5 mistakes you shouldn't make when visiting London
London has been one of the most popular destinations in the world for decades. However, despite its fame, those who visit it for the first time still make many mistakes.
Most mistakes aren't very serious, but your trip could cost more than necessary, or you could lose precious vacation time. And at the same time, it prevents you from enjoying the best possible experience in England's capital.
Therefore, we decided to create an article with some tips on the main mistakes you shouldn't make when discover London.
By avoiding these mistakes, you will enjoy your visit even more. Especially due to the rise in the Euro, you don't want to waste time and money, do you?
- Not making the most of public transport in London
- Underestimating walking distances
- Take a taxi between the airport and the hotel
- Underestimating London temperatures
- Disdain London's gastronomy
1- Not making the most of public transport in London
London has an impressive public transport network that combines its famous tube, buses, river buses, trams and trains.
Some of these services sometimes require learning how they work, but the effort is worth it as you can get around the city from start to finish with much more comfort and ease.
Picking up an Oyster card is a smart choice to explore the city with ease, as this card automatically processes payment for all modes of transport. This will avoid complicated queues for ATMs or exchange offices.
This way, you save time, see more parts of the city and even save money!
2- Underestimating walking distances
London is vast. It may seem obvious, but many people underestimate the size of the English capital and even its center.
As there are only three tube stations between St Paul's Cathedral and Big Ben, you might question wasting time between stations when the tube journey is just 3 minutes.
After all, you might as well walk, right?
Well, not really: there are three kilometers of walking that await you, that is, 30 to 40 minutes of walking.
Taking this route is not impossible, but when you're discovering a new place, it's best to focus on the main tourist attractions you want to see.
Therefore, it is better to save energy for exploring museums and other places of interest by opting for a hotel located in central London.
Unless you are the type of person who loves to explore places on foot – which also has its advantages, as when traveling by car, subway or bus, we pass by some very interesting places that we could only visit on foot.
3- Take a taxi between the airport and the hotel
Imagine you have just landed in London. You're tired and you probably only want one thing: to get to the hotel to regain your strength and maybe take a nap.
Seeing a queue of black cabs, London's famous taxis, you can easily imagine why so many people choose to travel by taxi.
However, they don't realize that London airports are located on the outskirts of the city, far from the center.
This taxi ride will probably cost around £200, an amount that would be better spent on a memorable experience than an hour chatting to a driver.
And don't forget that the pound is worth more than the dollar! So this race would be very, very expensive!
So, it's best to take the Heathrow Express train to Paddington station. The journey only takes 15 minutes and when you arrive, a taxi to the hotel will be much cheaper.
But you can also choose a hotel near Heathrow Airport.
4- Underestimating London temperatures
A common stereotype of England is that it's gray there and it rains all the time. However, we often forget that temperatures are also very low in winter and very high in summer.
You won't really need Eskimo clothing or swimwear, but it's worth preparing for any point on your trip. The best solution is to wear multiple layers of clothing so you can add or remove more over time.
The main thing is to make sure that the last layer is waterproof. After all, it rains a lot in London!
Also remember that to visit the country, you need to travel with travel insurance. Click here and find out how to get yours!
5- Disdain local cuisine
English food sucks, right? Wrong!
London is becoming one of the cities best known for its bold and unusual cuisine, competing even with gourmet destinations such as Lyon and Bologna.
Multicultural, the English capital attracts influences from around the world to create an excellent gastronomic scene.
If you want try local flavors for a low price, you can go to Spitalfields Market. For those who prefer a more sophisticated environment (prices are higher, however), the Mayfair district is a good choice.
You can also enjoy chic contemporary dishes with Asian influences in the Soho neighborhood.
And the list is still long!
Did you like our tips? Leave your comment and tell us if you have already traveled to the English capital!
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Malas & Milhas
Passionate about travel, culture, and points/miles savings. Sharing the best tips and itineraries around the world.
