SURE, everyone knows the basics of London - the home to Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Big Ben and the London Eye.
England’s capital and most visited place is commonly seen as the gateway to Europe. No-one misses visiting London when they head to the UK, it’s almost compulsory.
Whether you want fish and chips, to ride the tube or visit Camden Markets, London has it going on. Modern London is multicultural and full of life and you’ll never get bored however, there’s more to it than you’ll imagine.
GETTING AROUND
You’ll need an Oyster card which charges a deposit of £5 + £2.40 per journey on top.
TRAVEL ETIQUETTE
If you want to rest while you get taken up or down on the escalator, make sure you stand on the right side. Especially in London, people will frantically be coming past you on the left so make sure you remember this.
JUST REMEMBER
The tube gets crammed! Peak times such as rush hour in the morning anywhere from 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm can be tight. The tubes will fill up quickly and it won’t be a comfortable ride back.
It’s not unusual for it to be silent on the tube. In London no one seems to speak to each other, whether they are staring at their smart phones, reading the paper, snoozing or gazing into the distance, expect this.
WEATHER
It doesn’t rain as much as you think. London actually rains less than Paris or Rome not to mention the rest of the UK. It may be grim sometimes but when it rains it is normally just in spurts rather than all day long. Just take a hoodie or a coat just in case, or a small umbrella if you want to carry one around.
TIPPING
Tips aren’t as essential in London as they would be in the US, however it’s common to tip. If you’ve ordered food 10 per cent is a good start however if there is a service charge added, which is more often now 12.5 per cent then that’s the majority or all of your tip right there.
HUNGRY?
Dining out in London doesn’t have to cost the Earth. Visit a money saving website like MyVoucherCodes to avoid paying full price when eating out at London’s popular restaurants.
THIRSTY?
Pubs are a way of life here. People will often go to the pub during the week but mostly on weekends. If you sit in the pub all weekend then that’s considered pretty standard in London. Don’t feel the need to do something productive, the pub’s a fine substitute for that!
FREE ACTIVITIES
Most of the city’s top museums and galleries are completely free entry. So if you want to head to the famous British Museum, Tate Modern or National History Museum then you won’t have to pay a thing.
SHOPPING
Shopping alternatives from Oxford Circus are Covent Garden, Kings Road and Regent Street. They’ll be more low key in comparison however are good options to consider.
NEED A RIDE?
The black cabs have a novelty about them but you’ll find if you do ever take a taxi, local cabs and Uber are cheaper and more convenient.
And the most important - have a jolly good time!
