Planning a Trip to London in 2026: What You Really Need to Know

London should not feel like a sprint across Zones 1 to 3. In this episode, we share practical, real-world strategies to help you plan London in a way that saves time, protects your energy, and makes the city easier to enjoy.

Rather than rushing between scattered attractions, we explain how to plan by areas, make smarter transport choices, and design days that feel calmer and more enjoyable.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why planning London by neighbourhood works better than chasing a long attraction list
• How to structure days with two nearby highlights and one flexible option
• How contactless payments and Oyster fare caps work
• When to use the Tube, buses, Thames Clippers, or simply walk
• How station walking distances, queues, and crowds affect timing
• Why accommodation location matters more than many visitors expect
• Practical budget tips including free museums, pre-theatre menus, markets, and meal deals
• When experiences like Sky Garden, Buckingham Palace openings and special exhibitions need booking ahead
• How major 2026 events such as the London Marathon, Wimbledon, and Notting Hill Carnival affect crowds and transport

If you want a London trip that trades rushing for rhythm and overwhelm for clarity, this episode will help you plan with confidence.

📝 Show Notes - Episode 183

🎧 Listen to next:

• Episode #68 – Choosing the Best Place to Stay in London
• Episode #161 – Top 12 Mistakes First-Time Visitors Make in London and How to Avoid Them
• Episode #106 – Guide to the London Pass with Daryl Bennett

🎟️ Sponsored by Walks Tours & Devour Tours. Explore London with expert guides, from sightseeing to food tours.

👉 Book London sightseeing tours with Walks
👉 Book London food tours with Devour

Chapters

• 0:00 Why London Feels Bigger And Slower
• 6:30 Sponsor And Smart Tours To Save Time
• 9:44 Framing The Episode And Goals
• 12:34 Do London First For More Energy
• 19:04 Getting Around: Cards, Tube, Buses, Boats
• 29:04 Day Trips By Train And Orientation
• 32:04 Where You Stay Matters
• 39:04 Plan By Areas Not Attractions
• 46:04 Budget Realities And Meal Deals
• 56:04 Book Ahead Or Be Flexible
• 1:03:04 Openings, Queues, And Pacing

Transcript

SPEAKER_01: 0:00

Planning a trip to London in 2026 and feeling a little overwhelmed? London is bigger than most people expect, it takes longer to get around, and small planning decisions can make a big difference to how your trip feels. In this episode, we're sharing what you really need to know before you go, not a list of attractions, but practical planning tips to help you save time, manage your energy, control your budget, and enjoy London without trying to rush through it.

SPEAKER_00: 0:24

Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast. Your host is the founder of the UK travel planning website, Tracy Collins. Each week, 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_01: 0:54

Before we get started, we'd like to thank our sponsor, Walks and Devour Tours. If you're planning a trip to London, you'll already know the challenge. There's a lot you want to do and only a limited amount of time to fit it all in. That's where the right tour makes all the difference because you want experiences that are the best use of your time with more access, less waiting, and a deeper sense of the city. That's why we recommend Walks and Devour Tours. They offer walk-in tours and food tours designed to make your time count, often with early or after hours entry. You'll also be with exceptional local guides who add the stories and context so you leave with a richer understanding of what you're seeing and a trip that feels genuinely memorable. If you're visiting London as a couple with family or you simply prefer a more intimate experience, walks and devour tours also offer private tour options. To learn more, you'll find the link in the show notes. Now let's get into this week's episode. Hi everybody, and welcome back to the second episode of 2026.

SPEAKER_03: 1:52

Wow, already.

SPEAKER_01: 1:53

I know. Doug is here again this week, and we're going to be talking about planning a trip to London. Now, last week's episode, episode 182, um was all about planning a trip to the UK. So if you are planning to travel outside of London, which I sincerely hope you are, I have my fingers crossed that you are planning to do that. Um do take a listen to that episode because you'll find that really useful. But we thought this was a perfect time to record this episode. Obviously, following on from last week's about general travel tips for planning a trip to the UK, um, because we know that a lot of you will be planning, in fact, most of you will probably be planning to include a London in your trip. Um, and I'm also planning my own trip to London at the minute, which is really exciting, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03: 2:36

Um definitely, yes.

SPEAKER_01: 2:37

And we're very much involved in that at the moment. And Doug's just come back.

SPEAKER_03: 2:40

I did add six weeks there travelling around by uh train, underground trains, tube trains, mainline trains, buses, and a lot of walking myself.

SPEAKER_01: 2:49

You did a lot of walking. I know you uh you had very, very busy days when you were you were based in London for six weeks, so that's good. Yes, um, and I'll be based in London uh for April, quite a lot of May, and hopefully June as well. So um, yeah, we have our own kind of knowledge and background of of living and working in London. So um it's always really good to go and visit. So even though I mean we've got the decades of living there, working there. In fact, I remember the first time I actually went to London, I was about nine years of age, so we'll talk at sort of 50 years of visiting.

SPEAKER_03: 3:22

I was a bit younger actually, but with my parents for days out.

SPEAKER_01: 3:24

Ah, okay. Yeah, so so we've both uh visited, we've both lived and we've both worked in London. Um, so we know and we've seen a lot of changes, but um, and we actually want to say that London keeps changing. So even if you've been before, um, and I find this every time, it always feels different. There's always new things open, new things happening, new things going on. Um, obviously a lot of wonderful ancient, old, fantastic things to go and visit that don't change, but there are often just I don't know, it just always feels a little bit different from London. Yeah, it absolutely does. Um, so this episode, we're not gonna try and cover everything London has to offer because that would be impossible. We do have lots of other episodes on the podcast where we talk about my favourite things to do in London, my favourite tours in London, um, we'll share other tips. But this episode we're gonna focus on what what you actually need to know before you go, the things that are gonna affect your energy, your budget, your time, and basically your overall experience. Yeah. So we're gonna kind of talk about why London feels bigger than people expect, because it does, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_03: 4:26

It really does, yeah. It spoils.

SPEAKER_01: 4:28

It does, and it takes sort of take longer to get around than you may expect. Um, we're gonna talk about how to think about where you stay, what it's worth booking ahead, because you really need to think about that, and then just how to avoid the overwhelm what that many visitors feel. And I will just say there is so much out there now in terms of resources, websites, podcasts, just uh YouTube, Instagram, TikTok. There's just so much out there you can feel overwhelmed by all of that, and of course, now we've got chat as well, and all of the AI that's out there um just bombarding you with information. So we're hoping that we go through each of these points in order that this will help you. And of course, you can always check in the show notes as well. So I just sit back, enjoy the episode. Um, we're planning this whole episode is about helping you plan London a way that flows, feels realistic, and lets you enjoy the city rather than rushing through it.

SPEAKER_03: 5:21

Yeah, and give you food for thought.

SPEAKER_01: 5:23

Absolutely. So we thought what we'd do would be the best thing to do is to go through each of the different points. So we sat and kind of really had a good chat about all the things that we feel that we get asked about or that we feel that really are important for you to know. And the first thing, and this is actually the first thing that Doug said to me this morning when we talked about that is and it's true, London is bigger and slower than you may expect.

SPEAKER_03: 5:46

Yeah, it certainly is. But it sprawls everywhere, it's just you look at the train maps, you look at the the tune maps, it just goes on and on and on and on. It covers such a big area that I think I think people just don't grasp the size.

SPEAKER_01: 6:05

Yeah, London is huge, but a lot of the main attractions are kind of in the centre of London, which does help. Yeah, but I think it can get distracted. I think if you kind of um a lot of people will choose to stay further out of London, not realising that they're kind of too far away from those main attractions.

SPEAKER_03: 6:26

We all understand that when it comes to budgets, you know, that's very important. And if you can get an accommodation slightly cheaper and travel, it's that fine balance between you know what your your budget says and wanting to see things.

SPEAKER_01: 6:38

Yeah, it's absolutely true, but I think it's worth that is worth considering that it's just you know, if you go too far out, you're gonna spend a lot of time travelling in, and we will talk about that in a minute. But I think it's really we we don't want to say is that you can't, you probably won't be able to see everything in one trip. Now I was in London. The last time I was in London, I was based there for a few months, and I had a massive, great, big, long list of all the things that I was gonna do. Bearing in mind I was there for a few months, so we're not just talking a few days or a week, and I didn't see half of everything I had on my list, mainly because it's more tiring than you expect. Yeah, um, it's it takes longer to get around than you might expect. You don't want to, I I certainly didn't want to go out in rush hour because it was just crazy, crazy busy. Um, you know, there's things like it just the crowds and the queues to go into places. It's your energy levels down, yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 7:27

Your energy levels really can make a difference.

SPEAKER_01: 7:29

Yeah, so I think it's just important to realize that, and that you can't you will be more tired than you expect. Um, you know, it it you start at the beginning of the day. I know what I'm like. I'll be like a jury cell bunny, I'll jump, I'll be wherever to go, and I'll be on the tube and going to do all the things I want to go and do. This is how I start my trip, and then usually by the end of the day, I'll get in and I'll be absolutely exhausted, and this will carry on for about a week, and then after that, I'll literally, or even maybe three days, I don't know how much energy I'll have this year, but um, you will feel tired.

SPEAKER_03: 7:59

You will feel tired, and one thing I found I mean, I have pretty good energy levels when I'm travel, traveling, but even I I messaged you a couple of times and said, Look, I'm tired, I'm gonna take tomorrow or half of tomorrow. I'm I went to a football match instead, but that's that's that's another thing. But it's planning that I I set my time limit to what time I was gonna finish each day from travelling around, yeah. Yeah, so whether that's four o'clock, five o'clock, and I sort of plan the day out accordingly to say when I've had enough, that's it. I've had enough.

SPEAKER_01: 9:25

Yeah, no, I think that's a good I think that's a good plan. Um, because and again it kind of goes back to the things that London is bigger and slower than you may expect, and it will take you longer to get around. It's stimulating, it's busy, it's physically demanding, the amount of walking that you have to do. Um, it just takes a lot of energy and it's fantastic, you know, and it you know it energizes me, but also it tires me as well. So it's like you just have to think about that. And this is one tip that we did want to talk about was and we we're often asked about this actually in in consults and helping people with their itineraries is do we do London first or do we do London last? Yeah, and this has come from actually a lot of experience of talking to people from the trip reports and helping people with their trips. Is that actually you're better off doing London first?

SPEAKER_03: 10:12

I think so. I think I think for the overall experience from the beginning to the end of the trip, people giving better trip reports saying they did London to start with.

SPEAKER_01: 10:22

Yeah, because by the end of the trip they're tired and you just haven't got that energy or that maybe that uh level of enthusiasm that you had at the very beginning of the trip. So that's one thing to consider. Um, you know, if you're planning a multi-destination trip across the UK or you're gonna go over to Europe and do some more travels, we would recommend that you do start in London.

SPEAKER_03: 10:44

Well, majority of people do fly into London, not all, obviously, but a lot of people do fly to London first.

SPEAKER_01: 10:50

But I know we have a lot of people who think about maybe going if they're flying and they want to do a couple of days in Paris, then getting the Eurostar over to Paris and then coming back, or maybe starting in Bath and then travelling around. I don't know. It just I think whatever suits. I just would say whatever you plan to do is think about including London first. First. Um, and I probably wouldn't I wouldn't even head to Paris, even if land and I wouldn't go straight to Paris and then come back to to London. I would give yourself a good few days in London before if you decide you want to add Paris in for a for a day trip. I mean Paris is equally busy and crazy, yeah, exactly. So it's it's trying to think about how, and because what you can do is you can build a few quieter days and potentially to London.

SPEAKER_03: 11:33

I think it's a good idea. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 11:35

Okay, so that is basically going to influence a lot of other things that we're gonna say is considering about the size of London. Um, the second point I want to talk about uh with considering and knowing about is um how to get around London and what basically and what not to do. So the first thing I'm gonna say, please, please, please don't hire a car.

SPEAKER_03: 11:53

Yeah, do not drive in London.

SPEAKER_01: 11:54

Do not drive in London. Absolutely do not drive in London, do not hire a car in London. If you are planning to head out of London and do a road trip around the UK, head out to the airports, pick up your car from there, or head out to a city by train and then pick up your car from there. Just make sure if you're gonna drop off at a different destination, and again, this comes up quite a lot. So, for example, you're gonna get the train out to Bath, pick up a car there. You might want to drop off in York. You just need to make sure that when you book the car, that you can drop it off at the the uh corresponding destination when you at that point. We sometimes find it's easier with airports because there's a bit more flexibility there.

SPEAKER_03: 12:32

Nothing with driving in London, doesn't matter how good a driver you think you are and how experienced a driver you are, London is different. It's just hidden charges, there's different rules, it's just altogether different.

SPEAKER_01: 12:45

Look, I I drove in London in my 20s, and um I'm surprised I haven't got grey hairs from that.

SPEAKER_03: 12:50

I haven't I never uses horse and carts anymore.

SPEAKER_01: 12:53

Oh, you're so cheeky. Um no, I actually did drive a car. Um but uh I used to take the kids to to this school, but to the prep school. But um no, I just do not want to do that. I would not want to do that, I would not wish that on my worst enemy. So either you know, there's other ways to get around London. In fact, London has got a fantastic public transport system. Um, just think about what you how you're gonna get around that is gonna suit you. So if you're gonna use the tube, you've got a couple of options. You've got um contactless or you can get an oyster card. I am not gonna go into a discussion in this podcast um about which option is best. There is a lot of a lot a lot of stuff out there saying nobody ever uses an oyster card, only use contactless. Honestly, if you want to use an oyster card, use an oyster card. I use an oyster card, but weigh it up because contactless may work better for you. You just have to look at the pros and cons. What we don't want to do ever, apart from saying don't drive in London, is do this or don't do that. So when it comes to how you're gonna pay for your transportation getting around London, you make that decision. We have got an article on the uh website all about yeah, oyster card and contact list, an article all about what an oyster card is. So if you're not sure, then we have an article comparing oyster card and contact list, and we also have a recent article on the London Travel Planning website where I talked about London zones, which again I'm not going to go into, but we were asked about what it meant about the zones in London. I will link to that in show notes. So if you want to know kind of what those zones are and how that impacts your trip, um, I would look at that article. Yeah. Now, um the nice thing about contactless oysters card is that that basically uh there's daily caps. So you you once you get to that limit, you don't pay anything over that, and it will depend on the zones that you use. Yeah um, but uh most people will I when you did it, and I'll do it, we use all the different transport methods available.

SPEAKER_03: 14:49

Well, you need you need to. I mean, if you're just solely using the underground, you're not seeing anything above ground, you've got to use the combination, depending on where you're going. Exactly. It depends on the weather, of course, as well as it's not. Well, exactly.

SPEAKER_01: 14:57

But I I mean I enjoy taking the Red London buses around. I also enjoy the tube because the tube's quick. Um, walking, you're gonna walk.

SPEAKER_02: 15:04

I enjoy walking.

SPEAKER_01: 15:06

Um, I mean, I know the uh I was there January last year and I took uh quite a few Ubers. It was raining a bit, so I just uh called an Uber from my hotel to the next destination that I was going to, and I just took an Uber. Just be aware that if you take an Uber, it can be a lot slower, and a bus can be a lot slower uh than other transport. Actually, well, buses do have bus lanes, so they make them they have that ability. And also, I will mention this because there are the black London cabs as well. They can go in lanes that other Uber drivers can't, for example, or the cars and Uber drivers can't. So, actually, a quicker way to go around is going to be probably a bus or a black London uh cab for sure, and of course the tube. Yep. Um, but really walking is a part of the London experience.

SPEAKER_03: 15:54

I've done it several times, uh great distances because I think walking is probably one of the best ways to orientate yourself to a particular small area, yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 16:02

And to to see and also just explore in areas as well. So you may, for example, choose one particular um thing, main thing you want to do in an area, for example, I don't know, Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey or Tower of London. But the the great thing is just you're on your feet, go and explore the area. Um, and we do have our London map as well. So you could actually, if you have our London map, you can select, for example, the area of Westminster and it will show you all the other major attractions to see, restaurants, all the other bits and bobs you need to know for that area. Yeah, um, so that's useful. You can add that onto your phone. Um, yeah, so getting around London really uh, I mean, you've just the options and Uber boat. I haven't even mentioned Uber boat.

SPEAKER_03: 16:41

No Uber is another option as well. It's not Uber conventionally, Uber is the name of the sponsor. Yeah, Thames Clippers.

SPEAKER_01: 16:47

Yeah, you don't call it like an Uber, like you wouldn't call your boat on an app. Oh, I just also want to mention this as well. Honestly, really genuinely get yourself onto the Thames on a boat and do a boat trip. Uh, because seeing London from the river is a completely different experience from walking around.

SPEAKER_03: 17:02

It really is. Um, I'd recommend that. But it's that combination of everything as well. The pace is set by you, everybody in the travel group, it's whatever suits you. Yes, yes, keeps everybody happy.

SPEAKER_01: 17:12

Absolutely. Um, yeah, you've got to figure out there are lots of options, so just choosing what works for you. Um now when it comes from uh for train journeys from London to places for if you want to do a day trip, for example, you want to go to Bath, Windsor, Oxford, etc. Um, Doug is adding YouTube videos to our YouTube uh channel, UK Travel Planning. Um, so you can watch how to get from, for example, you've just added the one recently about uh getting from uh Paddington to Bath.

SPEAKER_03: 17:41

So on that one as well, I'm just finishing, hopefully today, how to get one of the routes from uh London Paddington to Windsor.

SPEAKER_01: 17:48

Yeah, so we are going to be adding more and more and more videos showing you how to get from London to a lot of the places for day trips.

SPEAKER_03: 17:56

It is, and one thing I'll add to that is when I've done each of these videos, I'm trying to include a little bit from the London station itself just to give you a bit of an orientation as around those busy London stations. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01: 18:08

So, point three that I really want to kind of stress is that where you stay does matter, it really does. Um, and you should really think about, and I know first of all, I am gonna say I know London accommodation is expensive, it's really pricey, um, and it probably will be a major chunk out of your holiday budget. Uh there's nothing unfortunately, it would be great if it but if it was cheaper, but it's not. Um, so but really you need to think about um your locations to match the sort of things that you want to do. Um, and the location really, really does matter. For example, if you're gonna be taking some early tours, for example, if you're gonna go to the Tower of London for the opening ceremony, you don't want to be staying, or you could be staying on the opposite side of London, but you have to consider that you're gonna get there. If you're taking day trips or you've got onward travel, your base really matters, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_03: 18:59

It is. I was also gonna add on to that the it also depends on how long you're in London for. If you're only there for a few days and you want to see lots of stuff, you may consider more of a central location.

SPEAKER_01: 19:10

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03: 19:11

The longer you're there, you know, maybe a bit further out because then you've got that time to spread across everything you want to do.

SPEAKER_01: 19:18

Yeah, yeah, no, that's a really that's a useful point. And I think it it really does depend on what your itinerary is going to include. Um, for example, if you're gonna, you know, if you're going to be taking some Eurostar trips, you decide you're gonna go to Paris for a day or you're gonna head to Amsterdam or whatever. You know, we usually travel and stay very close to St. Pangre. So do get the very early trains that I must say.

SPEAKER_03: 19:39

No, well, you get the best deals. If you're travelling on the early trains from your state, you get the better deal.

SPEAKER_01: 19:43

So we tend to stay near St. Pancreas Station. If you're gonna head out to Bath, Oxford, or Cotswolds, for example, for a day trip, it's easier from Paddington.

SPEAKER_03: 19:50

Yeah, there's some nice uh budget hotels and some very nice hotels as well around there.

SPEAKER_01: 19:54

Yeah, so if you decide, and we do have actually have an article about where to stay in London, um, which breaks down all the different areas with some uh suggestions of different places. Um, what I would say is that if you decide that you're gonna do lots of different uh different tours and different uh day trips and they're gonna be leaving from different stations, the main thing is that to factor in how long it's gonna take you from where you stay to get to that train station.

SPEAKER_03: 20:21

Yeah, and also factor in with those because if you're taking a tour or catching the Eurostar train, for example, is how much soon before that planned departure time you need to be there.

SPEAKER_01: 20:30

Yeah, that's true. That is true. Um, so you just need to make sure that you factor that in. Um, I have to say that for me, absolutely being near a tube station is essential. It really, really is. And I just know for myself, you know, at the end of a long day, and I know I've said this on previous podcasts, but I mean it's just heartfelt. Um, by the time you get back to your accommodation, you really don't want to get off a mainline station. Then hop onto a bus and then have a walk. Or even just a tube where it takes you way out, and then you've got to uh catch a bus and then a walk or whatever. You you really want to be thinking, really, really think about this, where your accommodation is in relation to a tube station. So even if it's you know, um a five-minute walk from a two tube station or a 20-minute walk from a tube station, consider all of that because honestly, and again, depending on your energy levels, mobility, um, you know, needs of your party, but it really is important to consider this. And it may be very tempting to go for something that is further out and and involves a mainline train and then a bus or a bus and then whatever, a long walk. Believe me, you will thank me. And I know it as I say, I know it's gonna be a little bit extra on your budget to do this, but honestly, you will thank me.

SPEAKER_03: 21:51

Yeah, you get back very, very tired, and you think, now I've got to think about dinner.

SPEAKER_01: 21:55

Yeah, well, yeah, or that's it, but I honestly it's this just the getting back, you'll be exhausted.

SPEAKER_03: 22:02

So that's why I say that I planned my end of the day. Yes, always because if I was at North London because I was staying in south, yes, south of London, and it could be upward of sort of 45 minutes to an hour to get back.

SPEAKER_01: 22:18

Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 22:19

So I always found once you've reached that point and you know when you're finishing, I could didn't have to rush back because I'd allowed myself in that my time schedule to do that.

SPEAKER_01: 22:28

Yeah, yeah, no, I agree. And I think it's you know, if you've again, I'm gonna talk about this next, actually about planning your itinerary um by area, not attraction, and I'll I will talk about that. But I think this also, you know, and exactly what Doug says as well, is when you're planning the itinerary, think about where you are at the end of the day and where your accommodation is in relation. Now, if you're in zone one, which is the central zone where a lot of the main attractions are and your hotels, accommodations in zone one, it's probably not too much of an issue. But if you're further out you go, certainly you're gonna need to consider that.

SPEAKER_03: 23:00

Definitely.

SPEAKER_01: 23:01

So let's move on to point four, which is to plan London by areas, not attractions. Now, I know it's when you start, and I know the same, I kind of think these are the things that I want to see in London. So, for example, this year I know I want to visit a lot of the museums that I haven't been to so far, and I've been to a majority of them, but um I want to see some of the smaller museums this time. So, what what it is useful to do is to list all the things that you want to do. So, whether that's an attraction, whether that's a museum, um, whatever that is, a landmark that you want to see, whether that's a tour that you're gonna be on, is I'd write those those down, identify absolutely things that you must do when you're in London, and then start grouping those by location. The reason to do that is because you may as well see things in that location rather than get on a tube, get on a bus, spend money on Uber or a black cow to get you to another side of London, which is again going to eat up your time. Um I'd also say just aim for like two major attractions in a day, uh things that are ideally close together. So, for example, um, you could do uh the uh Westminster Abbey in the morning and maybe church and warrooms in the afternoon, so they're close together. So that sort of thing, so that you are not going from one part of London to another, because honestly, it is quite tiring. Um, so for example, uh uh you could see that some of the sites and around like Westminster, uh Covent Garden, West West End is another, City of London is another. So those areas now on the London Travel Planning website. I have got area guides to each of those kind of neighborhoods in London, and I actually am going to be doing dedicated podcast episodes about each of those different areas as well. So you can go and check out because also it's worth figuring out which of those areas suits you when it comes to choosing uh where to stay in London because they all have different personalities, don't they?

SPEAKER_03: 24:57

They definitely do. Yeah, that's very true.

SPEAKER_01: 24:59

Yeah, and I do have like a grid as well where you can kind of work out which which would suit your travel party best, which area, depending on like what do you're planning to do or uh what you want to see. You know, do you want to be in a livelier area with lots of restaurants and theatres, then in the store.

SPEAKER_03: 25:12

Do you just want peace? Peace and quiet. Peace and quiet, yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 25:14

Or do you want to be near uh the the museums in South Kensington? You know, I could live opposite the VA and be very happy. Um so when you plan your days around areas, it just becomes easier to navigate uh around London and less exhausting.

SPEAKER_03: 25:28

I was just gonna say if you're doing self-catering, have a look on a map, see if there's a supermarket or something nearby as well, makes life a lot easier. Then you haven't got two without a car, is coming back to shopping, back to your accommodation.

SPEAKER_01: 25:40

Yeah, that's a good point, and that is important, yeah. And because you just mentioned that as well. Yeah, okay. So, point five is kind of the budget realities and smart money tips because we know London is expensive, yeah. Um and and it doesn't have to be uh break the bank. I think this is the thing, because there is there's a lot of free things to do, but then we'll talk about that in a second. But accommodation is probably going to be your biggest cost. Well, it will be your biggest cost, it just is so expensive, it really is. Um, eating out every meal is also gonna add up uh to your costs, yes, and also attractions if you try to do everything, because there's just a lot to see and do. But the good thing is, and again, I've got on I have actually got uh a podcast all about this, and I've got an article on the website as well. There's lots of free things to do in London. So most of I would say majority of London's top museums are are free. Uh galleries are free. So you can go to the Natural History Museum, the VA, the Science Museum, uh the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, Payor Wall Museum. Yeah, they're free. Um, so go and see if you I know some of you may not be museum people, but honestly, there's some wonderful museums in London. Um, but they're free. If um you're gonna look at what sort of paid attractions you're gonna do, again, it's kind of working out what you really, really want to see. So um, you know, if you want to go to Westminster Abbey, if you want to go to St. Paul's Cathedral, if you want to go to the Tower of London, if you want to go to Kensington Palace, is work out what those costs are gonna be and then work out you know, be selective about the ones that you really want to do. Also worth looking at something like the London Pass, which um includes a lot of the top attractions in London. Um, I did a London itinerary planning challenge a couple of years ago, which was great. They give me a three-day itinerary and lots of different things to go and use my pass for. What I would say is that really is to work out what you want to do and see how much it costs, and then if the London Pass is going to save you money, um, and then that's that's something worth considering. Also, walking will save you time and money. Well, not necessarily time sometimes, but it'll save you money.

SPEAKER_03: 27:47

It can it can do, it can do because they're close together.

SPEAKER_01: 27:50

Yeah, but it will example the Common Garden and Leicester Square. You don't you don't take the tube between those two stations, you just walk because it's quicker. Um, but also if you can if you can walk between the areas, that's gonna save you um money on transportation. Um we're gonna talk about my favourite meal deals, so lunch deals and set menus. There's also pre-theatre menus offer great deal like really good value. But let's talk about meal deals.

SPEAKER_03: 28:15

Um supermarkets are excellent.

SPEAKER_01: 28:17

Yeah, I love a good meal deal, so do you.

SPEAKER_03: 28:19

I do.

SPEAKER_01: 28:19

Yeah, and my favourite is Marks and Spencer's, I have to say I love Mars.

SPEAKER_03: 28:22

Well, your posh.

SPEAKER_01: 28:23

Well, I love Marks and Spencer's meal deals. And so basically, what a meal deal is is where you get a sandwich, a or salad, or a salad, um, a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar, piece of fruit, um, and a drink. So you get one of the so three things basically. So you get either your your mane, which will be either your sandwich or a salad, then you get your kind of little snacky bit that goes with it. So that's gonna be crisps, chocolate, fruit. Um, I'll be eating the fruit this year, she says. And then you get an option of drinks. So they'll be a set price. So they can be anything from four pound, five pounds, seven pound, yeah. Um, depending on what it is. Like my favourite sandwich, of course, is the most expensive, which is the prawn sandwich from Marks and Spencer, um, which is included in the meal deal.

SPEAKER_03: 29:11

So just actually mine was part of the cheapest issues from the co-op price.

SPEAKER_01: 29:15

Yeah, Doug's are far better at budget than I am, I have to say. Yeah, so the Sainsbury's, um, Marks and Spencer's, the Co-op, Tesco, uh the all offer these meal deals.

SPEAKER_03: 29:26

Um, Greg's the Bakery uh also does one.

SPEAKER_01: 29:29

Yeah, so you'll find a lot of the places offer those. Um, and so yeah, that's a great way to save on money. Just go and buy that, have a picnic. If the weather's good, go and have a picnic in one of the parks.

SPEAKER_03: 29:38

It is also on the go, yeah, exactly. I was gonna add take it to a park.

SPEAKER_01: 29:42

Yeah, absolutely. Um, I will say that you do need to book ahead for restaurants, but I'll talk about that in a bit. Um, now obviously markets are really cool. I love heading to borough market, it's busy, I will say that, but the markets also offer really good value, um, and you can try lots of different things. There's also lots of great bakeries in London as well.

SPEAKER_02: 30:01

Yes.

SPEAKER_01: 30:02

Um, and afternoon tea. I can't not talk about afternoon tea. Now, it can be expensive, so I'm not gonna say this is gonna be a way to save your money, um, but do check as well because their prices do you know uh there's just a huge variety from the cheaper to very expensive. Um, so just have a you know, choose if you if you really want to do an afternoon tea, um, but you want to look for something a bit more budget and they are available. And again, I've got an article all about different afternoon teas.

SPEAKER_03: 30:30

Yeah, and for uh evening meals as well, I should say some of the supermarkets also do a similar uh like um a group.

SPEAKER_01: 30:38

Yes, they do, yes.

SPEAKER_03: 30:39

Meal deal for an evening meal.

SPEAKER_01: 30:40

Yeah, and I've got photos of that. I have got on the LondonTravelplan.com website, I've got an uh an article about where to eat and what to eat in London, and I actually have got links to and to lots of the different restaurants, but also for examples of those meal deals that you can buy not only at lunchtime but also for dinner. So if you're if you're renting an apartment, they're a great option. Yeah, um, again, because you can you'll get a main, a starter, you might get a starter main, sorry, a dessert and maybe a bottle of wine or a drink to go with it as well.

SPEAKER_03: 31:10

Yeah, it's also what one I did off one of the supermarkets, it wasn't it was over uh several nights, so it was three evening meals the price of two. Yeah, oh yes, yes. Okay, we're talking oven microwave quick meal, but when you've been out all day, to be honest with you, you generally speaking want something quick.

SPEAKER_01: 31:26

Yeah, absolutely. Um, and also if you're staying in a hotel, you'll probably get breakfast. So I tend to find that if I have a good breakfast and then probably have a meal deal, tend we tend to share one to be honest. Um yeah, and then just have something later on in the day. Um, there are lots lots of there's so many restaurant options in London, it's crazy. There are just it's there are a lot, but yes, um, I say on our London map we have put in some of the our favourite restaurants. Obviously, we can't eat in every restaurant in London, even though I'd love to have it, I'd love to have a go at that. Um so let's talk about money basics in London. So London is largely cashless. I can't remember the last time I actually saw any cash in London, or in fact when I've been in the UK, and really contacted us is King. Did you use any cash?

SPEAKER_03: 32:13

I didn't even use one pence.

SPEAKER_01: 32:15

Nothing at all. And actually, some places don't accept cash at all. I know we are often asked about tips. So, yes, if you want to tip, just take a small amount of cash that you can use for a tip. Um, but otherwise, you chances are you're not gonna use or need any cash. Um, but I would just say that um if you're gonna go outside of London and gonna go to some more remoter areas, and I know this is something that Sally Ann's mentioned for North Coast Explorer when we've chatted, is that sometimes when you go to places that are a little bit more remote and the machines go down, then you might be stuck and you can't pay. So if I would say in London, chances are you're not gonna need any cash, but if you are going out of London, potentially just have a small amount on you. That would help, I think. Um, I think the thing is is just to be, you know, have a bit of flexibility with your money. So if you've got your budget, um just give yourself a little bit of wriggle room in that because you're probably gonna why buy things that you may not consider, like and you probably under underestimate the the cost. Yes, I think so. And like honestly, whenever I go about there's some there's I just try to avoid the shops because it's there's some really tempting things that I want to buy.

SPEAKER_03: 33:25

Yeah, the prices are creeping up as they are around the world.

SPEAKER_01: 33:28

Yeah, so so that's those are just kind of things that we want to say that would kind of possibly or hopefully um be useful for you for budgeting and uh yeah, those money tips. So, point six is booking ahead versus staying flexible. Now, and I know a lot of people want to be as flexible as possible on holiday and add two. I really do understand that, but honestly, sometimes you can't be, or you can be flexible, and then what happens is you miss out. So, this is what I'm gonna say. If there are certain priorities, things that you absolutely must do when you're in London, then book those. Okay, you really, really should book those. For example, if you want to go up the Sky Garden, book it three weeks before, booking opens up. Popular afternoon teas as well can get booked up. Buckingham Palace, when it opens to visitors, get that booked. Uh, I remember I booked that a couple of years ago, it was it was a bit pricey, but again, it's so popular, it's only open for a short period of the time of the year. So everybody wants to go when they're there, so book that. Uh Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour, again, that gets booked up a long way in advance. If you're going to go to the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, and you should um again get that booked up because those those uh tours get booked because they're so popular and they're really good. Um and honestly, some attractions can book out um quite a way ahead, not that you'd expect, but they can do. The other thing to do as well, if you're and this is something that I'm doing at the minute, is to check for anything temporary exhibitions that are on during the visit that you might want to book. For example, um, when I'm over in in May, there's actually an exhibition in Bookner Palace of um uh the late Queen Elizabeth II's um outfits, and I'm definitely going to go and book that and see that. I've also just booked tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show, so that, for example, I needed to book because that would be completely sold out.

SPEAKER_03: 35:14

Definitely sorry, and I'll saw one for later in the year, the Bayer Tapestries on display at the British Museum for September.

SPEAKER_01: 35:21

Yeah, so those aren't free, those additional exhibitions you have to pay a little bit extra for, so but I'd book those. I do have an article on what to book how far in advance in London. I will link to that in the show notes. The main thing I want to say is like consider would it genuinely disappoint you if you missed that experience?

SPEAKER_03: 35:40

And that's for everybody in this in the group as well. The larger the group, the more difficult that would be, to be honest.

SPEAKER_01: 35:46

Yeah, so just yeah, make sure that you, if there's something you absolutely want to do, put that into your itinerary first, get the tickets for that, and then add in all the extra stuff that you may want to do. Okay, so we're gonna look at point seven, which is opening times, cues, and online, and pacing reality. So I think it's worth uh because this sort of these sort of things sometimes knock people a bit, is that the fact that shops often open later than you might expect in London.

SPEAKER_03: 36:13

That's right.

SPEAKER_01: 36:14

And we've had that actually a lot of Australians have commented that to us, haven't they? They said that can't believe that shops don't open till 10am. So just bear that in mind. If you're an early riser and you think you're gonna get up at 7 or 8 and go out and do a lot of things, won't be open, so you won't be able to. Um, Sundays are generally slower overall, and as you know, transport a little bit less on a on a Sunday. It can be. So it's just yeah, just expect on a Sunday things will be a little bit more chilled. Uh now, if you are planning a Sunday roast, and we know how popular Sunday roasts are, and it's a popular for us Brits, we love our Sunday roast. They are popular, really popular, and they will often will get booked out. So if this is a one meal that you want to experience in London, then book it. Um, I know we did a consult recently and we were looking at all different places to there's some fantastic uh Sunday roasts in London. Honestly, I'm I'm choosing for myself at the moment. Um, so you know I'm gonna try some out, so I'll be able to let you know. Uh so book that. Um, also worth knowing is that a lot of attractions may close earlier than you expect, so around five or six. There will be a variation for seasons, and also some places actually closed at certain times of the year as well.

SPEAKER_03: 37:24

Yeah, for attractions, the last entry may be an hour or so before the actual closing.

SPEAKER_01: 37:29

Yeah, that's it. So they won't they'll they'll let people in, for example, at four, but it'll close at five because they want to make sure that everybody's had an opportunity to go and have a look around. Now, even if you have a ticket, um, you might find that you're gonna be in a queue because there's a security and timed entry for different places as well. Um, and so you need to build that buffer time in. We often say itineraries where it's kind of uh 10 o'clock, I'm gonna go here, 11 o'clock, I'm gonna go here, 12 o'clock, I'm gonna go here, two o'clock, I'm gonna go here, and you won't because you haven't there's no time in there to actually queue up, get into the to into the uh attraction, um, have a look around, get out of it, get onto the whichever transport method you're gonna get onto or walk to the next place. So um, you know, you really need to give yourself that buffer time.

SPEAKER_03: 38:15

It does because it's a cumulative effect on the time. Because your ticket says 10 o'clock doesn't mean you can actually walk straight up the door at two minutes to ten and walk straight in.

SPEAKER_01: 38:23

Because there'll be it, there'll be a line. I mean, this is something that I really like when I book with tours where you have like skip the queue because it's really good. Um, and I've done quite a few uh tours with walks in London where I've been especially Westminster Abbey's one, it always springs to mind because it's great because you kind of you walk into a different entrance around the side. Yeah, so you might have to line up for like I don't know, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, and then you go in. Um and it just saves and you feel like I didn't have to in that big big long queue. I didn't have to stand up.

SPEAKER_03: 38:50

So if you've got a big queue, make sure you take a drink with you in hot weather in a hat.

SPEAKER_01: 38:53

Yeah, actually, that also reminds me we talked about fatigue, but I also like you you might end up standing a lot more than you expect. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And I you know what? The last thing I want to do on holiday is stand in a great big long queue. Well, you don't usually mean to stand, you go and sit somewhere. Well, what like get you to stand in the queue? Yeah. No, I I try to buy tickets for things that I can get in as quickly as possible. Um, so in the evening in London, it's that's a great time to have a walk around. You've got the theatre, pubs, more relaxed, and I don't know, London in the evening, whether whatever time of year I always I love strolling around London, it's really good.

SPEAKER_03: 39:25

I like summer evening, nice light.

SPEAKER_01: 39:26

Yeah, the light evenings are really nice. But I I've got some beautiful photos from last December when I was walking around London, and they're just the light was amazing looking over to Big Bent and the House of Parliament. It just absolutely just beautiful photos. So it just really it's also quieter.

SPEAKER_03: 39:41

Yeah, and if you're going out late in the evening, you may want to stay. You start time that morning, have a slightly later start, and then you can stay out later.

SPEAKER_01: 39:49

Yeah, or go back to your hotel and have a couple hours break and then go out again.

SPEAKER_03: 39:52

Because it is time. Yeah, all day it is time. Yeah, it is.

SPEAKER_01: 39:55

So let's talk about uh point eight, which is consider theatre, markets, and parks. Now, theatre, a lot of you will want to go and see some of the fantastic uh shows that are on in London. Absolutely are they a real highlight? I absolutely love going to London uh to see shows. Just to be aware that some do sell out in advance and that yes, there are same-day tickets that you can get, which can be cheaper, cheaper, um, but they are risky for some of the bigger shows. So you're not necessarily gonna know until on the day what is actually available.

SPEAKER_03: 40:25

Uh or the best seats, you might.

SPEAKER_01: 40:26

Oh, you won't probably get the best seats because it's better. I mean, it depends. If you're not bothered, you just want to go and see a show, then you're probably gonna have an option of what's available, what's available on the day. But if there's something specific that you want to go and see, then I'd book the tickets for that. Um and think about where the location of the theatre is as well, so that you know A, how you're gonna get there and what you're gonna eat. A lot of the restaurants around the theatres will have a pre uh theatre uh set meal dinner that you can have. And that's a lovely it makes a lovely, lovely evening of it. To do that. Also, remember there's the matinee performances on also on a Wednesday afternoon, I think Saturday afternoon. So they're all worth doing. Markets can't talk about London, gone to London without talking about the markets because there's so many amazing markets to visit. Again, I've got an article about all the different markets. Just remember they don't operate, not all of them operate every day. Weekends will be busier. It's more atmospheric for sure, but it will be busier. Really busy. For example, Borough Market, it's crazy busy the weekend. I think it's getting crazy busy in the week, to be honest. Weekdays are generally calmer and um the markets, but I would always check your opening days before the planning. And always, always, and I learned this the hard way, check if there's a particular um if there's a particular place that you want to eat, then check that it is open, right? Because I went to Borough Market to have um raclet, not the famous cheese toasty that this particular place is famous for, uh, Capacesin. I went on a day that it was closed and I was gutted. So I need next time I went, I made sure absolutely that it was open, which tends to be Thursday, Friday, Saturday. So if you're gonna go for the famous cheese toasty at Capacesin, actually have the raclette, that's my tip. Um just check where anywhere that you want to eat, check that the place that you want it, the place that you've seen on TikTok, the the the strawberries and chocolate, whatever it is that you've seen that you want to eat, just check that it is open on the day that you want to go. But absolutely you've got the market.

SPEAKER_03: 42:25

Most definitely.

SPEAKER_01: 42:26

There's so many, and they do and they all have different things that they sell, and they have different atmospheres.

SPEAKER_03: 42:31

And if you go on the tour as well, you get a bit of history as well about the air.

SPEAKER_01: 42:35

Oh, yeah. Well, we that's it. We did the um oh that was fantastic. Food tour with Devour. Uh oh, I yes, I just thought I've done it twice at Borough Market. It's just fantastic. And actually, you know what? You when you've done that, you don't need any food really for the rest of the day.

SPEAKER_03: 42:47

That's the other thing. I mean, the the tour guard as well, the one we had was absolutely out of Pete was amazing. Pete was absolutely out of this world.

SPEAKER_01: 42:53

Yeah, um, yeah. So if you do a food tour, not only do you get to learn about where the best places are to buy the food, we always do food tours, but you also learn about the history, and it's fantastic. Actually, that the the that devour tour around Borough Market, I've learned so much more about the history around that area, and it's amazing. It's just so don't just go to eat the those, you know, the foods that you've seen on TikTok, but go and actually learn about the history as well because London is just so historically. Absolutely, absolutely. Um, I can't also can't not talk about them the parks. Uh parks are such a large part of being in London, and you'll find if you're there and it's a sunny day that it feels like most of the population of London are in the park uh with you, but they're lovely to stroll through whatever time of year. In winter, they're just gorgeous. In in autumn, fall, the the leaves are beautiful. Summer, they're a in spring, they're a great place to just sit and enjoy the flowers and just enjoy the just chilling out. They're all again, the parks are all very different.

SPEAKER_03: 43:53

They are indeed, yes. I mean, how many times have I mentioned about maybe liking the picnic in Greenwich?

SPEAKER_01: 43:59

Yeah, absolutely. It's one of your favourite things to do. And it's a really good place to just sit um between, you know, if you're walking between attractions. For example, um, if you're going from St. James's Park, for example, if you if you're at Booking Palace and you walk into Westminster Abbey or vice versa, you walk through St. James's Park. Great place to have a sit, see the pelicans.

SPEAKER_02: 44:16

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_01: 44:17

Um, bridge gives you a great view back towards that you can see the London Eye. Um, but it's also just a great place to have a stroll and a chill out, sit down, rest your feet for a bit. Um, so yeah, and if you've got kids, that kids run around for a bit as well. Um Kensington actually, Kensington Gardens is lovely for that. It is some nice uh kids uh playground there as well, which actually takes us on a point now, which is managing your energy accessibility and overwhelm. And I will say, you know, London can be overwhelming. Um it's very it can be very, very, very busy, very, very, very noisy. I know you mentioned the noise.

SPEAKER_03: 44:51

Well, that again, that's one of the reasons I like the parks as well, like walking out Holland Park, things like that, because it's peaceful.

SPEAKER_01: 44:57

Yeah, yeah, it is. But again, like I'm talking about um just energy levels, um, it does involve a lot of walking. And as I just actually remembered before, actually, it's we're thinking about standing those cues, it involves standing. Yeah, so it that can be really tiring. And again, I will talk a bit about kind of what to wear, but I always wear the most comfortable shoes that I have. I wear my trainers, uh, I wear my Birkenstock sandals in the summer. I just make sure that they're broken in, that I'm not gonna get the worst thing I can I can think of is having blisters.

SPEAKER_03: 45:27

That's right. So I will also mention don't underestimate the walking at some of the underground stations, particularly the main stations. Uh, there could be a bit more walking than you think.

SPEAKER_01: 45:37

Yeah, no, that's absolutely true. Yeah, so just consider, you know, if you're if you're older, you're traveling a family, or you've got anybody with mobility challenges, that you it would can be really, really tiring. Um, so just you know, add some slower days into your itinerary, you know, some downtime in there. Yes. Um, because you may feel at this time because it's exciting and you're planning a trip to London and everybody's really excited. Yeah, and it costs a lot. I don't understand that, but honestly, just give yourself that downtime. You will appreciate it, you will enjoy your trip far more without don't go with a whole list of things that you've got to tick out, tick off because you'll just get burnt out and you won't enjoy it as much. Um, you know, there's there's the cafes, there's parks, there's pubs, there's lots of places where you can just go and chill out.

SPEAKER_03: 46:19

Well, I have to say, I will point this out because I was traveling on my own for those six weeks around London, a few places away from the main areas. I went into cafes and had a cup of tea and a slice of cake, but that's talking to such interesting people, you know, it's just particularly in the cafes.

SPEAKER_01: 46:36

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 46:36

It was absolutely fantastic. You know, I think I know London quite well, and you're talking to somebody that's well, I've never heard of that.

SPEAKER_01: 46:43

Oh, that's yeah, that's great. I mean, that's London, isn't it? It's like it's there's just there's always so much going on and so much to do. Um, right, so we've got some everyday practical questions that we're always asked. So we're just going to talk about a few of these. So safety, again, we have a podcast on this and an article. Just be mindful of your phones and your possessions, especially in busy areas at train stations.

SPEAKER_03: 47:05

Yes, there they are. The notorious, particularly the large train stations, because you you're distracted easily.

SPEAKER_01: 47:11

Yeah, so just be mindful of your phone. Um, I have it on a lanyard, just keep it under your top. If you're taking photographs, um, you know, just be mindful uh what who's around you, what's around you. If you're gonna be using your phone for directions, maybe try to stand against a wall or railings.

SPEAKER_03: 47:27

Yeah, um at stations, I always say there's more than one person traveling. Is one of you looking at timetables, one of you just watching all your possessions.

SPEAKER_01: 47:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 47:35

Uh don't send text or social media when you um Yeah, because you're not concentrating.

SPEAKER_01: 47:40

Because you're not concentrated on what you're doing. Exactly. So just be mindful of that. Um, all right. Well, always asked about um uh toilets, restrooms, whatever you want to call them. Um, we just recommend using a toilet finder app. So we've got a guide to apps, which I will also link to. Um, but generally there are plenty of cafes, there's McDonald's, main train stations. Um, yeah, the train stations, um, usually places that you can you can just uh access the the toilet if you need it. Um tourist traps again. This is really subjective, I think, talking about because I've heard people talk about the London Eye as a tourist trap, and I really love the London Eye, so I kind of don't agree. Um, but some uh one area I would say to be cautious around is maybe Leicester Square. I just it's kind of I would talk it. Um I tend to just go through Leicester Square on the way to somewhere else. I wouldn't hang around Leicester Square, and the restaurants around Leicester Square aren't particularly brilliant. Um, yeah, it's that's that's a bit of a more of a touristy trappy area.

SPEAKER_03: 48:35

Yeah, it depends, yeah. So your interpretation of the word tourist trap. I mean, most people are visiting London to go and see the tourist sites.

SPEAKER_01: 48:42

Yeah, I know, but I just don't know, Leicester Square is not particularly I don't know, it's never somewhere that I'm on the way to Calvin Garden, usually just walking through, yes. Um now uh what to wear again just mention uh comfortable shoes is really important. Uh weather changes quickly, right? So I can't tell you what the weather's gonna be like in London at any one time because I can't tell you for September this year, I can't tell you for next week. I could if I looked on that, but I it's just the UK weather is predictably unpredictable.

SPEAKER_03: 49:12

I use that all the time, but it is I go for layers that I can put on and off, which you'll be which you'll be uh grateful for because even in the middle of winter, if you're traveling on the underground, it can be very, very hot.

SPEAKER_01: 49:23

It can be really hot, and I also will just say that summers can be hotter than you may expect. The underground is incredibly hot. Um, it's just I mean, they put more air conditioning, but there's not a lot of air conditioning in London. Remember, these are old buildings, so museums and stuff like that don't necessarily have air conditioning, don't expect it. Um, it is getting hotter. Uh, and I've been in London when we booked a hotel that didn't have air con and we got a fan, and it was incredibly hot. I've lived in London during those hot summers, um, and it can be stifling. So I have a little handheld fan that I take with me as well. I always have that on the underground. Carry water definitely so uh with you as well. Um, and honestly, in London, it doesn't matter what you wear, comfort matters more than fashion. Just check if you're going somewhere, posh for dinner or an afternoon tea, that you if there's a dress code, that's the only thing I would check.

SPEAKER_03: 50:11

Yeah, and I will mention uh hotels. If you, for whatever reason, you are requiring um ground floor because you can't unable to tackle the stairs very easily, you need to be contacting in advance. Yes, request that you want to be on the ground floor because there's nothing worse than arriving in PCs and and you're unable to take those stairs, you weren't aware there was no lift.

SPEAKER_01: 50:34

Yeah, and also we'll mention that we use the the terminology ground floor, not first floor. So if you're used to first floor and you think that's the the the the ground floor, I don't know how to explain this, um, it won't be. So for the first floor is where you'd need stairs or a lift to get to. So we have the ground floor. So if you want a room where you don't have to, you know, if there's no lift or elevator in where you're staying, then you need to ask for the ground floor.

SPEAKER_03: 50:58

But I would always check the same floor where the entrance is, basically.

SPEAKER_01: 51:01

Yes. I would always check whether your hotel has air conditioning and I would always check if it has a lift. If those things are important to you, definitely, definitely check before you book. That's something I would 100% recommend. The other thing we get asked about is tipping.

SPEAKER_03: 51:14

Yep.

SPEAKER_01: 51:15

Often it's added to the bill. We add like 12.5%, I think, service fee in restaurants, which will cover the tip. Um, otherwise, you can just round up in like, for example, if you get a cab, just round it up uh to the nearest pound. So it's£3.50 up to up to five, or whatever.

SPEAKER_02: 51:31

It's unexpected, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01: 51:32

Um, yeah. Uh and if you wanted to tip a tour guide, again, that's up to you,£5,£10, whatever. Um, but really tipping is a nice thing to do. It's not as expected as it is in other cultures. Um, but just be aware that in restaurants a lot will already have been added. Yes. Uh public Wi-Fi, I want to talk about. There is uh Wi-Fi, a lot of public Wi-Fi available in London, which is fine, you can use it. But if you are going to use it, make sure you use a VPN, which is a virtual private network to protect your data because what you don't want to be doing is on your phone and somebody uh is able to uh intercept. Uh so I we you we always use a VPN when we travel.

SPEAKER_02: 52:10

Always.

SPEAKER_01: 52:11

Um so I can link to VPN that we recommend as well in the show notes. Uh, but there is a lot of public Wi-Fi. I'm also can talk about eSIMs as well, and I'll link to our article about eSIMs and VPNs uh in the show notes. Um yeah, so you're gonna be using your phone, whether you're gonna be using it for navigation, for your tickets, for payments, whatever, but it'll drain your batteries quickly. There's nothing worse than your phone honking out. So make sure that you have a portable charger with you because honestly, I I don't think I I don't know. My phone never seems to last as long as I think it's gonna last. Um, you know, so just make sure you've got a portable charger with you. I think that's important.

SPEAKER_03: 52:50

Yes, most definitely.

SPEAKER_01: 52:52

Okay, point 11. Are you still with us? Is imp important dates that affect London in 2026. Again, this is really important. We get this quite often in the Facebook group that um people weren't aware um of some of the major events that happen in London and they can impact crowds, prices, and transportation, even if you're not planning to attend. So it's worth knowing and considering A, if you're arriving in London any of these days, how you're getting from the airport. Uh, B, what you're gonna be doing on a day that one of these events on. So are you gonna be heading to that area or not? And C whether you're gonna be staying in accommodation that is near one of these areas or where these events are gonna be held. So the main things I just want to mention for this year is particularly the London Marathon. This catches everybody out every year. It's on Sunday, April the 26th. Trooping of the colour is on the 13th of June, and there's a rehearsal on the 6th of June. The Chelsea Flower Show, which I'm going to, I'm so excited for, is the week before the school holidays, which is the week, I think, around about, I'm going on the 22nd. So 22nd, 21st, 20th, 90th. So around about that 18th to the 22nd-ish, 23rd that week, uh for Chelsea uh flower show. Wimbledon's late.

SPEAKER_03: 54:08

You haven't mentioned the month for the Chelsea Flower Show.

SPEAKER_01: 54:10

Oh, sorry, May. I thought I said May. Oh uh Wimbledon is late June to mid-July, which is only going to be an issue if you're heading down uh to um Southfield train station, tube station, because that gets incredibly busy. And I know because I used to live beside it. Uh and yeah, there'll be a lot of people head down there. I find the best thing to do with Wimbledon is to just go and either say Covent Garden in one of the pop-ups and drink pims and watch it, or head to a pub and watch it there.

SPEAKER_02: 54:36

Most definitely.

SPEAKER_01: 54:36

Um then Notting Hill Carnival is held in late August, and then remember don't forget there's public holidays as well in uh in the UK. So you've got the regular, obviously New Year's Day, uh which is today when we're recording this, uh, Easter and uh Christmas and New Year, obviously mentioned those. But also there are public holidays called bank holidays in in the UK, which also obviously impact London, and the main ones to consider are May. There are two it's the first Monday and the last Monday in May, and also the last Monday in August. So uh they will may it mean that London will be incredibly, incredibly, incredibly busy because it's a long weekend. Also, end of May is always crazy because it's the kids are off. So it's always really, really, really busy. Also, check if there are any major concerts happening, sporting events, um, UK and also the European school holidays. For example, April is always really, really busy because a lot of the um European uh well, all the European schools are off and they seem to head to London. It seems to be a popular place to come. Um and any religious festivals. I know when you were over in Trafalgar Square. So uh it's worth checking all of that. I will be putting an article on the London site, but we do have a regular for every single month we have an art article on what you need to know about visiting London in January, February, March, April, blah blah blah, each of the months also has pictures of what I'm wearing. So if if you're concerned, and again, because we get asked so often, um, you can see what I was wearing in each of those months as well. But again, I can't guarantee the weather is going to be always always as it has been when I've taken those photos. Now, if you're short on time, I'm just gonna mention there are some smart options. If you're only gonna be in London for a day or maybe a day and a half or two days, it's a stopover. Maybe consider a touchdown tour with um discover real London, black cab tours. We recommend that. It's just amazing. They will pick you up from the airport, take you on a tour of London, and then take you back. Perfect. Um, you can also do a London and a day with walks, which is fantastic. I did that last year uh with my friend Melissa Jones, and that basically puts the major um uh what do you want to destinations in London in in this one day with a tour guide who takes you around, which is absolutely fantastic. So obviously, that's got Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, uh you trip on the Uber boat down between the two. Uh, you see the the uh changing of the guard. So a lot of the things that you may want to see if you're there for a shorter period of time. So they're really also very good to do if you just want to orientate yourself as well. Yes, um, and then you can decide what to return to later if you do some of those as well. Okay, so we're nearly at the end. So um we just want to give you kind of a kind of a realistic London mindset, right? So, like not everything needs to be iconic that you do in London. There's just some of the best things just come from wandering around the neighbourhoods, the pubs, and the smaller museum.

SPEAKER_03: 57:35

Cont agreement. Absolutely. Honestly, just soak up the moment.

SPEAKER_01: 57:38

Yeah, just wander around and enjoy it. Um, now it is normal to leave London feeling that you've missed things. I do this every single time. Every time I go, Oh, I really wanted to go and do this, or I really wanted to go and do that. And then I'm like, oh right, I need to add that in the world.

SPEAKER_03: 57:52

I'm willing to up there. We have things we must do next time we visit London. Instead of the list getting actually smaller, it gets longer. It seems to grow.

SPEAKER_01: 58:00

Yeah, it just gets longer. Every time I try, I do a little bit more of what I want to add, you know, like things are going to absolutely do this and absolutely do that. But there's always things that just get missed out.

SPEAKER_03: 58:08

Particularly if you're like, I mean, you talk to people when you're there and you point out things you've not yet done. And there's actually always new discoveries, there's always new things being added.

SPEAKER_01: 58:17

Yeah, yeah. I think that's the thing. It's like I'll have I'll have my list and then I'll I'll have discovered something else, and I'll go, Oh, I really want to do that and not manage to fit it in, which again is giving yourself that flexibility. Bearing in mind, I tend to spend months at a time then, and I still kind of go, Oh my goodness, there's something I've missed out. Um, so it's normal that you feel that you've missed things, and honestly, London, you I don't think it's meant to be completed in one visit. You couldn't do it, you just couldn't. So, as I say, it's you know what it means? It just means that you've got to go again. Yeah, that's right. And I will say, do less and you'll have a better trip. Yeah, really, genuinely, just do not what you think you're gonna fit in, genuinely, at the moment, you probably won't be able to. And I honestly, I can say hand on heart, I'm also terrible at doing this. I will sit in there and I have to think, no, I'm realistic, I need to know, I won't I won't be able to do that. I've got to pace myself. So, and that's coming from me who's been living there and travelling around London and planning well. Yeah, that's true. That's true. I always find it's uh it takes time actually to plan uh, I think a realistic London itinerary. I think so. You know, um so lastly, if you want support with Planning London, their options depend on how hands-on you want to be. So on London travelplanning.com, we've got detailed area guides, transport advice, and London specific resources to help your plan with confidence. There's also lots of London specific podcast episodes as well. Uh, we have some products as well as um the website. We have some products that we sell, which can also help you, which is uh we have a ultimate London travel planning map, brings together everything in one place, includes over 900 hand-picked location, expert tips, and our local insights, and it's an all in an easy to use interactive digital map. So you can add that on top of it.

SPEAKER_03: 1:00:11

It is good because I use that when I was there.

SPEAKER_01: 1:00:12

Yes, a lot of people when they bought, they can say, Oh, this is amazing. It is really good. Now, whether it's your first visit, your tenth, the map will help me explore the very best of London, honestly, from must see sites to hidden jobs, and I'm adding to it all the time. So um I will put a link to to get the London travel planning map as well in the show notes. Now, if you prefer something more structured, we do have our London travel guide and itinerary planners, and they're especially designed for first-time visitors, and they will walk step by step through your itinerary planning, highlighting the key sites and some practical advice on transport, food, and day trips so you can feel prepared before you arrive. Um, and also we have we have some services, so we have a product, but we also have services. So we if you have an itinerary, um, we offer a personalized itinerary review. So basically you send us your itinerary, we'll go through it, so ask us any questions and we will basically adjust it, add to it, make some suggestions, suggest improvements on it. We recently did just, we've actually just recently done one from for London, um, which we had some gaps in and the lady wanted some suggestions, so we're able to suggest based on her interest um and what her um her travel party wanted, we're able to suggest lots of different options. So that's a video consult. So basically that's if you give us a rough itinerary, we'll go through it. If you when you want that reassurance and some expert feed feedback in a personalized itinerary review video, then that's the option. But the other option we have is a one-on-one consult.

SPEAKER_03: 1:01:41

Yeah, and these are ones that we've had incredibly positive feedback from. We've been doing them a few years now, and yeah, we've had people coming back for more than one.

SPEAKER_01: 1:01:51

Yes, I think I think some people have done about three or four, three or four consultations now for every trip that they take back to the UK. So um video consults work really, really well if you've if you've already got a fair idea for what your itinerary is going to look like. Consultations, honestly, we can help you put together what you want to do. Obviously, we we only have an hour, so if you want longer, so if you're gonna be in London for uh for a month, you may want to do more than one hour, but we can certainly answer questions and help you uh it sort of put your itinerary together so it makes sense.

SPEAKER_03: 1:02:20

And not just for London, they cover the whole of the UK.

SPEAKER_01: 1:02:22

Yes, we cover the whole of the UK, and Doug also offers a specific targeted one for train travel. So if you're planning a train itinerary as well. Now, also for 2026, this is something brand new, we're offering a personalized itinerary planning service where I will help you design your London trip from the ground up. So that's we'll chat to be to you about what it is that you want, and we will put a plan together for you so that you can book your hotels and tours. Um, now some people love planning the trips themselves, whether it's to London or the UK. You know, some other people want guidance, reassurance, or some expert input, whatever works for you, because both approaches are completely valid. The main thing is that you end up with a London trip that suits you and feels enjoyable and not overwhelming. So we thought we'd end the episode with a bit of a kind of summary of the major takeaways that we wanted to kind of talk about in this episode, or which we have talked about. So this is summary, really. So London is bigger than you think, it takes longer to get around than you may expect. You won't be able to see everything, and that's absolutely normal. Um, biggest planning consideration is try not to create an itinerary with too much in it. London really works best when you consider by area, group things together, and obviously just accept that sometimes doing less leads to just a much better experience. Consider where you're staying, because that's more important than often people realise, being close to the right transport links, especially a tube station, especially honestly, at the end of the at the end of every single day, you'll be really appreciative of that. Um, some things will need booking ahead, especially consider anything that you'll be disappointed to miss. Really get those booked. A lot of things can be flexible, and you know, to be do be flexible, put a couple of main things in your day and then just kind of see how it goes.

SPEAKER_02: 1:04:09

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 1:04:10

Also, just that London, yes, we know it's it is pricey, but you can find some ways to kind of cut costs, which include the free museums, walk-in between areas, role transport, mail deals, yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, and really kind of considering which attractions you go to see. Just remember that London is not a city's rush, it rewards slower travel, curiosity, and wondering. If you leave feeling there's more to see, then it just means you have experienced London properly. Absolutely. So, yeah, so that's that's it from us, I guess, for another episode of the podcast. Um, remember, London isn't really a difficult plan, it just does reward planning done the right way. Um, in the next episode, we're going to be diving much deeper into getting around the UK and how to choose between trains and cars, which is a big decision for trips that go beyond London. Remember, in London, you don't need a car. I really don't. Um, yeah, and then there will be further episodes in the year where I'll be breaking London down in each of its different neighbourhoods and chatting through that. But I think that's it for this episode, Doug.

SPEAKER_03: 1:05:13

I think so too.

SPEAKER_01: 1:05:14

Yeah, so you can find links to everything I chatted about in the show notes for this episode, which are at uktravelplanning.com forward slash episode 183. I will put links to other podcasts that we have about London as well, and links to all of the different things we chatted about in this episode. I think that just leaves myself and Doug to say until next week. 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 uktravelplanning.com. 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.