The Do's and Don'ts of London
London can be an overwhelming city to visit because there is such much to do in usually very little time. You must dine, dance, and explore while you're in this magnificent city but the many options make it difficult to pinpoint the best restaurants, clubs, and museums. It becomes even more difficult when traveling on a budget because London is an extremely expensive city. While keeping this in mind, here are all the do's and don'ts to help make your visit to London unforgettable.
Do: Get out there and explore!
Apps like Citymapper and Cool Cousin will help you navigate every corner of the city with ease. London has incredible places to go to such as Camden Market, where you will definitely encounter various interesting stores with some pretty unique decor, as well as some incredible flee market treasures.
Don't: Spend all of your cash shopping
Although the shopping in London is quite exquisite, spend your money on the local food, drinks and museum tickets. Say goodbye to meaningless souvenirs and really experience all that London has to offer.
Do: Wander
You may stumble upon gems such as The Attendant which is tucked away inside a Victorian-era bathroom in the Fitzrovia district. (They make one mean club sandwich and a pretty incredible cup of coffee.)
Don't: Only eat at restaurants in touristic areas
Part of London's culture is street food. Be sure to follow the succulent smells, find yourself a good spot with a view, and dig in to .
Do: Go clubbing
The clubs in London can be pricey, but are sure to be a good time. London is a great student based city, so be sure to check out the Soho neighborhood, where the pubs and clubs aren't too pricey. Barrio is a great bar for dancing, and if you're nice enough to the barmaid at Dog & Duck, she'll give you a £3.50 vodka soda with lime instead of a £5 gin and tonic.
Image Credit: Goodfreephotos.com
Don't: Travel everywhere by taxi or Uber
That will burn a hole in your wallet and make your parents really, really mad when they see the credit card bill. Use them as a last resort for when you go out and have a late night.
Do: Get yourself an Oyster Card
A visitor Oyster Card is a quick and easy way to pay for public transport in London. It will save your life since you can ride from the bus to the tube without ever needing to fumble for tickets.
Do: Go to traditional pubs for lunch or afternoon drinks
Old pubs have an amazing ambiance, great drinks and usually serve a mean plate of Fish & Chips. The beer is good, company is great and although there might not be a place to sit down, you'll get to meet a lot of locals. The Princess Louise and the Red Lion are well known, but any pub you decided to wander into will be a good choice.
Image Credit: Flickr/Bockerl1
Don't: Party without a plan
It can be very difficult to find places to go out at night and you must plan in advance because pubs and clubs close early. Trust me, planning is crucial.
Do: Take the Parisian approach and drink wine by a river
Go to your nearest Sainsbury's or Tesco, buy a bottle of £4 wine and enjoy the view from the Thames. It is pretty amazing, and with good company, it can become the best night; and don't forget speakers! A great spot is around the banks underneath Millennium Bridge. (The view is nothing short from mesmerizing, especially at night.)
Image Credit: Flickr/chrlnz
Don't: Stay at an expensive hotel
It's not worth it. You only go there to sleep and maybe have coffee. Try an Aribnb or even, if you have a friend in university in London, stay at the university housing. Five pound dinners at the university hosuing and either a comfy bed, mattress or couch to sleep on is much better that blowing budget on a posh hotel.
Do: Go to the museums and immerse yourself in the culture
The Victoria and Albert Museum is a great one for sculptures, due to Queen Victoria's and Albert's tradition of giving each other sculptures on their birthdays. It's a beautiful collection and it offers a very particular view of the royal family. (Other suggestions: Tate, Tate Modern, National Gallery and the British Museum.)
Don't: Avoid all of the touristic areas
Some are surely to be avoided such as Picadilly Circus or Oxford Street unless you want to do some quick shopping, but a part form that, they don't have a lot of charm. Places such as the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace are touristic but at the same time also historic and very interesting to experience in order to understand the roots of the country. Avoid the change of guard. It's not as interesting as it is said to be, but do go if you really must.
Gates of the Buckingham Palace. Image Credit: Flickr/dconvertini
Do: Treat yourself to a nice restaurant
Food in London has a lot of influence from many countries with restaurants from every corner of the globe. One vibrant restaurant called Chotto Matte serves Peruvian and Japanese fusion food. Ceviche is a great restaurant that serves traditional Peruvian food and Cantina Laredo dishes out gourmet Mexican food.
Chotto Matte, London. Image Credit: Flickr/Amara
Don't: Try to squeeze everything in at the same time!
London is a city to have fun and enjoy the urban life it offers. It's a city based on intuition, so trust your gut when it's guiding you somewhere. Explore and get out there; you might never know where you're going end up and if it'll turn out to be the best day or night of your life.
