Going To London For The First Time? Read this!

Following the crowd as I exited the tube station, I rolled my bag over a rough path covered in loose stones for what seemed an eternity. Where was my hotel, and how much more of this agony must I endure? When I arrived at Buckingham Palace instead of my hotel in Mayfair, I realized I’d taken the wrong exit from the station. Yep. I did that. To be fair, it had been thirty years since I was in London. 

That mistake made me realize that London is amazing but whether you’re going for the first time or the twentieth time, it can be overwhelming. It’s a big city and very spread out. Before you hit the streets, it’s a good idea to have a plan and some essential tips under your belt, to avoid rolling your luggage across half of Westminster.

Whether your first visit includes absorbing the history and culture or shopping and theater, I’ve got tips on the weather, wardrobe, using the Underground, food and drink, and yes, the language, plus some ideas of what to see and do. 

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When is the best time to visit London

London is popular year-round and sometimes you just have to go when you can. But if you have a choice, here are some tips for the best time to visit London.

The weather is best in the summer but summer is also the most crowded season. If you want to avoid tourist crowds avoid July or August.

I’ve been in April and June. In April it rained a lot and it was cold. In June it was cool with some sunshine, but overcast most of the time. No matter what time of year you go take the right clothes and you’ll have a great time. I’ve also been in July and the weather was excellent but it was also crazy crowded.

The most expensive time to visit London

Avoid going on bank holidays when all the British families and kids are traveling. Christmas is a very popular time to visit London but it’s even more expensive, and London is already stupidly expensive.  

They speak English…don’t they?

One of the nice things about traveling to the UK is everyone speaks English…or do they?

Each time I’ve traveled in England, I have been stunned at how often I didn’t understand one word spoken to me. In England, just like in the United States, different regions of the country have different accents…some are easier to understand than others. 

It’s also worth mentioning that England is part of the United Kingdom which includes Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland; you have all of those accents mixed in as well. Personally, I find the Scottish accents the hardest to understand. 

Our English-speaking cousins also have different words for common items: the Underground, which we call a subway, is called the Tube. Pants are underwear, not outerwear. And rain shoes are wellies. 

If you hear an Englishman say, “It’s gone all pants,” that means it’s gone bad. Example: The weather’s gone all pants. Translation: The sky is grey and it’s starting to rain.  

Biscuits are what we call cookies or crackers. I became addicted to McVitie’s Rich Tea Biscuits which is a lot like a flat, round, animal cracker. One friend told me she thinks they’re hard as a rock and taste like cardboard. You’re supposed to dunk them in your tea, I replied. That’s why they are called Rich TEA biscuits.  

You’ll want to get this one right: a bathroom is a loo (or you can say toilet or even ladies’/men’s room), but “where’s the bathroom”  just doesn’t really hit the mark. It took me a minute to get this one right but it made a difference. Buy one of those little phrasebooks and study up. 

Packing for your first visit to London?

The Brits are known for their sense of style and include the production fine shoes, hosiery, and high fashion as part of their history.  Leicester, a city north of London, was a hub of shoe manufacturing at one time. 

Expressing your unique style goes over well in London.  Quirky works well too. Stylish is always good. So if you’ve been feeling a bit restrained, London may be where you finally find your true self-expression.  If you’re planning any Michelin star dining you will want to dress up for that.

Dress for the weather

English weather is famously unpredictable. I was there in late May and June and experienced everything from rain to sunshine, and gale force wind. Gratefully the temperature was always mild. 

Pack wellies, raincoats, umbrellas, sweaters, a hat, sunglasses, and layer, layer, layer. And don’t forget comfortable shoes are a must. 

London is an eclectic city, and as I mentioned, you can wear what you like for the most part. However, if you’re not dressed for the weather you’ll be very uncomfortable. On my first trip in April, I made the mistake of thinking it would be spring in London because it was spring in Texas. I absolutely froze.  I couldn’t find warm clothes to purchase because even though the weather was anything but spring-like, it was no longer winter.

Is Public Transportation the best way to see London?

Gratefully London has excellent public transportation. 

 Walking is the best way to see the most in a short time but, when the distance was more than thirty minutes I took the Underground. The Underground is easy once you get the hang of it.  

And, there’s an app for that, the London TFL app–useful for keeping up with line changes, delays, and closures. It’s also good for knowing which trains have steps, which is key if you have luggage. And it will give you times and distances for biking as well.

Will you get lost on the Underground?

Don’t worry, you can’t get lost but if you get on the wrong train it is time-consuming going up and down the escalators.

 An app can save you that but if you’re going to be in London for more than a few days it can be useful to use the maps at each tube station and learn your way around.  

Is the Underground safe?

London sees 20,000,000 visitors per year and 8,000,000 people live there. Many people use the Underground. It can get crowded, especially on lines near popular monuments and attractions like Buckingham Palace. Keep your purse and any bags, backpacks, etc. close, with no pockets exposed. I never saw anything weird and I never felt uncomfortable, but safe is better than sorry.  The Underground is affordable as well. 

Oyster Card

So, do you need an Oyster Card for transportation? The short answer is, not really. You can use your bank card, Apple Pay, or credit card to pay for everything. If you are there for more than a weekend I would probably recommend getting an Oyster Card but since I was only there a couple of days I just used my credit card. I loved the convenience of using public transportation and tapping my way through the Underground. Don’t forget to tap out!

Buses are another way to get around the city and can be handy if you’re out past 11:00 pm ish. The Tube stops around 11:30 pm. Imagine my surprise when I couldn’t get the Tube home after staying out dancing until the wee hours (yes, thirty years ago I did things like that.)  I took a taxi but I could have taken a bus. Buses are also contactless payment. 

Can you use the red double-decker buses to get around?

The red double-decker buses are a good way to get around, see a lot, and map out where you want to spend more time, but they won’t replace the tube. Taxis are reliable but expensive. It can take twice as long to go anywhere by car in London.  

To learn more about London’s transportation read this page on the Visit London website.

ACP Rail Brit Rail Card

If you’re planning to take some day trips from London,  a Brit Rail Card could come in handy and save you money. I was there for three weeks and had eight days worth of travel available on my rail card. I used them all.  This is an app I used a lot. It’s easy to download a pass and then use your cell phone to tap through the train stations. I loved the convenience. I booked my pass through ACP Rail.

Food and Drink in London

Food and drink are an integral part of any trip. Some of my best travel memories are related to a meal with friends or a special dish I loved. 

England generally isn’t known as a capital of food culture but things have changed. There are many Michelin-starred restaurants in London and places like the Borough Market are wonderful for discovering London’s global food scene. 

Try a tour of the Borough Market and south London with Devour Tours.

If you want to try some quintessentially English food I recommend the pub tour I took with Devour Tours. We tasted classics like Toad in the Hole, Scotch Eggs, and Fish & chips. My full review of the tour is linked. 

A tour is also a good way to learn about the city and maybe meet someone new. You also get historical tidbits as you walk with your tour guide, which makes it all come alive. I’m a big fan of tours and always take at least one.

I love the traditional Ploughman’s lunch. You can’t go wrong with a slice of thick bread, English cheese, pickles, mustard, and sometimes a chutney.  If I’m especially hungry I add a side of soup. This is also pub food though you can find upscale versions in what are known as gastropubs. 

Pubs are meant to be social places and I found myself eating in pubs often on both London trips.  Most pubs also serve Sunday Roast though you can find it in a more traditional restaurant. A Sunday Roast is a traditional meal consisting of meat, veggies, gravy, Yorkshire pudding, and some jellies or jams depending on the type of meat. My friends prepared a Sunday roast for me and it was lovely. 

Afternoon tea is a must. Go someplace a little fancy if you can afford it, like Fortnum and Mason. 

Affordable food options in London

For inexpensive quick food, I like Pret. The Pret chain started in London over 30 years ago and  find it a reliable place for a tasty, affordable lunch or a drink and snack. The food is fresh and they’re known for organic coffee. Also check out MS Foodhall or MS Simply Food. To me, this was the best prepackaged food for the price.

London is expensive, especially for Americans. In May the exchange was 1.25 1.33 for one British pound. Nevertheless, one must eat. The upside: London is a very diverse city with a huge immigrant population that has brought their food culture. I had my first ever Indian curry in London and it was better than anything I’ve ever had in the US. 

First Time Visitors Must-See Attractions 

One of the cool things about the UK in general, and London in particular, is that everywhere you turn there’s a historic pub, or a 12th-century church… something that’s literally hundreds of years old. If all you did in London was walk for two days, you’d collectively see thousands of years of history.

I’m sure you have some ideas about what you want to see and do. Since I had seen many of the iconic landmarks and tours on the first trip, this year I did some more offbeat things. However, for a first-time visitor, the classics are a must. 

Here’s my recommended list of must-do and some optional experiences for first-time visitors.

The Tower of London

The Tower of London is a fantastic experience…do it! With its fascinating history, it is one of the top places to visit, though it has a dark side too. It has been a royal palace, a treasury, and most famously a prison for people awaiting execution, like Ann Boleyn. I recommend taking a guided tour. Either way be sure to ask about the legacy of the Ravens. I don’t want to be a spoiler. 

The Tower is also the home of the Crown Jewels which I found a lot more interesting than I expected. For royal lovers, history lovers, or anyone who loves a spooky place, and trust me, the Tower is haunted, the Tower is one of the best experiences in London. 

Use this link to book a private Tower of London and Crown Jewels Tour with a Thames River cruise.

Pro tip: Walk across the Tower Bridge for great views of the River Thames.

Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace

I enjoyed the Changing of the Guard and found it interesting, I think you will too, even if you are not a fan of the Royals. It showcases British tradition and pageantry going back hundreds of years. It’s an event. 

Bonus: it’s free! Go early for a good spot in front of Buckingham Palace at 10.45 AM on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.  

Book a Westminster tour with the Changing of the Guard. 

Big Ben & Houses of Parliament plus Westminster Abbey

 A defining feature of the London skyline, the chimes of Big Ben have marked the passage of time since 1859! If you’re near Big Ben you can easily walk to to see the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. The Abbey has seen the coronations of every monarch for hundreds of years and there are some noteworthy people buried there as well. 

London Eye

The London Eye was still at least seven years in the future when I first visited London. I didn’t have time to visit this trip, though I did see it of course. It’s now firmly one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. It’s on my list for my next trip.

Museums, Parks, and Gardens

London is one of the best cities in the world for museums and many of them are free. If you like museums some highlights include the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert, and Tate Modern.

Parks and gardens are also easy to locate. When you’re tired of the hustle and bustle, escape to a park.  Hyde Park is famous and easy to work into a visit to Buckingham Palace.  St. James Park is adjacent to the mall which makes a lovely royal walk. And once again, the parks are free.

Berkeley Square in Mayfair is surrounded by huge plane trees planted the same year as the French Revolution. It’s not exactly a park but a beautiful green space that’s a bit wild. To me it seemed a place more for locals than tourists. I had lunch sitting on a bench there and people-watching.

Unique Places in London

If you’re in Mayfair neighborhood, see if Phillips is open. It’s an auction house that functions much like a public art gallery. There was an amazing exhibition that included Andy Warhol’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth and several beautiful pieces by Damien Hirst, Picasso, Modigliani, and so many others, available for viewing before the auction officially opened. Phillips has locations around the world including Los Angeles. 

Sheperds Market

Also in Mayfair,  Shepherds Market is full of fun pubs and restaurants. Originally an annual fair and market, hence the area took the name Mayfair, it was also a bit of a shady area before being developed by wealthy Brits. 

I’ve mentioned the Borough Market which I absolutely loved. Aside from international food stalls, there are plenty of pubs. Go to Neals’ Yard Dairy if you love cheese. However, there are so many other cheesemongers at the market– go to all of them! Definitely try Trethowan and Bath Soft Cheese Co.

Pro tip: Borough Market is located by London Bridge. This is a great spot for photo ops. I didn’t have my rain jacket or my umbrella that day (but you won’t make that mistake) however, I got a couple of photographs before I had to run for cover. 

Little Venice

If you want to get away from the crowds take a walk in Little Venice. It’s a pretty neighborhood, and there are many colorful cafes and shops that are on canal boats. No one knows for sure how Little Venice got its name but many attribute it to the poet Robert Browning. You can get there from just north of Paddington Station or the Warwick Station. 

You can also take a narrowboat tour of Little Venice along the Regent’s Canal to Camden Locks. Check out London Waterbus Company.

Best place to stay In London

As I mentioned, London is expensive, and staying in the city is not for the faint of heart. A good affordable hotel is hard to come by. However, I do not recommend staying outside the city, precious time and money are wasted commuting…I did that the first time, too. I stayed at a friend’s flat in Clapham. Big mistake.

Almost everything a first-time visitor to London is going to want to see and do is in or near the West End, so stay there.

Mayfair Townhouse

I stayed at the Mayfair Townhouse and loved it. Staying in Mayfair is convenient for everything. You can walk everywhere. And the Green Park subway station is a five minute walk.

Depending on when you go you may be able to catch a discounted rate. Whether you stay there or not, go for a drink at the hotel bar called The Dandy Bar.  Fun staff and a beautiful room. You can check rates in the link above and compare that to the Hotels.com rate here.  

By booking a hotel through an affiliate link it helps me pay to keep the site running but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Much appreciated!

If you need a more budget-friendly hotel a friend who visits London often swears by a chain called Premier Inn. They have a couple of locations in the West End. Check prices directly with the hotel here and Expedia here.

Day trips from London

This article is already too long so I wrote another article that includes an itinerary for essential England but each place could be a day trip. Please refer to my article The Perfect Itinerary For Discovering Essential England. Think Cotswolds, Stonehenge, Avebury, Bath… 

Do you need cash in London?

No, you really don’t. London is a cashless city. With very few exceptions everything is paid by card, whether a credit card or some other tap-to-pay system. Keep some cash on hand for tips but honestly, that’s the only time you’ll need it.

You’ll Need an ETA

First things first, if you’re a US citizen you’ll need an ETA (electronic travel authorization) in addition to your passport to enter the country. An ETA is not a visa it’s simply an electronic document that is used to simplify border security. You apply online and pay a small fee, and that’s that. You should receive authorization within  24 hours…at least I did. Once you’ve made the application you’re done. You don’t need to print anything. But you do need your passport. Don’t forget that! Oh, and it’s good for two years.

Other UK travel essentials

An adaptor for the UK which is different than any place else you may have traveled. For the United Kingdom the associated plug type is G, which is the plug with three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. The UK operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Wondering what to do about your cell phone data usage? If your phone is unlocked the easy and best value answer is to get an eSim for UK. I used one last year and once you get it set up there’s nothing else to do except enjoy not wasting money with your stateside cell phone service provider. 

Airport Details

Getting from the airport to the city is easy via the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station. You just follow the signs from either the airport or the train station. At Paddington Station access to the Heathrow Express is downstairs.

If you arrive via Gatwick Airport it’s similar but you’d take the Gatwick Express.

To pay for the Heathrow Express you can use your credit card or an Oyster Card if you purchased one in advance. The same goes for Gatwick Airport. All trains to other parts of the country depart from Victorian-era Paddington Station. I used my Brit Rail card to pay for the Heathrow Express.

There are many vibrant and interesting cities in the world: Rome comes to mind immediately. Paris. Istanbul. New York. Now that I’ve been reminded how fun and friendly London is, it won’t be long before I book my next flight to Heathrow.