12 London First Time Mistakes Tourists Often Make and How to Avoid Them
Travelling to London for the first time? Let’s make sure it’s unforgettable for all the right reasons!
As both a Londoner and travel blogger I like to keep my eye on questions that first-time visitors ask when planning to visit London.
Unsurprisingly, a lot of the same questions come up repeatedly and would lead to some London first time mistakes if they don’t get the right answers. So, I’m here to help you!
Here’s how to skip the rookie mistakes.
Want to see all my London content? Head to my full London Travel Guide.
Mistake 1: Overdoing The Itinerary
London is a massive city, with a huge number of tourist attractions. Ensure you are realistic about how much you can do during your visit. Some attractions take several hours to make the most of, and the things you want to do won’t necessarily be that close together.
Make a list of your absolute must-sees and work your itinerary around them. Do some research about how long you need to spend in each place.
Check their locations on a map and group them together by proximity. I see lots of people suggest their own itineraries, which would involve wasting lots of time crossing back and forth across the city.
Try not to pack in so much that you leave exhausted, and don’t forget to allow for transport time.
Mistake 2: Not Using Public Transport
I strongly recommend against hiring a car in London – so much so that I wrote an article all about why driving in London is a mistake for most people!
Ubers are available but can get stuck in traffic and cost significantly more than public transport. Black cabs have the advantage of being able to use bus lanes (which Ubers can’t) but are still an expensive way to get around the city.
Instead, use London’s public transport system to get around. Learn how to use the Tube and buses, download Google Maps and CityMapper, and use public transport. It is safe, very efficient and much more cost-effective than taxis or ride-shares.
All of the London airports have public transport options to get to and from Central London – don’t use a taxi unless you have lots of luggage and several people to split the cost.
Mistake 3: Using Public Transport Too Much
No, I haven’t already forgotten about mistake 2!
Sometimes the best way to get around is on foot. You should use a combination of public transport and walking.
Sometimes getting between two locations is quicker on foot than on the Tube, accounting for getting from street level to the platform, changing Tube lines and getting back to the street.
London is also an amazing city to walk around, with buildings that are a few decades old next to ones that are hundreds of years old. You won’t see that from the Tube.
Central London is very flat, and generally pedestrian-friendly, just check the walking time on a map to make sure you give yourself enough time to get around.
Top Tip: Download an offline Google Map of central London if you don’t have free data roaming on your phone.
Mistake 4: Look The Correct Way When Crossing Streets
If you are walking around, remember that in the UK we drive on the left side of the road, so when crossing roads cars will be coming towards you from your right side – most of the time.
London also has a lot of one-way streets, in which case they might approach you from the left.
Always look both ways when crossing, and keep an eye out for cyclists – they can be fast, quiet, and cause serious injury if you step out in front of one.
Mistake 5: Ignoring Free Attractions
The big-ticket items like the London Eye and Shard are great, but London’s cost-free offerings are goldmines.
Museums galore are at your disposal without cost—think the British Museum or the National Gallery. And don’t overlook Hyde Park or Camden Market for a lazy afternoon wander.
Head to one of the free viewing platforms like Sky Garden or Horizon 22 to get amazing and free views of the city skyline.
Catch unexpected street performances or simply absorb the unique rhythm of city life, all for zilch!
Mistake 6: Avoiding the ‘Touristy’ Spots Altogether
It’s easy to fall into the mindset of wanting to avoid anything labelled “touristy,” aiming instead for a more off-the-beaten-path experience.
While it’s great to explore lesser-known areas, completely skipping the iconic attractions can mean missing out on some of the most significant pieces of London’s history and culture.
London’s famous landmarks—like the Tower of London, Big Ben, and the British Museum —are not just tourist traps; they’re integral to the city’s identity and have historical, architectural, and cultural importance.
Ignoring these spots might save you from crowds, but you’ll also miss an opportunity to connect with the rich stories that make London what it is today.
Mistake 7: Not Booking In Advance
London is one of the most visited cities in the world, and many of its popular attractions can sell out quickly or have long queues for walk-ins. Turning up without a booking, especially during peak tourist seasons, often leads to disappointment or hours of waiting in line.
Many attractions have timed entry slots, and availability can be limited, particularly for high-demand experiences like the London Eye, Sky Garden, or theatre shows in the West End.
Without a booking, you might miss out on something you were excited to see or waste valuable time queuing.
Remember, even free attractions may need tickets. Sky Garden, Horizon 22 and the Natural History Museum are just a few examples of attractions that you need to book a free ticket for via their website. You don’t have to pay – they are just controlling the numbers to make sure they don’t exceed their capacity.
I’ve made spontaneous decisions to visit attractions like the Natural History Museum and booked my free ticket as I was walking up to the entrance, but that only works on weekdays during term time.
On weekends and during peak periods you may need to book weeks in advance.
Top Tip: Check tourist attraction websites in advance and remember that some tourist favourites aren’t open all year round. For example, Buckingham Palace is a working palace and the London residence of the King. Tours are only available when he isn’t at home!
Mistake 8: Underestimating the Weather
Ah, London weather! It’s like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get! Many tourists assume it’s all about fog and drizzle. But London’s weather is more unpredictable than you might expect.
While the city isn’t as rainy as stereotypes suggest, conditions can change several times in a single day, leaving you unprepared if you’re not dressed appropriately.
The key is layers – if you are walking a lot you might get too warm, if the clouds come out you’ll need to be able to add a layer without heading back to the hotel.
I usually have a tote bag with me so I can either add or remove a layer without having to walk around holding a cardigan when I don’t need it.
Check the forecast and make sure you have an umbrella or rainproof jacket if it might rain.
Mistake 9: Stopping In The Middle Of A Walkway
This might seem obvious, but I’ve seen people stop in the middle of the pavement (annoying everyone who then crashes into them when they come to a sudden stop), the top or bottom of an escalator (same thing) or next to a pedestrian crossing (so traffic keeps stopping to allow you to cross when you didn’t plan to) far too many times.
If you need to get out a map or stop for another reason, look around you and stand to the side next to a building.
Don’t get your phone out next to the road – London is very safe, but unfortunately phone-snatching by people on bikes and scooters is one of the more likely ways tourists experience crime.
Mistake 10: Skipping London’s Food Scene and Pub Culture
The UK doesn’t have a great food reputation, but I think that’s an unfair stereotype. London is an incredibly diverse city, with a food scene to match.
From the curry houses of Brick Lane and food markets like Borough Market, to local pubs and Michelin-starred restaurants, skip the chain restaurants and look for local favourites.
Pubs might be an unfamiliar concept – pubs are a staple of British culture, a sort of cross between a bar and a restaurant. Most pubs welcome families with children during the day, especially on weekends. In the evening they tend to become drinking venues more than dining locations.
Most pubs don’t have table service, so you’ll need to order your food and drinks at the bar – when ordering food, make sure you know where you are sitting first and note the table number.
Mistake 11: London Pedal Powered Rickshaws
You’ll see these in busy tourist areas, such as Oxford Street and Covent Garden.
Don’t use them!
They can seem friendly, nicely decorated and with themed music, but they are extortionately priced and you may not find out untl the end of the ride.
Londoners NEVER use them, and you shouldn’t either. Walking, the Tube, and buses are the best ways to get around.
Mistake 12: Mixing Up Locations
It’s a big city, and the history of London as a collection of villages that evolved into one city mean that sometimes places in different parts of the city have the same name.
If you are a Beatles fan and want to cross the famous Abbey Road, don’t go to Abbey Road station – it’s a completely different place on the wrong side of the city. If you want to see the city’s most iconic bridge, it’s Tower Bridge, not London Bridge.
The British Museum and Museum of London are not the same (slightly easier at the moment as the Museum of London is closed for relocation). Tottenham and Tottenham Court Road are miles away from each other.
The V&A Museum and the Young V&A Museum are on opposite sides of the city. And neither of these two Victoria & Albert Museum sites is near Victoria Station. Or the new V&A East which is opening in Stratford in 2025. Not to be confused with Stratford-upon-Avon which is in a completely different part of the UK.
You get the idea.
If you are looking for somewhere on a map, double-check that you have the right location, especially when it comes to station names.
Final Thoughts: London First Time Mistakes
London is a big city, with lots of tourists and it’s easy to make mistakes that waste some of your precious time or mean that you miss out on the best parts of the city.
But tourists are welcome and we are generally a friendly bunch. We might not be as keen to speak to strangers as our American cousins, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t happy to offer advice and help to tourists who need it.
So make the most of your planning and preparation, but don’t be overwhelmed if you need help when you get here or make some of these mistakes. After all, sometimes mistakes lead to the best stories.
If you want more help or have specific questions, join my free UK travel Facebook group!
🧳 Exploring more of the UK? You can browse my full collection of British travel guides here.
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