10 essential travel tips for your next trip to London

Planning a trip to London? It can get overwhelming, especially if this is your first time visiting the city. England’s vibrant capital is full of cultural gems, tasty treats, and incredible sights. But we’ve got all the information you need to make traveling in London a breeze. Here’s everything you need to know before you embark on your trip.

Where you stay can make or break your holiday. London’s neighborhoods have varying styles and will each suit a different type of traveler. Don’t make the mistake of booking a hotel in Soho if you’re looking for a little peace and quiet, or staying in Pimlico if you’d like to be in the heart of the action. To avoid a disastrous vacation, it’s best to do some research before deciding where you’ll stay in London.

London is considered a safe city, but a dash of common sense will help your trip go as smoothly as possible. As with most dense cities, the best way to stay safe in London is to pay attention to your surroundings. To prevent being pickpocketed, keep your belongings secure and close to your body at all times, especially when you’re in crowded areas or on the Tube. Be vigilant about distraction tactics like fake tourist surveys or sudden commotions. A general rule of thumb is to move around in groups and avoid empty streets and alleys, particularly after dark.

With 272 stations, the London Underground, known affectionately to Londoners as the Tube, can get you anywhere you want to go in London. You’ll likely be traveling on the Tube a lot, and those fares can add up quickly.

To save some cash, we recommend mapping out your trips beforehand. There are a couple of ways to pay your Tube fare, like Oyster Cards, which charge pay-as-you-go fares with a fare cap; Travelcards, which grant unlimited access for a set period of time; and contactless cards, which charge pay-as-you-go adult fees and might incur overseas transaction fees. If you do the math right, you can get the most bang for your buck. Check out our guide to the London Underground for more tips and tricks.

During peak hours, we suggest avoiding the traffic and crowded Tube by traveling around London on foot instead. You might be put off by England’s notoriously bad weather, but the truth is, London isn’t that rainy. Of course, it’s always wise to gear up with a waterproof jacket or umbrella, just in case.

Don’t worry about planning ahead—going off the beaten track is the best way to discover London’s secrets. As you wind through the city’s plethora of parks, enjoy the fresh air tinged with the sweet scent of flowers. If you’re keen on a more guided approach, there are plenty of walking tours available; you can retrace the footsteps of Jack the Ripper, or simply enjoy a historical pub crawl.

It’s exhausting to wait around in line, especially in scorching summer or freezing winter. Must-see spots like the London Eye and Westminster Abbey have a never-ending stream of visitors, and you could be stuck in what the Brits call a “queue” for hours. Make the most of your time in London with fast-track tickets that will let you breeze right ahead.

Toad in the hole? Spotted dick? Jellied eels? In order to fully immerse yourself in English culture, you’ve got to try their traditional dishes, no matter how off-putting they might sound. You’ll find most of these classic items in pubs like The Coal Hole and The Blackfriar.

On Sundays, don’t miss out on a nourishing Sunday roast. Hawksmoor Spitalfields serves up a mean rump with Yorkshire pudding, lashings of bone marrow, and onion gravy. Blacklock Soho’s succulent meat is slow-roasted over an authentic charcoal grill and comes with fresh seasonal sides. Throw in cocktails for a fiver and it’s clear why even locals forgo their mum’s Sunday roast to come here—avoid disappointment by making an advance reservation.

There’s nothing more British than afternoon tea, and The Drawing Room is a great place to acquaint yourself with this tradition. Located in the chic Brown’s Hotel, this tastefully furnished London tea room perfectly captures the artsy vibe of Mayfair. Or dine among the flowers at Dalloway Terrace named after Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. Like its literary origins, this outdoor restaurant in Bloomsbury is elegant, poetic, and will leave you longing for more.

While you’ll never run out of things to do or see in London, there are plenty of other dazzling sights out of the city. It’s worth taking a day trip to check out what else the U.K. has to offer. Make the most of your journey by checking off multiple attractions with this guided tour that will take you to visit Stonehenge, Bath, and Windsor Castle. Explore the historic Roman Baths and admire the grand St. George’s Chapel, where numerous royal weddings have been held.

For a cozy, friendly stay in London, we recommend checking into a local bed-and-breakfast. These small guesthouses are typically family-run, like St. Athans Hotel, and far more affordable than a hotel. The Hayden gastropub offers rooms upstairs, so you’ll be guaranteed a tasty breakfast. The modest Macdonald Hotel, just down the road from King’s Cross Station, is a great bargain for its convenient location. Don’t forget to reach out to your hosts for their vast wealth of insider knowledge and tips.

Sure, you can’t miss out on icons like the National Gallery, The British Museum, or the Victoria and Albert Museum. But London is a cultural hub that’s home to many other less famous but equally interesting museums that cater to a vast range of interests.

Take advantage of The Wallace Collection’s free entry to check out a range of masterpieces, from paintings to sculptures to even porcelain. Learn more about Britain's military history at the Imperial War Museum and the Royal Air Force Museum. Tennis fans, don’t miss out on the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, where you’ll get behind-the-scenes access to the court. Last but not least, take a ride through history at The Postal Museum—your little ones will enjoy playing postman for a day.

Most people think of Oxford Street as London’s prime shopping district, but the city is full of hidden gems. Head to Shoreditch to poke around quirky gift shops, hunt for treasure at the Brick Lane Vintage Market, and shop for the trendiest streetwear. While you’ll find the usual designer brands at Coal Drop Yards, this relatively new hotspot is known for featuring indie labels and up-and-coming designers. This shopping mall is situated in a Victorian brick warehouse by Regent’s Canal, so you can even enjoy some food by the waterside.

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