First Time in… London?
Welcome to my first timer guides! Each month I’m sharing short, succinct posts for anyone who’s headed to a destination for the very first time. This round is all about London — a city that needs very little introduction.
London Firsts
First Thing to Know About London
Book ahead as much as humanly possible. Tours, museum entrances, restaurants… Get those reservations sorted!
First Piece of Packing Advice
No matter the time of year, wear light layers and rely on your jacket for warmth.
What I mean is that London can get cold when you’re outside but it can get so stuffy when you’re inside. Riding the Tube is my own personal hell because it’s like those tin cars trap all the sweatiest, most stagnant heat imaginable. It’s far better to wear a lighter top and bring a heavier jacket that you can take off easily for transport.
First Hotel
This is a bit tricky for me because as I wrote this guide, I realized I’d never actually booked a hotel in London! The first time I went was on a day trip visiting friends at Royal Holloway University and all my recent trips, I’ve stayed with my friend!
However, I thought I’d pretend to plan a trip from scratch and I decided my pick for your first hotel should be Grand Hotel Bellevue. It’s a good balance of design, price, and location (near Paddington Station).
** If you have all the money in the world, than I’d highly recommend The Lanesborough solely because you might just meet Lilibet, the kitty!
First Order of Business Upon Arrival
Get the Tube to your hotel to drop off your belongings. It’s all tap-friendly and if you can, opt for the Elizabeth line — it’s newer and nicer. Ride shares and taxis take just as long and will cost a pretty pound (trust me, I’ve done this).
First Photo Spot
I mean… it’s gotta be right across the River Thames looking at Parliament and Big Ben. Clichéd but I’ve passed by or taken photos here often, and it still never ceases to impress. Go fairly early if you want minimal crowds – I’d say no later than 8:00 AM.
For runners, get off at Battersea Power Station and run all along the river path for a really beautiful route. Depending on how many miles you need to get in, you can also run around Battersea Park. I ran all the way to Tower Bridge and back when I needed to get a long run in.
First Afternoon Tea
Instead of a café or bakery recommendation, I have to switch this up to afternoon tea! There are truly so many afternoon tea options in London that I can’t just going to recommend one.
For something cute that’ll double as a bit of a tour of London, book your afternoon tea aboard B’s Bakery Bus. Your tea experience will be aboard a double decker bus while it goes around some of London’s most popular spots. They also do a lot of themed tours, which I think would be really fun if you’re visiting with kids.
For a more traditional afternoon tea experience, my friend, Caitlin, recommended The Lanesborough (again mostly for the cat potential). It’s one of the fanciest hotels in London, and their tea experiences is equally as fancy! I booked their Bridgerton-themed one and loved it!
First Sunday Roast
The Spaniards Inn in Hampstead Heath. It’s been around since the 1500s and was frequented by quite a few famous British figures, particularly my favorite, Lord Byron. Yes, it’s probably out of the way but it’s so worth it!! Combine your dinner with a trip to Camden Market (on the way) and just enjoy the heath itself! There’s a reason all the celebrities live in this area.
First Half-Day/Day Trip
I would say Bath for culture or Seven Sisters Cliffs to literally touch some grass. However, I will warn you, Bath is so charming you’ll wish you’d stayed for more than one day.
First Museum
After visiting a number of the major museums in London, I’d have to go with the National Gallery. It has such a great collection and is a good starting point. Plus you can combine with a trip to the National Portrait Gallery right around the corner and see the famous Trafalgar Square. Book a tour to get even more out of your visit.
First Souvenir
Anything related to tea! Fortnum and Mason always has such pretty options, but I’d actually just ask every British person you meet what their favorite brand is and then go to the grocery store and pick up a bunch. I’d also check out British candy at the store. Lots of tasty options including Taylor Swift’s favorite, squashies.
First Bookstore
Sneaking this one in because I visited as many bookstores as I could during my trips. I guess I should say bookshop since that’s what Brits seem to prefer. For your very first bookstore, visit Hatchards in Piccadilly. It’s the oldest in London and has multiple floors for browsing. For British royal lovers — it’s rumored that this was Queen Elizabeth’s favorite bookstore.
First Not-So-Secret Gem
Kew Gardens! It’s absolutely not a secret gem with like 2 million visitors last year. However, the gardens are so massive, it won’t feel overly crowded. Combine it with an afternoon in Richmond so you can visit some “Ted Lasso” filming locations and get tea at The Original Maids of Honour.
First Disappointment to Avoid
Does Heathrow count? Just kidding, I won’t hold the whole city hostage to my poor opinion of that ridiculous airport.
In general, I don’t think there’s anything particularly disappointing about London if you’re prepared. I mean this is one of the most popular cities in the world. People grow up dreaming of visiting this place based off TV shows and movies and books. (For me it’s the end of “Ugly Betty.” I used to watch that scene over and over again.) It’s also extremely old, especially in the more “charming” parts you’ll want to visit, so that means indoor space is often smaller than you might expect.
Do your best to avoid the crowds by visiting in less popular seasons and planning you trip around quieter hours. All I’m saying is — don’t go to Notting Hill on a Saturday in July and get upset you can barely move around the bookstore Hugh Grand worked at in the movie.
And there you have it! A very brief first timer’s guide to London. Stay tuned for more!