What Not To Do In London – 17 Mistakes to Avoid!

Are you visiting London for the first time?

As a newbie in London, there a few easy mistakes to make that can also be costly. To help you avoid some faux pas, I have made a list of common tourist errors.

I have been guilty of a few myself – most definintely number 3, number 8 and number 10!

Avoiding these 17 easy to make mistakes can save valuable time and money.

Read on and find out what not to do on a visit to London.

Overpacking Your Itinerary

London has so much to see that it’s tempting to try and cram everything in.

The Mistake: Trying to visit 5 museums, 3 landmarks, and a market in one day.

The Fix: Prioritise! Choose a few must-see attractions for each day and allow ample time for exploration, travel between sites, and spontaneous discoveries. Building in some downtime for a coffee or a relaxed pub visit will make your trip much more enjoyable and less stressful.

Not Booking Popular Attractions in Advance

London’s top sights are popular for a reason, and showing up without a ticket can lead to long queues and disappointment.

The Mistake: Turning up at the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, or the London Eye without pre-booked tickets. Booking is also often desirable at free attractions like The British Museum. 

The Fix: For any must-see attraction, always book your tickets online in advance. Not only does this save you significant time queuing, but many attractions offer a small discount for online bookings. This is especially crucial during peak season (summer, school holidays) or for timed entry attractions.

Only Visiting the “Big” Attractions

While the Houses of Parliament and the British Museum are incredible, London has so many hidden gems, some of which are free or cheaper.

The Mistake: Sticking solely to the most famous landmarks and missing out on the city’s diverse character.

The Fix: Dedicate some time to exploring charming neighbourhoods like Notting Hill, Shoreditch (for street art and vibrant nightlife), Greenwich (for maritime history and the Royal Observatory), or Hampstead (for village charm and walks).

There are plenty of smaller niche museums including the Jack the Ripper Museum, Florence Nightingale Museum, the Cartoon Museum and the Old Operating Museum to name but a few. 

Tipping Too Generously (or when it’s not expected)

Tipping culture in the UK is different from some other countries, notably the USA, and over-tipping is a common mistake

The Mistake: Automatically adding a large tip (e.g., 15-20%) to every bill, or tipping for services where it’s not customary.

The Fix:  Tipping is definitely a must and  appreciated, just make sure it’s not too much (or too little).

Tipping is super easy if you know the rules and is normally done to show appreciation for excellent service. Here are the rules:

• It’s customary to tip if you’ve had good service at a restaurant. The normal amount to tip is between 10 and 12%. However, it’s not always necessary to tip. Sometimes, a restaurant will add a service charge onto the bill. Check the bill when you pay to see if this is the case. If this happens you are not expected to tip as it’s covered by this charge.
• Only tip if you have service to your table. If you eat at a pub and order food and drinks at the bar, you don’t need to tip. Likewise, you don’t need to tip at coffee shops.
• Taxi drivers – It’s very common to round up the taxi fare to give a bit extra and tell the driver to keep the change. Otherwise you can tip 10% especially if you’ve had good service (for example they’ve helped carry your bags). Tip Uber drivers on the app if you’ve had good service.

• Leave a tip on a free walking tour if you enjoyed it as this how the guides earn an income. Tipping a paid tour guide isn’t expected but you can if you want to.
• Tipping is customary in 5 star hotels. Tip your porter about £2 per bag and give room service a couple of pounds tip if you’re happy. Tipping is not expected or done in most mid range or budget hotels but staff will always be happy to receive a tip for good service.

Not Knowing the London Lingo

Us Brits have our unique phrases and vocabulary that other English speaking countries don’t. Here are a few words and phrases to know when visiting London

You alright or alright? – This is often asked as a quick greeting and used a lot. It’s a way of saying hello rather than asking if something’s wrong. Normally, “yes, good, thanks” is the only reply that’s needed.

Use:
Bill instead of cheque
Bin instead of trashcan
Lift instead of elevator
Chips instead of fries
Biscuit instead of cookie
Ice lolly instead of popsicle
Pavement instead of sidewalk
Jumper instead of sweater
Loo or toilet instead of bathroom / restroom
Queue instead of line

Money is in pounds and pence. You may hear quid used as an alternative to pounds. So if you ask how much something is and they say 6 quid they mean 6 pounds.

Sorry – we say sorry a lot. It’s ingrained. Sorry.

Don’t worry too much if you use American English. Most Brits will know what you mean. We’ve watched a lot of American TV!

Booking Tickets At the Last Minute

Want to visit the popular attractions or see a popular theatre show? Book tickets well in advance to avoid disappointment, especially in peak tourist times. Many popular attractions in London, such as the Tower of London and the London Eye, have long queues and can sell out quickly. It’s also likely your tickets will be cheaper if you book in advance..

Not Using the Tube

The first time I was in London on my own using the tube felt scary. Everybody else seemed to know what they were doing except for me. However I quickly learned, using the tube is super easy. Plus, it’s the best and cheapest way to get across London.

Top Tip – If you’re worried, practice looking at a tube map in advance. Have fun working out what lines to take to get between places.

Using the Tube at Peak Time

The first time I used the Tube at rush hour, I was amazed how many people could squeeze onto one tube carriage.  I watched 4 trains arrive and leave the station before I realised I would have to squeeze on too, otherwise I would be late for my new job!

Avoid this scenario by not using the Tube at peaktimes. Then you won’t have to squeeze yourself in like a sardine!

The best times to avoid are 7:30-9am and 5-7pm on weekdays. 

Using Paper Tickets (Use an Oyster Card or Contactless Card / Device Instead)

Purchase an Oyster card or use a contactless payment card/device for cheaper fares than single paper tickets. For journeys where the Tube isn’t direct, use buses, which offer great views of the city.

Use apps like Citymapper or Google Maps for real-time public transport navigation. 

Use an Oyster or contactless payment for travel on the Tube, buses, the DLR, the rail network in Greater London, river services, Heathrow Express and trains between Gatwick and London.

Taking the Tube When You Can Walk

Although the tube is the best way to get across London, a mistake many visitors make is not realising how close together some of the tube stations are. Sometimes, it’s quicker to walk, rather than go on the tube.

Walking is a great way to discover the city. Check how long it takes to walk between destinations with the citymapper app

Wearing Uncomfortable Shoes

No matter whether you walk or use the Tube, a trip to London means you will be on your feet a lot. Make sure you wear some flat, comfortable shoes.

Standing on the Wrong Side of the Escalator

If you’re using the escalator in the Tube make sure you stand on the right hand side. This is so people can use the left hand side for walking past you quickly. If you stand on the left, you may be asked to move to the right so people can get by.

Missing out on Free Attractions

Don’t make the mistake of only focusing on the paid attractions. You’ll miss out on many wonderful, free things to see and do.

London has a wealth of free museums, galleries, and parks that offer a great way to experience the city without breaking the bank. You can spend days and even weeks in London, visiting free attraction. Some highlights include the Natural History Museum and the British museum.

There’s also the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace which is free to watch and popular with tourists.

Pronouncing Place Names Incorrectly

London (and the rest of the UK) have some weird and wonderful place names where the spelling doesn’t match the pronunciation.

For example
Leicester (as in Leicester Square) is pronounced Less ter.
Greenwich is pronounced Grenich
Marylebone is pronounced Marlibun
Borough is pronounce Bura.

Not Knowing the Tax is Included in the Price.

In the UK, the tax is included in the price of items, so you don’t need to add it on before you buy.

Underestimating the Weather

Weather can change quickly in London. Check the forecast before you go out to make sure you have the right gear. Layers are great for wearing in London. Add a layer when you get chilly and take one off when you’re hot.
You may need an umbrella or sunscreen (and sometimes on the same day!).

Expecting Waitress Service in a Pub

In most pubs you will need to go to a bar to order food and drink. The bartender will make your drink while you’re waiting. If you order food, They will take your table number and they will bring the food to your table when it’s ready.

Pubs are the only place in the UK where is no visible queue. It’s simple, just wait at the bar to be served and the bartender tries to serve customers in order.

Not Looking Both Ways When You Cross the Street

UK drivers drive on the left. It’s easy to forget this, so make sure you look both ways when crossing the street to avoid getting run over.

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