Things to do in London

Sights are grouped by area, with what to reserve. We give no prices or opening hours, because they change; the practical rules below come from the operators' own pages, linked under Sources.

Westminster is the political centre: the Houses of Parliament with Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Bridge are all within a few minutes' walk of each other. The Abbey's official site recommends booking in advance for busy periods, and every entrance has security screening. Bags larger than cabin-bag size (55 x 40 x 20 cm) are not allowed inside, and the site points to left luggage at Victoria station. The Abbey is open on Sundays for services, so check what a Sunday visit means.

• Walk from the Abbey along the river towards the London Eye.
• Buckingham Palace and St James's Park are a short walk the other way.

The South Bank is a long riverside walk that links the London Eye, Shakespeare's Globe, Tate Modern and Borough Market. Tate's official site says entry to the Tate Modern collection is free, while exhibitions are charged and booking is recommended. Walking east along the river from Bankside reaches Tower Bridge.

• Borough Market is free to enter and, according to its official site, closed on Mondays; it is busiest on Saturday afternoons.
• Shakespeare's Globe is an open-air theatre and its tours go ahead in all conditions, so dress for the weather; check its official site for tour and performance times.

The Tower of London, beside Tower Bridge, is the area's big visit, and St Paul's Cathedral and the City's lanes lie a short distance west. The Tower's official FAQ says you can book online in advance or buy on the day, and recommends booking online to avoid disappointment. Expect some queuing on most days: there is no fast-track entry and every visitor goes through a bag check.

The Tower suggests allowing at least three hours, and a ticket is valid for one entry only, with no re-entry. Admission includes the Crown Jewels and the Yeoman Warder tour. There is no bag storage, and suitcases, large bags and rolling luggage are not allowed inside, so leave them elsewhere first. Tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys must be booked in advance online.

• Do the Tower and Tower Bridge together, then cross to the South Bank.

The British Museum is in Bloomsbury, with Covent Garden, Soho and Trafalgar Square (and the National Gallery on it) close by to the south. The museum's official visit page says entry is free and recommends booking a free timed ticket in advance; entry without one depends on capacity, and queues are expected at busy times. All visitors pass a security check and bag search, and wheeled suitcases and larger bags are not permitted. Opening times are on the same page.

The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum stand close together in South Kensington. The Natural History Museum's official site says its galleries are free to explore; a booked free entry ticket guarantees entry, and queues can form at weekends and in school holidays. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are next door.

• History and monarchy: Westminster, the Tower of London and St Paul's.
• Art: Tate Modern and the National Gallery.
• Families: South Kensington and the parks.
• Food: Borough Market, Covent Garden and Soho.
• Short stay: Westminster to Tower Bridge along the river.

• Westminster and the South Bank: the Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, then along the river to the London Eye, Tate Modern and Borough Market.
• The Tower and the river: the Tower of London and Tower Bridge together, then cross to the South Bank and walk west along the river to Borough Market and Tate Modern.

London's Tube, buses and other services take contactless cards. Transport for London says you can pay as you go with a contactless card or an Oyster card on the Tube, buses and most other TfL services, and fares are capped daily in Zones 1-9. With Oyster you touch in and out on yellow readers, but only touch in on buses and trams; use the same card or device throughout, as switching can mean overpaying.

Fares and zones are on the TfL site; check them there. Our pages cover arrival from London City Airport.

• Book ahead: Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and a free timed British Museum ticket, as all three recommend it.
• Check before you go: Shakespeare's Globe tours and performances, and any exhibition at a museum (Tate recommends booking its exhibitions).
• Leave open: the South Bank walk, the parks and the free galleries named above.

• Trying to see every area in one day; the distances add up.
• Skipping the Abbey, Tower or British Museum booking.
• Mixing cards or phones on the Tube.
• Assuming a bundled ticket is cheaper without reading what it includes.
• Arriving at the Abbey, the Tower or the British Museum with a suitcase or large bag; all three restrict bags, and the Tower has no bag storage.