Why go to London? The 10 good reasons to go London
Free museums
It has countless fine museums, many of which are free.
Fashion
Trendy boutiques, vintage thrift shops, markets and designers: a shopper's paradise.
The music
It's the city of Bowie, Mods, Brit pop and punk. London Calling!
The ads
They are a living heritage as much as a built heritage, with a certain soul and unlikely names.
A world city
Ten times the size of Paris, 300 languages are spoken here!
The architecture
Gothic churches, Victorian houses, futuristic City buildings: it's all here!
A thousand and one nights
Camden pub-concert, East End electro night, West End shows. Let's go out!
The red buses
Climb into the front of one of these famous double decker for an unforgettable ride.
The Royal Parks
London's splendid parks offer 2,200 hectares of greenery and activities right in the heart of the city.
The royal family
Emblematic of the UK, its news punctuates local life like a series.
What to visit London?
Good to know to visit London
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 hours 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 the main 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 public museums are free. You enter without paying anything and have access to all the permanent collections. In many major museums, a donation is welcome, from £5. Temporary exhibitions, on the other hand, are not free.
If you opt for the Visitor Oyster Card, 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: £89, 2 days: £124, 3 days: £137, 4 days: £149, 5 days: £164, 6 days: £169, 7 days: £179, 10 days: £199.
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.
Main events
Christmas is a particularly enchanting 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.
