visiting London?
Start here
You’ve come to the right place for all the practical tips and information on London travel planning.
plug type
The UK uses Type G plugs that has three rectangular pins placed in a triangular shape. This universal travel adapter will have you sorted for the UK and most countries.
currency
The currency used throughout the UK is the Great Britain Pound, (£) also known as pound sterling.
At a glance
tips & resources
Planning a trip abroad can be both exhilarating yet overwhelming, especially when it comes to family travel with younger children. It is easy to go with the flow and improvise as adults but a little trickier with jet lagged and cranky toddlers. For me, the best way to avoid the overwhelm while abroad and prevent major meltdowns is to be as organized as possible prior to the trip.
Here are some tips and resources to help get you planning for a more relaxed and fun family trip to London.
London weather 🌤️
Ah the weather. It is a favorite topic amongst the islanders in the United Kingdom.
There are four seasons in London with the shoulder months a little unpredictable at times. Will it rain in London during your trip? It’s a big maybe!
Thankfully, rainy days in London does not usually last all day long nor does it usually downpour. If you see rain forecasted for your visit do not despair, it is very manageable with a sturdy umbrella or raincoat and there are plenty of things to do in London when it rains anyway. <LINK>
The climate in London is relatively mild all across the board. We had an arctic blast in the first two weeks this January with temperature between 30° to 35°F.
If you come from a cold weather area (I have seen my fair share of Noreasters in Boston!) this might not seem too bad and it’s not, especially when the sun is out. The sun does like to play peek a boo a lot in London so to cover your bases pack layers to ward off the London chill.
Here is a breakdown of the seasons in England:
- Spring from March to May. Temperature tends to range between 45° to 65°F. I think Spring is the most difficult season to plan for as the weather can fluctuate quite a bit. Refer to my post on visiting London in Spring for some tips. <LINK>
- Summer is from June through August. The last few years has seen a relatively nice June, unseasonably chilly part of July and reliable Augusts. The temperature can range from 68° to 75°F. For the most part Summer is a good time to visit London. <LINK>
- Autumn/Fall months are September to November. You can expect temperatures to range between 65° to 45°F. Autumn is probably my favorite season in London especially when the sun is out and the capital is waking up from its summer slumber. September or October are the best months to visit London weather wise. <LINK>
- Winter runs from December to February. How cold does London get in the winter? It can be downright chilly which you can really feel on a cloudy day. Temperature can range from 35° to 45°F during the winter months in London. It rarely snows but every so often we get an occasional dusting much to the jubilation of us all. Mid December is a wonderful time to visit London to take in the Christmas festivities. I am a die hard Boston fan but have to admit Christmas in London is downright magical.
what to know
getting around London
There are numerous options in getting from A to B in London especially if you are headed to major tourist sights. I’ll go into detail on all the options in this dedicated post on Getting Around London but I highly recommend you download TFL Go and Citymapper apps on your smartphone for your trip.
TFL Go shows public transportation routes that are step-free which is especially handy for those with mobility issues or if you are using strollers.
Citymapper is similar to Google Maps but at times I have found that it provides better routes than Google Maps.
Trainline is helpful if you plan on making trips out of London. It will give you the train routes and you can book tickets right on the app.
