Travel Guide for London: The Best Travel Guide in 2025
Planning a trip to London in 2025? This travel guide for London shares the best things to do, budget tips, and personal insights from someone who lived there while training with English National Ballet School.
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Table of Contents
Why I Wrote This Travel Guide for London
In 2024, I lived in London for six months from January to June, while training with the English National Ballet School. It was intense, magical, and just a bit chaotic—especially when navigating the city on a student budget. I got to know London beyond the landmarks, from quiet museums to late-night eats. This travel guide for London is for anyone who wants the best of the city without blowing their entire budget in one day.
Whether you’re into history, food, markets, or dance and the arts (like me), this guide is packed with budget-friendly tips, must-sees, and local favourites.
When to Visit London in 2025
London doesn’t really have an “off-season,” but here’s what I learned from personal experience and friends:
- Spring (March–May): Gorgeous weather, blooming parks, fewer crowds.
- Summer (June–August): Warmest, but busiest and priciest.
- Autumn (September–November): Still mild, with beautiful colors in Hyde Park.
- Winter (December–February): Less touristy, festive lights, but cold and damp.
Tip: January flights are often cheaper, and museums are way less crowded.
📍 Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park ↓
Getting Around London
You don’t need a car to get around London—phew. The Tube (underground metro) and buses will take you everywhere, and are super easy to use. In this travel guide for London, I’ve broken down how to get around easily:
- Get an Oyster Card or use a contactless debit/credit card (I personally only used my debit card when I wasn’t using my student card)
- You have to tap in and out on the metro, but you only tap once when you get on a bus
- Daily cap means you’ll never pay more than £8.50 a day for zones 1–2
- Use Citymapper for live updates on buses and trains. (Though Google/Apple maps also stay pretty up-to-date)
- Uber is still an option, and very commonly used if you don’t feel like braving public transit
Fun fact: London buses don’t take cash anymore—try to avoid being that tourist at the front of the line fumbling for coins.
Where to Stay: Budget to Mid-Range Picks
I lived in Kensington in a student housing building, and while it’s not the cheapest area for accommodations, it’s incredibly safe, central, and beautiful (hello, royal gardens and white stucco buildings). But if you’re visiting, here are some good options:
Best Budget-Friendly Areas:
- Camden – alternative vibe, and markets close by
- Shoreditch – hipster central, cool cafés, street art
- King’s Cross – well-connected, affordable hostels
Places to Stay:
- Wombat’s City Hostel London – has a cool bar, close to the Tower of London
- Generator London – a hostel with a fun social scene as it has a nightclub, and a short walk to Russell Square
- Royal Chulan Hyde Park – close to Notting Hill and Kensington Gardens (stayed here for a few nights while I was getting ready to start at ENBS)
📍 OneFam Hostel across the street from my student housing in the Kensington/Notting Hill area ↓
Must-See Attractions (Yes, The Tourist Stuff Is Worth It)
Even though I was there for ballet, I still made time for the iconic London experiences. And no travel guide for London would be complete without the classic sights—because yes, they’re totally worth it:
Iconic Spots:
- Tower of London – history and drama in one place
- Big Ben & Parliament – iconic photo ops
- Westminster Abbey – where kings and queens are crowned (right next to Big Ben)
- St. Paul’s Cathedral – not to be confused with St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, but still just as beautiful
Most of London’s top museums are free (yes, really), and I loved visiting them on my days off:
- Natural History Museum – fossils, gems, and a giant blue whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling
- The National Art Gallery – free, historic art, and in the center of Trafalgar Square
- Victoria & Albert Museum – my personal fave, right in Kensington with a beautiful sculpture collection
- The Wallace Collection – formerly the principal London residence of the marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, opened to the public as a museum in 1900 (I was lucky enough to have the privilege of performing in this museum)
Pro tip: if you’re looking for a place to get attraction or guide tickets, check out my other blog post on GetYourGuide & Viator
📍 Inside the V&A Museum ↓
Hidden Gems You Shouldn’t Miss
Locations others might pass up on:
- Word on the Water – the most beautiful bookshop on a boat, that also holds music/dance performances
- Holland Park – quieter than Hyde Park, with Kyoto Gardens
- Sky Garden – panoramic city views, free with a reservation (or just pay for a coffee to go up whenever)
- St. Dunstan in the East – burnt ruins of an old church, free to visit and perfect for taking pictures in
- Chinatown – not really a ‘hidden gem’, but definitely worth the visit, especially for the bubble waffle cone ice cream
📍 A dance photo of me at St. Dunstan taken by my mom↓
Food & Coffee on a Budget
London’s food scene is incredible—and doesn’t have to break the bank.
Cheap Eats:
- Dishoom – Breakfast before 11:45am = cheap & magical
- Bao Soho – Taiwanese buns from £6
- Brick Lane Bagel Shop – 24/7 and under £5
- Markets: Borough Market, Camden Market, and Maltby Street Market (though personally, I found them way too crowded for my liking)
Popular Coffee Spots:
- Pastada in Kensington – super cute coffee/brunch place with great music
- Monmouth Coffee – worth the queue
- Flat White in Soho – strong and stylish
📍 Pastada – near my student housing in Kensington with very aesthetic decor↓
Best Free Things to Do in London
You can fill your days without spending a pound:
- Walk along the South Bank
- Explore Notting Hill on a Saturday morning
- Go birdwatch the swans in Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park
- Catch free street performances at Covent Garden
- Check out Buckingham Palace & St. James Park
And of course, there’s nothing better than just sitting in a park with a Tesco meal deal and people-watching.
Nightlife & Going Out
I didn’t go out much myself, but if you’re into dancing (off stage), London’s nightlife definitely has options:
- XOYO (Shoreditch) – legendary club nights
- Jazz Cafe (Camden) – small but mighty
- The Asparagus (Battersea) – a little out of the way, but my friends and I loved it
- Pub Crawls – either by yourself, or you could find a tour
Day Trips From London
Need a break from the city buzz? Here’s some day trips just outside of London:
- Oxford – charming university town, 1 hour by train
- Brighton – beachy and quirky, under 2 hours (I visited Eastbourne myself, not far from Brighton)
- Windsor Castle – royals and a day-long escape = win
- Richmond Park – technically in London, but I hear from friends it feels like Narnia
📍 Cliffs and lighthouse at Eastbourne ↓
Final Thoughts: My London Advice
London is busy, quirky, historic, modern, beautiful, and sometimes wet all in one day. That’s what makes it magical. Whether you’re there for a week or a season, this travel guide for London helps you make the most of your time—even if you can’t see it all. I encourage you to wander, try random snacks, hop on a bus going nowhere, and just enjoy being in one of the greatest cities on earth.
P.S. If you can fit it into your budget, I highly recommend seeing a live performance of a musical in the West End, or a ballet at the Royal Opera House or Saddler’s Wells. The experience of live theatre is truly unmatched to any other.
FAQ: London Travel Guide 2025
Is London expensive to visit?
Yes—but it doesn’t have to be. Many of the best things to see are free, and you can eat well on a budget if you plan ahead. (p.s Tesco is amazing)
What’s the best way to get around London?
The Tube is fast, but buses are cheaper and offer views, but I liked to use a combination of both.
Where should I stay in London for a first visit?
Kensington is beautiful and safe; Shoreditch or King’s Cross offer better budget options.
Is it safe for solo travellers?
Absolutely. Just use common sense at night and in commonly crowded places like Oxford Circus and Trafalgar Square. London is generally very safe.
What’s the #1 thing you’d recommend?
Take a stroll through Kensington Gardens with a coffee in hand. I may be biased, but it truly never gets old.
Some of my experiences in London!
