London is a special kind of city, one of the most popular places to visit in the world. While you could easily spend days on end exploring all it has to offer, if you've only got a weekend, it's good to know what to do and how to do it, so you can make the most of your time.
These tips on getting around the capital will help make your trip as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Depending where you're staying, you'll almost certainly be taking the Tube. This is the easiest way to travel long distances in the city, although the bus can also be great for shorter trips. These days you can just use your contactless bank card to use either service. The daily charge is capped, so there's no need to purchase a separate travel card for a weekend stay.
That said, London is surprisingly easy to walk around. Did you know, for example, that you can easily stroll for just a couple hours and see Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Downing Street, the London Eye, and much more? It's worth checking walking distances with an online map to see if you can avoid the Tube, especially when it gets busier at peak times.
Speaking of which, the busiest times during the week for travelling are 6:30 to 9:30 and 16:00 and 19:00. Of course, you won't need to worry too much about that unless you're here for a long weekend, but if you're arriving on Friday then travelling around after 19:00 is a good idea, for example. It will be cheaper, too.
You'll be spoilt for choice in terms of sights over a weekend in London, but here are some of the city's gems that shouldn't be missed.
This excellent, free museum houses treasures collected by Britain over the ages, from Ancient Greek statues to Japanese relics. You can also see the Rosetta Stone here, which was crucial in helping decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics.
See this famous former prison where Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell, and many others were held and executed. It also houses the Crown Jewels, and you'll learn about its other past historic functions, including as an armoury and a zoo.
A top favourite for visitors of all ages, with exhibitions on dinosaurs, insects, marine life, and much more. See the amazing whale skeleton in the Hintze Hall and don't miss the famous T-rex robot, either. Nearby on Exhibition Road, you'll also find the Science Museum and V&A Museum.