Two Sapphic Hags' Explore London Series Introduction - a what to do in London travel guide | Blog header image features ceiling of the natural history museum in Kensington, London

Introducing Explore London: What to Do in London

Q: Where is London? Is London a city? Is London a Country? Is London in Europe?

It’s in the southeast part of England, around an hour/hour and a half from the coast. Yes, no, and yes, well, technically. London isn’t a country, but it is the capital of a country (England) and also the largest city in both the country and the United Kingdom, which includes England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Land-wise, England is also part of Europe even though it’s an island and not physically connected to the continent. However, politically/governmentally, it isn’t in the European Union (EU), so it has a different set of visa rules when entering.

Q: What’s the weather like in London?

It’s not as rainy as you’d think. When we announced we were moving to London, there were numerous family members asking why’d we want to move to a place it rains all the time. Well, spoiler, it doesn’t. (Also, some of those people are assholes, so * shrugs *.) It only rains around 106 days a year in the city, so that’s basically only one-third of the year. And while there are days it pisses down miserably, many of those rainy days, you’ll get a bit of light rain, then the sun comes out. After living in Dublin, I can say the weather in London is nothing to be worried about. Bring an umbrella, dress in layers.

Q: What’s the best month to go to London?

The best time of year to visit the city depends on personal preferences, but in my opinion, April and October are the best months to explore London. They both offer good weather – mostly sunny but not too hot, which is great because AC is limited in this country, and you will melt once June hits. These months also miss the higher tourist levels of summer when European schools are out, which can save visitors time and money as fewer people means less competition and better pricing.

Q: What are some things to do in London as a first time visitor?

There’s no lack of things to do in London, but for first-time visitors, hitting the major tourist spots is a great way to dip your toe into the city. Popular options include the London Eye, which is a giant ferris wheel across the Thames from Westminster Abbey, along with other landmarks, like the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and The Shard. Signing up for one of the London tours is an easy way to see all the big hitters in one go if planning it yourself feels overwhelming.

Q: Is London expensive to visit?

In short, yes, London is not a cheap city. However, it’s also totally possible to explore London on a budget. The city has an incredible historic and art scene, and many of the galleries are free to the public. Believe me, you can easily spend a day browsing just the free exhibits at spots like the National History Museum and The National Gallery. With the right research and planning, you can also get to and stay in London fairly affordably.

Q: What attractions are free in London?

I think the best spots in the city don’t cost a penny. Some of the best free things to do in London include: The National Gallery, the National History Museum, the British Museum, the National Maritime Museum, the Queen’s House, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Millennium Bridge, and Greenwich Park. Also, Tower Bridge is incredible to see in person – many tourists mistake it for London Bridge, but if you go to London Bridge, you can get a great picture of Tower Bridge in the background.

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Conditions related to safety, laws, healthcare, entry requirements, and LGBTQ+ acceptance can change rapidly and may vary by region. This article is based on research and personal experience and is not professional advice. Reviews are our own personal opinions based on individual experiences. We do not guarantee the quality, safety, legality, or suitability of any business, service, or destination. Always check official government sources and local regulations before traveling. Read our Disclaimer Policy for more details.

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After two years living in Greater London, I feel like we’ve barely scratched the surface of what it offers. It’s a BIG city – 607 sq miles over 32 boroughs with 8.5+ million people – with tons of sights to see and experiences to be had. I mean, our neighborhood has a higher population than the small town I grew up in, so I completely understand that visitors and new arrivals alike can feel overwhelmed and don’t know what to do in London.

That’s why we’re starting a new blog series called Explore London. It’s going to introduce both our readers and us to the city, one borough at a time. Dive into the details, below.

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Introducing Explore London: Getting to Know the City

What Is It?

Explore London is going to physically tour each borough or specific area of a borough in detail. The goal is for us – and you, the reader – is to get to know London. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still full of touristy spots, but we’re hoping to show how you can traverse each area and get more from your visit to it by offering a full itinerary for the day. This process involves a detailed written guide as well as a visual (video) tour guide of the focus area.

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Who Is It For?

At Hags, everything we do is created first and foremost for sapphic and lesbian travelers (<3 you babes), but Explore London is also a useful guide for any couple or solo traveler, whether it’s your first or fifth trip to The Big Smoke. This group includes anyone from the U.K. who hasn’t spent a lot of time in the city.

If all goes as planned, I think the series will also serve as a valuable resource for proper Londerers. I know that growing up in a place, it’s easy to overlook areas that aren’t your home turf. Hopefully, Explore London can entice a few locals to spend some time in parts of the city they may not have given a second glance to before.

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What to Expect

We plan to stop by London points of interest in each area, but if possible, we’re hoping to provide a more detailed and indepth exploration with the nitty-gritty details that are often overlooked with other travel guides. As a very thorough pre-travel researcher, I’d like this content to eliminate any travel or exploration anxiety that comes with visiting a new place. Think not just what to see, but how to see it, which entrance to use, how to get from one spot to the next, where are the closest train or tube stations, etc.

From each Explore London, you can expect:

Blog: Learn about the space, get a full itinerary, and learn the tips and tricks for a successful day.
Vlog: We’ve filmed our journey so that you know what to expect and what to look out for – no travel anxiety here, gang.

The vlogs will live on YouTube, but I’ll embed the video into each blog for easy viewing. I’ll also share small snippets and exclusive footage on TikTok and Instagram, so be sure to follow Hags there for the most well-rounded guide.

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Find Out What to Do in London via Our Sapphic Travel Blog

We’re not London experts yet; we only moved here from the U.S. in 2023, and one of those years since, we were in Dublin. But I think that actually makes us the perfect people to have a series about exploring the city. As we find what to do in London, you can too! Follow along, and come explore with us.

Thanks for stopping by and hearing about our new Explore London travel series! We hope it’s not the last time we get to connect – stay in touch to figure out what to do in London on your next visit by joining our mailing list (at the bottom of this page) or follow us on socials (links below).

More Sapphic Travel Tips, Tricks, & Reviews

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✔️ How to Move to the UK
✔️ Iceland Travel Guide
✔️ Iceland Travel Journal

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What to Do in London FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about London that you may find helpful, but the algorithm definitely will. * wink *

It’s in the southeast part of England, around an hour/hour and a half from the coast. Yes, no, and yes, well, technically. London isn’t a country, but it is the capital of a country (England) and also the largest city in both the country and the United Kingdom, which includes England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Land-wise, England is also part of Europe even though it’s an island and not physically connected to the continent. However, politically/governmentally, it isn’t in the European Union (EU), so it has a different set of visa rules when entering.

It’s not as rainy as you’d think. When we announced we were moving to London, there were numerous family members asking why’d we want to move to a place it rains all the time. Well, spoiler, it doesn’t. (Also, some of those people are assholes, so * shrugs *.) It only rains around 106 days a year in the city, so that’s basically only one-third of the year. And while there are days it pisses down miserably, many of those rainy days, you’ll get a bit of light rain, then the sun comes out. After living in Dublin, I can say the weather in London is nothing to be worried about. Bring an umbrella, dress in layers.

The best time of year to visit the city depends on personal preferences, but in my opinion, April and October are the best months to explore London. They both offer good weather – mostly sunny but not too hot, which is great because AC is limited in this country, and you will melt once June hits. These months also miss the higher tourist levels of summer when European schools are out, which can save visitors time and money as fewer people means less competition and better pricing.

There’s no lack of things to do in London, but for first-time visitors, hitting the major tourist spots is a great way to dip your toe into the city. Popular options include the London Eye, which is a giant ferris wheel across the Thames from Westminster Abbey, along with other landmarks, like the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and The Shard. Signing up for one of the London tours is an easy way to see all the big hitters in one go if planning it yourself feels overwhelming.

In short, yes, London is not a cheap city. However, it’s also totally possible to explore London on a budget. The city has an incredible historic and art scene, and many of the galleries are free to the public. Believe me, you can easily spend a day browsing just the free exhibits at spots like the National History Museum and The National Gallery. With the right research and planning, you can also get to and stay in London fairly affordably.

I think the best spots in the city don’t cost a penny. Some of the best free things to do in London include: The National Gallery, the National History Museum, the British Museum, the National Maritime Museum, the Queen’s House, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Millennium Bridge, and Greenwich Park. Also, Tower Bridge is incredible to see in person – many tourists mistake it for London Bridge, but if you go to London Bridge, you can get a great picture of Tower Bridge in the background.

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