England and London were never at the top of my bucket list. Oh, how the times have changed, though! I first visited England in 2017 on a four-day trip to London, and well, I fell in love! The culture, the history, the drama …the ACCENTS…cue Taylor Swift’s “London Boy.”
I now find myself back in London at least once a year, and I love it. Every time I go, there is something new to do and a new way to experience the city. So, without further ado, enjoy this London Travel Guide and your upcoming trip!
LONDON TRAVEL GUIDE: THE BASICS
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL: There is never a bad time to visit London.
CURRENCY: England uses the GBP. I have a Revolut Bank account to easily transfer currencies and see current exchange rates — it’s like an amazing version of PayPal and Venmo all at once! Sign up here!
WEWEATHER: England is a chillier destination than most. The summers are short and partly cloudy, rarely reaching 84F. The winters are rainy and cold, so be sure to bring a coat and umbrella!
AVERAGE COST OF ACCOMMODATION: The average nightly cost for a hostel will start around €50 a night. Starting prices for hotels: 1* £120, 2* £200, 3* £250, 4* £400 5* Hotels £500+
EXPLORE MORE OF THE UK FROM BOHO TRAVELLER
SCOTLAND TRAVEL GUIDE
DAY TRIPS FROM LONDON
BEST TOURS IN SCOTLAND
Are you looking for help planning your dream getaway? If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the options on the internet or just don’t have the time to get into planning your dream trip – I really encourage you to check out my travel planning services! You can download my “How We Work” guide here – or submit your inquiry here!
THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN LONDON
HOW TO GET AROUND IN LONDON
There are several ways to get around London: the tube, cabs, and Uber. The tube is the most convenient (and probably fastest) method.
THE TUBE
The cheapest form of transportation around London and one of the best underground subways in the world. The tube is clean, safe, and totally manageable, even if the thought of the subway scares you. Download the tube app, which tells where all of the trains run and which stations link together. Make sure to download the offline version of London on Google Maps before you leave Wifi!
CABS & UBER
Cabs are easily accessible in London, and they are able to hail from the side of the road, there are also taxi stands. When I was in London there was a battle going on between Uber and the city itself, so cabs were cheaper to take. Your best bet is to see the estimated cost of an Uber ride, hail a taxi, and see how much it costs, then go with the cheaper option.
London Travel Guide: Day 1
TOWER OF LONDON
Start your London Travels at the Tower of London. The ticket includes a walking tour of the grounds. At the Tower of London, you also get to see the Crown Jewels and many of the sets of armor used by English Kings and Princes throughout history.
TOWER BRIDGE & THE THAMES RIVER
After taking the complimentary tour of the tower and exploring around a bit, take a stroll along the Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge is absolutely gorgeous and such a distinctive landmark of London. You can tour Tower Bridge as well.
BOROUGH MARKET & GLOBE THEATRE
In between London Bridge and the Millennium Bridge are the Borough Market and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The market is worth visiting, cute, little trinkets for sale, fresh produce, and just a lot of bustling activity. Keep in mind most days it closes at 5 and is closed on Sunday and Monday as well.
A few blocks down, after a short walk, is the Globe Theatre. Obviously, it is not the original Globe, as that burned down. It is absolutely worth it to schedule a time to see a show
KING’S CROSS STATION & PLATFORM 9 3/4
Get your Harry Potter fill and head to Platform 9 3/4, also known as St. Pancras/Kings Cross Station. Here is the famous Platform 9 3/4, where you can get your photo taken at the hidden entrance to board the Hogwarts Express. It’s a lot of fun and great for a group as well; you will probably wait in line anywhere from 20-45 minutes to get your photo taken. There is also a cute little gift shop where you can purchase anything from the Daily Prophet to Bertie Bott’s Every Flavored Beans. (I’m quite the Potter Head if you didn’t know.)
JACK THE RIPPER TOUR
The Jack the Ripper walking tour was everything I hoped it would be, informative, funny, personal, and loads of history about London I might have never known otherwise. The tour ended at the 10 Bells, which was a pub all the sex workers drank at during the time of Jack the Ripper.
London Travel Guide: Day 2
WESTMINSTER
There is a lot to do in the Westminster area, but there are some pretty interesting things to see and do that you might consider adding to your London Itinerary. Here are the top sights, and HERE is one of my favorite tours.
- Buckingham Palace
- Westminster Abbey
- Victoria Tower
- Big Ben
You can fill your day here with tours, watching the changing of the guards or Trouping of the Colours, and so much more.
STROLL THROUGH GREEN PARK
Always gorgeous, and always free. During the fall, the leaves are spectacular.
ABBEY ROAD
See the road which was the cover of the Famous Beatles album, have a coffee, and enjoy The Beatles Experience. This Rock Tour will take you to all the important Rock N’ Roll sights in London.
GREENWICH VILLAGE & CUTTY SARK
I wish I had dedicated more time to spend in Greenwich Village. It’s super cute, has loads of fun food options, an adorable marketplace, and so much more. Also, here, I spend some time on the Cutty Sark, a famous Windjammer who sailed the world bringing tea and spices to many countries. The fastest they ever made it from Australia to London was 73 days…which is CRAZY fast. If you’re into sailing history, the Cutty Sark is a MUST. Even if it’s not your thing, it’s still awesome to see the massive ship from outside of the museum. (If you didn’t know I am a sailor….read more about my story here!)
SEE A SHOW AT THE WEST END
A London Travel Guide and Itinerary would never be complete without seeing a show at the West End! There are tons of options for shows. I found that tickets were much cheaper here than to see music in NYC. I paid 70 pounds for an AMAZING seat for Wicked. GO SEE A SHOW IF YOU HAVE THE TIME.
London Travel Guide: Day 3
HAMPTON COURT
Spend your morning visiting Hampton Court, just a short train ride out of town. Visit the home of the Tudors and learn all about the bloody and dramatic history of England.
THE SHARD
After your return to London, and you’ve filled your bellies at a local pub, head to the Shard to see London from a different view. With a 360 panoramic view of the city – just be sure to check it out on a clear day! Another option would be to go to the London Eye and see London that way!
AFTERNOON TEA
Finish your time in London with a spot of tea and cake. Enjoy the English custom of Afternoon tea just as the royals do at Kensington Palace. Enjoy it while it lasts, and be sure to drink your tea while it’s hot! Believe me, if you ever start dating a Brit, afternoon tea will go out the window, and you will start pounding back PG Tips like your life depends on it!
Where to Stay in London
The Milestone London is an elegant hotel situated in the heart of Kensington. It is easily accessible from anywhere in the city. Discover the old-world charm, beautiful furnishings, exquisite art, outstanding cuisine, and Afternoon Tea at this historic hotel. Whatever you do, don’t miss the Scottish Salmon at Cheneston’s
Starting at $500/Night
The Savoy may be London’s most glamorous Hotel on the River Thames. To stay at The Savoy is to follow in the footsteps of Sir Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Maria Callas, Claude Monet and Katharine Hepburn.
Starting at $900/Night
Feel an unparalleled connection to London at Shangri-La The Shard, London. Stay in the capital’s highest hotel, in one of the world’s most iconic buildings, whilst enjoying panoramic skyline views that connect you to the whole city. This is the only five-star luxury hotel on London Bridge, contrasting sleek modern style with the area’s rich historic character.
Starting at $700/Night
London Travel Tips
Get used to using the Tube! Its a really great system and much better than American metros.
Pack an umbrella or raincoat! Even if you don’t think it will rain, chances are, it will!
Everything is expensive in London, and the dollar’s exchange rate is not favorable. Plan to budget a healthy amount for food and drink. You will likely spend more than you anticipated.
TIPPING: Tipping is not the same as it is in America. For taxis, round up to the next dollar—don’t be afraid to ask for change! Try to carry smaller bills and coins if possible. At restaurants, if service was exceptional, a 15% tip would be outstanding.
Dress codes: The English tend to dress a bit more moderately than Americans. However, you will see the same trends in London as you will in NYC.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS RABBIE BURNS ONCE WROTE, EVEN THE BEST-LAID PLANS OF MICE AND MEN OFTEN GO AWRY. THAT IS WHY WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND TAKING OUT TRAVEL INSURANCE TO COVER ALL EVENTUALITIES. OUR PARTNER, TRAVEL INSURED, IS OUR PREFERRED VENDOR FOR OUR CLIENT AND PERSONAL TRAVELS.
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