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Before visiting London in 2026, get a £20 UK ETA for everyone in the family, pack layers and a rain jacket, and plan to pay for everything by tapping a contactless card or phone. These are the 22 things we wish we'd known before our September 2026 trip with our 3-year-old, from Heathrow immigration to Sunday shopping hours, written for Singaporeans and families.
Quick checklist
- UK ETA for every traveller, including babies (£20 each, apply a week ahead)
- No plug adaptor needed from Singapore (same Type G plugs)
- Contactless card or phone for transport; under-11s ride free
- Free timed tickets for museums; paid sights booked ahead
- eSIM installed before you fly
- Layers, a rain jacket and comfortable shoes
In this post
Before You Go
1. You need a UK ETA, even for a short trip
Singaporeans don't need a visa for the UK, but since February 2026 you can't board a flight without an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). It costs £20 per person, babies and children included, and lets you visit as many times as you like for 2 years, or until your passport expires, for stays of up to 6 months.
| Cost | £20 per person (since 8 April 2026), non-refundable |
|---|---|
| Apply | Only on GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app. You'll need your passport, a photo of your face and a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay |
| Decision | Usually by email within a day; up to 3 working days |
| Valid for | 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner |
Lookalike websites charge several times the official fee. Apply through GOV.UK or the official app only, and you can apply for your whole family from one phone.
2. London is 7 hours behind Singapore in summer, 8 in winter
The UK moves its clocks back on the last Sunday of October and forward on the last Sunday of March. Direct flights from Singapore take about 13–14 hours, so an overnight flight is the kindest option with small children: Y slept for a good part of our long-haul flight to Europe.
3. Pack layers and a rain jacket, whatever the season
London weather changes within the hour. In late September we had blue skies one day and grey, cloudy days after, with temperatures around 12–19°C. Winter days are much colder and darker, often in single digits. A light waterproof jacket, layers and comfortable walking shoes matter more than anything else you pack.
4. Singapore plugs work in the UK
The UK uses the same Type G three-pin plug and 230V supply as Singapore, so you don't need an adaptor or converter. If you're carrying on to Europe afterwards, pack a Type C/E/F adaptor for that part of the trip.
5. Book timed tickets, even for the free museums
Many of London's free museums now ask you to book a free timed ticket, and paid sights sell their best slots in advance. The Sky Garden releases its free tickets three weeks ahead and they go fast. We booked our Thames cruise a day ahead and took the second boat of the morning, which was much quieter than later in the day.
🎟️ Book Tower of London tickets on Klook to skip the ticket queue.
6. Check opening days, not just opening hours
Some sights close on set weekdays, and the Changing of the Guard doesn't happen every day. The Postal Museum is closed on Mondays, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace usually runs at 11am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Portobello Road Market is at its best on Saturdays and mostly closed on Sundays. Plan your days around these before you book anything else.
7. Get an eSIM before you fly
Roaming adds up fast. An eSIM that covers the UK and Europe is cheaper, and you can install it before you leave Singapore so maps and ride apps work the moment you land.
📶 We use this Shopee eSIM for the UK and Europe.
Arriving at Heathrow
8. Immigration can take a while with young children
We landed at Heathrow at night and immigration still took about 45 minutes in the family lane. Singapore passport holders can use the eGates, but children have to be at least 8 years old and 120 cm tall (since July 2026), so families with younger children queue for an officer. Build that time into your airport transfer booking.
9. Choose your way into London before you land
| Private transfer | About 1 hour to central London; ask for a child seat. Best with luggage and tired children |
|---|---|
| Piccadilly line | Direct to King's Cross St Pancras and much of central London in about 1 hour; cheapest, but lots of stairs and crowds with luggage |
| Heathrow Express | 15 minutes to Paddington, then a taxi or the Tube |
🚗 Compare private Heathrow transfers on Trip.com · 🚆 book Heathrow Express tickets on Klook. (Affiliate link)
Getting Around London
10. Tap a contactless card or phone; no Oyster card needed
Use the same contactless bank card or phone to tap in and out on the Tube, Elizabeth line, DLR and Overground, and to tap in on buses. London caps your spending automatically, so you never pay more than a day pass would cost. Always use the same card or phone for the whole day, or the cap won't work.
| Daily cap, Zones 1–2 | £8.90 per adult (2026) |
|---|---|
| Bus fare | £1.75 per journey, capped at £5.25 a day (buses and trams only) |
| Peak hours | Weekdays 6:30–9:30am and 4–7pm, when Tube fares are higher and trains are packed |
11. Children under 11 travel free
Under-11s ride free on the Tube, buses, DLR, Overground and Elizabeth line with a fare-paying adult, so a family day out costs no more than the adults' fares. Just let your child go through the wide gate with you.
12. Not every station has a lift
Many central Tube stations have long staircases and escalators but no step-free route. With a pram, check TfL's step-free maps, travel outside peak hours, or take the bus instead. A compact, foldable stroller made our trip much easier.
13. The bus is a free sightseeing tour
Every London bus has space for buggies, and the front seats on the top deck of a double-decker give children the best view in the city. It's slower than the Tube, but often easier with a toddler.
14. Traffic drives on the left, like Singapore
Cars drive on the left, as at home, so crossing feels familiar. Many crossings still have "Look right" painted on the road, and some junctions are one-way, so check both directions before you step out with a buggy.
Money, Food and Shopping
15. London's biggest museums are free
The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the British Museum all have free entry, and so do the Royal Parks and their playgrounds. Combined with free transport for under-11s, a toddler day out in London can cost almost nothing. Here are 12 free things to do in London with a toddler that we tried. See how we planned our days in our 4-day London itinerary with a toddler.
16. Check the bill before you tip
Many London restaurants add a 12.5% service charge to the bill. It's optional, but if it's there you don't need to tip on top. Pubs and cafés where you order at the counter don't expect tips.
17. Food halls are great value, but bring a picnic mindset
Food halls and supermarkets are an easy way to feed a family without restaurant prices. The Harrods Food Halls, though, have no seating, so buy your dinner and take it to a park or back to your hotel. For breakfast, a traditional café like Double Six Cafe near Euston was the most affordable meal of our trip, with huge portions.
18. Tap water is safe and free
London tap water is safe to drink. In restaurants you can ask for tap water and it's free, so you don't need to buy bottled water for the whole family.
19. There's no tourist tax refund on shopping
Prices include 20% VAT, and since 2021 visitors can no longer claim it back at the airport. You can only buy tax-free in Great Britain if the shop ships your purchase straight to an address outside the UK, so ask before you buy anything big.
20. Sundays are shorter
Large shops can only open for 6 hours on a Sunday, usually from about 11am or noon to 5 or 6pm. Harrods, for example, opens 11:30am–6pm on Sundays. Plan your shopping, and your big supermarket run, for another day.
Safety and Etiquette
21. Hold on to your phone, stand on the right
London is generally safe, but phone snatching from people standing near the kerb is common in busy areas, and pickpockets work crowds like the Changing of the Guard and Oxford Street. Keep your phone away from the road edge and bags zipped. On escalators, stand on the right and leave the left side free for people walking: Londoners notice.
Travelling On to Europe
22. Allow extra time for the Eurostar and Europe's new border checks
We took the Eurostar from St Pancras to Brussels, about 2 hours. Eurostar recommends arriving 75 minutes before departure in Standard and Plus, and the gates close 30 minutes before. Since October 2025, non-EU travellers, Singaporeans included, register their fingerprints and photo for the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) the first time they cross into the Schengen area, and for the Eurostar this happens at St Pancras, so leave extra time. The EU's ETIAS travel authorisation is expected to start in late 2026, with a grace period, so check the official ETIAS site before you book a 2027 trip.
🚄 Compare London to Brussels and Paris Eurostar fares on Trip.com.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the Pullman London St Pancras, a 5-minute walk from King's Cross St Pancras, where six Tube lines and the Eurostar meet. Check Pullman London St Pancras rates on Agoda or compare family rooms near King's Cross. (Affiliate links)
London Travel FAQ
Do Singaporeans need a visa to visit London?
No visa is needed for tourist visits of up to 6 months, but Singaporeans now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before flying. It costs £20 per person, including babies and children, and lasts 2 years or until your passport expires. Apply on GOV.UK or in the official UK ETA app.
How long does a UK ETA take?
Most decisions arrive by email within a day, but GOV.UK says it can take up to 3 working days. Apply at least a week before you fly, and don't travel until you have the approval email.
Do I need cash in London?
Hardly. Almost everywhere takes contactless cards and phones, including the Tube and buses, where cash isn't accepted at all. A little cash is handy for street-performer tips and the occasional market stall.
Can children use the eGates at Heathrow?
Children aged 8 and over who are at least 120 cm tall can use the eGates with an adult, since July 2026. Younger children, and the parents travelling with them, queue for a Border Force officer.
Is London expensive for families?
It can be, but many of the best things for children are free, including the big museums, parks and playgrounds, and under-11s ride the Tube and buses free with a paying adult. Our paid attractions over 4 days came to about £230 for two adults and a toddler.
One last tip: London is easier than it looks. With an ETA sorted, a contactless card and a rain jacket, the hardest part is choosing what to skip.
Entry rules, fares and opening hours were checked in October 2026 using GOV.UK, Transport for London and official attraction websites. They change often, so check the official sources before you travel. This post contains affiliate links; if you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.