World-class museums, high prices and changeable weather

I spent eight days in London as a visitor. The free museums are extraordinary: I could have spent a week in the British Museum alone. Getting around was easy with contactless payment and daily caps on the Tube and buses. Parks like Hampstead Heath and Regent's Park are a real highlight. But London is expensive, even compared with US cities. My hotel near King's Cross was 145 pounds a night, and meals in tourist areas were overpriced and average. The Tube was hot and crowded in July. I enjoyed it, but I preferred Edinburgh and Manchester for atmosphere and value.