London

May, June, and September are the sweet spots — 18–22°C, the least rainy months of the year, long daylight hours, and the parks at their best. July and August are warmer (up to 28°C in heatwaves) but extremely busy with European holidaymakers, and London hotels do NOT all have air conditioning. November–February is cold, dark by 4pm, and frequently grey — but hotel prices drop dramatically and the Christmas markets and West End theatre season are exceptional. Avoid school holidays (mid-July to early September, Christmas week, half-term breaks) if you want better hotel prices.

The London Underground (the Tube) is the second-oldest metro on earth and remains the dominant way to move across the city. Get an Oyster card or use contactless payment with your bank card (capped daily, no Oyster needed). Buses are excellent for short distances and let you see the city, but slower than the Tube during rush hour. Black cabs are everywhere and the drivers genuinely know the city (they pass a 4-year exam called The Knowledge); Uber/Bolt are cheaper alternatives. Walking is the most underrated way to see central London — Covent Garden to South Bank to Westminster to Mayfair is one of the world's great urban walks.

London's food has transformed since the early 2000s into one of the world's most cosmopolitan dining cities. The best Indian food outside the subcontinent is here (Dishoom, Gymkhana, Tayyabs in Whitechapel). The Sichuan and Cantonese scenes in Chinatown and beyond rival what you'd get in mainland China. Contemporary British (St JOHN, The Quality Chop House, Lyle's) has rehabilitated the country's culinary reputation. For pub food, the gastropub revolution started here — The Eagle in Farringdon is the original, The Marksman in Hackney is the contemporary best. Borough Market for groceries and snacking, Maltby Street for the same with smaller crowds.