How to Visit London Like a Pro

London is one of the most popular cities in Europe to visit, especially in 2022 during the celebration year of the Platinum Jubiliee of Queen Elizabeth.

If you are a first-time visitor to London, these tips will help you get around and enjoy the city and daytrips nearby.

Use Public Transportation

One of the best things about visiting a world-class city like London is that you can – and should – get around without a rental car. That is especially important in 2022, when London and the rest of the Great Britain celebrates the 70 year reign of the popular monarch.

Take the train for day-trips, too, including to nearby Windsor Castle.

There are trains between London and Glasgow, Scotland, too, for a long weekend or even longer.

Pack Some Help

Experienced travelers know to pack some gadgets to make their trip more comfortable and even more safe.

If you are a solo traveler, this might be a small alarm to place under your door to ease your fear of intruders.

For families, this might mean bringing a bungee cord to act as a clothesline.

And one of my favorite free and cheap travel hacks is to pack an old-fashioned wooden clothes pin in case there are no hangars with clothes pins in the hotel closet. They also do double-duty to keep the drapes closed.

Find more free and cheap travel hacks here.

Learn a Few Key Phrases in the Local Language

Part of the fun of a new destination is learning the local language, and London is no different. Even if you speak English, there are some local phrases you should know and use.

It’s called the Metro in Paris, the U-Bahn in Germany, the Subway in New York City. In London, it’s called the Tube.