London tours and tickets
London has many free museums and a few attractions that need booking. The Tower of London and Warner Bros. Studio Tour should be booked weeks ahead, Sky Garden slots open three weeks before, and the big West End shows sell out. The British Museum, the National Gallery and the Natural History Museum are free, with optional timed slots.
Book these first
- Tower of London
- 2 to 4 weeks ahead, longer for weekends and school holidays. Tickets are sold for set dates and time slots, and many sell out in advance.
- Sky Garden
- Three weeks ahead, when slots open. Entry is free, but you need a ticket, and each visit is limited to one hour.
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
- Several weeks ahead. Tickets must be booked in advance, and the tour is outside central London, so allow most of a day.
- West End shows
- Weeks ahead for the biggest shows. For everything else, the TKTS booth in Leicester Square sells same-day tickets.
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Museums and galleries
British Museum
A vast museum with the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and Egyptian mummies. Entry is free, and a free timed ticket is recommended. Guided tours and audio guides are sold.
Which to pick. Reserve a free slot online and go early. A guided highlights tour helps you cut through the size of the museum.
A day or two ahead, free ticketVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorNational Gallery
A painting collection from the 13th century to the 1900s in Trafalgar Square, with free entry. A free ticket gives fast-track entry.
Which to pick. Book a free slot, and choose a few rooms rather than trying them all. A guided tour is optional, though it helps with the main rooms.
A free ticket is optionalOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorNatural History Museum
A large museum with dinosaurs, a blue whale skeleton and gems. Entry is free, and a free ticket is optional.
Which to pick. Go on a weekday morning to avoid queues. Skip a tour unless you have children.
A free ticket is optionalOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Monuments and landmarks
Tower of London
A medieval fortress with the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and guided tours by the Yeoman Warders. Entry is by ticket, and queues for the Jewels build by late morning.
Which to pick. Buy the ticket online for the first slot, and join a Yeoman Warder tour. Weekends and school holidays sell out.
2 to 4 weeks aheadVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorTower Bridge Exhibition
A visit to the high-level walkways and engine rooms of the bridge, with glass floors and a view of the river.
Which to pick. Buy a timed ticket online, which opens up to 8 weeks ahead. A tour is not needed.
A week aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorSky Garden
A free garden and viewing gallery at the top of a skyscraper. Free tickets open three weeks ahead and go quickly.
Which to pick. Book as soon as the slots appear. A walk-in space is rare, and a drink in the bar is an alternative.
Free tickets open 3 weeks aheadVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorWestminster Abbey
A Gothic coronation church with royal tombs and Poets' Corner. Entry is by ticket, with audio guides. Photography is not allowed inside.
Which to pick. Buy online for a morning slot. A guided tour is available and worth it for the history.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorSt Paul's Cathedral
A cathedral with a dome you can climb, a whispering gallery and a crypt. Entry has a timed ticket, and audio guides are included.
Which to pick. Buy online for the morning, and climb the dome early for fewer people. The whispering gallery is the most popular stretch.
A day or two aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Experiences and nights out
West End show
Musicals and plays in the theater district around Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Seats for the biggest shows sell out weeks ahead.
Which to pick. Book from the theater's own site or a licensed seller. Same-day tickets are possible for lesser-known shows.
Weeks ahead for the big showsOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorWarner Bros. Studio Tour London
A large studio complex outside the city with sets, props and costumes from the Harry Potter films. Entry is by timed ticket, and the visit takes at least three hours.
Which to pick. Book as soon as your dates are set, since slots sell out. Choose a morning slot, and plan transport.
Several weeks aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorThames river cruise
Sightseeing boats run along the river between Westminster and Greenwich, with commentary on the sights. Commuter river buses are the cheaper alternative if you do not need a guide.
Which to pick. Choose a scheduled sightseeing boat and buy on the day. A dinner cruise is a meal first.
On the day is fineTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Windsor
A castle that is a royal residence, about 40 minutes by train. State rooms open on most days. Audio guides are included.
Which to pick. Book a timed ticket online. Check for closures when the royal family is in residence.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorOxford
A university city of colleges, about an hour by train. Many colleges charge entry and have limited opening hours, and guided walks cover the main sights and the history of the university.
Which to pick. Book a college tour or a walk with a guide, since entry to the colleges varies. Allow a full day, and check opening times first.
A few days aheadTours and tickets on ViatorCambridge
A university city on the river Cam, about an hour by train. King's College Chapel has timed entry, and punting is the highlight.
Which to pick. Book the punt or the chapel ahead in summer. A guide is optional, though a walk helps you find the colleges and the river.
A few days ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorBath
A Georgian spa city with Roman baths and a crescent of honey-colored houses, about 90 minutes by train. The baths have timed tickets, and audio guides are included.
Which to pick. Book the baths for a morning slot, then add the Royal Crescent on foot. A small guided walk is useful if you want the architecture explained.
A few days ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in London
- London PassA pass for many London attractions, sold for a set number of days. It suits a short stay with many paid sights. You still need timed tickets for some, and it does not cover transport. Compare with single tickets before buying. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in London
Which London museums are free?
The British Museum, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the Science Museum and the Tate Modern all have free permanent collections.
Can I get Sky Garden tickets on the day?
Rarely. Free slots open three weeks ahead and go fast. A booked table in the bar or restaurant is the alternative.
Are West End tickets cheaper on the day?
Some theaters sell day seats. For the biggest shows, they sell out, so book ahead.
Is the London Pass worth it?
Only if you plan many paid sights in a few days. Many top sights here are free, which reduces the saving.
Can I cancel attraction tickets?
Most are fixed to a date and slot. Some allow changes up to a day ahead. Read the terms before paying.
What can wait until I arrive?
The museums, the Thames boats, Westminster Abbey and St Paul's can be arranged a day or two ahead. Book the Tower of London, Sky Garden, the studio tour and a big show first.