Is London Worth Visiting in 2026? What I’d tell First-Time Visitors

ContentbyJess — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 07:29:23 +0000

London is a city I regularily visit. But I know what many think about her: Too touristy, too grey, too predictable. And yet, every time I visit I find myself humming “There’s no place like London” under my breath. London surprised me, in all the best ways. It’s not just a city of red buses and Big Ben. It’s layers of history hiding in quiet alleys. It’s a perfectly brewed tea in a bookshop café. It’s the thrill of watching your assumptions melt away, one cobblestone street at a time. And discovering new places every single time.

Here’s what I loved, what I didn’t expect, and a few things I’d do differently, if you’re heading to London for the first time in 2025.

What Surprised Me Most About London

1. London has a softness

If you know where to look. Behind the fast pace and crowds, I found pockets of absolute stillness: pastel rowhouses in Notting Hill at sunrise, Sunday mornings in Hampstead Heath and the hush of Daunt Books, where time seemed to stop.

2. The food scene is actually incredible.

Gone are the days of soggy fish and chips being your only option. London is a global food capital now and you can eat very well without going broke. There’s everything from classic pub cuisine to haute cuisine and a lovely afternoon tea time in different levels of elegant. From hidden spaces, to street food, to sky bars. Londons kitchens don’t disappoint.

3. It’s surprisingly walkable

I walked 30,000+ steps in a day and didn’t even notice. The city unfolds in layers: Georgian townhomes give way to brutalist galleries and suddenly you’re standing in front of Tower Bridge without even trying. And it’s quite easy to navigate public transportation or take an Uber Boat across the Themse if you just can’t walk anymore.

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What I’d Do Differently Next Time

Stay in a different neighborhood. I stayed near Shoreditch and loved the hotel, but next time, I’d book in Bloomsbury or Marylebone for a more romantic, quiet vibe or London East to be more central in the fray, depending on what I am planning to do. Book key tickets in advance. I missed out on the Afternoon Tea and a few exhibitions that had been on my list. London’s always busy, lesson learned.

Bring better shoes. Trust me. Cute and functional is the only acceptable combo in this city.

Plan for more special events. From Afternoon Tea to musicals and theatre, London is full of fun times and just a few days are never enough to cover them all.

What I Loved Most

The bookstores. The layered accents. The many free activities. The golden hour light on the Thames. But most of all, the way London made me feel like I was part of something bigger. Like I was walking through every chapter of a story I didn’t know I needed to read. And that keeps me returning there every year.

Before you go:

Planning your first trip to London or Europe in general? I have 7 hacks I swear by as a full-time worker to help you plan your trip, as well as some tips on traveling to Europe during shoulder season.