London

London is less a single city than a confederation of villages that grew together and never quite agreed on anything. Each neighborhood has its own character — Shoreditch’s street art and vintage markets, Notting Hill’s pastel terraces, Brixton’s Caribbean food scene, the City’s glass towers rising above Roman walls. The scale is staggering: four UNESCO World Heritage sites, three hundred languages spoken, and a pub on nearly every corner.

The British Museum is free and holds the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, and enough history to fill several lifetimes of visits. The South Bank walks you from the Tate Modern past Shakespeare’s Globe to Borough Market, where the street food reflects every cuisine on earth. Hampstead Heath offers the rare gift of genuine countryside within zone two — swim in the ponds, walk to Parliament Hill, and see the skyline from a distance that makes it beautiful rather than overwhelming.

When to go: May through June for the longest days and blooming parks. September for culture season and pleasant weather. Pack layers regardless.