All maps of London you will need
If you are planning your trip to London in advance or have just arrived and trying to find your way to the hotel or to any of the many city’s attractions, you will find these printable maps extremely helpful.
London tube map (London underground map)
The London underground map is an essential map to navigate the city. It makes your trips simple, quick and effortless when traveling across London’s underground rail network. This London tube map marks all stations which have access to airports, trams, riverboat services and more. The map is up-to-date, easy to use and printable (pdf). It is a must-have map when you are traveling across London.
London tube map
London bus map
If you don’t fancy traveling by the tube, you will definitely need this map. Using the bus will get you around London easily and cheaply. The map shows the key bus routes in Central London and night bus services.
London bus map
London overground map
Traveling around Central London or exploring areas outside the center will be much easier with this free London overground map. Services go through many stations such as Shoreditch High Street, Stratford, Shepherd’s Bush, Euston, Hampstead Heath, and Kensington Olympia.
London overground map
Docklands Light Railway guides
Looking for the best places for sightseeing, eating or shopping in East London? Discover them with the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). It services key locations such as Stratford (for Westfield Shopping Centre), Canary Wharf and Cutty Sark (for Maritime Greenwich), and North Greenwich (for The O2 Arena).
Get the free map or guides to the DLR.
London Airports map
There are 6 airports in London:
City Airport, Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, Luton Airport, Stansted Airport, and Southend Airport. Take a look at the London airports map and see their proximity to Central London.
London Walking Map
If you prefer to take long walks to explore London, take a look at this map which features walking routes to discover a different perspective of the city. The map features routes such as Central London walks past St Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace, Greenwich Park and the Serpentine, and Olympic highlights such as The O2 Arena.
London walking map
London Cycling routes and maps
If you are looking to explore new areas in London on your bicycle, or just want to save some money on transportation, you will find this free map extremely useful. It features specially signed cycle routes and leisure routes which reveal London’s secret gardens and Saturday markets. Moreover, it marks Cycle Superhighways.
London Cycling routes and maps
London’s River services map
If you are considering traveling on the Thames, you might want to check out the regular Thames Clipper services as well as leisurely boat tours. Services call at Westminster (the Houses of Parliament), Tower (the Tower of London), The London Eye, Embankment (for the West End), and Greenwich (the Maritime museums).
London’s Ricer services map
Tourist map
This free interactive map will help you out to plan your tours and trips in London. You can simply tick the boxes to see whichever attraction you are interested in – museums, parks, historic houses and more.
Tourist map
Facts About London
London is the capital of England and the largest city in the UK (United Kingdom). With a population of 8.8 million, it is the biggest city in the European Union. Situated on the River Thames it has been a major settlement for over 2 millennia and was founded by the Romans with the ancient name of Londinium. London was the biggest city in the world in terms of population from 1831 to 1925. Nowadays it is one of the largest financial centers in the world and one of the most visited cities – more than 19 million in 2016. And if you are wondering who is visiting London – take a look at the chart below.
You will find more infographics at Statista
Here are more interesting facts about London:
- Founded before 2000 years
- Romans were the first to live there.
- Drivers drive on the left side of the road in the UK
- It is the 6th most expensive city in the world to live in
- One of the richest cities with over 70 billionaires
- More than 300 different languages are spoken in London
- Big Ben is not a tower, it is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock.
Things to do in London
With so many different attractions and limited time and budget to spend, you are probably asking yourselves which are the best things to do in London? It is rather difficult to pinpoint several location and activities as it would be rather subjective and shallow to try such an endeavor. Thus we will try to present to you the top attractions, tours and wonderful restaurants in London. We will focus on the most visited and those with the highest ratings by the visitors. So, let’s waste no more time and go straight to the top attractions in London and the near area.
The British Museum
If there is a single place on earth that can keep over 2 million years of the world’s history and culture, that must be The British Museum. It is an outstanding vast museum, housing exquisite pieces from every corner of the globe and era – from prehistoric times to ancient Egyptians, Greek and Romans. There are tens of thousands of artifacts and items curated superbly. Passing from one hall to another will make you feel like a time-traveler – at one moment you are in ancient Egypt, then magically visit Rembrandt or Leonardo da Vinci. The British Museum is the house of some of the most famous objects such as The Elgin Marbles, Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, and Parthenon sculptures. Spending a whole day will barely be enough to complete every section in this superb museum, let alone comprehend what you will read and witness. With over 6 million visitors each year and Free entry, it is a must during your holiday. And if you decide to immerse yourself into the history or culture even further, you can always book a special tour or just skip the lines. Map directions to The British Museum.
Tower of London
Without any doubt, the Tower of London is one of the most famous landmarks of the capital. This historic Tower is also known as the Bloody Tower and was once the prison cell of Sir Walter Raleigh. It houses the Crown Jewels, and the Chapel of Saint John and the Royal Armories. One of the most precious diamonds is exhibited here. Once you are inside, you can join a Warder tour by Beefeaters. These tours run every half an hour and they cover most of the highlights. The Tower of London was built in 1070 by William The Conqueror with 2 main purposes in mind – as a defense building and a palace for the King when in London. One of the most interesting myth is that if even one of the crows that live in the Palace, fly away, the Kingdom will fall.
Tower Bridge
This is another iconic London landmark and one of Britain’s favorite historic sites. It is a crossing point of the Thames, with more than 40 000 pedestrians, cyclists and motorists crossing the bridge every single day. The bridge is an uncommon combination of a suspension and drawbridge that has a crosswalk between the 2 towers of the bridge. It is considered as an engineering wonder of its time. If you are curious how the bridge is raised, you will probably want to take the Tower Bridge Exhibition tour which includes a visit to the magnificent old Victorian Engine rooms, crossing the high-level walkway and climbing the towers. The tour would cost you around 10 pounds, however, the stunning panoramic views of London 42 meters above the Thames is totally worth it! A symbol of London that one cannot miss. Near Tower Bridge is The Tower of London, the other famous landmarks. The nearest metro tube stations are Bermondsey, Tower Hill, and London Bridge.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the home of The British Royal Family that is recognized around the world. The family is famous for its national and royal celebrations and the backdrop to the regular Changing of the Guard ceremony, which most of the tourists love to watch. The Buckingham Palace is open to visitors but the magnificent State Rooms are open for 10 weeks each summer and only on selected dates during the winter and spring. You can take several palace tours for around 60 pounds but that is up to you. The palace is the administrative center of the Kingdom and one of the last running palaces in the world. In the north part apartments, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip live. It is interesting to note that the flag will always be flying if the Queen is in the residence. Being in the middle of London, you can visit it on foot, underground or by bus. It is one of the greatest attraction in London and while you are at it make sure not to miss the Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes around 45 minutes and it is free!
Big Ben
Big Ben is the biggest clock with a bell in the world. The famous clock tower stands at the Houses of Parliament and it is also known as Elizabeth Tower, the clock and the Great Bell. Designed by Augustus Pugin in Gothic style, the tower (96.3 meters tall) was completed in 1859 and the clock started on 31 May. It is without any doubt one of the most prominent symbols of the City and democracy. Currently, all visits to Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower tours are suspended as renovation is underway. Tours are scheduled to resume in 2020.
Nonetheless, a beautiful historical building to behold!
Grand Royale London Hyde Park
Hyde Park is probably the best place to rest or walk outdoor in London. During the summer it is a wonderful area to chill or get some suntan on the beach. It is Placed on the South’s shore of the Serpentine Lake (home to waterfowl and oarsmen). Hyde Park is best known for its famous Speakers corner, too. If you are visiting the park in December, don’t miss the Christmas wonderland with a load of fair activities, eating and drinking venues. The late morning is probably the best time to visit as it gets packed during the afternoon and night.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the UK. It was initially built in 1245 by Henry III as the home of Benedictine monks, then the coronation church. All weddings, funerals, and coronations of the Royal family have been held here since 1066. It contains a treasury full of books, paintings, pavements, textiles, stained glass, and many more artifacts, and the most significant collection of monumental sculptures of the United Kingdom. This amazing old building is packed with British heritage and history. Behold the sheer beauty of the ceiling of the lady chapel (at the eastern side) and the Quire. We will highly recommend you pay the £5 for the guided tour as it adds so much more value to your visit. Moreover, it gives you access to the heart of the abbey – Edward Confessor’s shrine.
The London Eye
The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, is the biggest cantilevered observation wheel in Europe. With over 3 million visitors each year it is a must-do and it has been London’s number one experience for a decade. The Coca-Cola London Eye stands at the south bank of the River of Thames and in the western part of Jubilee gardens. A trip on the Coca-Cola London Eye is truly captivating and with mesmerizing 360-degree views of the City, you might see up to 40 km out of the city to the Windsor castle. From up to 135 meters height the panorama of the capital is especially remarkable at sunset. The trip lasts around 30 minutes. The space in the cabin is quite spacious and there is a sitting area.
National Gallery
The National Gallery holds the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centuries. It is on exhibition 361 days a year and it is free of charge. If there is one single art gallery to visit when in London, then this is the one. With such an enormous collection you can easily spend many hours wandering around, looking at all those masterpieces. Probably the most crowded gallery is the impressionist one, but there is a lot more to see. With a cost of only £2, a map is a worthwhile investment to help you with your visit. A must do even if you are not into arts.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is the largest and the oldest livable castle in the world. Built 900 years ago by Wilhelm the Conqueror, the castle has been enlarged, rebuilt and redecorated many times throughout its history. Queen Elizabeth has spent her childhood here, so it is no huge surprise as she spends most of her private weekends in the castle. If you choose to go there, The Windsor castle offers an extraordinarily varied and rich day out.
Its grounds and surrounding area are quite stunning, especially in the summer as there is a lovely lake. Don’t miss to visit the church part of the castle where Royals get married. A wonderful castle and will definitely make you feel the history.
You can get there by public transport (bus and train) or by car.
Firstly, if you decide to go by car, keep in mind that Windsor is 25 miles west of Central London. Leave via the M4 at Junction 6 and follow signs into Windsor center (or use Google maps navigation). Secondly, it takes about 40-50 minutes of driving and the parking throughout Windsor is controlled and relatively expensive. Nevertheless, if you decide to go there by car (or anywhere else ) you might want to get cheap rental cars.
Well, there you have it, all London maps and London’s point of interest.
As a bonus, we will share some of our favorite restaurants with reasonable pricing to indulge yourselves or your loved ones:
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