Visit To London For Your Holiday - A Complete Tourist Guide

London defies easy description. It is simultaneously one of the oldest and most modern cities in Europe, a sprawling metropolis of eight million people that somehow retains the character of its individual neighbourhoods. For the tourist, the challenge is not finding things to do, but choosing among an embarrassment of riches.

Start with the museums, because London's are among the best in the world and most are free. The British Museum's collection spans two million years of human history, from the Rosetta Stone to the Elgin Marbles. The Natural History Museum in South Kensington is a cathedral to science, its Hintze Hall dominated by a blue whale skeleton that replaced the famous Diplodocus in 2017. The Tate Modern, housed in the converted Bankside Power Station, offers world-class contemporary art with a view of St Paul's Cathedral across the Thames.

Beyond the blockbuster institutions, London rewards the explorer. The Sir John Soane's Museum in Lincoln's Inn Fields is a treasure house of architectural curiosities, virtually unchanged since the architect's death in 1837. The Wallace Collection in Manchester Square houses one of the finest collections of French 18th-century art outside Paris, and the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill combines natural history with a stunning collection of musical instruments.

London's parks are essential to understanding the city. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens together form an enormous green lung in the centre, perfect for escaping the urban pace. Regent's Park offers rose gardens and an open-air theatre in summer. For something wilder, Hampstead Heath in north London provides genuine countryside within the city, with swimming ponds and views from Parliament Hill that stretch to the Surrey Hills. If you are planning your next trip, you might also enjoy exploring dog-friendly travel destinations in France.

The markets are another London essential. Borough Market near London Bridge is a food lover's paradise, with artisan producers from across Britain selling everything from sourdough to saffron. Portobello Road in Notting Hill is the classic antiques market, best visited on Saturday morning. Columbia Road Flower Market in Shoreditch transforms a quiet East End street into a riot of colour and fragrance every Sunday.

Transport in London is excellent but expensive. Get an Oyster card or use contactless payment for buses and the Tube, and consider walking between central attractions since distances are often shorter than the map suggests. The Thames Clipper river bus is an underused gem, connecting Greenwich to Westminster with spectacular views along the way.