Europe
London
Family visits, half-term holidays and business trips, with the visa work handled before you book flights.
Overview
London is the destination our visa desk handles most often, usually for families visiting relatives or travelling in the school holidays. The standard visitor visa takes about three weeks at the Lagos and Abuja application centres, and priority services move faster when they are available.
We plan London trips around whichever part of the city you are actually staying in, because travel time across the city eats a day quickly. An Oyster card, a couple of booked attractions and one day trip out to Oxford, Bath or Brighton is a realistic week.
Things to see and do
The British Museum
Free entry and open late on Fridays. The Egyptian and Benin galleries draw most of our clients, so start there before the school groups arrive.
Tower of London
The Crown Jewels queue is shortest in the first hour after opening. The Yeoman Warder tours are included in the ticket.
Westminster and the South Bank
Big Ben, the Abbey and a river walk past the London Eye. A full afternoon on foot, and mostly free.
Oxford Street and Westfield
The two shopping runs worth the time. Westfield Stratford is quieter and easier with children.
Good to know
- Start the visitor visa at least eight weeks before you plan to travel, and longer in the June to August peak.
- Contactless bank cards work on the tube and buses, so you do not need an Oyster card unless you want a spending cap on it.
- Book museum-adjacent attractions online. The paid ones sell timed slots and walk-up prices are higher.
- Weather changes fast. Pack one waterproof layer even in July.
