Orientation London

Those who are in a big city for the first time often have an orientation problem. The following short information is meant to help tourists to find their way in London faster.

Where is the center of the city ?

Where exactly the center of London? It is not entirely uncontroversial. There is a so-called Centre Point. This is the official centre of the city of London. On this point there is a skyscraper. On the skyscraper, which is partly visible from a greater distance because of its height, there is “Centre Point” in big letters. The Centre Point is located about 1,5 km north of the Thames. The nearest underground station is Tottenham Court Road, less than 100 metres from Centre Point. There is a tall house at the Centre Point (see picture).

Tip: Excursion from London Harry Potter Film Studios by Bus (Warner Brothers Studio Tour)

However, the official centre is not the felt centre of the city for all Londoners and tourists. For many, the true centre of London is the Picadilly Circus, a square about 1000 metres south-west of the Centre Point. The Piccadilly Circus is about 800 metres from the River Thames. Others say that the centre of London is Oxford Road, the city’s main shopping street. This street is only a few hundred metres west of the Centre Point.

Tickets for the London Eye Ferris wheel can be found on this website

Where are the big sights in London ?

Most of the sights of London are in a rectangle north of the Thames. It is about 5 km long (from east to west) and 2 km high (from south to north). Boundary points: In the west it is Hyde Park, in the east Tower Bridge, in the south Thames and in the north Centre Point. Some newer important sightseeings are also south of the Thames, but then mostly directly at the shore. These are for example the Tate Modern Museum or the London Ferris Wheel.

Top 10 London sights on the city map

>>> list places of interest London

The River Thames as a landmark

In the direct centre, the Thames flows from west to east. The river divides the city into two parts and is a very important landmark. There are many bridges across the Thames. All can be used by pedestrians. The Thames is therefore no obstacle for visitors to London.

Boat tours in London The Thames flows through the middle of London. Many different boat tours are offered on the river. An overview of about 10 boat trips in London for 2023 can be found on the following link, all of them can be booked online: >>>   At Getyourguide you can buy tickets for the ships on the river Thames

Tip: Harry Potter excursion (Warner Brothers Studio Tour) One of the popular excursions in London is to the film studios where the Harry Potter films were shot. The Warner Brothers studios are located about 30 kilometres north of London near the town of Watford. The tour includes a bus transfer from central London and has very good reviews. A “must” for every Harry Potter fan on holiday in London. The trip by bus and the visit to the film studios takes about 7 hours. You should book early,the popular Harry Potter excursion from London is often sold out.The alternative journey by public transport is not that easy.The excursion to Warner Brothers Studios is the highlight of the trip for manyLondon holidaymakers. You can find more info and book the tour on this page.

Can I see London on foot or do I need the subway?

That of course depends on how good you are on foot and how long you have. If one divides the visit of the centre of London into 2-3 days, one does not necessarily need the subway. But the feet will hurt in the evening. It is a good idea to divide the city centre into east and west. The eastern main attraction is the Harrods department store, the most western probably the Tower Bridge. A day on foot is definitely not enough for everything. 3 days are ideal. But those who want to visit museums should plan some extra days.

However, a subway ticket is absolutely necessary for the sights outside the city centre. These are for example the Camden Market, Greenwich, the Docklands or the world-famous wax museum London.

What is Inner London and Outer London ?

These two terms are often heard in London. It is the fundamental division of London into two parts.

Inner London are the 12 Boroughs (boroughs) in the inner area of London. Alone beware: Inner London is huge. You can travel 15 km and more and still be in Inner London! Inner London has about 3 million inhabitants and 320 km². Almost all sightseeings are in Inner London.

Outer London: These are the remaining 20 Boroughs of London, outside the centre. Outer London has a diameter of about 40-50 km, an area of 1250 km² and 5 million inhabitants.

The best parking garage in Venice is Autorimessa Comunale, the prices and location.

Besides London, Stonehendge is one of the most popular destinations in southern England.

City map of London

Tourists who want to see a lot of London definitely need a good city map to find the sights. If you know your way around on a mobile phone (smartphone), you can download the Google Maps of London, for example. Many people still prefer a paper map.

Our tip: London Pass The best city ticket for tourists. It includes free entry to the Tower, London Zoo, Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle and The Shard skyscraper. Plus a city tour by bus and a great boat trip on the Thames. A total of about 85 attractions included! The London Pass is available for 1 day or several days (up to 10 days). Pays off for almost every tourist who wants to visit the sights and the city of London. Our recommendation for a city trip to London! >>> More info and booking

 

Book a complete trip to London

Our favourite site for booking a package holiday to London (flight and accommodation) is Check24. Probably nowhere else are there so many extremely cheap offers for travel to London: the selection of hotels, guesthouses and holiday flats is gigantic Click Here

Tower of London: It’s better to buy tickets in advance on the internet. I can’t say this often enough: the waiting time at the ticket office in front of the entrance to the Tower of London is often hours. On this website you can buy tickets for Tower London online. Cancellations up to one day before the visit are free of charge with this provider.  Tickets for the Tower of London are available here  » » »

Where are the major sights in London?

Most of London’s sights are in a rectangle north of the Thames. It is about 5 km long (from east to west) and 2 km high (from south to north). Boundary points: Hyde Park to the west approximately, Tower Bridge to the east, the Thames to the south and Centre Point to the north. Some newer important sights are also south of the Thames, but then mostly directly on the banks. These are, for example, the Tate Modern Museum or the London Ferris Wheel.

Tip: Harry Potter excursion (Warner Brothers Studio Tour) One of the popular excursions in London is to the film studios, where the Harry Potter films were shot. The location of the studios of Warner Brothers is about 30 kilometres north of London near the town of Watford. near the town of Watford. The tour includes a bus transfer from London and has very good reviews. A “must” for every Harry Potter fan on holiday in London. The trip by bus and the visit to the film studios takes around 7 hours. You should book early, the popular Harry Potter excursion from London is often sold out. The alternative journey by public transport is not so easy. The excursion to the Warner Brothers Studios is for many London holidaymakers the highlight of their trip. On this page you can find more info and book the tour.