London, Your Way: Beyond the Must-See Sights

Royal traditions, neighborhood discoveries, West End theatre, and why the best London itinerary is the one designed around you.

London is one of those cities where you could spend a week visiting famous landmarks and still feel like you've barely scratched the surface.

Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and Westminster Abbey are all worth seeing. But after spending time in London recently, I was reminded that some of my favorite travel experiences aren't necessarily the big attractions. They're the moments when you really get a feel for a place.

That's what I love about London. It has so much history and tradition, but it's also modern, fashionable, and full of energy. And depending on what you enjoy, two people could visit London and have completely different experiences.

Start With the Big Picture

One thing I love to do when visiting a city for the first time is get an overview of it early in my trip.

It helps me get my bearings, understand where things are, and figure out which areas I want to spend more time exploring.

In London, there are a couple of great ways to do this.

The London Eye gives you incredible views across the city. During the approximately 30-minute rotation, you can spot landmarks like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and St Paul's Cathedral from above.

Another fun option is a sightseeing tour on one of London's iconic double-decker buses. Sitting upstairs gives you a completely different perspective as you travel through the city and past its famous landmarks.

I love including something like this on the first day of an itinerary. Once you've gotten an overview of the city, everything starts to make a little more sense.

The Neighborhoods Are Part of the Experience

I absolutely love Covent Garden.

The beautiful buildings, shops, restaurants, theatres, and lively streets make it one of my favorite areas to wander. I could easily spend an entire afternoon there without having much of a plan.

During my recent visit, I walked through Leicester Square, where the Christmas market was starting to take shape. There were food stalls, holiday decorations, and ice skating nearby. London was just beginning to get ready for Christmas, and the whole area felt so festive.

It's those little moments that make me love traveling.

It's also why I put so much thought into where my clients stay. A hotel isn't just somewhere to sleep. It's the neighborhood you walk out into each morning, the restaurants nearby, and how easy it is to get to the things you want to see.

If you love theatre, restaurants, shopping, and exploring on foot, Covent Garden is hard to beat.

Mayfair is a great choice if you're looking for luxury hotels, beautiful streets, designer shopping, and excellent restaurants.

South Kensington has a completely different feel and is especially appealing for families and museum lovers. You'll find the Victoria and Albert Museum, with its incredible collections of art, fashion, and design, along with the Natural History Museum and Science Museum.

And here's something fun I discovered. You can actually spend the night at the Natural History Museum! Their Dino Snores events offer overnight experiences for both children and adults, including the chance to sleep beneath the enormous blue whale skeleton.

How fun would that be for a family visiting London?

These are exactly the kinds of experiences I love finding for my clients.

Choosing the right neighborhood really can change your entire London experience.

The Royal Traditions Are Worth Experiencing

One of my favorite things about London is its connection to the British royal family.

What I find so fascinating is that you're visiting places that are hundreds of years old and are STILL being used today.

Windsor Castle was one of the highlights of my trip. It's been a royal residence for more than 900 years, and it's not just a museum. It's still a working royal palace.

They even host state banquets there for visiting heads of state. St George's Hall can accommodate 160 guests for these formal dinners.

I loved walking through the State Apartments and thinking about all the history that has happened in those rooms, knowing they're still being used for royal events today.

The Changing of the Guard is another tradition I think is worth experiencing. The uniforms, music, and ceremony are such a uniquely British experience.

The trick with these experiences is knowing how to fit everything together. Some attractions require advance reservations, and others depend on schedules or whether the royal family is using the property.

A little planning makes a big difference.

There's Nothing Quite Like London's West End

London is one of the best cities in the world for theatre, and the number of shows to choose from is incredible.

During my trip, I saw Hadestown, which I'd wanted to see for years, and The Devil Wears Prada. It was fun hearing the London accents incorporated into a musical!

I love the idea of making an entire evening out of going to the theatre. Have dinner at a nearby restaurant, see a show, and then walk through the city afterward.

And because there are so many different types of productions, I think it's important to choose a show based on what you actually enjoy rather than simply what's most popular.

Leave Time for the Unexpected

I love planning trips, obviously. But I also think it's important not to plan every single minute.

There are experiences that absolutely need to be reserved ahead of time, especially popular attractions, private tours, theatre tickets, and great restaurants.

But I also want my clients to have time to wander into a beautiful shop, stop for lunch somewhere that catches their eye, or explore a neighborhood they fall in love with.

Some travelers want a full schedule with lots of sightseeing. Others would rather have a slower pace with great food, shopping, and a few special experiences.

I enjoy both kinds of travel, and I think most trips benefit from a combination of the two.

It's all about finding the right balance.

A Few Practical Things I Loved About London

I have to mention London's black cabs because I loved them!

Every driver I had was friendly, helpful, and professional. The cabs were clean, comfortable, and many can fit up to six passengers, which is especially convenient for families or small groups.

The Underground is also an excellent way to get around. Once you understand how it works, it's surprisingly easy. You can even use a contactless credit card or your phone to tap in and out.

And London has a fantastic food scene. Indian food is such a big part of British food culture, and you'll find everything from traditional pubs to incredible international restaurants.

Knowing these little things before you arrive can make navigating a big city so much easier.

London, Designed Around You

One thing I've learned from traveling is that the best trips aren't necessarily the ones where you see the most attractions or stay in the most expensive hotels.

They're the ones that feel right for you.

For a family, I might plan a day exploring Windsor Castle, a fun afternoon tea inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or even a sleepover at the Natural History Museum.

For a couple celebrating an anniversary, I'd look at beautiful hotels, private touring, fantastic restaurants, and time to explore London's neighborhoods.

And for someone who loves shopping, theatre, and food, I'd build a completely different itinerary.

That's what I love about being a travel advisor. I get to learn what my clients enjoy and then create a trip around those interests. From choosing the right hotel to arranging tours and experiences they might not even know exist, I love putting all those details together.

London has so much to offer, and there's no reason everyone should experience it the same way.

Planning a London getaway? I'd love to help you experience the city in a way that's completely your own.

Heather is the founder of HD Travel Studio. She writes here occasionally, between trips.