28 Things You Have To Know Before Visiting London

London tourism ceaselessly soared high with its timeless allure and perfect amalgamation of the archaic with the steady diffusion of the contemporary. This year, London was duly crowned as TripAdvisor’s 2019 #1 Destination in the World. With that in mind, expect a visit from the travel bug to fuel your travel addiction and your insatiable desire to explore and make new discoveries.

If London is within the reach of your travel radar, here are a few things you might want to know before traveling there.

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Please also check out our other articles on foods to try and some of our recommended restaurants when visiting London with the links below:

1. 21 Food Items You Have To Try In London
2. Asian Restaurants You Have To Try When Visiting London

When Taking Public Transportation

#1 Choose to stay close to the city center

Two reasons why you should opt to stay at a hotel or rental property close to the city center. First obvious reason is convenience. Secondly, you can drastically cut down commute time. While hotels near the city center generally cost more, you don’t really want to spend most of your precious time commuting.

#2 Plan your trip. Commute can really take up your time

London has tons of sights and landmarks to explore. Making an itinerary not only saves you from adding unnecessary commute times, but it also helps you cover all of the places you want to visit.

You can use a free website called ZeeMaps. You can plot multiple locations on a map, organize locations with color codes, and plan your trip in advance.

#3 Take advantage of mobile apps on your trip

London is one of those cities with intricate public transportation systems that involves public railways and buses. Taking public transportation is ubiquitous throughout London, plus it’s a cost effective way to get around when you’re immersing at the city center. If you’re not used to the big city transportation system, it might come down as quite intimidating.

Mobile apps like Citymapper and Moovit certainly can help. Here are some of their added benefits:
a. Shows you transportation options whether you’re driving, taking the train, bus or by bicycle.
b. Helps you plan your schedule by showing you the exact travel times, delays and changes in schedule.
c. Book an Uber directly from the app
d. Step by step directions to help you on each stop

#4 Purchase an Oyster Card if you plan on taking buses or trains

An Oyster Card is a convenient and cost effective way to get around London. With a £5 deposit, you can purchase it at automated machines located at the entrance of any train station. You can then top it off with any amount you plan on spending during your trip. Don’t worry about adding too much credit to your card because at the end of your trip, you can ask for a refund of the remaining balance and your £5 initial deposit back at Visitor Center at the airport.

With the Oyster card, you get a cheaper rate than using the contactless payment method of your credit card. Plus, there’s a daily cap of £13 within the city center. Meaning if you’ve spent at least that, your card will no longer be charged. Always remember to touch in and out of rail stations otherwise you will be charged the rate of the farthest destination. Click here for more information.

#5 All black cabs accept debit or credit cards

Yes, all of London’s black cabs are equipped with a card reader so you can use either a debit or a credit card to pay for your ride. For tips, you can always round it off to the next pound.

#6 All of London’s major airports have trains that takes you to the city center

For instance, at the Heathrow airport, you have the option to take the Heathrow Express which costs around £22 to get to the center. Otherwise, you can also take the Underground Railway which costs much less.

When You Go Out Shopping

#7 Store prices are all tax inclusive

When you’re shopping, always remember that marked prices include Value-added tax (VAT), which is a 20% sales tax levied on most goods and services. The price tag is how much you’ll have to pay during checkout.

#8 Remember to get your VAT refund forms from retailers

If you’re an non-EU citizen traveling for leisure, you might be eligible for a VAT refund. However, you have to ask for a VAT Refund Form (Form 407) from your retailer otherwise you won’t get your VAT refund at the airport.

Click here if you want to know more about VAT Free Shopping in London.

#9 All major credit cards are widely accepted throughout London

Cashless payment methods are available throughout London. If you have debit or credit cards, they would be more than happy to accept them. However in order to save some money, use credit cards that don’t charge extra for foreign or international transactions. Cash back credit cards are great options as well.

Note: Don’t forget to sign your credit card as they would sometimes check the signature at the back of your card. Otherwise, a government issued photo ID is required as proof of ownership of your card.

#10 Always choose to pay with your own currency

When using a credit card reader and there’s an option whether to use GBP(£) or your own currency, always choose your own currency. This way, there will be no surprise charges on the bank’s end if you choose to pay in GBP(£), which by the way is also called a quid by the locals.

#11 ATMs are located all over London

If you have your debit card and you are running low on cash, ATMs are readily available and located everywhere in London. Please note that if you decide to get cash using your credit card, you will be charged a cash advance fee and interest can be pretty steep. Only use your credit card to withdraw cash as a last resort.

#12 Check out London’s Biggest Shopping Destinations

London is every shopper’s paradise for designer goods and countless luxury brands. It is part of the chic culture that elevates shopping in London into an extraordinary pursuit you need to experience for yourself.

Here are some of the best places in London to shop or window shop:
a. Oxford Street
b. Bond Street
c. Knightsbridge
d. Notting Hill
e. Covent Garden Market
f. Regent Street

When You’re Enjoying London’s Sights and Sounds

#13 London is a multicultural metropolis that will makes you fit in.

London’s population is as diverse as it is crowded. Especially in public areas, you will expect to hear various languages spoken from every tongue from all over the world. It is a melting pot of some of the world’s most vibrant cultures intermingled and brought together by immigrants who have adapted the city as their own.

#14 Always bring your umbrella or rain jacket.

London’s weather can be unpredictable. The day might start out with sunshine and blue skies, but couple hours later the heavens can start pouring. Good thing is that the rain doesn’t usually last too long. Just in case, be prepared with your umbrella or rain jacket. Otherwise, you should be able to find vendors selling them if you would ever need one.

#15 Look both ways before crossing

Londoners drive on the left side of the road. Tourist from countries who drive on the right might find this confusing and tend to look at the wrong side. To mitigate this, city planners had reminders painted on pedestrian crossings to remind people where to look before crossing.

#16 Watch out for pickpockets

While London is relatively safe for tourists, watch out for pickpockets lurking within the crowds. When in public, abstain from showing signs of wealth like wearing big expensive jewelries or showing wads of cash. Using credit cards for your purchases is still a safer option.

#17 Get the London Pass

Getting the London Pass is a great way to cover a lot of the paid and free attractions throughout London. It can help you save money on attraction entrance fees, save time on queues and enjoy a day tour on the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus. It is like an all-inclusive pass to all of London’s greatest landmarks while saving money on admission prices.

#18 Some of London’s Best Museums are free of charge

London has some of the most esteemed museums in the world, and best of all, most of them you can visit without paying anything at all. The British Museum, for instance, has some of the world’s most amazing collection of artifacts from all over the world. Collection highlights include the Rosetta Stone and Parthenon sculptures, all these you can check out for the price of nothing.

Here are some of London’s best museums that won’t cost you anything to explore:
a. British Museum
b. Natural History Museum
c. National Gallery
d. Science Museum
e. Victoria & Albert Museum

#19 Some public toilets cost money

Museums might be free but some public toilets cost money. Make sure you bring some change with you. Most of the paid toilets cost around £0.50, and a few of them up to £1. Some of London’s cafes have a public toilet, so you can always take advantage of that after making a small courtesy purchase.

When Enjoying London’s Elaborate Culinary Offerings

#20 Explore London’s broad culinary picture

London’s culinary reputation extends far beyond the boundaries of food that is inherently English. Thanks to its multicultural population, going through the streets of London is like shopping around a massive International food hall with some of the world’s best culinary offerings culminated into one convenient city.

Here are some of our favorite places to start your food trip.
a. London Public Markets (Borough, Camden, Broadway Markets)
b. Bang Bang Oriental Food Hall
c. Harrod’s Fresh Market Hall
d. Covent Garden Food Hall

#21 Tap water in London is safe to drink

When ordering in restaurants, you can always order tap water for free if you prefer. It is safe to drink even for tourists. However, your server might offer you bottled mineral water. Regular non carbonated ones are called “Still”, while carbonated unflavored options are called “Sparkling”. Bottled mineral water can be costly and some are priced up to £5 depending on the restaurant

#22 Learn about London’s tipping and service charges

When dining in restaurants, you might find a service charge of around 10-12% added to your bill. Hence, tipping is a welcomed gesture but you don’t get frowned upon even if you didn’t leave a tip. Otherwise, 10% is usually a customary amount for tips. You can always add more if you want as a gesture of appreciation for outstanding service.

#23 Most of the pubs in London close at midnight

#24 Chips and crisps

When you order London’s classic fish and chips, you might be expecting fried fish with potato chips on the side. But instead you got fries. Just remember that in London: Chips = French Fries, Crisps = Chips. This way you won’t get that surprised look when you get your sides.

Other great things to know about London

#25 Bring an International Converter

Some hotels rooms may be equipped with USB ports to charge your mobile devices. But if want to use your hair dryer or other small appliances, you need to get an international power converter so you can use the plugs in your hotel room.

#26 Dial 999 for emergency services

#27 Pick your travel season

If you want to avoid big crowds, travel during the winter months when average temperatures are in the 40s but accommodation prices are generally cheaper. On the other hand, London’s perfect summer temperatures of around 70s attracts bigger crowds but accommodations are usually pricier.

#28 Stand on the right, walk on the left

When on an escalator, stay on the right if you plan on standing. The left side is for those who are in a bit of a hurry and want to speed things up by walking.