London, the questions you actually type

Three full days covers the essentials — Tower of London, Westminster, one major museum and a Thames cruise. Five days lets you add a day trip (Windsor or Oxford) and a proper neighbourhood wander. Seven days is the sweet spot for two day trips plus a West End show without rushing. See the day-by-day itineraries.

Late May to September has the best weather and longest daylight, but July and August are the most expensive and most crowded. June and September are the smart compromise — similar conditions, softer prices. Winter (Dec-Feb) is cheapest and quietest if you can handle short, dark, wet days. Full detail in the best-season section.

Very — the big museums are free and kid-friendly (Natural History and Science especially), and the parks, the London Eye and boat trips land well. Build in downtime and don't overpack days; under-11s travel free on the Tube with a fare-paying adult. The Merlin pass (Eye, SEA LIFE, Dungeon) is the easiest way to bundle child-focused paid sights.

Lean into the free museums — the British Museum, Natural History, V&A and Tate Modern are enormous and dry. Add a West End show, a Thames cruise (covered boats exist), or Borough Market for food under cover. Rain is frequent year-round, so always have one indoor plan per day rather than fighting it.

Yes, once — it's the easiest way to grasp the city's layout and the views over the Thames are genuinely good, especially at dusk. It's not a thrill ride, so skip it if heights or slow rotations aren't your thing. Book a timed slot ahead; fast-track is worth it on sunny weekends when the queue runs long.

Only if you want to go up into the glass-floor walkway and engine rooms — that's a paid ticket that sells out on weekends and holidays, so book ahead. Viewing the bridge open for shipping from the pavement is free and needs no ticket; just check the lifting times online before you go. The Tower of London next door is the one to book properly.

For history and architecture fans, yes — it's where coronations happen and holds Poets' Corner and the Coronation Chair, and the audio guide is excellent. At about £30 it's pricey, so if your budget is tight, viewing the exterior and nearby Big Ben for free may be enough. Go early or book a timed slot to avoid the worst of the coach-tour crush. More in the Westminster guide.

Only if you'll hit three or more paid attractions across two to three days. London's great museums are free and don't count toward the maths, so don't let them make a pass look like a bargain. If you're doing mostly free museums plus one paid sight, you lose money — use contactless instead. The full pass maths is in Practical.

The view is the best 360° in the city, but at about £30+ it's pricey for a short visit and it's enclosed, so it's weather-dependent — go on a clear day. A free alternative is the Sky Garden, which has a similar height and view with no entry fee if you book ahead. Choose the Shard if you want the height guaranteed and the crowds smaller.