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A millennial-style five-minute guide to London

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life" Samuel Johnson once said. With that in mind, here we bring you a condensed guide to all there is to see and do in London. 

 

Words by Megan Arkinstall

 

Welcome to the Old Smoke

  • The most convenient way to get into the city is via the dedicated airport express trains taking only 15 minutes from Heathrow ($48); 30 minutes from Gatwick ($36); 47 minutes from Stansted ($15); and one hour from Luton on the regular rail service ($28).
  • A cheaper – and slower – alternative is the National Express Coach: 50 minutes from Heathrow ($11); 1 hour and 50 minutes from Gatwick ($18); 1 hour and 45 minutes from Stansted (from $22); 1 hour and 20 minutes from Luton ($11).
  • If you’re travelling in a group, a taxi would work out cheaper, or ask your hotel to pre-book a private chauffeured hire car (a one-way trip from Heathrow to the city costs around $90).

Out and about

  • By Tube
    London’s underground rail is great because it covers an extensive network and runs from 5:30am to midnight, but without either an Oyster or Travel Card it can get expensive (Zone 1 paper ticket cost $9 but only $4 on an Oyster Card).
  • By bus
    You’ll need an Oyster or Travel Card to board a red double decker as they’re now cash-free.
    For the capped price of $8, an Oyster Card provides unlimited travel all day.
  • By taxi
    You have to ride in an iconic black London cab at least once!
    And surprisingly they’re reasonably priced – a trip from Knightsbridge to Covent Garden, for example, is only around $18.
  • Hop-on/Hop-off bus
    There is so much to see in London and this is a great way for first-time visitors to get their bearings.
    Try to hop on the buses with a live guide (others have audio guides) to get a more personable experience and ask questions.
  • By foot
    Pound the pavement without spending a pound or join a guided tour (check out freetoursoflondon.com for some great options like a Jack the Ripper walk) and tip what you think it was worth at the end.

Take a gander

We all know Big Ben, but have you heard of…

  • The Monument
    OK, so it’s no Shard, but climbing the 311 steps to the top of The Monument offers a great view of the City of London and an interesting story to go with it.
    The Monument commemorates the 1666 Great Fire of London, which burned for three days and nights and destroyed all buildings except those made of stone.
    And it’s around $35 less than the Shard!
    Tube station: Monument
  • Little Venice
    Just north of Paddington in London’s Maida Vale district is Little Venice, a charming, leafy canal district with waterside cafés, pubs and eateries.
    Take a boat ride or walk from here to Camden Lock – it takes around one hour and passes London Zoo, the outskirts of Regent’s Park and colourful houseboats and barges, one of which is a puppet theatre.
    Tube station: Warwick Avenue
  • Dulwich Picture Gallery
    London is home to some fabulous art galleries, but here’s one that won’t require fighting crowds to see masterpieces by the likes of Rubens, Poussin, Van Dyck and Rembrandt. Located just 15 minutes by train from central London in a pretty 18th-century village, it was England’s first custom-built public art gallery and holds one of the finest collections of Old Master paintings.
    With less crowds and at only $11 for an entry ticket, it’s well worth the trip.
    dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

Not just pub grub

  • Indian Curry
    Brick Lane is curry heaven with countless delicious curry houses including Sheba, Cinnamon, Aladin and Brick Lane Clipper.
    Tube station: Shoreditch
  • High-Tea
    One must take tea whilst one is in London.
    For the last 100 years, the Goring Hotel, where the Duchess of Cambridge spent her wedding eve, has perfected afternoon tea so guests can enjoy it the way the other Duchess (of Bedford) intended.
    Tube station: Victoria
  • Fish and Chips
    A certain tour guide once said the grittier the shop, the better the offering.
    But we found two shiny, bright establishments serving up top fish and chips for over 30 years: Baileys in Fulham (Tube: Fulham Broadway) and Poppies in Camden (Tube: Camden Town).
    Dare to try some jellied eel, too?
  • English Pub (we had to!)
    The Andover Arms rates better than many of the city’s most lauded Michelin-starred restaurants on TripAdvisor.
    Located in Hammersmith, it serves up the best traditional English pub grub you’ll ever try.
    Tube station: Hammersmith

You will pay… around $5 for a coffee, $1.50 for a bottle of water, $7 for a beer, $9 for a wine, $28 for a meal.

Spend some quid

  • Oxford Street is famous for Topshop, H&M, Zara, Selfridges and so on.
    While here, venture into the side streets to find unique boutique stores.
    Tube station: Oxford Circus
  • Harrods is certainly worth a gawk and to sample the delicious morsels in the Food Hall.
    Tube station: Knightsbridge
  • Hamleys on Regent Street has been London’s leading toy store for over 250 years.
    This magical store has over 40,000 toys on seven floors.
    Tube station: Oxford Circus
  • Portobello Road Markets is the world’s largest antique market and has food and fashion, too.
    Tube Station: Ladbroke Grove
  • East End Thrift Store is a little vintage beauty selling fur coats, leather jackets etc. from as little as $15.
    Plus there’s plenty of other cute boutiques down this way to check out.
    Tube station: Whitechapel
  • Old Spitalfields Market runs themed markets from clothing to vintage to records to art, but is known for its fashion.
    There’s also a bunch of great places to eat and drink.
    Tube station: Liverpool Street

Where to kip

Soho, in the heart of the West End district, has a buzzing nightlife, is in close proximity to the Theatre District and bordered by Oxford Street, Regent Street and Leicester Square.

  • Z Hotel
    Blimey, the rooms are small – but the location more than makes up for that.
    It’s an ideal hotel for a short stay of wining, dining, shopping and show business with clean, fresh and modern rooms.
    From $156 per night.
    Tube station: Leicester Square
  • Dean St Townhouse
    This pair of 18th-century Georgian townhouses has 38 classic rooms ranging in size from tiny, small, medium to bigger.
    The moody restaurant and bar serve classic British fare and cocktails.
    From $265 per night.
    Tube station: Tottenham Court Road
  • The Nadler Soho
    Good room sizes with a modern, neutral design, spacious bathrooms and mini kitchens.
    From $330 per night.
    Tube station: Tottenham Court Road
  • Sanctum Soho
    There’s six different room types – from cosy Crash Pad to spacious Loft – all designed in bespoke styles with organic toiletries, a modern British restaurant, rooftop terrace and a small cinema, all housed in two Georgian townhouses.
    From $440 per night.
    Tube station: Piccadilly Circus
  • Ham Yard Hotel
    Designed by Kit Kemp, this eclectic hotel has 91 individually styled, spacious and light-filled rooms and suites, a library, spa, gym, theatre, rooftop garden, and a 1950s bowling alley, all surrounding a tree-filled garden.
    From $650 per night.
    Tube station: Piccadilly Circus
  • Café Royal
    This iconic 19th-century establishment reopened in 2012 after an extensive revamp.
    There are 159 elegant, contemporary-style guest rooms with all the mod-cons, two restaurants, a bar, spa and members club.
    From $724 per night.
    Tube station: Piccadilly Circus

Useful tip

Keep some loose change handy for using public toilets – they usually cost 50p (90c)!

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What the European heatwave means for your summer travel plans

    Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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    Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK. 

    Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.

    And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.

    Why is it so hot in Europe?

    Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

    France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

    In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

    The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

    Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

    How travel is impacted

    A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius
    A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

    During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

    If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

    Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

    people swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris
    People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

    With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

    Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

    How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

    Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

    Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

    Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.

    A millennial-style five-minute guide to London | International Traveller