London Travel Tips: Things to Know Before Visiting London

Regent Street Londonjpg

Visiting a new city like London can be daunting for anyone, however, by reading my 10 things to know before visiting London, with these London travel tips, you’ll be ahead of the curve and have a better travel experience in London.

As a travel blogger living in one of the most popular city-break destinations in Europe, I thought I may as well impart a little local knowledge on travellers visiting this beautiful city.

These 10 travel tips are written from the perspective of a local to a tourist.

St Pauls London

To Londoners, these tips are just a part of everyday life, but this post is to prepare travellers to be London street-savvy and rush hour ready.

These tips are here to help, inform, and aid you in navigating around a city like London without feeling the rage and steely stares of the locals.

London travel tips: Things to know before visiting London

London travel tip 1 – Download Citymapper App


The first of these London travel tips is one of my favourite travel app Citymapper. I love Citymapper and there is not a day that goes by without me using this app.

It’s one of the best apps for utilising public transportation in London.

Citymapper is used in over 30 countries and gives the most detailed journey planner information, in comparison to other travel apps.

Threadneedle Street London
London Royal Exchange, luxury shopping centre and Bank of England in the evening

The app provides real-time departure and disruption updates and connects to cycle routes and Uber. Its one of the best apps for visiting London.

If you are visiting London then check out my post on the top 30 things to do in London.

The app even tells you the quickest route for your journey and can be used offline. You can set the app to alert you when to get off the bus or train at a specific stop.

I find this handy when I’m taking the public transport for the first time in a new city and you will too when using it to get around London.

You can also get to know your way around London by taking a walking tour in London.

Travel tips to London 2 – Take London public transportation

Londoners will complain about London transport (especially the Central Line during rush hour). But London still has one of the best public transport in the world.

When visiting London, an Oyster Card is your best friend and could save you up to 50% when compared to a single ticket. The daily cost is usually £4.50 per day if you’re only using the same card for payment each time for buses and trams.

You can also use a contactless debit or credit card, but do read the guidelines from your card provider to ensure that your card qualifies.

Peak times are Monday to Friday from 6:30 am to 9:30 am and from 4 pm to 7 pm. If you use public transport to travel outside of these times, that’s considered as off-peak and off-peak rates apply and will be cheaper.

You may also like: How to spend a weekend in London London Tours – Food Tours in London

Travel tips in London 3 – Stand on the right

I love tourists in London I really do, but one of my pet peeves are tourists with huge suitcases not standing on the right of the escalator, blocking everyone else behind them.

Please people for the love of God, stand to the right or you will feel the annoyance of Londoners as they push past you to get to their trains, especially during rush hour. 

Travel tips in London 4 – Londoners like to say ‘Sorry’ a lot!!

The word ‘sorry’ has many meanings in London. It is used in the usual way to apologise to somebody, but it is also used if someone is barging past and wants you to get out of their way, or when someone hasn’t heard what you said and would like you to repeat your sentence.


London Tours – Best London Tours

Nando’s is Your Best Friend

Londoners all round love a bit of Nando’s, it’s like how Americans like ‘Chipotle’. It’s a place you can go with friends and have half of peri-peri chicken and chips for under £11 (for those on a shoestring budget).

It’s also cheaper to eat at Nando’s than most restaurants around more touristy spots in London.

Pronouncing the names of places can be tricky and funny

I have lived in London half my life and I still find it hard pronouncing the name of places like‘Worcestershire’ and ‘Marylebone’ and they always seem to confuse tourist too.

As they are not pronounced as you would think. Train stops like ‘Cockfosters’ and ‘Crouch End’, always seem to make me smile.

READ MORE | 5 Days in London Guide

Londoners Hate Queue Jumpers

This is a plea to all tourists, do not try to queue jump in London. You’ll be passively aggressively told off by everyone in the queue and then be glared at for your duration in the queue.

If you happen to see people queueing up but you’re unsure what they are waiting around for, just ask why they are queuing. Someone will be more than happy to tell you what’s happening and where the end of the queue is.

You may also like | How to spend 24 hours in London London Tours | Bus Tours of London

Service Charge 12.5%

Most London restaurants add a 12.5% service charge to your final bill. The charge is, of course, optional, but it’s expected to be paid unless you had a really appalling service.

Do check out a restaurant’s menu before ordering to see if service charge will be included in the bill.


For emergency, dial 112 or 999.

With the recent attacks in central London, it’s good to know numbers 112 or 999 for the emergency services (police, fire, and ambulance) in London.

It’s also important to know where the local hospitals are in case you have an emergency in London.

Know the Language

Every country has their own way of speaking or slang and the day-to-day things that they refer to and that is no different in London.

Come close and let me break down all the terms you’ll hear around London and what they mean.

READ MORE | Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden

Money

You will hear Londoner say, “pee” rather than pence, as in 25p or 50p (25 pee or 50 pee).You will also hear a pound referred to as a “quid”, a five-pound note as a “fiver” & a ten-pound note as a “tenner”.

Translation of the Following Terms:

Loo = bathroom (ladies or gents is also acceptable)Cheers = thanksLift = elevatorTrainers = tennis shoes

Zebra Crossing = Pedestrian Crossing

Chemist = Pharmacy

Ground floor = first floor

Petrol = Gas

Queue = line

Bin = trash

Fag = cigarette

Cashpoint = ATM

Biscuit = cookie

Chips = French fries

Crisps = chips


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6 Comments

    1. Hi Mike, I know people are sleeping on Nando’s (I love the place). Let’s be honest that’s where most Londoners are at on a Friday evening after work or after a shopping spree ????. Queue Jumpers are those worst. Glad you like the tips

  1. Love these, as someone who lives in London I wholeheartedly agree with 90%! Citymapper is the only app to find your way around, and yes please don’t queue jump! Nandos is great for a bargain meal, also love Wahaca for Mexican and Honest Burger (for burger obviously..)

    1. I’m glad you liked it. I live and die by Citymapper !!! it is so handy google maps is just shit in comparison. I think a lot of tourist go to touristy spots and didn’t realised that these places are far better in price and food. I love Honest Burger -no bum burger for whenI’m trying to be good

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