London, now this is a city I could live in, I absolutely love London! The first time I visited London was in 2015, and instantly I was in awe of this city. Since then, I have been back a couple of times. There is so much to see in this city, and it’s such a large city, it’s pretty endless when it comes to exploring. I have put together this first timer’s guide to London on everything you should see, do and eat!
THINGS TO KNOW
The UK is on the pound £.
Tipping is not required, but there sometimes will be a service charge on restaurant bills, however if you found the service particularly amazing, people often leave a 10% tip.
The UK uses Type G plugs, so make sure you have an adapter, and this is different than what the rest of most European countries use.
Take the London Tube!
It’s the easiest and fastest way of getting around the city. Get an oyster card, you can use it for all the public transport in London, rather than paying for single-ride tickets. Most of the main tourist sites are within Zone 1, if you plan to travel farther from the city center, it’s important to note which zones you are traveling between, as this does affect the cost of fare. Here’s more info on London Underground.
TIP: Stay to the right when on escalators, it’s kind of just a rule of the land.
Bring an umbrella!
Most of the museums in London are free, take advantage of that.
Consider The London Pass
If you are interested in checking out a bunch of the major sites, consider getting The London Pass. In order for the pass to be worthwhile, you need to visit at least 2-3 of the sites for it to be cost effective.
NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE
- Brixton – A culturally diverse area in South London, there’s a mix of quirky boutiques, quality restaurants and nightlife here
- Camden Town – A vibrant and colorful area, some might describe it as ‘punk’ or alternative, full of street markets selling clothing, art and vintage assortments (This area is located outside of Zone 1)
- Chelsea – A wealthy spot with lots of high end shops, cafes and restaurants, also a decent amount of galleries in the area
- Kensington – An upscale area, where Kensington Palace and the Gardens are, it’s also where you’ll find embassies and consulates of other nations
- Mayfair / Marylebone – These two areas are extremely affluent with lots of high end boutiques, art galleries and restaurants
- Notting Hill – Full of quaint streets, lined with colorful townhouses, also Portobello Road can be found here
- Shoreditch – Somewhat known as the hipster spot, it’s mellowed out and now it’s just a cool and fun place for nightlife, lots of bars and some clubs in the area (similar vibe to Brixton)
- Soho – This West End neighborhood is very hip, with lots of cool bars, restaurants, and a decent LGBT scene
- Whitechapel / Brick Lane – A popular area for street art, think Banksy and the like, also a lot of Indian restaurants and great curry can be found here
WHERE TO STAY
London is a huge city, but if it is your first time, I recommend you stay in central London. Also, it is particularly important to be near a tube stop, so you can get around easily. There are plenty of hotels, hostels and airbnbs to stay in, and with varying prices. If you have never used Airbnb, you can use this referral link to get $40 off your first booking.
Hotels:
– Motel One London-Tower Hill
– The Tower Hotel
– Qbic Hotel London City
– Z Hotels
Hostels:
– Astor Hyde Park
– YHA London Oxford Street
– Wombats City Hostel London
– St Christopher’s Village
WHAT TO DO & SEE
Buckingham Palace, this is the palace where the Queen conducts business from, she lives here, as she is frequently here during the weekdays; for most of the year the palace is often closed to the public. The famous changing of the guards (where they switch from plain uniforms to red) happens here on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 11am. The palace is only open to the public during the summer, if you are interested in seeing the inside of Buckingham.
The British Museum houses an extensive international collection of antiquities, in particular a focus on ‘human culture’, considered the largest collection in the world. The famous Rosetta Stone, Olduvai stone tool (it’s the oldest artifact in the museum), Hoa Hakanania’a (Easter Islander Moai), Aztec Double-Headed Serpent, the controversial Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon and Egyptian mummies and sculptures can be found here. It can get pretty crowded, I recommend visiting during the afternoon.
Take a stroll through Hyde Park, it is a large public park near the center of London, walk around or have a picnic.
Visit Trafalgar Square, which is a public square, apart of the square includes The National Gallery, which houses a collection of painting from the 13th – 19th century, and it’s free to visit.
Browse the stalls at Covent Garden, which has been operating for over 400 years, now it is full of small shops, cafes and pubs.
Visit the Natural History Museum, which houses a large collection of animal specimens and other aspects of earth science. This is a great place to go if you have children or if you love science.
Walk along the Millennium Bridge, it is a beautiful modern suspension pedestrian crossing bridge, and it is perfectly aligned with a gorgeous view of St Paul’s Cathedral. It’s worth visiting during the day and at night.
Head to the Sky Garden, which is a gorgeous viewing deck on the 43rd floor of the Walkie Talkie, which offers panoramic views of London. In order to go, you will need to book a reservation in advance, once you do it is free to visit. The interior area offers a restaurant and a bar, with an indoor garden and glass windows, allowing for a nice view inside. In my opinion, this is one of the best, if not the best view of London!
The Tate Modern includes one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art. It recently has become the most visited attraction in London.
The London Eye is an observation deck styled ferris wheel. Personally, this is not an attraction I booked as it is quite expensive, but if you are planning to go book in advance to avoid long queues. But I will say it’s worthwhile to go and see it in person, it’s impressively large.
Visit Camden Market on Saturday or Sunday to see an eclectic collection of markets, shops and food stalls with an a somewhat alternative vibe.
Nearby Camden is Primose Hill which offers a nice view of the London. The park offers a nice retreat from the busy city, a lovely spot to relax.
Visit King’s Cross Station if you are planning to travel out of London. Inside of the station you will find the Platform 9 ¾ photo opt. There can often be a long queue for this, I have found it’s best to go later at night.
Head to Westminster Abbey to check out one of the most important religious buildings in the UK, this is where all the coronations take place.
Check out Piccadilly Circus, it is sort of London’s version of Time Square. For me, I find that there are plenty of more interesting attractions in London rather than this.
Sample food at Borough Market, where you are bound to find something you’re craving.
Go shopping on Oxford Street, if you are looking to add more items to your wardrobe. In particularly, stop by Selfridges, which is a large department store, pretty much everything you want can be found here, including food. The area does get busy here, so be warned!
Check out the Tower of London, an old historic castle where many famous historical figures were imprisoned. This is where the Crown Jewels are kept.
Visit the Tate Britain, a large art museum mainly focused on British works of art.
Explore Harrods, a gigantic luxury goods store, both the exterior and interior itself are literally an attraction to see.
Normally, I would recommend visiting the Big Ben, however it’s currently being restored and is entirely covered by scaffolding and the restoration project is not expected to be completed until 2021.
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
- Peggy Porschen – A cute bakery known for its fancy cupcakes, floral doorway and pretty pastel colors, there are multiple locations [ЄЄ]
- Dominique Ansel Bakery – Pricy bakery with a large collection of intricately crafted baked goods [$$$]
- Maitre Choux – Beautifully crafted baked goods, with multiple locations [ЄЄЄ]
- AIDA Shoreditch – A cute cafe with colorful lattes [ЄЄ]
- by CHLOE – Vegan spot with multiple locations [ЄЄ]
- Cereal Killer Cafe – Adorable interior fill up this small cafe with pretty much all kinds of cereal imagined [Є]
- Drunch – Pretty cafe with flowers covering the exterior [ЄЄЄ]
- Elan Cafe – An instagram hotspot for its flower wall and cute exterior [ЄЄЄ]
- Farm Girl Cafe – A vegan and gluten free spot [ЄЄ]
- Feya – Stylish food to match the cafe [ЄЄ]
- Host Cafe – Literally a cafe inside of a gothic church [Є]
- Poppies Fish & Chips – Known as one of the best spots for fish and chips, there’s multiple locations [ЄЄ]
- The Golden Hind – Another top fish and chips spot, the portions here are huge [ЄЄ]
- Mr Fogg Tavern – a Victorian era pub serving British fare [ЄЄ]
- The Churchill Arms – Known for its quirky exterior which is covered in planter boxes full of seasonal flowers or plants, and serving Thai food [ЄЄ]
- The Crosse Keys – A huge pub inside of a old bank [Є]
- The Prospect of Whitby – A historic pub, nearly 500 years old [ЄЄ]
- The Victoria – A gorgeous 19th century pub with great food [ЄЄ]
- Ye Olde Mitre – A 400+ year old traditional pub [ЄЄ]
- The Ivy Chelsea Garden – A British food spot with a pretty interior [ЄЄЄ]
- Sketch – An expensive restaurant known for its fine dining and tea, also its pink interior and egg shaped toilets [ЄЄЄЄ]
- Dinerama – A cool food court spot in Shoreditch with food from all over [Є]
- BubblewrapWaffle – A tiny shop with gai dan jai, an egg waffle ice cream dessert [Є]
- Milk Train – Known for their adorable dessert with cotton candy/fairy floss [Є]
- Yolkin – A small shop with macaroon ice cream sandwiches [Є]
- Coppa Club – If you’re in London during the winter months, there are these gorgeous igloos you can reserve on the roof that offer a beautiful view, and in general the rooftop itself is a nice spot to grab a drink [ЄЄ]
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I hope this post has been helpful in providing information on a first time trip to London. Feel free to leave any comments or questions below. I would love to hear about your favorite spots in London!