Are you planning a trip to London? Whether it’s your first visit or you’ve been before, this guide will outline everything you should do and other important information you should know about traveling to London, England!
London hasn’t always been one of my favorite cities. When I first visited London on my very first trip to Europe in 2018 it was actually my least favorite city that we went to. Since then, I’ve moved to England and have fallen absolutely in love with London! I’ve been probably close to 10 times in the past year. There is just so much to do and see in London, and so much great food, which is why I’m super excited to share this guide with you!
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London Pass
Table of Contents
Before I dive into the top things to do and see in London, I wanted to tell you about the London Pass. The London Pass is a way to save money on sightseeing if you plan to see a lot of the famous attractions in London and do the more tourist things while visiting (or for part of your trip). The London Pass will give you free admission to over 80+ tourist attractions, allows you to skip the line at various attractions, and even includes a 1-day river boat ticket and a 1-day Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour ticket. Click here for more information!
Top Things To Do
See Big Ben
Big Ben is one of my favorite landmarks in London, I think it’s so beautiful. Technically, Big Ben is the bell inside the clock tower, not the entire clock tower itself, and it’s one of London’s most famous attractions. There is a field right by it if you want to have a picnic and enjoy the view of the clock tower. You can also book a tour of inside Big Ben! They do book out months in advance so make sure you try and get tickets months before your trip! Click here for more information on booking a tour.
Tour Westminster Abbey
While you’re over by Big Ben you can also visit Westminster Abbey. This beautiful church full of detail and history is one you can admire from the outside or even book a tour and go inside. The church is most known for being the place for royal weddings, coronations, and burials. It’s an active church today that you can go inside and attend a service or pray for free, but if you wish to explore the church you need to book a tour. Click here to get tickets!
Visit Tower Bridge
Did you know you can go inside the iconic Tower Bridge? The bridge was built between 1886 and 1894 and is a working bridge still used today. You can walk or drive across it, and even go inside for a tour. Inside you can see exhibits, the engine rooms, and use the walkway at the top of the bridge connecting the two towers. Click here to get tickets!
Borough Market
Borough Market is one of my favorite food markets in London. It’s well known and for good reason, the food is AMAZING here. It’s street food and you might find it a little pricy, but it’s worth it. My go-to spot in Borough Market is The Black Pig. Here, you can get a slow-roasted pulled pork sandwich with fixings and a ton of parmesan cheese. I bring everyone here who I see in London; they all say it lives up to all the hype I give it! So, when you’re visiting Borough Market, you must get a slow-roast pork sandwich from The Black Pig.
Camden High Street
Camden High Street has so much character and it is a more affordable spot to visit in London. Here you can find unique and artsy buildings, pubs, coffee shops, and the Camden Market full of delicious street food and little shops and stalls. I really enjoyed this area of London because it’s so different and unique compared to most of London.
UPMarket Brick Lane Food Hall
UPMarket is at the top of my list of where to find good and affordable food in London. It’s a food hall full of street food from all over the world. You’ll discover Jamaican, Thai, Chinese, Indian, German, Lithuanian, Mexican, Japanese, and more. My go-to here is the Lithuanian meatballs. There is also a bar if you want a drink, as well as dessert vendors. Also, most vendors will offer you a sample of their food when you walk around so you get to try all sorts of different types of dishes.
Eat Ramen at Yokocho
This retro-style Ramen spot is easily the best ramen I’ve ever had. I recommended it to my friends who had recently gone to Japan and they said it was as good as the ramen they had in Japan and the best they’ve had outside of Japan. They offer a variety of different types of ramen from different regions in Japan and the restaurant is decorated to make you feel like you’ve stepped onto the streets of Japan. I highly recommend coming here when you’re in London!
Visit Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is an ancient heath with many open grassy areas, ponds, woodlands, a training track, playgrounds, and beautiful views from atop massive hills. This area is basically a woodsy park and is really a lovely spot to go for a walk if the weather is nice and you’re looking to get out of the city streets and enjoy some beautiful British nature.
See a Show on the West End
London is a wonderful place to see famous Broadway shows, although be warned, the songs may sound a little different since everyone has a British accent. I’ve seen Wicked twice while visiting and I’ve absolutely loved it each time. You can also catch shows like Hamilton, The Book of Mormon, Mamma Mia, Phantom of the Opera, and much more!
Chinatown
The Chinatown in London is one of the best that I’ve visited. The ones in America that I’ve seen usually don’t have very many authentic Chinese shops, they’re just popular brands with Chinese writing. Unlike the American ones I’ve visited, the Chinatown in London is authentic. You’ll find authentic restaurants, bakeries, and shops. I love that it’s an authentic Chinatown and is a great area to visit when you’re in London!
Gordon’s Wine Bar
Gordon’s Wine Bar is a hidden gem you need to visit. It’s London’s oldest wine bar established in 1890. The best spot to sit is in the cellar room. It’s lit only by candles and you are tucked away underground in what feels like a little cave. It’s quite romantic and overall a really cool spot with really delicious wine.
SoHo
Located south of downtown London, this neighborhood is great to explore and grab a bite to eat. SoHo stands for South of Horton and is always buzzing with activity. My favorite places to grab a bite to eat in SoHo are the Flat Iron Beak Street for affordable and delicious steak. The Kingly Court is also a great spot that is three levels of various restaurants from all over the world.
Other Popular Things To Do!
Getting Around London
Big Bus Tour
I’ve taken the big bus tour twice, and I found it to be really good bang for your buck if you want to see everything but don’t want to do a ton of walking or pay for taxis all day. You can jump on and jump off wherever you want and you can use the bus all day! I did this option with my husband to see the city and we had a great time seeing everything quickly and spending the next day on foot and taking the tube.
This is also a great option if you or someone you are traveling with is disabled. I went on the bus when I had a family visit in London and it was a great way for them to see all of London without all the difficulty of getting around!
The Tube
The Tube sounds more intimidating than it is if you’ve never taken a subway or underground train before but I promise it’s easy! The tube is definitely the best way to get around London, it’s cheap, pretty easy to navigate, and quick. When you take a cab or Uber you sit in traffic forever and it’s usually not the most affordable mode of transportation.
We were intimidated by the tube at first but it’s actually really easy once you do it. You use your credit card to get in and out of the tube station (each journey is typically only a few pounds if you’re just going around London) and then you follow the signs directing you towards your train. We put where we were headed into Google Maps and it told us which station to go to and which tube line to get on. The trains come every few minutes so we never waited long to get on. In my opinion, this is the best way to get around if you plan to go all over London.
Black Cabs
If you want to take a car around, of course, you could call a regular taxi or Uber, however, the traditional black cabs are, in my opinion, the best and are simply iconic. They’re all over London and you simply have to stand on the side of the road and put your hand up to hail the cab if you see one coming. If their yellow sign is on that means they don’t have any passengers and they’ll pull over to take you where you wish to go. The nice thing about black cabs is they don’t have surcharges like Uber and the drivers are required to know every street in London, they don’t use a GPS! They also all take cards.
E-Bikes
If the weather is nice, renting e-bikes are also a great way to get around London. You can look up where the closest one to rent is on the Uber app and check them out for a ride. It can be so fun to see neighborhoods on your journey you wouldn’t normally see otherwise and the ebikes require very little effort to peddle. I highly recommend wearing a helmet while on these bikes and riding them in the bike lanes or shoulders of the streets. Cars are used to cyclists on the road in London, but of course, follow traffic laws and be mindful and polite to vehicles and other cyclists. Also, don’t forget to ride on the left side of the road!
Me on an Uber Lime E-Bike
Currency
England uses the pound as their currency. You can google what the exchange rate is since it can fluctuate. Don’t worry if you don’t have cash, most places take card.
A quick tip for when you are using your credit card abroad – if you are prompted to convert the total into USD or whatever other currency you use, don’t convert the total into your card’s currency, keep the total in pounds.
This trick will save you from having to pay any extra fees for the conversion and you’ll just pay the actual conversion rate plus the fees your credit card charges you, nothing extra. This trick also works at ATMs, don’t convert the total into your own currency, just keep it in the local currency to save money on fees!
What to Know Before Going
Traffic Direction
When you’re crossing the street, make sure to check both ways as the cars will be coming from the opposite direction than what you’re used to if you live in a country where vehicles aren’t driving on the left side of the road. Also, if you use a bike while in London, make sure you’re staying on the right side of the road or path that you’re on.
Bring Layers
The weather can change pretty quickly in England, and it often does not do what you expect. I’ve found that it can be perfectly sunny and beautiful one hour and then cold and rainy the next. So definitely bring layers and a variety of clothes for cold and warm weather unless you’re visiting in the winter then just assume it’ll be cold and rainy!
Know Pub Etiquette
When you’re at a pub it’s good to know the basic pub etiquette. For instance, if you’re ordering a Guinness, make sure to order that first if you have other drinks to order as well. You can also order a mixed drink or wine at a pub, you don’t just have to go for beer. Also, if multiple people are ordering drinks in your group, just have one or two people go up to order and bring the drinks back. Lastly, remember you don’t tip at the pub!
Be Mindful Of Your Things
Like any major tourist city, you should always keep your valuables in a purse strapped to your front or in a front pocket. I love using this purse for traveling because it’s small but fits a lot, easy to access, and I can keep my things on my chest.
Also, be mindful when you’re walking on the street and holding your phone, even if you’re using it for directions to get where you’re going, someone could come by and snatch it out of your hands on an e-bike (this is something that has been a reported problem in London). London is a safe city but like anywhere you travel, make sure you’re mindful of yourself and your things and use your street smarts.
You Likely Don’t Need Cash
Almost everywhere takes card nowadays, although there are some chippys (fish and chip restaurants) that are cash only, so make sure you ask before you order here. However, the majority of restaurants and stores will accept card payments.
Try a Sausage Roll
It doesn’t sound very good but a sausage roll from a pub or a fast food joint like Gregg’s is so delicious. It’s a sausage wrapped in a flaky savory pastry and it’s so good. These are one of my favorite British foods!
Wrapping Up
London is an iconic city full of vibrant life, history, and hidden gems. There are so many things to do in London, from seeing iconic landmarks and going to tourist attractions, to finding street food from all over the world at the many food markets. I hope you have a wonderful trip to London and found this guide helpful, happy travels!
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