London named best destination in the WORLD by Tripadvisor… here are our top pubs, bars, hotels, shows and attractions

LONDON has been named a top travel travel destination for 2025 – and we’ve given our expert advice on everything to do in the city this year.

Beating cities such as Rome, Barcelona and Paris, it was named in this year’s Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards.

Topping both the “Top Destinations – Europe” list, it even came in no.1 on the best in the world too, beating places like Bali and Bangkok.

Crediting both being a city you can return to as well as one with exciting new exhibitions, Tripadvisor president Kristen Dalton said: “The city’s unique blend of history, innovation and culture continues to captivate travellers from all over the world.

From iconic landmarks and world-class museums to a dynamic culinary scene and vibrant cultural experiences, London sets the standard for what a destination can offer.”

Laura Citron OBE, CEO of VisitLondon.com, added: “In 2025, incredible new attractions like the V&A East Storehouse and the purpose-built Museum of Shakespeare in Shoreditch will open their doors.

“London isn’t a museum city; it’s a living global metropolis.”

And with the Sun Travel team either living or working in the city, we thought it best to give our top recommendations.

We have you covered when it comes to the best bars, restaurants and pubs, as well as museums and musicals, and even the best hotels to stay in. We’ve even thrown in a few spots we’ve been angling to visit ourselves.

Best bars

For when you want something fancier than the pub but nothing as formal as a restaurant, the best bars in London have you covered (and a favourite pastime of mine is finest the newest and best).

A recent discovery of mind after a delayed train home was Spiritlands, tucked behind Central St Martens at Kings Cross and, dare I say it, is a hidden gem.

Having opened in 2017, the mid-century speakeasy has both a unique cocktail menu (a highlight being the pear and tomato concoction), cosy DJ tunes and a sleepy kitten curled up right next to the bar.

For something more fun, I always love a drink at Four Quarters in Peckham.

Less of an emphasis on drinks, the bar has retro arcade games lining the walls where you can put in quarters while perching your pint on the sticky side.

Swift – with bars in Soho, Shoreditch and Borough – is a great option when you want to show off a bit without too much pomp.

The menu is huge, depending on if you want a long or short drink, or a sweet or sour drink, but bar staff are the best at recommending one for your tastes.

And one on my list I am yet to try but all I head about is The Dreamery – a gelato and wine bar with beautiful multicoloured ceiling, which reopens today.

– Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Best hotels

From the glitz of the Ritz to the budget urban cool of Z Hotels, it’s no wonder London comes out on top when you look at its buzzing hotel scene.

Where other capital cities offer eye-watering prices for pokey rooms and no pizazz, London delivers a vast range of hotel styles at all budgets.

At the top end, the recent most-talked about opening was Raffles London at the Old War Office.

An astonishing £1.5billion was sunk into transforming this historic building where Winston Churchill planned the D-Day landings into an opulent modern hotel with 120 rooms and suites, nine restaurants, three bars and an astonishing spa with 20metre pool.

While few could probably afford the average room rate of £1,100 a night, anyone is welcome to reserve a spot in the tiny Spy Bar, occupying an old interrogation room in the basement for a cheeky cocktail.

And at the other end of the scale – and proving just how diverse London’s hotel scene is – come the budget chains offering excellent stays at bargain prices.

I’m a big fan of Z Hotels – compact rooms with decent facilities in 11 brilliant central locations including Covent Garden, Holborn and the upcoming Leicester Square.

Best of all, who wouldn’t love their free cheese and wine for guests between 5pm and 8pm.

Head east to trendy Shoreditch and Whitechapel and there’s the New Road Hotel with rooms from just £99 a night in a former warehouse that screams New York loft style.

Or how about The Moxy at London Stratford, great for families and near the Olympic Park but with a relaxed vibe and cool interiors.

– Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

Best restaurants

One of our capital’s greatest strengths is its culinary scene taking inspiration from all over the world – I’ve eaten international dishes that taste better in London than the place they were birthed.

Shout out to London Bridge’s Padella with its homemade saucy pastas and Coal Office in Kings Cross for its medley of sharing plates including one of the creamiest labneh’s I’ve ever eaten, topped with salty anchovies.

I’m lucky enough to work around the corner from one of my favourite foodie spots, Borough Market (food snobs will tell you it’s overrated, but don’t listen to them).

Check out The Black Pig for its signature honey truffle and parmesan sandwich loaded with slow-cooked pork. It’s £11, but so big you can share).

Just avoid the chocolate-covered strawberries – it’s a social media fad with stupidly long queues for something you can make for a fraction of the price at home.

For proper homely grub in a stereotypical London pub setting, The Devonshire has to be on your list.

It soared to the top of Londoners must-go lists when it opened in Soho late 2023 and it serves a regularly-changing menu of seasonal British classics – the current menu has a lamb hotpot for £24 and tender ribeye steaks for £36 plus duck fat chips (£6).

You’ll have to book in advance though, with tables released at 10.30am every Thursday for bookings up to three weeks in advance.

If you do want to shell out for something special, swing by Italian joint Luca Restaurant in Farringdon which, in my opinion, serves the most affordable Michelin-star dishes in the city, costing around £85 a head for an evening tasting menu.

– Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Best museums

I first moved to London eight years ago so have made the most of the free museums – along with the crowds of tourists too.

But a way to avoid the crowds is the little-known early morning tours of the British Museum, where experts lead small tour groups around the museum before it opens. 

Gazing at the Rosetta Stone without loads of people in the way will forever stay with me, with tours costing £33 for a full-paying adult although you must book in advance online. 

Equally, I love my Art Pass – a membership that can be used at 850 different places in the UK.

The pass gives members reduced entry to exhibitions you need to pay for, so it’s worth the outlay if you go to museums a lot like me. 

Tickets for London’s biggest exhibitions, like Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms (which ended its run in 2024) sell out quickly, so sign up for mailing lists to always be in the loop.

For something a little more contemporary, I’d recommend the Paradox Museum, an immersive museum that flips reality and provides some great photo opportunities. 

Despite visiting a bulk of London’s museums, there are still some I need to go to with Frameless and London’s Moco Museum next on the list.

– Hope Brotherton, Travel Reporter

Best musicals

London is the home of fantastic theatre and musicals from the classic Phantom of the Opera to brand new Mrs Doubtfire, but these are my top picks from the stage.

2:22 A Ghost Story completely dominated the city with British stars Tom Felton, Matt Willis, Jaime Winstone and Stacey Dooley sharing the spotlight.

And you can never falter with The Play That Goes Wrong where every mishap is part of the entertainment factor.

As for musicals, The Lion King is a firm-favourite with an opening number you’ll never forget.

As a 90s girl, Matilda is a movie I was brought up on and have since seen it on stage three times! This may seem excessive, but it’s such a feel-good show.

SIX is a mix between a musical and a pop concert and the outfits are just as fabulous as the Queens onstage.

Then of course, Wicked. We’ve all seen the movie, but seeing ‘Defying Gravity’ live is unforgettable.

What will I see next? Broadway hit Mean Girls is on my list.

– Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter