official website. Prices are cheaper than buying directly at the ticket office on the day of your visit.

Are London attractions wheelchair accessible?

Many of the capital’s major sights are wheelchair friendly. This includes almost all of the museums, as well as St. Paul’s, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye.

How early should I book attraction tickets?

Prices for London’s tourist attractions are generally cheaper if you buy them online at least a day in advance rather than buying directly at the ticket office on the day of your visit.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.