One of the biggest and most visited cities in the world, London is the capital of England and a critical financial centre for the whole Europe. Multicultural, blending the most diverse languages, traditions and cultures, London is home to some of the most important monuments, museums and events in the world.
Note: If you're looking to travel to London from within the UK, head on over to our trains to London page instead.
Visiting London
Urban and contemporary, London - whose main train station for international routes is London St Pancras, with Eurostar trains from Paris (Paris Gare du Nord) taking 2 hours 26 minutes and from Brussels (Brussels Midi) in as little as 2 hours. Home to some of the worlds best-known tourist attractions including Buckingham Palace, the London residence of the Queen. Symbol of the city, the Big Ben is a must-see attraction located 18 minutes away by underground from the station. Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are also very close to one another and only 25 minutes by tube from London St Pancras. Both are perfect spots for perfect pictures to share on your Instagram account.
Art lovers need to plan a visit to the British Museum and the Tate Modern, located right along the River Thames, for a full immersion into ancient and contemporary art. But every single visit to London must also include architectural wonders like St Paul's Cathedral and Trafalgar Square, respectively 30 and 20 minutes away from St Pancras.
Explore London on foot
London is a gigantic city filled with endless sights, eateries and shops that are worth visiting, although it can be hard to see everything in one go. A great route for visitors to follow starts at Victoria Station, one of the capital’s best-connected railway stations, and begins by turning up Buckingham Palace Road. This leads up to the majestic Buckingham Palace, the residence of the British Monarch and one of the city’s must-see sights. Pose by Victoria Memorial or enjoy the changing of the guards before strolling up the Mall towards Trafalgar Square, a central meeting spot and home to the National Gallery. Pass by Charing Cross, another key train station, and walk down to Embankment Tube Station, grabbing a bite from one of the fun little cafes or restaurants on the way.
Traverse over the mighty Thames River on the Golden Jubilee bridge, admiring Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and numerous other monuments. Touching down on South Bank, explore one of London’s cultural centres which is home to a sprawl of art centres, theatres, exciting restaurants and wondrous attractions like the London Eye and the Sea Life London Aquarium. Follow the Thames eastwards and visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre before reaching Borough Market and the Shard, both adjacent to the newly renovated London Bridge Station. Take the time to marvel at the wonders of Borough Market’s fantastical fare and perhaps conquer the peak of the Shard, London’s tallest skyscraper. From there it’s only a 15 minute walk to the iconic Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, a medieval castle that was once a notorious prison but now serves as home to the Crown Jewels.