Here are all the vital points for you to have a joyful trip in London! Happy Travelling!
Since childhood, we all have read in little poems that “London Bridge is falling down, falling down” with a picture of Tower Bridge in it, and still it is there in the books. People who haven’t been to London still think that Tower Bridge is the actual London Bridge. However, London Bridge has another history as it is happily standing in Lake Havasu City of Arizona, and still, there is another bridge in London named London Bridge.
That’s just one story. When I roam on London streets, I realise every street sings a song. Every mews has a history. It’s fascinating to see how each corner of this city has its tale to tell. The buildings, the people, the culture, everything has a story behind it. I love exploring the hidden gems and uncovering the secrets that the city has to offer. It’s a never-ending adventure that keeps me coming back for more.
Anyways, coming back to the motive of this post, while travelling to a new country, it is usual to have inhibitions about planning the right way. However, fret no more!
As soon as your visa arrives, flight bookings are made, and you are ready to depart from your place, this guide will tell you about all the essential things you need to consider during your first London trip.
Ten Crucial Tips to Consider When You Land in London
Choose Card Over Cash
In this digitised world, carrying too much cash is not advisable. Use a Forex card, credit card, or international debit card. VISA and Mastercard are accepted everywhere in London. Only a few places will be where you might need cash, such as at some cafes where a card machine is not working or at street food stalls. You may make contactless payments most of the time by just tapping the card, but you may also need to insert its PIN at some machines. Hence, keep the PIN handy in case you don’t remember it.
Points to note:
- Use a chip card.
- While making a purchase or withdrawing money through an ATM, if you are asked to choose a currency, go with a local one (UK pound sterling) and let your bank do the currency transaction. It will save you from a big headache and the risk of losing money.
- You can choose from HDFC or ICICI Forex cards if you come from India. However, always look for options with low currency conversion rates and no hidden exchange rates.
Book Your Stay in Advance
The Central London area, or the city’s heart, is near the most prominent city attractions, including Kensington, Covent Garden, Bankside, Southwark, Regent’s Park, Earl’s Court, etc.
Book a hotel or a private apartment in this area that suits your budget. Though you can live anywhere in London and save money, it is advisable to choose this location to save time, energy and money on transportation.
If you wish to sojourn in a homely environment where you can cook food for your specific diet without hustle, you can book a room in Staybridge Suites. When my husband and I came to London for the first time and were quarantined for two weeks, we chose to stay at the Stratford location and enjoyed the experience of cooking in a well-furnished kitchen. Stratford is famous for Westfield Mall and Olympic Park.
Buy a Visitor Oyster Card
Irrespective of the number of days you stay in London, you need this card to eliminate the hustles of standing in the queue whenever you travel by public transport, which is best to save money and time as it is pretty amazing. A Visitor Oyster card is a rechargeable smart card. It is accepted on all modes of public transport, including buses, DLR, National Rail Services, Emirates Air Line, ferries, Trams and Tube.
Please note:
- The cost of a Visitor Oyster Card is £5, and it can be pre-loaded with pay-as-you-go credit. You can choose the amount to credit the card based on your travel plan. If you are in London for two days, you can begin with £15 credit.
- If you are in London for three to four days and need help determining how much you should recharge your card, find out more information on the TFL website. You can buy this card at Heathrow Airport or any local Oyster Ticket shop.
- If you have a contactless credit card, you can use it and save yourself from the headaches of recharging and applying for a refund if you are in London for a short duration.
- If you have kids under ten, you won’t have to pay for them while travelling through Tube, DLR, Trams and National Rail Services, as long as you have a valid ticket. However, in some places, you may need a Zip Oyster Card.
- Download the TfL Oyster app and Tube Map to learn about fares and plan routes.
Carry a Universal Travel Adaptor and Power Bank
Once you are here, you will capture innumerable pictures and will want to avoid getting into trouble after your phone battery dies. Thus, buy a travel adaptor and pack it in your travel case or accessories organiser bag before travelling.
Alternatively, keep a power bank to ensure your devices remain charged once you leave the hotel for activities. Check all the travel accessories that will prepare you for your international holiday.
Plan Per Day Itinerary in Advance
Don’t leave too much on your plate after you land in London. There are so many attractions to cover. You can enjoy some attractions for free, while you would require a ticket for others. Hence, make two lists while planning your activities—Free and Buy a Ticket. Purchase tickets through Get Your Guide for the attractions that are on your priority list for the following reasons:
- You won’t have to stand in a queue.
- Your planned itinerary will remain intact because you will have tickets in hand.
You can cover all the free sites if you have a tight budget. However, try to cover some of the sites through hop-on and hop-off big bus tours.
Please note that you can also buy the London Explorer Pass to cover various attractions within one or two days. However, please don’t try to cover up every spot as you won’t enjoy your holidays like that.
Check the Weather and Carry an Umbrella
As you would have heard before, London and rain have an enigmatic connection. Even if the weather forecast shows a cloudy or sunny day, the direction of the wind might change, and precipitation can start, as quoted in the Mary Poppins:
Winds in the east,
Mist coming in,
Like something is brewing and about to begin.
Hence, always pack an umbrella along, and since it is always windy in London, be it summer or autumn, keep a foldable jacket in your bag so that your plan doesn’t get disrupted due to inadvertent weather changes.
Visit the Pleasant Neighbourhood of London
Boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea in West London entail Notting Hill Gate, Portobello Road, and Stanley Crescent, worth your visit. If you have been a fan of movies like Notting Hill or Love Actually, you would be familiar with the colourful Georgian and Victorian houses in the background. Thus, to admire them live, stroll in the mews of these boroughs.
Another borough you should cover is Camden, which includes Hampstead and Primrose Hill. If you like the neighbourhood where Paddington lived with the Brown family, 30 Chalcot Crescent is the correct address. Several movies showed us Hampstead addresses, such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and The Theory of Everything. Hampstead Heath is another estate you won’t want to miss due to the panoramic city views, Kenwood House (Notting Hill and Belle have been shot here) and ponds where you can bathe.
Enjoy Afternoon Tea
Whether you come to India or England, traditional tea is something that you should take advantage of. Though you can always have tea in India, Afternoon Tea is quite famous in England. Restaurants and cafes serve it with yummilicious desserts and snacks. However, you will find Champagne and Prosecco on the menu as well. Check out the famous British Afternoon Tea Bus Tour to savour this quirky tradition in London.
Enjoy Theatre
When you are in London, enjoy any musical show, like The Lion King, Life of Pie, Harry Potter, etc. Book your tickets in advance.
Admire the Seasonal Beauty
Every season has something to offer here. If you come during autumn, you will find maple leaves changing colours. If you come during spring, you can cherish Cherry Blossom and several other varieties of flowers, such as Magnolia, Wisteria, Blue Bells, Rose, and Lavender.
However, please note that each of them stays for two to three weeks at max, and there is a particular month in which you may spot these beauties. For instance, you will find Sakura or Cherry Blossom from March to April, Wisteria from April to May, and Rose and Lavender during June and July. There are particular parks and streets where you can cherish each of them, based on your itinerary.
If you visit London during Christmas and New Year, you might be lucky to witness snowfall.
Wisteria
To Sum It Up
Here are the crucial points that you need to remember:
- Carry a credit or foreign exchange card
- Buy an Oyster Card
- Plan everything in advance
- Check the weather before going out
- Carry an umbrella or rain jacket
- Stroll and use public transport
- Use Uber and Bolt for hailing a cab at reasonable rates
- Hire a bike if you don’t want to walk too much
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