Tourism numbers continue to grow in London. Over 19 million visitors ventured into the Big Smoke in 2016 and those numbers have continued to rise over the last couple of years.
There are hundreds of blogs to give you ideas on what to see in London, so I won't get involved in that for now, as we will be here FOREVER.
If you're trip is booked but you haven't got your London bucket list sorted, check our these blogs for some inspo.
But in the mean time, to celebrate the success of our graaaaaand capital, here are some top tips on how to be a tourist in London; whilst staying on the right side of the locals!
WHY GO:
There's a chance I could be slightly biased, London is my home town, but it is friggin' great. Stuffed with history, stunning architecture, cosy pubs, big parks, awesome viewpoints. Not forgetting our big red buses, and little red phone boxes.
FOR HOW LONG:
There's so much to do, I've been living here a several years now and I'm in no way finished. But for an intro, three days is a good start.
WHAT'S MY BUDGET:
London's budget is pretty flexible. It's more pricey than other areas in the UK, but as there's so much of everything, it does tend to keep prices relatively competitive. Really, the more you can save, the better.
If you've got some pounds to waste; there's an abundance of high end cocktail bars and restaurants as well as west end musicals and plays. But if you're on a budget, there's also tonnes of happy hours, markets, street food and free tours you can take advantage of. 95% of the time the street food is great; and bonus top tip...for the best value food, follow anyone in a high viz jacket!
Loads of the attractions are free and reasonably priced too. Here's some more blogs for budget attractions.
WHERE TO STAY
It depends what you want to do. The great thing about London is that it has something for everyone. Decide what you want from the city and find the right Borough based on your needs. For example, if you love street art and markets, you want to stay in East London. If you want to see the Palace and Hyde Park, then head west or south and choose the closest spot you can afford on the tube. As long as you're on a tube line, you're all good transport wise. Ideally on a night tube line for more freedom.
GETTING AROUND:
If you're in the city, walk. It's always the best way to explore somewhere new. But if you're going out of zone one, London transport is incredible.
Don't be afraid of the tube, once you get to grips with it, it will become your best friend. Just avoid rush hours if you can. Commuters aren't as friendly when they've got places to be, and you could get swept away like Marlin in the turtles. (If you know, you know.)
Oyster cards are £5 or you can just use a tap credit or debit card. If you really want to impress, get your card out ready before you reach the barriers so you don't hold up the people behind you.
Another huge perk of London transport; Boris bikes (or as they are now known, Santander Cycles). Check out where the docking stations are on the TFL website and cycle throughout the day for just £2!
Generally I'd say avoid driving in the city. But if you are going to do it, don't forget about congestion charge. Parking is a no-go during working hours, but after 6:30 it's free in loads of places.
LANGUAGE:
If you've read my blog before, you'll notice I mention the ignorant Brit a few times. The majority of us in London aren't bi-lingual, so it's good to have some basic English. However, if you're reading this, I'm gonna assume that you do already. Just remember...it's not pants, it's trousers or people will look at you funny...(we won't mention what the difference between English and American fannies are here.)
FINAL TOURIST TIPS:
Download Citymapper: It'll be your best friend when you want to get from A to B. If you don't have Uber then most black cabs will have ways to pay on card. Just ensure you never get in one that isn't licensed. Before you cab home, check that your tube line isn't running. Some services operate all night on the weekends now.
Queue: We love queues, there's no shortcuts, just get in line.
Explore: Don't spend all your time in central London. It's only tourists who stick to lye-cest-tah Square, Piccadilly Circus and Oxford St. If you fancy seeing the real hipster London, get to Shoreditch, or hang out in Brixton Village. If you've got money to burn, or want to meet some rich folk, head to Chelsea.
Avoid eating in chain restaurants. There's so much choice in London, if you're struggling to find somewhere other than TGI Fridays you're in the tourist trap.
Manners: We really like them. Ps, Qs, and Goodmornings! Londoners aren't as grumpy as you might think!
Move to the side: If you need to stop and grab your camera or do your laces, move to the side of the pavement. The biggest tourist sin is standing still in the middle of the pavements. Also, if people are rushing, just step aside to let them pass.
Learn the tube etiquette: Escalators, stick to the right, unless you're overtaking. Don't put all your valuables in accessible pockets. Avoid loads of eye contact (us Brits like our privacy,) and don't be all crazy loud, it's just annoying.
Embrace the multicultural'ness: We may only offer the tourist traditional dishes such as, fish and chips and a greasy fry-up, but you can also eat whatever cuisine you want, at whatever hour, and meet people from all around the world. Love us for it.
Last but in no means least, drink tea: It's true, we love it. But we don't all eat afternoon tea, every weekend... in fact, we're more likely to go for bottomless brunch. But do book an afternoon tea to get into the true British Spirit.
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