Visiting London for the first time without losing your mind:
I have been fortunate enough to have been to London three times at this point and I still haven’t come close to seeing everything. Just decide now that you’ll be back and let yourself off the hook to try and pack everything in. My suggestion would be to pull up Google Maps and see if you can’t group things together instead of running all over the city like a crazy person.
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Another key element when you’re visiting London for the first time is The London Pass. Pretty much EVERYTHING you want to see is covered by The London Pass and you can prioritize your time that way. One thing I’ve discovered that I’d like to pass along is that it is way easier to use the London Pass if you buy it directly from them.
Going through a travel site like Expedia or Viator is fine but they typically give you a voucher that you need to then go to a London Pass location to have it activated which in my opinion is an annoying use of your limited time in the city. Just my opinion but there ya go…
Mind The Gap: How to use The Tube
Hands down my favorite public transportation system…probably seems random that I have a favorite but I do. It absolutely BLEW MY MIND that the seats on the train were upholstered. Do you have any idea what would happen to UPHOLSTERED seats in NYC’s subway system??? The mind reels at the horrific possibilities.
I love the TubeMap App. It has a journey planner in it which will tell you which station is closest to you, which train to take when you get there and what stop to get off at or if you need to change trains to get where you’re going this is super handy when you’re visiting London for the first time.
- Go to The Transport for London site and get an Oyster Card set up and mailed to you before your trip so you don’t have to worry with finding a kiosk to buy a card/tickets when you arrive while you’re standing there with all your luggage exhausted.
- They also accept contactless payment cards now as well at the turnstiles.
- ALWAYS tap your card at the turnstile when you enter a station and when you exit a station.
- When actively riding, I usually keep my card easily accessible so I don’t hold up the line leaving the station. After I leave, it then goes back in my wallet.
- When using the escalators with luggage or when you’re not in a hurry, stand on the right or walk on the left. If you stand on the left you’re going to end up blocking up the way for the local commuters which will just make everyone grumpy.
- When entering the train, wait for anyone coming off to get out before you enter.
My 12 Favorite Sites to See when you’re visiting London for the first time:
- Kensington Palace: Home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Absolutely loved this one as I’m a bit of a Queen Victoria nut. They have an incredible exhibit featuring some of her and Albert’s clothes and other items from their lives. Very sweet.
Also, depending on when you go they typically have something about Princess Diana going on. The first time I went they had a huge display of her various outfits/dresses taking you through her fashion journey and now they have her wedding dress on display. There is also a garden honoring her now (late 2021) that you can check out.
They also have a very cute café if you’re looking for a bite to eat. I had a light lunch there when I was short on time. - Buckingham Palace: The Queen’s Gallery hosts an amazing collection of art that you really need to see at least once in your life. Masterpieces by some of the world’s greatest and best-known artists – including Vermeer, Rembrandt, van Dyck, Rubens, Titian and Canaletto.
The State Rooms are beautiful as well. Please double check on their website before you set your dates if this is a must do on your trip as the palace is only open at certain times of the year.- Changing of the Guard: Something you can almost always catch at Buckingham Palace. Go here for dates/times: Changing of the Guard Website.
- Pro Tip: Get there a little early and score a spot on the Victoria Memorial. It’s a little higher up and you can see the band and the guards marching in.
- The Tower of London: This one was a huge deal for me. I have always been a little obsessed with Queen Elizabeth I and her mother, Anne Boleyn. In my opinion this is a definite stop and you could easily spend most of your day here. The Crown Jewels are displayed here as well and are obviously spectacular. The Yeoman Warder tours are absolutely 100% worth your time! They are every 30 mins and you will get SO much out of it. The Yeoman Warders (or Beefeaters) know everything about The Tower of London and they do such a great job making it all interesting. Tickets can be found here or included with your London Pass.
- Shakespeare’s Globe: This is a reconstruction of the original Globe but completely wonderful to visit. It’s gorgeous and they have a very cool guided tour that you can get tickets to here or its included with your London Pass. The exhibition inside the Globe is really cool and very informational.
- Thames River Cruise: I loved loved loved this. Such a cool way to see the city and I got great pics of the Tower Bridge (which a lot of people think is the London bridge but spoiler…its not. Haha…)
- Westminster Abbey: One of those crazy experiences that we Americans have when we encounter something so incredibly old that we can’t wrap our heads around it. Some of the tombs date back to 1066. They say there are over 3,000 people buried there. It’s also where Prince William married Kate Middleton.
- The West End-Wicked: Ok so you all know I love NYC and love love Broadway. HOWEVER, I will say my West End experience seeing Wicked with my mom was amazing. The theatre sells VIP packages and staff are so attentive and welcoming. The whole thing was significantly less than I would have spent in NYC for way more then I typically get on Broadway. Just saying…see a show.
- British Museum: Apparently one of the largest collection of works ever. Very cool opportunity to see incredible stuff from all over the world.
- Greenwich: This is a little bit outside of central London but worth the trip. A fun option is taking the light rail to Greenwich and then taking the river cruise back to London. Somethings to see when you go:
- The Queen’s House: Former royal residence of Queen Anne of Denmark. Absolutely STUNNING. The house itself is beautiful, the grounds around are gorgeous and it now houses an incredible collection of artwork. One piece in particular, The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I was a big moment for me.
- The Cutty Sark: A 150 year old British merchant ship that was the fastest of its time and has seen 16 different countries.
- National Maritime Museum: Contains the world’s largest maritime library and archive collection.
- Royal Observatory: Planetarium and home of Greenwich Meantime, the Prime Meridian. Cool photo op of you on either side of the line!
- The National Portrait Gallery: The first portrait gallery in the world when it opened in 1856. You will, of course, recognize The National Gallery as it sits in Trafalgar Square which does a pretty good job of hiding The National Portrait Gallery from view. However, if you have the time it’s a very cool gallery to walk through as it houses the most extensive collection of portraits in the world.
- Portobello Rd Market: Running the length of Notting Hill, this famous street market is a MUST SEE if you can plan your trip around being there on a Saturday. Antiques, clothes, food…you can find anything and everything here and if you pay attention…you’ll spot a little “Travel Book Shop” from the movie Notting Hill.
- Fortnum and Mason: Admittedly a little pricey but I just love it. I stop every time I’m in London for their iconic tins of biscuits and teas. Multiple floors of all types of things, it’s a great rainy day shopping excursion for sure. Their Afternoon Tea…by the way…is amazing and a total experience for any special occasion.
BONUS SUGGESTIONS!
Day Trips can add a little extra when you’re visiting London for the first time:
One of the nice things about being in London is that it’s pretty easy to get out of town and see some of the other things England has to offer from castles and cathedrals to world heritage sites and beautiful landscapes. I have definitely taken advantage of this and I’ve been on the following two trips and would HIGHLY recommend it if you have time!
Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath
Windsor Castle: Through an absolutely bizarre twist of fate, I ended up taking my first trip to London not only during the Queen’s birthday celebrations but also during the London Marathon. The day I was at Windsor Castle, the Queen started the marathon in front of the Round Tower to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the race.
We had to wait for the ceremony to be over to enter the grounds. Very exciting. You can tour the state apts and grounds in addition the St. George’s Chapel but be advised…the chapel is closed to the public on Sundays.
Stonehenge: Definitely a bucket list situation for me for sure. You’re driving along through the countryside and then bam…there it is. So cool. The visitor’s center has a great exhibition inside and a nice little café to get a bite to eat in.
Bath: Very interesting stop…home of Jane Austen and The Roman Baths, you’ll get quite the history lesson here. Beautiful architecture to admire as you drive around town and the tour of the baths themselves was amazing.
Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and the Cliffs of Dover
Leeds Castle: Taking directly from their website because the list of amazingness is intense, Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold; the private property of six of England’s medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon; a Jacobean country house; a Georgian mansion; an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous; and in the 21st century, it has become one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain.
When we went, we were treated to a sample of mead when we arrived and then given a tour. Afterwards we were able to roam the gardens on our own and honestly it was one of the highlights. Incredibly well kept and intriguing to look at…definitely make sure to take the time if you go.
Canterbury Cathedral: Oh ya know…just a 1400 year old cathedral…no big deal. It’s actually one of 20 magnificent cathedrals in England. Jaw dropping architecture and a very intense history await you. Some of my highlights:
Tomb of the Black Prince
ALL of the stained glass. Just wow.
The Crypt
The Martyrdom
Where Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170.
We also had a very nice stroll through Canterbury itself which was adorable.
Cliffs of Dover:
Admittedly a bit of a letdown but maybe that’s just me. It was really just a photo stop at the beach. I’m not sure what I expected but obviously, that wasn’t it. Haha… Our tour guide did point out some old WWII bunkers/tunnels built into the cliffs which I thought were pretty amazing. Otherwise…meh.
In conclusion, visiting London for the first time can be a little overwhelming but is totally worth it! Just, remember…you could spend weeks and not hit it all so don’t stress yourself out.
As I said above, pick a couple of things that mean the most to you and tell yourself you’ll just have to visit again later. Check out this post for more info on where to stay and what to eat!