Your family has planned a short trip to London—but only a mere two or three days. Regardless, even a short stopover can prove to be highly entertaining and memorable, especially if you use your time wisely. Here are a few tips on how to make the most of your short trip to London.
Ideal Time to Visit
The ideal time to visit London is between the months of March and May. The temperature alternates between cool and warm. Keep jackets handy and umbrellas handy, for London weather can be unpredictable!
If you prefer to enjoy Christmas in London—which can be magical—confine your visit to the last week of December. There are so many wonderful serviced apartments in London to choose from, so your Christmas trip is sure to be everything you dreamed of.
Christmas is a great time to visit London. Photo by Reliable Squid from Pixabay
Storage of Luggage
If you arrive early and only have a couple of days, it would be a waste to spend an entire first day lugging around your luggage. Instead, find a place to keep your belongings safe, and then roam the city at your own pace. Amongst the several storage companies offering good-quality services, Luggage Hero is one of the best providers. You may opt for luggage hero or King Cross luggage storage, whichever works best for you.
There are many options for luggage storage when you visit London. Photo by tookapic via Pixabay
Public Transport
You may obtain an Oyster Card at the airport, or at the nearest railway station. It is a ticket that will help you to enter and exit The Tube (subway network) across London. You may top it up, whenever necessary. Thus, you save on both, time, and money.
Purchase an Oyster Card and use the London Underground to get around town. Photo by Shutterbug75 via Pixabay
Another mode of transport is to use the highly affordable hop-on and hop-off buses, which will drop you off at key sightseeing spots. There is even an audio guide on each bus.
Bike bays lend bikes to enable self-excursions across London. You may pay for renting them with your credit/debit card.
Accommodations in London
Looking for a place to live in London could be one of the most challenging tasks you’ll face. Luckily, there are a lot of luxury rentals, like Under The Doormat, that offer the best choices of accommodation for your trip to London.
Food and Drinks
There are plenty of inexpensive food stalls everywhere, especially near marketplaces. They serve delicious cuisines, including fish and chips. Make good use of them, instead of spending money at flashy restaurants.
Make sure you sample the food stalls at local markets while in London.
Keep Track of Time
Remember that in London, like elsewhere in most of the world, clocks show the 24-hour time. Take care to keep track, especially where the timings of trains and buses are concerned. Everything in the afternoon gets added to 12. So 8:00 is 8 am while 20:00 is 8 pm (12:00 plus 8 hours). Travel tip: You can set your phone to read military time, making it easier to always know the time during your visit to London.
Type-G Plug
You will need the special English pin for your electronics in London. An alternative is to take a universal travel adapter. Do purchase this converter before you leave home, because they can be expensive if you wait until you arrive in London.
Make sure you take an electrical adapter for London. The Type-G plugs are all you find in London. Photo by popovaphoto via iStock by Getty Images
Crossing Streets
Cars drive on the left-hand side of the roads in London. Nonetheless, all streets and sidewalks display a Look Left or a Look Right sign beside them. This should help you figure out the directions of the traveling vehicles. Ensure that you use pedestrian crosswalks when crossing busy roads. Adhere to traffic rules, unless you wish to be the recipient of fines!
Escalators
It is a rule that you always remain on the right side. This makes it easier for people to pass by you, especially when they are in a hurry.
London’s Attractions
Do book everything in advance, especially a West End show. Some places attract crowds throughout the week, not merely on weekends. Alternatively, get your family a Skip the Line pass, to save on time and money since you have such a short time in the city. The rest of the time, hunt for free museums, art shows, and more that are popular in the city.
The Shard. Photo courtesy Visit London
With these tips, you can rest assured that you will make amazing memories during your short trip to London. Be sure to check out other great ideas on Wander for what to see and do when you visit Great Britain.
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