London, England (UK)
Not one city but a federation of villages
London is nine million people in 32 boroughs, a Roman town, a medieval City and a Georgian West End stitched together by the world's oldest underground railway. Nobody knows all of it; the pleasure is in the part you make yours.
The Romans founded Londinium on the north bank of the Thames around AD 47, at the lowest point the river could be bridged. That square mile — the City, with a capital C — is still its own jurisdiction with its own Lord Mayor and police, and still the financial district. Westminster, upriver, was the separate royal and religious centre from the 11th century, and the strip between them, the Strand, filled in over the centuries. Everything else — the villages of Chelsea, Hampstead, Greenwich, Camberwell — was swallowed by the sprawl of the 19th century and kept its name and, often, its character.
That is the key to London: it is a city of neighbourhoods that were once towns, and its residents live locally. A Londoner in Hackney may not have been to Fulham in years. The centre — the West End's theatres and shops, the museums of South Kensington, the river from Westminster to Tower Bridge — is what visitors see, and it is superb; but the life of the city is on the high streets and in the pubs of the boroughs, and a visit that learns one of them learns more than a visit that ticks off the monuments.
The Underground, opened in 1863, is the oldest in the world and still the way the city moves — eleven lines, plus the Overground, the Elizabeth line and the DLR, all tapped with a contactless card at a fare that caps daily. Buses are cheaper, slower and better for seeing the place; the red double-decker is a genuine transport system, not a museum piece. The Thames Clippers are a river bus with a view. Nobody who lives in inner London drives if they can help it — the congestion charge and the parking see to that.
The strain, as in every great city now, is cost: housing in London is the most expensive in Europe and the reason the young move ever further out along the Tube lines. What it offers in return is the breadth — every cuisine, every kind of music, free museums of the first rank, parks the size of small countries, and a tolerance of eccentricity that is the city's oldest tradition. It rains less than its reputation and is greyer than it admits; the trick is a good coat and a local pub.
Where People Live
The City & the South Bank
The Roman square mile — St Paul's, the Tower, the towers of finance — and across the river, the Tate Modern, the Globe and the riverside walk from Westminster to Tower Bridge. Borough Market for lunch.
West End
Soho, Covent Garden, Mayfair, Marylebone — theatres, restaurants, shopping and the pubs of Soho. The tourist centre, and also where Londoners go out.
Kensington & Chelsea
The museums (V&A, Natural History, Science) and Hyde Park to the north; the King's Road and the river to the south. Expensive, handsome and quiet.
Camden & Islington
North of the centre: Camden's markets and music, Islington's Georgian squares and Upper Street's restaurants, and Hampstead's village and heath beyond.
Shoreditch & Hackney
The East End's creative quarter — street art, bars, Columbia Road's flower market, Broadway Market, and the Olympic park. Where the city's energy moved in the 2000s.
Greenwich & the Docklands
Downriver by boat: the Royal Observatory and the meridian, the Cutty Sark, the park's view, and Canary Wharf's towers across the water.
Brixton & Peckham
South London's cultural engines — Brixton's Caribbean market and music, Peckham's rooftop bars and art. Cheaper, younger and fiercely local.
Must-see attractions
Where to stay
London Marriott Hotel Park Lane
140 Park Ln, London W1K 7AA, United Kingdom
Claridge's in the Heart of Mayfair, London
Brook St, London W1K 4HR, United Kingdom
DUKES, London (Mayfair)
35 St James's Pl, London SW1A 1NY, United Kingdom
Eat & drink
Ciro's Pomodoro of Knightsbridge
Restaurant
Restaurants & places to go
Sheesh Restaurant
. Kitchen Open 12.00-21.00 ... 7 Days A Week ... “Fine Dining On The Terrace†... “Take-Away In The Park†... “Pick-Ups & Deliveries†... · sheeshrestaurant.co.uk
Hedonism Wines
. Best wine shop in the World! Some posts by our amazing team members. · hedonism.co.uk
Mere Restaurant
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Share our passion for food and wine with <a href="/MGaletti01" class="tweet-url twitter-atreply pretty-link"… · mere-restaurant.com
Bar Story
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">SE London cocktail bar and pizza kitchen. Food & drinks crafted with care under the Peckham Rye railway… · barstory.co.uk
The Montpelier
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">British Seafood & Small Plates / Local Brews & Cocktails / The Backroom Cinema / <a… · themontpelier.net
Randall & Aubin Soho
seafood restaurants · . BACK OPEN 🦞 🦀 🦪 Now taking reservations all day & night! Seafood platters delivered to your door! See link to know more! · randallandaubin.com
The Rye
pubs · <p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">...PURVEYOR OF GOOD TIMES SINCE 1809.</p>. · theryepeckham.com
The Bliss Brownie
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Artisan | Gluten Free | Dairy Free | Vegan | No Refined Sugar | Available at Richmond Foodies Market &… · blissbrownie.com
Pomona's
. Modern British Restaurant. Menu from Head Chef @ruthhansom Showcasing the best of British produce 🌱 Local | Sustainably Sourced | Seasonal
Tap Tavern Richmond
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Independent British Tavern | 20 Lines of Craft Beer, Small Batch Gins & Great Vibe | Melissa Cole's… · taptavern.co.uk
Annabel's
bars, restaurants · 46 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London W1J 5AT, United Kingdom · annabels.co.uk
Disrepute
cocktails, cocktail lounges, cocktail bars · 4 Kingly Court, Soho, London, United Kingdom W1F 9RR · disrepute.co.uk
Wiltons Restaurant
fine dining restaurants, oysters, oyster bars, fine seafood restaurants · 55 Jermyn St, St. James's, London SW1Y 6LX, United Kingdom · wiltons.co.uk
Alexandra Palace
music venues, sports venues · alexandrapalace.com
Black Sheep Coffee
coffee shops, coffees · leavetheherdbehind.com
The Crystal
sustainable buildings, architecture · thecrystal.org
Dante Mayfar
Claridges restaurants, fine dining · maybourne.com
Fantasy Den
swingers club · fantasyden.co.uk
KOKO
live music venues · koko.uk.com
La Dame de Pic London at Four Seasons
Four Seasons restaurants, luxury restaurants, Chef Anne-Sophie Pic · 10 Trinity Square, Tower, London EC3N 4AJ, United Kingdom · ladamedepiclondon.co.uk
Mei Ume at the Four Seasons
Four Seasons restaurants, luxury restaurants, Chinese restaurants, Japanese restaurants · meiume.com
Platinum Lace Bar & Gentlemens Club
gentlemens clubs, stripclubs, strip clubs, strippers · 13 Coventry Street, London, United Kingdom · platinumlace.co.uk
Rio Nightclub
nightclubs, lounges · rionightclub.co.uk
Secrets Clubs
london stripclubs · secrets-clubs.co.uk
Slug & Lettuce
bars, restaurants, pubs · slugandlettuce.co.uk
Smithfield Market
farmers markets · smithfieldmarket.com
Spearmint Rhino London
strip clubs, stripclubs, gentlemens clubs, strippers, exotic dancers · spearmintrhino.com
STK London
steakhouses · stksteakhouse.com
Tamesis Dock
floating pubs, pub restaurants, waterfront restaurants · tdock.co.uk
Tobacco Dock
Wapping Ln, St Katharine's & Wapping, London E1W 2SF, UK · tobaccodocklondon.com
TRAMP
private nightclubs, members only clubs, members only nightclubs · 40 Jermyn St, St. James's, London SW1Y 6DN, United Kingdom · tramp.co.uk
Walden Books
bookshops, book stores · waldenbooks.co.uk
Zuma Restaurant London
restaurants · zumarestaurant.com
Airports
Heathrow Airport (LHR) 14 mi to the centre
London, ENG, GB — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 86 airlines (British Airways, American Airlines, Iberia Airlines, Finnair…) · direct flights to 171 destinations incl. New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 86 airlines, 171 direct destinations
- British Airways BA (A320, A319, 777, A321, 747-400, 767…) · 130 routes: Aberdeen, Abu Dhabi, Abuja, Accra, Alma-ata, Amman, Amsterdam, Athens, Atlanta, Austin, Bahrain, Baku, Baltimore, Bangalore, Bangkok, Barcelona, Beijing, Beirut, Belfast, Bergen, Berlin, Bologna, Boston, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Calgary, Cape Town, Chengdu, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dallas-Fort Worth, Delhi, Denver, Dubai, Dublin, Duesseldorf, Edinburgh … +90 more
- American Airlines AA (A320, A319, A321, 777, 747-400, 767…) · 94 routes: Aberdeen*, Abu Dhabi*, Accra*, Amsterdam*, Athens*, Atlanta*, Austin, Bahrain*, Baltimore*, Bangalore*, Barcelona*, Belfast*, Bergen*, Berlin*, Bologna*, Boston*, Brussels*, Bucharest*, Budapest*, Calgary*, Cape Town*, Charlotte, Chicago, Copenhagen*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Delhi*, Denver*, Dubai*, Dublin*, Duesseldorf*, Edinburgh*, Entebbe*, Frankfurt*, Geneva*, Gibraltar*, Glasgow*, Gothenborg*, Hamburg*, Hannover*, Helsinki* … +54 more
- Iberia Airlines IB (777, A320, 747-400, A319, A321, 767…) · 50 routes: Aberdeen*, Abu Dhabi*, Atlanta*, Austin, Bahrain*, Baltimore*, Bangkok*, Barcelona*, Beirut*, Belfast*, Bilbao, Boston*, Budapest*, Calgary*, Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth*, Denver*, Edinburgh*, Glasgow*, Gothenborg*, Houston*, Ibiza, La Coruna, Las Vegas*, Leeds*, Los Angeles*, Madrid, Manchester*, Mexico City*, Miami*, Montreal*, New York*, Newark*, Newcastle*, Oslo*, Palma de Mallorca*, Paris*, Philadelphia*, Phoenix*, Raleigh-durham* … +10 more
- Finnair AY (747-400, 777, 767, A320, 787-8, A321…) · 27 routes: Atlanta*, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Calgary*, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Helsinki, Houston, Las Vegas, Lisbon*, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal*, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Raleigh-durham*, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Stockholm*, Toronto*, Vancouver*, Washington
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (A330-300, A340-600, 747-400, A320, A340-300, 767-400…) · 27 routes: Aberdeen*, Atlanta*, Beijing*, Boston, Chicago, Delhi, Detroit, Dubai, Edinburgh*, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Lagos, Los Angeles, Manchester*, Miami, Minneapolis, Moscow*, Mumbai, New York, Newark, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore*, Tokyo, Tokyo, Washington
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (767-300, 777, A319, A320, 777-300ER, A321…) · 17 routes: Calgary*, Chicago*, Duesseldorf, Edmonton*, Frankfurt, Halifax*, Houston*, Los Angeles*, Montreal*, Munich, Newark*, Ottawa*, San Francisco*, St. John's*, Toronto*, Vancouver*, Washington*
- Delta Air Lines DL (767-400, 76W, A330-300, 747-400, A340-300, A340-600…) · 12 routes: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago*, Detroit, Los Angeles*, Miami*, Minneapolis, New York, Newark*, San Francisco*, Seattle, Washington*
- US Airways US (777-300ER, A330-300, 777, A330-200, 767-300, A319…) · 12 routes: Athens*, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Doha, Johannesburg, Lisbon*, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Raleigh-durham
- Air Berlin AB (A319, A320, A321, 767) · 10 routes: Berlin*, Frankfurt*, Hamburg*, Hannover*, Mulhouse*, Munich*, Paris*, Stuttgart*, Vienna*, Zurich*
- Air Canada AC (767-300, 777-300ER, A330-300, A319, 777-200LR) · 8 routes: Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, St. John's, Toronto, Vancouver
- Transaero Airlines UN (A330-300, A340-600, 737-800, 747-400, 767-300, 737-800…) · 8 routes: Aberdeen, Boston*, Edinburgh, Johannesburg, Los Angeles*, Manchester, Moscow, San Francisco*
- Air France AF (767-400, 76W, 777-200LR, A319, A320, A321) · 7 routes: Atlanta*, Boston*, Detroit, Minneapolis*, New York*, Paris, Seattle
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (76W, 767, 737, 767-400, 777, F70…) · 7 routes: Amsterdam, Atlanta*, Boston*, Detroit*, Minneapolis*, New York*, Seattle*
- United Airlines UA (777, 767-300, 757-200, 787-8) · 6 routes: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington
- Malaysia Airlines MH (777, A320, A321, 380, 767-300) · 5 routes: Dallas-Fort Worth, Helsinki*, Kuala Lumpur, New York, Raleigh-durham
- Scandinavian Airlines System SK (736, 737-800, 737-700, 737-700, 737-800, A320…) · 5 routes: Copenhagen, Gothenborg, Oslo, Stavanger, Stockholm
- Aer Lingus EI (A320, A319) · 4 routes: Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Shannon
- All Nippon Airways NH (A319, A320, A321, A340-300, A340-600, 734…) · 4 routes: Lisbon*, Tokyo, Tokyo, Warsaw*
- Germanwings 4U (A319, A320, CRJ) · 4 routes: Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Stuttgart
- Air India Limited AI (787-8, 777-200, 777-300ER) · 3 routes: Delhi, Mumbai, New York*
- Croatia Airlines OU (A320, A319) · 3 routes: Rijeka, Split, Zagreb
- Pakistan International Airlines PK (777) · 3 routes: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore
- Air Astana KC (757) · 2 routes: Alma-ata, Tselinograd
- Air China CA (A340-600, 777-300) · 2 routes: Beijing, Shanghai*
- Air New Zealand NZ (777-300, 777) · 2 routes: Los Angeles, San Francisco*
- Alitalia AZ (A320, A321, 32S) · 2 routes: Milan, Rome
- Biman Bangladesh Airlines BG (777-200) · 2 routes: Dhaka, Sylhet Osmani
- China Eastern Airlines MU (A330-200, 737, F70) · 2 routes: Amsterdam*, Shanghai
- Egyptair MS (737-800, A330-300) · 2 routes: Cairo, Luxor
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (777-200LR, 787-8) · 2 routes: Addis Ababa, Toronto
- Gulf Air Bahrain GF (A320, A330-200, 777) · 2 routes: Bahrain, Dallas-Fort Worth*
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (777-300, 777) · 2 routes: Tokyo, Tokyo*
- Jet Airways 9W (777-300ER) · 2 routes: Delhi, Mumbai
- Kuwait Airways KU (777, AB6) · 2 routes: Kuwait, New York
- Royal Air Maroc AT (737-800, 737-700) · 2 routes: Casablanca, Tanger
- Saudi Arabian Airlines SV (777, 777-300) · 2 routes: Jeddah, Riyadh
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (A320, A319, A321, A320) · 2 routes: Geneva, Zurich
- Thai Airways International TG (A340-600, 736, 747, 737-700, 737-800) · 2 routes: Bangkok, Stockholm*
- Vueling Airlines VY (A320) · 2 routes: Bilbao, La Coruna
- Aegean Airlines A3 (A320, A321) · 1 route: Athens
- Aeroflot Russian Airlines SU (A320, A321, A330-300) · 1 route: Moscow
- AeroMéxico AM (767-300, 787) · 1 route: Mexico City
- Air Algerie AH (736) · 1 route: Algier
- Air Baltic BT (A319) · 1 route: Milan
- Air Malta KM (A319, A320) · 1 route: Malta
- Air Mauritius MK (A340-300) · 1 route: Plaisance
- Air Serbia JU (A319, 737-300) · 1 route: Belgrade
- Asiana Airlines OZ (777-200LR) · 1 route: Seoul
- Austrian Airlines OS (A320, A321) · 1 route: Vienna*
- Azerbaijan Airlines J2 (767) · 1 route: Baku
- Brussels Airlines SN (A319, AR1) · 1 route: Brussels
- Bulgaria Air FB (A319, A320, Embraer 190) · 1 route: Sofia
- Cathay Pacific CX (777-300ER) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- China Airlines CI (737) · 1 route: Amsterdam
- China Southern Airlines CZ (787) · 1 route: Guangzhou
- Cyprus Airways CY (A320) · 1 route: Larnaca
- El Al Israel Airlines LY (767-300, 777-200) · 1 route: Tel-aviv
- Emirates EK (A380) · 1 route: Dubai
- Etihad Airways EY (345, A340-600, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Abu Dhabi
- EVA Air BR (777-300ER) · 1 route: Bangkok
- Icelandair FI (75W) · 1 route: Keflavik
- Iran Air IR (AB6) · 1 route: Tehran
- Kenya Airways KQ (777-200) · 1 route: Nairobi
- Korean Air KE (777-300ER) · 1 route: Seoul
- Libyan Arab Airlines LN (A320) · 1 route: Tripoli
- LOT Polish Airlines LO (734, Embraer 195) · 1 route: Warsaw
- Middle East Airlines ME (A320, A330-200) · 1 route: Beirut
- Olympic Airlines OA (A321) · 1 route: Athens*
- Oman Air WY (A330-300) · 1 route: Muscat
- Philippine Airlines PR (777-300) · 1 route: Manila
- Qantas QF (A380) · 1 route: Dubai
- Qatar Airways QR (A330-200, A330-300, A340-600, 787-8, 777-300ER, 777-200LR) · 1 route: Doha
- Royal Brunei Airlines BI (787) · 1 route: Dubai
- Royal Jordanian RJ (A321, 330) · 1 route: Amman
- SATA International S4 (A319) · 1 route: Lisbon*
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (A380, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Singapore
- South African Airways SA (A330-200, A340-300) · 1 route: Johannesburg
- SriLankan Airlines UL (A330-200) · 1 route: Colombo
- TAM Brazilian Airlines JJ (777-300) · 1 route: Sao Paulo
- TAP Portugal TP (A319, A320, A321) · 1 route: Lisbon
- Tarom RO (318) · 1 route: Bucharest
- Tunisair TU (A320) · 1 route: Tunis
- Turkish Airlines TK (A321, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Istanbul
- Turkmenistan Airlines T5 (757-200) · 1 route: Ashkhabad
- Uzbekistan Airways HY (757) · 1 route: Tashkent
- World Scale Airlines W3 (A330-200) · 1 route: Lagos*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW) 24 mi to the centre
London, ENG, GB — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 47 airlines (easyJet, British Airways, Transavia France, Norwegian Air Shuttle…) · direct flights to 165 destinations incl. Arrecife, Tenerife, Larnaca, Orlando, Alicante… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 47 airlines, 165 direct destinations
- easyJet U2 (A319, A320) · 101 routes: Aberdeen, Agadir, Ajaccio, Alicante, Almeria, Amsterdam, Antalya, Arrecife, Athens, Barcelona, Bari, Bastia, Belfast, Bergen, Berlin, Bodrum, Bologna, Bordeaux, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Catania, Chania, Cologne, Copenhagen, Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Duesseldorf, Edinburgh, Faro, Fuerteventura, Funchal, Geneva, Gibraltar, Glasgow, Gran Canaria, Hamburg, Heraklion, Hurghada, Ibiza … +61 more
- British Airways BA (734, A319, A320, 777, 737, Dash 8-400) · 43 routes: Algier, Alicante, Amsterdam, Antigua, Arrecife, Barcelona, Bari, Bermuda, Bordeaux, Bridgetown, Cancun, Catania, Dubrovnik, Edinburgh, Faro, Genoa, Glasgow, Hewandorra, Jersey, Kingston, Larnaca, Las Vegas, Malaga, Male, Malta, Marrakech, Naples, Newquai*, Nice, Olbia*, Orlando, Paphos, Pisa, Plaisance, Rome, Salzburg, Tampa, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Tirana … +3 more
- Transavia France TO (737-800, 75W, 787-8) · 43 routes: Agadir, Alicante, Amilcar Cabral, Antalya, Arrecife, Boa Vista, Bodrum, Cancun, Catania, Chania, Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Enfidha, Faro, Fuerteventura, Funchal, Gran Canaria, Heraklion, Hurghada, Ibiza, Izmir, Kerkyra/corfu, Kos, Larnaca, Malaga, Malta, Marrakech, Menorca, Mykonos, Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Plaisance, Preveza, Punta Cana, Rhodos, Sharm El Sheikh, Tenerife, Thessaloniki, Thira … +3 more
- Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (737-800) · 30 routes: Aalborg, Alesund, Alicante, Arrecife, Barcelona, Bergen, Budapest, Catania, Copenhagen, Dubrovnik, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gothenborg, Gran Canaria, Helsinki, Ibiza, Larnaca, Malaga, Nice, Oslo, Palma de Mallorca, Rome, Sandefjord, Split, Stavanger, Stockholm, Tenerife, Thira, Tromso, Trondheim
- Monarch Airlines ZB (A321, 757-200, A330-200) · 22 routes: Alicante, Antalya, Arrecife, Barcelona, Bodrum, Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Enfidha, Faro, Funchal, Heraklion, Hurghada, Larnaca, Malaga, Menorca, Nice, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Sharm El Sheikh, Tenerife, Venice, Villafranca
- Thomsonfly BY (737-800, 75W, 787-8) · 19 routes: Agadir, Amilcar Cabral, Antalya, Arrecife, Cancun, Dalaman, Enfidha, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Hurghada, Larnaca, Marrakech, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Plaisance, Preveza, Rhodos, Sharm El Sheikh, Tenerife
- Iberia Airlines IB (777, A320, A319, 734) · 13 routes: Alicante*, Antigua*, Arrecife*, Barcelona*, Bermuda*, Bridgetown*, Florence, Hewandorra*, Kingston*, Malaga*, Orlando*, Tampa*, Tenerife*
- Thomas Cook Airlines MT (757-200, 757-300, A321, A330-200) · 11 routes: Antalya, Arrecife, Dalaman, Enfidha, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Hurghada, Larnaca, Palma de Mallorca, Sharm El Sheikh, Tenerife
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (747-400, A330-300, 330) · 9 routes: Antigua, Beijing, Bridgetown, Cancun, Havana, Hewandorra, Las Vegas, Montego Bay, Orlando
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 5 routes: Cork, Dublin, Kaunas, Sevilla, Shannon
- Air Transat TS (330, 310) · 4 routes: Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver
- Aer Lingus EI (A319, A320) · 3 routes: Belfast, Connaught, Dublin
- American Airlines AA (777) · 3 routes: Las Vegas*, Orlando*, Tampa*
- Finnair AY (777) · 3 routes: Las Vegas, Orlando, Tampa
- TAP Portugal TP (A319, A320) · 3 routes: Funchal, Lisbon, Porto
- Air Arabia Maroc 3O (A320) · 2 routes: Casablanca, Tanger
- Air One AP (A320) · 2 routes: Catania, Palermo
- Alitalia AZ (A320) · 2 routes: Catania, Palermo
- Condor Flugdienst DE (330, 757) · 2 routes: Arrecife*, Cancun*
- Delta Air Lines DL (747-400) · 2 routes: Las Vegas*, Orlando*
- Germania ST (A319, 737-700) · 2 routes: Erfurt, Pristina
- Meridiana IG (A320, 737) · 2 routes: Naples, Olbia
- Royal Air Maroc AT (737-800) · 2 routes: Casablanca, Marrakech
- SATA International S4 (A319, A320) · 2 routes: Lisbon*, Ponta Delgada
- Transaero Airlines UN (A320, 747-400) · 2 routes: Moscow, Orlando*
- Turkish Airlines TK (737-800, A321, 737-900) · 2 routes: Istanbul, Istanbul
- Vueling Airlines VY (A319, A320) · 2 routes: Barcelona, Florence
- Air Baltic BT (735, 73C) · 1 route: Riga
- Air Berlin AB (734) · 1 route: Salzburg*
- Air China CA (330) · 1 route: Beijing
- Air Europa UX (737-800) · 1 route: Madrid
- Air Malta KM (A319, A320) · 1 route: Malta
- Atlant-Soyuz Airlines 3G (A319) · 1 route: Freetown
- Aurigny Air Services GR (Embraer 195, ATR 72) · 1 route: Guernsey
- Belavia Belarusian Airlines B2 (735, Embraer 175) · 1 route: Minsk 2
- bmibaby WW (A320) · 1 route: Keflavik
- Caribbean Airlines BW (767) · 1 route: Port-of-spain
- Croatia Airlines OU (A320) · 1 route: Split
- Emirates EK (A380, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- Flybe BE (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Newquai
- Icelandair FI (75W) · 1 route: Keflavik
- Maastricht Airlines W2 (A320) · 1 route: Keflavik*
- Montenegro Airlines YM (Fokker 100) · 1 route: Tivat
- Nas Air XY (330) · 1 route: Jeddah
- Qantas QF (A380, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai*
- TransHolding System YO (A320) · 1 route: Hassi Messaoud*
- Ukraine International Airlines PS (735, 73N, 737-800, Embraer 190) · 1 route: Kiev
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
London City Airport (LCY) 8.1 mi to the centre
London, ENG, GB — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 12 airlines (British Airways, Air France, CityJet, Iberia Airlines…) · direct flights to 35 destinations incl. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Florence, Frankfurt, Zurich… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 12 airlines, 35 direct destinations
- British Airways BA (Embraer 190, Embraer 170, S20, AR8, D38) · 20 routes: Aberdeen*, Amsterdam*, Billund*, Duesseldorf, Edinburgh*, Florence, Frankfurt*, Glasgow*, Granada, Ibiza*, Isle Of Man*, Madrid*, Malaga*, Menorca*, Nice*, Palma de Mallorca*, Rotterdam*, Stockholm*, Venice*, Zurich*
- Air France AF (AR8, F50, Embraer 190) · 13 routes: Amsterdam*, Antwerp*, Brest*, Brive*, Deauville*, Dresden*, Dublin*, Florence*, Milan, Nantes*, Paris, Rome*, Rotterdam
- CityJet WX (AR8, F50) · 11 routes: Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brest, Brive, Deauville, Dresden, Dublin, Florence, Nantes, Paris, Rotterdam
- Iberia Airlines IB (Embraer 190, Embraer 170) · 5 routes: Granada*, Ibiza*, Madrid*, Malaga*, Palma de Mallorca*
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (AR1) · 3 routes: Geneva*, Mulhouse*, Zurich*
- Air Berlin AB (Embraer 170, Embraer 190, AR8) · 2 routes: Frankfurt*, Zurich*
- Alitalia AZ (Embraer 190) · 2 routes: Milan, Rome
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (ARJ, F50) · 2 routes: Amsterdam*, Rotterdam*
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (Embraer 190) · 1 route: Frankfurt*
- Luxair LG (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Luxemburg
- Skynet Airlines SI (ATR 42, AT4) · 1 route: Jersey
- SkyWork Airlines SX (D38) · 1 route: Bern
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
London Southend Airport (SEN) 36 mi to the centre
Essex, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6YF, UK — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 2 airlines (easyJet, Aer Lingus) · direct flights to 14 destinations incl. Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 14 direct destinations
- easyJet U2 (A319) · 13 routes: Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Edinburgh, Faro, Geneva, Ibiza, Jersey, Krakow, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Venice
- Aer Lingus EI (AT4, ATR 72) · 1 route: Dublin*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
London Biggin Hill Airport (BQH) 13 mi to the centre
London, ENG, GB — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Regional airports
Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.
London Stansted Airport (STN) 31 mi to the centre
London, Essex, ENG, GB — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 10 airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Transavia France, Germanwings…) · direct flights to 153 destinations incl. Palma de Mallorca, Arrecife, Ibiza, Tenerife, Dalaman… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 31 mi from London · Ryanair, easyJet, Transavia France · Getting around Bishop's Stortford, UK →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 10 airlines, 153 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 124 routes: Aarhus, Alghero, Alicante, Almeria, Ancona, Arrecife, Athens, Barcelona, Bari, Bergamo, Bergerac, Berlin, Biarritz-bayonne, Billund, Bologna, Bordeaux, Bratislava, Bremen, Brindisi, Brive, Brno, Bucharest, Budapest, Bydgoszcz, Carcassonne, Chania, Comiso, Connaught, Cork, Dinard, Dortmund, Dublin, Eindhoven, Faro, Fes, Fuerteventura, Gdansk, Genoa, Gerona, Gothenborg … +84 more
- easyJet U2 (A319, A320) · 23 routes: Amsterdam, Aviles, Belfast, Bilbao, Bodrum, Cagliari, Copenhagen, Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ibiza, Ljubljana, Lyon, Malaga, Marrakech, Munich, Naples, Nice, Palma de Mallorca, Prague, Sharm El Sheikh, Sofia
- Transavia France TO (737-800) · 13 routes: Arrecife, Dalaman, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Kos, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Rhodos, Sharm El Sheikh, Tenerife
- Germanwings 4U (A319) · 3 routes: Cologne, Hannover, Stuttgart
- Thomsonfly BY (737-800) · 3 routes: Arrecife, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife
- Aurigny Air Services GR (ATR 72) · 2 routes: Guernsey, Jersey
- Pegasus Airlines PC (737-800) · 2 routes: Istanbul, Izmir
- Air Berlin AB (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Duesseldorf
- Air Moldova 9U (A320, Embraer 190) · 1 route: Chisinau
- Flybe BE (D38) · 1 route: Dundee
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
London Luton Airport (LTN) 28 mi to the centre
Airport Way, Luton LU2 9LY — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 8 airlines (easyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Monarch Airlines…) · direct flights to 85 destinations incl. Arrecife, Faro, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Sharm El Sheikh… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 28 mi from London · easyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair · Getting around Luton-Dunstable, United Kingdom →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 8 airlines, 85 direct destinations
- easyJet U2 (A319, A320) · 34 routes: Aberdeen, Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Belfast, Berlin, Bordeaux, Budapest, Catania, Dortmund, Edinburgh, Faro, Geneva, Glasgow, Hamburg, Heraklion, Ibiza, Inverness, Keflavik, Kerkyra/corfu, Lisbon, Madrid, Malaga, Milano, Montpellier, Nice, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Paris, Pisa, Sharm El Sheikh, Tel-aviv, Venice, Zurich
- Wizz Air W6 (A320) · 24 routes: Belgrade, Bourgas, Bucharest, Budapest, Cluj-napoca, Craiova, Debrecen, Gdansk, Katowice, Kiev, Kosice, Ljubljana, Lublin, Poznan, Prague, Riga, Skopje, Sofia, Timisoara, Tirgu Mures, Varna, Vilnius, Warsaw, Wroclaw
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 18 routes: Alghero, Arrecife, Beziers, Bratislava, Connaught, Dublin, Fuerteventura, Gerona, Gran Canaria, Kaunas, Kerry, Malta, Marrakech, Murcia, Nimes, Reus, Rzeszow, Tenerife
- Monarch Airlines ZB (A320, A321) · 15 routes: Alicante, Antalya, Arrecife, Bodrum, Dalaman, Faro, Gibraltar, Larnaca, Malaga, Menorca, Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Rome, Sharm El Sheikh, Tenerife
- Transavia France TO (737-800, 75W) · 14 routes: Antalya, Arrecife, Dalaman, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Larnaca, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Reus, Sharm El Sheikh, Tenerife
- Atlasjet KK (A320) · 1 route: Istanbul
- El Al Israel Airlines LY (737-800) · 1 route: Tel-aviv
- Tarom RO (737-300) · 1 route: Iasi
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Southampton Airport (SOU) 65 mi to the centre
Southampton SO18 2NL, UK — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 5 airlines (Flybe, Air France, Skynet Airlines, Aurigny Air Services…) · direct flights to 23 destinations incl. Bergerac, Brest, Guernsey, Jersey, La Rochelle… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 65 mi from London · Flybe, Air France, Skynet Airlines · Getting around Southampton, United Kingdom →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 5 airlines, 23 direct destinations
- Flybe BE (Dash 8-400, Embraer 195, Embraer 175) · 21 routes: Alicante, Amsterdam, Belfast, Bergerac, Brest, Dublin, Edinburgh, Faro, Glasgow, Guernsey, Jersey, La Rochelle, Limoges, Malaga, Manchester, Nantes, Newcastle, Nice, Palma de Mallorca, Paris, Rennes
- Air France AF (Dash 8-400, Embraer 195) · 8 routes: Bergerac*, Brest*, La Rochelle*, Limoges*, Nantes*, Nice*, Paris*, Rennes*
- Skynet Airlines SI (ATR 72, J32) · 2 routes: Guernsey, Jersey
- Aurigny Air Services GR (BNT) · 1 route: Alderney
- Eastern Airways T3 (J41) · 1 route: Leeds
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Bournemouth Airport (BOH) 89 mi to the centre
Bournemouth, ENG, GB — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 3 airlines (Ryanair, Transavia France, Aer Lingus) · direct flights to 17 destinations incl. Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Alicante, Arrecife, Carcassonne… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 89 mi from London · Ryanair, Transavia France, Aer Lingus · Getting around Bournemouth-Poole, United Kingdom →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 17 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 16 routes: Alicante, Arrecife, Carcassonne, Chania, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gerona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Malaga, Malta, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Pisa, Rhodos, Tenerife
- Transavia France TO (737-800) · 2 routes: Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife
- Aer Lingus EI (AT4) · 1 route: Dublin*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Millbank Millennium Pier
Ferry terminal · 0.4 mi from the centre
Westminster Pier
Ferry terminal · 0.6 mi from the centre
St. George Wharf
Ferry terminal · 0.6 mi from the centre · Thames Clippers
London Eye - Waterloo Pier
Ferry terminal · 0.8 mi from the centre
Battersea Power Station Pier
Ferry terminal · 0.9 mi from the centre
Embankment
Ferry terminal · 1 mi from the centre
River Bus 2: Tower => Battersea Power Station
Ferry route · London River Services
River Bus 2: Battersea Power Station => Tower
Ferry route · Thames Clippers
River Bus 6: Putney => Blackfriars
Ferry route · Thames Clippers
River Bus 6: Blackfriars => Putney
Ferry route · Thames Clippers
RB1
Ferry route · Uber Boat Thames Clippers
River Tours: Westminster/St. Katharine’s circular cruise
Ferry route · Circular Cruise Westminster
RB6
Ferry route
River Bus 1: Battersea Power Station => North Greenwich
Ferry route · Thames Clippers
Local transit
TfL
Tube, bus, rail, river · The Underground, buses, Overground, DLR, trams and river boats. · Fares: Oyster or contactless tap · Airport: Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line from H
Trains & rail
Elizabeth line
Rail operator
Eurostar
Rail operator
Gatwick Express
Rail operator
Heathrow Express
Rail operator
Stansted Express
Rail operator
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Rail operator
Eurostar → Paris
High-speed trains London–Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam through the Channel Tunnel. · Paris guide →
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express → Venice (Venezia), Italy
Belmond's restored 1920s sleeper between London, Paris and Venice. · Venice (Venezia), Italy guide →
Coaches & shuttles
Megabus UK → Edinburgh, Scotland
Overnight and daytime coaches, about nine hours; the train takes four and a half. · Edinburgh, Scotland guide →
Oxford Tube → Oxford, England
Every 10 to 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, from Victoria; about 100 minutes. · Oxford, England guide →
National Express
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Air Charter Service
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
PrivateFly
Broker, marketplace · Operator network worldwide · Online charter marketplace, part of Directional Aviation; instant quotes.
Victor
Marketplace · Operator network · Transparent on-demand jet charter marketplace showing the operator and tail.
ExecuJet
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Flexjet
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Tours & experiences
London Eye River Cruise
Boat Tour
Living Here
Getting about
- Tap a contactless card or phone on the Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR, buses and trams; fares cap daily and weekly, so there is no need for a separate travelcard. Zones 1–2 cover almost everything a visitor wants.
- Buses are cheaper than the Tube, run all night on key routes, and are the best way to see the city. Walking between central stops is often faster than the Tube for short hops.
- Heathrow (Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line, 40–60 min), Gatwick (train to Victoria, 30 min), Stansted and Luton serve the city. St Pancras has the Eurostar to Paris in two and a quarter hours; the other mainline termini reach the whole country.
- Do not drive in the centre — the congestion and ultra-low-emission charges plus parking make it pointless. Black cabs are hailed on the street; rideshare is common.
Health
- The NHS provides free care at the point of use for residents; the great teaching hospitals — St Thomas', Guy's, UCLH, Barts, the Royal London, King's — are among the best in the world. Emergency departments are busy; waits are long for minor problems.
- Dial 999 or 112 for emergencies, 111 for urgent advice. Pharmacies (Boots and independents) are everywhere and pharmacists can prescribe for common conditions.
- Visitors from outside the UK should carry insurance; emergency care is given regardless of status, but follow-up is charged.
Work & study
- UCL, Imperial, King's, the LSE and dozens more make London one of the largest student cities in the world; the University of London federation alone is vast.
- Finance in the City and Canary Wharf, law in the Temple, media and advertising in Soho and Fitzrovia, tech in Shoreditch and King's Cross, government in Westminster, and the largest creative economy in Europe.
- Salaries are high and rents higher; London weighting on pay is a recognised thing, and the commute from the outer zones is the standard compromise.
Money & manners
- Pounds sterling; contactless is near-universal and cash increasingly optional. Tip 10–12.5% in restaurants if service is not already added; do not tip in pubs.
- Queue. Stand on the right on escalators. Say sorry when someone bumps into you — it is a reflex, not an apology. Pubs are the social institution; last orders are around eleven.
- The museums — British Museum, National Gallery, the Tates, the V&A, Natural History — are free, which remains the best deal in any capital on earth.