London is a wonderful city that you should enjoy to the fullest. To make sure you don’t have to worry about anything, we’ve included in this article a super complete guide to traveling to London with everything you need to consider in your planning.
In this guide to traveling to London, we want to focus on other aspects of your trip. To find out what to see in London, how many days to dedicate, and excursions you can take, we’ve written this other very complete article about things to do in London in 3 days or more.
Based on our experience visiting London more than 7 times, we’ll detail what you need to consider to plan your trip to the capital of the United Kingdom.
1) What are the requirements to enter England
European Passports
Before Brexit, if you were Spanish or from another European Union country, you could travel to England with just your ID. Currently, for any European passport, the requirements are as follows:
- Valid passport with an expiration date that does not exceed six months.
2. Apply online for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), a mandatory requirement starting in 2025, if you want to travel to the UK for up to 6 continuous months for tourism. The main features of the ETA are as follows:
- The process is done completely online, filling out a form with personal details.
- The cost of the ETA for the UK is 16 pounds, which will be charged at the time of applying online.
- Once you apply and pay the ETA fee, you must wait for approval, which will arrive at the email you registered during the process. With the approval email and your passport, you can enter the UK.
- Typically, from the online application, it takes about 3 business days to receive approval. Therefore, if you plan to travel to the UK, it’s recommended to complete the process at least two weeks in advance of your arrival.
- The ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. During that time, you can enter the UK without needing to apply for the ETA again, as long as your stay does not exceed six months.
- The only nationalities that are exempt from applying for the ETA are British and Irish citizens, citizens of other countries who are permanent residents in the UK, and those who have applied for a work or study visa.
Argentinian Passports and Most Latinos
If you have a passport from Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay, or Peru, you don’t need a tourist visa to visit the UK, but you must meet the following requirements:
- Valid passport with an expiration date that does not exceed six months.
2. Apply online for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), a mandatory requirement starting in 2025, if you want to travel to the UK for up to 6 continuous months for tourism. The main features of the ETA are as follows:
- The process is done completely online, filling out a form with personal details.
- The cost of the ETA for the UK is 16 pounds, which will be charged at the time of applying online.
- Once you apply and pay the ETA fee, you must wait for approval, which will arrive at the email you registered during the process. With the approval email and your passport, you can enter the UK.
- Typically, from the online application, it takes about 3 business days to receive approval. Therefore, if you plan to travel to the UK, it’s recommended to complete the process at least two weeks in advance of your arrival.
- The ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. During that time, you can enter the UK without needing to apply for the ETA again, as long as your stay does not exceed six months.
If you have a passport from Bolivia, Colombia, or Ecuador, you need to apply for a visa beforehand to visit the UK. When applying for the visa, you may be exempt from needing the ETA.
If you want to know the requirements for your nationality, you can visit this official UK Government link.
💯 For more information, check out our complete article on how to apply for the UK ETA.
2) What’s the best time to visit London
What a question! This topic definitely belongs in a travel guide to London.
They say the weather is the English people’s favorite conversation topic, the go-to for starting a chat, what they talk about when they don’t know what else to say… so you know. The answer will likely always be the same: “there’ll be some rain, quite a bit of humidity, and it’ll be a bit chilly.”
Depending on the season, the cold can be more intense or less. But you might also get lucky and have a few really nice days, which do happen.
London is a city that welcomes visitors year-round. The best time to visit London is from May to October, especially to enjoy the longer, warmer days. The high season is in July and August, when prices go up significantly.
In winter, it gets dark early and the opening hours of places you want to visit may be shorter. For example, the Changing of the Guard happens daily in summer, but only on certain days in winter.
3) Language in London and what to do if I don’t know English
Obviously, the language spoken in London and England is English. If you don’t know English or only know a little, travel anyway. London has a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to how tourists who don’t speak the language are treated, but you might be surprised—there are many kind people willing to help you.
If you’re really worried about not being able to communicate, you can book transfers and tours in advance. For example: a transfer from the airport to the hotel or you can even take a free tour to explore the city in your language.
4) How to exchange money in London
The currency of England is the pound sterling (pound in English). You can check the daily exchange rate on the following website. We also recommend downloading an app for exchange rates.
Based on my experience traveling around the country, the best option for getting pounds was withdrawing cash from an ATM. Currency exchange offices not only have a worse exchange rate, but they may also charge an additional fee depending on the amount you exchange.
Keep in mind that withdrawing cash from an ATM in London may incur a fee from your card’s issuing bank. However, there are many cards from digital banks like N26 or Revolut that allow you to withdraw cash without a fee.
5) How much does it cost to travel to London
This is the average daily price for visiting London, based on our experience:
- Low price: €40-65 per day per person, considering you stay in a hostel or a very cheap double room, eat at really cheap places (menus, fast food), walk everywhere without using public transport, and visit all the museums that are free.
- Moderate price: €70-100 per day per person, considering you stay in a moderately priced double room, eat at regular places, alternating between cheap and moderate spots, take some transport each day after buying the Oyster Card, and visit a paid attraction.
- High price: €100+ per day per person, but it’s perfectly possible that even being a bit careful, we could reach that price.
Is London expensive?
Yes, but despite that, there are many interesting free things to do in London: the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, and much more! There are hundreds of free things to do in London, so don’t worry too much about this part of the budget.
6) Travel Guide to London: Transportation
How to Get to London
Traveling to London by Plane
From Buenos Aires or Madrid, as well as many capitals in Latin America, there are direct flights to London. One of the best ways to find cheap flights to London, or at least at a good price, is to use flight search engines and be flexible with your dates.
Traveling to London by Eurostar
The train from Paris to London, called Eurostar, gets you to the English capital in just 2 and a half hours. There are stops in Lille or Brussels before crossing the English Channel via the Eurotunnel. You can find good prices if booked well in advance, although there will be some restrictions (like no changes allowed, for example).
How to get from London airports to the city center
It’s no surprise that London has 6 international airports, being one of the most important cities in Europe. These 4 are the ones you’ll recognize: London Heathrow (LHR) to the east, London Gatwick (LGW) to the south, London Stansted (STN), and Luton (LTN) to the north.
Depending on the London airport you arrive at, there are plenty of options to travel to the city center: bus, subway, and train, at least. The faster the trip, the higher the price.
A trip to central London can cost you between 5 and 25 pounds per journey per person (excluding taxis, which are much more expensive). If you don’t check beforehand which transportation option suits you best, it could end up being very costly or take longer than expected to arrive.
To arrive with ease, you can book tickets for the bus transfer from Luton airport or from Gatwick airport to central London.
How to Get Around London with the Oyster Card
A single ticket in zone 1 of London costs £2.40 ($3.15), so before you venture out to take the subway or any other form of transport, you need to know about the Oyster Card which will help you save some money. Here’s a brief summary of what this card is all about.
- It can be used on the subway (London Underground), trains (Overground and National Rail), buses, and trams, mainly.
- On the bus, you can’t pay in cash; you use the Oyster Card, which deducts £1.65 ($2.15) from your balance. If you’re a bus fan, there’s a “Bus Pass” that allows you to use only the bus or tram. The daily pass costs £5 ($6.50).
- It can only be used by one person, so if you’re traveling with someone else, each of you needs to get your own Oyster Card.
- The card itself has a cost of £5 ($6.50). You’ll get part of it back if you return it when you leave.
- There are two types of fare you can add to your card: PAYG or Travelcard. 1) PAYG or Pay As You Go: ideal if you’re going to be in London for just a few days, it deducts from the balance you load. At the end of your stay, any unused amount plus part of the card cost can be refunded. 2) Travelcard: this is the best option if you’re staying at least three days in London. The passes can be daily, weekly, monthly, or annual.
7) Travel Guide to London: Where to Stay
Finding cheap hotels in London is quite a challenge. The “cheap” prices in London are often the “average” prices in continental Europe. So, keep in mind that your budget here might be the highest of your trip to Europe.
The best area to stay is classified as Zone 1 of the metro, but remember that the further east and south you go, the cheaper it gets, while the west and north are pricier. Whatever accommodation you choose, try to make sure it’s close to a metro station so you can reach any part of the city easily.
If you’re staying in a nice hostel in a shared room with other travelers, expect prices starting from £25-30 (≈ $33-40) and up.
For a hotel or B&B with an average rating, a private room can start from £80 (≈ $100). Keep in mind that if you’re going on a weekend, Friday and Saturday nights, prices may be higher due to weekend getaways from other parts of Europe. The same goes for the months of July and August, when the weather is nicer and the city tends to get more visitors.
As for cheap areas to stay in London, the vicinity of King’s Cross and the British Museum is a good option. Two hotels we recommend are:
- Astor Museum Hostel: across from the British Museum, offers clean shared rooms, a communal kitchen, and a small terrace. Ideal if you’re traveling on a budget.
- The Z Hotel Holborn: close to the metro, has simple and comfortable rooms.
A slightly more expensive but very strategic area with nearby bars and restaurants is Covent Garden. Two options we recommend are:
- Fielding Hotel: located in a 19th-century building, features classic and elegant decor. The rooms are spacious with comfortable beds for resting.
- The Z Hotel Soho: while the rooms are a bit small, the hotel is modern with good facilities. It’s just a five-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden.
🏨 Want to search for other options? Find the best accommodation in London here.
8) Travel Guide to London: What to Eat
In this guide to traveling in London, we didn’t want to overlook the topic of “food.” Perhaps the most typical dish of England is “fish & chips”, which is a fried fish fillet with fries, and it’s also one of the cheaper options. But there isn’t a dish you can say: “yes, I was in London” and tried this.
It’s true that while traveling the world, you’ll find “English breakfasts” everywhere. For us, who are used to light breakfasts (a coffee with something sweet), the English breakfast is quite filling.
I don’t know if such a calorie load starts the day with energy or heaviness, but no one can deny it’s the main meal of the day. If you’re up for trying it, get ready to find scrambled eggs, sausage, black pudding, beans in sauce, mushrooms, and a roasted tomato. So light!
A good option for eating well and abundantly is to visit English pubs, which sell combo plates at good prices, around £7-10 (≈ $9-13 USD) plus drinks. Some examples of dishes to order: cumberland sausages and seasoned mash (sausages with mashed potatoes and peas) or british steak and ale pie (meat pie with beer and fries).
You’ll also find nice places to eat salads, paninis, and wraps with some menu options that will cost you about £10 (≈ $13 USD).
9) Curiosities and other things to keep in mind if you’re traveling to London
Plugs
Remember to bring an adapter, as the plug there is different from those in Latin America and Spain.
Watch when crossing the street
On the street corners, you’ll see “look right” or “look left” written. This is for those who might be distracted so they know which side the cars are coming from. In England, they drive on the left, and bus stops will also be on the opposite side.
Speaking of buses, you’ll notice they are all double-decker and red. Although the color is relatively new, in the past, each company painted their buses however they liked.
The Romans were everywhere… were they here too?
Yes, and you can find traces of it near the Tower of London. There are remains of walls and even Roman baths. It’s not the most touristy spot, but you can visit if you have the time.
Does it rain as much as they say?
I’ve visited London many times, and it’s rained very few times. It might stay gray for a long time, but that doesn’t mean it will rain. All of Northern Europe, including Paris, Berlin, or Amsterdam, is quite rainy, but they don’t have as bad a reputation as London.
That said, you’ll probably need to buy an umbrella, but don’t worry—you’ll use it in other cities you visit too.
London is a movie, and you’re the star
London has been the setting for many movies, including Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, Notting Hill… it’s impossible to list them all.
So take your time to explore some area of London at a leisurely pace and feel like the star of your own movie! Just try to avoid the one about Jack the Ripper.
What you need for your trips to Europe
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