Biggest Tourist Traps in London
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2024
- Heading to London and want to make sure you see all the best sights and not get stuck at any tourist traps? Well here we have a list of some of the more popular tourist traps in London. Some are actually worth visiting, and some maybe better saved for your next visit to the British Capital.
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If you land in Heathrow, make sure to use Elizabeth line. It works like a charm, and it's super fast. As for the other airports, get the National Express bus. It's cheaper in comparison to trains, and I reckon it runs 24/7. As a tourist, you'll save a lot.
As for turistic attractions, most museums in London are free. Go to the national history museum and V&A. They are literally next to each other and very fun for both adults and children.
The Elizabeth line is great, but the've had some recent problems
Is that the Blue line that goes into Earl’s Court?
I just used the Elizabeth Line going from Heathrow to Central London. No issues. But going back to Heathrow, there was track work the morning I left and I had to take a special bus. Added over an hour to the journey. As Mark says, have a head’s up on that!
Ty! Travelling for the first time next week so this is excellent info.
@vermontmike9800 that's Piccadilly line. Elizabeth is the lilac one
The open-top sightseeing bus tours are quite pricey (but can be informative). For a cheap alternative, check out bus route 9, 11, 24, or 35. They pass some major sights, and a journey costs just £1.75.
Excellent advice.
I like the Shard, but great tip is: Instead of paying 30 £ for the viewing platform, make a reservation at The Gong Bar, just two floors below. There is a minimum 30£ spending, but use it for a glass of champagne, food or drink. They also make it clear you only have 90 minutes, but I had a great time there.
Sounds interesting
There’s also the Garden at 120 just down the road, or Crossrail Garden in Canary Wharf.
It's been more than a decade, but visiting the Abbey Road crossing with my college-aged sons turned out to be a highlight. Meeting folks from other countries and sharing our pen with them to write messages on the wall (and yes, we already knew that it would be painted over before long), and then later retrieving a picture of our crossing from the Abbey Road webcam (no, we didn't stop traffic and try to take photos of ourselves!) turned out to be an enjoyable and even moving experience. Almost didn't go, because of course every tour advice book/blog strongly recommended avoiding such a stupid tourist trap. But no one else knows what might be meaningful for you, and I'm so glad we went. If we had been on a tour or super-pressed for time, things might not have worked out so easily.
I agree, if you’re a Beatles fan and you don’t go to Abbey Road (or 3 Saville Row) you’re missing out. It’s like going to Liverpool and not going to the Cavern Club, which is very touristy but still is a must do.
If you love the Beatles then it is worth it.
If you are a big fan of Thin Lizzy I know of a pub outside Dublin city accessible by rail where you can sit on the same bench at the same table that Phil Lynott sat at in the early 1980’s.
Steer clear of rickshaws always
And everywhere!
No! In Arashiyama, near Kyoto, you MUST take a rickshaw ride through the beautiful bamboo forest!
@@catherinemori4496 Are you a rickshaw owner by any chance 🤔?
@@tompiper9276 Nah! 😜😂😹🤪
@@catherinemori4496 In all fairness, should I be in Koyoto I'm willing to give it a go.
If you do want to see the Crown Jewels, get to the Tower of London at opening time, and go there first. There will be a much shorter queue than if you wait until later in the day.
Also, you can get a great view of the London skyline from Parliament Hill at Hampstead Heath for free, just a few miles outside the city.
You also have Primrose Hill for a nice view, and it’s right next to Regents Park and Camden Town.
Sky garden which is in front of the shard is tall as well and it’s free. In terms of how to get to Heathrow, use Elizabeth line instead of Piccadilly line. From stansted or Luton you have the national express busses running almost 24/7 which cost 5-15£. From stansted I recommend 50mins journey to Stratford and then take the tube to central ldn it’s better instead of driving through the central London for 3 hrs in traffic. For Luton it is about 1 hour to get to Golders Green and then take the tube as well
Agree! And another great free view is from the tower of Tate Modern.
I generally agree with your points on travelling from Stanstead, I never tried from Luton but assume it to be fine, I think the issue he was pointing to was getting to Stanstead (or Luton) early morning, I'm not confident of the travel time if your due to catch a flight.
It does depend. The Elizabeth Line has been notoriously unreliable and broken down a lot.
Also it depends where you're staying. If you're in West London, Piccadilly may still be better. Elizabeth of course should be faster if you're going central or East.
I used to live in Northfields, which is a lovely area I'd recommend people stay in if they're visiting London for more than a couple days.
The Elizabeth line from Heathrow is a trap, not as bad as the Heatrow Express but it's still a lot cheaper than the tube and if you are staying in the cheaper but pleasent parts of the city (like Hammersmith, Richmond, Putney, etc) then the Piccadilly is miles better.
If you want to visit the Tower, Kensington Palace, Kew Gardens and/or Hampton Court, order the year pass from Historical Royal Palaces. The are available for individuals, couples and families & save massive amounts of time and money. Pass holders also save at the cafés & souvenir shops there.
That's a lot of travelling around the city to get to all 4 of those!
Does that tocket really include Kew though?
@@quintuscrinis8032 The pass is valid for one year. I believe Kew Gardens are included, but not the palace.
I think the one that I'd always recommend people missing is Buckingham Palace. (Again, if you've wanted to go there forever, then go, you won't get there again!) All of it. The changing of the guard, going into a rich person's living room, the gift shop, all of it. Tower of London is a one-stop shop for castle and palace (get there early or buy your tickets online). Though people find it pricey, I find the hop on hop off for your first time there to be a great idea. You get "the calendar tour" - that is, it will take you by all the thing you think of when you hear London. Once you have all the standard pictures, then you can decide what to do. Many of them come with a one-way river tour to Greenwich, too.
Crown Jewels - get to the Tower at opening time and go DIRECTLY to the Crown Jewels, THEN do an interior Beefeater tour and wander around. The queue to see the Crown Jewels builds QUICKLY. Spend YOUR valuable time relaxing on the tour or self-tour instead of in queue.
To be honest the best museums in London are all free. A couple of underrated places are the Imperial War Museum and the British Library.
add The Sir John Soanne's Museum to the list
The new viewing platform Horizon 22 (near Liverpool St station) is free but you have to book well in advance. My favourite shops in London are Liberty (department store), BAPE (expensive but they have some cute London themed badges) and Maharishi (designer London street wear)
I was put up in a flat in tower hamlets and resisted going to the Tower of London due to the price. Lo and behold on my last day after digging through the site, I found a Tower Hamlets neighbor of the tower special rate ticket for only £1!
Take advantage of post-code discounts
I have to say I agree with all the tourist traps you nentioned and London skyline is better observed from ground level. If tourists want to see great architecture they need to wander off into the residential streets near many of our famous parks including Hyde Park, St. James's Park and Regents Park to name a few also Hampstead Heath and Little Venice.
Kensington and Chelsea are full of hidden gems and lovely bijou places to eat and less hectic too. Mount Street, near Berkeley Square is delightful and Marylebone Village, St Christopher's Place and Notting Hill.
So much to see and do for free with all the Museums and galleries nearby.
Stansted to Stratford has a National Express coach every 30min to London Stratford which has great connections to everywhere. One might even stay there in a hotel (We like to do that from time to time. Great shopping in the mall.)
Also London Victoria coaches only have a 2h break between 2:30 and 4:30 and when I look at the arrival board today, the last flight arrives at 1:40.
I have only visited Madam Tussauds once, and that was in 1969.
Best view of London, is from St. Paul's Cathedral, if you can survive going up the 500+ steps.
You can enjoy the whispering gallery once you are up there.
I like to travel light, but when I’m travelling with family we often don’t. Living in West London, I will always go for the Tube (Piccadilly Line) even when we have loads of bags. It’s not easy and I feel bad for doing it because the line has small 1970s carriages, but it’s actually quicker for me and cheaper. All this to say, as Mark said, don’t feel you need to take the Heathrow Express. You can get away with having a few bags on the Piccadilly Line, it will just be a little stressful for you trying to manage them. Get a seat right by the door and just stack your bags between the glass pane beside you and the door and hold onto them! It’s kind of just accepted by Londoners that on Heathrow-origin trains that these spaces are for luggage. You’re not going to piss people off.
Can I ask you questions about the piccadilly line? Can I catch it from covent garden and do I need to listen to the announcements to get to the airport? I'm taking United home and I think it's terminal 2. TIA!
@@yaowsers77 yes goes from Covent Garden. Just check which terminal and make sure you get on one that calls there
@@mypradasatthecleanerss thank you!
I used the Picadilly line to the airport and it cost 5 pound 80. Avoid rush hour otherwise should be no problem@@yaowsers77
If landing at Stansted airport, National Express (Bus line) runs buses 24 hours and is £17 to central London (Victoria Station)or £11 if bought online ahead or less to other destinations. It take only 20 minutes longer to London Liverpool Street station and is much less expensive than the Stanstead Express train. If landing at Heathrow, take the Tube (London subway) and use a contactless credit card. The cost to central London will be the same as a one day travel pass, in other words, you can travel free for the rest of the day.
Does the coach from Stanstead still have a stop at Golders Green/Finchley Road or Stratford. Both will be cheaper still and avoids all the traffic in the very centre of town (although you loose the views of the back of the Palace)
CONGRATS 🎊🎈🍾 you have reached the 1 million +. You deserve it, Blessings
Thank you!
This was interesting to watch....never been to London before. Greetings everybody from Amsterdam🇳🇱🏍
The Garden @ 120 is a few blocks away from Sky Garden, and offers a free view without the need to prebook.
I previously visited Madam T's in New York and didn't want to experience the exact same extras.
If you’re a Beatles fan, visiting the Abbey Road crossing and very nice gift shop next door is totally worth it.
Just so you know, tagging the wall next to the Abbey Studios ("Johnny was here" etc), a pretty popular thing to do, is futile--the wall gets repainted on a weekly basis.
@@desiderata2209camden really have that much money?😅
Agree with Mark about Heathrow Express. It is only worth doing if your hotel is at or luggage walking distance from Paddington Station
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The best viewpoints are the Sky Garden and Horizon 22 (both are free but need to be booked ahead of your visit)
Afternoon Tea: So many hotels charge an arm and leg but with my mom I did the one in Kensington Palace’s Orangery, it was half the price of the big hotels & the plates were EIIR engraved and the grounds and restaurant was fabulous. Fun fact it’s where Nikki Hilton got Married
Apparently it’s closed right now, reopening in March.
4:30 I’m in the uk and need to go Heathrow in the next week, and just using the tube is around £5 for the whole journey but using the Heathrow express shoots it up to around £33
Every time I walk past the Eye, I am amazed at how long the queue is. The London Dungan was fun. I always take the tube from Heathrow and to get anywhere in London.
That line is nuts sometimes. And its totally random too
if youre looking for a cool view, climb to the top of st pauls, bit sketchy if youre afraid of heights though, and a pretty sweaty climb as well
Hey Mark, fantastic video and awesome tips.
I loved the London Pass with the Shard being included as well as sooooooooo many other things being included. The hop on/off busses are great too!
For the people who want a high up view, go find a tall hotel and see if they have a top floor restaurant. Two birds one stone. Or, if youre super cheap like me, just take the elevator to the top floor and look out the elevator lobby windows. Done and free
I'd recommend getting to some places outside the center. Hampstead Heath is lovely on a summer's day for instance. Take the train from Waterloo and head to Richmond for a countryside feel just 20 minutes outside London. Have heard good things about Little Venice too.
Forget the London Eye & The Shard. For free views, go to Greenwich and stand near the Royal Observatory for great views of London, Primrose Hill near Regents Park, The One New Change Mall (the 6th floor of this mall has great views too) near St Pauls Cathedral, and The Garden at 120 at Fenchurch Street. I didnt mention Sky Garden as you can never get tickets for that. Lot to do in Greenwich alone.
And from Greenwich, take the uber boat back to Westminster (costs around 5 pounds on contactless.. yes it is a part of the public transport). Don't go for an expensive Thames cruise.
The Elizabeth Line is quick and a good alternative to the Heathrow Express with the Tube being the cheapest. I only pay 6 pounds for the Heathrow Express (staff discounts) but its definitely a scam. You can get a National Express coach as well from Victoria to Heathrow but you gotta take traffic into account. The Piccadilly line from South Kensington to Heathrow is slow and loud, but the cheapest. :)
Gatwick Express is a scam too, just take a regular train from Victoria/London Bridge station and they'll get you there for a fraction of that price in maybe 10-15 mins more.
I liked the hop on and off buses. My buddy and I used those and the Tube to get around most places. London Eye, just the two of us, wasn't bad. As you said, it is a large Ferris wheel, but it is cool to do, maybe once, if there isn't a huge line. If there is a huge line, skip. Tower of London is absolutely a must, and the Beefeater tour also! They are great and are a ton of fun! They were worth the price of going into the Tower of London, easily. Piccadilly Circus was fun to check out, and people watch, it is at least free, outside of the Tube ticket to the station there. The porno theater from An American Werewolf In London is now a GAP Store, so that's fun.
Leicester Square has the TKTS booth for cheap West End shows and the Cork and Bottle wine bar.
I live in London and am glad I've done the Eye and the Shard (albeit as gifts).
There are some decent restaurants in Piccadilly circus but they are pricy.
The tube is great, but just make sure that there aren’t any tube strikes the day you want to use it to get into London from Heathrow Airport.
Hey Mark, great video
The Heathrow Express is actually cheaper than the Tube if booked 90 days in advance. Depending on where your hotel is, this may be a better option.
Used to be about the same but not anymore. At least unless you know of a back way round the website?
But the Hex only goes to Paddington so almost everybody is better off on the tube.
Cheaper option for a good view of London is The Monument. Built to commemorate the Great Fire of London. Not as high as the London Eye but still a good view and a damn sight cheaper
Agree with every thing you have said! Under rated is Covent Garden. Where all the street artists perform! Also Camden town Market.
They have discount tickets for the Tower for Age and they also recognize Active Duty Military and Retired Military for a discount.
Come to the country in England (South west) ! Much nicer people / cheaper and the views are amazing ! (Oh and the fresh air!!) 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 ❤️
I have been to London twice and agree with Walter. The view from the London Eye was a bit..drab. I did love the photo my family got from inside.
Also, I took a rickshaw bike from dinner to The Globe one night for a play, and it was the best waste of money I ever spent in London.
Nice to see all of these sites on your video! Our quick September weekend trip from Paris, (France was our main trip), to St. Pancras station on the Eurostar is definitely worth the money, (travel at off peak for best fare, and travel in either direction for tons of fun). It just took 2 hours and 12 minutes flat to travel from Gare du Nord to St. Pancras. We stayed in a very nice AirBnB near the station, got a 2 day pass on the the Big Red Bus tour and had a blast seeing ALL of the sites. We only had to take the tube once because the Big Bus dropped us off AND picked us up right at St. Pancras area each day. Walking tours were included and a narrated boat ride too! Charles, our Buckingham palace area guide was the absolute best! Bravo to Wolters World and to the Big Red Bus tours!!
I'd recommend a normal London bus that runs through tourist sites over one of these hop on hop off tourist buses and normal buses only cost £1.75 (if you avoid peak times) - there's also a cap on what you have to pay (currently £5.25), from memory kids under 10 go for free
London Sky Garden offers amazing views and it's free. You just need to remember to book ahead of time.
Wow! Didn’t realize the eye was 30 minutes! Great tips!
Abbey road may be just a cross walk to some but for many it's a great experience.
I think that ties into an underlying message about most of these: go because you want to, not because someone says you have to. London is big, historic, and diverse. Within a 2-hour train ride you can get out to a dozen other places like Windsor, Oxford, Cardiff, or Canterbury. There’s _more_ than enough to do.
I’m not that into the Beatles themselves so I skipped Abbey Road, but I did take a music tour that covered places where they, Bowie, Queen, Elton John, and others lived and played.
If you go there, please respect that it is a zebra crossing subject to normal traffic law on a fairly busy road. Whilst pedestrians do have priority on the crossing, you must give traffic a reasonable chance to see you and stop; don't just run onto the crossing. People have been run over on the crossing after just running out. Deliberately waiting until others have cleared the crossing before walking out, trying to get a picture with nobody else on the crossing, delays traffic and annoys Londoners who are just trying to go about their business.
Moreover, it is illegal to linger on the crossing: the law says "No pedestrian shall remain on the carriageway within the limits of a crossing longer than is necessary for that pedestrian to pass over the crossing with reasonable despatch." (regulation 19 of The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997 (SI 1997/2400)). The Beatles album cover was shot under a properly granted road closure with police attendance.
Do not be too bothered about trying to recreate the Beatles shot exactly - if you do, the photographer will be standing some way into the road near the Edward Onslow Ford monument, which is in the middle of a junction.
I do not want to sound like a killjoy. However, respect goes a long way. Whenever you travel, you should remember that you are subject to local law and try to show respect for the locals, not act like you own the place. Enjoy the Abbey Road crossing if you want to visit, but remember this is a public road, not a photo set. The Abbey Road Studios are working recording studios and are not normally open to the public.
If you do want to visit, the nearest Underground station is St John's Wood. Do not go to Abbey Road on the Docklands Light Railway - you will be miles away from where you want to be!
Very much go where works for you, but remember the Abbey Road studios are nowhere near the Abbey Road station on the DLR. If you want the studios and zebra crossing you want St John's Wood.
@dougsmythe8744 I used to live in the area, trust me the studios are nearest St John's wood station.
@@quintuscrinis8032 I have to apologize, I hastily misread your comment. You were correct. Sorry
All
Theses things you’ve talked about I’ve done in 1990 haha went into Harrods got lost lol but I was 16 so yea
100% correct on all counts!
We bought Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) memberships and renew annually. You get into all the HRP sites as a member..and access to special tours and events. Also membership to Westminster Abbey gets you in the side door and around all the lines and private tours. Also if you join a mass at Westminster Abbey you get to see chambers and chapels other tourists don’t get to see.
We also see west side theater musicals. You get to see Broadway shows at a fraction of broadway prices and the talent is top notch.
So many tips. We go local every time. We saw all the traps the first visit.
You are the best! One thing I have to say is I wish I had gotten a picture of my family at the Abbey Road Crossing. It was out of the way and didn’t do it. It’s just so iconic!
Brighton is a great place to spend a day for those arriving in Gatwick airport. Only 25 minutes from the airport and your Instagram will say thank you! There are a lot of sights to see and take photos.
As a big fan of ferris wheels, I have been on the London Eye 3 times. Would go again. Just make sure to book your tickets online in advance. You might get a discount.
I found Carnaby Street to be very overrated. The unique shops are gone, it's mostly international chain stores.
I did like the london Eye although the time i went on it it was part of a package deal including a boat cruise and coach travel to London, so the cost was absorbed into it all. I would, I suppose, call it fairly interesting
Sky Garden has a great view of London and it’s free
Agree. So many fabulous museums. I admit that I got conned into that Harry Potter Kings Cross thing, but then I made my traveling companion hit the British Library next door. London Eye was a waste too. My folks hit the wax museum while I went down the street to Sherlock Holmes "museum" and a Starbucks. Much better experience.
You go by the crown jewels on a conveyor belt. But you can go back and do it again. There is another belt on the other side, which let you see not only the back side of he crowns, but also various small objects displayed at that side. One thing I found very surprising when I went to London, was people waiting in line for 45 minutes to see the crown jewels, and then just going past once and leaving. It was like it was a box that needed checking rather than something they wanted to experience.
There is much else to see in the jewel house. Also while you wait in line.
Avoid Oxford street as much as possible, epecially at Oxford Circus during the evening rush hour - it's hell on earth ;) Also avoid Leicester Square - there's literally nothing interesting there or at least everything there is you can find cheaper elsewhere in town
In 2019 I walked by the Harry Potter platform and took a picture of it, but that was it. We were staying across the street from Kings Cross and I had about an hour to waste, so I walked through the train station on my way to walk down by the canal behind it. And that was about all the interaction I needed from it.
That being said, I'm a sucker for the London Dungeon. Is it overpriced? Yes. Do I really enjoy it? Also yes. Both the current location as well as the old location that was on Tooley St.
We only went to Leicester Square for the Legos. See the displays they built and my wife bought the exclusive figure as more of a Lego souvenir. Then we high tailed it outta there.
Make this year your best year my friends.💪🎇
When I lived in London I would always take guests on a bus ride - the 23, to Liverpool Street station. We found it was a great and cheap way to show people the sights.
Omg, me too!! A fabulous route along great sights. Especially if you can grab seats on the upper deck.
dont pay for the shard. the nearby sky garden is almost as talll and absolutely free. you have to book in advance but still a far better choice
I went to a Vikings game last year and did Tower of London, go early in the day and go directly to the Crown Jewels to avoid a lengthy line. From there I travelled the Thames, had a wonderful discussion with one of the workers, to Westminster Abby location and it was a nice/short sight seeing tour on the way. I also took in a Premier League match and the locals were fun to banter with as I wore my MN United gear.
As an extra on the Harry Potter 9 and 3/4s point, if you really want to see something from the movies go to Euston and get a train to Wtford Junction (1/2 stops on some trains towards Milton Keynes and Birmingham and you can use Oyster or contactless payment cards).
There is a bus from the station forcourt at Watford that takes you straight to the studios and a tour if the sets used in the films.
The Shard is well worth it if you love epic views. A free and very good alternative is the Sky Garden, you have to book in advance and the tickets do go quickly. The area around the Shard is also well worth a visit on its own, London Bridge station, Borough Market and the streets going along the river side are really good to explore. My other recommendation is to do the tour of Tower Bridge, you can walk between the towers looking down on the road and see the workings of the bridge itself.
Also the Post Building. Not nearly as high, only a 9th floor roof garden, but it's location close to The British Museum means you can see lots of interesting buildings from the top. And no need to book - just turn up, show ID, have your bag x-rayed and walk through a metal detector.
We did the pub pod on the London Eye and since it was just two of us, we were in there with a group of locals celebrating one guy's birthday. It was absolutely fantastic, but they don't do the pub pod anymore (it was the Queen's Jubilee) so I can't recommend a regular one for sure.
It's not even the read crossing in Abby Road, it was moved down the road for traffic requirements
Take the black cabs only they have set fares and the are roomy.
Be extra careful when watching the street entertainers in covent garden, it is a pick pockets paradise and the crowds can get really big . Keep all valuables in your hands , ( or your underwear😂)
Platform 9 ³/⁴ isn't actually Platform 9 ³/⁴, platforms 9 & 10 are the suburban platforms outside the main part of the station, so it should, strictly, be there. The photo opportunity spot would be approximately Platform 8 ¹/² if anything. I'd suggest visiting Platform 0.
All these tourists traps make London sound like an amusement park. 😊
Woo hoo! Not a single place on our itenerary for May was mentioned in this video!
I enjoyed touring the tower of London, but did not see the crown jewels because there was an enormous line in the direct sun and it was very hot. This was in late May.
Got a cricket ball at Harrods back in the day for a decent price. Find something cheap for the experience.
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Only use ATMs belonging to a real bank.
Better still, dont use cash at all
@@gchecosse That is not actually practical. Just like in the USA, you need some cash. I do recommend getting Euros/Pounds/whatever before departing for the trip.
@@barryfletcher7136 London is becoming more and more cashless
@@AndyKing1963 OK, but "more and more cashless" does not mean "cashless'. The USA is also "more and more cashless" but having some cash is still important. I usually take 200 to 300 Pounds/Euros/both with me when I travel to Europe (depending on the length of the trip) for those occasions when using plastic doesn't work or isn't convenient.
@barryfletcher7136 maybe just in case if you're travelling, but I live in the UK and I haven't used cash here for many years, including when travelling in the UK and also to France and Ireland. I only needed cash for buses in Spain and Gibraltar.
And don’t go to Poppies and think you’ve had fish and chips!
Anything in Soho!!!
Not a tourist trap but I just found out that I'd you're taking the Piccadilly line to Heathrow, there are 2 different ones depending on which terminal you're going to. Gotta listen to the announcements
Two bramches at Heathrow, but there is also (in theory at least) another bramch that avoids the airport entirely and heads to Rayners Lane/Uxbridge.
@@quintuscrinis8032 😱 lol perhaps I should leave earlier than I had planned just in case!
@yaowsers77 probably not necessary.
The Piccadilly runs on a roughly every 10 minute service to each destination (Heathrow 4 and 5 being separate destinations) so there is a very frequent service to the airport from central London.
And so long as you get to the airport there are frequent and free buses and trains that can get you between the terminals pretty easily.
@@yaowsers77 all Heathrow trains go to terminals 2 and 3 (which includes most non-BA flighta) as well, just the terminals 4 ones are less direct to them.
Can still change at Hatton Cross if you need to as well (including for the free buses).
@@quintuscrinis8032 lol I'm going to hold you to that! 🤣
The 2 deck tour buses (walk instead, or take a regular bus). Anything Harry Potter or movie related (waste of time and money). The pay toilet at the London Eye (instead, go to a nearby park where it's free). Any restaurant at a fancy location (obviously).
Other places in the UK you'd want to skip: Stonehenge, because you can't even get close to the stones. The Roman Baths: pricey, just to see a Roman building filled with water.
If you're a Harry Potter fan, a visit to Platform 9 3/4 would be worth more to you than the average person. Likewise, if you are a Beatles fan, going to the crosswalk at Abbey Road can be a very moving experience. Not for everyone, but then what is?
Unbelievable how tight
The 9 3/4 spot at Kings Cross was pointless with a ton of people. If you are a Potter fan, just sign up for the WB Potter studio tour and you'll get the same picture but you get to spend 3 hours touring the actual sets. It was amazing but book early or you'll have to be like me and check the website every 10minutes hoping somethign opens up.
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I went to University quite literally across the road from Madam Tussauds and I never went in once. Never been, actually, because I just can't support such a trap. The museums are great, though!
LMAO my first stop is Leicester square because there's a little park with a bunch of popular bronze statues of Harry Potter, bugs Bunny, etc. 😅 I want pictures!
I saw a report quite a few years ago about how the pushcarts, especially in the touristy areas, were unregulated and unclean. What about street food today in London. Is there anything that shouldn't be missed. And what should we be on the lookout for?
Order your Heathrow express as far in advance as you can. 90 days advanc tix cost us 4.50 each way. So worth it.
Only if you are actually staying in Paddington. Otherwise you still have to pay another £4.50 to change onto the tube (£1.75 for a bus) to get to your actual hotel.
By all means, go to the Natural History Museum and V&A, but don't go when it's raining - I guarantee you that everyone in London will have the same idea. I made that mistake - the museums are packed when it's raining.
One other thing to keep in mind, for the past two years, the union to represent the trains in England has been in a strike position. There have been intermittent rolling strikes ever since. While the dislocations themselves are a nuisance, check in advance when the strikes are scheduled to take place. You don't want to travel by train on those dates, and you don't want to travel to Gatwick at all, as the main way to arrive there is by train.
Lastly, there used to be a cross sale that if you flew in with British Airways, you could purchase a ticket to the London Eye at a deep discount. Since BA no longer sponsors the Eye, the promotion is no longer.
Rather than go to platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross, just go to Westminster tube station. Lots of Harry Potter stuff in there especially the exit gate used by Harry Potter and Arthur Weasley (and if you go out that way, once at street level you're staring right up at Big Ben).
As an elderly Englishman, I spent quite a few years pre-retirement travelling frequently via Kings Cross and I was for a very long time puzzled by the - to me - inexplicable queues at a section of blank wall. I eventually came to know it was thanks to the Harry Potter phenomenon (or as it seems to be called over the Atlantic ‘Hairy Padurgh’). Blame this ignorance on my never having read a book nor seen a film featuring this cinematic icon. Mind you, if that’s what you want to see then visit it!
Where is "Ripley's" now? It has moved from Picadilly Circus!
I did take the Heathrow Express last time I was in London, figured I'd be paying for time, since my hotel was next to Paddington anyway. Turns out there was a huge protest that weekend on the rails and I ended up spending an hour sitting on a train going nowhere.
Bad luck, I guess.
Ouch, that's unfortunate. Pro tip for next time, the tube also gets to Paddington with one change (two if you prefer cross-platform changes over lifts) at Earls Court (and Hammersmith).
The tube from Heathrow is great, but takes a really long time - also avoid it in rush hour as there's literally no space for your luggage. The Elizabeth line is probably the best option at the moment, unless you book ahead and get a reduced ticket for the Heathrow Express - otherwise it's a complete rip-off
Yup. If I remember correctly, it took 50 mins to get into the Baron’s Court area from Heathrow.
@@vermontmike9800 s-l-o-w but cheap. It's probably also useful as time wasting if your fight gets in early and you are waiting to check in ;)
With the London Eye (an observation wheel not a ferris wheel), would you rather pay all that money for it to be over in 5 minutes? I don’t understand why anyone would complain that it takes 30 minutes. That gives everyone (up to 25 passengers per pod) a chance to see the whole of London (remember more than 600 square miles) as well as beyond London (such as Windsor) on a clear day in a 360 degree view. The Crown Jewels should be seen first thing in the morning when it first opens as the queues as shorter. Then take the free tour of the Tower of London complex with one of the Warders. All of them are ex-UK military personnel who now live and work within the Tower complex. Also remember that all the Foot Guards 💂 and Household Cavalry are full time professional soldiers in the British Army who only do this ceremonial work as part of a duty rotation. The remainder of their time they will be doing their regular military duties including abroad (sometimes that will mean fighting in war zones). They will not be wearing their ceremonial uniforms and the Cavalry units will be in tanks. Please show them respect. They are not out of work actors in costume at a theme park. Their job is not to entertain tourists. They are on guard duty and like US soldiers guarding their bases are entitled to deal accordingly to anyone disrupting or disrespecting them in their duty. In fact Horse Guards is military land. That is why you see armed police there. The fact that they are Ministry of Defence police and not London’s Metropolitan Police Service police should tell you all you need to know.
Avoid all red phone boxes - for obvious reasons
If you want a cheap view - I would book in advance for the Sky Garden (Free) .
As a londoner I will say that London dungeons and clink aren't really tourist traps and are definitely worth the money I've had a great time at both places. Madame Tussauds is a straight rip off though. At the end of the day there are so many free museums and parks in the city that you really don't have to spend a lot to have fun. Also if you want to go to a palace go to Hampton Court on the Thames, much better than the Tower of London and definitely check out Kew gardens especially in Spring and Summer.
Instead of paying for the Shard you can do the Lookout or the SkyGarden for free. You just need to book your free ticket and they are both actually in the city and not on the other side of the river, like the Shard.
There are still seemingly 5 Aberdeen Angus Steakhouses in London. Avoid them. You'd be better off eating your own shoes.
yup. These days there's no excuse eating badly anywhere in the UK