The beauty of London is that it is constantly reinventing itself. Its blockbuster museums, boundary-pushing restaurants, and reliably buzzy theater scene keep travelers coming back year-round and time and again. Add to that exciting new cultural projects, big hotel debuts, and revitalized public spaces, and even repeat visitors have new reasons to return.
Whether you’ve never been or you’re eager to head back for another London adventure, soon it’ll be even easier for travelers to reach the capital of England and the United Kingdom from the United States’ West Coast. Alaska Airlines recently announced it is launching daily, year-round service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), marking the carrier’s fifth international destination and third in Europe. And as of this week, the new London flights are now available to book.
The route will begin on May 21, 2026, and will operate aboard Alaska’s long-haul, twin-aisle 787-9 aircraft. While the airline hasn’t yet shared many details about its new long-haul planes, it has teased that business class will have 34 enclosed, fully lie-flat suites in a one-two-one seating configuration, each equipped with 18-inch HD TVs, noise-reducing headsets, Filson bedding and blankets, and amenity kits with products from Salt & Stone.
Eastward flights will depart Seattle at 9:40 p.m. and arrive in London the following day at 3:05 p.m., while return journeys will take off at 5 p.m. and land in Seattle at 6:50 p.m. the same day. Tickets are available on alaskaair.com for as low as $699 round-trip.
Since acquiring Hawaiian Airlines (and its long-distance aircraft) in October 2024, Alaska has been bullish about expanding overseas. The carrier now flies year-round from its global gateway in Seattle to Seoul, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan, and has rolled out ticket sales for new routes to Rome (a seasonal summer flight starting April 28, 2026) and Reykjavik, Iceland (another seasonal summer route that kicks off on May 28, 2026). By 2030, the airline plans to serve at least 12 international destinations from Seattle.
As for London, there are plenty of great reasons to fly to the British capital next year. Here’s what’s new and exciting for visitors to London in 2026.
Come April, London’s Stratford district will welcome the culture hub V&A East Museum, part of the growing Victoria and Albert Museum network.
Photo by Niall Hodson/Courtesy of V&A
What’s new in London
London’s cultural calendar in 2026 is shaping up to be one of its most vibrant in years, with headline-grabbing debuts layered atop the classics travelers already love. The long-awaited V&A East Museum (opening April 18, 2026) will anchor a growing cultural district in Stratford with two free galleries showcasing global art, design, and fashion, a rotating roster of temporary exhibits, and an on-site café from the team behind East London–inspired Jikoni. The nearby V&A East Storehouse is also home to the David Bowie Centre for those who want to pay tribute to the late great rock legend by visiting this extensive archive. By late 2026, the new London Museum at Smithfield will offer an interactive retelling of more than 450,000 years of the city’s history, housed inside the halls of the historic market.
As for highly-anticipated exhibits, the King’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace will host Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, the largest collection of the late monarch’s famous fashion ever displayed (running from April 10 through October 18, 2026). And in the fall of 2026, the British Museum is slated to unveil a blockbuster exhibition featuring the Bayeux Tapestry, depicting the 1066 Norman invasion and the Battle of Hastings, which is expected to draw crowds eager to see one of Europe’s most significant artifacts.
Theater lovers should head to the West End this spring, where Ralph Fiennes will be performing in David Hare’s Victorian-era love story Grace Pervades.
And all of this arrives as enduring favorites—from the Tate Modern and National Gallery to the Tower of London—reveal refreshed exhibitions, new shows, and expanded visitor programs throughout the year.
Major hotel debuts in 2026, including Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch, St. Regis Mayfair, Six Senses London, and Cambridge House, Auberge Collection will bring design-forward rooms and fresh restaurants and cocktail bars to some of the city’s most popular and vibrant neighborhoods. While long-revered dining rooms like Dishoom, St. John, and The Wolseley are continuing to evolve with seasonal menus, and markets such as Borough and Camden remain essential stops for grazing.
Where to stay in London
Stay at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, and book a table at the on-site Atrium restaurant for Asian-influenced Mediterranean fare.
Photo by George Apostolidis/Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental
The Peninsula London
Sitting within walking distance from Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and the Serpentine, the Peninsula London is one of the city’s newest heavy hitters—a gleaming, light-filled property designed to look like a Renaissance palazzo, with a distinctly London accent. The property was named one of Afar’s Best New Hotels in 2024, and according to Afar contributor Anya von Bremzen’s review, it features “190 rooms and suites—many with views of Wellington Arch or Hyde Park, others with terraces overlooking fancy Belgravia homes” and “a courtyard embellished with jasmine and wisteria vines, along with two 120-year-old Japanese maples.”
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair
Another Afar best new hotel winner (in 2025), Mandarin Oriental Mayfair is tucked along the historic Hanover Square and brings a more intimate, design-forward counterpoint to its grand Hyde Park sibling. Afar contributor Sara Hamdan notes it “blends understated opulence and contemporary design with details like a Ming green marble staircase and an undulating wooden sculpture inspired by the movement of the wind.” The property has 50 rooms and suites, plus drinking and dining venues that include the Mediterranean-inspired Atrium restaurant, upscale Korean venue Somssi by Jihun Kim, and the rooftop Hanover Bar. The extensive spa area features a lengthy indoor pool and a rich collection of massage and facial treatments.
