London Travel Tips You NEED to Know! • 2024

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Cockneys have their own way of talking that might just confuse you the first time you travel to London. Whether they’re talking about running up the “Apples and Pears” or you just can’t “Adam and Eve” it, you might just be left wondering if you’re actually fluent in English at all!

Add this to the accent and you might end up in a bit of “Barney Rubble” and might need to get on the “dog and bone” to ask a local to translate for you.

If you don’t have a “scooby do” – a clue, what I’m talking about, then you might want to brush up on your Cockney rhyming slang before you head to the big smoke.

Here are a few of the most common sayings:

Public transport in London is excellent, budget-friendly and reliable (despite what the locals might try to tell you – try living up North!) The Underground, known more commonly as “The Tube” is made up of an extensive network that pretty much covers anywhere and everywhere you might want to go during your time in London.

My biggest travel tip for London would be to use and abuse it. Just make sure not to try to engage in any casual chit-chat between stops… you can save that for Manchester!

The easiest way to use the tube is to tap on and off using contactless payment. It’s cheaper than buying an Oyster Card or paper tickets and you get to skip the queue for the machines. Just make sure to tap off at the other end.

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Unlike the majority of the world, here in the UK, we drive on the “right side” of the road… by that, I mean the left, the correct and only logical side to drive! If that makes sense.

Anyway, unless you’re from one of the countries practising sanity, you’re gonna want to be a little more aware when crossing the road.

Be sure to look right, because if you only look left, you might end up brown bread (*See London travel tip one for a translation!) You should also probably be aware that we Brits also love a good bit of jaywalking crossing the road when there’s even the smallest gap in traffic is almost a national sport. Maybe leave that to the experts!

Whilst London might be known as a pretty expensive destination to visit, the good part is that though there are many many places that will take your money, there are also heaps of others that are free to visit.

If you’re on a budget or just a frugal traveller, then be sure not to overlook these gems as many of them are some of the best things to do in London. From the magic of wandering down the banks of the River Thames, taking in the Houses of Parliament and watching ships pass underneath Tower Bridge to the simple pleasures of a stroll through one of the many beautiful parks… it’s easy to do amazing stuff for free in London.

Some of the best free places to visit are:

• British Museum: Home to a vast collection of art and antiquities from around the world, including the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles.
• Tate Modern: This contemporary art museum is housed in a former power station.
• Hyde Park: One of London’s largest parks, perfect for a leisurely stroll.
• The South Bank: Walk along the River Thames on the South Bank.
• Covent Garden: This lively area offers a mix of shops, restaurants, and street performances.
• Street Art in Shoreditch: Find works by renowned artists like Banksy.
• The Changing of the Guard: Witness this iconic ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
• The City of London: Explore the historic Square Mile, including the Horizon 22 viewpoint.

If you haven’t already got the memo, the UK is famous for its inclement weather. Now granted, London is a darn sight warmer than the frozen lands of the north where I hail from, but it can still be unpredictable.

Summer usually happens for a week or two between June and August, but we never really know when it might pop by for a blistering few days before buggering off back to mainland Europe! Ok, so that’s a bit of an exaggeration but the point still stands. In other words, a solid packing list for London is essential.

When you visit London or the UK as a whole, you’ve got to come prepared. And when I say prepared, I mean, it’s gonna rain, just have a waterproof jacket on hand for the inevitable downpour!

You should also be aware that it can often be colder during the summer than you might have anticipated if you’re travelling around the rest of Europe. So don’t forget to bring a hoody just in case. That said, it can get bloody hot during the summer too and when it does London can be sweltering. So ya know, prepare for that too!

You can’t travel to the UK and specifically London and not experience the official religion of the country – Football, of course!

London is home to more football clubs than any other city in the UK, but the most important is Arsenal! Ok, maybe I am a bit biased but whoever you choose to watch, whether it’s a Premier League team or a tiny grassroots club, you’ll get to experience the passion us Brits have for our team.

Tickets can be hard to get for many of the bigger teams, so I suggest going to watch lower league teams, visiting pubs whilst games are on as well as checking out the Women’s Super League. Another tip is to get on some stadium tours if you want the experience without the price tag.

These days London works on contactless and you’ll even find some places where cash isn’t accepted at all. In fact, I’ve been to London a few times recently and not even handled any cash at all. From jumping on the tube to paying for overpriced tiny plates of faux street food on Borough Market, it’s likely you will probably have the same experience.

Whilst I always recommend carrying at least some cash as an emergency and having a card which allows withdrawals, more importantly, these days having a card set up for contactless transactions overseas is much more pressing.

I always use my Wise travel banking card when I am travelling overseas as it allows me to keep money in a variety of different currencies as well as make contactless payments. Plus, I avoid paying steep transaction fees that I would if I were to use my regular bank card.

Having a SIM card in the UK is a must! Whether you want to find your way around London with the help of Google Maps, book an Uber after a late night in the boozer or manage your bank accounts on the go so you can splurge on that new Arsenal shirt, being connected is an important tip for visiting London.

You’ve got a few options here depending on your needs.

• You can grab an international eSIM before you travel; it’s mega easy and you’ll be sorted with data as soon as you land.
• You could instead pick up a local SIM card instead. The UK has plenty of different providers and they’re super easy to set up and can be bought at the airport as well as many supermarkets with very few documents required.

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London is a big city… in case you’ve not already heard! When it comes to cities of this size, you have to strategise unless you want to spend the majority of the time on public transport.

Breaking down the city into different areas and exploring each one day by day is the perfect way to maximise your time and fully experience what each part of the city has to offer. This way you can save money on public transport and see as much on foot as possible.

Be sure to check out where you want to visit on a map and group together places geographically. I use my Google Maps to add pins so I can easily plan my days from that. Be sure to also consider how long you’ll need for each place as well as what time of day you’ll be visiting.

Here is how I suggest breaking down your time in London:

Central London (Westminster Abbey/ Big Ben etc)

South Bank (London Eye/ Tower of London etc)

East London (Camden/ Shoreditch etc)

West London (Notting Hill/ Kensington Palace etc)

North London (Regent’s Park/ The Emirates Stadium etc)

Alright, so whilst London DOES have quieter times of the year, I’ll be honest, there’s never a true off-peak like in other tourist destinations. In a city like London, people wanna visit all year round and most attractions are suitable for all seasons. Plus, it’s just a damn busy city day to day anyway with the people who live and work here.

All that said, there are also times of the year when things get even busier and one of my top travel tips for visiting London would be to avoid those times if at all possible.

Peak tourist season is in the Summer (June to August), this is when many people flock to the city and the most popular attractions are overrun. The Christmas and New Year period is also another busy time, especially in major shopping areas.

Visitors should also avoid British school holidays, Bank Holidays and weekends where possible as London is popular with domestic visitors as well as international.

London also hosts many events throughout the year and these can cause the city to be busy and accommodation and transport to be difficult to book and expensive. These include The London Marathon, Notting Hill Carnival, New Year’s Eve celebrations and more. Be sure to research planned events before you book.

Britain might not be known for its food in the way that France or Thailand is, I mean, most people probably think all we eat is beans on toast over here. Whilst they might be at least 50% correct in that assumption, they are 100% wrong about what it actually tastes like. There is actually a wealth of different foods and cuisines to try out in London.

One of the things I LOVE about London and the UK as a whole is our diversity. We are a real mixing pot of a country and I just can’t get enough of it. As a result, you can pretty much get any kinda food you might want, but what’s more interesting is the unique fusion cuisine we’ve crafted over here as a result of all these cultures rubbing shoulders.

So whether you fancy some jerk chicken, salt and pepper chips or something a bit more traditional like jellied eels, you can bet the foodie scene in London is more interesting than you first thought. Admit it! If you’re unsure where to start, then jump on a food tour in London for all the insider knowledge.

This 3-hour secret British food tour is an epic way to taste your way around the city. From the classic fish and chips to delicious cheese and desserts – you’ll be full and happy after this tour.

Here are some must-try dishes:

• Chicken Tikka Masala – A beloved British-Indian hybrid. Head to Brick Lane for the best examples.
• Korean Fried Chicken & Chips – Check out Jinjuu in Soho for this unique take on the ever-popular fried chicken.
• Jerk Chicken – Celebrate the Jamaica heritage of many Londoners with this popular dish at Rudie’s Jerk Shack in Borough Market.
• Fish & Chips – Everyone knows this classic British dish, but avoid having it in a touristy pub and make sure you go to the roughest looking chippy in a local neighbourhood and make sure they’re covered in salt and vinegar for the full experience.
• Sunday Roast – The perfect way to round off your weekend in London with this hearty British dish, head to The Harwood Arms in Fulham for a fancy version of this classic.
• Pie and Mash – it doesn’t get much more British than this! Tuck into this timeless meal at M. Manze on Tower Bridge Road or Mother Mash in Soho and your life will never be the same again!

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Catching a show in the West End is a quintessential experience in the capital, but it can be both expensive and difficult to get tickets if you don’t know where to look. However, a top London travel tip is to be strategic about it and know the do’s and don’ts before you take the leap.

Here are some of my top tips for grabbing a great deal on West End tickets:

• TKTS Booth in Leicester Square –  Check the booth in Leicester Square for last-minute tickets often for shows that night. Many of them go for around 50% less. Be sure to get there early and be willing to queue. 
• Online Discount Sites – Websites such as TodayTix, Theatre Monkey, and London Theatre Direct offer exclusive deals and flash offers to take advantage of. 
• Day Seats – Many theatres offer on-the-day tickets for substantially less than prebookable ones. You’ll want to get to the theatre box office as early as 7 am!
• Go Off-Peak – Tickets are generally cheaper for weekday performances (specifically Tuesday or Wednesday), matinees, and shows in off-peak seasons (January or February). 
• Group Discounts – Many theatres offer group rates for purchases of 10 or more tickets.
• Check the Theater’s Own Website – Some theatres offer exclusive discounts or ticket packages on their official websites and you avoid paying middlemen fees.

Unless you’re Irish, Scottish or at a push Aussie, then pace yourselves because you’re gonna get drunk under the table. There’s no point denying it, us Brits are pretty much professional drinkers and we’ve been in training since our early teenage years drinking cider in the park!

For those of us who have outgrown a frozen bench and a can of Frosty Jack, the pub is pretty much a second home.

It’s where we go to socialise, where we meet our partners, where we have our tea or watch England break our hearts over and over again. It’s the location where the world is put to rights and maybe a few pool cues are sacrificed over a game of killer that got out of hand. We see in the New Year arm in arm with people who were strangers at the start of the night. It’s where we can finally let our hair down and let go of all that crippling British awkwardness!

If you want to get to know the locals, head into the nearest boozer, grab yourselves a pint and strike up a conversation.

I’m guessing this will come as no surprise to you, but for those in the back, London can get hella busy. And that’s even during the “off-peak” seasons. During the summer, you’re cooked mate if you think you can just rock up to many of the main sights and just stroll in. Those days are well and truly in the past!

So as any smart traveller knows, you’ve got to plan ahead for these things. Sure, it takes some of the spontaneity out of life, but believe me, there’s still plenty of opportunity for that in London between pre-booked slots for the British Museum and The London Eye!

No one likes to waste time queuing. Sure, it’s our national sport, but when you’re on a trip you really want to maximise your time doing fun shit instead. So channel your inner Holly and Phillip and get that queue skipped!

I highly recommend combining this London travel tip with planning your days by area and you’ve got yourself a skeleton itinerary for London that will allow you to avoid missing out on some of those must-visit locations.

London is full of hidden gems and lesser-known attractions if you get off the beaten track. Sure, you just have to see Charlie’s gaff and call in to have a goose at the crown jewels (behave!), but there’s more to this incredible city than those international landmarks.

In fact, it’s in these places where you’ll see the REAL London, meet locals and avoid the crowds clogging up the more well-known attractions. If you want a more genuine experience in London, then it’s as easy as jumping on the tube and just pointing yourself in the opposite direction of everyone else. I can guarantee you’ll see something amazing around every corner of this historic and vibrant city.

Having said that, these are my favourite off-the-beaten-track places I’ve been to so far:

• Little Venice – A charming area with picturesque waterways, narrow boats, and peaceful walks near Paddington.
• God’s Own Junkyard – A neon wonderland in Walthamstow filled with salvaged, retro, and custom-made neon signs and artwork. 
• Wilton’s Music Hall – The world’s oldest surviving music hall, a Grade II listed building tucked away in Whitechapel. 
• Eel Pie Island – A bohemian island in the Thames that was once a gig spot for The Rolling Stones. 
• Highgate Cemetery – This eerie and beautiful Victorian cemetery is home to the graves of people including Karl Marx and George Eliot. 
• Daunt Books, Marylebone – A stunning Edwardian bookshop that feels like stepping back in time. 
• Little India in Southall – The perfect place to indulge in South Asian culture and cuisine. 
• Sir John Soane’s Museum – A fun little museum filled with paintings and general curiosities collected by eccentric architect Sir John Soane.

As much as using the tube is THE way to get around London, I also strongly advise walking whenever possible and using the tube to cover larger distances. One quirk of the tube and its famous map is that it doesn’t always portray distances accurately, so if you’re only going a few stops, it can even be quicker to just walk and I ain’t got time for those crowds in central either!

But that’s not the main reason; walking is the absolute best way to discover hidden places you would have otherwise missed speeding by on the train. London has so many little side streets, leafy squares, colourful alleyways and mesmerising mews to uncover when you take the time for a stroll.

By taking a walk you don’t just make pit stops at the highlights, in between Buckingham Palace and Big Ben there are a whole host of lesser-known spots to stumble across. Look up, and take in the tapestry of different architecture from medieval churches to Georgian terraces and roaring modern skyscrapers.

London walking tours are another great way to explore the city with a bit more guidance where you’ll be able to see areas of the city you’d probably overlook otherwise.

If you’re thinking of hitting up the main tourist spots in the big smoke, then consider purchasing the London Pass. This sightseeing card grants access to over 80 popular attractions, museums, and tours over 1, 2, 3, 6, or 10 consecutive days.

The cost of these different attractions can really add up, so purchasing The London Pass allows you to really get the most for your money. Plus, the pass also allows you to skip many of the long lines which is a real-time saver, especially during weekends and peak season.

You’ve got to weigh up which of the more expensive sights you fancy visiting. If you want to hit up some of the most popular places to visit in London, like Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, and The Shard, then you’ll save a bunch of money by getting hold of the London Pass. The pass in particular is ideal for first-time visitors or those on a really tight schedule.

The Thames Clipper river bus is part of London’s public transport system and can be ridden in much the same way as the tube. This means you get to see London from this unique angle without forking out on an expensive tour or river cruise… though if you fancy having a bit more privacy or a party on the water with your mates, then go for it!

But a can of cider on the clipper is a great budget alternative!

One of the best routes to take is between Westminster to Greenwich which passes by major landmarks like the Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s, Westminster, Embankment, and the Tower of London. It’s also the perfect way to reach spots like Greenwich (for the Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark) or Battersea Power Station which are a little outside of central London.

London is a great city with so many epic places to stay of course, but it’s not the be-all and end-all of the UK. If you can, I highly recommend visiting the rest of the country as a whole and getting up to places like Manchester, The Lake District, Scotland and Wales.

But sure, not everyone has that amount of time, so a good compromise is to take a few day trips closer to London that will give you a different sense of Britain outside of this mega city.

Here are some of the day trips from London that I recommend the most –

• Cambridge – Only 1 hour by train from London you can wander around this peaceful and historic university town as well as take a punting tour along the River Cam. It’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of London.
• Windsor – Just 30-40 mins away from London, Windsor is home to the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, Windsor Castle. The town is also the final resting place of The Queen at St George’s Chapel.
• Brighton – An hour’s train ride away this seaside town is known for its vibrant culture, arts scene, iconic pier and quirky independent shops and cafes. Plus, you can go for a refreshing swim during the summer months at the famous Pebble Beach.
• Cotswolds Villages – If you really want to get out of the big city and experience rural life in Britain then you can’t miss the Cotswolds. This is basically the picture postcard England you always dreamt of!
• Stonehenge and Salisbury – 1.5 hours by train you can visit the magical ancient stone circle of Stonehenge, which is an especially epic place to witness the winter solstice.

Whilst London is a safe place to travel, accidents can happen anyway! We do have a “decent” public health system but I’ll be honest, it’s not the most reliable and it’s not where you want to spend your trip!

This is why I ALWAYS recommend getting good quality travel insurance. Life is unpredictable and add to the mix travelling to one of the world’s largest cities, well, anything can happen. Innit! Having good quality travel insurance always gives me that extra confidence to travel knowing a good company has my back just in case.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

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Many people will give you plenty of different opinions on London. From those Southerners who consider anything outside of the Tube map to be filled with wildlings and heathens, to Northerners ready to launch a campaign of independence who’d rather give up beans on toast than visit London.

Well, as someone who kinda skirts between both worlds, I think you need to make your own mind up. London might be a staple on most UK itineraries, but it can be somewhat polarising. But let’s face it, you’ve got to visit when you do come to old Blighty!

Ya know what, I am not ashamed to admit that I love it. Sure, I don’t think I could abide Southerners long enough to live down there, but you just can’t beat a trip to the capital. So hopefully my London travel tips will go some way to making your trip easier.

Let me know what you think and give us a shout when you want out of the City and you’re heading up north.

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