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USA · California

Los Angeles travel guide

Hollywood, beaches and year-round sunshine

The Hollywood Sign. Photo: Gnaphron, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

11h 15mflight from London
LAXnearest main airport
24° in Augwarmest month
12° in Deccoolest month

Los Angeles is a huge, sprawling city of film studios, beaches and canyons. Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach are the classic stops.

It's also the start of the Pacific Coast Highway road trip, and Disneyland is less than an hour away.

Good forBeachesFilmRoad tripsTheme parks

What Los Angeles is known for

  • Hollywood

    The Walk of Fame and the famous sign.

  • Beaches

    Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu.

  • Studio tours

    Warner Bros. and Universal Studios.

  • Sunshine

    Mild and sunny most of the year.

Top things to do in Los Angeles

  1. 1

    Hollywood Walk of Fame

    Stars on the pavement on Hollywood Boulevard.

    Find tours and tickets
  2. 2

    Griffith Observatory

    Views of the Hollywood Sign and the city.

    Find tours and tickets
  3. 3

    Santa Monica Pier

    A funfair on the pier at the end of Route 66.

    Find tours and tickets
  4. 4

    Universal Studios Hollywood

    Rides and a working studio tour.

    Find tours and tickets
  5. 5

    Venice Beach

    The boardwalk, skaters and canals.

    Find tours and tickets
  6. 6

    Disneyland

    The original Disney park, in Anaheim.

    Find tours and tickets

See all tours and tickets in Los Angeles

Where to stay in Los Angeles

Find a hotel in Los Angeles

Best time to visit Los Angeles

Best value: Sep–May. March to May and September to November: warm and sunny with fewer crowds.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
12 C12°J12.2 C12°F13.8 C14°M15.1 C15°A17.5 C18°M20.4 C20°J23.4 C23°J23.9 C24°A23 C23°S19.5 C20°O15.5 C16°N11.8 C12°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Los Angeles, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 11h 15m from London to LAX, and flights from most UK airports.

Hire a car or use rideshare. The Metro covers some routes.

Find flights to Los Angeles (LAX)

Shows the cheapest fares for next month on Aviasales, our flight partner. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow.

Good to know

  • Traffic is heavy: plan around rush hour.
  • Book Disneyland and studio tours in advance.
  • Evenings by the sea can be cool.
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Los Angeles FAQ

Do I need a car in LA?

It helps a lot, though rideshare works.

How many days?

Three or four, more with Disneyland.

More places in USA

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