What to see in London ?

London operates through autonomous neighbourhoods, each with its own logic: Shoreditch bears no resemblance to Chelsea, and Brixton has nothing to do with Notting Hill. The city has built itself in successive layers since Roman times, and this stratification is still readable in the architecture, accents, and markets. The British Museum or Tate Modern are not boxes to tick, but entry points into entire sections of the city.

September and October offer the best compromise between acceptable weather and reduced crowds. Allow at least four days to go beyond the surface. The Underground remains the most efficient way to move around, with a rechargeable Oyster card available from the airport. Avoid concentrating your stay on zone 1: the interesting addresses are often in zones 2 or 3, where prices drop and authenticity rises.