12 Reasons Why London Is My Favourite City in the World

In 2023, I touched down in London for my 9th visit in 11 years. Every single time I return to London, I fall more and more in love, happily calling London my favourite city in the world.

This city totally has my heart and if it wasn’t so hard on the wallet, I’d move there in a minute. But until that happens, I’m content to be a continual London tourist taking any chance I get to set foot in this world class city!

Not sold on The Old Smoke? Check out the 12 reasons why my favourite city, London, might become yours too!

Plus, check out my itinerary for how to spend 3 days in London!

1. Public transit: The London tube is easy, efficient and fun to use!

“Mind the gap between the train and the platform.” Just hearing that, in a posh British accent, puts a big smile on my face. When I took my first tube ride way back in 2012, I was so amazed by this enormous network of underground trains. I couldn’t believe how many lines there were, how much land they covered and how far underground they really went.

You can literally get anywhere in London via tube. In fact, in over a decade of visiting London, I have only ever taken one cab and one bus (and both of those were just to try out the iconic black cabs and the double-decker buses) – everything else was via the famous London Underground! For English speakers, the tube is also easy to navigate with maps and apps, clear signage, and English speaking employees who can help.

Back in the day you had to have an Oyster card or paper ticket to use the tube but now you can simply tap on and off with a credit card, making London public transit even easier for visitors. No need to load money onto a card, worry you haven’t paid the right fare or fret about losing a paper ticket.

Of course, the tube has its flaws. Getting on the tube at rush hour on a hot day? Not fun! And if you’re over six feet tall, you’re going to have a hard time squeezing into some of the compartments. But all of that stress melts away when you consider what you could be paying to take an Uber or taxi across the city. Plus, then you wouldn’t get to giggle like a 12 year old when you hear the voiceover announce, “This is a Piccadilly line train with service to Cockfosters.”

2. Voices: All the accents in London are amazing

It’s so fun to listen to people talk in accents that I don’t usually hear in my everyday life. Not being British, I can’t quite distinguish between the different types of British/UK accents. I just know they all sound cool!

And even cooler when they use fun UK English words like “jumper” (sweater) and “queue” (line) that we don’t usually hear in North America. And unfortunately, I’m one of those horrible tourists who start using the local lingo after only a couple of days in London. “I’ll just throw my rubbish in that bin by the lift” is a real life sentence I have said because I’m the worst.

Not only do you get to hear English accents in London but accents from all over the UK, Europe and the world speaking all sorts of languages. One of main reasons why London is my favourite city is because of all of the cultures, countries, religions, races and people who call it home.

3. History: Be wowed by the past in London

I love that in Europe, you can pass a church that has been around for 500 years and no one even bats an eye. It’s just another church. No big deal; there’s another one on the next block. That sort of thing just doesn’t exist in Canada! I love walking through streets and into buildings knowing that these have been around for ages.

If you’re a history buff, London is a great place to visit. It’s home to incredible museums (many of which are free!) and attractions where you can learn about British history like the Tower of London and the British Museum.

Of course, there are some really ugly parts of Britain’s history that still wreak havoc on our modern world. While we don’t need to celebrate all of Britain’s history, I do think it’s important to learn about it on a trip to London.

4. Size: I love that London is a big city

For some people, the fact that London is so big is a turn off. But for me, I love it! I grew up in downtown Toronto and I love a big city with lots of people, fast-moving traffic and loud noises. The sounds of sirens and streetcars lulled me to sleep as a kid.

As a visitor, I absolutely love having a huge city to explore. The idea of a small town sounds idyllic in theory – but I know I would be bored in an hour. Thanks to London’s size, I know I will never run out of neighbourhoods, restaurants, shops, parks or attractions to explore no matter how many times I return to London.

5. Beauty: All of London’s beautiful buildings & neighbourhoods

How can you walk through the streets of Notting Hill and not fall in love? Those Easter-egg hued houses, little independent shops and the outdoor market on the weekend? I would move in tomorrow if I could.

London is chock-a-block (a British term I heard used in Manchester and hope I am using right) with cool neighbourhoods, interesting markets and gorgeous buildings. I love the little brick houses, towering churches, bright parks, bridges over the Thames and awesome food markets.

Sadly I haven’t made it too far out of Central London on any of my trips but I know there are even better, cooler and more affordable neighbourhoods for me to discover on the next trip.

6. Diversity: There’s something for everyone in London!

I don’t understand people who don’t like London. There is something here for absolutely everyone! Whether you’re into sports, arts, nightlife or nature, you will find something here. There’s all types of foods, languages and activities. There are even things to satisfy every budget (though I know living in London is a whole different expense).

While London is probably best known for museums, history, royalty and theatre (more on that below), you don’t have to be into any of those things to enjoy a visit to London. You can spend your time watching a football match (aka soccer game), exploring parks, going on boat rides, eating food from every corner of the world, shopping, reading and even hiking around the city.

Like Samuel Johnson once said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” If you don’t think you’d find something to interest you in London, I encourage you to give it a try. I’m positive you’d find something about London to love.

7. Theatre scene: London’s West End musicals are the best

Musicals are one of my huge loves in life. I used to perform in musicals when I was younger but these days, I just belt along to the tunes in the shower (and in the kitchen, and at my desk, and so on!). You don’t want to be my next door neighbour when I’m going for the high notes in Defying Gravity. So one of the reasons why London is my favourite city is the awesome musical and live theatre scene in the West End.

Every time I have visited London, I’ve seen a musical. Usually more like two or three! I love that there are so many shows playing all the time to cater to different theatre tastes and that getting discount tickets is super easy. Many of the theatres offer rush tickets or hold lotteries, or allow you to book discounted tickets through resellers, like TKTS and TodayTix. With so many options of what to see and how much you want to pay for it, theatre is a lot more accessible to everyone.

There’s nothing like seeing a musical or play in real life. I get the hugest smile on my face when I hear an actress belting out an impossible note, watch a company nail an intricate dance sequence, or see a stage transform with unbelievable sets and costumes. Live theatre is amazing and some of the best money I’ve ever spent!

8. Food & drink: Enjoy afternoon tea, Indian food & more in my favourite city, London

People are always ragging on British food. And, to be honest, mushy peas or bangers and mash don’t really do it for me either. But afternoon tea? I can definitely get on board with that. Tea, scones, cakes and mini sandwiches can be delicious!

Plus, with London being such a huge and diverse city, there’s lots of great food to be had from all over the world. London is well known for its awesome Indian food. I’ve also had some great ramen and Chinese baos in London. A visit to Borough Market will have you inhaling the scents of the global food scene, mouth-watering and ready to eat it all.

London is also great if you want to eat on a budget. Pret A Manger (found on every corner) is definitely one of my London staples. It’s so easy to pop in and grab a drink, sandwich and snack for just a few pounds. I highly recommend the hoisin duck wrap and the cranberries in coats!

9. Royalty: London is home to the British royal family (if that’s your thing)

I know the British royal family is not for everyone. While Canada is a commonwealth country under the British monarch, I don’t feel a deep allegiance to or affection for the crown and struggle to see where the monarchy fits into modern society. That being said, they are certainly a subject of fascination and a draw to London for many people.

Back in university, I was a pretty big fan of the royals. By that, I mean that I had a Kate and Will wall calendar and followed Kensington Palace on Facebook. Like many famous people that I admired in my youth, their appeal has lost its shine for me now as an adult. I’m still interested (I did read Spare after all), but I wouldn’t say I’m a supportive superfan.

That being said, my visits to London then and now have had royal themes. It would be a shame to visit London and not walk by famous places like Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey. I liked touring Windsor Castle in 2014 and wondering if the Queen was home. I also happened to be in town during Trooping the Colour in 2012 and 2014, allowing me to get a glimpse of the royal family on the palace balcony. I hadn’t planned my trip around the event but will admit it was cool to see Kate and Will in real life!

10. Pop culture: Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes and more call London home

If you’re a pop culture enthusiast, odds are one of your favourite TV shows, movies or books was filmed, set, written or created in London. From Sherlock Holmes and James Bond to Paddington Bear and Harry Potter, you’d be hard pressed to find a London-based character or story you aren’t familiar with.

Fans can visit Sherlock’s home on Baker Street or the Paddington Bear store at Paddington Station. You can walk the streets of Notting Hill like Hugh Grant did in the movie by the same name, head to Bridget Jones’ favourite bar or order James Bond’s signature drink. And, of course, if you’re a Potterhead (despite not supporting the transphobic author who should not be named), London is full of must-visit stops like King’s Cross Station, the Millennium Bridge, and a visit out to the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

11. Travel opportunities: Access to the rest of Europe is so easy from London!

One of the reasons why I would love to live in London and why London is my favourite city in the world is because it’s so accessible. You can get almost anywhere in Europe from London. And usually the cheapest flights are into and out of one of London’s many airports.

When we lived abroad in Prague, I regularly saw flights in and out of London for less than $50 round trip.

London also has an extensive train and bus network that can connect you around the UK and even over to mainland Europe. While the trains can be pricy, sales do pop up occasionally and sometimes it’s worth it to pay a bit more for a train to avoid the hassle of getting to and from an airport.

For example, you can get from London to Bath for less than $10 by bus! 

12. Why is London my favourite city in the world? All of my awesome London travel memories!

One of the big reasons why London is my favourite city in the world is because of all of the amazing memories I have in London. London was the very first stop on my first solo trip and first trip to Europe. That trip totally changed my life and it meant a lot to be able to start it in London.

I stopped in London on my way to spending three months living and interning in Swaziland (now Eswatini), another big life changing trip. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting London with my mom, my husband, my siblings, friends from Vancouver, friends from abroad, and by myself. And, somehow, I’ve managed to visit London almost 10 times with only a couple of days of rain!

Final thoughts on why London is my favourite city in the world

I know London can get a bad rap for being big, busy and expensive. But to me, I’m always going to have a soft spot for London!

Not only is the city full of amazing memories for me – from my very first solo trip to exploring London with my favourite people – but it also continues to surprise me. Despite visiting almost 10 times in the last decade, I never get tired of London. There is always something interesting to do no matter your budget or interests.

So, have I sold you on London? Are you ready to call London your favourite city too? Let me know in the comments below how you feel about London and which city is your favourite.

Planning a trip to London? Don’t miss these posts:

• Our Itinerary: One Week in London and Iceland
• 3 Days in London – Your Perfect Itinerary
• Why I Keep Returning to London
• The Perfect London to Bath Day Trip