Plan your perfect London trip in a few clicks.

For a first visit, 3–4 full days gives you time for the big icons – Westminster, the South Bank, the Tower of London and one or two major museums – without needing to rush every minute.

With 5–7 days you can slow the pace, add neighbourhoods like Notting Hill, Shoreditch or Greenwich and include a theatre night and markets without feeling over-scheduled.

For first-timers, we usually suggest Covent Garden / West End, South Bank / Waterloo or Westminster / St James's. All three are walkable, packed with places to eat and very well connected by Tube.

If you prefer calmer streets but still central access, South Kensington and parts of Marylebone work particularly well, especially for families.

If you have a contactless bank card or phone wallet, that is usually all you need. Fares are the same as Oyster and the daily and weekly caps stop you overspending even if you take multiple journeys.

An Oyster card is useful if you do not have a contactless card, or if you want to load a fixed amount and keep your transport spend separate from your main bank card.

The London Pass can save money if you plan a couple of big sightseeing days with places like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's and a river cruise scheduled close together.

If your style is slower, with more free museums and neighbourhood walks, it is often cheaper to buy individual tickets. Our pass guide uses real example itineraries so you can see what it looks like for your outline.

Central London is generally very safe for visitors. The main things to watch are pickpockets in busy areas and staying aware of your belongings on the Tube and in crowds.

Use zipped bags, be cautious with phones near train doors and late at night stick to licensed black cabs or trusted ride-hailing apps. Our area guides also flag any specific tips for popular neighbourhoods.