Tourist Attractions & Monuments London

Timetable

In London, museums and historic monuments are open every day. There are no Monday closures as in France. Most are open between 10am and 5:30pm. Some have late-night opening hours on Friday evenings until 10pm. Visitor numbers double at weekends, so it's best to visit during the week.

To be booked

You can often get better prices and discounts for the main monuments and tourist attractions, by booking online directly on the relevant sites. And in London, given the number of tourists and the crowds, it's always best to book. This is particularly true of the much-anticipated and much-appreciated temporary exhibitions, which can be booked on museum sites, or major monuments such as Westminster Abbey, the London Eye or the Tower of London.

Budget & Tips

London has over 200 museums. Some of the public museums are free. You enter without paying anything, and have access to all the permanent collections. In many of the larger museums, a donation is welcome, starting at £5. Temporary exhibitions, on the other hand, are not free.

If you opt for the Visitor Oyster Card, you'll benefit from discounts on certain visits. You can also opt for the London Pass, which offers free entry to over 90 tourist attractions and museums, as well as unrestricted access to the busiest places. It is available for one or more days, with the following prices for adults: 1 day: £114, 2 days: £159, 3 days: £184, 4 days: £209, 5 days: £224, 6 days: £239, 7 days: £254, 10 days: £289.

Free museums include : The British Museum, The National Gallery, The Natural History Museum, The Imperial War Museum, The National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Museum of Science and Industry, The Wallace Collection.

Main events

Christmas is a particularly enchanting time to discover or rediscover London and its iconic streets, Carnaby Street, Regent Street and Oxford Street, with all their decorations and magical atmosphere. During the London Open House weekend, usually in mid-September, many London buildings, usually closed to the public, open their doors. The famous Notting Hill Carnival, on the last weekend in August, is the best opportunity to enjoy the area.

Guided tours

Of course, you'll find the great classics: a ride on a double-decker bus(www.bigbustours.com), a boat cruise on the Thames(www.citycruises.com). But you can also opt for the more unusual: a guided tour of Charles de Gaulle's London epic, a discovery of street food and markets, visits to iconic soccer stadiums or a speedboat race on the Thames. There's something for everyone in London.

Many museums have audio guides in French. Ask for details on site.