Don’ts of London: Tips for Your First Visit
Greetings from London, England! Every travel blog tells you what to do when you travel, but we like to tell you what not to do, so you can be prepared for your trip. These are the “don’ts” of visiting London.
Don’t Forget to Look Right When Crossing the Street
The biggest danger to tourists in London is stepping out into traffic. Because they drive on the left in England, pedestrians have to pay attention to this to avoid getting hit. Make sure to look to the right, not the left, when crossing the street.
Don’t Forget to Tap Out the Oyster Card
Public transportation in London is expensive. An Oyster Card is a great way to save money on public transportation in London. However, the Oyster Card must be tapped in and tapped out when leaving the train, otherwise they charge a hefty fee.
Don’t Think That London is the Only Place in England
London is a great international city, with people and cuisines from all over the world. People come and expect to see Downtown Abbey, classic England, but that’s not London at all. London is very cosmopolitan. To be fair, there are class English traditions still going on in London, such as afternoon tea and changing of the guard, but you might also want to check out the countryside to see classic England.
Don’t Just Eat at the Pubs
As long as you’re in London, it’s a great place to experiment with some of the international cuisine that’s available. Of course, classic pub fare is part of any English experience, but London has an amazing array of international dining opportunities. From curries to dumplings to kabobs and more, you’ll be amazed at the different foods you can try in London.
Watch: Traditional English Food: What to Eat in England
Don’t Expect a Cheap Trip to London
London is an expensive city. Hotels, restaurants, even public transportation in London can be expensive. Even some of the museums are expensive: Madame Tussaud’s can cost as much as $50 to get in! Spending in London adds up quickly, especially if you want to enjoy a pint or two between tourist sites.
Don’t Forget About the Free Stuff
There are a lot of free things to do in London. The British Museum is free, and it’s one of the coolest museums in London. Seeing some of London’s most famous sights, like Big Bend, Parliament, and the Eye are all free to look at. With some research in advance, you can pick and choose the things you want to pay for and fill in the rest with free attractions.
Don’t Count on Sunday Morning Public Transportation
Low-cost carriers offer great deals early on Sunday mornings, but it can be difficult to rely on public transportation on Sunday mornings. It seems to be when they do most of the maintenance and construction. Just to be safe, choose a later flight on Sunday so that you’ll have plenty of time to get to the airport.
Don’t Mess Up the Queue
English people are very polite and mind their manners, and this is especially true when it comes to queuing up. The Brits love their lines, and will not tolerate anyone cutting the line. So, beware of this anytime you are queued up for something.
Don’t Try to Do Everything!
It’s tempting to cram all the things into your London trip. But it’s impossible to see all the London attractions without a very long stay. So many London visitors get burned out trying to see everything. Not only are there many things to see in London, but it’s a huge, sprawling city. Try to plan your days geographically so that you’re not crisscrossing all over.
Don’t Think Changing of the Guard is Daily
One of London’s most popular attractions is the “Changing of the Guard” at Buckingham Palace. If this is something you want to see, make sure you check the schedule ahead of time and plan accordingly.
Don’t Pick the Wrong Airport
London has five airports, and they are anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour from the city center. Some of those super low-cost carriers may arrive at inconvenient locations with not a lot of transportation options. When you’re buying flights to London, consider all of the costs, not just the airfare. It’s no good to save $50 on your flight if you have to take a $75 taxi to your hotel.
Don’t Be Afraid to Use Public Transportation
London has a fantastic public transportation system. Between the Tube, the bus system, and your own two feet, getting around London is easy! Sometimes, it’s actually faster to walk than it is to take a bus or train. So just make sure you consider all options before committing to a route. London traffic is notorious, so taking taxis gets expensive as you watch the fare increase while you sit in a traffic jam.
Don’t Make These Mistakes on the Tube
London’s Tube system is fantastic, but there’s a whole set of mistakes to avoid when using the subway. It’s easy to use, so don’t let these common mistakes scare you from taking the train in London.
- Be ready to pay when you approach the turnstile. Don’t wait until you’re there to look around for your ticket or your phone.
- Don’t think you need a ticket or oyster card. You can pay with a credit card or your phone payment app when using the Tube. This just works for one person; you need a separate credit card for each passenger.
- Don’t stand on the left on the escalators. The left is the “passing lane” for people who are in a hurry.
- Don’t cluster in one area on the platform or on the train. You can spread out. Make sure there is room for people entering and exiting the train station and train. And let everyone off the train before rushing in!
- Don’t bring a lot of luggage on the train. It’s for commuters, so you won’t find overhead bins or anywhere to keep your luggage. It will just take up space, and you shouldn’t expect to have an extra seat for your bags.
- Don’t ride during peak times as the tickets are more expensive during rush hour periods.
- Don’t forget to check which zones you are traveling. Your ticket price is based on how many zones you travel through. You might save money on a hotel by staying in Zone 6, but you’ll spend a lot more on train tickets throughout your stay.
- Once you are on the train, don’t forget your manners. Leave the stinky food and drinks at home, and don’t take up more space than you need.
- Don’t wear your backpack on the train. It takes up too much space, but it’s also a good way to get pickpocketed if you’re on a crowded train.
- Don’t forget to check for line closures. Sometimes, a line will be closed and replaced with bus service. This is usually announced and posted quite clearly.
- Don’t forget to download Citymapper on your phone. It will reflect any delays and detours. You won’t likely have cell service underground, but you can check before you descend.
- Because you won’t have cell service, it’s handy to have an actual map of the tube (or a downloaded map on your phone) . It’s an easy way to see the endpoints of each line.
- Don’t talk to strangers. Actually, don’t strike up conversations with anyone, including your speaker phone.
- Don’t breathe too deeply in the summertime! It gets a bit stinky!
- Don’t freak out if you miss your stop. Just go to the next stop and hop on the train going the other way.
Don’t Go Inside the Red Phone Booth
Tourists love the red phone booths in London. Of course, they’re not usually functional with phones anymore; they mostly serve at photo opps. However, they are sometimes used as shelter or even a urinal, so I don’t recommend going inside them or letting your kids crawl around in them.
Don’t Wait for a Host to Seat You in a Pub
Pub seating is first-come, first-served, so don’t wait around at the entrance for someone to seat you. You also need to go up to the bar to place your order. The servers don’t come to your table to take your order. Usually, you’ll see a number in or on your table. Place your order at the bar and give them that number.
Don’t Forget to Pack for All Weather
London has a reputation as a rainy city, and it does rain quite a bit. However, you can get all types of weather in London, including days where you need a lot of sunscreen. Dressing in layers is always a good idea, and make sure you have a rain jacket that packs up easily in your day pack.
Don’t Choose Uber over Black Cabs
Uber and other rideshare apps are pretty convenient, but you’ll miss out on the knowledge and expertise of the Black Cab drivers. They know the city inside and out, so they can divert to avoid traffic, and can answer a ton of your questions.
Don’t Skip the Thames as a Destination
The River Thames cuts the city of London in half, and the riverfront is a great place to spend some time during your trip to London. Whether it’s a stroll along the river, a river cruise or even taking a water taxi, seeing the city from the water is a great perspective.
Don’t Be Scared to Ask for Help
The police in London are fantastic; they will gladly point you in the right direction of where you need to go. Locals and shopkeepers are also super helpful. As long as you are polite and remember to use your manners, you will find people in London to be super friendly.
Don’t Fall For Tourist Traps
London has some popular tourist traps, and not all of them should be avoided. If you’re visiting London with kids, you might just have to visit a few tourist traps to keep them entertained. In general, we recommend visiting the historical and educational attractions over the tourist traps, but sometimes they can’t be avoided.
- The usual spots like Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, the London Dungeon, and The Clink Prison Museum are not unique to London. These types of tourist traps can be found all over the world.
- The London Eye is an overpriced Ferris Wheel
- Similarly, the London Shard is also quite expensive for a view that you can get for free elsewhere.
- The Crown Jewels are kind of a tourist trap, because you have to pay to go to the London Tower, which is not cheap.
- Piccadilly Circus is really just a busy intersection with a bunch of billboards.
- Leicester Square is known for shows and theaters, but you can see a movie much cheaper pretty much anywhere else in London.
- Getting a photo at Abbey Road can also be considered a tourist trap, as countless tourists try to recreate the Beatles album cover each year.
- Kings Cross Platform 9 ¾ is a popular spot for Harry Potter fans. There’s usually a long line, and it’s not even where the actual scene took place in the movie.
- Any popular movie scene or “Instagram” spot has become a bit of a tourist trap.
- The Heathrow Express from the airport to the city is really only worth it if you have a ton of luggage. Otherwise, it’s much cheaper to just take the Tube into the city.
- Window shopping at Harrods or on Oxford Street can be fun, but actually shopping there is a tourist trap. You can find most of those things online for much cheaper.
- Rickshaws and pedi-cabs can be a tourist trap, unless you negotiate the fare ahead of time.
Don’t Fall for These Tourist Scams
Like any large city with a lot of tourists, there are some scams out there targeting travelers.
- Pickpockets are prevalent in many big cities, including London. They are mainly concentrated in very busy areas like Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and the Changing of the Guard.
- How many of us set our phones on the table while we’re eating? If you’re in a crowded London cafe or pub, don’t do that. There are people that will come by and swipe your phone off the table. Likewise, don’t put your bag on the back of your chair where you can’t see it.
- You might also be approached by beggars and/or donation requests. Many beggars in London are part of organized groups and they will make up a sob story to get your sympathy and your cash. This is also for those people asking you to sign a petition or donate to their charity. Just keep walking.
- People selling designer bags on the street. They are fake knock-offs and usually not very good quality.
- With the increase in tap-to-pay, there is an increase in scams on credit cards. An RFID wallet protects your credit cards, and we also turn off the payment app on our phones until we need to use it.
- While I’ve just said that people in London are friendly and helpful, if someone is too friendly or too helpful, it’s likely a scam. Someone may offer to take your photo, or to sell you a ticket for the bus, and that can be a scam.
- If you plan to see any shows in London, make sure you get your tickets from an official seller. Don’t buy them from a random person on the street, as they may not be valid. The risk isn’t worth saving a few bucks.
- ATM skimmers are also something to look out for. We always try to use an ATM machine inside a bank as they are less likely to be tampered with. If something seems off about an ATM you’re trying to use, then go to a different one.
- Do not use the ATM conversion to your currency. When you withdraw cash, you’ll be asked if you want to convert the withdrawal to your currency. Let your own bank handle that; you’ll always get a better deal with your own bank. This applies to credit card transactions as well.
- The mustard spill / pigeon poop scam is everywhere, including London. If someone spills on you or offers to wipe something off you, they may be distracting you while your bag gets stolen.
- Likewise, if someone on the street “found” something that might be yours, or tries to give you something for free, beware! Nothing is free; they will then ask you for money. This includes random street games they try to rope you into.
- Don’t fall for fake WiFi that can end up stealing your data. Make sure you ask what the correct WiFi is where you are.
These are my “don’ts” of London. Feel free to add more in the comments below! For more travel tips, check out these blog posts and videos: