The Ultimate London Booking Guide: What to Reserve in Advance
Planning a trip to London and not sure what to book in advance? While some activities can be booked on arrival, others sell out quickly and require advance reservations. This Ultimate London Booking Guide will prevent you from being disappointed- so make sure you save it!
As an American living in London since 2013, I’ve had time to learn what you should reserve in advance and what can wait. Sometimes I discovered this the hard way, and I don’t want this to happen when you are visiting London for a limited time.
This guide ensures you secure the best experiences without missing out. Whether you are booking hotels, must-see attractions, seasonal events or day trips, this breakdown will help you plan effectively.
It’s organised by priority. So, you’ll find things you need to reserve as soon as you know your London trip is official and things that can be decided on a day that you are here.
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London Booking Guide: Book ASAP!
Some experiences in London are so popular that waiting too long to book could mean missing out entirely. If these are on your list, secure your reservations as early as possible.
But the first thing to secure once you have an idea of the things to do in London that interest you- is to book a hotel near them!
Hotels in central london
- Best Location: Staying in or near the most central location in London maximises your time here. It’s the top piece of advice I give in all my videos. This is especially true for people visiting London for the first time. They are often extremely surprised at how big London is compared to cities like New York. Additionally, they’re shocked at how crowded it is during peak times.
- Luxury and Boutique Options: High-end hotels like The Savoy, The Ritz and The Goring often sell out months in advance.
- Affluent Mid-Range Stays: Consider hotels in Covent Garden, Mayfair or Westminster for a balance of luxury and accessibility.
Hotels
If you haven’t booked your hotel yet for your London trip, here’s an interactive map to get you started! It’s based on the most central location in town.
seasonal events
- Buckingham Palace Tours: only available 10 July-28 September 2025. They tend to sell out.
- Christmas at Kew: One of the most magical holiday experiences, featuring stunning light displays in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Tickets sell out fast. It was Mr Sunny’s favourite event to attend last year for Christmas in London.
- Miracle Bar: A festive pop-up bar that books up almost immediately. Walk-ins are possible on weekdays in the early evening, but reservations are strongly recommended. We were lucky enough to score a walk-in spot on the first Monday it was open. We had to wait 30 minutes in the downstairs bar (which was expensive). But, the time we were in Miracle Bar seated at the bar was fun. It’s highly unlikely walk-ins would get a table.
- Chelsea Flower Show: One of London’s most prestigious annual events, drawing visitors from around the world.
- Wimbledon: A bucket-list event for tennis fans, requiring applications for tickets well in advance.
theatre and live shows
London’s theatre scene is fantastic! Many productions sell out weeks or months in advance. This is especially true if they feature global or British celebrities like Vanessa Williams, Lindsay Lohan, Cate Blanchette, Tom Hiddleston, Lily Collins or Daniel Radcliffe.
Book through TodayTix for the best prices and availability. Mr Sunny and I have booked from theatres’ websites but have found the best deals on TodayTix. This is especially true when they have London Theatre Week.
Shows I Have Attended
- The Book of Mormon
- Tina
- Back to the Future
- The Lion King
- Wicked
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child- this is a two part show so you would need to be able to attend both performances.
- Mamma Mia! The Party – A unique dining and theatrical experience that must be booked ahead. This is different from the West End show and is located at the O2 in Greenwich
Other Popular & Highly Rated Shows
- Moulin Rouge!
- Matilda
- Les Misérables
- MJ the Musical
- Phantom of the Opera
- Six
- Mrs Doubtfire
- Stranger Things
TOP ATTRACTIONS
- London Eye: The most popular tourist attraction in the city. Even with the London Pass, you must book a timed entry slot.
- Tower of London: One of the best historical experiences in London. I suggest during peak travel times that you book a Private Tour with a Beefeater. This is different from the free public tours that can include 100+ visitors.
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter: Extremely popular and tickets can sell out months in advance. You book an entry time. It is not general admission like many American theme park attractions. It’s also quite a distance from Central London so you may wish to consider a coach tour and classify it as a day trip.
- Royal Albert Hall– limited tours on certain days but a really nice tour for those who love music.
eurostar travel
If your London trip will follow visiting Paris or other areas of France, you should travel on Eurostar. (Or if you are leaving London to go Paris). I’ve found it best to book directly on their website. Otherwise, you will be facing very high prices. If it’s a last minute visit, it’s best to book a flight if cost is a concern.
Without a doubt, Eurostar offers the most convenient way to travel from England to France.
- London to Paris & Beyond: Booking early means lower fares and guaranteed availability.
- Peak Travel Times: Weekends and holidays book up very quickly.
- Insider Tips: Read my Taking the Eurostar: Your Ideal Train from London to Paris for everything you need to know about taking the train from London to Paris.
additional attractions
- Sky Garden – a popular location to take in the views of London for free. Tickets need to be booked to avoid waiting in a long queue and for guaranteed entry. They are usually released on Mondays. You should try to book ahead a few weeks from your intended visit.
- Horizon 22 – Also a popular viewing location and currently the highest in London. Tickets are also free and should be booked in advance of your visit.
- Museum Exhibitions– if you want to attend a special exhibition at one of London’s museums, it’s likely you will need to pay for that entry ticket. They do tend to sell out. Also, include exhibitions at Kensington Palace or Windsor Castle in this category.
London Booking Guide: It Depends
Some attractions and tours are best booked in advance but may have same-day availability depending on the season and demand.
day trips from london
If you want to visit locations outside of London, booking ahead is recommended, but some coach tours may still have last-minute spots a few days before.
Please don’t make the stereotypical mistake that train travel is cheap in the UK. It’s actually very expensive. Many Londoners will tell you it can be cheaper to fly to the continent and back, rather than take a train from one UK destination to another.
- Harry Potter Studio Tour – A must for fans. You can organise your own travel via transport for London and be in control of your visit times. Using this route means you don’t have to book travel ahead but it could take around 60-90 minutes to get to the studio from Central London.
- Stonehenge, Bath & Windsor Tours – Coach tours should be booked in advance. I highly recommend NOT doing all three in one day, unless you enjoy traveling on a ver tight schedule. Windsor can easily fill an entire day and travel doesn’t need to be booked in advance. However, you MUST check to see if Windsor Castle will be open the day you visit. AND book your entry tickets ahead of time. Please watch my YouTube video on Visiting Windsor Castle Tips to learn about what happened during one of my visits with my mother.
- Oxford or Cambridge Day Trips – Easy to do on your own with train tickets booked ahead.
If you want to go for it on your own for day trips, book train travel through Trainline. It’s the website my husband and I use. It’s also applicable for some countries in Europe. However, I would advise Eurostar’s website for travel to the continent and then booking separate tickets to your final destination. It’s essential to book these as far in advance as possible!
the london pass
The London Pass can be a great way to save money, but only if you plan your days wisely. It offers access to dozens of top attractions. However, to get the best value, you need to visit multiple sites in one day.
If you’re only planning to visit one or two attractions daily, purchasing individual tickets may be more cost-effective. However, for travellers keen to experience as much as possible, the pass can offer substantial savings.
Key benefits of the London Pass:
- Skip-the-line entry at select attractions
- Over 80+ attractions included
- Access to the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus for flexible sightseeing
Sample One-Day London Pass Itinerary:
To maximise value, group attractions near each other. Here’s an itinerary that works well with the pass:
- Morning: Tower of London (Arrive early to see the Crown Jewels before the crowds)
- Midday: Thames River Cruise (Hop on a boat to Westminster for scenic views)
- Afternoon: London Eye, Churchill War Rooms or Westminster Abbey (All within walking distance)
- Evening: The View from The Shard (End the day with panoramic views of London).
This itinerary covers some of London’s most famous attractions while minimising travel time. Note- you MUST book The London Eye and The View from the Shard times in advance.
dining & food activities
- Afternoon Tea – High-end venues like The Ritz and Claridge’s require reservations weeks or months in advance. Other venues are several days. Always book ahead if you have dietary concerns.
- Themed Dining Experiences – Consider Mamma Mia! The Party for an interactive theatre and dining experience. Research the location of the venue before pairing it with other activities during the day. It’s about 20 minutes on a train from Central London.
- Bustronome Fine Dining on a bus. You can have lunch, dinner or afternoon tea. Read my Bustronome review to understand what’s involved.
- Afternoon Tea and Dinner Cruises on the Thames – A scenic and unique way to experience the city. Read my review of Afternoon Tea and Thames River Cruise to learn more about the experience.
- You may also find my Afternoon Tea Etiquette Guide with more details helpful.
London Booking Guide: Later or on Arrival
Some experiences offer plenty of availability, making advance reservations unnecessary.
- Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tours – Tickets can be purchased on the day with minimal risk of missing out.
- Museums & Galleries – The British Museum, National Gallery and V&A Museum have free entry and rarely require advance booking. However, if you do book ahead, you will avoid standing in a queue for a long time during peak travel times.
- Pubs & Bars – While high-end cocktail bars require reservations, very few traditional pubs do.
- Walking Tours – Many walking tours, including Jack the Ripper and Harry Potter tours, allow for booking 2-3 days in advance.
Smart Booking & Travel Tools
Maximise your trip with the best tools and resources:
- Hotels– Use the map above to find the best deals.
- Theatre Tickets– TodayTix for West End shows.
- Attractions– The London Pass saves money on multiple attractions, if you want to do many within one or more consecutive days.
- Transport-Book Eurostar or Trainline for train travel efficiency.
- Day Trips & Tours– Book experiences via Get Your Guide for easy planning.
Personal Consultation
With all these options, you could be feeling a bit overwhelmed. But, I have a solution for that.
Because I have always wanted to just call a local to help me plan a trip to a big city I’ve never visited, I began one-on-one London travel consultations. These are Q&A sessions you can book with me to help you plan the perfect itinerary based on your interests and budget.
With over a decade of experience in London’s travel and hospitality industry, I provide insider recommendations and expert advice. Book a consultation through my online booking system to get the most out of your visit.
Or, if you don’t have specific questions about what would match your interests or London trip plans, you can get our London Travel Planner.
What activities are you looking forward to the most for your London trip? Let’s make sure they’re on your London itinerary!
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