21 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting London 🇬🇧

Heath to central London? Tube hands down. Learned this my first visit in 72. Still do it today.

Been looking into travel agencies London England lately — any recommendations around here?

sorry i was confused with US

London is not just drive on the left, a lot of it is drive on both sides of multi lane one way roads.

Borough Market is the best

What about the epidemy of knife attacks, pickpockets and rapes? I would never go to London, and I will make sure no one I love goes there either.

Where's that small boat before that Uber boat‽

Love the Harry Potter Studios tip — didn’t know it was an hour out, so I’ll book tickets early now!

As a former hospitality worker I can assure you that service charge does get split between staff. There’s a law that makes sure of it. Don’t ask to remove service charge unless you had terrible service. It makes all the difference to your servers and chefs who usually work on minimum wage.

OMG you are so super cute, I have got instant crush on you <3

Thank you . For London insight. Nice ohe.

I dont know but the more i watch what not to do in london i don't want to go anymore 😢

Here are some top tips from not a Londoner but a Canadian who over the last 15 years spends a lot of time there as a tourist. 1) since Covid London has become largely a cash less society relying on credit card payment. Always ask beforehand if they accept cash., pub, bar, restaurant, where ever you want to spend ££. 2) For such a big place with so much to do & see getting around is easy . Get yourself an Oyster Card to use not only the Tube but also the Elizabeth Line ( affectionately known as Lizzie by Londoners) , the Bus, the Overground, and Thameslink. Quick, easy to use,easy to top-up over getting apps for your cell (mobile in the UK) 3) Check out the free stuff. All of the museums are free and there are lots real cool ones . Hampstead Heath & it’s Parliament Hill, Hyde Park, St. James Park, Victoria Park all free and get you away from the hustle & bustle of the streets of London. 4) check out cool places outside of London such as Windsor & its castle, Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury all very much comfortable day trips using Britain’s exceptional national rail. 5) want to see a marvellous West end show, who doesn’t? Leicester Square TKTS discount outlet the place to get best price and availability on all of the shows. 6) Do not openly flash your cell (mobile) around for example on an outdoor picnic table outside a pub. Prime targets for pickpockets 7) The pubs are both plentiful and busy. Unlike Canada for example there is no such thing as bar service. You go to the bar and order and receive your drinks as does everyone else. It can be push and shuvv getting to and from so keep your cool, be nice and patience. Particularly in Central London the patrons love and swarm on the outside of the pub in droves on the sidewalk. You do get used to it. 8) For the top attractions suggest you pick no more than 2 or 3 to do in a day and select carefully planning how to get to one venue then onto the next. 9) last tip. Rush hour. Considering 4 million use the tube each day it is an understatement to describe the tube as insane during rush hour. Avoid the tube from 4 pm for at least 2 hours if you can or have a choice. 10) lastly enjoy and have fun

21 key insights and tips to help first-time visitors avoid common mistakes and navigate the city more like a local. Here's a concise summary of the main points covered:

Tipping isn't mandatory; many restaurants add a 12.5% service charge (which you can ask to remove), and actual tips go directly to staff.
Traffic — Cars won't stop for jaywalking tourists; watch out, especially since they drive on the left.
Tube etiquette — Don't block doors with big bags; let people exit first; trains are small and used by commuters.
Plan airport transfers in advance — especially from distant ones like Stansted, Gatwick, or Luton.
Very cheap "nice" hotels are often far out (e.g., Croydon, Tottenham) → you'll waste time commuting.
Escalator rule — Stand on the right, walk on the left.
Cash is basically obsolete — use contactless card/phone for everything (even Tube/bus).
Pubs — No formal queue; stand at the bar, be aware of who's next; often order food at the bar too.
Weather isn't always rainy (Paris actually gets more rain on average).
Sponsor segment promotes a Level8 expandable suitcase for easy access to items.
Pay for public transport with your phone/card (daily cap applies).
Don't underestimate the British Museum — it's free, huge, and world-class.
Explore beyond Zone 1 (central tourist areas like Oxford St/Covent Garden/Soho) → try Greenwich via Uber Boat/Thames Clippers (tap in like normal transport).
Harry Potter Studios are ~1 hour north of London; book tickets far ahead.
Islington is a sweet-spot neighborhood: cheaper hotels, walkable to center, local vibe.
Borough Market is great but extremely crowded on weekends → go early or on weekdays (closed Mondays).
London is huge — distances take time; use Google Maps when planning.
Free viewing platforms (Sky Garden, Horizon 22, The Lookout) require advance booking now.
Save money with supermarket meal deals (~£5 for sandwich + drink + snack).
No day trips to Edinburgh (train >4 hours); better nearby options: Brighton, Oxford, Cambridge, Bath.
Be careful with your phone (pickpocketing risk implied at the end).

A while ago (yeah I'm old) The Rosetta Stone used to just be behind a rope. I touched it.

Gods grace I might be traveling in May

When I was tight on money while on vacation in London, Tesco, Boots and Sainsbury's sandwiches saved my life.

22 London sucks . There are no English people there

We hardly have any rain in London.

London Luton no further from London than Gatwick.Stanstead is the furthest though all have easy connections into London

8:24 I bet the snatchers aren't even from London.

"This is a functioning city and not disney world".

That's funny because as a Floridian, I feel the same way they must feel yet the snowbirds don't care. Whether they're Irish, English or from America it doesn't matter.

Cross the road like a Londoner - don't wait for crossing signs to say when but don't stand out in front of cars - it's just a knack we have! Also be prepared to buy strangers you meet drinks in pubs - buying rounds is a thing - and say thank you if someone lets you on a train or through a door - despite everything we are still (usually) polite and don't like bad manners!

I’ve been to the London Museum it’s huge and quite fascinating, but wear comfortable shoes there are very few benches to sit and rest on.

Tipping is absolutely a thing and please don’t discourage people from doing it, people need all the money they can get these days.

Soy de Bogotá y aquí unos días hace sol, otros llueve, pero me agrada. Gracias por los consejos, se ve muy bonito Londres

Top tip from an Englander. - Don't just visit London, which is interesting and overpriced for a few days. But get out and see some other places York, Bath, Peaks, Lakes. etc.

great advise im from london .Borough market is just for tourists though .try Colombia road on a Sunday morning !

2:19 confusing

5:16. SoHo is in New York City = South of Houston. In London it’s Soho.

I appreciate you told me that about the harry potter studio because I actually did think it was in London I've never been to London I live in the UK but not in London and I'm glad you told me this because I'm mostly going there to explore the harry potter stuff and other places to I'm trying to become an actress and I'm practicing in the best agency studio in the UK that is connected with spotlight they get you rolls in theatre and film and I'm also saving up I'm planning to go to London in one or two years I do t know what it will be like in 2026 or 2027 I'm planning on contacting artist rights group to for roles where Daniel Radcliffe went it looks great I've been told there alot of dangerous places to stay where there's alot of killing so I look up all these videos to find out the best and worst places and information about the places and you've told me some things I need to know especially about the harry potter studio thanks again. By the way your very good looking helpful and I love your voice thanks again that's also a place I plan to visit is Edinburgh when I go to London I have a friend there that lives there in Prestonpans what's the best way to get there from London and I know about the phone problem I'm planning on keeping mine safe and not lift it out my side bag that goes over my body and sits at the front and plan to hold it

Remember that there is an enormous amount of things to see and do in the suburbs of London, e.g. Hampstead, Richmond, Dulwich. You can think of London as a collection of "villages", each with its own character. Many European cities just become miles of homogenous apartment blocks outside the centre - but not London. I have lived in London for 35 years, and have yet to visit all the attractions.

Brit here! Bath and Edinburgh are both stunning (definitely my favourites)!! Not to be missed! Both much nicer than London (I am from London!).

Hi, I am from India.
I visited London thrice, that is in 2023, 2024 and 2025. I used my prepaid card for all transactions during these visits except once. There is a Chinese restaurant near Cutty Sark that only accepts cash, luckily I was carrying sufficient cash with me.
I was lucky to see some offbeat spots which most tourists don't get to see. One was Forest Hill, Trinity Buoy Wharf, Battersea Power Station which is now a shopping mall, to name a few. I wish I could go there once again 😊

2:49
As a Student its not confirmed yet but we will go with one of few friends at London.
I Didn't had personally a credit card (I Use Bank Card, With National and International schemes)
But my dad was. I Plan to use Load the card into NFC payment
But as a Turkish Bank (Garanti) i didn't sure it will process the payment (If we include cross-rates and Card was MasterCard and it open on Int. Transactions)
I Did collect some Quids but just in case, I need to sure for Card Payment.
P.S: Far as i know We cannot load to Google/Apple Pay, because of our Laws don't allow for it. (But Card was Int and I Will go the london, idk)

There’s definitely a lot to learn before visiting London — the city can feel huge at first. When I was moving around, 4000taxi really helped me get from place to place without any stress. It made exploring so much easier.

steve and his travel guides

Be careful of the Tube- there was a IRA bomb threat when I visited and it was chaotic. Also, graffiti on the floors. London is like NYC on steroids. Milan was gorgeous!