Tips for Traveling to London

The UK capital is near the top of every bucket list for travelers and tourists, and rightfully so. Its rich history draws millions of visitors a year. We were lucky enough to stay a week in London just a month before the virus started to spread around the world. It was one of the best weeks of our life and we just had to share our experience with you. Here’s some travel tips to help you get around Fog City efficiently and comfortably.

Plan Your Trip by Neighborhood, Not Specific Location

London is an enormous, spread out city with seemingly endless rail lines. Each neighborhood has something unique to offer; but there are so many places, it’s difficult to decide where to start. When we planned our first trip, the easiest option was to begin saving every place we wanted on a shared Google map. After saving over 50 places, we knew what neighborhoods we wanted to visit and began narrowing down hotels from there. If you choose a location too far, you’ll spend most of your trip in transit.

Creating a map beforehand will help you throughout your trip. Not only can you download your map offline for navigating without relying on the internet, but you can prevent spreading yourself too thin. Plan your days according to neighborhood, not specific location. There is simply too much to do in each area, its best to invest entire days in each spot.

Camden Market could take you days but you’ll see dozens of top restaurants, shops, and people-watching all in one spot. “Albertopolis” is an entire area of landmarks, museums, and palaces that could take you days as well. The Tower Bridge, Potters Field, and the Tower of London are all connected. Soho is the perfect spot for happy hour before a West End (Broadway) show or an all-day ragefest in the many bars and clubs. 

Transportation

Whether you travel by train or plane, arriving in London can be a little disconcerting. It can be hard to tell where to go or where to start as people zoom toward trains and buses with ease. Once you touch down, make sure to purchase an Oyster card. This is their public transportation system; you’ll use this card for all buses and trains in the city. Before you buy, you need to know what “zones” you plan to travel within. The Zones are designed like a bulls-eye with Downtown in the center; Zone 1 and Zone 2 cover most of the popular tourist areas but it’s best to check before purchasing a travel card. We payed £49 each for a 7-day pass. You receive a £5 refund if you return your card.

Much like other major cities, train delays happen all the time; you can check the Transport for London-TFL Twitter for any train delays. Delays happened twice while we were there, we nearly missed Part 2 of Harry Potter & the Cursed Child. Downloading offline maps will help adjust your plans in the event a station is closed; there is no signal in most of the tubes. Make sure to download the app Rome2Rio, they provide the most user-friendly public transportation directions but it does require signal.

Free Cultural Experiences

Impressively, many major London Museums are free and open to the public. The British Museum, National Gallery, Museum of London, Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the Victoria & Albert Museum are all FREE to visit! While most major museums are free, all offer exhibitions that require a fee or membership. Castles and palaces charge an entry fee ranging from £11-29; exhibitions vary according to season. This includes the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, and the House of Lords/Parliament.

London is a fantastic melting pot of style and multiculturalism. Different neighborhoods offer opportunities to see expression and art; whether it’s an open debate on Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park or a street performance in Covent Gardens. Head to Camden Market to see spiked, mohawked punks hilariously harassing tourists while a musician blares their guitar in the street. You can find scenes from Harry Potter films or crime scenes from Jack the Ripper all over the city. Head to Leake Street for an underground graffiti scene like you’ve never seen. The city is full of mysteries and fun, no matter what type of budget you’re working with.

Budget Accordingly

A famous poet once said, “Nothing is certain in London but expense.” This is an understatement. Aside from a steep difference in currency values, everything in London costs more than what you’re used to. The US dollar loses around 10% when converted to the Euro; that same dollar loses about 25% to the British pound. Much like with any traveling, research your exchange rates and be picky as you shop around. We lost €40 to conversion and fees taking out only £100 so beware!

Truthfully, almost everything is more expensive. Whether it’s a street vendor selling pizza slices for £10 or a bag of chips for £4, everyone is paying a lot more. High rent and import costs affect prices everywhere, but the closer you are to Zones 1 and 2, the more royal taxes everyone pays; therefore, prices are higher in those areas. These are the best areas for enjoying the city so be prepared to crack open that wallet. Be picky and shop around, there are great deals available, just don’t buy the first thing you see.

Dress in Layers

Much like any other coastal European city, the weather in London is unpredictable. The rain comes and goes regardless of sunlight and the temperature never feels like it should. Be sure to bring a water-resistant jacket, under-jacket, and sturdy shoes. London is a windy city in general, especially (and strangely) underground; be prepared for your hair to be a mess all the time. We traveled in winter so layers were extremely important, especially getting around the city. You’ll walk through the streets fighting the cold, biting wind only to be sweating your ass off in the tube or bus. Simply put, get used to taking your clothes on and off all day long.

You’ll want to dress stylishly as well. London is one of the top fashion capitals in the world. London fashion will not disappoint. Unlike other European cities, Londoners wear tons of color and personality in their fashion. They’re not afraid to stand out in a crowd. After months of seeing dark, muted colors, London was a breath of fresh air. The shopping options are insane. No matter what style you prefer, you will find something you want.

See more? Read our other articles on our travel page! Have you ever traveled to London? Tell us all about your trip in the comments below or on social media @TwoMixers!