• Just Uber to/from the airport. Not worth public transit changes with bags. 

• Just use the wallet on your phone to tap to pay for transit, don't deal with Oyster cards.

• Use a credit with no foreign transaction fees if possible

  • One option is to get a Revolut Card for fx exchange, you can get a data SIM card through the Revolut app too, 

• Always pay in the local currency (e.g., choose £GBP and not $USD)

• Pay transport with tap and go, just add your credit card to your phone wallet

• Use Google maps to find your way around the city (or Citymapper). 

• Use Google reviews before going to a local restaurant and you should at least have an English breakfast 

• Don’t talk or look at anyone on the tube. Walk on the left, on the sidewalks, on the stairs, on the escalators. Right side for standing, left side for walking. 

• Look left when crossing the streets. 

• Watch for bicycles and motorcycles.

• If you’re game enough for it, Lime bikes are the quickest way to get around London.

• Pretty much always use the tube, but if it's just 3 or four stops mostly it's very much better to walk!

• Buses are a great way to see the city so you're not stuck underground!

• Watch your phone! Watch for pickpockets! 

• Less is more - carry less stuff with you - don't carry your drivers license, passport, insurance cards, etc with you. Leave that stuff in the hotel. 

• Make copies of your credit cards and passports and leave them in the hotel (or at home) locked up. 

• Bring a reusable bag for shopping - most places charge for bags or don't get them. 

• If you all aren't going to make a train - wait for the next one. Trains will leave with or without you, either get on or wait for the next one. 

• Expect crowds! it is going to be crowded. Have a plan of where to meet if you get split up. 

• Tipping at restaurants is not expected or necessary. There is typically an optional service charge added to the bill, this is essentially the tip so you don’t need to add anymore. 

• Instead of ""Entrance"" or "" Exit"", look for ""Way In"" and "" Way Out"".

• At street crossings just look both ways and wait for the green person to appear on the light.

  • Make sure to push the “WALK” button when crossing. Depending on the crossing, it might not give you a walk signal if you don’t. 

• Wear nothing but the most comfortable shoes you own and consider insoles. 

• COMFORTABLE SHOES! but make it fashion. You're in europe and it's fun to dress up. 

• Get an ESIM (download beforehand. Activate right before you take off from abroad) and download citymapper so you'll never be lost. Expect it to take at least 30 min-1 hr to get anywhere.

• Download Uber before you arrive. It is rarely the fastest option but cheaper than Black Cabs.

• Make reservations for most meals in restaurants. Don’t expect to get a table without a wait if you do not have a reservation. 

• Download Google offline maps so you always have a map even when your WiFi cellular service is not available. (not as important if you have a data plan or ESIM)

• Check into your cellular provider's international plan since not everyone you may need/want to communicate with is on social media or wants to download an app like WhatsApp. 

• Arrange with your mobile phone provider ahead of time to make sure you have coverage in the UK

• Don't try to do too much in one day.  Be sure you have an idea of where you are going. Walking along the Thames is historic.

• Fortnum and Mason and where the queen shops! 

• Bring a raincoat and don’t bother with nice shoes (no one looks at your feet anyway in London). Comfy shoes that can get wet is the name of the game!

• Portobello Road used to be fairly cool, I used to work near there so I saw it regularly.  

• The Post Office Tower is worth a look as a piece of 60's "bright new future" architecture. The IRA blew a significant lump out of it in 1972 (I think), but it shrugged it off and is still there and looking futuristic still

• Buy train tickets in advance and pay attention to times/time zones. If possible, buy first class tickets. There is more space and free food/alcohol.

• Hauling luggage around sucks - there are a lot of stairs getting in out of train stations - try to keep it to one suitcase and make sure what you’re bringing is durable and the wheels are not going to fall off.

• If traveling when warm, make sure the hotel has AC (not all do).

• Finding hotel rooms with 2 beds is challenging - might be easier to stick to American chains if this is important.

• You can use credit/debit cards in more places than in the US. You won't need a ton of cash.

• When making reservations, make sure you look up locations to make sure you are not trying to get from one side of the city to another in a small amount of time.

• Security leaving London airport was very intense and had different rules than the US - you will need clear bags for liquids and a lot of time.

• Most flights from the east coast of the US are red eyes. This means you arrive in the morning but cannot check into your hotel or AirBnb and are probably exhausted. I recommend booking your accommodations for the night before, so you can go sleep in your room immediately. Make sure you let the hotel/host know you won’t arrive until the following morning. 

  • If not, I recommend a hotel for the first night because you can at least stash your luggage when you land and then go do some sight seeing. With an airbnb, you may not have anywhere to stash luggage and you may not have access until 3-4 pm. And you will be exhausted after a red eye. 

• Many things sell out. If there is something you want to see/do, make a reservation. 

• There are no open container laws on the streets or bar times.

• There are no door knobs

• Wash or sanitize your hands after using the tube

• Most lights in hotel rooms require a room key to turn them on. So if they’re not turning on, try that!

• Follow Secret London on Instagram

• Walking along the Thames, either side

• Harry Potter Studios (book early!)

• The Fenchurch Building (The Walkie-Talkie) - Sky Garden (free to go up but you need a ticket or a reservation. A lesser-known spot with similar views is The Garden at 120 — and it’s free too!)

• Greenwich meridian in Greenwich park & the naval university at Greenwich (these last two places is where Bridgeton was filmed!) 

• The palaces riverside walk starting from Richmond

  • Starting Point: Richmond Bridge on the south bank of the river. 

  Route:

• Follow the Thames Path south, passing through Petersham Meadows. 

• Cross the river at Kingston Bridge (south bank). 

• Continue along the river to Hampton Court, passing Ham House and Marble Hill House. 

• Cross back to the south bank at Hampton Court Bridge. 

Highlights:

• Richmond Bridge: The starting point, offering views of the river and the surrounding area. 

• Petersham Meadows: A beautiful, green space along the river. 

• Ham House: A historic mansion with stunning gardens. 

• Marble Hill House: An 18th-century house across the river from Ham House. 

• Teddington Lock: Where the Thames is no longer tidal. 

• Hampton Court Palace: The final destination, a magnificent Tudor palace. 

• Jack the Ripper museum and tours

• Notting Hill flea market and walk in Chelsea

• Tower of London

• Climb to the top of St. Paul’s 

• Borough Market 

• Tate Modern

• Shakespeare's Globe

• Exmouth Market 

• Buckingham Palace

• Big Ben 

• Regents Park + Primrose Hill (view)

• Hoxton Street Monster Supplies 

• The House of Minalima (for Harry Potter fans)

• Bike through Hyde Park

• Exmouth Market & Angel Upper Street 

• Hampstead Heath park

• Take in a West End show

• London Underground Tour 

• Harry Potter Studio London - it takes a whole day, but worth it

• Tower of London 

• Jack the Ripper walking tour

• Gin tasting tour (several options)

• Westminster Abbey

• Hampton Court Palace

• The Parkland Walk

• Beatles walking tour

• St. Paul's Cathedral - get the audio tour

• Walking along Regents Canal path.

• St Dunstan in the East Church Garden

• Brighton (day out)

• Richmond & Kew Gardens

• The Catholic Church in Balham (thanks, Mom!)

• Broadway Market in London Fields on a weekend

• Sir John Soane's museum, or the Huntarian surgical museum (but it's not for everyone!)

• Words on water on King’s Cross canal is great

• Cannizaro Park in Wimbledon

• A good comedy show at a small venue e.g., Bill Murray comedy club in Islington

• Climb the O2

• Columbia Flower Market (if you can handle the crowds) (Sunday’s only)

• Walking along Southbank

• Brixton market for food

• Northcote Road on a Sunday for brunch and shopping

• Park run in Tooting Common for free on Saturdays at 9am. 

• Battersea Power Station is good for shopping and the park is nice by the river

• Spitalfields market & Brick Lane (lot of curry and vintage shops)

• Queen Mary's Rose Garden in Regent’s Park- the most magical garden with stunning roses. I have never seen it's equal.

• Bao buns in Chinatown

• English roast 

• Cakes at Ole & Steen (don’t think this is British but sure 🤣)

• The beer

• Fish and chips

• Breakfast at Dishoom  

• Toffee apple, it's literally an apple dipped in bright red toffee. I used to enjoy them as kid, simultaneously good and bad for you :-)

• I think Ethiopia and Caribbean food are great but sticky toffee pudding and scones are fab

• Scotch egg

• Afternoon Tea

• Full English Breakfast anywhere / Full English at E. Pellici (everyone needs to visit E. Pellici- it’s a vibe! Opened in 1900 and still owned and run by the same Italian family.). 

• S&R Kelly and Sons on Bethnal Green Road for one of the oldest Eel and pie shops (open since the early 1900's, it's where the dock workers went to eat. Full disclosure I really didn't like the jellied eels, but it's an authentic east-London experience). 

• Sausage roll

• Bangers and mash 

• Budgetish - Camden Market, Dishoom (Indian); Padella (Italian), Adam’s Ethiopian, cay tre soho, Dhoompan Tooting Bec, Nancy Rosa (budget) in Colliers Wood

• Bougie - Duck & Waffle, Cafe Cecilia (Modern European); Session Arts Club (Modern European in a BEAUTIFUL building); Oma (Greek), sushi revolution, tsunami, black lamb Wimbledon, Westerns Laundry (Seafood, Highbury & Islington)

• The Bedford

• Trullo (Italian, Highbury & Islington)

• Moro (Spanish / north African, Exmouth Market)

• Morchella (Mediterranean, Exmouth Market)

• The Bun House

• The Ugly Duck

• E. Pellicci

• Dalston Eastern Curve Garden

• Queenswood Cafe

• CHINATOWN

• Milk for brunch in Balham

• Tottenham Court Road food hall

• Gordon’s Wine Bar

• Sea bird (views!)

• 28 50 by night (jazz)

• Mare Street Market

• The Last Tuesday Society 

• The Natural Philosopher

• Churchill Arms 

• Ave Mario for dinner

• Sketch Gallery for high tea

• London Transport Museum - very London! I'd put this over the bigger general art and history museums for someone visiting 

• Sir John Soane Museum - quirky, good if into architecture

• Imperial War Museum

• Postal Museum

• British Museum 

• Science or Natural History 

• Tower of London

• Tate modern 

• Royal Academy of Arts

• National Portrait Gallery

• Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum

• National Gallery

• RED WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE ;)

• Downton Abbey 

• Slow Horses is shot around Barbican 

• The Kray Twins - about the notorious crime brothers

• Bridget Jones’s Diary

• Black Doves

• Slow Horses 

• Benedict Cumberbatch's "Sherlock"

• The White Queen by Philippa Gregory and then visit the Tower of London and look for clues about the princes in the tower. 

• Play the (original) Monopoly with the London neighbourhoods

• People Just Do Nothing! 

• Fleabag

• The Crown

• Bridgerton

• With Love From London by Sarah Jio

• Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

• Mary Poppins

• Bister (outlet shopping)

• Cotswolds

  • Borton by the water 

• Brighton 

• Bath

• Winchester 

• Lake or Peak District