City guide · the United Kingdom
224 places we picked ourselves and checked against the official sites. As of 21 Oct 2026. In the Traceflap app they become a plan from the moment you arrive.
Links marked * are partner links: if you book there we earn a commission, your price stays the same.
Daily 10 am–5.50 pm, last entry 5.30 pm
Natural history museum in a Romanesque terracotta cathedral, with a blue whale skeleton in the Hintze Hall.
Free entry. A free timed ticket online guarantees entry. Queues form at weekends and in the school holidays.
Daily 10 am–5.45 pm, Fridays until 10 pm
The world's largest museum of design and the decorative arts, from fashion and jewellery to plaster casts.
Free, only special exhibitions charge. Open until 10 pm on Fridays. The courtyard garden is a good place for a break.
Daily 10 am–6 pm, last entry 5.15 pm
Museum of technology from the steam engine to the Apollo capsule, with plenty of hands-on exhibits.
Free with a timed ticket. Wonderlab costs extra and is cheaper in advance. From 24 to 30 October it opens at 9 am.
Daily 10 am–6 pm, Fri until 9 pm; closed 24–26 Dec and 1 Jan.
Van Gogh, Turner and Velázquez for free, right on Trafalgar Square.
Free. A free ticket gets you through the queue faster; quieter on Fridays until 9 pm.
Mon–Sat from 8.30 am (Wed from 10 am), last entry usually 4 pm; Sun services only
Wren's dome from inside and on top: the Whispering Gallery and a panorama over the City.
The dome galleries are included in the ticket (£27). No sightseeing on Sundays; services are free.
Sightseeing usually 9.30 am–3.30 pm, check the daily calendar; Sun services only
Coronation church with the graves of Newton and Darwin and Poets' Corner.
Book a time slot in advance. The daily services are free (Great West Door).
Pedestrian gates 5 am–12 midnight
The largest park in the centre, with the Serpentine lake, Speakers' Corner and broad avenues.
Hire a rowing boat on the lake or walk right across to Kensington Gardens. Good after shopping on Oxford Street.
Daily 10 am–7 pm, also on public holidays
Rambling market by the lock with street food, vintage clothes and crafts.
Weekday mornings are much quieter than weekends. The food stalls in Hawley Wharf are open until 11 pm.
Daily 10 am–6 pm, last entry 5.30 pm
British art since 1500, with the world's largest Turner collection in the Clore Gallery.
The collection is free. The Millbank entrance is closed until 2027; you go in through the Manton entrance on Atterbury Street. Usually quieter than Tate Modern.
Daily 10 am–5 pm
Townhouse full of Old Masters, armour and French furniture, including Fragonard's ‘The Swing’.
Free. Weekday mornings are pleasantly quiet. The café in the glazed courtyard is good for a break.
Tours and performances only, times in the programme
Reconstruction of Shakespeare's open-air round theatre in oak, right on the Thames.
The tour costs £31 and lasts around 90 minutes. Advance booking only. Standing tickets for performances are much cheaper.
Daily 10 am–6 pm, last entry 5.15 pm
Manet's ‘Bar aux Folies-Bergère’ and plenty of Impressionism in Somerset House.
Card only, no cash. Tickets online or at the desk, last entry 5.15 pm.
Tue–Sun 10 am–6 pm, closed Mon
Museum about medicine, the body and being human, with curious objects and a lovely reading room.
Free, closed Mondays. In the Reading Room on the 2nd floor you can read and rest on the sofas.
Tue–Sun 10 am–5 pm, closed Mon
Living rooms from 400 years in 18th-century almshouses in Hoxton, with gardens from every era.
Free, no booking needed. Closed Mondays except bank holidays. Combines well with a wander through Shoreditch.
Sundays only, approx. 8 am–3 pm
Flower market on Sundays only; the whole street fills with plants, traders' cries and little shops.
Come before 9 am; later it gets very crowded. Prices drop around 2 pm. Combine with Brick Lane, 15 minutes away.
Daily, Thu antiques from 8 am
Covered Victorian market hall with fashion, design and food stalls, whatever the weather.
Thursday is antiques day from 8 am. A good choice in the rain; Brick Lane is right next door.
Tue–Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun 11 am–5 pm, closed Mon
The story of London's first foundling hospital, with works by Hogarth and Handel memorabilia.
Online £13.50, at the desk £14.50. Closed Mondays. The little tokens left by the mothers are the most moving part.
Daily 10 am–5.30 pm
Covered market in the centre of Greenwich with crafts, bric-a-brac and lots of food stalls.
Good for lunch before the climb up through Greenwich Park. Which stalls are there varies by day.
Thu–Sun 10.30 am–5 pm, last entry 4.15 pm
Europe's oldest surviving operating theatre, from 1822, hidden in the roof space of a church.
Adults £10. Open Thu–Sun only. A narrow spiral staircase leads to the entrance; it is not step-free.
Some pedestrian gates 5 am–12 midnight
Small royal park between Buckingham Palace and Whitehall, with a lake and pelicans.
From the bridge over the lake you see the palace in one direction and Whitehall in the other. The pelicans often sit on the benches.
Daily 7.30 am–7 pm
Catholic cathedral in Byzantine style in red and white brick, with an interior full of mosaics.
Entry is free. The lift up the bell tower costs extra; price and hours unverified. Only 5 minutes on foot from Victoria station.
Hours set week by week; week from 19 Oct: Mon 8.30 am–5 pm, Tue 12.30–5 pm, Wed until 7.30 pm, Sun until 8 pm
Light-filled church on Trafalgar Square, with a café in the vaulted crypt below.
Free. The café in the crypt is a good stop even when it rains.
Daily from 10 am, closing time depends on the season (unverified)
Botanic garden with Victorian glasshouses and a treetop walkway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Allow half a day. In the rain the Palm House and Temperate House are worth it. Tickets slightly cheaper online.
Winter: Tue–Sat from 9 am, Sun/Mon from 10 am, last entry 4.30 pm
Norman fortress on the Thames with the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and the Yeoman Warders.
Adults around £38. Head straight to the Crown Jewels at opening time; long queues form later. Book online.
Daily 10 am–5 pm, Fri until 8.30 pm
The Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon sculptures. Ideal for a rainy day.
Collection free, special exhibitions charge. Fridays until 8.30 pm with free time slots.
Daily 9.30 am–6 pm (Fri/Sat from 9 am), last entry 5 pm
Bunker beneath Whitehall preserved in its original state, from which Churchill directed the Second World War.
Adults £34. Book a time slot online beforehand, otherwise you wait a long time. Open from 9 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Daily 10 am–6 pm, last entry 5 pm
Second World War cruiser moored in front of Tower Bridge. You can explore it across nine decks.
Adults £26.80 without donation. Cheaper online. In winter it may close at 5 pm. You need good shoes for the steep ladders.
Park 6 am–6.30 pm (pedestrian gates, longer in summer); palace usually 10 am–6 pm, last entry 5 pm, unverified
17th-century royal residence with state rooms and fashion exhibitions, set in the sprawling park with the Round Pond and the Albert Memorial.
The gardens are free; for the palace (approx. £25, cheaper online) book a time slot. The Queen's State Apartments are closed until spring 2027.
Hours vary by day, at weekends and in holidays often 9 am–8 pm; last entry around 2 hours before closing
The famous waxworks on Marylebone Road with royals, film stars and sports stars to photograph up close.
Book online with a time slot; it is much cheaper than at the desk (from approx. £27 instead of around £40). Weekday mornings are quietest.
Mon–Sat, antiques mainly Saturday; closed Sundays
Long market street in Notting Hill, antiques on Saturdays, otherwise fruit and everyday goods.
Saturday is the big day; come early in the morning. The market is closed on Sundays. Start at Notting Hill Gate tube station.
Daily 10 am–6 pm, last entry 5 pm
Buses, trams and Tube carriages from 200 years in the old flower market hall of Covent Garden.
The adult ticket costs £27 and is valid for a year. Children are free but need a timed ticket. The shop can be visited without a ticket.
From 5 am until dusk (unverified)
Well-kept park with the Queen Mary's Gardens rose garden, a lake and access to Primrose Hill.
Thousands of roses bloom in the rose garden in June. Cross the road to the north and you are straight onto Primrose Hill.
Towpath walkable at any time
Canal-side walk from Little Venice past houseboats and the zoo to Camden Lock.
About 4 km, flat and almost free of roads. If you would rather not walk, take the waterbus between Little Venice and Camden.
Main market Sundays approx. 10 am–5 pm, some halls also Sat
Sunday market around the old Truman Brewery with vintage, street food and street art.
On Sundays combine it with Columbia Road: flowers first, then Brick Lane. On weekdays only the shops and curry houses.
Daily 9.30 am–6 pm, last entry 5 pm
Victorian bascule bridge, with glass-floored walkways above and the old steam engines below.
Crossing the bridge itself costs nothing. The exhibition charges admission, bookable up to 6 weeks ahead. Lift times are on the website.
Wed–Mon 10 am–5.30 pm, last entry 4.30 pm, closed Tue
Studio house of the painter Frederic Leighton with a golden tiled Arab Hall and a mosaic.
Closed Tuesdays. Tickets online. A hidden gem in Holland Park, good to combine with the Design Museum.
Wed–Sun 10 am–5 pm, last entry 4 pm
The house where Dickens wrote ‘Oliver Twist’, furnished as in his day.
Adults £14. Closed Monday and Tuesday. In December there are longer opening hours and Christmas readings.
Wed–Sun 10 am–5 pm, last entry 4.30 pm; closed Mon/Tue
An architect's house crammed with mirrors, skylit domes and an Egyptian sarcophagus.
Free, no booking needed. Little space, so often a wait. Closed Mon and Tue.
From 7 am until dusk (unverified)
Big public park in the east with lakes, a pagoda and a lakeside café, popular with locals.
On Sundays combine it with Columbia Road or Broadway Market. Along the canal you can walk on towards Hackney.
Booked time slots only, see calendar
Huguenot house in Spitalfields, arranged like a living still life from the 18th century.
Timed tickets only, often sold out. The Silent Visit costs around £16, more in the evening by candlelight. No talking inside the house.
Tue–Sat 10 am–5 pm, last entry 4 pm
Anatomical collection of the surgeon John Hunter on Lincoln's Inn Fields, not for the faint-hearted.
Free, a timed ticket is recommended. Closed Sunday and Monday. Close to the Soane Museum.
Usually daily, check regular hours on the website
The City's municipal art collection. In the basement lie the remains of London's Roman amphitheatre.
Free. Tours Tue–Sun at 12.15 and 1.15 pm. Closed on some days, e.g. 16 November and 7 December.
From outside at any time; State Rooms in summer only
The monarch's London residence. A classic from outside and at the Changing of the Guard.
Changing of the Guard usually at 11 am, but not daily and often cancelled in rain. Check the Household Division calendar and be there 30 minutes early.
From 7.30 am until 30 min before dusk (unverified)
Japanese garden with a waterfall, koi pond and free-roaming peacocks in Holland Park.
In autumn the maples turn red. Combines well with Notting Hill, about 15 minutes on foot.
Mon–Sat 9 am–6 pm, Sun 8.30 am–5 pm
London's oldest Gothic church, right next to Borough Market, with a Shakespeare memorial.
Enter quietly during services. Best combined with Borough Market and a walk along the river.
Mon–Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun between services
Norman church of 1123 with a dark, atmospheric interior, well known as a film location.
There is an admission charge; the amount is unverified. On Sundays open only between services. You enter the church through a half-timbered gatehouse on Smithfield.
Variable, usually weekdays approx. 10 am–4 pm (unverified)
Round 12th-century Templar church, hidden among the lawyers' courtyards.
£5. Hours vary, check the website beforehand.
Exterior always; tours inside only on Saturdays and during recesses, dates on tickets.parliament.uk
The neo-Gothic Palace of Westminster with the Elizabeth Tower clock tower, in which Big Ben strikes – London's landmark on the Thames.
Outside at any time; the best view is from Westminster Bridge or the south bank. Inside by guided tour only (around 90 minutes, approx. £34) on Saturdays and during recesses usually Tue–Sat; the Big Ben tower tour (334 steps, ages 11 and over) is booked separately and sells out fast.
Open in daytime, approx. 8 am until evening (unverified)
Bombed-out shell of a church, now home to a small garden, in among the office towers.
Five minutes from the Sky Garden, ideal as a quiet stop before or after. Emptiest early in the day.
Open at all times
Central square with Nelson's Column, the lions and the Fourth Plinth for changing artworks.
Free and always open. From the terrace in front of the National Gallery you look across the square to Big Ben.
Open in daytime (roughly 8 am until evening), unverified
Small park with the Watts Memorial: ceramic plaques honour people who died saving others.
Free and a hidden gem, only a few steps from St Paul's. At lunchtime lots of office workers sit here.
Open at all times
Tunnel beneath Waterloo station where graffiti is allowed. The walls change almost daily.
Free and always open. By day you often see artists at work. The entrance is on York Road, near the London Eye.
Walkable at any time
Slender steel footbridge between St Paul's Cathedral and Tate Modern, with open views along the Thames.
Loveliest walked from south to north: the dome of St Paul's lines up exactly on the axis. Combine with Tate Modern (free).
Walkable at any time
The bridge at the city's oldest Thames crossing, today a plain structure of 1973, with the best view of Tower Bridge downstream.
Not to be confused with Tower Bridge. Combines well with Borough Market and Southwark Cathedral right at the south end.
Hours change daily; on 21 Oct: 11 am–6 pm
30 minutes in a glass capsule above the Thames, with far-reaching views on clear days.
Online from £29, on the day from £39. Booking a time slot in advance saves money and queuing.
Free access Mon–Fri 10 am–6 pm, Sat/Sun 11 am–9 pm
Glass dome with a garden at the top of the ‘Walkie-Talkie’, with views over the Thames, St Paul's and Tower Bridge.
Free time slots are released up to three weeks ahead. Without a ticket only if there is space; on weekdays no entry without a ticket after 5 pm.
Mon–Fri 10 am–6 pm, Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun 10 am–4 pm
Europe's highest free viewpoint, on floor 58 of 22 Bishopsgate, with a 360-degree view over the City.
Book a free timed ticket online and bring the QR code. In winter the sunset falls within opening hours.
Pedestrian gates 6 am–7 pm
From the hill by the Royal Observatory you look across the Queen's House and the Thames to Canary Wharf.
Arrive by boat from Westminster and take in the Prime Meridian at the top. The pedestrian gates close at 7 pm.
Sun–Thu 10 am–5 pm, Fri/Sat 10 am–9 pm
Wraparound terrace above the Thames with views of St Paul's.
Free. Fri and Sat until 9 pm, good for sunset.
Winter (Oct–Mar) Mon–Fri 10 am–6.30 pm, Sat/Sun 10 am–5 pm; summer Mon–Fri until 9 pm
Open-air roof garden on 120 Fenchurch Street, quieter than the Sky Garden, with views of the Tower and the Shard.
Usually no booking needed, security check downstairs. Closed on public holidays; at weekends it shuts as early as 5 pm.
Always accessible
From the middle of the bridge: Westminster and the London Eye to the west, the City to the east.
Free, around the clock. Stand on the west side for sunset.
Hours vary by day, check online beforehand
Paid viewing platform at the very top of Britain's tallest building, partly open to the sky.
Cheaper online in advance than at the desk. Hardly worth it in cloud, so check the weather in the morning. Children under 4 free.
Heath freely accessible (24 h unverified)
Lookout hill on Hampstead Heath; the city lies before you like a model.
10 minutes uphill from Gospel Oak Overground. Combines well with Kenwood House or a swim in the Ponds.
Park and terrace freely accessible (unverified)
Victorian palace on a hill in the north; the terrace in front shows the whole of London.
Far from the centre, but hardly any crowds. Train from King's Cross to Alexandra Palace, then 10 minutes through the park.
Hill freely accessible (night-time hours unverified)
Grassy hill north of Regent's Park with an open view of the skyline, popular in the evening.
Bring a picnic and come for sunset. Afterwards it is five minutes to the cafés on Regent's Park Road.
Unverified: roughly 6 am–12 midnight
Roof terrace at eye level with the dome of St Paul's, no admission charge.
Free. May close at short notice in bad weather.
Mon/Tue 7 am–10 pm, Wed–Fri 7 am–11 pm, Sat 8 am–11 pm, Sun 8 am–10 pm
Breakfast in the style of a Viennese grand café beneath a high vaulted ceiling.
Breakfast weekdays 7–11.30 am, weekends from 8 am. Booking recommended, some tables walk-in.
Mon 7 am–10 pm, Tue–Fri 7 am–10.30 pm, Sat 8 am–10.30 pm, Sun 11 am–9 pm
Viennese-style grand café on the Aldwych; breakfast with egg dishes, pastries and coffee.
Open from 7 am on weekdays, ideal before a day of theatre or museums; Sundays only from 11 am.
Mon 7.30 am–9.30 pm, Tue–Fri 7.30 am–10 pm, Sat/Sun 9 am–10 pm (last orders)
Viennese coffee house on Marylebone High Street; breakfast with Bircher muesli, eggs and strudel.
From 7.30 am on weekdays; breakfast is served into the evening, and a coffee with strudel works without booking.
Mon–Fri 8 am–10 pm, Sat 9 am–10 pm, Sun 9 am–4 pm
Deli-restaurant of the well-known chef; breakfast, colourful salads at lunchtime and cakes from the counter.
Hot breakfast only until 11.45 am (weekends 11.30 am); book a table via SevenRooms, Sundays only until 4 pm.
Mon–Fri 8 am–5 pm, Sat/Sun 9 am–5 pm (kitchen until 4 pm)
Australian café in a side street; brunch with corn fritters, eggs and flat whites.
The kitchen closes as early as 4 pm; bookable online via OpenTable, worth doing at the weekend.
Daily 7 am–4 am
Espresso and pizza until 4 in the morning in Soho, family-run since 1949.
No bookings. Good after the theatre or after a late arrival.
Mon–Fri 7.30 am–11 pm, Sat 9 am–11 pm, Sun 9 am–5 pm (unverified)
Relaxed brasserie café in Fitzrovia; breakfast and brunch with pancakes, eggs and avocado.
Brunch at the weekend; check the hours on riding.house beforehand, as third-party listings disagree.
Mon 8 am–9.30 pm, Tue/Wed 8 am–10 pm, Thu/Fri 8 am–10.30 pm, Sat 9 am–10.30 pm, Sun 9 am–4 pm
All-day restaurant with its own roastery; brunch with creative egg dishes and good coffee.
Weekend brunch is popular, book online; outside, Exmouth Market tempts with street-food stalls.
Mon–Sat 7 am–10.30 pm, Sun 8 am–9.30 pm (last orders)
Bright Australian-style café; famous for the ricotta hotcakes with honeycomb butter.
Bookings only from 5 pm, walk-ins only during the day; come early, a queue forms at the weekend.
Mon–Sat 8 am–3 pm, closed Sun
Italian-run workers' café since 1900 with marquetry panelling; order a full English or pasta.
Only until 3 pm and closed Sundays; small room, you often share a table. In Bethnal Green, 10 minutes from Shoreditch.
Daily 10 am–10 pm
Udon bar with hand-made noodles; Japanese breakfast in the morning, udon hot or cold at lunchtime.
Walk-in only; the English breakfast udon with bacon, egg and shiitake is the house speciality.
Mon–Fri 7.30 am–4.30 pm, Sat 8 am–5 pm, Sun 9 am–5 pm
Pioneer of London's speciality coffee scene on Leather Lane; filter coffee or flat white.
From 7.30 am on weekdays; at lunchtime combine it with the street food of Leather Lane Market right outside the door.
Mon–Sat 8 am–7 pm, closed Sun
Small roastery bar in Covent Garden, filter coffee from single farms.
Card only, closed Sundays, short queue in the morning.
Mon–Fri 8.30 am–5 pm, Sat 9 am–6 pm, Sun 9.30 am–5.30 pm
Tiny café on Berwick Street that brought the flat white to London; order exactly that.
Only a few seats; take your cup and stroll through the Berwick Street market.
Mon–Fri 7.30 am–4 pm, Sat/Sun 8.30 am–4 pm (kitchen until 3 pm)
Roastery with a café in a warehouse; coffee fresh from the roaster, plus brunch from the kitchen.
Bookable via OpenTable on weekdays, walk-in only at weekends and quickly full; kitchen until 3 pm.
Mon–Fri 7.30 am–5 pm, Sat 8.30 am–5 pm, Sun 9 am–5 pm
Small Australian-style café near Oxford Circus; flat white and a sandwich from the counter.
A quiet antidote to Oxford Street; second branch on Great Titchfield Street with the same hours.
Mon–Fri 9 am–6.30 pm, Sat 10 am–6.30 pm, closed Sun
Tiny Swedish bakery in Covent Garden; cardamom buns, princess cake and coffee.
Closed Sundays; only a few seats, good as a sweet stop between Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
Mon–Fri 6.30 am–5 pm, Sat 8 am–4 pm, closed Sun
Small speciality coffee bar in the City; a quick espresso or flat white to go.
Open from 6.30 am, closed Sundays; a short queue of office workers around 8.30 am, then quickly served.
Mon–Fri 7.30 am–6 pm, Sat 9 am–5.30 pm, Sun 9.30 am–5 pm
Bright café in Bloomsbury near the British Museum; espresso from changing roasteries, plus pastries.
A good stop on the way to the British Museum; lots of laptop customers, seats are easiest to find in the morning.
Mon–Fri 7.30 am–5.30 pm, Sat 9 am–7 pm, Sun 9.30 am–6 pm
London roastery with a café on New Row; flat white or filter coffee from its own roast.
Open until 7 pm on Saturdays, good for a break between Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
Mon–Fri 8 am–5 pm, Sat/Sun 8 am–4 pm (unverified)
Flagship of the Cornish roastery on Charlotte Road; filter coffee or an espresso tasting.
Hours taken only from the search snippet of the official site, check briefly on site; beans available to take home.
Closed Mon; Tue–Fri 10 am–5 pm, Sat 9 am–5 pm, Sun 10 am–4 pm
Market halls beneath railway arches: cheese, oysters and street food to graze your way through.
Closed Mondays. Saturdays from 9 am; early is quietest.
Mon–Wed 12 noon–11 pm, Thu 12 noon–12 midnight, Fri 12 noon–1 am, Sat 11 am–1 am, Sun 11 am–10 pm
Big market hall in Elephant & Castle with stalls from around the world, with an Italian focus.
Main market only from 12 noon (Sat/Sun 11 am); in the morning only the café in the Italian Corner is open, from 8 am.
Mon/Tue 12 noon–10 pm, Wed–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 11 am–9 pm
Market hall in an old banana warehouse with around 20 street-food stalls and two bars.
Mon/Tue only from 12 noon; bookable for groups of 5 or more. Book ahead via Tock for the cheese conveyor belt at Pick & Cheese.
Fri 5.30–9 pm, Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun 11 am–4 pm
Small food market beneath railway arches in Bermondsey; street food, cheese toasties and pastries.
Stalls only on Fri evenings and at the weekend; a quieter alternative to Borough Market, narrow lane, come early.
Bar Mon–Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–5 pm; kitchen 12 noon–3 pm and Mon–Sat 6.30–10.30 pm
Regarded as London's first gastropub; daily menu on the blackboard, the classic is the steak sandwich.
Small tables cannot be booked, come early; kitchen at lunchtime 12 noon–3 pm, groups of 5 or more book by phone.
Mon–Sat 10 am–7 pm, Sun 11 am–6 pm
Italian deli since 1944; panini, fresh pasta and antipasti to take away.
Card only, no cash; pick up a panino and eat it in nearby Golden Square.
Mon–Fri roughly 10 am–4 pm (unverified), no market Sat/Sun
Weekday street market in Holborn with lots of cheap food stalls, from curry to burritos.
Mon–Fri only, busiest 12 noon–2 pm; nothing happens at the weekend. Eat outside, there is hardly any seating.
Around the clock (according to OpenStreetMap, unverified)
24-hour bagel bakery on Brick Lane; order the salt beef bagel with mustard.
The queue moves fast; have cash ready (unverified) and eat your bagel outside on Brick Lane.
daily 11 am–11 pm
Belgian-Dutch beer café on Drury Lane with plenty of draught beers and a café atmosphere.
A good meeting point before a musical on Drury Lane.
Mon–Wed 11.30 am–10 pm, Thu–Sat 11.30 am–10.30 pm, Sun 11.30 am–9.30 pm
Pasta bar with a counter onto the open kitchen; the speciality is silk handkerchief pasta with walnut butter.
Book via SevenRooms; alone or as a pair, sit at the counter and watch the chefs.
Breakfast, lunch until 3 pm, dinner from 5 pm (last booking Mon–Sat 10.45 pm, Sun 9.45 pm)
British institution since 1828; roast beef carved at the table from the silver trolley.
Book 1–2 weeks ahead; last booking Mon–Sat 10.45 pm. After the theatre: late menu at Romano's from 9.45 pm.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–9 pm
Wood-panelled fish restaurant in the theatre district; famous for its fish pie and oysters.
For pre-theatre, book 1–2 weeks in advance. Last entry Mon–Sat 10.45 pm, Sun 8.45 pm.
Kitchen: Mon dinner only 6–9.45 pm, Tue–Sat lunch and dinner until 9.45 pm, Sun lunch only 12 noon–3.30 pm
Working-class dining rooms of 1869 with the original wooden pews; chops and the famous confit potatoes.
For Fri/Sat book 1–2 weeks ahead; the kitchen only runs until 9.45 pm in the evening. Sun lunch only.
Lunch Mon–Sat 12 noon–3 pm, Sun 12 noon–4 pm; dinner Mon–Sat 6–10.30 pm
British nose-to-tail cooking in a former smokehouse; order the bone marrow and the madeleines.
The lunch menu goes online at 11 am; book a table, the bar at the front offers wine and small bites without booking.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–3 pm and 5 pm–12 midnight (kitchen until 11 pm), Sun 12 noon–3.30 pm and 5–11.30 pm (kitchen until 9.30 pm)
Italian regional cooking in Soho; dishes in small or large portions, pasta and grills.
Book 1 week ahead for the evening; the seats at the counter are the nicest. Kitchen Mon–Sat until 11 pm, ideal after the theatre.
Sun–Wed 7 pm–1 am, Thu–Sat 7 pm–3 am
Speakeasy-style basement bar on City Road; elaborate cocktails and jazz or swing every night.
Book a table online, walk-ins only if there is space. Live music from 9 pm; open until 3 am Thu–Sat.
daily from 4 pm
Bar in the Rosewood London on High Holborn with a fireplace, bookshelves and caricatures by Gerald Scarfe.
Often live music in the evening; booking is worthwhile.
Wed 4 pm–12 midnight, Thu–Fri 4 pm–2 am, Sat 5 pm–2 am; Tue and Sun see website; closed Mon
Bar and club on Curtain Road with a big roof terrace above Shoreditch, with a heated yurt in winter.
Closed Mondays. The roof terrace fills up fast in good weather.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10 pm; kitchen until 10 pm and 9 pm respectively
Candlelight in a vaulted cellar since 1890, sherry and a cheese board.
No bookings, come early. The terrace has patio heaters.
Mon–Wed 12 noon–10.30 pm, Thu–Sat 11.30 am–11 pm, Sun 11.30 am–10 pm (last orders in each case)
Parisian brasserie in an art deco hall beneath Piccadilly; steak haché, onion soup, cheap set menu.
Always tables free for walk-ins; still book for Fri/Sat. Afterwards head to the Bar Américain next door.
Sun–Mon 12 noon–3 pm and 5–10 pm, Tue–Sat 12 noon–3 pm and 5–11 pm
Spanish tapas counter in Soho; tortilla, grills from the daily specials and fish from the ice counter.
You sit at the counter; plenty of seats for walk-ins, come early in the evening. Daily specials on the board.
Mon–Thu 5 pm–12 midnight, Fri 4 pm–12 midnight, Sat 3 pm–12.30 am, Sun 4–11 pm
Art deco bar in the basement of Brasserie Zédel near Piccadilly Circus, with classic cocktails and Parisian flair.
Combines well with dinner in the brasserie or cabaret at Crazy Coqs next door.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–12 midnight, Sun 12 noon–10 pm
Legendary cocktail bar in the Savoy Hotel since 1893; white jackets, piano and classics from the history of bartending.
Entry from age 16; expect a wait, dress smartly.
Mon–Sat 4 pm–1 am
Elegant hotel bar in the Connaught in Mayfair, known for the martini trolley mixed at your table.
No bookings; come early in the evening. Order a martini from the trolley.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–1 am, Sun 12 noon–12 midnight
Art deco bar at Claridge's with champagne, classic cocktails and plenty of glamour.
Children only until 6 pm and only with hotel guests. Dress smartly.
Sun–Wed 11 am–11 pm, Thu–Sat 11 am–12 midnight; kitchen daily 11 am–10 pm
London's last galleried coaching inn from the 17th century; a pint of ale in the yard or a pie inside.
No booking needed for drinks; sit inside in the old parlours. Kitchen daily until 10 pm.
Mon–Sat 11.30 am–11 pm, Sun 11.30 am–10.30 pm
Honest Soho pub by Berwick Street Market with regulars from the neighbourhood and good beer.
Standing outside on the pavement is the norm here.
Mon–Thu 12 noon–11.30 pm, Fri–Sat 12 noon–12 midnight, Sun 12 noon–10 pm
Cramped, rambling bar on Hanway Street with a vinyl jukebox, Spanish beer and a mixed crowd.
The basement is usually fuller; cash and card accepted.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–8 pm
Narrow pub near Trafalgar Square with a big choice of real ales and ciders; a small, quiet room upstairs.
In the early evening the crowd spills out into the alley.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm
Victorian pub on the winding Shepherd Market in Mayfair, cosy and less polished than the neighbourhood.
In fine weather everyone stands outside on the little square.
Mon–Fri 11 am–11 pm, Sat 12 noon–8 pm, closed Sun
Victorian gin palace opposite the Old Bailey with a richly decorated interior.
Closed Sundays, Saturdays only until 8 pm.
Mon–Wed 12 noon–4 pm and 6–11 pm, Sat–Sun 12 noon–11 pm; other days see website
Narrow 18th-century pub on the Thames in Limehouse with a small terrace over the river; Ian McKellen is one of the owners.
Pub quiz on Mondays from 8 pm. No entry under 18.
Sun–Thu 12 noon–12 midnight, Fri–Sat 12 noon–1 am
Rock pub near Camden Lock with a roof terrace; once the local of Amy Winehouse and many musicians.
Very full at the weekend after the market.
Tue–Wed 5 pm–12 midnight, Thu 5 pm–1 am, Fri 5 pm–2 am, closed Mon; weekend see website
Small cocktail bar with no sign, also known as the ‘Bar with no name’; experimental drinks in a plain room.
Only a few tables, booking is worthwhile.
Mon–Wed 12 noon–11 pm, Thu–Sat 12 noon–12 midnight, Sun 12 noon–10 pm
Craft beer pub in a side street off Angel with a long board of taps and a small garden.
Garden tables cannot be booked.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm
Facade smothered in flowers, Victorian cosiness inside and a Thai kitchen at the back.
Photos of the flower-covered facade are best in daylight.
Mon 12 noon–10 pm, Tue–Fri 12 noon–11 pm, Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–9 pm
Pub in a quiet mews in Belgravia; the Great Train Robbery of 1963 is said to have been planned here.
Away from the main roads, with a fireplace and board games.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm
18th-century pub in the lanes of Hampstead with a fireplace, creaking floors and small parlours.
Combines well with a walk across Hampstead Heath.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm
Riverside pub in Hammersmith with a terrace on the Thames and a tiny snug at the front.
Head for the terrace at low tide and sunset.
Mon–Fri 12 noon–9 pm, Sat–Sun 12 noon–8 pm
Long-established fish and chip shop near Covent Garden; cod or haddock with mushy peas.
No bookings; come early, as the kitchen closes about an hour before closing time (Sat/Sun as early as 8 pm).
Mon–Thu 12 noon–3 pm and 5–10 pm, Fri/Sat 12 noon–10.30 pm, Sun 12 noon–9 pm
Small Taiwanese restaurant; steamed bao buns, the classic filled with braised pork belly.
Walk-in only according to the website; come just after 12 noon, otherwise there is a queue on Lexington Street.
Mon–Fri 11 am–11 pm, Sat 11 am–9 pm, closed Sun; food Mon–Fri until 9.30 pm
Tiny pub of 1546 in a hidden alley near Hatton Garden; real ale and a toastie.
Find the entrance via the narrow Ely Court. Closed Sun, Sat only until 9 pm. A cherry tree trunk stands in the corner.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm; food Mon–Sat until 9.30 pm, Sun until 8.30 pm
One of the oldest pubs in Covent Garden, tucked away on Rose Street; ale and pub classics.
In the evening you often stand outside in the alley; the Dickens Room upstairs is more likely to have seats. Kitchen until 9.30 pm.
Unverified: according to OSM Mon–Sat 12 noon–11.30 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm
Game and pies in red plush since 1798, a few steps from the Strand.
Booking recommended. Sources disagree on whether it is open on Mondays.
daily from midday until late (details on the website)
Two-storey cocktail bar on Old Compton Street: bright and quick upstairs, dimly lit downstairs in the cellar with a big whisky selection.
Live jazz on Sundays 6–9 pm. The cellar can be booked from the afternoon.
evenings from 6 pm, later on party nights (according to OSM and website)
Playful cocktail bar on Rivington Street inspired by Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky; creative drinks and party nights.
Programme of DJ nights on the website; book at the weekend.
evenings, see website for hours
Small cocktail bar in Bethnal Green with a menu that changes daily and a relaxed mood.
Some of the seats are kept for walk-ins.
Mon–Thu 5 pm–12 midnight, Fri–Sat 2 pm–1 am, Sun 5–11 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Basement bar near Spitalfields in a former suit storeroom; classic drinks to Northern Soul and rock 'n' roll.
Small and quickly full; book a table online.
Mon 4–11 pm, Tue–Thu 12 noon–11 pm, Fri–Sat 12 noon–12 midnight, Sun 12 noon–11 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Craft beer taproom beneath the railway arches on Paradise Row with a long wall of fridges and lots of taps.
In fine weather sit outside at the wooden tables.
daily, see website for hours
Long-established Soho pub on Greek Street, for years the haunt of journalists, artists and night owls.
Still room at the bar in the early evening, very full later.
Mon–Wed 12 noon–11 pm, Thu 12 noon–11.30 pm, Fri 12 noon–12 midnight, Sat 11.30 am–12 midnight, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Small Victorian corner pub in Soho with gleaming tiles, mirrors and real ales.
There is a quieter room upstairs when everything downstairs is full.
daily, see website for hours
Pub on the Strand in the Savoy complex with an Edwardian interior and a small cellar room.
Handy before or after a show at the Savoy Theatre or the Adelphi.
Mon–Wed 11 am–11 pm, Thu 11 am–11.30 pm, Fri 11 am–12 midnight, Sat 12 noon–12 midnight, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Magnificent Victorian pub on St Martin's Lane with etched glass, mirrors and art nouveau lamps in the heart of the theatre district.
Very full when the shows come out, quieter beforehand.
daily from midday (hours on the website)
Victorian pub on Lamb's Conduit Street with pivoting snob screens above the bar.
In fine weather the drinkers stand out on the traffic-free street.
daily, hours unverified
Victorian pub on High Holborn with mosaics, carved woodwork and small partitioned snugs; cheap beer from the Samuel Smith brewery.
No website; mobile phones and loud music are frowned upon at Samuel Smith pubs.
daily, hours unverified
Big pub on High Holborn with a lofty hall, barrels above the bar and wooden cubicles.
No website; there is another room in the cellar.
Sun–Wed 12 noon–12 midnight, Thu–Sat 12 noon–1 am (according to OSM, unverified)
Victorian corner pub opposite Spitalfields Market with tiled walls; closely tied to the history of Whitechapel.
Full of market-goers at the weekend.
daily, see website for hours
Said to be the oldest riverside pub on the Thames, in Wapping; flagstone floor, pewter bar and a terrace right on the water.
Take the Overground to Wapping, then a few minutes on foot.
Mon–Fri 12 noon–11 pm, Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Tiny beer bar on the edge of Borough Market with a very good selection of craft beer from Britain and abroad.
Space is tight, so people are often out on the terrace.
Mon–Fri 6–9 am and 11 am–11 pm, Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Traditional pub opposite Borough Market with rotating real ales; open from early morning on weekdays for the market traders.
In the evening half of Borough stands in the street with a glass in hand.
daily, see website for hours
Victorian corner pub near the Regent's Canal, quieter than Upper Street.
Ideal after a walk along the canal.
daily, see website for hours
Old pub on Campden Hill with several small wood-panelled rooms and a garden.
Duck your head for the low doorways between the rooms.
Mon, Tue, Sat 11 am–11 pm, Wed–Fri 11 am–11.30 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Pub of 1875 with a magnificent art nouveau interior full of friars in marble and bronze.
Be sure to look at the vaulted room at the back. Packed after office hours; quieter from 8 pm.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Small pub of 1602 behind the Royal Courts of Justice, full of lawyers; ale and simple home cooking.
Very cramped, few seats; come early in the evening. The stairs to the toilet are notoriously steep.
Bar Mon–Sat 11.30 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm (Saturday not explicitly confirmed)
Legendary Soho pub of artists and French exiles; beer only by the half pint, plus pastis or wine.
No music, no mobile phones. No bookings for drinks; book the restaurant upstairs (Mon–Sat 6–9.30 pm).
Daily 11.30 am–11 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Pub on Fleet Street rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1667, with dark parlours and vaulted cellars.
Walk through all the rooms and down into the cellars. Only beer from the Samuel Smith brewery, cheap.
Lunch daily 12 noon–2.45 pm; dinner Wed–Sat, entry 5.30–7.30 pm, closes 10 pm
Seasonal British cooking in the former bike shed of a school in Shoreditch, hidden behind a wall.
Dinner only Wed–Sat with entry 5.30–7.30 pm, so book 1–2 weeks ahead. Ring the bell at the gate.
Wed–Thu 6 pm–1 am, Fri–Sat 5 pm–2 am, Sun 6 pm–1 am
Low-lit basement bar in the hotel One Hundred Shoreditch with wood, rugs and precise, pared-back cocktails.
Booking recommended, walk-ins if there is space. Over-18s only.
Mon–Thu 8 am–11 pm, Fri/Sat 8 am–12 midnight, Sun 9 am–11 pm
Bombay café in the style of the old Irani cafés; for breakfast a bacon naan roll with chai.
Hardly any wait in the morning, queues of up to 1 hr in the evening and at weekends; bookable for any group size during the day.
Lunch daily 11.30 am–3.45 pm, dinner Mon–Sat 5–10.30 pm, Sun 5–9 pm
Small pasta bar by Borough Market; fresh pasta such as pappardelle with beef shin ragu, cheap.
No bookings; join the virtual queue via the website and wait nearby.
Kitchen Mon–Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–9 pm
Thai grill cooking at the counter in front of an open fire; glass noodles from the clay pot, fiery curries.
Takes bookings and walk-ins; sit at the counter in front of the fire. Kitchen Mon–Sat until 11 pm. Very spicy, ask first.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 11 am–9 pm
Small Young's pub in a quiet mews in Mayfair, with the well-known grill restaurant at the back.
Book for steak and pie in the grill; the pub at the front is walk-in.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10 pm
Wood-panelled pub in Rotherhithe near the spot where the Mayflower set sail in 1620; a jetty at the back over the Thames.
Sit on the jetty at sunset. Dogs welcome in the pub.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm
Irish-style pub on Westbourne Park Road, known for oysters and Guinness.
There is a dining room upstairs and the saloon bar downstairs.
Daily 11.45 am–10 pm (last table 9.45 pm)
Malaysian basement restaurant near Euston and King's Cross; fresh roti canai with dhal or curry.
No bookings, often a queue on the stairs; last table 9.45 pm. Very cheap.
Lunch Mon–Fri from 12 noon, Sat from 12.30 pm, Sun 1–4 pm; dinner Mon–Sat 5.30–10.30 pm, Sun 6–10.30 pm
Candlelit bistro in a Georgian townhouse in Soho; seasonal cooking and a big wine list.
Few tables, book 1–2 weeks ahead. Sit on the ground floor; the wines are fairly priced.
Lunch and dinner, check hours on the website
Upmarket Indian cooking in the style of a colonial club in Mayfair; biryani, tandoori and kebabs.
In great demand: book 3–4 weeks in advance, earlier still for weekends. Smart dress recommended.
Mon–Fri 5 pm–12 midnight, Sat–Sun 12 noon–12 midnight (according to OSM, unverified)
Wine bar on Hackney Road with wines by the glass from small producers and candlelight.
Book ahead for groups.
daily, gigs according to the programme
Music pub on Parkway, a stage for young bands for decades; the small gig room at the back, then DJs.
Bands usually from 7.15 pm, admission on the door; cheaper drinks before 6 pm.
Mon–Tue 12 noon–11 pm, Wed–Thu 12 noon–12 midnight, Fri–Sat 12 noon–12.30 am, Sun 12 noon–10 pm; kitchen Thu–Sat until 10.30 pm
American basement theatre restaurant since 1977, a haunt of actors; burgers and Caesar salad.
After the theatre Thu–Sat: kitchen until 10.30 pm, last booking 10.30 pm. Mon–Tue the kitchen closes as early as 8 pm.
Mon–Wed 4 pm–12 midnight, Thu 12 noon–1 am, Fri 12 noon–2 am, Sat 12 noon–3 am, Sun 12 noon–12 midnight
Big pub on Essex Road with DJs and a karaoke room; open deep into the night at weekends.
Book the karaoke room in advance.
Open around the clock
24-hour restaurant on the 40th floor above the City; duck with waffle and a fried egg.
Often space without booking after 11 pm; book for the evening. Dress code smart casual: no tracksuit bottoms, no flip-flops.
Mon–Wed 8 am–1 am, Thu 8 am–2 am, Fri 8 am–3 am, Sat 9 am–3 am, Sun 9 am–12 midnight
French café-bistro on Old Compton Street; croque monsieur or steak frites until late.
Tables are kept back for walk-ins in the evening; open until 3 am Fri–Sat, with its own late-night menu.
Around the clock (according to OSM, unverified)
Family-run café near Liverpool Street with a long history; English breakfast at any hour.
One of the few genuine places to eat in the City at night; just turn up, no booking needed.
According to the programme
Well-known techno club in a former cold store by Smithfield Market; three rooms, one with a vibrating dance floor.
Valid ID only (passport or ID card). Tickets online in advance, often sold out. Photography is frowned upon.
According to the programme
Big club in Elephant & Castle since 1991 with a legendary sound system in The Box; house, techno and trance.
Valid ID only (passport or ID card). Tickets online in advance, often sold out.
According to the programme
Legendary queer club in the arches beneath Charing Cross station; pop nights, concerts and big parties.
Valid ID only (passport or ID card). Tickets online in advance, often sold out.
According to the programme
Club and venue in Hackney Wick by the canal; house, disco and live sets.
Valid ID only (passport or ID card). Tickets online in advance, often sold out.
According to the programme
Big former cinema in Brixton, now a concert and club venue with a balcony.
Valid ID only (passport or ID card). Tickets online in advance, often sold out.
According to the programme
Former warehouse in Shoreditch beneath old Tube carriages on the roof; concerts, club nights and culture.
The programme alternates between concerts and club nights, check the website.
According to the programme
Magnificent former theatre in Camden, now a concert hall and club over several floors with a roof terrace.
Valid ID only (passport or ID card). Tickets online in advance, often sold out.
According to the programme
Opera house in Covent Garden, home of the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet; magnificent auditorium and glass hall.
Cheap tickets in the amphitheatre right at the top; returns online on the day.
According to the programme
The biggest theatre in the West End, on St Martin's Lane; the English National Opera sings here in English.
There are discounted tickets for young people, details on the website.
According to the programme
Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, home of ‘Les Misérables’, the longest-running musical in the world.
Book early; returns at the box office on the day.
According to the programme
Brutalist theatre complex on the South Bank with three stages; classics, new plays and big family productions.
On Fridays there are often cheap tickets (Friday Rush) via the website. Foyer with a bar and views of the Thames.
According to the programme
Historic theatre on Wellington Street, home for years to Disney's ‘The Lion King’.
Stalls seats near the centre aisle: that is where the animals parade past in the opening.
According to the programme
Big art deco theatre by Victoria station, home of the musical ‘Wicked’.
Daily lottery for cheap tickets, details from the producer.
According to the programme
London's oldest theatre still in use, lavishly restored; big musicals. ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ until 9 January 2027.
Allow time for the opulent foyers before the show.
According to the programme
Historic theatre of 1818 on The Cut near Waterloo, with star-studded productions.
Look in the programme for cheap tickets for under-25s.
According to the programme
Theatre in Islington on Upper Street with new plays and fresh takes on the classics.
Many productions later transfer to the West End.
According to the programme
New theatre by Tower Bridge with a flexible stage, also for productions with a standing audience.
Standing tickets right in the thick of the action are an experience.
May–September according to the programme
Open-air theatre in Regent's Park with Shakespeare, musicals and family shows beneath the trees.
Summer only, roughly May to September. Bring a warm jacket for the evening.
According to the programme
Round concert hall of 1871 in South Kensington; the BBC Proms in summer, otherwise classical, pop and films with live orchestra.
During the Proms there are cheap standing places in the arena every day.
According to the programme
Concert hall in the Barbican complex, home of the London Symphony Orchestra; also jazz and world music.
Beforehand, wander through the conservatory and past the lakes of the Barbican.
According to the programme
Concert hall of 1951 in the Southbank Centre with orchestras, jazz and pop; foyers open to all.
There is often free music in the foyer in the early evening.
According to the programme
Basement club beneath a pizzeria on Dean Street with jazz concerts at small tables.
Book tables with dinner in advance.
According to the programme
Jazz basement in Chelsea on Lots Road with live music and food every day.
Book a table; with dinner at the weekend.
According to the programme
Round building on the Waterloo roundabout with one of the biggest screens in Britain.
Choose the middle rows; book early for blockbusters.
According to the programme
Modern theatre on The Cut with a flexible stage and bold, often political productions.
Small auditoriums, good sightlines from almost everywhere.
According to the programme
Small, renowned theatre in an old warehouse in Covent Garden with only around 250 seats.
Performances sell out quickly; watch the waiting list and returns.
According to the programme
Cinematheque of the British Film Institute beneath Waterloo Bridge with retrospectives, classics and a media library.
Members book earlier; returns often shortly before.
According to the programme
Independent cinema near Leicester Square with cult films, marathons and sing-along screenings.
Look for sing-along nights and all-nighters in the programme.
According to the programme
One of Britain's oldest cinemas, on Portobello Road, with leather armchairs and sofas.
Book a front-row sofa for two.
According to the programme
Arthouse cinema on Shaftesbury Avenue with a bar and café, popular with film people.
Drop into the cinema bar beforehand.
According to the programme
Art deco cinema in Dalston run as a non-profit; arthouse, classics and festivals.
Cheaper than the big chains.
According to the programme
Independent cinema on Mile End Road with a big main screen and small studio screens.
Look out for the cheap days in the programme.
According to the programme
Historic cinema of the University of Westminster, where films were first shown publicly in Britain in 1896.
Classics and retrospectives in the programme.
According to the programme
Big arthouse cinema on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue with a café and bar over several floors.
Drop into the in-house café beforehand.
According to the programme
Cinema of 1911 on Windrush Square in Brixton with a café-bar and a lively crowd.
Afterwards head to the bars around Brixton Market.
According to the programme
Small independent cinema in Covent Garden with classics, arthouse and film seasons.
A quiet alternative to the big cinemas on Leicester Square.
According to the programme
Cinema screens in the Barbican complex with film seasons, festivals and premieres.
Combine with a concert in the Barbican Hall or a walk around the estate.
According to the programme
Theatre on Sloane Square for new British and international drama.
Often cheap tickets on Mondays.
According to the programme
London's home of dance in Islington, from ballet to contemporary dance and flamenco.
The upper tiers are cheap and give a good view of the choreography.
According to the programme
Chamber music hall of 1901 in Marylebone with famous acoustics and an art nouveau cupola above the stage.
Short concerts with coffee on Sunday mornings.
According to the programme
London's best-known stand-up stage, on Oxendon Street near Leicester Square; many big names started here.
The improv shows are a classic. Late shows at the weekend.
According to the programme
Venue for comedy, cabaret and new theatre on Dean Street with several small auditoriums.
Many young comedians try out their shows here.
According to the programme
Splendid theatre on the Haymarket, home of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ since 1986.
Check the current production and tickets on the website.
Mon 5.30 pm–1 am, Tue 5.30 pm–12 midnight, Wed–Sat 5.30 pm–3 am, Sun 12 noon–4 pm and 6.30 pm–12 midnight (unverified)
Famous Soho jazz club since 1959; concert with dinner at your table, then the Late Late Show.
Book the main concerts weeks ahead; for the late show after midnight there are often tickets on the door.
According to the programme
Club in an industrial building in Canning Town with a 24-hour licence on some weekends; techno and house.
Valid ID only (passport or ID card). Tickets online in advance, often sold out. No photography; cameras are taped over.
According to the programme (according to OSM mostly Thu–Sat)
Club and bar in Hackney beneath railway arches, with a big courtyard and street food.
Valid ID only (passport or ID card). Tickets online in advance, often sold out.
According to the programme
Concert club in Camden for jazz, soul, funk and hip-hop, often followed by a club night.
Book seats on the gallery with dinner in advance.
According to the programme
Club in a warehouse on York Way near King's Cross with several rooms, a garden and a roof terrace.
Valid ID only (passport or ID card). Tickets online in advance, often sold out.
According to the programme
Big club in Wapping with several rooms and a terrace; electronic music from techno to drum and bass.
Valid ID only (passport or ID card). Tickets online in advance, often sold out.
According to the programme
Club on Cowper Street near Old Street with residencies by well-known DJs and concerts.
Valid ID only (passport or ID card). Tickets online in advance, often sold out.
According to the programme
Intimate one-room club in Brixton with a good sound system and long sets from residents and guests.
Valid ID only (passport or ID card). Tickets online in advance, often sold out.
Market halls, street performers and theatres packed close together. Good for the first evening.
National Gallery · London Transport Museum · Courtauld Gallery34 places →Narrow streets full of bars and small restaurants, which come alive in the evening and at night.
Sondheim Theatre – Les Misérables · His Majesty's Theatre · Ronnie Scott's33 places →Riverside walk along the Thames from Westminster to Tower Bridge, with culture, a book market and views.
Temple Church · Leake Street Arches · National Theatre11 places →Leafy squares, bookshops and the British Museum. Quieter than the centre.
British Museum · Charles Dickens Museum · Wellcome Collection8 places →The old financial district: St Paul's, skyscrapers and roof terraces. Very quiet at the weekend.
St Paul's Cathedral · Shakespeare's Globe · Guildhall Art Gallery & Roman Amphitheatre20 places →Former warehouse district with street art, bars and small shops. Best in the late afternoon and evening, and on Sundays for the markets.
Brick Lane Sunday Market · Museum of the Home · Columbia Road Flower Market18 places →Village-like high street with bookshops, cafés and boutiques near Regent's Park. Ideal for a leisurely morning.
Madame Tussauds · Wallace Collection · Regent Street Cinema7 places →Colourful terraced houses, quiet gardens and Portobello Road. Saturdays for the antiques, otherwise weekdays for quiet strolls.
Portobello Road Market · Kyoto Garden, Holland Park · Electric Cinema Portobello5 places →Hilly village of grand houses with narrow lanes, old pubs and direct access to the Heath. Loveliest on a sunny weekend day.
The Holly Bush1 places →Maritime museums, the Observatory and the Prime Meridian on the Thames. Allow half a day, ideally arriving by boat in the morning.
Greenwich Market · Greenwich Park, view by the Observatory2 places →Old railway lands, redeveloped with fountains on Granary Square and shops in the coal drops. Good in the evening before or after a train journey.
Egg London · Roti King Euston2 places →Bermondsey Street with restaurants and wine bars, and a food market on Maltby Street at the weekend. Worth it for dinner near Tower Bridge.
Tower Bridge · Bridge Theatre · Maltby Street Market (Ropewalk)3 places →Former artisans' quarter with design studios, good restaurants and pubs. Best on weekday evenings, rather quiet at the weekend.
St Bartholomew-the-Great · Fabric · Sadler's Wells11 places →Loud, colourful and full of music history, with a market, gig venues and the canal. Daytime for the market, evenings for live music.
Camden Market · KOKO · The Dublin Castle5 places →Short street by the canal with a Saturday market, bakeries and cafés. Go on Saturday morning, then picnic in Victoria Park.
Satan's Whiskers1 places →Simply touch a contactless card or phone on the yellow readers. Daily and weekly caps limit the price. Always use the same card or device.
Pounds (GBP). Cards work almost everywhere, and many places are card only. Always pay in pounds at the terminal, not in francs.
Type G with three rectangular pins, 230 V. Adapter needed.
999 or 112. Non-urgent medical: 111.
In restaurants a service charge of around 12.5% is often already on the bill, in which case add nothing. In pubs you order at the bar, with no tip.
Heathrow: Elizabeth line approx. 35 min, contactless approx. £13; Heathrow Express 15 min to Paddington, approx. £25. Gatwick Express 30 min to Victoria, approx. £24. Stansted Express approx. 48 min, from £25.
Take care in the crowds on Oxford Street, at Leicester Square and at markets. Do not hold your phone out at the kerb; thieves come past on bikes. Emergency 999, otherwise police 101.
Large shops over 280 m² may open on Sundays for only 6 consecutive hours between 10 am and 6 pm, often 12 noon–6 pm. Closed on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. Small shops and station shops are unrestricted.
Tap water is drinkable everywhere and strictly monitored. In restaurants just ask for ‘tap water’; it is free. There are refill points at many stations and in parks.
Around the clock
Nearest 24-hour A&E, just across Westminster Bridge.
Entrance East Wing. Not urgent: call NHS 111.
Mon–Sat 9.30 am–5.30 pm, Sun 10 am–4 pm
Official visitor centre of the City of London next to St Paul's, with maps, tips and tours.
Guided walks by the City Guides also start here. A good first stop before St Paul's and the Millennium Bridge.
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Prices as of 28 Oct 2026, subject to change.
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Traceflap for iPhoneSources: Selection and texts: Traceflap. Hours and prices from the official websites, as of 21 Oct 2026. Coordinates: Wikidata (CC0), some venues © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). No guarantee, please check before visiting. Map: OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, author and licence with each picture.
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