Holidays in London

More around London

Start with the landmarks, then keep walking

London's headline sights sit close enough together that you can string several into one day without rushing. The Tower of London and Tower Bridge are the obvious pairing — one a fortress you can spend hours in, the other a river crossing you can look at for free from either bank. Add The Shard if you want height, or the London Eye if you'd rather have the river below you and a slower turn. West of the centre, Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace make a natural pair for a royal-flavoured day.

A word of realism: two big-ticket landmarks in a day is plenty. Three is a route march, and you'll spend more time queueing than looking.

Best for families

Children tend to do better with something hands-on before or after a big landmark. Twist Museum is the easiest win in central London — an illusions-and-perception museum that suits the fidgety age range and works whatever the weather. For animals, Beaver Water World is a small, close-up sort of visit rather than a full day, so it pairs well with something else.

If you're happy to drive out of the city, the options widen considerably:

Old Macdonald Farm in Essex for younger children and farm animals
Trilakes Animal Park in Berkshire, another wildlife day out within reach for a full-day trip
H2O Rampage Aqua Park and Aqua Splash Redricks Lakes, both in Hertfordshire, for inflatable aqua parks in warm weather — these need confident swimmers and booking ahead

Best for a rainy day

London is unusually well set up for weather that turns. Dennis Severs' House is the most atmospheric indoor hour you'll spend anywhere in the city — a candlelit house arranged as though the occupants have just left the room, and best appreciated in silence. Chiswick House gives you a grand interior in west London. For something quieter and more local, Brent Museum and Bruce Castle both tell the story of their own corners of London, and neither takes a whole day.

The Jewish Museum is worth building an afternoon around, and The Museum of Philatelic History will reward anyone with an interest in stamps and postal history. Military and wartime interests are well served by Shoreham Aircraft Museum, and by the 1940's Experience over in Hertfordshire.

Best for outdoors and heritage

Three National Trust places sit within striking distance and make a good weekend pattern. Red House and Quebec House are both houses with strong stories attached, while Emmetts Garden is where you go when you want air, slopes and time outside rather than rooms and ropes. Trust properties often have seasonal opening, so check before you set off rather than turning up hopefully.

Further out again, Buckinghamshire County Museum and Haslemere Educational Museum in Chichester are the kind of properly varied local museums that reward a slow visit, and Flitch Way Railway Carriage Museum in Essex suits anyone drawn to old rolling stock.

How to group them into a sensible day

Central and busy: Tower of London in the morning, walk over Tower Bridge, The Shard or the London Eye late afternoon when the light softens.
Royal and calmer: Kensington Palace first, Buckingham Palace after, with a long park walk in between.
Rainy and curious: Twist Museum, lunch, then Dennis Severs' House — booked in advance, as it isn't a drop-in sort of place.
Out of town: Emmetts Garden plus Quebec House or Red House, with a picnic rather than a restaurant stop.

Where to eat

We don't currently hold any hygiene-rated listings for London, so treat eating as something to plan rather than leave to chance. Near the Tower of London and Tower Bridge you're in tourist-priced territory — walk five minutes inland and prices drop noticeably. For the out-of-town days, particularly Emmetts Garden or the Hertfordshire aqua parks, carry food with you; options thin out quickly once you leave the main roads. Book a table if you're eating in the centre on a Friday or Saturday evening.

Turning it into a short break

Three nights is the sweet spot: one day for central landmarks, one for museums, one heading out to the National Trust properties or an animal park. There are 1,384 places to stay in London listed on BritStays, so it's worth choosing by transport rather than postcode — somewhere on a direct line into the centre beats somewhere nominally closer with two changes.

Practical points before you go: buy timed tickets for the Tower of London, The Shard and the London Eye in advance, check whether Dennis Severs' House is running evening or daytime openings on your dates, and keep one afternoon completely unplanned. You'll need it.

Frequently asked questions

Which London attractions are best if it rains all day?

Twist Museum, Dennis Severs' House, Chiswick House, The Jewish Museum, Brent Museum, The Museum of Philatelic History and Bruce Castle are all indoor visits. Shoreham Aircraft Museum is another good wet-weather option. Most of these take an hour or two rather than a full day, so plan to combine two of them.

Are there any National Trust places to visit near London?

Yes — three are listed: Red House, Quebec House and Emmetts Garden. Red House and Quebec House are historic houses, while Emmetts Garden is a garden and arboretum, so pairing one house with the garden makes a balanced day outdoors.

What is there for families with young children?

Twist Museum in London works well for children and adults together, and Beaver Water World is a short, close-up wildlife visit. If you're willing to drive out, Old Macdonald Farm in Essex suits younger children and Trilakes Animal Park in Berkshire makes a full day out.

Where can we go for water-based activities?

H2O Rampage Aqua Park and Aqua Splash Redricks Lakes, both in Hertfordshire, are inflatable aqua parks. They're seasonal and suit confident swimmers, so book ahead and check age and ability requirements before you travel.

How many landmarks can we realistically see in one day in London?

Two big-ticket landmarks is a comfortable day. The Tower of London and Tower Bridge work well together, as do Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace. Adding The Shard or the London Eye late in the day is fine, but attempting three major paid attractions usually means more queueing than looking.

How many places to stay are there in London on BritStays?

There are 1,384 places to stay listed in London. When choosing, prioritise good direct transport links into the centre over raw distance — somewhere further out on a single line is often quicker than somewhere nearer that needs two changes.

Explore Holidays in London