Planning London, Istanbul or Bosnia? Start with the facts.
Weather, sights, airports and the drive between cities, sorted by destination.
Tripyana's travel guide collects more than 50 English articles on London and the UK, plus road guides for Istanbul and Bosnia. Topics include London weather by month, sights to book ahead, airport terminals, drive times between cities, and where to stay and eat. Tripyana is a licensed London chauffeur company with fixed prices per car.
Where are you travelling?
The guide covers three destinations. Pick yours, then the question you need answered before you book. Under each topic are the articles our readers open most.
London and the UK
The largest part of the guide: weather month by month, the sights, airports, day trips and where to stay.
Turkey
Istanbul Airport to your hotel, and the drive to Bursa and the Black Sea coast.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo to Mostar along the Neretva, and the stops on the way.
London and UK travel guide
London is the capital of the United Kingdom and home to more than 8 million people. Eurostar reaches Paris in 2 hours 16 minutes, and Edinburgh is 4 to 5 hours north by train.
The UK at a glance
- Entry
US and Canadian visitors need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they fly. You apply online, and it covers visits of up to six months.
- Money
Pound sterling. Contactless cards work in most shops and restaurants and on public transport.
- Time
London is five hours ahead of New York for most of the year.
- Plugs and roads
Three-pin Type G plugs at 230 volts, and traffic drives on the left.
Weather and when to go
May, June and September are the best months, with highs of 18 to 21°C and long evenings. July and August are warmest at 23 to 25°C, and January is coldest at 8.4°C by day. October and November are the wettest months, so pack a light waterproof this autumn.
London weather by month
Temperatures, rain and what to pack for all twelve months.
Weather in London in October
Autumn colour in the Royal Parks, and the night the clocks go back.
Weather in London in November
Shorter days, Bonfire Night and the first Christmas lights.
Sights worth planning ahead
Sky Garden is free, but entry needs a timed booking made in advance. Richmond Park, the largest Royal Park, has around 630 deer roaming free, 8 miles from central London.
Sky Garden booking tips
How to get a free timed slot at London's highest public garden.
London Bridge
History, facts and how to visit the bridge and its riverside.
Richmond Park
Six walks through the Royal Park where hundreds of deer roam free.
Day trips and private tours
Stonehenge, Oxford and the Cotswolds are the classic days out. Our list of 20 gives a drive time for each. For a fixed plan with a driver each day, see our private tours of the UK (two to five days).
Private tours of the UK
Ready-made programmes of two to five days, with a car and driver every day.
20 day trips from London by car
Stonehenge, Oxford, the Cotswolds and more, each with its drive time.
Day trips from London by train
Ten towns you can reach by rail and see in a day.
Airports, ports and distances
Gatwick has two terminals, North and South, linked by a free shuttle in about two minutes. Southampton’s cruise terminals are about 70 miles from Heathrow, 1 h 45 to 2 h 15 by car. To get from the plane to your hotel, book London airport transfers before you fly.
Gatwick North or South Terminal?
Every airline by terminal, and the free shuttle between them.
Southampton cruise terminals
The five terminals, which ships use them and how to get there.
How far is London from Paris?
Distances, Eurostar times and the other ways to make the trip.
Where to stay, shop and eat
Choose the neighbourhood before the hotel, because it decides how you spend each day. Oxford Street has the big department stores, with dozens of restaurants a short walk away. For the countryside, our day trips from London start at your hotel door.
Where to stay in London
Five neighbourhoods compared for first-time visitors.
Shopping in London
Seven places to shop, from department stores to markets.
Oxford Street restaurants
Twenty-five places to eat within a short walk of the shops.
Turkey travel guide
Istanbul Airport sits about 40 km north-west of Taksim, a drive of 45 to 60 minutes to a central hotel. Bursa is 155 km away, two to three hours by car over the Osman Gazi Bridge. It works as a day trip. In the city you can book a car with a driver in Istanbul for the day.
Turkey at a glance
- Time
Turkey keeps one time all year: seven hours ahead of New York in summer and eight in winter.
- Two airports
Istanbul Airport is on the European side, Sabiha Gökçen on the Asian side. Choose the one nearer your hotel.
- Traffic
Istanbul roads peak from 07:30 to 10:00 and again from 17:00 to 20:00. Plan airport runs around those hours.
- Money
Turkish lira. Cards are accepted in the big cities; carry some cash for bazaars.
Arriving and driving out of Istanbul
Istanbul Airport replaced Atatürk in April 2019 and handles almost all international flights. Trabzon is 1,050 km away on the Black Sea. Fly the two hours, then take a car with a driver to Uzungöl and Sümela.
Istanbul Airport to the city
Every way to reach your hotel, with drive times by district.
Bursa and Trabzon from Istanbul
Bursa in a day by car, and Trabzon in a weekend.
Bosnia travel guide
Mostar is about 125 km from Sarajevo on the M17, the road that follows the Neretva river south. The drive takes 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours direct, because the road averages around 50 km/h.
Bosnia at a glance
- Arrival
Sarajevo International Airport is about 6 km south-west of the city centre.
- Money
The convertible mark. Carry cash outside the cities.
- Time
One hour ahead of London all year.
With stops, the same road fills most of a day. Stop at the Ottoman bridge in Konjic and the Jablanica reservoir, then follow the Neretva gorge into Mostar. The best months to visit are May to October.
Sarajevo to Mostar
Distance, driving time and the stops worth making on the M17.
How to use this travel guide
Three steps that save time, whichever destination you choose.
Pick your season
Start with the weather guide for your month. It covers events, crowds and what to pack.
Plan the days
Group the sights by area and check drive times between cities before you book hotels.
Sort the arrival
Check entry rules, then decide how you get from the airport to the hotel before you fly.
Travel guide questions
When is the best time to visit London?
The best time to visit London is May, June or September, with highs of 18 to 21°C and long evenings. July and August are warmer and busier. January is the coldest month, averaging 8.4°C by day.
Do US citizens need a visa to visit the UK?
US citizens need no visa for a tourist visit of up to six months. They must get a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. You apply online, and it stays linked to your passport for two years or until the passport expires.
How far is London from Paris?
London is about 344 km from Paris in a straight line and about 460 km by road. Eurostar is fastest, at 2 hours 16 minutes from St Pancras to Gare du Nord.
Which Gatwick terminal do I need?
Your Gatwick terminal depends on your airline. Per the airport’s list checked on 30 September 2026, 25 airlines use North and 36 use South. A free shuttle links the two terminals in about two minutes, around the clock.
How long is the drive from Istanbul Airport to the city?
The drive from Istanbul Airport to a central hotel takes about 45 to 60 minutes in normal traffic. The airport is roughly 40 km north-west of Taksim. Rush hours run from 07:30 to 10:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00.
How far is Mostar from Sarajevo?
Mostar is about 125 km from Sarajevo on the M17 along the Neretva river. The direct drive takes 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours. With stops at Konjic and Jablanica, most travellers take six to eight hours.
Does Tripyana provide drivers in these destinations?
Yes, Tripyana provides private drivers in London, across the UK and in Istanbul. Prices are fixed per car, not per passenger, and confirmed in writing before you travel. Each service page lists what is included.
Trip planned? Book the driving with us
Book your driver online in a few minutes. Or send us your dates and destinations, and we will reply with one fixed price.