How to Plan a Trip to London from the US
Planning a trip to London from the US? This complete guide covers flights, visas, best times to visit, where to stay, and how to budget your trip.
May 2026
The Perfect 5-Day London Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Plan your first visit with this 5-day London itinerary — Westminster, the City, Kensington, East London and Greenwich, with tips for US visitors.
What Your English Surname Reveals About Your London Ancestors
If your last name is Smith, Fletcher, or Cooper, your ancestors had a trade. If it’s Richmond, Clifford, or Windsor, they lived somewhere specific. Here’s how to decode your English surname — and what it says about your London roots.
The Palace That Nobody Wanted — Until Queen Victoria Changed Everything
Buckingham Palace was built for a duke, rejected by two kings, and nearly became a car park. Discover the remarkable story of how it finally became Britain’s most famous royal home — plus get weekly London stories free in our newsletter.
The Best Day Trips from London for US Visitors
The best day trips from London for US visitors — Bath, Oxford, Windsor, Stonehenge, and Cambridge. All reachable by train, with tips for each.
The City Within London Where Even Locals Get Lost — and Love It
Inside the Barbican Estate — London’s most extraordinary hidden world, with its own lake, waterfall, and secret tropical conservatory — plus get weekly London stories free in our newsletter.
The London Cathedral Most Tourists Walk Past — and Instantly Regret It
Westminster Cathedral is London’s most dramatic free interior — a Byzantine masterpiece near Victoria Station that most tourists walk straight past — plus get weekly London stories free in our newsletter.
The Part of London Everyone Avoided — and Now Everyone Wants to See
Discover how King’s Cross went from London’s most notorious area to its most exciting neighbourhood. Plus get weekly London stories free in our newsletter.
The London Tea Tradition That Started With a Hungry Duchess in 1840
Discover the London afternoon tea tradition: where to go, what to order, and the rules nobody tells you. Plus get weekly London stories free in our newsletter.
The Nature Reserve That Makes You Forget You’re Still in London
Walthamstow Wetlands is Europe’s largest urban nature reserve — free to enter and just 15 minutes from central London. Discover its kingfishers, herons and wild open skies — plus get weekly London stories free in our newsletter.