8 Mistakes Tourists make in London

Summer is here in London! And with the glorious sunshine gracing us, this wonderful weather also comes with the influx of tourists from around the world. The central London shops are now flooded throughout the week and the tubes are packed even outside of rush-hour. As much as I’m glad to see London’s economy is booming once again, I admit selfishly I did love having the city more to myself these last nine months.

Here’s a few tips on how to not stand out as a tourist and to fit into our hustle and bustle culture 😉

P.S. I say these all with love as I was once a tourist myself

1.Standing on the left

Whenever going on the escalator, especially in the underground, you always stand to the right and walk on the left. Nothing gets a Londoner more upset trying to get around you while they rush to catch their train.

2. Tower bridge v London bridge

Remember the good old childhood nursery about London Bridge falling down? It’s not the one you think! The iconic blue bridge is Tower bridge, linked to the Tower of London. London bridge is just the next one over which is not as big in scale but still has a wonderful architectural history.

3. Tipping

This one is more for my American friends. Whereas in America you would always tip for places like restaurants, here the establishments give livable wages to their employees. You will see though what’s called a “service charge” on your bill which goes directly to the wait staff and you can choose whether or not to take this off the bill.

4. Trying to press the open buttons on the tube door

NEVER try to press the open button on the tube doors, but always press it on the train and DLR.

5. Only visiting central London

There are so many great things to see in London that aren’t within the city center! If you have time to wander outside the usual tourist traps, or maybe this is your second or third time visiting the city, I highly suggest coming out to the outskirts neighborhoods in zones three through six. Just to name a few gems, Primrose Hill, Greenwich,

6. Asking for the bathroom and not having change

First, it’s good to know that it’s a toilet, and in some places you need to pay to enter so have a few pence on you.

7. Not learning some basic phrases

While most of us speak English, sometimes things can still get lost in translation. Along with calling the bathroom a toilet, there are some other simple phrases that even with an American accent will make it easier for you.

Trash can 👉🏼 Bin

Elevator 👉🏼 Lift

Great! 👉🏼 Sound

House/Apt 👉🏼 Gaff/Flat

8. Pronouncing W’s

Continuing with good terms to know, not all words sound as we would think. For example, the Thames River is actually pronounced like ‘Temz. Another one that got me when i first moved here were the neighborhoods Chiswick & Southwark, which I quickly learned are actually pronounced like Chis-ick and Suth-erk. When in doubt, you should basically ignore W’s in this country haha.

There you have it, some quick tips to make your next trip to London hopefully a bit easier! Let me know in the comments if there’s any other tips you’ve learned when traveling to London :)

Sincerely,

Sarah

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