{"id":1906,"date":"2025-06-19T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/?p=1906"},"modified":"2025-07-16T16:41:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T15:41:13","slug":"tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for travelling in London for the first time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>While <a href=\"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/tours\/london-tours\/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=tips-london-first-time-visitors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">London<\/a> is a fantastic place to explore, millions of inbound travellers come to the UK&#8217;s capital. That, coupled with little knowledge of the city rules and culture, can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re here to make your journey smoother with seven essential travel tips that will help you navigate London like a pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tips for travelling to London at a glance:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Book in advance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Master the tap<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stand on the right<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visit free museums<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take a night walk along the South Bank<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be polite<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don&#8217;t stress about tipping<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Book in advance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With over 30 million international visitors each year, London is a bustling metropolis where attractions can get crowded quickly. If you have your heart set on specific experiences, such as visiting the Tower of London or catching a West End show, booking tickets in advance is highly recommended. Not only will this secure your spot, but it can also save you money and time spent waiting in long lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Master the tap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1530435622277-39544076a5f8?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;s=caa3c1fcf6ef07832b9122c1b19c9ee8&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1050&amp;q=80\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The London Underground, also known as <a href=\"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/a-visitors-guide-to-london-public-transport\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Tube<\/a>, is the quickest way to cross the city. You can either purchase an Oyster card from ticket machines or use a contactless payment card to \u2018tap\u2019 in and out at the station gates. Make sure you avoid \u2018card clash\u2019 by taking your card out of your wallet first, or you might end up paying more than you wanted to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stand on the right<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Londoners take their escalator etiquette seriously. On the escalators, always stand on the right and walk on the left. This practice allows those in a rush to pass quickly. <a href=\"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/traveling-in-london-like-a-true-local\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Adhering to this simple rule<\/a> will keep you in step with the city\u2019s fast-paced rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Museums are free<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1524872477987-3d40698e20b9?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;s=c2cf1d218e4ec1fd1a980a1348c414fc&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1189&amp;q=80\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of <a href=\"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/travel-guide\/london-guide\/the-ultimate-guide-to-museums-in-london-and-what-you-can-learn-when-visiting-them\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">London\u2019s most renowned museums and galleries<\/a> are free to enter, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, and the Tate Modern. While some special exhibitions may require paid tickets, the general collections are open to all. It\u2019s a wonderful way to immerse yourself in art, history, and culture without spending a penny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take a walk (especially at night)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1531561452248-84db55b6d9a2?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;s=42a4793d1c260d6e45b6f3d6674743e7&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1050&amp;q=80\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>London is generally a safe city to explore, even after dark. In fact, some of the most stunning views are best experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/tours\/london-tours\/see-london-by-night\/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=tips-london-first-time-visitors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">at night<\/a>. Take a leisurely walk along the South Bank and soak in the illuminated skyline, the twinkling lights of iconic landmarks, and the lively atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Be polite<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the UK, politeness is more than a courtesy &#8211; it\u2019s a cultural expectation. Rather than being assertive, adopt a friendly and patient demeanour. Saying \u2018please,\u2019 \u2018thank you,\u2019 and \u2018excuse me\u2019 can go a long way in getting helpful responses and warm smiles from locals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don&#8217;t stress about tipping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1523540939399-141cbff6a8d7?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;s=37e53fb0167c9adfc4e3add2ef50580f&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1050&amp;q=80\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike some other countries, tipping in the UK is not mandatory. However, it is appreciated. If you receive excellent service in a restaurant, consider leaving a 10% tip. Taxi drivers also welcome a small gratuity, but you won\u2019t face any backlash if you choose not to tip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Extra tips to save money when travelling in London<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Choose grocery shopping over restaurants <\/strong>&#8211; Buying snacks and meals from grocery stores like Tesco or Sainsbury\u2019s is often much cheaper than purchasing tourist food from stalls.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Take advantage of discounts <\/strong>&#8211; Students, youth, and seniors can access discounts through their IDs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Buy a SIM card <\/strong>&#8211; Purchasing a local SIM card with a reasonable data allowance avoids expensive roaming charges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Privilege-free attractions<\/strong> &#8211; Many <a href=\"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/tours\/museum-tours\/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=tips-london-first-time-visitors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">top London museums<\/a>, such as the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, and the Tate Modern, offer free entry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Invest in a London Pass <\/strong>&#8211; The London Pass bundles attraction tickets, transport, hop\u2011on tours, and discounts into one money-saving package.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep these basic tips for travelling to London in mind and you&#8217;ll surely have a fantastic time! For those looking for new, exciting ways to explore the capital, take a look at our <a href=\"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/tours\/london-tours\/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=tips-london-first-time-visitors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">London experiences<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many people visit London each year. As it can be overwhelming for first-time visitors, we listed top tips for travelling to London for the first time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1909,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[605,587,1840],"tags":[1784,1786,1785,1362,1783],"class_list":{"0":"post-1906","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-local-guides","8":"category-london","9":"category-travel-tips","10":"tag-london-first-time-visitors","11":"tag-london-travel-advice","12":"tag-london-travel-guide","13":"tag-london-travel-tips","14":"tag-tips-for-travelling-to-london"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tips for travelling to London for the first time | Evan Evans Tours<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Many people visit London each year. As it can be overwhelming for first-time visitors, read tips for travelling to London for the first time.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tips for travelling to London for the first time | Evan Evans Tours\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Many people visit London each year. As it can be overwhelming for first-time visitors, read tips for travelling to London for the first time.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Evan Evans Tours\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/evanevanstours\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-19T06:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-16T15:41:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/photo-1523540939399-141cbff6a8d7.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1050\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"700\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Evan Evans\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Evan Evans\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Tips for travelling to London for the first time | Evan Evans Tours","description":"Many people visit London each year. As it can be overwhelming for first-time visitors, read tips for travelling to London for the first time.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Tips for travelling to London for the first time | Evan Evans Tours","og_description":"Many people visit London each year. As it can be overwhelming for first-time visitors, read tips for travelling to London for the first time.","og_url":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/","og_site_name":"Evan Evans Tours","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/evanevanstours\/","article_published_time":"2025-06-19T06:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-07-16T15:41:13+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1050,"height":700,"url":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/photo-1523540939399-141cbff6a8d7.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Evan Evans","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Evan Evans","Estimated reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/"},"author":{"name":"Evan Evans","@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/4040a5b368eb5a4082c8466e946526dd"},"headline":"Tips for travelling in London for the first time","datePublished":"2025-06-19T06:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-16T15:41:13+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/"},"wordCount":657,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/photo-1523540939399-141cbff6a8d7.jpeg","keywords":["london first time visitors","london travel advice","london travel guide","london travel tips","tips for travelling to london"],"articleSection":["Local Guides","London","Travel Tips"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/","url":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/","name":"Tips for travelling to London for the first time | Evan Evans Tours","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/photo-1523540939399-141cbff6a8d7.jpeg","datePublished":"2025-06-19T06:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-16T15:41:13+00:00","description":"Many people visit London each year. As it can be overwhelming for first-time visitors, read tips for travelling to London for the first time.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/photo-1523540939399-141cbff6a8d7.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/photo-1523540939399-141cbff6a8d7.jpeg","width":1050,"height":700,"caption":"London Tips"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/tips-for-your-first-visit-in-london\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Tips for travelling in London for the first time"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/","name":"Evan Evans Tours","description":"Britain&#039;s Finest Sightseeing Since 1933","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Evan Evans Tours","url":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ee-logo-amp.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ee-logo-amp.jpg","width":600,"height":60,"caption":"Evan Evans Tours"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/evanevanstours\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/evanevanstours\/?hl=en","https:\/\/www.pinterest.co.uk\/evanevanstours\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCRiqWang9hRy-X_C3VnTXiA"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/4040a5b368eb5a4082c8466e946526dd","name":"Evan Evans","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8ccd687c1d5e592b8f3dd124c75ee687d6d931f784fa34f1f66047190b0fb1f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8ccd687c1d5e592b8f3dd124c75ee687d6d931f784fa34f1f66047190b0fb1f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8ccd687c1d5e592b8f3dd124c75ee687d6d931f784fa34f1f66047190b0fb1f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Evan Evans"},"description":"Since 1933, Evan Evans provides unforgettable journeys and experiences to Britain\u2019s most iconic locations. Journey deep into the heart of Britain\u2019s incredible history, culture and legends on an expert-guided tour with London\u2019s longest-running sightseeing operator."}]}},"modified_by":"Evan Evans","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1906","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1906"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1906\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1906"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1906"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evanevanstours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1906"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}