11 Mistakes People Make When Visiting London

Making the most of the public transport is worthwhile as London has an impressive public transport network, combining the famous Underground, buses, river buses, trams and trains. Some of these services take a little bit of research to understand, but the time will pay off when you find that you can cheaply get from one end of the city to the other with relative ease and comfort.

Getting an Oyster card will make it a lot easier and more comfortable because it automatically processes payments across all of these transport options, so no more long queues at ticket machines and fiddling around with change.

You’d think that it would be obvious that London is big, but a surprising number of people underestimate walking distances and just how big even the centre really is. It’s only a couple of stops on the Tube between St. Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben, so why waste time going through the stations when you’ll only be on the train for 3 minutes? Might as well just walk, right? Well, no. That’s a 2-mile (3.2 km) trek you’re about to embark on, a good 30 minutes of walking, which will leave you pretty worn out. 

Save your energy for walking around and opt for a hotel in central London, or one which is closest to the main attractions.

Taking a taxi from the airport to your hotel might seem like a great idea when you’ve just landed in London and tired. You just want to get to your hotel to refresh and maybe snooze for a bit. However, London’s airports are on the extreme outskirts of the city, far from Central London. That 'convenient' taxi ride will probably cost you in the region of £200, money better spent on a more memorable experience than an hour spent chatting to a talkative cabbie.

Instead, take the Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station. It only takes 15 minutes, and from there, a cab to your hotel will be a lot cheaper. Or you can find accommodations around Heathrow Airport.

Underestimating the temperature is a common mistake when it comes to English weather, which is stereotypically seen as grey and constantly raining. What few people are prepared for is just how cold it is in winter, as well as how hot it is in summer. You won’t exactly need Arctic apparel and a bathing suit, but it pays to be prepared, no matter when you plan to travel.

The best option is to pack lots of layers, so you can take them off as it gets hotter or add them as it gets colder. Just remember to make sure the top layer is waterproof. That stereotype exists for a good reason...

Underestimating the dining scene is a common mistake when it comes to English food. London is increasingly one of the best hubs for ingenious and extraordinary food, rivaling other foodie destinations like Lyon and Bologna. It’s a multicultural city with a vibrant dining scene, taking influences from around the world.

For some low-cost local bites, head to the area around Spitalfields Market. Alternately, for more upmarket fare in swanky surroundings, aim for Mayfair. Chic, Asian-influenced contemporary cuisine can be found in Soho. And the list goes on.

Trying to save money by booking a hotel in Zone 6 may seem appealing if you’re visiting London on a tight budget. There aren’t too many budget options in the city centre, within walking distance of the top attractions. The temptation is to book an out-of-town place.

However, you’ll probably find that getting to and from Central London each day will cost you more than the amount of money you saved on the cheaper hotel. More importantly, it’ll cost you a lot of time each day, which is a much more valuable and irreplaceable resource.

Underestimating the size of museums is easy when you're in London, a city that hosts some of the largest and best museums globally. The British Museum, in particular, has a staggeringly huge collection of artefacts, numbering around 8 million items.

Quite a common experience among museum-goers is to spend a great amount of time in the first couple of galleries, reading every information board fully and admiring every single artefact. You then realise that half the day has gone and you’ve still got several galleries to see, not to mention other museums to visit. Fortunately, most of London’s best museums are free to enter, so you can plan on spending a few days exploring them, not just a few hours.

Expecting table service in pubs can lead to confusion for those unfamiliar with English pub culture. Unlike restaurants or cafes, where you typically sit at a table and wait for staff to take your order, English pubs operate differently. It’s not uncommon to see visitors waiting at their table, desperately waving at the publican, but destined to remain thirsty until closing time.

In an English pub, you have to go up to the bar to order your drinks and any pub grub you want. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, it’s the only way you’re going to get served.

Only seeing the most popular sights can limit your experience of the diverse and surprising city that is London. The amazing thing about this city is that there really is something around every corner. Even quite famous sights are sometimes hidden in surprisingly subtle and discrete places.

The fact is that there’s more to the city than just the Tower of London, Big Ben, The Shard, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye. Naturally, you’ll want to tick off these essential bucket-list items, but leave a bit of time to explore, escape the crowds and visit the lesser-known sights. Spend some time just walking the streets, trying out the little local restaurants and absorbing London’s electric atmosphere. 

They say that failing to plan is planning to fail, and that’s certainly true when it comes to certain popular attractions in London. The West End is famous for its theatres and blockbuster musicals, but tickets often sell out days ahead of performances. The London Eye, similarly, has a limited capacity and you may have to either queue for hours or even miss your chance if you don’t book your place in advance.

Make the most of your time in London by planning your itinerary, ensuring that you can easily get from one place to the next, and that you have your tickets before you arrive. As an added bonus, advanced bookings often give you considerable savings.

Underestimating the power of English Ale can lead to a surprise for many first-time visitors to London. They come in various styles and flavours, from pale ales to bitters. The local favourite is London Pride, which has quite a sweet flavour with a crisp edge. It also contains up to 4.7% alcohol, making it quite a heavy hitter.

Most British ales are creepers. You’ll be well into your third pint before you realise that you’re getting drunk. Even if it doesn’t feel like it’s having much impact, take it slow and steady. To nurse the sore head in the morning, why not book yourself into a hotel with a spa.