Travel notesBy Al Mithaq
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The journey
1. Buckingham Palace and St James's Park · 2. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens · 3. Natural History Museum · 4. Harrods and Knightsbridge · 5. Oxford Street and Regent Street · 6. Covent Garden · 7. London Eye and the South Bank · 8. Borough Market · 9. Tower of London and Tower Bridge · 10. Kew Gardens 10 London 10 places11. Windsor Castle · 12. Oxford · 13. The Cotswolds 3 Windsor 3 places14. Stonehenge · 15. Bath 2 Bath 2 places16. Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town · 17. Loch Lomond · 18. Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle 3 Edinburgh 3 places

United Kingdom · London first

United KingdomLondon and UK travel guide: what to wear, halal food, culture

Royal parks, free museums and castles a train away

See the places Homes here

London · Manchester · Edinburgh

Things to do in the UK this week

Today, Thursday 5 November · 11 events

Today5 NovTomorrow6 NovSaturday7 NovComing upNovember
One of the giant light-up angels of the Regent Street Christmas lights glowing over the street at nightFestivalFree Regent Street Christmas lights switch-on8:00 PM Kuwait · 5:00 PM LondonRegent Street and St James's, LondonFreeThe start of Christmas in London: walk a car-free Regent Street under the angels, then visit Hamleys.
Wooden stalls of the Frankfurt Christmas Market lit up at night in Victoria Square, Birmingham, with the light tree and the Council House domeFestivalFree Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas MarketDaily until Thu 24 DecVictoria Square and New Street, BirminghamFreeOne of the UK's best-loved Christmas markets, about 90 minutes from London by train.
Stevie Wonder playing the harmonica and singing on stage with Patti LaBelle, 1978Concert Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life, second London night9:30 PM Kuwait · 6:30 PM LondonThe O2 arena, LondonDoors open 6:30 PM. The venue page shows no price.The last London chance to see Stevie Wonder play his masterpiece live.
Rafiki in her painted mask and beaded costume singing with arms open on the Lyceum stage, a red sunset behindTheatre Disney's The Lion King, the musical10:30 PM Kuwait · 7:30 PM LondonLyceum Theatre, LondonFrom GBP 25The classic first West End show for children, with puppets that bring the whole savannah onto the stage.
Glinda in her sparkling blue gown holding hands with Elphaba in her black witch's hat on the Wicked stageTheatre Wicked, the musical10:30 PM Kuwait · 7:30 PM LondonApollo Victoria Theatre, LondonFrom GBP 32The show behind the hit Wicked films, with big songs and a story about true friendship.
A party entertainer in a bright patchwork costume holding balloons while the children dance, with the wall of book shelves and letter blocks behindTheatre Matilda the Musical10:00 PM Kuwait · 7:00 PM LondonCambridge Theatre, LondonFrom GBP 26A clever, funny Roald Dahl story where children are the heroes, now celebrating 15 years in London.
Donna and the Dynamos singing in their bright orange and green flared costumes, with the company dancing behindTheatre Mamma Mia, the ABBA musical10:30 PM Kuwait · 7:30 PM LondonNovello Theatre, LondonFrom GBP 22Non-stop ABBA songs and a happy ending; easy to enjoy even with little English.
The Phantom in his white mask standing over Christine in the boat on the misty underground lake lit by candlesTheatre The Phantom of the Opera10:30 PM Kuwait · 7:30 PM LondonHis Majesty's Theatre, LondonFrom GBP 25London's most famous musical in its original 1986 home, with music everyone knows.

All events and what is coming up

United Kingdom at a glance

London is the city Gulf families come back to every summer, and it is easy to see why: royal parks that stay green while Kuwait bakes, free museums full of dinosaurs and treasure, and shopping streets that run on for miles. Add a river crossed by famous bridges, a fortress nearly a thousand years old and Arab cafés on Edgware Road, and a week passes quickly. Then the trains carry you out to castles, golden villages and Scottish lochs.

This guide keeps it short. Eighteen places in four regions, in the order a family travels them: ten in London first, then Windsor, Oxford and the Cotswolds, then Bath and Stonehenge, then Edinburgh and the Highlands. Each entry says what the place is, when to go and one useful tip. Summer is the high season; spring and early autumn are calmer, still green and kinder for long walks.

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Information checked in October 2026. Opening times, fees and booking change, so check the official site before you go.

London

Ten places in the capital: palaces and royal parks, free museums, the great shopping streets, the river and a food market, with Kew for a green day out.

Buckingham Palace and St James's Park, LondonLondonBuckingham Palace and St James's ParkJuly to September for the State Rooms; outside all year1
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, LondonLondonHyde Park and Kensington GardensApril to October2
Natural History Museum, London, South KensingtonLondon, South KensingtonNatural History MuseumAll year, indoors3
Harrods and Knightsbridge, London, KnightsbridgeLondon, KnightsbridgeHarrods and KnightsbridgeAll year; November and December for the lights4
Oxford Street and Regent Street, London, West EndLondon, West EndOxford Street and Regent StreetAll year; November and December for the Christmas lights5
Covent Garden, London, West EndLondon, West EndCovent GardenAll year; mid November to December for the lights6
London Eye and the South Bank, London, South BankLondon, South BankLondon Eye and the South BankAll year; clear evenings are best7
Borough Market, London, SouthwarkLondon, SouthwarkBorough MarketAll year, best before noon8
Tower of London and Tower Bridge, London, the CityLondon, the CityTower of London and Tower BridgeAll year, mornings are quietest9
Kew Gardens, London, RichmondLondon, RichmondKew GardensApril to October; spring blossom and autumn colour are best10

Windsor, Oxford and the Cotswolds

West of London, an hour or so by train or car: the King's castle at Windsor, the colleges of Oxford and the golden stone villages of the Cotswolds.

Windsor Castle, WindsorWindsorWindsor CastleAll year; autumn on the Long Walk is lovely11
Oxford, OxfordOxfordOxfordApril to October12
The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and WiltshireGloucestershire, Oxfordshire and WiltshireThe CotswoldsApril to October; June for the roses13

Bath and Stonehenge

Two World Heritage sites to the west: a prehistoric stone circle on an open plain and a Roman and Georgian spa city built over hot springs.

Stonehenge, Wiltshire, near SalisburyWiltshire, near SalisburyStonehengeApril to October14
Bath, Bath, SomersetBath, SomersetBathAll year; spring and autumn are calmest15

Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands

A train north to Edinburgh's castle and Old Town, then the lochs and hills of the Highlands, cool and green even in August.

Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town, EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh Castle and the Old TownApril to September; August is festival month16
Loch Lomond, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National ParkLoch Lomond and The Trossachs National ParkLoch LomondMay to September17
Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, The Highlands, near InvernessThe Highlands, near InvernessLoch Ness and Urquhart CastleMay to October18
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What to eat

Afternoon tea
Photo: unknown · Pexels License
01Afternoon tea

Finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and jam, and small cakes on a tiered stand, all with a pot of tea. Hotels and tea rooms across London serve it; if you need halal fillings, ask when you book.

Fish and chips
Photo: Valeria Boltneva · Pexels License
02Fish and chips

Cod or haddock fried in crisp batter with thick chips, salt and vinegar, best eaten hot from the paper by the sea. Fish needs no halal label, but you can ask whether the same oil fries other meats.

Sunday roast, the halal way
Photo: Acabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
03Sunday roast, the halal way

Roast meat, crisp roast potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy: the classic English Sunday lunch. Look for halal restaurants that serve roast lamb or chicken, and ask about the gravy, because in ordinary restaurants it may be made with wine.

Edgware Road
Photo: Артем Смолдарев · Pexels License
04Edgware Road

North from Marble Arch, Edgware Road is London's Arab street: Lebanese grills, shawarma, Iraqi and Gulf kitchens, juice bars and sweet shops open late. For many Gulf families it is dinner after a day on Oxford Street, a short walk away.

Full English breakfast, the halal way
Photo: unknown · Pexels License
05Full English breakfast, the halal way

Eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomato, baked beans, hash browns and toast. In ordinary cafés the sausages and bacon are usually pork, so ask for the plate without them, or eat at a halal café that serves beef or chicken sausages instead.

What to wear

British weather can change several times in one afternoon, so the London rule is layers in every season, a light waterproof and shoes you can walk in all day: Londoners walk everywhere, and Underground stations mean long stairs and escalators. Dress is relaxed and varied, and the abaya and hijab are an everyday sight in London, the most religiously diverse region of England.

Women

  • Abaya, shayla and hijab are completely at home in London; you will see them every day on Oxford Street, in Knightsbridge and along Edgware Road.
  • From October to April, wear a long coat or trench over the abaya, ideally one that keeps the rain out; a light quilted jacket is enough for spring and early autumn.
  • Flat, cushioned shoes or smart trainers beat heels: the walks are long, some lanes are cobbled and many Tube stations have more stairs than lifts.
  • For London Central Mosque, or any mosque: loose clothes, long sleeves and a scarf over the hair, and shoes off at the door, as at home.

Men

  • Trousers, a shirt or polo and a jumper cover most London days; shorts are fine in the parks during a summer heatwave.
  • A dishdasha is welcome anywhere; on wet days add a coat over it and shoes that keep the water out.
  • A light jacket or overshirt you can carry is useful all year, because evenings cool down quickly even in summer.
  • Smart restaurants in Mayfair and Knightsbridge often ask for smart casual: leave the sportswear and flip-flops at the hotel and check the dress code when you book.

Children and families

  • Hooded waterproof jackets and a spare pair of socks for each child: parks, the zoo and the wait for a show are all outdoors.
  • Comfortable trainers for museum days; the Natural History Museum alone takes three to four hours on foot.
  • A small backpack with a jumper for everyone: trains and shops can be warm while the street is cold, so layers go on and off all day.
  • For the Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace, arrive early and dress warmly: you stand outside for a long time to keep a good spot.

By season and weather

  • June to August: around 18°C on average and often in the low 20s by day, with the odd heatwave above 30°C; light layers, sunglasses and a thin rain jacket.
  • March to May and September to November: roughly 11 to 15°C, with sun and showers in the same hour; a light coat, a jumper and a small umbrella.
  • December to February: usually 2 to 10°C, damp, and dark soon after 4pm in midwinter; a warm coat, scarf, gloves and waterproof shoes. Snow is uncommon in London.
  • Rain falls on 11 to 15 days in every month of the year, so a compact umbrella or a hooded waterproof earns its place in the bag all year.
  • Scotland and the Highlands run a few degrees cooler than London even in summer, with more wind and rain: pack a fleece, a proper waterproof and walking shoes.

Palaces, tea rooms and special places

  • Buckingham Palace opens its State Rooms to visitors mainly in summer, with guided tours on selected dates the rest of the year; wear neat clothes and flat shoes, as the whole visit is on foot.
  • The Ritz Palm Court and the Ritz Restaurant: jacket and tie for gentlemen, no jeans or sportswear for anyone; smart casual is fine in the hotel's other rooms.
  • London Central Mosque by Regent's Park: modest dress for everyone, hair covered for women, shoes off inside.
  • Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral are working churches as well as sights: dress neatly and keep voices low.

Culture and customs

01

Queuing, please and thank you

The British queue for almost everything: the bus, the till, the toilets, the lift. Join the end of the line and wait your turn; pushing in is one of the few things that will make a calm Londoner speak up. Please, thank you, sorry and excuse me are used all day, and saying them often is simply good manners here.

02

Tipping and the service charge

Tipping is optional in London. Many restaurants add a service charge to the bill, usually 12.5 percent and now often 15, and when it is there you do not need to tip again; you may ask for it to be removed if the service was poor. With no service charge, 10 to 15 percent is usual. In taxis, round up the fare or add 5 to 10 percent.

03

On the Tube and the trains

On Underground escalators, stand on the right and leave the left side free for people walking up; the signs say so, and Londoners notice when you forget. On longer train journeys, look for the Quiet Coach: no phone calls, devices on silent and voices low, and step into the space between carriages if you need to talk.

04

Sunday shopping hours

In England and Wales, large shops and department stores may open for only six hours on a Sunday, somewhere between 10am and 6pm, and must close on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day; small shops can open when they like. Scotland has no such limits. Plan the big shopping day for Saturday and check each store's hours.

05

Prayer and mosques

London Central Mosque and the Islamic Cultural Centre, on Park Road beside Regent's Park, is the city's best-known mosque, with its golden dome and room for more than 5,000 worshippers; it publishes a prayer timetable online. Westfield London has a multi-faith prayer room with separate ablution areas for men and women on level -3, and Heathrow has prayer rooms in every terminal. Opening times change, so check before you go.

06

Halal food and how to ask

London has a huge choice of halal food, from Lebanese and Turkish grills to Indian, Pakistani and modern British kitchens. Halal on the door does not always mean the whole menu, and some halal restaurants also serve alcohol, so ask simply: is all the meat halal, and who certifies it? Staff are used to the question. Bodies such as the Halal Monitoring Committee publish lists of the places they certify.

07

Photos, royal guards and memorials

You can photograph the King's Guard, but keep a respectful distance and never touch a soldier, his rifle or a guard's horse; if a guard shouts a warning, step back at once. Most museums allow photos for personal use, though some exhibitions do not, so follow the signs. At war memorials keep voices low and do not sit or climb on them; in Westminster Abbey, the grave of the Unknown Warrior is the one stone visitors never walk on.

08

Roads, health and emergencies

Traffic drives on the left, so look right first when you cross, and use the marked crossings. If you plan to hire a car, check on gov.uk whether your licence is valid in Great Britain. For a medical worry that is not an emergency, call NHS 111 or use 111 online; for a life-threatening emergency, call 999.

Good to know

  1. London weather can change within an hour, even in July: pack layers, a light raincoat and comfortable shoes, and expect cool evenings.
  2. On the Tube, buses and river boats, tap a contactless card or phone at the yellow reader in and out, and use the same card all day so the daily cap works; an Oyster card does the same.
  3. London Central Mosque in Regent's Park, with its golden dome, holds more than 5,000 worshippers; halal food is easy to find in central London, above all on Edgware Road.
  4. Cars drive on the left; skip the car in London and use the Tube, then rent one only for the Cotswolds or the Highlands.
  5. Big shops open shorter hours on Sundays, so check before you go; museums and parks are busiest in British school holidays and in July and August.
  6. Plugs are the same three pin type as in Kuwait; restaurants often add a service charge to the bill, so read it before you tip.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit London?

May to September brings the longest, warmest days, with July and August the busiest months for Gulf visitors. April, early May, September and early October are calmer, still green and good for walking.

How long is the flight from Kuwait to London?

About 6.5 to 7 hours nonstop to Heathrow. Remember that Kuwait is 3 hours ahead of London in winter and 2 hours ahead in British summer time.

Do Kuwaitis need a visa for the UK?

Kuwaiti and other GCC passport holders need a UK electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for short visits, not a visa, and every traveller needs one, including babies and children. Apply only on gov.uk/eta or the official UK ETA app, and check the rules there before you book.

How many days do you need for London and the UK?

A week covers London's main sights with a day trip to Windsor or Oxford. Add two or three days for Bath and Stonehenge, and three or four more if you go north to Edinburgh and the Highlands.

Can I visit Windsor, Bath or Edinburgh from London?

Yes. Windsor is under an hour by train and Oxford about an hour; Bath is around 80 minutes from Paddington, and Edinburgh a little over four hours from King's Cross, so plan a night or two there.

What should I wear in London?

Layers in every season, a light waterproof and comfortable walking shoes, because the weather changes quickly and you will walk a lot. The abaya and hijab are an everyday sight in London; add a warm coat from November to March.

Is halal food easy to find in London?

Yes. London has a very wide choice of halal restaurants, from Lebanese and Turkish grills to Indian and modern British. Some halal restaurants also serve alcohol and some serve halal only on part of the menu, so ask before you order.

Where can Muslims pray in London?

London Central Mosque by Regent's Park is the best known, and there are mosques across the city. Westfield London has a prayer room with separate ablution areas on level -3, and Heathrow has prayer rooms in every terminal; check opening times before you go.

What is the time difference between Kuwait and London?

London is 3 hours behind Kuwait from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March, and 2 hours behind during British Summer Time, the rest of the year.

What can families do in London for free?

Many of the big museums are free, including the Natural History Museum, where three to four hours pass quickly; some special exhibitions charge. The royal parks, the Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace and walks along the Thames cost nothing either.

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