0:04 Bringing a lot of Cash
you don't need a lot of cash in London, as it's a city well-equipped for cashless transactions. Most places and the entire Transport for London network, including buses, trains, and the Tube, accepts contactless cards and mobile payments. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay are widely accepted and can be linked directly to your bank, international payment platform like Wise or credit/ debit card, making it easy to track spending.
Many stalls at Borough Market prefer or only accept cashless payments, particularly in the morning when they open, unless you have the exact change.
During the pandemic, the shift towards cashless payments was accelerated due to hygiene concerns, and this practice has continued. This is also for convenience and security reasons.
0:51 Not Grouping Attractions by Area.
Traveling back and forth across the city wastes time and energy. While walking is a great way to explore London, but it can be hard to walk when it rains, which happens rather frequently. Group attractions that are close to each other.
For example,
1. Houses of Parliament, Big ben, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye, Buckingham Palace.
2. Explore the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, The Muffin Man Tea Shop and shop at Harrods
3. Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market and St. Paul's Cathedral.
4. British Museum, Covent garden, SOHO, Shopping at Regent street, Primark, Chinatown
2:46 Sticking to Familiar Mode of Transport
Tube is popular because it is one of the fastest ways to travel across London, especially when road traffic is heavy. However it can be extremely crowded during rush hours, it is time-consuming to go underground, navigate stairs or elevators, and walk through long corridors.
While the Tube is often perceived as the easiest and more effective mode of transport, advancements in mobile apps have made taking buses and other transport options simple and fast for tourists as well. With an extensive number of stops, buses can provide more convenient and comfortable access to many areas, however it may require longer wait times.
Choose the right mode of transport in London depending on your travel needs or use a mobile app like Citymapper or Google Maps to suggest based on traffic conditions, optimization and cost. Uber is ideal when it rains or when you have big luggage, due to its convenience and door-to-door service. Tip: UberXL is able to fit 4 adults and 4 large luggage.
3:51 Not planning ahead
You will be overwhelmed by the numerous attraction and food choices.
Look at pictures or videos, read reviews, and check information about the various options in advance. This helps you know what to pick and what time the place opens. Plan your meals around your itinerary to avoid missing out on the food you wish to try. Book or buy tickets online when possible. This helps avoid long queues and disappointment.
6:44 Not Understanding the London Transport System
Paying for multiple single journeys tickets without realizing there’s a daily cap on fares can be costly. Use an Oyster card or contactless payment method. The system automatically applies daily caps, ensuring you don’t pay more than the maximum daily rate for unlimited travel within your chosen zones. Central London is in Zone 1, and the zones extend outward to Zone 9. Your fare depends on how many zones you travel through.
Failing to tap correctly at the start and end of your journey can result in maximum fare charges.
for bus, you just have to tap once when you board the bus.
Underestimating Peak Travel Times:
Traveling during peak hours without considering the higher fares and increased crowding.
Peak hours are Monday to Friday from 6:30-9:30 AM and 4-7 PM. Travel outside these times to save money and enjoy a less crowded experience.
You don't have to buy an Oyster card unless you prefer to use it for convenience or want to take advantage of certain benefits. Contactless payments offer the same fare caps as Oyster cards, ensuring you won’t pay more than the daily or weekly maximum. This avoids the hassle of purchasing, top up, and later refunding an Oyster card balance. When You Might Want an Oyster Card for special discounts. You can link certain railcards to your Oyster card for additional discounts on pay-as-you-go fares. The Visitor Oyster Card Offers special discounts at selected attractions, restaurants, and shops.
Railcard is accepted by all Train companies within England, Scotland and Wales.
4:18 Taking domestic flight
5:27 Not Booking Airport Transfer in Advance. Waiting until the last minute to book your airport transfer can lead to higher prices or unavailable seats, especially during peak travel times.