Sightseeing London

Timetable

In London, museums and historical monuments are open every day. They are not closed on Mondays like in France. Most of them are open between 10am and 5.30pm. Some, such as the Tate Modern or the Victoria and Albert Museum, have late nights on Friday nights until 10pm. The number of visitors doubles on weekends, so it is better to visit during the week.

To be booked

You can often get better prices and discounts for major sights and attractions by booking online directly with the relevant websites. And in London, given the number of tourists and the crowds, it's always best to book in advance. This is especially true for temporary exhibitions, which are highly anticipated and very popular, and which can be booked on the museum websites, or the major monuments such as Westminster Abbey, the London Eye or the Tower of London.

Budget & Tips

London has over 240 museums. Public museums are free. You can enter without paying anything and you have access to all the permanent collections. In many large museums, a donation is welcome, around £3. Temporary exhibitions, on the other hand, are subject to a fee: generally count on about twenty pounds

If you opt for the Visitor Oyster Card, you will also get discounts on some visits. You can also buy the London Pass: it gives free entry to more than 60 tourist attractions and museums, and access to the busiest ones. It can be taken for one day, two days, three days, six days... 1 day: £75. 3 days: £125. 10 days: £199. If you are passionate about the royal family, the Three Palace Pass can be interesting. It costs £65 and includes the Tower of London, Kensington Palace and Hampton Court Palace.

Free museums include : The British Museum, The National Gallery, The Natural History Museum, The Imperial War Museum, The National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Museum of London, The Museum of Science and Industry, The Wallace Collection.

Main events

The Christmas period is particularly magical and allows you to discover or rediscover London and its emblematic streets, Carnaby Street, Regent Street, Oxford Street with all the decorations and a magical atmosphere. During the London Open House weekend, usually in mid-September, many London buildings, usually closed to the public, open their doors. The famous Notting Hill Carnival, on the last weekend in August, is the best opportunity to enjoy the area

Guided tours

You will of course find the great classics: a ride on a double-decker bus(www.bigbustours.com), a boat cruise on the Thames(www.citycruises.com). But you can also turn to something more unusual: a guided tour of the London epic of Charles de Gaulle, a discovery of street-food and markets, visits to the various iconic football stadiums or a speedboat race on the Thames. London has a wide range of themes.

Note that many museums have audio guides in French. Ask for information on site