London : Why go there?
London : The good reasons to go
A world city
Ten times the size of Paris, 300 languages are spoken here!
A thousand and one nights
Camden pub-concert, East End electro party, West End shows. Let's go out!
Fashion
Trendy boutiques, vintage thrift shops, markets and designers: a shopper's paradise.
The music
It's the city of Bowie, Mods, Britpop and punk. London Calling!
The ads
They are a living heritage as much as a built heritage, with a certain soul and unlikely names.
The red buses
Climb aboard one of these famous double-deckers for an unforgettable ride.
The architecture
Gothic churches, Victorian houses, futuristic City buildings: it's all here!
Free museums
It has countless fine museums, many of which are free.
The Royal Parks
London's splendid parks offer 2,200 hectares of greenery and activities in the heart of the city.
The royal family
Emblematic of the UK, its news punctuates local life like a series.
London : Good to know to visit
Timetable
In London, museums and historic monuments are open every day. There are no Monday closures as in France. Most are open between 10am and 5:30pm. Some have late-night opening on Friday evenings until 10pm. Visitor numbers double at weekends, so it's best to visit during the week.
To be booked
You can often get better prices and discounts for major monuments and tourist attractions by booking online directly on the relevant sites. And in London, given the number of tourists and the crowds, it's always best to book. This is particularly true of the much-anticipated and much-appreciated temporary exhibitions, which can be booked on museum sites, or major monuments such as Westminster Abbey, the London Eye or the Tower of London.
Budget & Tips
London has over 200 museums. Some of the public museums are free. You enter without paying anything, and have access to all the permanent collections. In many of the larger museums, a donation is welcome, starting at £5. Temporary exhibitions, on the other hand, are not free.
If you opt for the Visitor Oyster Card (to be ordered online before your arrival in London), you'll benefit from discounts on certain visits. You can also opt for the London Pass, which offers free entry to over 90 tourist attractions and museums, as well as unrestricted access to the busiest places. It is available for one or more days, with the following prices for adults: 1 day: £79, 2 days: £104, 3 days: £129, 4 days: £144, 5 days: £154, 6 days: £169, 7 days: £179, 10 days: £209. The more expensive London Pass Plus includes all the activities of the London Pass, plus four additional exclusive experiences (Big Bus, The London Eye...).
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 Science and Industry, The Wallace Collection.
Hundreds of free audio guides and explanations of works of art are available on the Bloomberg Connects app, free to download on Apple and Android. The tours are often translated into French, for listening or reading, and sometimes include videos with interviews, mini-reports... A great way to deepen your visit to museums, monuments and even London neighborhoods and temporary exhibitions. Once downloaded, the application is geolocation-enabled, so you can choose what's available around you, or use the search bar.
Main events
Christmas is a particularly magical time to discover or rediscover London and its iconic streets, Carnaby Street, Regent Street and Oxford Street, with all their decorations and 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
Of course, you'll 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 opt for the more unusual: a guided tour of Charles de Gaulle's London epic, a discovery of street food and markets, visits to iconic soccer stadiums or a speedboat race on the Thames. There's something for everyone in London.
Many museums have audio guides in French. Ask for details on site.
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London : Discover
London is a bustling world-city, rich in history, culture and art, where sport and gastronomy also play a fundamental role. It's the city of the Royal Family and its fascinating adventures, a city that knows how to set itself apart from the rest of the country through its political and social choices. When you think of London, it's impossible not to think of literature and theater, from Shakespeare's round theater to Oliver Twist's London, or to forget its soccer clubs with such famous names: Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal... Fans of architecture will not be left out and will enjoy exciting visits to London, from Victorian mansions to Renzo Piano's ultra-modern Shard. Of course, London is also the capital of fashion and vintage, of markets, pop and punk. A surprising city always on the move, sometimes exhausting, but always stimulating.
