London really is a city that has it all: royalty, historic buildings, modern architectural marvels, cosy pubs, wide open green spaces, bustling markets, world-class museums, a theatreland to rival Broadway, and myriad literary links – indeed there are stories and legends everywhere you go.
But with so much on offer, where should you begin when planning your visit? Right here, with our curated guide to the best things to see and do, whatever the season, whatever the weather.
As one of the most festive cities in the world, London comes into its own in winter. It’s a time for wrapping up and enjoying the joyful window displays of some of our most famous buildings, or seeing iconic landmarks framed by twinkling lights. Afterwards, warm up with a cup of cocoa or mulled wine at a Christmas market, or visit a traditional pub for a pint by the fireside.
For the kind of over-the-top Christmas decorations you’d expect from a movie scene, the five-star Langham London hotel in the West End is hard to beat.
In 2025, the spirit of Christmas will be well-and-truly alive at this expansive hotel – which includes 380 rooms and suites and a choice of restaurants – as The Langham partners once more with toy superstore Hamleys to create a magical stay for all. langhamhotels.com
For something a little more intimate, but no less comfortable, try the new London outpost for the popular Surrey Beaverbrook hotel. With just 14 suites across two Georgian townhouses in the heart of fashionable Chelsea, its blend of country-house charm and artistic flair makes it a great base for a little Christmas shopping at nearby Harrods. beaverbrooktownhouse.co.uk
The Christmas decorations at this department store on Piccadilly are the stuff of legend. Having served the great and good of London since 1707, it’s also reassuringly British and specialises in high-quality food hampers, chutneys and tea. It even has a tea-blending hall. fortnumandmason.com
Another long-standing shop, this time leaning more towards gorgeous fabrics and craftsmanship, you can easily lose yourself in Liberty’s six storeys, but you won’t mind in the least.
Built in the 1920s in the Tudor revival style using reclaimed timber from two British battleships, even the building itself is a thing of beauty. libertylondon.com
Normally closed for the winter, this year the historic Royal Mews (within Buckingham Palace’s grounds) will be open as the Royal Collection’s first ever pop-up Christmas shop.
Swing by to shop for royal-themed gifts, such as the Property of the Royal Kitchen range of cooking accessories, inspired by the Great Kitchen at Windsor Castle – the oldest working kitchen in the country. rct.uk/visit/the-royal-mews-buckingham-palace
Rising like a phoenix from the ashes following the Great Fire of London, the unmistakable dome of St Paul’s is a defining feature of the London skyline.
Visit for a carol singing concert like never before, thanks to the incredible acoustics offered by the crowning glory to Sir Christopher Wren’s rebuilt city. stpauls.co.uk/christmas
A little out of the city centre, way out west, this Christmas trail, which runs from mid November to early January each year, is nevertheless one of the UK’s most acclaimed illuminated events, and a feast for the senses.
Expect glittering light tunnels, dancing lakeside reflections, and trees drenched in glorious colour. kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/christmas
Set against the backdrop of Henry VIII’s favourite home, ice skating at Hampton Court Palace, in southwest London, is a royally approved way to glide into the Christmas season.
At Christmas time this historic Tudor palace on the banks of the Thames transforms into an enchanting world of ice, twinkling lights and festive merriment with the ice rink open from 21 November 2025 to 4 January 2026. hamptoncourtpalaceicerink.co.uk
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Until March 2026, you can catch the UK’s first exhibition about one of France’s most famous queens, Marie Antoinette, at South Kensington’s Victoria & Albert museum.
Marie Antoinette Style will explore the sartorial choices of the most fashionable queen in history, and the countless revivals in fashion that she has inspired. vam.ac.uk
For a really British Christmas experience, you could book tickets for a pantomime at one of London’s local theatres, However, for us, the pinnacle of festival stage shows is this beautiful production of a Christmas classic by the English National Ballet (11 December 2025 – 11 January 2026). londoncoliseum.org
As the days start to stretch out and winter becomes but a yawning memory, spring is a time of great promise, with daffodils in the park, picnics on a whim, and new stage shows and exhibitions to look forward to.
By spring, Rosewood London which opened its doors in September 2025, should have settled in, and just a hop and a skip from Hyde Park you’ll be able to make the most of the upturn in weather.
Situated in the former US Embassy in a design-led 1960s building, it promises highly personalised service (including transfers and a car on hand) as well as suite-only rooms, and five on-site food and drink options, including an opulent tearoom. rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-chancery-rosewood
When we think of spring we think of new life and blooming flowers, which is why a visit to London’s well established East End Sunday flower market, is a must. Open from 8am-3pm each Sunday, it’s a great way to soak up the city’s vibrant atmosphere while grabbing coffee on the go and popping into some of the cool vintage shops you’ll find along the way. columbiaroad.info
Covent Garden has had a market in some shape or form since 1654, and though the Eliza Doolittle characters are few and far between today, you can still buy some beautiful items in the Apple Market in the centre of the plaza.
Afterwards, browse some of the smart independent shops and brand outlets that surround the market, in between a little live entertainment-watching, of course. coventgarden.london
Spring is a good time to catch new shows in the West End and in 2026 Ralph Fiennes can be seen in David Hare’s Grace Pervades.
The play tells the story of a love affair between two Victorian stage stars – Ellen Terry and Henry Irving – and has won rave reviews since its run in Bath.trh.co.uk/whatson/grace-pervades
Each year since 1829, the Thames has been the scene of a fiercely contested competition between rowing teams from rival universities, Oxford and Cambridge, as they race between Putney and Mortlake (4 April 2026).
The CHANEL J12 Boat Race itself may last less than 20 minutes, but it’s the camaraderie as spectators gather on the riverbank that’s really good fun. theboatrace.org
For floral displays that will blow you away, plus an elegant crowd and lots of delicious food and drink, don’t miss this annual extravaganza (19-23 May 2026) in one of the city’s smartest neighbourhoods. rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show
About as quintessentially English as sports come, attending a cricket match in the capital is a wonderful thing.
However, this famous sports ground is not just famous for cricket – it was also the setting for the first international football match in England in 1870, followed in 1872 by the first FA Cup. You can find out this and lots more on a behind-the-scenes tour. kiaoval.com
One of the most anticipated shows of 2026 is the Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style fashion exhibition, which will open at the King’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace in spring and run through until autumn.
Highlights include her Norman Hartnell-designed wedding dress, which she wore in 1947, plus the dress the same designer made for her coronation a few years later. rct.uk
Summer in London is busy yet exciting. Locals think nothing of finishing work and walking or cycling to see a stage show or convening on pavements outside pubs. There are outdoor sporting events, all manner of festivals, and plenty of other ways to take advantage of the warmer weather and long days.
There are lots of lovely hotels in London that would be a great match for a summer stay but we’ve picked this one not only for its cool rooftop pool – believe it or not, it does get hot in the city in summer – but for its not-extortionate price (please note: Soho House members get preferred rates).
Set in one of the capital’s trendiest neighbourhoods, it’s also a chance to see a different, more artistic side to London. sohohouse.com/houses/shoreditch-house
There’s something about this part of the city in summer. Perhaps it’s the fact that more boats are going up and down the Regent’s Canal, or the heady mix of tourists and locals, but there’s a different energy and it’s a good time to experience it all as you peruse the many weird and wonderful shops and stalls. camdenmarket.com
Each year in late June, this leafy corner of southwest London comes alive with the promise of world-class tennis as the best players on the planet attempt to emerge victorious from the tournament everyone wants to win.
Tickets can be hard to come by though you can queue up if you are prepared for a long line. Alternatively, bypass the crowds and settle in at one of the lovely pubs in Wimbledon Village and watch from there. You might even see an off-duty tennis superstar or two and yes, you’ll find strawberries and cream there as well. wimbledon.com
An annual event at the Royal Academy of Arts on Piccadilly, this art show is a real higgledy collection of pieces from established artists and amateurs.
As previous years suggest, some bits will be fantastic, some not so much, but with around 1,000 pieces on display, there is surely something for everyone. royalacademy.org.uk
Located within Hyde Park, the meandering Serpentine Lido is home to the oldest swimming club in the world.
From mid-June to September there is public swimming every day and if that’s a bit too daring for you, you could opt for a pedalo or rowing boat instead. royalparks.org.uk
This frenetic, free festival that takes place on the streets of west London is a celebration of the capital’s Caribbean heritage as well as being the largest street festival in Europe.
There are sound systems spread across the streets from Notting Hill through Ladbroke Grove and beyond but for the best atmosphere, come on either the Sunday or Monday morning at 10.30am to see the colourful parade of floats. nhcarnival.org
As the days become shorter and the light starts to fade, autumn is a time to embrace the outdoors while we still can and take a walk along the riverbank, looking for clues to the city’s past as we go.
This unassuming boutique hotel, hidden down a little cobbled lane, in a Georgian townhouse, is a real treasure.
Decadently decorated with hand-carved four-posters, antique chairs and original oil paintings, it’s a grand yet cosy place to escape the sometimes frenetic energy of nearby Spitalfields on an autumnal escape. battylangleys.com
Borough Market (in southeast London) and its Hackney counterpart, Broadway Market, are worth a gander at any time of year. However, in autumn they are stacked with produce fresh from the harvest, with plenty of tastings on offer as you wander, to keep you warm. boroughmarket.org.uk; broadwaymarket.co.uk
You’ve seen it from the ground and from all sorts of angles across the city, now it’s time for you to make your way to the top of Elizabeth Tower to see the famous bell in all its shining glory.
It’s a great idea for late autumn afternoons when you can see the city at its golden best from the top. Please note though, with tours lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes and requiring you to walk up 334 steps, you will need a good level of fitness. parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/big-ben-tour
Visitors to the Tower of London at this time of year will benefit from the atmosphere afforded by the lower light.
Don’t miss the new (for 2025) Medieval Palace exhibition, housed within some of the oldest parts of the Tower of London, including St Thomas’ Tower, the Wakefield Tower and the Lanthorn Tower, which takes a closer look at the kings and queens who lived here during this tumultuous era. hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london
As the leaves fall in autumn, they create a gorgeous display of burnt orange and golden browns on the grounds of the capital’s parks and gardens. The effect is best enjoyed on a walk through one of our gorgeous green spaces, from Greenwich (also home to the Cutty Sark and the many historic buildings of Old Royal Naval College) Primrose Hill or even Richmond Park.
There are few places Londoners like to stroll more on an autumn day than London’s Southbank. This promenade, which has long been considered one of the city’s best cultural quarters, is a great spot to appreciate the river, to people watch and to shop for secondhand books at the stalls beneath Waterloo Bridge near the British Film Institute (BFI). The BFI is a great shout for watching old movies or new arthouse films, while the BFI Film Festival, which runs for two weeks every October, is a highlight of the cultural calendar. whatson.bfi.org.uk
