London for Londoners
If you have already been to London a couple of times and seen all the sights then this is the guide for you. When I travel back to London by myself or with friends these are the things that make me supremely happy and remind me of the many happy years spent in this amazing city.
- More about your Oliver Guide: Sterling Boyd
- Trip type: Adult, City
- Activity level: moderate
- Ideal length of trip: Let's just move to London
to & from
Fly into Heathrow airport and book a car to your destination. Booking a car in advance or using Uber is much more cost effective than taking a cab. Atlas and Addison Lee were the two companies I used the most.
Where to Stay
- The London EDITION - nestled right in the center of town next to Soho, Regent street, Oxford street and Regents park. The Edition is my go to hotel when I travel by myself to London. It is close to Soho for all the great restaurants, Regents Park for a walk through the gardens and is a central spot for busses/tube to get you anywhere you want to go. Make sure to go to Berners Tavern in the hotel for dinner or drinks.
- Ham Yard Hotel - Even if I don't stay in Ham Yard Hotel, I always make my way there for a drink. The hotel is beautiful and right in the center of Soho. The hotel was also awarded the 'Best Afternoon Tea'. Even if you don't stay here, it is worth a visit.
- Charlotte Street Hotel - I love this hotel. Check out the photos. If you end up staying here, have a cocktail downstairs and then head to ROKA for dinner. ROKA is an incredible Japanese restaurant with a super cool bar downstairs. Make sure to book in advance.
London, England
- More about your Oliver Guide: Alice Johnson
- Trip type: Adult, Family, Group getaway, Solo, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: 3-5
to & from
You’re spoilt for choice with London airports. London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton and London Stansted all offer convenient access to the city. If you’re travelling from the continent, the Eurostar, Channel Tunnel and ferry are more characterful ways to travel.
- If you bring your car on one of the latter two options, park it cheaply with YourParkingSpace and take public transport during your London stay. Traffic’s notoriously bad.
Where to Stay
London’s hostels aren’t cheap, but standards and style exceed the average found in most major European cities.
- Budget: I recommend Generator at King’s Cross for a jazzy atmosphere and decent amounts of personal space.
- Mid-market: Airbnb is my first choice – many London homes have quaint or quirky personalities. Definitely the best way to experience the city like a local.
- Premium: the Town Hall Hotel is a 5-star masterpiece of British humour and flair. Surprisingly, the wine bar won’t break the bank, so it’s great for a posh evening out even if you don’t stay the night.
London, England (Kara Schwabauer)
We ended up buying my son a scooter on the first day in London and he used it everywhere... Many kids his age and older are on scooters, so we felt a little bit like a local.
- More about your Oliver Guide: Kara Schwabauer
- Trip type: Family, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: 4-5 DAYS
to & from
- Red eye direct from Newark, United Airlines. We traveled with our little ones, 18 month old daughter and 3 1/2 year old son.
- While there, Uber or tube (my son loved the tube). Uber is so easy and inexpensive in Europe.
Where to Stay
We stayed with friends in Chiswick, darling city in west London.
London, England (Cynthia Pillsbury)
Read up on the monarchy to make your London trip more meaningful and memorable!
- More about your Oliver Guide: Cynthia Pillsbury
- Trip type: Family, City
- Activity level: moderate
- Ideal length of trip: 4-5 DAYS WITH KIDS
to & from
Any non-stop flights from US to London.
Where to Stay
There are many great hotels in London. Our family loved our time at the Langham Hotel on Regents Street in the West Side of London. It’s a central location that provides easy access via walking, buses or taxis to the major sites of London.
The Milestone, across the street from Hyde Park and Kensington Palace, is another great option.
London, England (Corre Larkin)
Spend the afternoon on a sunny day in the beer garden of a pub and take your kids!!! Kids are welcome in all pubs.
- More about your Oliver Guide: Corre Larkin
- Trip type: Adult, Family, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: 7-10 DAYS (OR DO A 2 WEEK TRIP AND TACK ON PARIS TO THE END AND GO VIA EUROSTAR)
to & from
- LAX to Heathrow. Tons of direct flights every day. Air New Zealand is our personal favorite.
- Use London as a base and then take Easyjet or Ryanair for cheap flights to anywhere in Europe.
- Always take the Eurostar if going to Paris. So easy and while it may be a little more expensive than an Easyjet flight, it's worth it for the sake of ease.
Where to Stay
- Try and get an Airbnb in Chelsea -somewhere off the Kings Road. Or in South Kensington or Notting Hill. All great neighborhoods that would be a perfect base.
- If you want to be more central, then you can't go wrong with the Connaught or the Berkeley Hotel. Both are stunning hotels with impeccable service. However, London being London, they are quite pricey.
- If you are on a tighter budget, then try going with an Airbnb slightly outside Zone 1. Neighborhoods that are easy to get into central London would be Fulham, Kensal Green, Chalk Farm, Bethnal Green, Stepney, Lambeth/Vauxhall or Clapham.