Londontopiafeed

If you’ve heard “West End” and thought of London’s geography rather than its theater scene, you’re not alone. Many first-time visitors to London are surprised to discover that the West End isn’t primarily a place on a map — it’s a state of mind, an electric cluster of playhouses and musicals that sits at the heart of London’s entertainment culture. It’s the British equivalent...

Americans love tax refunds. Back home, you buy something and you pay sales tax that you can’t get back. But in Europe, there’s this thing called VAT (Value Added Tax), and the promise is that you can get it back when you leave the country. Sounds fantastic. Buy designer clothes in London, leave with 20% back in your pocket. But—and there’s always a but with tax policy—the rea...

One of the great mysteries for visitors to London is figuring out where the royals actually live. You know Buckingham Palace is important—you’ve probably seen a photo of it, maybe even lined up to tour the State Rooms in summer. But if you start wondering where King Charles actually sleeps, or where Prince William’s family hangs their hats, the picture gets more complicated a...

Richmond is where Londoners go when they want to feel like they’ve escaped the city without actually leaving London. It’s a place where the Thames widens and slows, where parks dominate the landscape, where Georgian architecture still defines the streets, and where you can genuinely forget that you’re in one of the world’s great cities. For Americans visiting London, Richmond...

Short answer: yes, Airbnb is legal in London. Longer answer: it’s legal with some important restrictions that mostly affect hosts rather than guests, but that you should still understand because they can impact your booking.

The key regulation that governs short-term rentals in London is the “90-day rule.” Under London’s planning laws, a residential pro...