Travel Guide to London from Saudi Arabia 2026: Best Time and the ETA

A practical guide to travelling to London from Saudi Arabia: the new Electronic Travel Authorisation, its best places, and month-by-month weather.

Visa: an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), not a traditional visa

Saudi citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK, not a traditional visa in the usual sense — it allows a stay of up to 6 months, and the authorization itself is valid for up to two years for multiple entries (source: Wikipedia). Applications are submitted online before travel, faster and simpler than the old traditional visa process.

London's real weather — milder and less rainy than its reputation

London has a temperate oceanic climate — cool, damp winters and mildly warm summers, with rainfall fairly evenly distributed throughout the year and no dry season or sharp rainy season (source: Wikipedia). Snow is rare and intermittent, averaging just 16 days a year.

Best places in London

More detail on the top spots: the British Museum deserves a full day given its size, and entry is free for permanent exhibits, though some temporary exhibitions require a paid ticket. The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace runs on a specific schedule and isn't always daily — check the timing before planning your visit specifically around it.

Seasonal events

• Wimbledon Tennis Championships: late June into early July, one of London's most prominent global sporting events.
• Notting Hill Carnival: late August, one of the largest street carnivals in Europe.
• Oxford Street and Regent Street Christmas lights: from November through January, a festive winter atmosphere with seasonal markets.

Check the exact dates each year from the official source.

What about the food?

London is a global city with cuisine to match — from traditional British dishes (fish and chips, the Sunday roast) to a huge variety of international restaurants given its major cultural diversity. Halal restaurants are widespread, especially around areas like Edgware Road and East London.

Who this trip suits

London suits anyone who loves history, museums, and shopping together, and works well as a family destination or for short trips given its relatively closer geographic proximity to Saudi Arabia compared to American or East Asian destinations.

Where to stay based on your plan

Getting around

The London Underground covers most of the city and is one of the oldest metro systems in the world. An Oyster card or contactless bank card payment is easier than buying paper tickets for every trip. London's famous red buses are an alternative for shorter distances with a better view of the street.

Common mistakes

• Traveling without rain-resistant clothing: the chance of rain exists in nearly any month, even during the warmest season.
• Expecting a hot summer by Saudi standards: even July, the warmest month, often doesn't exceed a high of 24°C — mild weather, not hot.
• Not checking the Changing of the Guard schedule: it isn't always daily, and going without checking ahead may mean visiting without the ceremony taking place.

A practical shopping tip

London is a renowned shopping destination with its luxury stores and historic shops like Harrods and Selfridges, but the UK has been outside the EU since Brexit, so VAT refund rules for visitors differ from the rest of Europe — check the current refund conditions before a major shopping trip rather than assuming general European rules automatically apply.

Flights and hotels

Compare flight and hotel prices for London via Agoda — one platform for both, with flexible cancellation on most bookings.

For a direct booking from the carrier's own site, or to compare prices first:

• Riyadh Air
• Qatar Airways
• Etihad Airways
• Oman Air
• Air India

Anyone looking for accommodation that meets specific standards can register for free with Halal Booking for a discount on their first qualifying booking within the GCC. For major global hotel chains, IHG includes InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and more.