London is a beautiful place to visit, especially if you’ve never travelled to the capital of the UK before. 

It’s a hive of activity and it’s one that you’ll find exciting at every corner. With that being said, if you find yourself Visiting London for the first time, then there are definitely a few things to get up to and keep you occupied.

Here’s everything you should be doing when visiting London for the first time.

Book your hotels or accommodation in advance

London is a busy city and that means that there are tourists coming from all over the world to see this incredible part of the world. It’s therefore important that even if you live in the UK yourself, you’re prioritising your hotel or accommodation booking. This should be your first port of call when it comes to organising a trip to the city.

Whether you’re staying for a night or a few days, as soon as you have a date to move, book your hotel or accommodation immediately. The longer in advance you book, the more you’re likely to save as a result of booking far ahead.

You might be able to find some last-minute deals but you don’t want to risk booking something too late that you’re left with very few options and options that are extremely expensive!

Take the train rather than driving

When you’re travelling to the city from the UK, consider taking the train directly to a main station that’s London Euston, Kings Cross St Pancreas, or London Liverpool Street.

Taking the train is a lot easier than attempting to drive into London. Even if driving, you’re going to likely need to park outside of London at a nearby underground station. That also means you’re paying for parking, which can end up costing a fortune too.

To help save money and make the journey less of a hassle, take the train where you can.

Go see a West End Show

Fancy seeing what talents lie in the West End? If you’re a fan of West End shows, then it’s definitely worth booking something during your trip.

Even if you don’t particularly have a preference for musicals or plays, it’s always a great, cultural experience to see them whenever you can. It’s also important that the general public supports the arts, as it’s often an underfunded part of the wider market.

There are lots of great West End shows worth seeing while visiting. You might want to book ahead online or head down to one of the ticketing booths available in Leicester Square. This might be a worthwhile choice when it comes to buying them spontaneously.

Explore all of the typical tourist hotspots

You’ve got a lot of Typical Tourist Hotspots that make London what it is. From certain tube station areas to specific monuments or activities. There’s a lot to get up to as a tourist, many that are exclusive to London itself.

For example, seeing the Times-Square-like version of London that is Piccadilly Circus is worth visiting. You should also check out other areas like Leicester Square, Chelsea, Camden, Shoreditch High Street, Covent Garden, and Seven Dials to name but a few.

Visit all the free museums

There are lots of freebies in London, despite it being quite an expensive trip and city to visit. While there are lots of things you’ll need to pay for, there are plenty of places that you can explore and enjoy for no cost whatsoever.

For example, you’ve got an assortment of museums that are all free to explore if you are interested in the history and culture that London and the rest of the UK has to offer.

Some free museums to add to your to-do list when it comes to taking advantage of these freebies are:

• Natural History Museum
• British Museum
• Imperial War Museum
• Victoria & Albert Museum
• The Science Museum

There are plenty more, so it’s definitely worth exploring beyond just the main ones in the heart of the city itself.

Go up the Shard for a view of the city

Finally, when it comes to viewing the city in the best way, it’s essential to visit the Shard. It’s the tallest building in London and has a great viewing platform that is wonderful. Whether that’s in the day or night, it offers some great views of the cityscape.

City travel is always an experience, wherever you go and when it comes to London, you’re not going to be short of opportunities to explore this rich and historic place.

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