citytripo

What to book before going to London

The London base has 15 stops. Booking ahead is required at 0 of them and advised at 7. The rest you can walk up to.

Data checked on October 4, 2026

Booking saves you the queue

  • Tower of London

    Booking advised

    Book a ticket online for your date. Walk-up tickets mean a queue at the ticket office.

    Open 10:00 am–5:30 pm · last entry 4:30 pm

    Closes 17:30 now, with last entry at 16:30. From the last weekend of October it closes at 16:30 and the last entry moves to 15:00. It opens at 10:00 on Mondays and Sundays and at 09:00 Tuesday to Saturday.

    See tickets

    Source: Historic Royal Palaces, checked October 4, 2026

  • Westminster Abbey

    Booking advisedClosed Sun

    Buy a ticket online for your date. Tickets are also sold at the door.

    Open 9:30 am–1:00 pm

    Closed to sightseeing on Sundays. Monday to Friday 09:30 to 15:30, Saturday 09:00 to 13:00. Some days are shorter, for example Wednesday 7 October closes at noon, so check your date in the official calendar.

    See tickets

    Source: Westminster Abbey, checked October 4, 2026

  • British Museum

    Booking advisedFree

    A free timed ticket is recommended. It gives priority entry in busy periods, and queues are likely without one.

    Open 10:00 am–5:00 pm

    Open daily 10:00 to 17:00, and until 20:30 on Fridays. Closed 24 to 26 December.

    Source: The British Museum, checked October 4, 2026

  • St Paul's Cathedral

    Booking advisedClosed Sun

    Booking online is the fastest way in. Walk-up tickets are sold, and you can choose a time on the website.

    Open 8:30 am–4:30 pm · last entry 4:00 pm

    Sightseeing Monday to Saturday 08:30 to 16:30, with last entry at 16:00. Closed to sightseeing on Sundays, although the Dome Galleries open on Sundays until 25 October.

    See tickets

    Source: St Paul's Cathedral, checked October 4, 2026

  • London Eye

    Booking advised

    Book a timed ticket in advance. The time on the ticket is when you join the queue, and the wait can reach 45 minutes at peak times.

    Open 11:00 am–6:00 pm

    Hours change through the year and by day. Now it opens 11:00 to 18:00 Sunday to Thursday and 10:00 to 20:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. From 23 October it opens 10:00 to 20:30 daily. Closed for maintenance in January.

    See tickets

    Source: The London Eye, checked October 4, 2026

  • Tower Bridge

    Booking advised

    Book in advance. The queue to enter is outdoors, so allow extra time.

    Open 9:30 am–6:00 pm · last entry 5:00 pm

    Open daily 09:30 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00. Closed 24 to 26 December.

    See tickets

    Source: Tower Bridge, checked October 4, 2026

  • Natural History Museum

    Booking advisedFree

    Entry is free. A free entry ticket skips queues at weekends and school holidays.

    Open 10:00 am–5:50 pm · last entry 5:30 pm

    Open daily 10:00 to 17:50, with last entry at 17:30. Closed Friday 9 October 2026 and 24 to 26 December.

    Source: Natural History Museum, checked October 4, 2026

No booking needed

Turn up when it suits the day.

  • Big Ben and Parliament SquareFree
  • National GalleryFree
  • Buckingham PalaceFree
  • Borough MarketFree
  • Covent GardenFree
  • Hyde ParkFree
  • Tate ModernFree
  • Trafalgar SquareFree

Other ways to plan London