A view of the London clock tower and bridge with big text "London tips for beginners"

London. A city full of good vibes and energy…if you know what to avoid. So this is a list of my top London travel tips for first time visitors.

With nearly two thousand years of history, epic cultural events and more famous attractions than you can shake a stick at, it’s probably why ~30 million people make a trip to the UK’s capital city every year.

So yea, London has definitely earned its place in the list of the world’s best cities to visit, but it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s a city that can make you work to uncover its treasures…something a lot of visitors (especially first-timers) overlook.

If you’re planning a trip to London soon, then this post is for you. I’ll go through some of the all-too-common mistakes that newbie visitors make and share exactly what you should be doing instead.

Alright, let’s do this.

1. Staying Outside of Central

The UK is pretty small; London is not.

The city’s nearly twice as large as New York, which means that it’s crucial to double-check where your accommodation is located before making a reservation. Just because a hotel is technically “in London” doesn’t necessarily mean that it’ll be anywhere close to the stuff you’re intending to do or visit.

To be safe, I recommend staying as centrally as possible, ideally in and around Covent Garden.

That’ll put you squarely in the heart of where all the action is happening while also giving you easy access to attractions that are a little further out of town.

Sure, you’ll pay more to stay in Zone 1 than in Zone 6, but it’s a worth the cost. It totally boosts your experience——and besides, you’ll only end up paying the difference in accommodation costs with the public transport anyway.

2. Navigating the City With Luggage

It’s recommended to arrive in London early in the morning and depart late in the evening to maximize your time in the city. But it’s not recommended to try to explore the city with your luggage…obviously. London or not, who the hell wants to do that?

London is a seriously busy city, so attempting to navigate its narrow streets while dragging multiple suitcases provides nothing more than a fast track towards unnecessary stress. And I’m always looking for stress-free travel.

Instead, leave your bags at a King's Cross, Liverpool Street, or Victoria Station luggage storage facility, and walk around hands-free. It’s an easy, affordable way to explore the city without worrying about your bags (plus, you won’t annoy Londoners or your fellow travelers).

3. Forgetting the Weather (yea…let’s remember that London in in the UK)

For a lot of places in this big beautiful world, visiting during the summer months all but guarantees you’ll enjoy some sun and nice weather.

But for London…that’s not quite true.

Yea, the summers can bring the heat, but there’s always a chance that it’ll rain during your visit (or even be a little chilly). So pack some layers and extra rain-ready footwear to make sure you can continue exploring whatever the weather.

But if you’re like me, a cozy cafe with hot drinks and moody rain is also my idea of fun.

4. Taking Taxis Everywhere

London’s black cabs are world-famous, and I totally recommend taking at least one journey in the back of one, if for no other reason than the experience. With that said, overusing the convenience (and vibe) of a black cab is a surefire way to blow through your budget.

Like many city taxis, they’re expensive.

They’re also generally not needed. London’s transport system is one of the best in the world, which means you can easily get to wherever you need to for a fraction of the cost of traveling in a taxi.

Plus, the tube is iconic in its own right, so it’s not as if you’ll be settling for a poorer experience.

5. Assuming Three Days Is Enough to See Everything

You can see a lot of London in a few days, including all the main highlights. But if you think that’s enough time to see everything (and will return home totally satisfied that you’ve completed the UK capital), you’ll be disappointed.

Honestly, you could spend years exploring London and still have a pretty dang long list of things that you haven’t seen. The best approach (and mindset) is to accept that you’ll only see like 2% of what the city has to offer.

So choose the attractions that are most important to you.

It’s that, or check yourself into some long-term accommodation like a share house.

6. Or Staying Too Long…

Okay, so some people make the mistake of not staying in London long enough. But others make the mistake of staying too long.

You can spend a lifetime enjoying London, but from a purely “I’m a visitor” perspective, anything longer than 5 - 7 days might be too much. You could end up needing a vacation just to recover.

Of course, it also depends on your personality, trip plans and travel preferences.

So that’s not to say that you have to only visit London for a few days before departing the UK. It just might be better to break up your stint in the city by taking a short trip to a more relaxed spot, like Brighton, Bath or Bristol.

A change of vibe is often the key to not getting too frazzled by London’s intensity.

7. Underestimating the Expense

You probably know this, but London isn’t the cheapest place on the planet. Still, a lot of first-time visitors underestimate just how much things can cost.

For example, if you’re planning to experience London’s pubs (and you totally should, because they’re arguably the best in the world), then you can quickly find yourself £50 down.

So with all that said, there are ways to keep your costs down.

There are plenty of affordable yet delicious restaurants in London, and don’t forget that a good chunk of the city’s museums and art galleries have free entry.

Just try to avoid spending your time in tourist traps or overly swanky places, and you’ll be able to make it through your trip without totally destroying your bank account’s balance.

8. Overplanning

Part of my whole philosophy (in life and for this site) is spontaneous travel…embracing the journey when there’s no clear destination.

A common mistake first-time visitors to London make is over-planning their itinerary.

Let’s not do that. Enjoy your trip and keep things a little flexible.

You’ll have a lot to see and do, but it’s also nice to enjoy the quieter side of London. If you’re visiting during the summer, for example, then it can be nice to spend the afternoon in Greenwich Park.

When exploring, make time for plenty of pit stops to refuel, recharge or pivot based on feeling. This is by far the best way I like to keep my spirits up when traveling (whether I’m in Tokyo or somewhere else like London).

Alright, that’s all I’ve got for you here.

Later ✌️

Want More? Nice. Here’s More.

Featured