Are you planning a trip to London for the first time? If you answered yes, there are a few things you should know before traveling. This guide will help you navigate the city like a local to enjoy the best of London’s (in my opinion), must-see attractions! It will also shed some insights into safety tips to help you plan your travel.
If you follow me on social media then you already know I visited London in the summer with my family. It’s a great place for family especially if you are interested in European history.
Before planning your trip be sure to see if your country requires a visa and vaccine card. I was traveling from the United States which at the time only required a passport. In the USA cellular providers offer international cell phone plans so you are not charged roaming fees. Be sure to research your providers International plans and signup for one before your trip. The international plan is good for a certain amount of GB and will save you money.
Another option is to purchase a United Kingdom SIM card for your phone at the airport when you arrive. You won’t be able to receive calls and texts to your American phone number when using the SIM, however, the SIM card gets better cellphone reception in most places since it is recognized as a European phone number. You may even experience faster wifi. If you opt to do this you can remove the SIM when you are at your hotel, Airbnb, or anywhere you need to use your American phone number. Just be sure to stay on wifi so you are not charged roaming fees or data usage while using your American number.
Though most places accept credit cards it is always good to exchange some American dollars for pounds (the currency) in advance for the best exchange rates. Pounds will come in handy for small things you may not plan for. If you re traveling with credit cards be sure to notify your credit card companies in advance and let them know where you are traveling to avoid any CC interruptions.
Once you are ready to book your flight be sure to purchase a visitor Oyster card in advance. You will need an Oyster card to use the different modes of transportation such as the Tube, trams, buses, etc. You cannot get an Oyster card in London so make sure to buy one in advance.
Now that you have your trip planned and you are ready to visit London it’s important to make a checklist of all of the attractions you want to visit so you can purchase tickets in advance (to avoid lines), and so you don’t miss anything. Check online schedules and make reservations for all the attractions you want to visit prior to your trip. This will save you money and guarantee your tickets in advance.
Here are my top 10 must-see attractions:
- The London Eye. You can book tickets online. Trust me, you’ll want to see the views.
- Houses of Parliament
- The British Museum
- Buckingham Palace
- Tower of London
- St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Big Ben
- Westminster Abbey
- Trafalgar Square
- Tower Bridge Exhibition
There are many other attractions you’ll want to explore and capture photos of so make sure to pack an external phone charger and the appropriate power adapter to keep all of your devices charged. Also, don’t forget to pack your selfie stick turned tripod to get photos of the entire family as well as a printed copy of your passport: pickpocketing can happen.
I hope this article helps you plan for a smooth and exciting trip to London! Leave me a comment below with your favorite places to visit when you get back.
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