In short
Spend time in London's free museums (the British Museum, the National Gallery and Tate Modern), see Westminster and the Tower of London, and walk the South Bank. Eat at Borough Market, explore Camden and Notting Hill, take a boat to Greenwich, and see a West End show. Pay for transport by tapping a contactless card or phone, and plan your days by area: London is big.
| Area | Best for | Don't miss |
|---|---|---|
| Westminster | The icons | Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace |
| South Bank | A riverside walk | Tate Modern, Borough Market, the London Eye |
| The City & Tower | History | Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Paul's |
| West End | Museums and shows | British Museum, National Gallery, theaters |
| North & west | Markets and neighborhoods | Camden, Notting Hill, Primrose Hill |
Before you go
London is a collection of villages. Group each day around one or two areas and use the Tube or buses in between.
- Tap in and out with a contactless card or phone. Fares are capped daily, so there's no need for paper tickets.
- Many of the biggest museums are free. Some ask you to book a free timed slot, and special exhibitions cost extra.
- Check market days: Portobello Road is busiest on Saturdays, and Columbia Road's flower market is on Sundays.
1The British Museum
The Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and Egyptian mummies under one glass-roofed courtyard, all free. Pick a few galleries rather than trying to see it all.
2Westminster
Walk from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament past Westminster Abbey, through St James's Park to Buckingham Palace. Check the Changing of the Guard schedule if you want to see it.
3The Tower of London and Tower Bridge
Nearly a thousand years of history, the Crown Jewels and the Yeoman Warders' tours. Afterwards, walk across Tower Bridge for the classic view.
4The South Bank walk
From the London Eye to Tower Bridge, the river path passes the Southbank Centre, street food, book stalls under Waterloo Bridge, Shakespeare's Globe and Tate Modern. It's London's best free walk.
5Tate Modern and the National Gallery
Tate Modern fills a former power station with modern art; its free viewing level looks over St Paul's. The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square has Van Gogh's Sunflowers and centuries of European painting, also free.
6Borough Market
London's famous food market sits under the railway arches by London Bridge. Graze through cheese, pies, oysters and coffee, ideally on a weekday morning.
7Camden
Markets, music venues, street food and canal boats. Walk along Regent's Canal to Little Venice or up to Primrose Hill for a view of the skyline.
8Notting Hill
Pastel houses, Portobello Road's antique and food stalls, and quiet mews streets. Saturday is market day.
9A West End show
London's theater district runs every night. Same-day discount booths and day seats make great shows easier to get than you'd think.
10Greenwich
Take a riverboat east to Greenwich for the Royal Observatory, the prime meridian, the Cutty Sark and a park view back to the city.
11Shoreditch and Brick Lane
Street art, vintage shops, bagels open around the clock, and Columbia Road's flower market on Sunday mornings. It's a good area for a night out, too.
12Hyde Park and Kensington
Rent a bike or row a boat on the Serpentine, then visit the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A, three more free museums side by side.
Make it your own
Save the museums, markets and pubs you want to see to a list in Pingo. Share it with friends so everyone can add their picks, then create a trip to London and Plan with AI builds days by area, with the South Bank in one day and Camden in another.
Meet people in London
London is easy to visit alone and even easier with company. Pingo shows travelers in London on the same dates, with the interests you share, so you can say hi, meet for a pint or plan a day together. Or join a local event.
