UK Travel Planning

Top 12 Mistakes First-Time Visitors Make in London and How to Avoid Them

• Tracy Collins • Episode 161

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We share 12 common mistakes first-time visitors make when planning a trip to London, along with alternative suggestions for a smoother and more enjoyable experience. 

Our practical advice is based on decades of experience visiting and living in London, as well as helping thousands plan their perfect trips.

• Overpacking your itinerary – focus on one area per day instead of racing across the city
• Booking attractions too late – secure popular experiences as soon as you confirm your dates
• Not planning meals – research restaurants near attractions to avoid wasting time when hungry
• Confusion about tipping – check if service charge is included and remember it's not expected everywhere
• Misunderstanding transport – download TfL Go or Citymapper apps to find the quickest routes
• Wearing uncomfortable shoes – prioritise comfort for London's extensive walking
• Staying too far from central London – zones 1-2 locations save time and sometimes money
• Missing lesser-known attractions – explore hidden gems like Shad Thames and St Dunstan's
• Not checking opening hours – many attractions close certain days or have limited hours
• Ignoring jet lag – keep your arrival day light and consider pre-booking your room from the night before
• Letting your guard down – stay vigilant in crowded areas and secure your belongings
• Skipping guided tours – local guides provide insights you can't get on your own

If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review or share it with friends planning a trip to London. Visit our website for all the resources mentioned today.

📝 Show Notes - Episode 161

🎧 Listen to next

  • Episode #132 – London 2025: 12 Essential Tips for Planning Your Perfect Trip
  • Episode #148 – Navigating London Safely: Essential Tips for Visitors
  • Episode #105 – Top 10 London Experiences: Insider Tips for an Unforgettable Adventure

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Speaker 1:

Planning your first trip to London, don't let these common mistakes ruin it From overpacking your itinerary to missing out on popular experiences. We're sharing 12 things to avoid and what to do instead to make your visit smoother, smarter and more enjoyable.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast. Your host is the founder of the UK Travel Planning website, tracy Collins. In this podcast, tracy shares destination guides, travel tips and itinerary ideas, as well as interviews with a variety of guests who share their knowledge and experience of UK travel to help you plan your perfect UK vacation. Join us as we explore the UK from cosmopolitan cities to quaint villages, from historic castles to beautiful islands, and from the picturesque countryside to seaside towns.

Speaker 1:

Hi and welcome to episode 161 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast. I'm Tracey.

Speaker 3:

And I'm Doug, and in today's episode we're chatting about 12 of the most common mistakes some first-time visitors make when planning a trip to London, and sharing what to do instead so you can make the most of your time in the city.

Speaker 1:

These are the kind of things we hear all the time, from over packing your itinerary to not booking key attractions in time, or choosing accommodation that's not quite as convenient as it seemed on the map. But just to say we're not here to finger wag. Doug and I have both lived and worked in London over the years and we've been visiting the city for more than 50 years.

Speaker 3:

We've seen the city evolve and understand it in a way that goes beyond the guidebooks.

Speaker 1:

So we're sharing practical, friendly advice based on our experiences, the kind of insight you only get really over decades of visiting and, of course, helping thousands of others do the same through our websites, facebook groups and itinerary consults.

Speaker 3:

And before we get started, we want to say a big thank you to some of our amazing supporters who've been with the podcast for over two years Danielle, deborah Venetta and Tina.

Speaker 1:

Your continued support means so much to us and helps keep the show running. If you'd like to support the podcast and we'd love you to you can do so for as little as three US dollars a month and get a shout out in a future episode. There's a link in the show notes. If you'd like to join them and, of course, we'd love to hear from you you can leave us a voice message via Speakpipe. The link's in the show notes, too, and if you include your name and email, we'll be able to reply. Right, let's get into it. Here are the 12 most common mistakes we see many travellers make when visiting London for the first time, and what to do instead so you can have a smoother, smarter and more enjoyable trip.

Speaker 3:

Some of these might surprise you, and even if you've been to London before, there's probably a tip or two in here that will make your next visit that little bit easier.

Speaker 1:

So mistake number one is overpacking your itinerary. So this one comes up all the time, trying to fit too much into one day.

Speaker 3:

And, honestly, we've done this too. You get excited, you make a list of everything you want to see and, before you know it, your relaxed sightseeing day has you sprinting across London between Tower Bridge and Harrods.

Speaker 1:

Yes, and London does look walkable on a map. We're not going to deny that. But it's deceiving because everything takes longer than you think it's going to do. And, for example, the Tube, it's great, but you've got to change between lines, the stairs, escalators, all that time adds up?

Speaker 3:

It certainly does. So we always recommend focusing on one area per day, don't we? Yeah, we do. For example, if you're going to westminster abbey, plan your lunch nearby and maybe a walk along the south bank. Nice, yeah, uh. Don't try to cram in the british museum too.

Speaker 1:

It's not a good idea no, no, and we've actually got a whole series of area guides which will help you with this and I'll pop those in the links in the show notes. Those are on our londravelPlanningcom website. So mistake number two is booking things too late or not at all.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, this is a common one, isn't it?

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 3:

We've had people saying you know, we're in London and can't get tickets to the Sky Garden or Harry Potter's completely sold out.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and we do get it. It's not always obvious what needs booking in advance, but in london things do book out, especially during peak times like summer school holidays and the festive season afternoon teas too.

Speaker 3:

The west end shows the so many of the keys uh, the tower of london.

Speaker 1:

All these things have a limited capacity and often sell out yeah, definitely some of the very popular afternoon teas as well, though I mean there's lots of afternoon teas to choose from, but if there's a specific one that you want to do, I would check to book that yeah. So I mean we always recommend booking your top three must-do experiences anyway as soon as you've locked in your date. So that might be the London Eye, might be a guided tour or might be a special dinner.

Speaker 3:

And don't assume you can just show up either. You might get lucky with same-day tickets, especially for theatres, but if you want the best seats you're going to have to book ahead.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, we've actually created a full guide to help with this, including when to book attractions, tours, restaurants and more, and I'll pop the link in the show notes. Basically, it's how far ahead should you book for London? Mistake number three is not planning where or what to eat. One mistake we've definitely made ourselves is wasting time wandering around trying to find something or somewhere to eat, especially when you're tired, hungry and just want something decent yes, and I can really eat into your day.

Speaker 3:

Well, no pun intended, um, but you end up frustrated or setting for something that's just okay, really yeah, we always recommend planning ahead or just choosing a lunch spot near where your sight's seeing.

Speaker 1:

That can save a lot of stress and time. So markets, meal deals, pub lunches, whatever suits your day, just have a rough plan.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and for dinner, especially the popular restaurants, or if you want a Sunday lunch, you're going to have to book ahead. The good ones do fill up fast, even on the weeknights.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, absolutely so. A good tool to help with this is our London itinerary planning map. It's got restaurants, cafes and bakeries pinned on it and you can filter by area on your phone while you're out and about, so it's super handy.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, most definitely. If you want to explore the city through its food, we always recommend doing a food tour, like the Devour Tours. It's a great intro into the local scene and takes the decision making off your plate.

Speaker 1:

Oh, you're full of puns today, Doug. So mistake number four is getting confused about tipping and when to carry cash.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, that's right. So tipping in the UK can be confusing, especially if you come from a country with a strong tipping culture.

Speaker 1:

Yep, that's true, and the big thing to note is that many London restaurants already include a 10% to 12.5% service charge on the bill, especially in sit-down places, so it's always a good idea to check before you then add another tip.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so if it's not included and the service was good, adding 10% or more is appreciated, but it's not expected in the same way as it is in some other countries, that's true, and in pubs, when you order drinks at the bar or if you're in a fast food place, tipping isn't expected.

Speaker 1:

you just pay what's on the bill.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, one situation where you might want to tip, though. If you're doing a tour, it's a nice gesture to give a small cash tip, especially if the guide or the driver you know went above and beyond their job.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, definitely, just make sure that it's in British pounds, oh yes, so it's worth counting a small amount of cash for things like tips and market stalls or public toilets, but most places in London except cards and in fact some places are entirely cashless yep, they are absolutely, and we have got a guide on the website to cash using cash or cards in the UK, and we also have a full guide to tipping as well, with example scenarios, and I will link to both of those in the show notes. Now, mistake number five is not understanding the transport system. Now, while the tube is amazing and it is, it's fast, efficient both of those in the show notes Now, mistake number five is not understanding the transport system. Now, while the tube is amazing and it is, it's fast, efficient and iconic, it's not always the best choice, especially for short distances.

Speaker 3:

No, that's true. I mean, I do know from others that it can be quite overwhelming at first. I've had, you know, many, many years of using it, so you know changing underground lines or stations can sometimes take a little longer than expected, especially if there's lots of walking between platforms, which there is.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, absolutely well. We always suggest downloading the Transport for London Go app or CityMapper, because they're both brilliant and they'll show you the quickest route and even let you know if it's faster to walk, which it can be.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, a lot of you see a lot of first-time visitors do default to the tube for everything, but sometimes hopping on a red on the bus can be a bit of a better experience oh, yeah, for sure.

Speaker 1:

Well, I'm just thinking it's been very, very hot in London recently and, to be honest, for me, I would not want to be on the underground when it's that hot. And so do mix it up when you're in London, don't automatically jump on that underground, because you miss out on so much when you're under London instead of actually above ground and seeing it.

Speaker 3:

And one more thing we've got four guys on using the tube, buses, boats, black cabs and more on the London travel planning website. If you're not sure which option to choose, we've got you covered absolutely.

Speaker 1:

Now mistake number six is wearing the wrong shoes.

Speaker 3:

Yes, yes, you've been there, haven't you, tracy? You know, wrong shoes, painful, feet, grumpy.

Speaker 1:

You call me grumpy.

Speaker 3:

I'm never grumpy, yeah, okay well, yeah, that is true.

Speaker 1:

There's nothing worse than getting a blister on your foot on the first day. Now, london days are long. You're going to walk a lot. I we've done 25 000 plus steps a day and that mounts up. So if you already get a blister first day, you're going to be cursing it by the second or third day, I tell you. You know, there are cobblestone stairs, wet pavements, escalators and your feet are definitely gonna feel it that's definitely yeah.

Speaker 3:

So I suppose the secret is not to wear brand new shoes. Make sure you break them in first yeah, well, I always do.

Speaker 1:

I make sure that I've got my comfy trainers, all my boots, and they're honestly my best friends when I go walking in london. Um, save your high heels for dinner if you must, but during the day, honestly, be kind to your feet. Now, mistake number seven is staying too far from the center of london. Now, on paper that hotel in zone four might look like a bargain, but honestly, the reality is long tube ride. You might miss connections. Late night journeys back from the theatre just no fun yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3:

We've heard so many people say that haven't we? We didn't realize how far it was to travel. Sometimes they spent more time commuting than actually sightseeing that's absolutely true.

Speaker 1:

Now london's transport system is divided into zones, with zone one and zone two covering the central area, where most of the main attractions are, like Westminster, covent Garden and the Tower of London.

Speaker 3:

So once you get into zone 3 or 4 and beyond, travel times increase and so can the cost, especially if you're making multiple trips a day.

Speaker 1:

That's true. So that's why we always suggest staying in zones 1 or 2 if possible. It might cost a little bit more upfront, but it saves you time, stress and sometimes even money when you factor in transport costs.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and being able to walk back to your hotel in the evening, that's worth a lot, especially after a long day out oh, that is absolutely for sure.

Speaker 1:

So mistake number eight is skipping lesser known attractions.

Speaker 3:

That's right. Everyone goes to the Tower of London, buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, and quite right. But London has so much more to offer if you're willing to explore beyond the tourist trail.

Speaker 1:

That's right, and that's where the hidden gems comes in, and they often end up being people's favourite part of the trip.

Speaker 3:

That's true. One of my favourites is the Shad Thames. It's tucked behind the Tower Bridge with cobbled streets, warehouses, great river views and it's so atmospheric it is, and you get some fantastic photos as well.

Speaker 1:

We've got some great selfies with Tower Bridge in the background. I also love St Dunstan's in the East, which is a ruined church that's been turned into a public garden. Honestly, it feels like a bit of a secret oasis in the middle of the city.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, that's yeah. Then you've also got Lenhall Market, which dates back to the 14th century and was used, I believe, in the Harry Potter films.

Speaker 1:

I think so. And then you've got places like Little Venice where the canals meet and you can take a scenic walk or boat ride to Camden.

Speaker 3:

It's such a peaceful part of the city yeah, that's right, and don't forget the Sky Garden as well. That's free to visit and you can get some incredible views over london from the top of the walkie talkie building that's true.

Speaker 1:

Now we've put together a full guide to london's hidden gems on the website, and they've got 37 different ideas for you from secret gardens and quirky museums to historic pubs and art filled tunnels so I think it's worth checking out certainly is.

Speaker 3:

So if you've you've been to London before or just want to get off the beaten track, definitely check that out.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, for sure. So we'll link to that as well in the show notes. Now, number nine is not checking opening days and hours. Now this one really trips people, including me. I tried to visit the London Silver Vault earlier this year only to discover that they're closed on Sundays after I had gone there to check it out. But I didn't check the website ahead of time. So you need to know that, honestly, some attractions don't open every day and many places close earlier than you'd expect, especially winter or around the holidays.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, that's true, and it's also worth noting that opening hours in London can be later than many visitors expect. That includes cafes, shops and museums. Some don't open until around 10 o'clock.

Speaker 1:

That kind of always throws our Australian friends off, doesn't?

Speaker 3:

it.

Speaker 1:

They don't stay open late either. Most shops close by 6pm, and on Sundays many shut as early as 4 or 5.

Speaker 3:

Some museums and galleries do have late opening times, though, but usually that's just once a week. For example, the British Museum stays open till 8.30pm on Fridays.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I mean, those late night openings are pretty good, but do check on the websites for those. And it's also important to know that major attractions like Windsor Castle aren't open every day, and this has tripped up so many people that when we've spoken to people on consults, it's typically open thursday to monday. So it's closed tuesdays and wednesdays, but they can also close unexpectedly for royal events that's true, and it's not just the big names either.

Speaker 3:

You know, afternoon teas spots and galleries and smaller venues often have sometimes quirky hours or midweek closures. A quick check of their websites, though, usually, uh, saves any disappointment and a lot of time.

Speaker 1:

For example, I wish I'd done that when I went to the silver vault earlier this year. Okay, so mistake number 10 is not planning for jet lag on, or what plan and what you're going to do on your arrival day you know?

Speaker 3:

yeah, that's true.

Speaker 1:

If you land in london full of excitement and full of beans and ready to go and try to cram in a whole day of sightseeing by two o'clock, you'll be falling asleep yeah, honestly, your body clock will be all over the place and you know if your room is not ready and you're stuck wandering around with luggage and you've got no energy, it's not the best time to try and do loads of stuff in London.

Speaker 3:

That's true, I mean. One great tip is to book your hotel from the night before, especially if you're arriving very early in the morning. That way you can check straight in and freshen up.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and also I would recommend that you keep that first day light. Maybe just take a gentle walk along the Thames, grab a bite to eat, just explore a little bit. Don't rush around and kind of over plan your day now. This isn't London I'm going to mention, but I remember being in Rome a few years ago and some people landed from Canada and they booked a tour of the Vatican museums and they lasted 20 minutes and then they had to tap out and go to the hotel. It was a lot of money that was wasted. So recommend that you really consider what you're going to do yeah, I mean we recommend this.

Speaker 3:

One other touchdown tours we discover real London black cabs, don't wait. I mean we recommend the touchdown tours with Discover Real London.

Speaker 1:

Black.

Speaker 3:

Cabs, don't we? Yeah, I mean, they'll pick you up when you land and give you a fantastic tour of the city without any stress of navigating.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, when you're tired, yeah, and they can drop you off at the hotel afterwards and it's a really great way to ease into your trip. You know London will still be there tomorrow. Just don't let jet lag ruin your first impression. Yeah, that's true mistake. Number 11 is letting your guard down in busy places. Now, london is generally a safe city, but, like any major capital around the world, it's not immune to pickpockets and petty crime, especially in busy tourist spots that's true.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, you need to stay vigilant everywhere these days that's true.

Speaker 1:

So now use, I use and I recommend a zipped crossbody bag. Don't wave your phone around and be really mindful in crowds, especially if you're distracted or you're stopping to take photos or look for directions.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and your passport. Best to leave that in the safe in the hotel room and not carry it around with you.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, well, we actually have got a full episode on this. It's episode 148, and it's all about staying safe in london.

Speaker 3:

Now we cover things like avoiding scams, protecting your money and staying safe on public transport yeah, it's definitely worth the list if you want to feel a bit more confident about getting around yeah, and I've also filmed a youtube video where I share my favorite anti-theft bags and travel accessories.

Speaker 1:

so if you're wondering what to bring or how to keep your belongings safe, that's a good one to watch. So if you search UK Travel Planet on YouTube and look for the video about bags and accessories, you'll find it, but I will also share the link in the show notes as well. Now our last mistake is mistake number 12, not booking a tour.

Speaker 3:

So many people skip tours. They think that they can just figure it out as they go along themselves. But, honestly, many people skip tours. They think that they could just figure it out as they go along themselves. But, honestly, a good tour can completely transform your experiences of London.

Speaker 1:

Yep, I totally agree. Whether it's a walking tour, a food tour or a black cab experience, a great guide doesn't just tell you facts. You know they're going to unlock stories, they're going to give you perspectives you've never discovered on your own, and you often get to see or do things you simply couldn't without being part of a tour, and you walk away having really learned something yeah, that's true.

Speaker 3:

We've experienced tours with fantastic companies like devour walks and discover real london, and every time we come away with something new, even in places we thought we knew inside out yeah, that's absolutely true.

Speaker 1:

So if you want to go beyond the surface and truly experience london, its history, its food, its culture, booking a tour is one of the smartest things that you can do. So that basically wraps up episode 161 of the uk travel planner podcast. We hope today's tips help you avoid some of the most common travel mistakes and enjoy a smoother, more memorable trip to london.

Speaker 3:

If you've got questions about your trip or travel tip of your own to share, we'd love to hear from you. Just leave us a voice message using speakpipe. You will find the link in the show notes.

Speaker 1:

Yes, and also don't forget to check the show notes for links to all the resources we mentioned, from our London guides and YouTube videos to tour recommendations and articles.

Speaker 3:

If you found this episode helpful. We'll be so grateful if you'd leave a quick rating or review, or share the podcast with a friend who's planning a trip.

Speaker 1:

Perfectly Well. That just leaves us Until next time, happy. Uk travel planning. Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode of the UK Travel Planning Podcast. As always, show notes can be found at uktravelplanningcom. If you've enjoyed the show, why not leave us feedback via text or a review on your favourite podcast app? We love to hear from you and you never know, you may receive a shout out in a future episode. But, as always, that just leaves me to say until next week. Happy UK travel planning.