word of advice -DON'T get an exorbitant taxi from any of the airports, they will cost you $100 or more, and take absolute hours with the traffic. Get a train or tube and its 1.25 hrs at the most, or 30 mins, a fraction the cost. All trains from the airports will have been designed to have ample room for luggage, the tube not so much (but doable, plenty of people will be doing it too, and you'll be the first stop). Literally London is the world's biggest air hub (160 million fly into its 6 international airports p/a) and no one gets the taxi.
Great advice here. Hoping tourists will take note -- I think the train intimidates many tourists (especially after a long international flight). Thanks again!
@@zupermaus9276 this works amazing if your flight is not early in the morning - the rush and the problem of some lines not working might be the issue here. We took an Uber to the airport because we had to leave at 5AM - it was pricy but unfortunately we had no other choice.
Ik im commenting late but the main reasons why it could take hours to get into London could be due to rush hours from 3pm and beyond that, try to avoid as much traffic as possible because around that time schools finish, people finish work, lots of crowds on the railways and motorways/highways being busy at that time. When booking try to think about when you should land in the airport.
That's terrible advice. Most tourists esp students will arrive with 40kg + luggage. If you don't have a direct train , it's a terrible idea cuz you'll have to carry heavy luggage from 1 platform to another
Richmond is actually in London (zone 4 out of 9), but is surrounded by some of the world's largest urban parks which many people think is the countryside (Richmond Park alone is about 3x the size of Central Park in NYC).
This is one of the benefits of the monarchy and the aristocracy owning so much land. They didn't want to give any of it up to build on so we have a bunch of big open green spaces to enjoy. Less so in other parts of the UK where cities just expanded into where there was space with little to no planing and especially not with parks in mind. Manchester and Birmingham come to mind. There's a distinct lack of urban green spaces there. Manchester in particular.
Family traveling from the US. We landed at Heathrow and took the public transit to Paddington station for 15 pounds each. Enjoyed the trip into the city which took just under 30 min on the new Elizabeth Line. No reason to pay more for traveling into/ out of the city. We then took the train to Ely, rented a 58 foot narrowboat and cruised the waterways around Cambridge for a week! There are so many ways to see the UK but I highly recommend!
How was it taking the Elizabeth line with all your bags? I'm solo travelling in a few weeks and I'm gonna do exactly that but I'm wondering if my bags are gonna be in the way for other passengers
Always interested in travellers POV of London. Taxis are really expensive in London. All the airports have express trains into Central London. (Heathrow also connected by the Tube). - Get into central by train and get a cab from there if you must. Richmond IS London and that little river is the Thames - London is a massive city with all types of experiences to be had but England is small enough to hop on a train for as little as 90mins to visit places like Cambridge, Oxford, Brighton, Cotswolds etc. As for the food.....where the hell have you been eating?? Might have been true in 1970s but there is a tremendous and thriving foodie seen in London, from traditional to modern British and pretty much any global cuisine you care to think of......and Edinburgh is in Scotland (different country).
@@camdendavid London is absolutely brimful of great places to eat. I wouldn't know where to start - budget, neighborhood, cuisine? - we have to be one of the most diverse cities in the world and benefit tremendously from all that brings food wise. Lots of fabulous London foodie influencer on the socials. I feel so sad for you that you didn't eat well when you were here. Come back and have another go☺️
Just general advice. direct from a londoner. 1 - don't use the term "Downtown" nobody will have a clue where you mean. Its not used anywhere. 2- How many 'blocks' away is it. see above answer. and lastly. Never, never attempt to pay in cash with dollars. Seen it so many times. Use pounds. you don't want to embarrass yourself when told by the shopkeeper "Mate, you ain't in bloody Dallas. Have a good trip, I love my city.
A tip for all would-be travellers. If you are really struggling to find good food in London (?) then you can always rely on Pret a Manger for good sandwiches and other lunch type foods and Leon for more substantial meal types. Both have branches all over the city. They offer good value and some healthier options also. If you get really stuck you could do a lot worse than taking advantage of the various "meal deals" that supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury's offer.
The Elizabeth Line to/from Heathrow was so easy. We had four people with each having a bag during the busy summer season and had no problem with space.
@4:57: Richmond is nice, but rather than the underground I use fast trains from Waterloo station, frequent service, journey times from 16mins to 28mins.
@@camdendavid well 26 Grains and Barbary at Neals Yard , hi a Tow , Brick Lane,, Covent Garden, Dishoom, Good Life Eatery Marylebone, Pure in Beak Street, Itadaki Zen nr Kings Cross,Tendrils, Mallow nr Borough Market, Beany Green Broadgate, Honi Poke Soho , just to start. Best open Vegan sandwich was in Kingston. Richmond and has some good stuff too
Great video! You might want to resist the urge to stay in central London. I usually stay in Chelsea or Kensington, and while these are more 'upscale' parts of town, the hotels are generally cheaper. Additionally, these areas are safe to walk around in at any hour. Remember to use the Tube and buses. You can get anywhere in the city, and while the per-ride cost may seem a little high, there is a daily cap (8-9 pounds for zones 1 and 2, I believe), so once you reach it, you can ride for free for the rest of the day. Remember to use the same card/payment method throughout the day to get the cap advantage. Do not get an Oyster card unless you don’t have a tap-accessible card or phone. It’s not worth it. Also, be sure to visit pubs. Contrary to popular belief, Londoners, and UK people in general, are quite nice and friendly (as a whole). I’ve found it very easy to strike up a conversation with locals in pubs, and it’s such a big part of British culture. If you’re on a budget, grab the Meal Deals at places like Tesco, Sainsbury's, etc. They come with a surprisingly good sandwich, chips/crisps, and a drink for about 5-6 pounds. These seem to be an institution there. Yes, like most major tourist destination cities, London can be extremely expensive, but with a little planning and thought, you can do things fairly affordably.
i`m a londoner and i`m surprised you found it hard to find good healthy food, there`s so many amazing restaurants in places like : islington, chelsea, battersea , clapham etc, plus all the beautiful old pubs with the delicious sunday roasts...
As a londoner and usual traveller I have to agree that the worst and most expensive food in my travels is in London. Yes, you can find excellent food but is not common and will cost you much, much more than in other mayor city.
A language tip. One of the words you used to describe Camden Market was "spunky". It's probably best to avoid using that word here in the UK. It has a TOTALLY different meaning! 😂
I go to London every year, primarily for the food. Pubs can provide fantastic food, and there are a ton of gastropubs providing Thai, Indian, traditional, fusion, etc. options. Fresh ingredients, healthy options, and fast service are the norm. I'm always sure to hit Chinatown for London's famous crispy aromatic duck with pancakes. And Dishoom has several locations around the city and serves delectable meals.
There is no Wi-Fi system in London really. Some restaurants and cafes have it but 5g on your phone is a really good connection. Of course check with your supplier on costs outside your host country
I spent my year between Berlin and Frankfurt and London and Dublin. Don't know where you get this idea that you can't get good food in London, there's literally thousands of all nationality of restaurant in London. If your idea of great food is a bagel shop then you're probably lost from the start.
I ate out at least twice a day and really felt like the quality was lacking compared to most other cities. Seemed like all the quality stuff was super expensive but I could have been looking in the wrong places. Any spots you'd recommend for my next visit?
@@camdendavid That's probably where you're going wrong, you shouldn't be eating out twice a day. You'd be better off most of the time going to a quality supermarket and picking out what you like and making your food from there. I don't know what you like so I don't know what to actually suggest, but I would suggest that if you're going out anywhere pick a nationality. And go from there. You can have Indian Chinese, Thai, Mongolian Vietnamese, the list is endless. That way you can pick a quality place three or four times a week instead of twice a day in cheap places.
Also I hate to break it to you but Richmond is in London. But it is very beautiful. Loads of bits of london feel different from the centre. Greenwich and Hampstead are similar too
Whoa… Crazy to think about the size of London! Most tourists would consider that to be well outside of London (or at least the city of London) but I appreciate the correction :) And thanks for the tips on Greenwich and Hampstead!
1. if u get the train or coach from the airports it's easily £10-£15 or less, only 50 if u get a taxi or uber. And it's like £5 if u get the picadilly line from heathrow 2. as a broke student londoner I always ask them to take off the service charge & they do no hassle. It's very normal for me & my friends and people my age to ask to take off service charge, they get it 3. Richmond is definitely in london just not in greater london(London goes on for about 10km out of greater london). I wouldn't even call Richmond the outskirts but tourists should still defo explore outside of greater london. 4. I find healthy food everywhere here easily, your point about not being able to find healthy food confused me. 4. nice vid- interesting perspective
1. 100% true -- Probably the best option for solo travelers, backpackers, or folks traveling with a smaller bag. But might not be suitable for families traveling with multiple people and lots of bags. I imagine many folks will opt for the convenience of an Uber/taxi after a long international flight. But great point for folks who are up for a bit more adventure 2. Great to know! Thanks for sharing that :) 3. Didn't realize just how big great London is haha. I should have specified to get out of the center of the city. Thanks for the correction there 4. Glad to hear that! I definitely struggled but spent the month based around Tower Bridge. Maybe that was the problem? Any recommendations on your favorite healthy food spots? Really appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective :)
Amazing tips, I am just about to visit London for the first time and I found this super useful!! I just have a question regarding public restrooms 😅 What if I feel the sudden need to go, is there any system for that?? Thanks.
Good question! There weren't a ton of options but there's almost always a hotel nearby (should have a restroom in the lobby). But maybe some of the locals seeing this have a better option :) Hope you have a great time!
All eating places including pubs should have toilets (you are unlikely to find the word "restroom" or "bathroom") but they would prefer you to buy something as well. Large stores will also have toilets and public facilities are scattered about the town centre usually near tourist spots.
As a Londoner who has grown up and lived here all my life - great video but I completely disagree with the food being bad and unhealthy. London has some of the best food from all over the world pretty much everywhere (I have never in my life heard the Brick Lane is the only place with good food - like ever!?), so respectfully that is very wrong. People will find great food if they just look a bit and don't just go to posh looking places within central - there is sooo much more to London (both food wise and everything-else-wise) than central London - if you want to have the best, non touristy experience in London, go outside central. And saying that it is difficult to find healthy food in London is also unheard of within London, especially nowadays honestly. So yeah overall really confused with that take on food - imo you nobody can make an opinion about the food within just a month. but apart from that great video :) p.s you were completely right about the beigels in Brick Lane though - they are amazing and are so iconic to Londoners as well :)
@@camdendavid Yeah i really recommend going to Sagar for amazing vegan and vegetarian indian food, Fish Wings and Tings, as well as Healthy Eaters for great Caribbean food, and for some of the best pasta go to Flour and Grape (genuinely some of the best pasta i’ve had in my life.) and also go to places like Electric Avenue in Brixton or Southbank Food Market or Borough Market - places like these (Brixton being the cheapest btw) have great food. Yeah just don’t be scared to have food from stalls and stuff
I definitely have a skewed perspective after only spending a month there. I appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective and I’m looking forward to finding that good food during my next visit!
Richmond is actually a borough of London. However of course it’s very different from the centre and is my favourite for the river walks, green spaces, excellent transport hub. There are a few very good individual restaurants as well as the usual chain offerings. As an American you found good food hard to find? Are you serious? 😂😂
Definitely a special place and soooo different from the city centre! I really did struggle to find good food haha. I'll be the first to admit that food in the US is some of the worst in the world. Seems like there's great food options in both spots IF you have lots of cash to spend. But I think the average tourist will struggle to find quality food and will instead fall for some of the tourist traps. Would love some recommendations on good food spots if you've got them! Thanks for sharing your perspective :)
@@camdendavid Recommending a restaurant is of course dependent on the type of food that you enjoy most and cost. In Richmond where you very sensibly took the time to visit I would say Chez Lindsay (French, expensive) Piccolo Vicolo (Italian not expensive). The White Swan Pub. (Good British pub type food, not expensive) and in nearby Sheen, you can get a 33 bus, takes 10/15 minutes, Grilandia (Lebanese, not expensive). If you’re missing some U.S. diner type food there’s also 5 minutes walk away from there Pickle & Rye (U.S. type, not expensive) owned by Americans and very popular. Just a few recommendations in my area if you’re ever back this way.
Unbelievable.....London has some of the best foods in the world. And it's everywhere but not in the tourist hotspots. So when I hear that someone had a bad food experience I know where they hung out. Go off the beaten track don't get fish and chips in a pub with a view of big Ben. and if you are a tourist be aware that the best foods are found in some of the outer neighbourhoods. Or in the countryside. The food around the tourist traps are for tourists only just like any city in the world.
wow! heathrow airport looks amazing! 30 minutes later sitting down drinking my coffee i googled which airport i actually was in. Thank god i wasn't in that kind where airplanes just fly right into the duty free lounge.
It's much easier to get to the city centre from Gatwick or Heathrow than it is from Stansted. From Stansted, you need to buy a separate ticket for the train/coach and it's physically much further. For Heathrow/Gatwick, you can use contactless/oyster cards if you want to use public transport and Heathrow is within the Greater London area
Commenting as an ex Londoner of over 30 years, As many people have commented already, Richmond is in London. Secondly don’t believe that the food is bad, London has some of the best food in the World with literally thousands of bars/cafes and restaurants from cheap and cheerful to 2/3 Michelin star eateries and there is something for everyone, just buy yourself a decent local food guide and you’ll discover some fantastic restaurants to suit all tastes Lastly sorry to say, but a lot of the places mentioned are tourist traps and will rip you off with ridiculous prices, Camden and Portobello for a start, there are some wonderful places to see if you look around, my old area of Hampstead and Highgate are lovely places as is Marylebone High St with lovely shops and great bars. Chelsea/Kings Road are well worth a visit too. Go south and Clapham is a lovely area too. Canary Wharf (the financial district is interesting to see) and on a nice day you can walk to Greenwich under the foot tunnel (although it’s also a bit touristy) Enjoy our wonderful City
When you talked about the food in London is where I turned you off because London has great food. That's like saying the U.S. has bad food because it is home to McDonalds- of course there is crappy food in London, but if you just go to a M&S and get a sandwich and salad, it will be fresh and good and inexpensive. There are over 70 Michelin rated restaurants just in the city and that quality trickles down to better priced restaurant.
Interesting video with some great tips. But no, no, no, no, no on ubers or taxis from any of the airports in and near London. An uber charges an airport surcharge to pick up there, it costs so much more than public transport. Exorbitant. Like someone else said: in Heathrow you're the first stop on the Piccadilly line (tube) and many Elizabeth Line trains. The Elizabeth Line has LOTS of luggage space, the Piccadilly line a bit less but stake out a corner and stack up your stuff - just don't expect to dump your cases in the middle of the car because you'll get dirty looks and people falling over them. Take a train (it can be but doesn't have to be the Stansted Express, normal trains are just as good) from Stansted, because a taxi from there is ridiculously expensive. Why would you do that? Same for Gatwick: just take a train! Honestly uber/taxi to or from airports in/near London? Very bad idea. Don't do it. It will also take forever, you'll sit in traffic without an option to get out. Go on the tube or a train, just be sensible with your luggage because lots of people will join along the line.
We found some pretty good food and drinks at Botanica Hall on the corner of St Johns rd and the A3036 in Clapham Junction. Best chai tea and some pretty good food at Seven Dials Market just south of Shaftesbury ave. Going back in October 2025 for 5 days before a Norwegian cruise. Totally looking forward to it.
Unless you have a huge amount of luggage, the best advice is to take the train. However, it’s best to avoid the Rush hours; between 6.30 am and 9.30 am and 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm. The Piccadilly line is the best value from Heathrow; the advantage is that it will take you to the city centre, and the disadvantage is that it takes about 50 minutes to Piccadilly Circus station. The Elizabeth line takes 41 minutes to Tottenham Court Road, whereas the Heathrow Express takes 21 minutes to Paddington mainline station from terminal 5. Remember that the trains start at the airport, so there should be ample luggage space, only consider a taxi if you have a lot of luggage and or a lot of people or a combination of them both. As for Uber’s and such forget it. The Other airports are similar, but remember that anything with an “Express” heading will cost more, and whether it’s value for money is questionable.
Hey Camden David, as someone who has worked in hospitality in London, I just need to inform you that the service charge that is automatically added to the bill does not actually go to the waitress/waiter, it goes to the management. It's a really nasty trick. What you need to do is to reject the optional service charge and give a tip to the waitress/waiter in person.
I’m going to London tomorrow and my parents didn’t planned the charging adapters at all. I guess we’re going to discover this town for 4 days without any battery 🥲 At least it’s just 4 days, not a whole month, and I’m pretty sure we can buy one of these in London (if not, I’m gonna cry)
I disagree about the food, I remember these two restaurants near the British museum which were absolutely delicious. One was called the Happy Lamb, a delicious hot pot restaurant and another was this delicious Chinese restaurant which I unfortunately don’t remember the name of. London is absolutely ginormous, so it’s strange to me you had a hard time with the food, there are too many options for London food to be bad in my opinion! You may think well this Chinese restaurant I eat in was bad? But what about all these other hundred of Chinese restaurants or Indian or a normal pub? There’s just so much variety. I recommend using trip advisor to find the best places to eat, don’t just go to a random place! See if it has rating of 4 or 5 first! That’s how you go to the better places :) I’ve never been to a disappointing place in London, while using Trip Adviser :)
Thank you for sharing! I'm going on a trip, too! By the way I found it possible to use code on trainpal to get a discount on the purchase of tickets, which saved my budget lol!🎉
Adding the international plan should work just fine. But it can get pricey depending on how long you're staying. Probably best to ask Verizon what the charge would be for the entire trip and compare that to the eSIM. Hope that helps!
My Verizon International Plan cost $100 for one month (250 talk limit). I used it there in March 2024 and it worked great for calling to the USA and within the UK.
Heathrow to Kensington 2.50 pounds, 35 minutes, and a 15 minute walk to the hotel with carry on bags. Don't bring a lot of clothes. Tube can be faster than a taxi caught in traffic.
I appreciate the video very much. Was very helpful. However, you went too quickly through that AC adapter presentation so I couldn’t tell if I already had that adapter or not - you’re moving it around too much so I couldn’t really tell what it should look like.
Enjoyed your video thanks. Can you tell me which Horton hotel you suggested as I see there is more than one of them in London please, because I really like the vibe you showed there. Cheers from Australia
Hi Camden, thank you for the wonderful video! Some really handy tips. Is L'Assaggino where you got the Ted lasso biscuits? Huge fan of the show and planning to go to Richmond to see some sites
Glad to hear it was helpful! Yes, L'Assaggino is where we found the biscuits :) Keep in mind that you don't have to plan a full meal there (they sell the biscuits to go). Hope you have a wonderful trip!
Tipping isn't really a thing in the UK, it's just the annoying automatically added crap they add like you showed. Most people aren't a fan of it, if we want to tip, we tip. We don't need an extra tax on the price. Just charge slightly more for the food/drinks so we know before seeing the bill. People tend to get paid better (relatively speaking) here so tipping isn't quite as insidious as it is in the US.
Heading out of town to get a more UK experience is a good type. I'll be heading to Bristol to check out some Banksy art and then a jazz festival over in Cheltenham.
mortgage the house to pay for a two week trip, sidewalks are not level, coffee sux, everything is priced in pounds and is 50 percent more expensive than North America, trains are outrageously expensive, roads are wonky as they drive on the left, people snooty and cold and they are much friendlier up North, avoid Harrods, do not expect service in restaurants, pick pockets, Pret a Porter sandwich bars are everywhere, take two showers when you get home to get the grime out. Oh, the place is fascinating.
London has the best museums in the world and many of them are free. The cafe of VA museum is out of this world. The interior of the VA cafe can rival if not better than any top hotels of the world
Does Airhalo is good in London? Speed? I used Airhalo in Rio Brasil and was not able to refresh Google Maps. Cheap but slow! BTW, your video is awsome!!
I appreciate the support! Regarding Airalo -- I was getting pretty consistent 4G speeds. Don't recall having any issues with Google Maps but I think they recently upgraded carriers and offer 5G speeds now. I haven't tested with the new speeds yet so take it with a grain of salt
@@camdendavid My sister recently visited us from the States; we bought her a local T-mobile sim card from ARGOS with 50GB of data, unlimited calls and text for £20 pounds a month, now if you do the conversion into dollars it still works at a reasonable rate, and it was for 5G.
Any suggestions for what to wear in June? I’d love to wear sundresses and sandals for my upcoming trip but there’s some rain and thunderstorms in the forecast with 70 degree Fahrenheit daytime highs.
I’d probably focus on bringing stuff you’ll be comfortable in. London is a huge city with tons to see, so be prepared for lots of walking and exploring. The weather is always a bit unpredictable haha. I’d definitely bring whatever your 1st choice is, but also pack some warmer stuff just in case. Never hurts to have an extra top layer that can keep you warm. Hope that all makes sense and helps 😄
Much appreciated! I actually do this full-time -- jump to a new country each month and spend time learning about the culture/exploring. Definitely living my dream :)
Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Luton, all these places have London in the name but aren’t in London. I always wonder how many people fly in expecting to arrive in actual London
Google says "Heathrow falls entirely within the boundaries of the London Borough of Hillingdon". I think you're getting confused with Central London or the City of London.
Have to agree, if you are coming from abroad, the best solution is to take a train from the airport. The trick is to do your research before hand, when you know what airport your landing at, find the best way via public transport to get from the airport. Remember try to avoid the rush hours either in the morning or evenings. With exception of the Piccadilly line from Heathrow, there's ample luggage space on trains from most of the airports. If my memory serves me correctly The Heathrow express is between 15 to 20 minutes to Paddington. The Gatwick Express is 30 minutes to Victoria and Southern trains a few minutes longer. The Stansted Express is approximately 48 minutes into Liverpool Street. The Elizabeth Line takes about 29 minutes to Paddington.
Hey, just a quick question since my native language is not English and sometimes for me is better safe than sorry lol. In min 2:44 about the contactless... My flight arrives late night and to LGW Airport, I'm planning to get the Express Train. Should I buy an Oyster card or what you've mentioned means that I don't necessarily need to buy a ticket/transporte card? ...Could I just get into the tube/train and pay with my wallet saved credit card? Thank you for all these videos. You're making my life easier !
Of course! Always great to double check and happy you've found the videos helpful! You should be able to use your credit card/wallet saved to your phone (or any other tap to pay). No need for the Oyster card :) I appreciate your support and hope you have a great trip!
I have listened to much travel advice about London for using contactless cards in London, or Google or Apple Pay. There are advantages of using these, but I would say to anyone who’s planning to use a credit card in London from abroad, remember this, you are charged international money handling fees for every transaction, and therefore dependent upon the length of your stay you might be better of with an oyster card. Again I would say to all international travellers regardless of where you are going. Do your research, assumption is the mother of all F@@K Ups. Pay attention to differences in currency, how temperature is displayed, pay particular attention to different voltages in different countries and adaptors you might need, differences in tipping culture, and Lastly and very importantly attitudes to say public transport which is vastly different in say Asia and Europe than in the US. Here, most people would take a train from an airport instead of paying exorbitant fees to a taxi firm or an Uber. Just don’t travel in the rush hour. Pay the taxi or Uber fee, if necessary from the Station to your hotel or wherever you are staying.
I just got a Capital One credit card for my upcoming trip to London. There are NO international transaction fees when using this card. Though I’m aware that one pays an “unnecessary” £7 for the card, I prefer it to credit cards for Tube and bus because I don’t have to risk losing my credit card by taking it out of my wallet so often.
Brixton village is amazing for a variety of food. There’s hella fancier resturants if that’s your vibe and I’d highly recommend checking out at least one if you can. Places a bit out of the centre are cheaper like Peckham, brixton etc, deptford, hackney etc but there’s literally great finds everywhere
Chinatown has brilliant dim sum and roast meat plates, try Four Seasons, Lido and Golden Pheonix. Also famous Malaysian place called Rasa Sayang. Try Green Lanes or Angel for amazing Turkish food (Italian and Japanese great in Angel too) and Shoreditch/Old Street for fantastic Vietnamese restaurants. Brick Lane/Aldgate are definitely good spots for Indian cuisine. Spitalfields and Petticoat Lane are fab foodie markets! Less touristy and cheaper than Borough etc
As a londoner i am wincing at the 80-100 quid for the airport ride, one way. Public transport does it unless you have a small baby or some extra heavy or fragile luggage…
"Good food was hard to find" Bro, did you even London. Every second building is an international restaurant and we have better food markets than crappy old borough - which every American tourist goes to. Think I'm lying? Watch every "American visits London" video. Carnaby street is just a shopping street in Soho that takes some of the weight off Regents street. Seven Dials and Covent Garden are better shopping, next to Regents Street and Old Bond Street. Theres also Harrods, Selfridges, Jermyn Street for menswear and the Burlington Arcade. Brick Lane is just a lane full of Indian Restaurants and vintage shops. Nothing too special unless you want a Bagel. Generally a student hang out. Camden market is pretty decent. Edinburgh you can do in a day. Glasgow is better for shopping.
This is donkey logic the first tip. Yes bags are a nightmare on tube services. But just get the train into the central stations so Heathrow = Paddington. Gatwick = london victoria. Stanstead = london liverpool street. These services are designed to take lots of bags and get a taxi from the main stations which is way cheaper.
So you are coming to london and he's telling you to have bagel's. How is that a good thing... the food all across london is very good Except the fish & chips for that you will have to come to Yorkshire in the north.
The Elizabeth line on the underground is quick from Heathrow. They also have the Heathrow express at Paddington station in the city center. It’s a 15 minute train ride. Debunks the theory that all 3 of those airports are the same scenario
I just took this yesterday. I've never taken public transport and I did it by myself. It was easy to find at the airport, easy to pay, not crowded, and very clear about what stop you were at. It gave me so much confidence to zip around london on public transport!
Eh? DEFINITELY take the train from the airport. WAY cheaper and they are right there. And the new Elizabeth line from Heathrow won't just take you to the edge of the city: it goes right through the middle and out the other side. Save your $ for a short taxi ride from a local station to your accommodation, if you must.
Take the train into London!!! A taxi or Uber will cost $75-$100 just to get to central London. Don’t bother! The train is clean, modern and FAST!! It’s a delight & of course, safe…loads of other tourists.
Taking the train into London is not only cost-effective but also convenient and enjoyable. And I found it has a discount when buying the railcard with a code. On trainpal, my friend told me this, really nice.
4:55 Richmond isn't outside London, it is within London, and it is not that interesting. The best outer London place to visit is Croydon. "Richmond gives you a feel for what local UK culture is outside of London" - Are you serious? It is an area where properties are exclusively for the rich. Does not represent what normal UK life is like.
@@camdendavid You do not need to buy an Oyster card to use The Tube,just use your bank card, tap in, tap out, you can also use it on the Red bus's, forget about getting a taxi/uber from the airport to central London,crazy idea, unless you are loaded,all airports have regular direct trains to central London, The Tube is really easy to use,there's a train every couple of minutes,just keep a Tube map with you,you'll soon get the hang of it.
3:15 wtf, Prague metro is also deep, but there is phone signal. They probably put in signal repeaters, I can't believe London hasn't done this. What if there's an emergency on the train? How do you contact emergency services?
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word of advice -DON'T get an exorbitant taxi from any of the airports, they will cost you $100 or more, and take absolute hours with the traffic. Get a train or tube and its 1.25 hrs at the most, or 30 mins, a fraction the cost. All trains from the airports will have been designed to have ample room for luggage, the tube not so much (but doable, plenty of people will be doing it too, and you'll be the first stop). Literally London is the world's biggest air hub (160 million fly into its 6 international airports p/a) and no one gets the taxi.
Great advice here. Hoping tourists will take note -- I think the train intimidates many tourists (especially after a long international flight). Thanks again!
What should we take from Airport other than train if one has to carry lot of luggage.
@@zupermaus9276 this works amazing if your flight is not early in the morning - the rush and the problem of some lines not working might be the issue here. We took an Uber to the airport because we had to leave at 5AM - it was pricy but unfortunately we had no other choice.
Ik im commenting late but the main reasons why it could take hours to get into London could be due to rush hours from 3pm and beyond that, try to avoid as much traffic as possible because around that time schools finish, people finish work, lots of crowds on the railways and motorways/highways being busy at that time.
When booking try to think about when you should land in the airport.
That's terrible advice. Most tourists esp students will arrive with 40kg + luggage. If you don't have a direct train , it's a terrible idea cuz you'll have to carry heavy luggage from 1 platform to another
Richmond is actually in London (zone 4 out of 9), but is surrounded by some of the world's largest urban parks which many people think is the countryside (Richmond Park alone is about 3x the size of Central Park in NYC).
Appreciate you sharing this -- Beautiful area!!
This is one of the benefits of the monarchy and the aristocracy owning so much land. They didn't want to give any of it up to build on so we have a bunch of big open green spaces to enjoy. Less so in other parts of the UK where cities just expanded into where there was space with little to no planing and especially not with parks in mind. Manchester and Birmingham come to mind. There's a distinct lack of urban green spaces there. Manchester in particular.
Family traveling from the US. We landed at Heathrow and took the public transit to Paddington station for 15 pounds each. Enjoyed the trip into the city which took just under 30 min on the new Elizabeth Line. No reason to pay more for traveling into/ out of the city. We then took the train to Ely, rented a 58 foot narrowboat and cruised the waterways around Cambridge for a week! There are so many ways to see the UK but I highly recommend!
So glad to hear that! Thanks for sharing your experience :)
How was it taking the Elizabeth line with all your bags? I'm solo travelling in a few weeks and I'm gonna do exactly that but I'm wondering if my bags are gonna be in the way for other passengers
Whoa…I hadn’t even considered such a thing was possible! That’s not the average tourist itinerary! 🤯
@@gerin5297 I hope you found your answer? Apparently there are no restrictions.
Thank you. we are having the same schedule as yours.
Always interested in travellers POV of London. Taxis are really expensive in London. All the airports have express trains into Central London. (Heathrow also connected by the Tube). - Get into central by train and get a cab from there if you must. Richmond IS London and that little river is the Thames - London is a massive city with all types of experiences to be had but England is small enough to hop on a train for as little as 90mins to visit places like Cambridge, Oxford, Brighton, Cotswolds etc. As for the food.....where the hell have you been eating?? Might have been true in 1970s but there is a tremendous and thriving foodie seen in London, from traditional to modern British and pretty much any global cuisine you care to think of......and Edinburgh is in Scotland (different country).
Thanks for sharing this :) Maybe I was spending too much time eating in the downtown area? Where would you recommend?
@@camdendavid London is absolutely brimful of great places to eat. I wouldn't know where to start - budget, neighborhood, cuisine? - we have to be one of the most diverse cities in the world and benefit tremendously from all that brings food wise. Lots of fabulous London foodie influencer on the socials. I feel so sad for you that you didn't eat well when you were here. Come back and have another go☺️
@@patfernandes7741 Looking forward to it :)
Just general advice. direct from a londoner. 1 - don't use the term "Downtown" nobody will have a clue where you mean. Its not used anywhere. 2- How many 'blocks' away is it. see above answer. and lastly. Never, never attempt to pay in cash with dollars. Seen it so many times. Use pounds. you don't want to embarrass yourself when told by the shopkeeper "Mate, you ain't in bloody Dallas. Have a good trip, I love my city.
Much appreciated! And I'd agree -- you've got a pretty great city there :)
Talking in "blocks" is so funny. Clearly coming from people that live in a place where all buildings look similar and are equally spaced out
A tip for all would-be travellers. If you are really struggling to find good food in London (?) then you can always rely on Pret a Manger for good sandwiches and other lunch type foods and Leon for more substantial meal types. Both have branches all over the city. They offer good value and some healthier options also. If you get really stuck you could do a lot worse than taking advantage of the various "meal deals" that supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury's offer.
Thanks for this!
The Elizabeth Line to/from Heathrow was so easy. We had four people with each having a bag during the busy summer season and had no problem with space.
@4:57: Richmond is nice, but rather than the underground I use fast trains from Waterloo station, frequent service, journey times from 16mins to 28mins.
Great tip! Thanks 😄
Richmond d is a Borough of London, that River was the Thames. Good food is everywhere
Any food recommendation spots?
@@camdendavid well 26 Grains and Barbary at Neals Yard , hi a Tow , Brick Lane,, Covent Garden, Dishoom, Good Life Eatery Marylebone, Pure in Beak Street, Itadaki Zen nr Kings Cross,Tendrils, Mallow nr Borough Market, Beany Green Broadgate, Honi Poke Soho , just to start. Best open Vegan sandwich was in Kingston. Richmond and has some good stuff too
@@BeckyPoleninja thanks!
The food was good everywhere we went!! And we did not spend any more money than in the USA
Tube is a good service to heathrow. Do it monthly from the north from King's Cross. 65 minutes. Train every 10 minutes to all terminal.
Great video! You might want to resist the urge to stay in central London. I usually stay in Chelsea or Kensington, and while these are more 'upscale' parts of town, the hotels are generally cheaper. Additionally, these areas are safe to walk around in at any hour. Remember to use the Tube and buses. You can get anywhere in the city, and while the per-ride cost may seem a little high, there is a daily cap (8-9 pounds for zones 1 and 2, I believe), so once you reach it, you can ride for free for the rest of the day. Remember to use the same card/payment method throughout the day to get the cap advantage. Do not get an Oyster card unless you don’t have a tap-accessible card or phone. It’s not worth it. Also, be sure to visit pubs. Contrary to popular belief, Londoners, and UK people in general, are quite nice and friendly (as a whole). I’ve found it very easy to strike up a conversation with locals in pubs, and it’s such a big part of British culture. If you’re on a budget, grab the Meal Deals at places like Tesco, Sainsbury's, etc. They come with a surprisingly good sandwich, chips/crisps, and a drink for about 5-6 pounds. These seem to be an institution there. Yes, like most major tourist destination cities, London can be extremely expensive, but with a little planning and thought, you can do things fairly affordably.
Thanks for all this!
Interesting watching these tips as someone who lives very near London
Thanks for watching!
Appreciate this video! I've been to London a number of times and for my next visit in October, you've given me some good ideas! Thanks.
I appreciate the support! Hope you have a great visit in October!
i`m a londoner and i`m surprised you found it hard to find good healthy food, there`s so many amazing restaurants in places like : islington, chelsea, battersea , clapham etc, plus all the beautiful old pubs with the delicious sunday roasts...
I must have been doing something wrong - thanks for the recommendations! Looking forward to checking those out 😃
As a londoner and usual traveller I have to agree that the worst and most expensive food in my travels is in London. Yes, you can find excellent food but is not common and will cost you much, much more than in other mayor city.
@@firstnamelastname9631you obviously weren’t going to the right places 🤣
There's actually very good seafood.
@@camdendavid Funny I struggle to find good food or healthy food in the states
A language tip. One of the words you used to describe Camden Market was "spunky". It's probably best to avoid using that word here in the UK. It has a TOTALLY different meaning! 😂
Ah! Thanks for the heads up
I go to London every year, primarily for the food. Pubs can provide fantastic food, and there are a ton of gastropubs providing Thai, Indian, traditional, fusion, etc. options. Fresh ingredients, healthy options, and fast service are the norm. I'm always sure to hit Chinatown for London's famous crispy aromatic duck with pancakes. And Dishoom has several locations around the city and serves delectable meals.
I appreciate the recs!
I had travelled to Norwich just before Covid, great vibe. Love the hospitality of localities
Thank God I found your video! we leave for London in two days and I had the wrong phone converter! This was such a helpful video! Thank you!
You got it! Hope you have an great trip :)
Love the content man! Super aprecate all the advice! This is by far the most down to earth non touristy video I've seen on London so far.
I appreciate that!
There is no Wi-Fi system in London really. Some restaurants and cafes have it but 5g on your phone is a really good connection. Of course check with your supplier on costs outside your host country
I spent my year between Berlin and Frankfurt and London and Dublin. Don't know where you get this idea that you can't get good food in London, there's literally thousands of all nationality of restaurant in London. If your idea of great food is a bagel shop then you're probably lost from the start.
I ate out at least twice a day and really felt like the quality was lacking compared to most other cities. Seemed like all the quality stuff was super expensive but I could have been looking in the wrong places. Any spots you'd recommend for my next visit?
@@camdendavid That's probably where you're going wrong, you shouldn't be eating out twice a day.
You'd be better off most of the time going to a quality supermarket and picking out what you like and making your food from there.
I don't know what you like so I don't know what to actually suggest, but I would suggest that if you're going out anywhere pick a nationality. And go from there. You can have Indian Chinese, Thai, Mongolian Vietnamese, the list is endless.
That way you can pick a quality place three or four times a week instead of twice a day in cheap places.
The food in London is 10x better than NYC. That’s all I know.
The only thing you can't really find in London (or the UK in general) is good Mexican. Practically everything else can be found with some digging!
you go so hard with the facial expressions i luv it
Hahah I wish I knew why it was happening like that... but I appreciate you!
Great VLOG. Thank you for all the information! My wife and I are heading to London in 2 days for our 25th anniversary!
Hope you have a great time!!
Love and London will teach you something.
I will try haha
Also I hate to break it to you but Richmond is in London. But it is very beautiful. Loads of bits of london feel different from the centre. Greenwich and Hampstead are similar too
Whoa… Crazy to think about the size of London! Most tourists would consider that to be well outside of London (or at least the city of London) but I appreciate the correction :) And thanks for the tips on Greenwich and Hampstead!
1. if u get the train or coach from the airports it's easily £10-£15 or less, only 50 if u get a taxi or uber. And it's like £5 if u get the picadilly line from heathrow
2. as a broke student londoner I always ask them to take off the service charge & they do no hassle. It's very normal for me & my friends and people my age to ask to take off service charge, they get it
3. Richmond is definitely in london just not in greater london(London goes on for about 10km out of greater london). I wouldn't even call Richmond the outskirts but tourists should still defo explore outside of greater london.
4. I find healthy food everywhere here easily, your point about not being able to find healthy food confused me.
4. nice vid- interesting perspective
1. 100% true -- Probably the best option for solo travelers, backpackers, or folks traveling with a smaller bag. But might not be suitable for families traveling with multiple people and lots of bags. I imagine many folks will opt for the convenience of an Uber/taxi after a long international flight. But great point for folks who are up for a bit more adventure
2. Great to know! Thanks for sharing that :)
3. Didn't realize just how big great London is haha. I should have specified to get out of the center of the city. Thanks for the correction there
4. Glad to hear that! I definitely struggled but spent the month based around Tower Bridge. Maybe that was the problem? Any recommendations on your favorite healthy food spots?
Really appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective :)
Amazing tips, I am just about to visit London for the first time and I found this super useful!! I just have a question regarding public restrooms 😅 What if I feel the sudden need to go, is there any system for that?? Thanks.
Good question! There weren't a ton of options but there's almost always a hotel nearby (should have a restroom in the lobby). But maybe some of the locals seeing this have a better option :) Hope you have a great time!
All eating places including pubs should have toilets (you are unlikely to find the word "restroom" or "bathroom") but they would prefer you to buy something as well. Large stores will also have toilets and public facilities are scattered about the town centre usually near tourist spots.
20 quid Gatwick express directly into London Victoria. Very easy and quick. Directly into the city centre from Gatwick in about half an hour
As a Londoner who has grown up and lived here all my life - great video but I completely disagree with the food being bad and unhealthy. London has some of the best food from all over the world pretty much everywhere (I have never in my life heard the Brick Lane is the only place with good food - like ever!?), so respectfully that is very wrong.
People will find great food if they just look a bit and don't just go to posh looking places within central - there is sooo much more to London (both food wise and everything-else-wise) than central London - if you want to have the best, non touristy experience in London, go outside central.
And saying that it is difficult to find healthy food in London is also unheard of within London, especially nowadays honestly. So yeah overall really confused with that take on food - imo you nobody can make an opinion about the food within just a month.
but apart from that great video :)
p.s you were completely right about the beigels in Brick Lane though - they are amazing and are so iconic to Londoners as well :)
I appreciate you sharing your perspective! Any specific food recommendations for my next visit?
@@camdendavid Yeah i really recommend going to Sagar for amazing vegan and vegetarian indian food, Fish Wings and Tings, as well as Healthy Eaters for great Caribbean food, and for some of the best pasta go to Flour and Grape (genuinely some of the best pasta i’ve had in my life.) and also go to places like Electric Avenue in Brixton or Southbank Food Market or Borough Market - places like these (Brixton being the cheapest btw) have great food. Yeah just don’t be scared to have food from stalls and stuff
So many things I disagree with on your video - especially the food- I’m a Londoner but I appreciate your perspective
I definitely have a skewed perspective after only spending a month there. I appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective and I’m looking forward to finding that good food during my next visit!
Quite right. "Take a taxi from the airport, no wifi in London, terrible food...."
This guy doesn't know what he's talking about.
Heathrow is EASY and cheap to get to the city centre, Direct tube line, less than a fiver.. And Richmond is in London (One of the boroughs)
Richmond is actually a borough of London. However of course it’s very different from the centre and is my favourite for the river walks, green spaces, excellent transport hub. There are a few very good individual restaurants as well as the usual chain offerings. As an American you found good food hard to find? Are you serious? 😂😂
When I , a USA citizen, stayed in Richmond two years ago there were lots of good food available. Great supermarkets, restaurants…
Definitely a special place and soooo different from the city centre! I really did struggle to find good food haha. I'll be the first to admit that food in the US is some of the worst in the world. Seems like there's great food options in both spots IF you have lots of cash to spend. But I think the average tourist will struggle to find quality food and will instead fall for some of the tourist traps. Would love some recommendations on good food spots if you've got them! Thanks for sharing your perspective :)
@@camdendavid Recommending a restaurant is of course dependent on the type of food that you enjoy most and cost. In Richmond where you very sensibly took the time to visit I would say Chez Lindsay (French, expensive) Piccolo Vicolo (Italian not expensive). The White Swan Pub. (Good British pub type food, not expensive) and in nearby Sheen, you can get a 33 bus, takes 10/15 minutes, Grilandia (Lebanese, not expensive). If you’re missing some U.S. diner type food there’s also 5 minutes walk away from there Pickle & Rye (U.S. type, not expensive) owned by Americans and very popular. Just a few recommendations in my area if you’re ever back this way.
@@paullewis2413 thanks for this! Can't wait to return and try out those places
Unbelievable.....London has some of the best foods in the world. And it's everywhere but not in the tourist hotspots. So when I hear that someone had a bad food experience I know where they hung out. Go off the beaten track don't get fish and chips in a pub with a view of big Ben. and if you are a tourist be aware that the best foods are found in some of the outer neighbourhoods. Or in the countryside. The food around the tourist traps are for tourists only just like any city in the world.
Any specific spots you'd recommend?
I've got an adapter like that and I got it at Amazon. London is Europe but charging and the money are different.
100%
wow! heathrow airport looks amazing! 30 minutes later sitting down drinking my coffee i googled which airport i actually was in.
Thank god i wasn't in that kind where airplanes just fly right into the duty free lounge.
It's much easier to get to the city centre from Gatwick or Heathrow than it is from Stansted.
From Stansted, you need to buy a separate ticket for the train/coach and it's physically much further.
For Heathrow/Gatwick, you can use contactless/oyster cards if you want to use public transport and Heathrow is within the Greater London area
Commenting as an ex Londoner of over 30 years, As many people have commented already, Richmond is in London.
Secondly don’t believe that the food is bad, London has some of the best food in the World with literally thousands of bars/cafes and restaurants from cheap and cheerful to 2/3 Michelin star eateries and there is something for everyone, just buy yourself a decent local food guide and you’ll discover some fantastic restaurants to suit all tastes
Lastly sorry to say, but a lot of the places mentioned are tourist traps and will rip you off with ridiculous prices, Camden and Portobello for a start, there are some wonderful places to see if you look around, my old area of Hampstead and Highgate are lovely places as is Marylebone High St with lovely shops and great bars. Chelsea/Kings Road are well worth a visit too. Go south and Clapham is a lovely area too.
Canary Wharf (the financial district is interesting to see) and on a nice day you can walk to Greenwich under the foot tunnel (although it’s also a bit touristy)
Enjoy our wonderful City
I appreciate the feedback! Looking forward to my next visit :)
When you talked about the food in London is where I turned you off because London has great food. That's like saying the U.S. has bad food because it is home to McDonalds- of course there is crappy food in London, but if you just go to a M&S and get a sandwich and salad, it will be fresh and good and inexpensive. There are over 70 Michelin rated restaurants just in the city and that quality trickles down to better priced restaurant.
Is it safe though 😢
@@14__16 Yes!
Interesting video with some great tips. But no, no, no, no, no on ubers or taxis from any of the airports in and near London. An uber charges an airport surcharge to pick up there, it costs so much more than public transport. Exorbitant. Like someone else said: in Heathrow you're the first stop on the Piccadilly line (tube) and many Elizabeth Line trains. The Elizabeth Line has LOTS of luggage space, the Piccadilly line a bit less but stake out a corner and stack up your stuff - just don't expect to dump your cases in the middle of the car because you'll get dirty looks and people falling over them.
Take a train (it can be but doesn't have to be the Stansted Express, normal trains are just as good) from Stansted, because a taxi from there is ridiculously expensive. Why would you do that? Same for Gatwick: just take a train!
Honestly uber/taxi to or from airports in/near London? Very bad idea. Don't do it. It will also take forever, you'll sit in traffic without an option to get out. Go on the tube or a train, just be sensible with your luggage because lots of people will join along the line.
100% agree -- thanks for this!
The Heathrow Express is Great - VERY FAST in and out of London
0:38 you can take the Piccadilly line from Heathrow Airport to Leicester Square in London for like £5.60 in about 50 minutes
We found some pretty good food and drinks at Botanica Hall on the corner of St Johns rd and the A3036 in Clapham Junction. Best chai tea and some pretty good food at Seven Dials Market just south of Shaftesbury ave.
Going back in October 2025 for 5 days before a Norwegian cruise. Totally looking forward to it.
Thanks for sharing these!
Unless you have a huge amount of luggage, the best advice is to take the train. However, it’s best to avoid the Rush hours; between 6.30 am and 9.30 am and 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm. The Piccadilly line is the best value from Heathrow; the advantage is that it will take you to the city centre, and the disadvantage is that it takes about 50 minutes to Piccadilly Circus station. The Elizabeth line takes 41 minutes to Tottenham Court Road, whereas the Heathrow Express takes 21 minutes to Paddington mainline station from terminal 5.
Remember that the trains start at the airport, so there should be ample luggage space, only consider a taxi if you have a lot of luggage and or a lot of people or a combination of them both. As for Uber’s and such forget it.
The Other airports are similar, but remember that anything with an “Express” heading will cost more, and whether it’s value for money is questionable.
Hey Camden David,
as someone who has worked in hospitality in London, I just need to inform you that the service charge that is automatically added to the bill does not actually go to the waitress/waiter, it goes to the management.
It's a really nasty trick.
What you need to do is to reject the optional service charge and give a tip to the waitress/waiter in person.
Thanks so much for this!!
I’m going to London tomorrow and my parents didn’t planned the charging adapters at all. I guess we’re going to discover this town for 4 days without any battery 🥲 At least it’s just 4 days, not a whole month, and I’m pretty sure we can buy one of these in London (if not, I’m gonna cry)
Where did you get Ted’s biscuits?! We go at the end of November!!😊
In Richmond! If you go to pub they used as the filming location, you'll see the place selling biscuits in the alley outside :)
I disagree about the food, I remember these two restaurants near the British museum which were absolutely delicious. One was called the Happy Lamb, a delicious hot pot restaurant and another was this delicious Chinese restaurant which I unfortunately don’t remember the name of.
London is absolutely ginormous, so it’s strange to me you had a hard time with the food, there are too many options for London food to be bad in my opinion!
You may think well this Chinese restaurant I eat in was bad? But what about all these other hundred of Chinese restaurants or Indian or a normal pub? There’s just so much variety.
I recommend using trip advisor to find the best places to eat, don’t just go to a random place! See if it has rating of 4 or 5 first! That’s how you go to the better places :)
I’ve never been to a disappointing place in London, while using Trip Adviser :)
Thank you for sharing! I'm going on a trip, too! By the way I found it possible to use code on trainpal to get a discount on the purchase of tickets, which saved my budget lol!🎉
Great video! I was planing on adding an international plan to my Verizon phone. Will that work or do I need an eSIM
Adding the international plan should work just fine. But it can get pricey depending on how long you're staying. Probably best to ask Verizon what the charge would be for the entire trip and compare that to the eSIM. Hope that helps!
Betty Gable!
My Verizon International Plan cost $100 for one month (250 talk limit). I used it there in March 2024 and it worked great for calling to the USA and within the UK.
Heathrow to Kensington 2.50 pounds, 35 minutes, and a 15 minute walk to the hotel with carry on bags. Don't bring a lot of clothes. Tube can be faster than a taxi caught in traffic.
Also Luton airport is very good and smaller than the others so often easier.
Yeah, Carnaby Street was hip & happening sixty years ago back in the days of the Swinging sixties. I guess it was the Camden of it's time.
I was just in London and would screen shot my directions off Google maps so I would know where to get off and xfer trains ect.
Great tip
The TfL Go app is great for planning trips. It'll tell you all the transfers and where and when it makes more sense to get a bus or just walk.
Interesting vids. One thing you never mentioned is that the museums in England are free. Run by the British Museum Trust. I went to at least 15.
Great point!
I appreciate the video very much. Was very helpful. However, you went too quickly through that AC adapter presentation so I couldn’t tell if I already had that adapter or not - you’re moving it around too much so I couldn’t really tell what it should look like.
There's a much faster "commuter" style train from Waterloo that's above ground instead of the tube. Only was 15-20 minutes on that train.
Enjoyed your video thanks. Can you tell me which Horton hotel you suggested as I see there is more than one of them in London please, because I really like the vibe you showed there. Cheers from Australia
Sure thing -- That was The Hoxton, Shoreditch. Hope that helps :)
@@camdendavid Ah, though5 so. Looks very relaxing. Thanks. Happy travels
Hi Camden, thank you for the wonderful video! Some really handy tips. Is L'Assaggino where you got the Ted lasso biscuits? Huge fan of the show and planning to go to Richmond to see some sites
Glad to hear it was helpful! Yes, L'Assaggino is where we found the biscuits :) Keep in mind that you don't have to plan a full meal there (they sell the biscuits to go). Hope you have a wonderful trip!
Thank you. I always depend on my phone. I will have to write down on my notebook.
You got it!
Good advice. Thanks!
Did you try those traditional Cockney foods pie & mash with liquor or jellied eels? I'm from the north so I have to admit they aren't my cuppa tea.
We will be landing at LCY Airport . easiest and fastest way to get to London City
I haven't used LCY but hoping a local will see this and help :)
You can take the DLR from city airport, it will take you towards either Bank in the City of London, or Woolwich in the opposite direction.
I'm Mr. Pink when it comes to tipping - if you earned it you get it. I hate when it's auto-added.
Hi @Camden David i love the vlogs sir. Id like to see your vlogs on Ljublana, Slovenia.
I have a few you can watch on Ljubljana :)
If in the city head to places like Starbucks or McDonald’s for reliable and free wifi!
Tried that (at multiple locations). WiFi was under 1.5 mbps
Tipping isn't really a thing in the UK, it's just the annoying automatically added crap they add like you showed. Most people aren't a fan of it, if we want to tip, we tip. We don't need an extra tax on the price. Just charge slightly more for the food/drinks so we know before seeing the bill. People tend to get paid better (relatively speaking) here so tipping isn't quite as insidious as it is in the US.
All fair points but i have to disagree on the food… but that’s fine, respect your pov 👍🇬🇧
Appreciate you sharing your perspective as well! Any recommendations on some spots I should eat next time?
@@camdendavid Dishoom is a fantastic restaurant.
Heading out of town to get a more UK experience is a good type. I'll be heading to Bristol to check out some Banksy art and then a jazz festival over in Cheltenham.
Hope you have a great time :)
@@camdendavid Lol, I meant a good *idea, not good "type." But thank you! First time overseas. Definitely wanted to explore beyond just central London.
mortgage the house to pay for a two week trip, sidewalks are not level, coffee sux, everything is priced in pounds and is 50 percent more expensive than North America, trains are outrageously expensive, roads are wonky as they drive on the left, people snooty and cold and they are much friendlier up North, avoid Harrods, do not expect service in restaurants, pick pockets, Pret a Porter sandwich bars are everywhere, take two showers when you get home to get the grime out. Oh, the place is fascinating.
Great job
Appreciate the support!
London has the best museums in the world and many of them are free. The cafe of VA museum is out of this world. The interior of the VA cafe can rival if not better than any top hotels of the world
Absolutely!
Very helpful information. Thank you
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching
So gonna geek out in Richmond
Such a cool spot!
Does Airhalo is good in London? Speed? I used Airhalo in Rio Brasil and was not able to refresh Google Maps. Cheap but slow! BTW, your video is awsome!!
I appreciate the support! Regarding Airalo -- I was getting pretty consistent 4G speeds. Don't recall having any issues with Google Maps but I think they recently upgraded carriers and offer 5G speeds now. I haven't tested with the new speeds yet so take it with a grain of salt
@@camdendavid My sister recently visited us from the States; we bought her a local T-mobile sim card from ARGOS with 50GB of data, unlimited calls and text for £20 pounds a month, now if you do the conversion into dollars it still works at a reasonable rate, and it was for 5G.
Any suggestions for what to wear in June? I’d love to wear sundresses and sandals for my upcoming trip but there’s some rain and thunderstorms in the forecast with 70 degree Fahrenheit daytime highs.
I’d probably focus on bringing stuff you’ll be comfortable in. London is a huge city with tons to see, so be prepared for lots of walking and exploring. The weather is always a bit unpredictable haha. I’d definitely bring whatever your 1st choice is, but also pack some warmer stuff just in case. Never hurts to have an extra top layer that can keep you warm. Hope that all makes sense and helps 😄
Perfect we’re doing london then going up to Edinburgh. Then Ireland.
Hope you have a great time!
Good food is hard to find in London? Not sure which London you went to!
Great video, spot on. How'd you afford a month off to live in a major world city? (Living the dream)
Much appreciated! I actually do this full-time -- jump to a new country each month and spend time learning about the culture/exploring. Definitely living my dream :)
Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Luton, all these places have London in the name but aren’t in London. I always wonder how many people fly in expecting to arrive in actual London
Google says "Heathrow falls entirely within the boundaries of the London Borough of Hillingdon". I think you're getting confused with Central London or the City of London.
Heathrow Airport to Central London on the Elizabeth Line takes 35mins, so you're timings are way off, hope your next visit is more efficient
Not sure if you mentioned this but - the service charge model is the worst - i found service terrible in those places in London!
You make London sound messed up, well done.
Insults London food and then recommends a fu*k*ng bagel with salted beef 😂
I'll double down on that haha
Richmond is now in London, has been since the 60s.
“Borough” is pronounced “Buh-ruh” in the UK
I struggled with the tube. Figuring out which side to get on and where to get off. Ugh.
Terrible advice on the first post with the airports
Love your username hahah 😂 What would you say is the ideal for the airports?
8 pound Elizabeth line 🤔
@@camdendavid the luggage busses are like 10 bucks, not 50
Have to agree, if you are coming from abroad, the best solution is to take a train from the airport. The trick is to do your research before hand, when you know what airport your landing at, find the best way via public transport to get from the airport. Remember try to avoid the rush hours either in the morning or evenings. With exception of the Piccadilly line from Heathrow, there's ample luggage space on trains from most of the airports. If my memory serves me correctly The Heathrow express is between 15 to 20 minutes to Paddington. The Gatwick Express is 30 minutes to Victoria and Southern trains a few minutes longer. The Stansted Express is approximately 48 minutes into Liverpool Street. The Elizabeth Line takes about 29 minutes to Paddington.
Hey, just a quick question since my native language is not English and sometimes for me is better safe than sorry lol. In min 2:44 about the contactless... My flight arrives late night and to LGW Airport, I'm planning to get the Express Train. Should I buy an Oyster card or what you've mentioned means that I don't necessarily need to buy a ticket/transporte card? ...Could I just get into the tube/train and pay with my wallet saved credit card? Thank you for all these videos. You're making my life easier !
Of course! Always great to double check and happy you've found the videos helpful! You should be able to use your credit card/wallet saved to your phone (or any other tap to pay). No need for the Oyster card :) I appreciate your support and hope you have a great trip!
I have listened to much travel advice about London for using contactless cards in London, or Google or Apple Pay. There are advantages of using these, but I would say to anyone who’s planning to use a credit card in London from abroad, remember this, you are charged international money handling fees for every transaction, and therefore dependent upon the length of your stay you might be better of with an oyster card. Again I would say to all international travellers regardless of where you are going.
Do your research, assumption is the mother of all F@@K Ups. Pay attention to differences in currency, how temperature is displayed, pay particular attention to different voltages in different countries and adaptors you might need, differences in tipping culture, and Lastly and very importantly attitudes to say public transport which is vastly different in say Asia and Europe than in the US.
Here, most people would take a train from an airport instead of paying exorbitant fees to a taxi firm or an Uber. Just don’t travel in the rush hour.
Pay the taxi or Uber fee, if necessary from the Station to your hotel or wherever you are staying.
I just got a Capital One credit card for my upcoming trip to London. There are NO international transaction fees when using this card. Though I’m aware that one pays an “unnecessary” £7 for the card, I prefer it to credit cards for Tube and bus because I don’t have to risk losing my credit card by taking it out of my wallet so often.
What's your favorite food spot in London?
I don’t know i’ve never been
Brixton village is amazing for a variety of food. There’s hella fancier resturants if that’s your vibe and I’d highly recommend checking out at least one if you can. Places a bit out of the centre are cheaper like Peckham, brixton etc, deptford, hackney etc but there’s literally great finds everywhere
@@unusefulmadness Thanks for the recommendations!
Chinatown has brilliant dim sum and roast meat plates, try Four Seasons, Lido and Golden Pheonix. Also famous Malaysian place called Rasa Sayang. Try Green Lanes or Angel for amazing Turkish food (Italian and Japanese great in Angel too) and Shoreditch/Old Street for fantastic Vietnamese restaurants. Brick Lane/Aldgate are definitely good spots for Indian cuisine. Spitalfields and Petticoat Lane are fab foodie markets! Less touristy and cheaper than Borough etc
As a londoner i am wincing at the 80-100 quid for the airport ride, one way. Public transport does it unless you have a small baby or some extra heavy or fragile luggage…
100% agree
"Good food was hard to find"
Bro, did you even London. Every second building is an international restaurant and we have better food markets than crappy old borough - which every American tourist goes to. Think I'm lying? Watch every "American visits London" video.
Carnaby street is just a shopping street in Soho that takes some of the weight off Regents street. Seven Dials and Covent Garden are better shopping, next to Regents Street and Old Bond Street. Theres also Harrods, Selfridges, Jermyn Street for menswear and the Burlington Arcade.
Brick Lane is just a lane full of Indian Restaurants and vintage shops. Nothing too special unless you want a Bagel. Generally a student hang out. Camden market is pretty decent.
Edinburgh you can do in a day. Glasgow is better for shopping.
More and more tube lines are adding mobile phone coverage
Love to hear that!
This is donkey logic the first tip. Yes bags are a nightmare on tube services. But just get the train into the central stations so Heathrow = Paddington. Gatwick = london victoria. Stanstead = london liverpool street. These services are designed to take lots of bags and get a taxi from the main stations which is way cheaper.
So you are coming to london and he's telling you to have bagel's. How is that a good thing... the food all across london is very good Except the fish & chips for that you will have to come to
Yorkshire in the north.
hi, how about the Elizabethan line to Paddington?
Sorry! Not fully understanding the question. Would you mind elaborating?
Hi, you mentioned that transport was difficult. How about the Elizabethen from Heathrow to paddington?
The Elizabeth line on the underground is quick from Heathrow. They also have the Heathrow express at Paddington station in the city center. It’s a 15 minute train ride. Debunks the theory that all 3 of those airports are the same scenario
I just took this yesterday. I've never taken public transport and I did it by myself. It was easy to find at the airport, easy to pay, not crowded, and very clear about what stop you were at. It gave me so much confidence to zip around london on public transport!
Eh? DEFINITELY take the train from the airport. WAY cheaper and they are right there. And the new Elizabeth line from Heathrow won't just take you to the edge of the city: it goes right through the middle and out the other side. Save your $ for a short taxi ride from a local station to your accommodation, if you must.
100% agree
Take the train into London!!! A taxi or Uber will cost $75-$100 just to get to central London. Don’t bother! The train is clean, modern and FAST!! It’s a delight & of course, safe…loads of other tourists.
Taking the train into London is not only cost-effective but also convenient and enjoyable. And I found it has a discount when buying the railcard with a code. On trainpal, my friend told me this, really nice.
I can't agree more! It is helpful for tourists ~ By the way, I found that I can get a discount on tickets with code on trainpal ~🎉
4:55 Richmond isn't outside London, it is within London, and it is not that interesting. The best outer London place to visit is Croydon.
"Richmond gives you a feel for what local UK culture is outside of London" - Are you serious? It is an area where properties are exclusively for the rich. Does not represent what normal UK life is like.
I appreciate the correction :)
Gatwick to London costs £9.99 (Oyster card).
Great option - thanks for the tip!
@@camdendavid You do not need to buy an Oyster card to use The Tube,just use your bank card, tap in, tap out, you can also use it on the Red bus's, forget about getting a taxi/uber from the airport to central London,crazy idea, unless you are loaded,all airports have regular direct trains to central London, The Tube is really easy to use,there's a train every couple of minutes,just keep a Tube map with you,you'll soon get the hang of it.
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3:15 wtf, Prague metro is also deep, but there is phone signal. They probably put in signal repeaters, I can't believe London hasn't done this. What if there's an emergency on the train? How do you contact emergency services?
Great catch haha
To be fair, at all the underground station platforms, you now get a Wifi signal, this is being extended to the actual tube lines.