1st London trip

On a first trip to any location it is very helpful to have a front desk staff to help you with logistics, transit included.

Do you mean the one in Cartwright Gardens or a different one?

Yes the one at Cartwright Gardens.

London is the perfect place for your first European adventure! You'll have a blast; it's a great city. First, if you haven't read it, read Rick's London book - it's incredibly helpful. If you don't want to buy it you can always get it free at the library. If you provide us more info about your trip (e.g. which airport you're flying into, what you hope to visit, your interests, where you're considering day-tripping) we can give you more advice.

The studios seem to get good reviews on Trip Adviser. You are in a great location, close to a lot of major attractions like the British Museum and British Library. One thing I suggest for finding places to eat is to go to Google Maps, find your hotel, and then zoom out a bit and look at the restaurants nearby. When you click on a restaurant's name, you'll have instant access to reviews/star ratings.

Get comfortable with mass transit--the tube and the buses--and then you'll be able to get anywhere! It's a great system.

I use my phone for directions a lot, but in London, I usually carry a paper map as well. I want a street map and a tube map.

Bring/wear your best walking shoes and an umbrella. :)

PAm

Where are you planning to go on your day trips? Do you have them all organized? I'm asking because Sunday might not be as good a day if you are headed out on the train as sometimes there are works on the tracks on the weekend.

DO look at London Walks for a fun way to see neighborhoods or to get some history in.

www.walks.com

There are a number of big museums in London that are free - British Museum and National Gallery to name 2.

If you have an interest in WWII and plan to see the Churchill War Rooms, do get a timed entrance ticket.

Don't purchase the product called the London Pass as it bundles a lot of stuff you probably won't need.

Have a wonderful time! London is an excellent location for your first visit!

You will be somewhat north of Russell Square. If you want tubes different than the Piccadilly Line you might try your hand at either Euston (Northern, both branches, and Victoria lines) or Kings Cross St Pancras (a whole slew - Northern Line Bank Branch, Victoria, Circle, Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan, and Piccadilly) and the Thameslink north/south service. It is probably nearly the same distance to walk as Russell Square.

Will you be flying in to Heathrow or Gatwick?

My flight arrives on Monday the 30th at 06:50 at Heathrow. I'm taking a transport service from the airport to my hotel. My day trip on Friday is by train to Liverpool and Sunday is Leeds Castle, Canterbury by coach.
I've been studying my copy of the Rick Steves London guidebook and I am definitely planning on a couple of the London Walks.
My must sees are Westminster, Tower of London and Buckingham Palace. I think the Churchill War Rooms are also something that I would be interested in seeing. Thank you all for the information and taking the time to respond to a newbie!

You can pick up a very handy wallet-size Tube map either from a rack at the first station you visit or by asking one of the staffers. Tube rides (probably also bus rides but I'm not sure about those) are a lot cheaper if you get an Oyster Card and load some money on it, then use the card to pay at the beginning of each trip. Buying tickets for individual rides will waste a lot of money. When using the Oyster Card you must touch Out of the tube as well as In. If you ride a bus, you only touch In.

The best purchase for you is probably a Zone 1 - 2 card (edit: actually, I don't think the Oyster Card itself is zoned). Not only are the fares a lot lower by Oyster Card, there's a daily cap that might save you money if you have a day when you use a lot of local transportation. The trips to and from the airport (if you use the Tube) will cost a bit extra. If you will use a lot of public transit every day, loading a weekly travel card onto the Oyster Card will produce some savings, but it's hard to predict how much riding you'll do vs. walking, and buying the weekly travel card might actually cost you extra.

Don't be surprised to see Donation boxes all over the place in the "free" museums. They will have a specific amount suggested, often £5 or £6. On my recent trip, two of the museums were getting pretty aggressive about it. At the "free" Science Museum I had to stop at a counter to get a ticket to a free exhibition. I do donate, but I guess a lot do not, and the cost of running those museums must be exorbitant. Think of the UK taxpayers! You'll also find you're expected to pay £1 or £2 if you want a floor plan.

You may find you can save quite a bit on Day Return tickets for your trips out of time. You might also save by buying Advance tickets now (if still available), but Advance tickets are non-refundable and essentially non-changeable, so you should think about how certain you are that you'll be able to tear yourself away from London. You might also prefer to pick a comparatively nice-weather day for a day-trip that will have you outdoors most of the time.

I absolutely love London.
That being said whenever possible take the Tube (underground). As it is almost always faster as surface travel sucks in London as traffic is always very bad and reaches absolutely horrible on a regular basis.

This is the only city I avoid the hop on hop off busses as they get stuck in traffic way to much.

I would also suggest you download the city mapper app. It will work best if you have data, but if you are not familiar with or comfortable on mass/public transportation and have not used subways in the US it is ideal for you. You tell it where you want to go select how (walk, bus, or underground) from the list and it will tell you exactly how to get to the station what the train you want is what section of the train is best to get on when the next train (and several more) are due in.
Basically it holds your hands like it is you mother and walks you though everything.
I NEVER made a mistake while using it. And if you do it will update and reroute you.

Next advice is to look at the map of the Underground. Start buy studying the maps bit so you can understand it (you don’t need to know the stations or where they are just get used to what the symbols mean so you can find the. Stations by name and what line they are in. This should not take very long but doing it at home keeps the stress level down.

Buy the way you can use the Citymapper app in you chair at home. Tell it where you want to start from where you want to go and pick a time and it will give you a route and estimated time. Then you can look at the map of the underground and practice your trip. Please note you don’t NEED to do this but if you are a nervous traveler it may help to “practice” from you home.

And as said the more info you give us the more we can help with

JT look at this trip as a first step of many stepping stones out there. WE love London and always stay a few days when we fly through. We got comfortable with the tube on our second visit. People are friendly and helpful. Worst thing we did on the tube was get on going the wrong direction. When you decide on the one you need look for the "last Call" on that line and that will get you going in the right direction.

Move the Churchill Museum higher on your list
Windsor was a nice trip
English Breakfast are great
Walks in the Parks
RS Book are great guides. Check out his down loadable waking tours.

WE were there for a week in 2018 and will miss you this year as we will be on our way to Amsterdam when you are landing.

I use buses if I can, rather than taking the tube. There are designated bus lanes (not for the HOHO), so buses don’t get stuck in traffic as much as normal vehicles. Plus with the bus, you get to see something of London and it’s much cheaper! By the time you get through the barriers, walk down and find the right underground platform, wait for a train and do the same at the other end to get out, the bus will be half way to your destination. Buses aren’t as overcrowded as tube trains at rush hour.

If you have an Oyster ticket, touch them in and out at the start and end of your tube journey. Using a bus, just touch your card upon entry and not on exit.

The war rooms are great. That goes double for history or military or WW2 buffs.

As for Westminster Abby. I recommend that you get the reservation for the Jubilee Gallery. This is interesting in itself but it also provides an amazing view down into the lower floor. Parts of the lower floor area are closed off with gates to protect areas that people are entombed in. And some of these are hard to see into from the main floor. but you can look down into a lot of these from the Gallery above, so it is a nice addition and worth the cost.

The Tower is great and you need to take a Beefeater tour (the line up out in the mote(sp?) to start the tour. They give the usual history and are pretty funny. All of them are retired career military. They also have a nice cafeteria in one of the rebuilt old buildings that you can pick up a snack and rest in. It is located in a position that works well to get a rest as you leave the tower itself and before heading up onto the wall walk..

Once you leave the Tower you go out onto the walk along the river. If you turn left you are a very short present walk from Tower Bridge. They have nice benches to sit on along the river and obviously great views of the famed bridge. If you are interested you can walk out to the first tower and go up (in an elevator) then walk across the pedestrian walks. They have great views and a glass floor (optional it can be avoided).

Also in that area you can get on a river boat for a tour. An enjoyable way to travel. And surprisingly not as slow as you would think compared to most other ways of getting around London.

Well I hope you have fun in London.

I don't feed trolls. Just saying.

I’ve been going to London since the early 70’s.

As I’ve often said it’s always changing, always the same.

For your first visit get the Oyster card. Purchase it at the tube station closest to your hotel. Can buy from a machine using a debit or credit card or if there is a manned ticket window buy it there. There’s a 5 pound refundable deposit but I’d like to believe after your first trip you’ll be returning so keep it. Get the pocket sized tube map which is a great travel resource.

So is TimeOut London which you can access online. Tells you about events, plays, galleries, pop ups, restaurants, etc and tells you the closest underground station to each.

I’m a theatre goer and London theatre is wonderful.
As a first timer and for the experience plan to use the 1/2 price ticket booth for day of tickets. The ticket booth is in Leicester square which is behind the National Gallery. You can now look online to see what play tickets are available.

Museums are free and yes there are donation boxes.
Great gift stores as well.

You will be there on a Saturday so definitely go and experience Portobello Road Market. Go early ( 8am ) and meander before the hordes arrive.

As you asked for pub recommendations while seeing the Tower of London you could enjoy a stop in the Princess Of Prussia which isn’t far from the Tower.
I’d also make time to see the glass covered Leadenhall Market. Short stroll from the Tower.

From where you are staying it’s an easy walk to the British Library where you can see the Treasure Room which is mentioned in the RS guidebook.

And if you want to see a newer developed area walk behind St Pancras Station into Granary Square and the Coal Drop Yards.

Lastly for a bit of grander have a tea or cocktail at the Booking office instead the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Not cheap but worth a splurge if budget allows. If not then at least sneak a peak which is easily done as the hallway to the loo is right by the entrance off the lobby.

Great city!

Enjoy your first visit.

Get very familiar with the Tube, yes. It’s your best friend.

But if you’re open to packing a little less on your schedule, London is a great city to walk around in. It may save you time to take the Tube from one point to another, but you’re going to miss a lot. Just my experience. Consider walking to your destinations if you’re a mile away only.

I think two great spots for first timers are Borough Market for lunch - probably on the Thursday of your visit makes the most sense. I also would recommend Camden Market and the Locks area over there for another unique look at London.

One final note - timed tickets are your friend. Or at least in the case of St Paul’s, a great time saver. The War Rooms are wonderful, but you could wait two hours to get in without a timed ticket.

Here are a few additions to previous comments.

The national museums are free, for the permanent collections. The glamorous special exhibitions, which draw the crowds, can demand a hefty fee. It's convenient to purchase in advance.

Most London theatres are fairly small, making for an intimate experience. The Royal Albert Hall, a concert hall in the round, is huge and unique, and concerts of many sorts are always going on -- Cirque du Soleil one week, Eric Clapton the next, followed by the Royal Philharmonic. Book in advance, and take the guided tour through the star-struck corridors.

For pubs and restaurants near your hotel, you can start with Google Maps, which has search functions for both. It is not reliably comprehensive, nor a rating service, but the links are useful. It also provide transit routes, similar to the TFL site.

My favourite day trip beyond the city is Bletchley Park, the secret codebreaking hideaway that was vital in the Second Worldl War. Well, at least a half day, since the train ride is about an hour. https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/

I'm taking a transport service from the airport to my hotel.

Is there a special reason why you do this?

I think most people would suggest using the tube to Russel Square.

I.p. enersen the transport to hotel was part of my vacation package. I have considered riding the tube from Heathrow to hotel just to
get some experience riding the tube. What I have learned from my research it will most likely be faster to take the tube so I am leaning to that option.

I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but I find the Tube Map app invaluable. There's a route planner with good info about which carriages to use for quicker transitions, stations with lifts, etc.

Lots of great advice given already, just wanted to wish you a wonderful trip--London was my first trip abroad, solo, for 6 days, and I will be there again for the 3rd time next week. It's become my most favorite city, right up there with Budapest--it felt very comfortable to me right away and the tube is very easy to learn. Last trip I added bus riding and that was great, too--so much to see.

I support the idea of walking where possible. And it may not be noticeably slower for a lot of destinations. When you have to change Underground lines there is often quite a long walk inside a station. Even if you don't need to transfer, it is sometimes quite a hike just to go from the station entrance to the platform, and the same perhaps at the other end of the trip. Far better to be outdoors where you can be seeing stuff.

I just spent three days in London. It was wonderful.

In order to not become too overwhelmed, I would plan to do visit two major sightseeing places in one day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon), and spend the rest of the time just exploring, wandering, and soaking up the culture. Some of the best times in traveling come from just wandering side streets and exploring what you see. I organize my sightseeing by location/part of town to minimize travel times across the city. I'm a museum person, but I found that putting too many museums (more than 2) in one day was "information overload" for my brain to appreciate everything I was seeing.

Even if English tea is not your thing, I would plan to do at least one "afternoon tea". We found a spot on the river and enjoyed the views while drinking tea, champagne (or G&T), and eating the sandwiches and sweets.

I don’t think this has been mentioned in the comments above but get your ticket to the Churchill War Rooms online in advance. It is very popular to visitors. I went in 2013...walked up to the entrance and bought a ticket with no line. I understand that is changed. It is so amazing I had goosebumps going through the place where Churchill conducted the war!
I adore London and am plotting my return. Wishing you the best trip ever!
Cheers!

I agree with the plan for two things a day. It is easy to over estimate what you can do in London because they are “close” together. But they take more effort then you think.

I would create two lists. Must sees and would be nice.

Schedule the must sees and use the would be nice list to fill in should you have time and energy. This way you don’t leave London without seeing any of your Must see locations. Because you can’t see it all in London unless you are spend three or more weeks. (And even then you won’t see it ALL).
I have had the Cruiser that is docked near Tower Bridge on my fill in would me nice list the last two trips but I have yet to get to it as it never seams to fit into the time very well.