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Whether you’re visiting from just down the road or the other side of the world, London truly offers something for everyone. If it’s your first time visiting the city then you need my London tips for tourists.
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Steeped in history and culture, if you’re planning a trip to London soon, you may be wondering how to get the most out of your visit. After all, with everything there is to see and do here, you might worry you’ll miss out on something, especially if you have limited time in the city.
Read on for the best London tips for tourists that will help you get the most from your trip to the UK’s capital city.
1. Plan ahead with hotels
It doesn’t matter where you’re headed on holiday, planning ahead will save you time, stress and money. In a place like London, where good accommodation is always in high demand, it makes even more sense to get things sorted as soon as possible.
As soon as you decide London is your destination of choice, take a look into the best hotels. Good places at reasonable prices will go very quickly, so if you see a deal you like, don’t hesitate to snap it up.
If you fancy going out of peak holiday dates, you’ll save a serious amount on some of the top places.
2. You don’t need to stay in central London
Contrary to what you might have read elsewhere, you really don’t need to pay for an expensive London hotel in the likes of Westminster or Soho. London is so well connected with public transport like the tube and buses, that you can widen your accommodation search.
The most important thing to look at is that there is a tube station nearby. Some of my favourite areas to stay include Shoreditch, Kings Cross, and Notting Hill.
3. Book train tickets in advance
The easiest way to get to London from elsewhere in the UK is to get the train, so look into securing off-peak tickets to save big. Book your train tickets as soon as you known you’re travelling as they’re likely to be cheaper the earlier you book.
4. Take a free walking tour
My favourite thing to do in a new city is to take a free walking tour. Seeing the city with an expert local guide is a great way to learn more about its history and get your bearings.
This free walking tour of London includes major sights like Trafalgar Square, St James’s Palace, and Buckingham Palace.
Book a free walking tour of London
5. Take the tube
With all the traffic and congestion in London, the easiest way to get around the city is on the tube. You might find yourself losing time and money sat in an Uber or black cab.
The tube is also cheap with fairs capped at a maximum per day. You can use your debit or credit card to tap in and tap out as you travel.
The tube isn’t too hard to figure out, and you can get a sense of London life whilst getting about practically. Download the CityMapper app to help you plan your journeys.
6. But avoid the tube at rush hour
The Tube is busy at the best of times, and during rush hour, it’s nigh-on unbearable. Hundreds of people crammed in a small metal tube does not equate to a nice travel experience.
Avoid it at rush hour at all costs (usually between 8-9am and 4-6pm), and use the buses or bike service instead.
7. Stand to the right on the escalator
While we’re talking about the tube, here’s another quick London tip for tourists. Londoners are often in a rush – you’ll find them running to get the next tube, even though there’ll be another one along in two minutes.
So as not to hold anyone up, stand to the right on the escalator if you’re not in a rush – the left side is for anyone who wants to walk, rather than stand.
8. Walking might be quicker
This is one of the best tips for tourists in London and something that I got told a few years ago.
Jumping on the tube is definitely a quick way to get around, but sometimes walking might be even quicker. Sometimes one or two tube stops are really close to each other.
Check on Google maps or CityMapper to see if it’s quicker to walk between your destinations or take the tube.
9. Get on your bike
If you’re a confident cyclist then a bike is another easy way to get around London. There are self-service bike stands throughout the city where you can pick up and drop off rental bikes.
Just be aware of your surroundings and the London traffic.
10. Don’t miss the tourist spots
I know, I know – everyone thinks that being “touristy” is a bad thing and that you need to see hidden gems. While it’s true that you should try and get off the beaten track a little, you did come to London for a reason and I bet that reason involves some of the main sights.
What do most people think of when they visit London? Big Ben? Buckingham Palace? Tower Bridge? London has some of the best sights in the world. Be sure to visit the London Eye too for amazing views over the city.
If you’re visiting the city at Christmas, don’t miss Covent Garden, Oxford Street and Regent Street. The Christmas lights here are spectacular.
11. See some more unusual sights
Once you’ve seen all of the big sights, mix in some of the less traditional stuff alongside doing the standard London tourist routine. London is a constantly evolving city, with new, weird and wonderful attractions springing up all the time.
Whether it’s exploring the riches of street art around the city or swimming at Hampstead Heath, embracing some of the lesser knowns of the capital alongside the headline acts will help you really get a taste of the city, and round off your trip nicely.
12. Explore some of the free sights
Not every trip to London has to cost a fortune. There are plenty of free things to do in London.
Museums like the British Museum, National Gallery, and the Natural History Museum can all be visited free of charge. You can also enjoy London’s outdoor spaces and parks for no cost.
One tourist activity that you shouldn’t miss while you’re in London is the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and this is free too.
13. Research and plan ahead
It’s likely that you’ll have a limited time in London so it’s essential to plan ahead if there are things that you definitely want to do while you’re there. You don’t have to have a rigid itinerary but if there are any activities or restaurants that you have your heart set on then it’s probably better to book these in advance.
Remember to leave some room in your itinerary for spontaneous plans – you never know what you might find out about once you’re in London.
14. Ask for food recommendations
The people that are working in your hotel, or at the tourist attractions that you visit throughout the day are likely to be locals and so may know some great spots for dinner.
Markets are some of the best places to try street food so head to Borough Market or Camden Market to try foods from all over the world.
15. Don’t forget to bring an umbrella
The weather in the UK can be very changeable, and nowhere more so than London. You might have descended into the tube in bright sunshine but then when you re-surface, the heavens have opened.
Pack a small umbrella in your bag for times like these.
16. Wear comfortable shoes
No matter what you do during your trip to London, chances are you’ll be walking A LOT. Get that Fitbit fired up to see how many steps you end up doing each day.
Because of this, wearing comfortable shoes is essential. Trainers are your best bet but you will need something a little smarter if you’re planning to go to nice restaurants or bars.
17. Stay safe
London is a relatively safe city and I have never had any problems in the times that I’ve visited. However, wherever you’re travelling, it’s important to use your common sense when it comes to safety.
Keep an eye on your belongings and keep them close to you. For example, I usually have a backpack when I’m travelling but I would keep my phone and purse in another bag – either a bumbag or a shoulder bag – to keep them close.
Don’t walk around by yourself too much at night. As someone who travels by herself a lot, I know that this can be unavoidable, but try to get the tube as close as you can to your destination and plan your route in advance so that you don’t need to have your phone in your hand.
18. Get a London Pass
Speaking of London staples, the London Pass will get you into many of the aforementioned attractions, and more. What’s more, for some attractions, your entry is fast-tracked, allowing you to skip the lengthy queues and lines.
The London Pass isn’t even that expensive, and it can be bought online before you go. Even if there are some attractions you don’t fancy, you’ll still save time and money over paying for individual tickets.
19. Take a trip outside London
London is beautiful, but the surrounding areas have plenty to offer too. It’s rather easy to find a coach or bus that will take you on a day-long excursion, and I highly recommend doing so.
Some of the best day trips include an Oxford and Cambridge day trip and Bath. Cambridge is worth it for the sheer scope of King’s College, and it’s permitted to walk around the grounds.
Windsor Castle is also a great place for a day trip outside London, especially if you’re a fan of the royal family.
Book an Oxford and Cambridge day trip
So those are my London tips for tourists. Are there any you’d add?
In the end, there’s really no wrong way to see London. With a multitude of different ways to see the city, it’s up to you to choose how touristy, quirky or chilled out you want to be.
However, no matter how you do it, you’ll almost certainly want to go back and see more in the future.
