Top 10 Things to Do in London

Using this list

Ten of London's landmark sights as a tickable checklist. London is spread out and the list crosses the city, so treat it as a menu rather than a single day's route.

The free ones are the good ones

The British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the V&A, and the Natural History Museum are all free to enter — an unusual arrangement among major cities and the single best thing about visiting London on a budget. Special exhibitions charge separately.

That said, several are busy enough that a free timed ticket booked in advance saves a queue.

Book the ones with capacity limits

The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye all benefit from advance booking. The Churchill War Rooms and Buckingham Palace's State Rooms — open only for a limited season each year — sell out furthest ahead.

Plan by area and use the tube sparingly

Group Westminster and the South Bank together, the museums in South Kensington together, the City and Tower together. Central London is more walkable than the tube map suggests: adjacent stations are often five minutes apart on foot, and walking is frequently faster than changing lines.

Contactless card or phone works directly on all public transport — no need for a separate ticket — and daily fares cap automatically.

Weather and daylight

Bring a layer and something waterproof whatever the forecast says. In winter it's dark by four, which materially changes how much you'll fit in.

Timing

Run it plain, or add due dates from your arrival date to spread the list across a longer stay.