First time in London? What to know before you go

London rewards a short, mixed list rather than a long one. Pick one royal or historic paid sight, two free museums, one park and one evening out. That fills four days without turning the trip into a queue.

The Tower of London and Westminster Abbey are the two paid sights most first-timers regret missing, and both need timed tickets booked in advance. The Abbey closes to sightseeing on Sundays except for services. Buckingham Palace state rooms open only in summer, so check dates before planning around them.

The free national museums are the strongest value in the city: British Museum, National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Modern and the Natural History Museum all charge nothing for general entry. Donation boxes are optional. Special exhibitions are ticketed separately.

London is expensive mainly in two places: accommodation and paid attractions. Food and transport can be kept moderate. Free museums, parks, markets and most churches cost nothing, so a day can be built almost entirely from free stops.

Museum opening hours are typically around 10:00 to 17:30 or 18:00, with some late openings one evening a week. The Tower and the Abbey run shorter winter hours than summer. Always check the day's hours on the operator's site the night before, since closures for events are common.

For transport, use a contactless bank card or phone on the Tube, buses and most trains; fares are capped per day, so you rarely need a paper ticket. A weekly pass only pays off for heavy use. Children under 11 travel free on the Tube and buses with an adult, and under-16s get discounts on some fares.

From Heathrow, the Piccadilly line is the cheapest rail option into central London and the Elizabeth line is faster to the West End and the City. From Gatwick, trains run to Victoria. From Stansted and Luton, trains or coaches reach Liverpool Street and St Pancras respectively. Allow extra time on weekends when engineering works close lines.

Inside the city, the Tube covers almost everything a first-timer wants. Buses are slower but show you the streets; a single bus ride across the centre is a cheap sightseeing trip. Walking between Westminster, the South Bank and Covent Garden is often faster than changing lines.

For day trips, trains from the main London stations reach Oxford, Cambridge, Windsor and Brighton in roughly an hour or so. Advance tickets are much cheaper than walk-up fares, so book once your dates are fixed.

Base in zone 1 or 2 near a Tube station. That single choice saves more time than any itinerary tweak. See where to stay in London for area-by-area trade-offs.

Stand on the right on escalators, let passengers off the Tube before boarding, and queue for buses. These small habits keep you moving with the crowd rather than against it.

Weather changes fast: carry a light rain jacket year-round and expect a cool evening even in summer. Rain is rarely heavy enough to cancel a day, which is why the rainy-day list matters more than an umbrella.

London is generally safe for visitors, but watch for phone snatching near busy stations and tourist crowds, and ignore anyone who approaches you on the street with a sob story or a card trick. See is London safe for the specifics.

Tipping is not obligatory. Many restaurants add a service charge to the bill; if it is already there, you do not need to add more.

April to October is the main window, with May, June and September the sweet spot: long days, decent weather and fewer crowds than July and August. School holidays in late July and August push up hotel prices and fill the big sights.

Winter is cheaper and quieter, and the museums and theatres are at their best, but daylight is short and some outdoor sights are less pleasant. Christmas markets and lights draw crowds in December, so book accommodation early.

Whatever the month, book the Tower, the Abbey and any West End show ahead, and check for planned rail closures on the weekends you plan to travel.