It's a very small thing but if you're walking around and need to stop to check a map or something, please move to the side and do your business. Nothing is more frustrating than when you're trying to get somewhere and there's a group of 10 tourists stood in the middle of the pavement.
Same here in America. We don't do it but a lot of smartphone idiots will do it and not pay attention where they are going. You should've seen it when Pokemon Go was happening. We didn't know it was going on and went to see the Riverfront park one summer evening in Salem and it was swarming with people looking at their phones for something.
We couldn't figure it out at first until there was a booth selling Pokemon T-Shirts and I was like ALL THIS FOR A F-KING GAME? I first noticed a large group of people were outside the Gilbert Science House and I thought they were being evacuated because they were standing around the entrance but upon closer notice they were all staring at their phones.
Maz Amd yea I back this. And please don't stand right at the edge of the pavement (sidewalk) when waiting to cross...London roads are seriously way smaller then the US roads if I clip your head with my wing mirror its gonna hurt :)
I'm not from London but one thing I notice about American tourists is they are really LOUD, it's not the worst thing and there are totally public spaces you can be loud in, but read the room guys, if everyone else is speaking in low voices it's probably polite to copy.
I think the Italians are the worst. At least when they are on the phone! Spaniards form in groups and block up entrance ways to shops and tube stations! All friendly people though.
That we are. I asked a cousin about blending in in Europe, he said basically it was impossible for most Americans to do so, between being louder, more open, clothing, etc.
Anthony Kaiser I hope you haven't got the impression that we don't like Americans because that simply isn't true. Personally i think Americans are great tourists, willing to get of the beaten track and engage with the locals, and very friendly. Just one thing, for the love of God and all that is decent in this world, do NOT call football "soccer".
Sophie they are the loudest people in the world. On one flight I was on the only American girl was speaking about her traveling to the girl beside her (who was English). I could only hear the American girls side of the conversation because she spoke about ten times louder. I don’t dislike Americans for that though it’s just amusing how loud they speak.
It's part of the american cultural inferiority complex. They believe that they have to be loud else no one will take them seriously. Same with the Italians and their raging emotions. I have an Italian and an america neighbor, and they confirm this to be case, and yes, I'm sandwiched in between both of them, a humble Brit. They like my tea with milk though
Just to clarify a common misconception, I know you said it in jest but some of your viewers might not realise it. The fact is we don't love to queue. We can often find it irritating and it can try our patience, but we do it because we believe in fairness and the principle of first-come-first-served. So it can really get our goat when somebody pushes in who hasn't - in effect - put the work in!
yup! hate queues its annoying i only line up if its reasonablly long or i have to and patientce is a vertue.. aslo if u want to leave the line ask the person behind u if u can hold ur place and most likely will :)
True, who likes queues! anyway, I always give my turn in the queue if I see an elderly person or a pregnant woman. They're always surprised but grateful.
Sit your ass back down Yes I know it is the rule in the whole world and unfortunately there is always people who block moving in other countries too and not only tourists. But anyway I was surprised that England keep the same rule (keep right) where everything is on left cars, etc.
My tip as a Brit living outside of London would be DON'T just go to London...visit other cities too...visit the seaside...visit the countryside...visit Wales & Scotland. We're a relatively small island with diverse landcapes and types of environment!
I cannot agree more! Even if you only spend a few days or maybe a week in London (you really have things to do for a whole week in this city) you should go see Cambridge/Oxford or the British Channel, it's not that far and the atmosphere is very different The best still being to stay for more than a week and visiting the rest of England or even Scotland
I made the mistake of standing left upon my first 5 minutes in London 😬 and suffered the evil eye of a business man trying to walk up. I’ll never do that again. 😂
Don't smile and say Good Morning on the underground, the locals will think you're a weirdo ;) Where I'm from (Yorkshire) we always say good morning and acknowledge people but sadly this isn't the case in London nowadays.
ExploreList Similar to San Fransisco and new York. If you want someone to be nice and welcoming you pretty much have to visit the south or the Midwest. the west coast particularly is not the friendliest cities..
Donts: 1. When at a station, please do not stand at the top or bottom of the stairs while you try and figure out where you are supposed to be going particularly during rush hour. People are rushing for their train and tend to get rather angry when there is suddenly a bottle neck because some clueless tourist chose the bottom of the stairs as a good place to idly stand while they get out their map. If you need to do that, find a space at the back of the platform or in a more secluded area where you are going to cause less of a problem for people. 2. Similarly have your card or ticket ready BEFORE you get to the ticket barrier - dont cause a big hold up behind you when you stop to start rifling though your bag to find your ticket. 3. Dont just stick to restaurants when you want to eat - there are some great markets and outside eating areas all over London (my favourites are Borough Market and the South Bank) and you can get a much better variety of food. 4. The Guards at Buckingham Palace and the Beafeaters at The Tower of London may be all dressed up but they are NOT there for the tourists. They actually have a real job to be getting on with so by all means enjoy standing and watching them do their thing, but do not mess with them and do not stand in front of the Beafeaters trying to taking photographs when they are marching - they stop for nothing and the WILL run over you (it has happened). 5. The buses no longer accept cash so come prepared 6. There are 4 Airports that will say they are London plus another that services London. However only one of those airports is actually IN London (London City Airport). Heathrow is now technically within the boundaries of Greater London (it is in what was once part of Middlesex) but you a literally on the boundary line. London Stansted is in Essex and London Gatwick is in West Sussex. All of them service London and therefore have reasonable transport links into central London but DONT expect that if you are flying to one of these airports that you are close to where you want to be as it is still going to take you a while to get into Central London. 7. Dont underestimate the crowds that certain events draw in, the crowd control measures you will have to negotiate or the distance you may still have to travel once you get off the train if you are intending to attend one of these events. Nottinghill Carnival - you will need to dedicate a day not just for the carnival but for the one way systems the Police put in place afterwards to ensure everyone leaves the area safely plus the crowds on the trains can add a further couple of hours. Wimbledon Tennis and Epsom Derby (thats pronounced DAR-BEE not DER-BEE) are still a distance from the station and although taxi's and buses are laid on to transport people from the station (for which you buy a special ticket - your oyster card or travel card will not work for these) and as the local towns get completely clogged with traffic during these events it can still take a while to get there so leave plenty of time to get to where you are going. 8. Dont forget that people who live near to London will often choose school holidays as a chance to take their kids to do the touristy things in London for themselves - a day out at Tower of London and you may actually have exhausted your hyperactive child sufficiently for at least 2 days of however long it is you need to keep your kids occupied before they go back to school. If you can avoid it, dont come during the Summer or Easter school holidays (I would also say half term but as we tend to stagger those it may be too complicated to factor them in). The point is that there will be even more people when you factor in the daytrippers and you may not therefore necessarily get the best use of your time if you have to wait in huge queues for everything. 9. Dont rely on £50 notes and American Express cards. If you get given a £50 note get it changed for a lower denomination as soon as possible as lots of places refuse to take them. You also tend to find lots of places wont accept American Express due to the charges they incur for using it. There are many places that still will take it, but if you are solely relying on it then it may cause a problem given so many place wont take it. Also if you are travelling to Scotland and then back to England and you pick up any Scottish notes while in Scotland then try to get rid of them while still in Scotland (the note will say if its Bank of England or Bank of Scotland). The reason is that while Scottish notes can be accepted as legal tender in England (and vice versa with English notes in Scotland), it is not uncommon for English shops and restaurants to refuse Scottish notes either because they look so different from the notes that they are used to so they think they are fake, or because they are different to the notes they are used to so they dont have the facility to tell whether they are fake, or because they are unaware that Scottish notes can be accepted in England or because they know they are legal tender but they also know its hard to get rid of them for the aforementioned reasons and its just easier to refuse them then have the hassle. Its daft but better just to try to avoid encountering the problem in the first place then to get into an argument with someone about the fact it is perfectly legal for you to present a Scottish £5 note as payment (as I once did). 10. While there are many things to see and do in London itself, you dont just have to stick to London. Many people avoid going outside London as trips to the North, the South West, Scotland and Wales are often going to be more than a daytrip and if you are staying in London you might not want to spend further money on hotels elsewhere if you were not anticipating it. However there are many things you can do outside London that you can get to and back within a day. Brighton makes a great day trip and its just an hour on the train from London Victoria. Hever Castle in Edenbridge (the home of Anne Bolelyn) from London Victoria, Hampton Court Palace at Hampton Court (about an hour from London Waterloo), Canterbury Cathedral, Leeds Castle (not in Leeds), Hastings, Chichester, Kingston, Arundel, Tonbridge Wells, Lewes, the list goes on and on. If you are a Harry Potter Fan dont forget the studio tour in Leavesden which can easily be done in a day (although you have to book in advance, you cannot buy tickets when you get there)
Sorry, but just to clarify. The Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) are actually there for the tourists. The lead tours and are all former service members with a minimum of 22 years service. Their sense of humour is very characteristic of that of a retired sergeant major... in other words, sarcastic, biting, and funny as hell. There are also guardsmen from the Brigade of Guards stationed at the Tower, and those lads are the ones who will march over you. They belong to the whichever Regiment of the Brigade that is guarding both Buckingham and St James Palaces.
Here are my tips for visiting London and the UK in general: 1. Oyster cards are not accepted outside of London - now this can be a bit confusing because the airports outside of London are called London airports, for example Stansted is known as London Stansted airport even though it is in the county of Essex and not a part of the city. I was on the train home from work on the Stansted Express train and I saw two young American boys fined £80 (each) because they presented their Oyster cards which are not accepted outside of London. 2. Watch a play at the Globe - it is a brilliant experience, for both tourists and natives, and you may even see a famous actor (I saw the guy who played the butler in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air!) I will warn you though, that no matter how you watch the play you will be uncomfortable, if you stand in the pit (which is the cheapest) your feet are going to hurt, whilst if you sit in the balconies your bum is going to go numb as they are basically church pews (you can rent a cushion to sit on but it makes no difference and its expensive). 3. Explore! - London is a great place to set out from to explore the rest of the country. I highly recommend seeing Cambridge, brilliant shops, museums, sights and history. But, also try going out and seeing the countryside, the pretty villages and market towns - these are great places to see at this time of year as the weather is generally pleasant (with a spot of rain) and you may even get to see a few country fairs, markets and proper country pubs (you can get more for your money as well!) But what makes London so brilliant is that you can travel from London to any other part of the country via coach, car, train or plane so take advantage of that and go and see Bath (a beautiful city), the Lake District, pretty much the whole of Scotland (Inverness is my favourite) or anywhere! (P.S. If your stuck for ideas on what to see outside of London then look up the National Trust, they own loads of historic buildings, estates and woodland that make for brilliant days out) I hope this has helped :)
I know, I felt so bad for them. The ticket officers on the trains from London to Cambridge are really tough! I think the fines are called a penalty fare, which means its the fare you would have paid, plus a fine on top. They were given the option to complain and if their complaint was seen as viable they would get a refund.
+Sarah K You may well find that the ticket machine the conductor on the train has is point blank not authorised to sell standard non penalty fare tickets for journeys inside the penalty fare zone. The computers of course don't care if you are dealing with one of the train operating companies that program the systems like that you are outta luck no matter how much the conductor may or may not want to be nice. Safest bet make sure to ask the ticket office staff directly before even thinking about getting on a train with anything other than a proper national rail ticket in your hand that way can't inadvertently get on the train with an invalid ticket.
Or any other of our military. Past a certain point (which you will never know beforehand) you will come off worse. As so many people have pointed out, they are soldiers first. And beyond a further point you will find yourself up before the beak (trans: In court, charged with a crime). Oh, and don't mess with the Police. They will be polite and tolerant of the foolishness of tourists, but only up to a point. They are there to police the capital, not be tourist attractions. Plus, contrary to legend, some of them do carry guns (sometimes it will be obvious, sometimes it won't) and they will act accordingly. And they WILL have live rounds in the weapon.
I would *never* go to the US and fuck with some American soldier, firstly because it's insanely disrespectful. I should hope nobody does the same here, but unfortunately it's not the case. Queen's Guards are hardened soldiers in the military and could kill you instantly. But some people see them as a joke, which is extra hurtful if it is one of our close allies. My father was in the Scot's Guards his entire life and I am currently serving in the Irish Guards, we have so many stories of stupid tourists trying to fuck with us and what they got in return, if people are interested I might write some stories out or make a video or something telling them all. At least US soldiers understand, they've all been great people that get on really well with us, many good friends.
And if there's one set of military not to feck with, it's those Beefeaters at the Tower. Yes, they look like something from a musical comedy or tourist postcard in their Tudor uniforms......but they are *all* long service NCOs who have "been there, and done that." I have a pal who is a civilian contractor at the Tower who specifically warned me to "mind my Ps & Qs" when we went out drinking at a pub called "Liberty of the Tower," which is part of the Tower precinct....and policed not by the London Bobbies, but the Tower Beefeaters. Apparently they don't have a lot fo patience with "drunken prats."
US vet here, respects to the Guards. If I see idiots, I try to give them a word in season, before they get something else. You might like to know: US commanders in both Gulf wars would make allowance for various coalition forces when placing them, depending on their quality. No alllowances were made for the Guards. Schwarzkopf said it: “When the Guards are holding the left flank, it is *held*”. Just so.
You're right about not treating it as England. As someone who lives in Hampshire it seems like a completely different world... and when I first visited London I felt like just as much of a tourist as someone from a place like America.
As two Brits, one of whom lived in London, this was so bang on we were in fits laughing! Our don'ts would include; Don't litter, there are plenty of bins (trash cans) around, we are very proud of our 'Keep Britain Tidy' ethics. Don't pay a fortune for coffee, private establishments charge extortionate prices and we love Starbuck's and Costa, so you will find plenty of reasonable prices and, dare we say better, standards of coffee in there. And... Don't forget there are wonderful cities only a couple of hours away, our beloved home city, Liverpool, is only two hours by train, always welcome here!
Things are going fine over here, would you like us to help you threaten kim jong un? would you like half of the country to be racist? to be more like you? Hey. while were at it lets fucking give our shitty police guns to shoot innocent people they are meant to protect.
I just returned from my first visit in ages and loved it. The Underground is so efficient compared to NYC and D.C. subway systems. So much to see and do there; I wouldn't be too worried about the "don'ts." Just be polite and use common sense and everything is good. Please and thank you go far.
The British Museum is one of my favorite things we did when we visited England (that and Oxford). My favorite thing in the British Museum (because I'm weird) was the back of the Rosetta Stone because you never see it in pictures.
and also: don't mess with the queens guards. they are trained killers who have the ultimate honour of guarding the queen without some annoying tourist mimicking them. i have said my piece. enjoy your trip to london!
I am English and a born 'n' bred Londoner; there are only 2 things you MUST NOT DO when visiting London - 1. DON'T forget to take a warm coat. 2. Don't forget to take an umbrella. Both these things are applicable 12 months a year. Then there is one thing you ABSOLUTELY MUST DO; take a lot of money with you - cause you'll need it.
@@charchar596 Considering we usually only get maybe 2 warm days each summer... yes. Bring a coat in summer. And an umbrella, because you can bet that the one day you don't have your umbrella is the day it'll rain.
It also doesnt take alot for us to get annoyed. Also if we say “are you alright” (usually pronounced “you a’right”) we dont care if you are or aren’t. This is one of many versions of “hello”. Also- we love a good moan (just read some of the comments). If you want to come to london just come. If you have any questions like “wheres so and so”, its probably a good idea to ask someone working in a shop or a black cab. The public wont really help. And if they do theres a chance that theyre leading you on a wild goose chase because we like to tease people, its just our comedy... i once asked a policeman for directions, he sent me around the block, once i saw him on the same road i started on he was laughing. Also, bus drivers here arent really all that helpful either, not sure why, but i just avoid talking to them now. The people who work at train stations are usually nice though. Hope you enjoy your visit. So long as you know that london really is like the video said “international”. Tbh i don’t really go to central london all that much, and i only need one train to get to it. I feel like tourists see alot more of london than the locals.
I’ve replied to a you a’right with a “yea you?” Cause sometimes they really can be just beginning a conversation with “how are you?” Just wanted to clear that up cause sometimes it can be weird if someone were to say “You a’right” And you replied with “Hello!”
Londoner here. Don't be afraid to venture out of London on a day trip. You can be at the coast in an hour from Fenchurch Street near tower hill. Leigh on Sea is lovely and there's a nice little amusement park in Southend called Adventure Island. For the full British Seaside experience try the 2p machines! Also, I do love steak and kidney pie but I prefer steak and ale, so give that a try too!
IIRC, There is a nice little walk you can do from Westminster Station, where you'd find Big Ben and the London Eye to London Bridge station and if you walk the correct route you can see Southbank, home of the National Theatre, then into Southwark where you'll see Shakespeare's Globe, St. Paul's Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, a nice little pub called The Anchor, Drake's The Golden Hind, then through Borough Market to London Bridge. It takes about 40 minutes to an hour
Here is my don't of London. Don't be intimidated or overwhelmed with the city. After checking into our hotel in the morning (yes, they let us check in early after arriving on an AM flight), we set out and explored our own. We just started walking. We went through Kensington Park to Kensington Palace. Then we walked down past Royal Albert Hall, St. James Palace, #10 10 Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, Parliament, etc. This took us a good 4 hours. By the time we were by Big Ben, we were exhausted. I looked at the Tube map and quickly found the trains needed to get back to the hotel. At the heart of rush hour, we were back at our hotel in less than 30 minutes. This a the first time we'd ever been to London. We just jumped in and explored before meeting up with our tour the following day. The British Museum is a MUST see,
The Rules of the Queue: (1) If you are new join the back of the queue. DO NOT PUSH IN! Your fellow Queuers may exercise the right of passive aggression and the reserved right of direct confrontation if you do. (2) If you are in a queue but you need to temporarily leave said queue - you become new (refer to rule 1). The only exception to Rule 2 is the friends and family principle. Friends and family members have a special status within the queue as they have the ability to 'hold' your place. The friends and family principle does not however negate the right of passive aggression. (3) Your age and gender do not give you an advantage over your fellow Queuers e.g. if an elderly woman pushes in front of a child then said parent/guardian or fellow age appropriate Queuer is able to exercise their right of passive aggression. (4) It is extremely important when entering in to a general undefined queue that you quickly assess your position within that queue. You are permitted to have a momentary glance at your fellow Queuers to assist in your assessment. The usual test is - last in everyone else ahead of you is before you. There is an exception to Rule 4 - the appointment and simply waiting clause - your fellow Queuers will indicate, when technically it should be their turn, whether they are simply waiting or have an appointment with say a particular hair dresser and will give you permission to move ahead of them. (5) The undefined queue in a public house/bar/nightclub. When trying to order drinks at a busy bar the burden of assessment switches from the Queuer to the bar staff. You may need to get their attention if they are distracted by initiating polite conversation or have a note or card or menu in your hand (don't wave said note etc. in their face) This is a indication that you have joined the queue and have not been served yet. (6) The Situation rule - if the situation warrants a material breach of rule 1 then your fellow Queuers may voluntarily surrender their position in the queue. If they do so then you can move ahead and it will not constitute an offence under rule 1. (7) The Privacy rule - in certain situations Doctors surgeries, ATMs etc - you are required to form a defined queue at a respectable distance behind the person stood talking to the receptionist or using the ATM. In certain situations there are defined markers which will indicate what constitutes as a respectable distance. In most situations however there is no set definition of respectable distance so an assessment must be made.
Don't forget to look for the smaller museums - they're EVERYwhere!! I loved the Foundling Museum and the Florence Nightingale Museum. Read up about the little museums, you'll find something you're interested in. Don't forget walking tours, they take you to the older areas you figure were all covered up. Don't forget day trips outside of London. You're just a train away from Hampton Court Palace and other goodies. Don't be afraid to talk to Londoners but do remember they're usually on their way to/from somewhere and don't have time to chat. They'll help when they can. The tube is fun but so many things are walk-able distance from each other. And...yes, stand right, walk left.
I'm a Londoner, and had a brief giggle at how ABSOLUTELY CORRECT you are about 'engineering works' on the underground and overground. It's the bane of anyone travelling on the Piccadilly line. Also, the Richmond to Stratford overground service has been disabled on and off for ages. You've an intimate understanding of London. Fantastic.
@@kimjong-un1136 I've been to London before the pandemic. Stayed at the Rembrandt hotel. Got kingsman inspired suits at a local tailor shop. Walked around acting British. Tricked many tourists with my fake accent. Guess wearing a posh suit and drinking a cup of tea attracts tourists to you. 😆
@@chuckh4077 I once woke up naked in a ditch of stinging nettles with a group of strangers after an alcoholic fuelled night out. Now THAT my dear friend is British. 😉
@@kimjong-un1136 yup. On other nights I would act like that. Shaun of the dead style. Miss London. Can't wait to go back early 2023. This time i visit Plymouth for a few days. See HMS Victory. That is if the monkey pox doesn't cause another lockdown.
I’ve got a don’t for you that may have been overlooked. Don’t think that London Luton, London Stansted and London Gatwick airports are in London, because they’re not. They are not even near. Only Heathrow and London city airport is actually in London. So whilst it may be cheaper to fly to these airports, the cost to get back into London could add up if you use public transport. Fly to Heathrow and catch the train to Paddington station
It's not just the driving. On-street parking is very limited in the central boroughs and is extremely expensive. Most on-street parking is limited to holders of residents' permits for the relevant zone within the borough. Disabled (handicap) parking is also very limited in the central boroughs - most parking concessions are only available to disabled people who live, work or study in that borough. Don't think that you can bring a US handicap permit to London and park anywhere in a hire car - it doesn't work that way! Unless you are planning to go outside London or to spend a lot of time in outer London (TfL Zone 4 and outwards), I wouldn't bother driving at all. Public transport in the central boroughs is excellent, there are apps to help you use it (Citymapper is a good choice) and whilst it is expensive as Mark noted in the video, it is a lot cheaper than paying astronomic parking charges. If you can do all you want using public transport, I would recommend not bothering with a hire car in the UK at all.
I live up north near the Scottish border and it really pisses me off when Americans think that England is just London and the Cotswolds. Also it pisses me off when people think that the UK is just England. I would point out that if you go a couple hours north of London, everything is sooo much cheaper.
Don't use the the tube (Underground) or London train services (Overground) at rush hours if you can avoid it. Especially if you have bags, or a big backpack. The squash can be unbearable, especially in hot weather, and big interchanges such as Green Park can become frighteningly crowded. Don't get fixated on the big tourist sites, such as Madam Tussauds. Don't try and "do" all the British Museum in one go. Spend an hour or so, see a few things, then if you want you can return and see some other stuff. It's free! And don't forget that the other great museums are also free, though if you wish to make a small donation that will be appreciated.
And Harrods! I go with my youngest son every year when schools close down( summer hols) for tea and scones at the Tea Room on the 3rd floor. He loves it !
I had a great time visiting London during my first time. Coming from New York, I loved using the Oyster Card. It's so handy compared to the MTA cards to get into the subway. Definitely, would like to come back for a longer stay! - Raymond
When you see the police call them a ‘bellend’ it’s a lovely greeting they will even give you some nice bracelets to reward what you just said to them honestly it’s well worth it
1: Here in the UK we are taught in school to look left, then right, then start to cross the road, & continue to alternate between looking left & right as you cross the road. When I was 4, I used to dogmatically alternate my head's direction exactly every second while crossing the road at quick march.
True but everyone calls the tower itself big ben. That's a bit of information you'd only know if you've googled anything about the history of the clock and the tower
@@Perririri The tower is officially called the "Elizabeth Tower" since the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 - previously it was the "Clock Tower". Officially the main bell is the "Great Bell", but it is widely referred to as "Big Ben". The well-known tone is partly due to a crack in the rim of the bell.
don't walk slowly on the tube platform or randomly stop in the street, it really annoys us. don't talk mega loud on the tube make sure to go to john soanes museum, camden and shoreditch get to the lake district or Cambridge if you can
"Suffer the ire of the Brits" means we'll just complain about you out of earshot for about 20 minutes and the occasional dirty glance. One thing we hate more than line cutters etc. is confrontation
Don't let your guard down. London is one of my favorite destinations (5 times) but I've turned many corners and gone from posh to dodgy. Love Notting Hill market, wouldn't walk it without a money belt.
I agree with what you are saying, London is very international; go to villages and other historical towns aswell . The food here is great, but you tend to get what you pay for. Food at the 'posher' pubs is really good. Things are very expensive, it annoys us Brits too, but what you are saying about the great free stuff, you're paying for it in the VAT on other 'expensive' stuff. Personally, a boat trip on the Thames is affordable and fun, get the 'commuter ones' not the touristy stuff to save money. Don't forget to visit all of the shops here, there's a great diversity. Also, Don't use 'American English' if you can help it.
Laura Brewster I'm not Mr Bants, but I can answer your question. It's Value Added Tax. Basically a sales tax (presently a whopping 20%) levied on a very wide range of goods and services. You need to make sure the quoted price is inclusive of VAT, but most prices do include VAT. Keep your receipts if you are eligible to claim back the VAT you have paid.
Laura Brewster You're welcome. Depending on where you live you might be able to claim some of it back. If you check out www.gov.UK/tax on shopping and services (Item 5 Tax-free shopping) it will tell you what you need to know.
I think London is an amazing city to visit. The sights are great, it has some of the best art and museums to visit and lots of historical buildings. It has a buzz and there is so much going on. It does have problems with crime but they tend to be in the poor suburbs where most tourists won’t venture.
Go to the theatre!!! Not cheap by any means but you have to go to the Westend. On week day afternoons you can sometimes walk into the theatre’s box offices and ask if there are any spare tickets for shows and they may let you in for cheaper. ALSO go to the street food markets in central London - amazing food from all over the world! Have a great time in London!!!!
Using your hand to ask for two of anything. Do bear in mind to always do it with your palm facing outwards like a peace sign. Doing it the other way with the back of your hand facing out is the same here as giving the finger (flipping the bird) in the USA.
I would say stay somewhere outside zone 1 (look on the tube or train map) and travel into it. You'll save tons on your hotel and have a more peaceful place to retreat to. Greenwich feels like a nice village with touristy spots and film locations (I live here, am bias) and you can get back into central by bus, train, DLR, or boat very quickly. Ask a local for a nice place to eat, or use social media. Books are out of date by printing day, concierge are only recommending places that give a kickback or they can book you a cab to (you pay more for that cab and they get the commission). Get the F out of the way during busy periods. Remember It's a busy working city and people really do need to get to places. Taking up the entire pavement with your group causes accidents and traffic. Be aware of your surroundings. We are rude as hell during the day. Just move! stand to the side if you're stopping for a photo. Speaking of photos, on the bridges don't take anyone who's loitering around up on the offer of taking the photo for you. You're dicing with death here. You'll either be robbed or ripped off. They'll try and charge you. Don't forget to look up. A lot of the shopfronts are modern and glass, but the original building is usually still seen above ground floor and have some fantastic architecture spanning hundreds of years on show, everywhere you go. Don't fall for the homeless people's pleas. They make tons of money, more than you sometimes. A lady begged outside London Bridge station and averaged £180 a day for years. There are plenty of outreach centres and places for these people to go that are either free or pittance. Be a part of making these folk accept the help, or help themselves. Making begging to easy encourages it. We have lots of rooftop bars and restaurants that have great views that you don't need to pay for. Even the Shard has a bar you can visit and take in the view just a few floors down from the actually viewing gallery. (That, however, has new interactive stuff in now though) Don't ride the tuktuk's They WILL rip you off and are mostly all Illegal. If you're in an accident you're insurance likely won't help you. Your Uber from home will work here on the same account. Black Cabs are bloody expensive and outdated and anybody who says otherwise is either a Cabbie or knows one. They often don't have as much of a clue as they make out. If you're against Uber morally, then look up the Addison Lee app, they are a huge private taxi firm. Don't be afraid to bargain on prices. Don't hire a car unless you're leaving the city. Don't eat from the hotdog/burger stands. Sometimes illegally operating and not regulated. Homeless people can hire the carts whenever they like. We have great street food near Kings Cross, Southbank, Borough and many more. If you're stopping for lunch or a drink, use the toilet. You'll rarely find a free one when you're walking about town otherwise. In the summer, carry some water with you on public transport. Just have it with you anyway, ok? Tubes and trains are often cheaper after about 9 or 9.30 in the morning and FAR less busy. The stations on the Tube map don't necessarily relate to their geographic location. It's often quicker to exit the station and walk than it is to change lines and get another train. Just check on google if you're doing your routes. Some stations you walk for miles to change platforms. Bank and Green Park are two of the worst. 999 for Emergency Services. Bring a camera Enjoy yourself Don't come back. JK, come back anytime.
oleophotos You wont, the system tracks whether you used your Oyster on the bus once. If you tap twice, it will simply decline (red light) I tried it before, and thats what happened.
The Creation May U actually will get charged twice if you tap out but that's after a certain amount of time,probably 30 mnts,if you tap out 5 mnts after you tap in it will be rejected but after 30 mnts you will be charged again. A good thing is,when you spend £4.40 in 1 day,the rest of the trips you make will be free either on the oyster or in a contactless card
A tip for you, Mark. Don't forget to visit some of the Outer London boroughs and lesser-known towns and villages within London. London is huge. It seems like you only stick to touristy areas of central London.
EliteXtasy I've been to them. I dated a London girl for three years so have explored a lot. Just didn't have the digital pictures at a high enough quality to put in here. And you are right. One needs to explore more
As an American who lives in London, I agree with most of your tips and have many on my RUclips channel. Uber is best for a Sunday morning flight. Taxis are way too expensive. Plus many lines are 24 hours now. It's important to add a change on Oyster cards in the past year. You can take two buses without being charged for the second one, as long as you tap in within an hour of the first bus ride. My RUclips channel also has tons of other tips about visiting London as an American, such as pub advice, cultural differences and how to tip!
Sunny London I'm from America and I'm dying to go to London! I want to live there for at lest one to two years! I was thinking going to school there! I'm going to visite london next year! Si excited! U going to school or just decided to live there? How did you? Tips amd advice? Plz and thanks
Yes but unlike America where everybody shoots everybody on sight, the guards have never fired a single shot on Horse Guard's Parade or Whitehall, But never forget those chaps on their black steeds are crack troops. Mind you on duty they only carry a very sharp Wilkinson sword.
The guards won’t shoot you but they won’t be afraid to intimidate or shout at tourists. They have a job to do and if anyone gets in their way they will barge past or shove people out of their way even if the tourist fall overs and gets hurt. Often where there is a guard stationed there will be police near by or ‘security’ to ensure that the guards are able to go about their business without interference. There is sometimes signs or notices warning tourists to not distract or obstruct the guards. They are good to go see, but that’s it. See them, don’t try to play with them. They are highly disciplined soldiers and deserve to be respected.
Don't stand on the left side of the escalator (particularly going to/from the underground). If you want to stand and ride the escalator stick to the right, so those in a hurry can walk/run up or down the escalator on left.
Well, the first thing is actually, to resist the temptation to say "London, England", unless you are from Ontario. London is the first, London, Ontario is another. And don't try getting a train to "Old York", it's York. It's very old, that's something you know, rather than speak out loud. And it's the reason why New York is, well, new. And despite Wolter's enthusiasm for England, the "h" in Buckingham Palace is not spoken, it's silent. He did manage to pronounce Greenwich correctly, rather than saying "Green witch"
some things I would mention: if you're gonna use the tube, PLAN IN ADVANCE. also, I personally think that the museums down exhibition road are fantastic, especially the natural history museum. I would also recommend going to the british library as they have many free exhibitions throughout the year that are very good, for example, they have a permanent exhibition featuring the magna carta and davinci's notebook.
I'm from the UK, not London but have been there millions of times. These days you don't need an oyster card as Contactless credit cards now work the same way. Not sure if it works on foreign cards, but the pricing the same. Hotels are always super expensive, but I find London is way better than other European cities for free stuff. Very true for queues, you can never get enough of that. Another thing is talking so loud on the trains and Underground, which is usually pretty quiet but I find American tourists echo there voices throughout the whole train. Better to speak quietly.
One thing I would mention are the ticket barriers in the tube & train stations. When it's busy people wait for the barrier to close after the person in front has gone through before tapping their oyster card to open the barriers for themselves. This slows everyone down & isn't necessary. You can tap your oyster whilst the barrier is still open for the person in front of you & it will beep & stay open speeding up the whole process. You will also look like a worldly wise traveller & a true Londoner
If you have a spare day in London and you are not sure what to do, just walk at random somewhere. London is full of hidden gems and it s virtually impossible to get lost in the city.
The strange thing about London is that it's "beginner level" for tourists, but "veteran mode" for natives who are country bumpkins like me :P I suppose it's kinda good for dipping your toe into visiting the UK but all of our best stuff and greatest natural beauty is hidden away in the arse end of nowhere! For such a tiny country, you really could spend the best part of a lifetime trying to see all the best we have to offer.
London is one of the great cities of the world. If you like big cities then you will like London. A "don't" I would add is, don't hire a car to travel around London if you can avoid it. To travel around London use the Underground (known of course as the "tube"). London is like NYC in this regard, far easier to get around by public transport than by car. Personally I cycle around London and if you are a cyclist then this is something to consider. Cycling is a great way to see just about any city, but of course you need good road sense. However those who cycle regularly in a city will find it quite doable and very enjoyable.
It is dangerous even to cycle in and around London nowadays, so not very good advice. The tube is the quickest way to travel about avoiding the rush hour where you can be squashed like a sardine with others. Yikes !
I agree. Even a native English driver (like me) wouldn't want to drive in London. It's too congested, and parking is insanely expensive. Even if you're staying at a hotel, they'll probably charge you an astronomical fee to park there. As regards taxis - the ones at the London airports are exceedingly expensive. Use public transport if you're going into London. If you're staying somewhere just outside London, find a taxi company in the area you're going to and book them to collect you. I live just outside the M25 and a taxi home from Heathrow would be something like £120 ($160), but if I book a local taxi they charge about £60 ($80).
Well said. As an Anglophile and tourist of London, I have found the London cabbies to be the best in the world. The most efficient and gentlemanly. I have visited countries all over the world and took in the tourist sites and taxis, but the black cabs comes top on my list !
30 years ago I would have definitely agreed that London was one of the great cities of the world. Now, not so much.. It has gone severely downhill, with the majority of London not even being English. Terrorism, sexual assaults, and acid attacks are skyrocketing. No thanks.
I think one big one that you forgot is don't mess with the Royal Guard. They are not statues, they are human beings. They are there to protect the Royal Palace not take selfies with you or be annoyed. The Royal Guards are badass and will give you one heck of a raking if you disrespect the rules of the Palace or pester them.
TriggerHippy666 no they won't - lots of narrowboats to see just be wary as always - anywhere in the world. walk confidently a London is your oyster - great zoo nearby
Not all of them, I was stopped by one and he was an aspiring rapper, I ended up buying a copy of his CD which was bloody good! He was the exception though, most just want to sell you coke or weed
People around Camden Lock are usually tourists taking pictures or getting lost, locals drinking, eating and having a good time, street performers, Somalis and Caribbeans selling weed... You got as much chance to being robbed as any other busy tourist place anywhere else.
Yehonatan L. the one over the Locke usually filled with guys "selling" weed etc at best you get an empty bag if your lucky but don't get me wrong Camden is probably my favourite place in the UK in general prone to fires but some awesome food and shops
What a great video. Wasn’t expecting to hear sense from an American about what to avoid doing in London. ;-) And what a shame about the comment section. A lot of trolls, racists, and inadequate people venting their frustrated nonsense. How sad to see this on a benign, apolitical video about how to queue in London and save some money. Sheesh.
I stayed at an awesome hostel near Paddington station for 25 dollars per night, I ate at Indian restaurants mostly, and some pubs, of course, bought one souvenir at Camden market and went to British museum and v and a for free, so I really didn't spend all that much for an awesome vacation!
A "Do" for London is do take the walk-on walk-off bus tours. Wonderful way to see the city. Also, go to both the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Westminster Abbey: I get in there for free because I attend the Anglican Church services when I am there. I do of course, as a Christian, pay a donation when I attend any church service when I travel. Bishop Desmond Tutu was giving the sermon at one of the services I attended and I got to see him (didn't really speak with him).
I would say don't expect to be totally welcomed. Londoners and English people in general just aren't very open to strangers. We are polite but don't start having conversations with us at the bus stop or whatever. Its sad but its true. Also try and avoid eye contact with dodgy people on buses, trains and the tube or they might start something.
I can't wait to go there. I am a bit of an Anglo-phile and have been wanting to go for decades. The best part is, I have a beautiful English lady who lives in London that is going to take me everywhere.....She looks like a younger Olivia Newton-John
When it comes to going to Stansted early in the morning, I can recommend looking into a bus company called "city link". They depart from Kings Cross St Pancras and it's really quick, too. Never had an issue with them. Their buses go every 30 minutes or every hour, and they let you board any bus regardless of what the ticket time says. Also, depending on where exactly you stay in London (I usually stay around Russell Square or Leyton) taking an uber to the station or even walking should be considered... When staying in Leyton, getting a bus from Stratford is not much of a hassle
Don't make eye contact or initiate a conversation with people on public transport in London. They will seriously feel threatened and consider you a psychopath. The only exception is on Friday and Saturday nights, when people tend to be really drunk. Oh, regarding Oyster cards you only tap ONCE ON BUSES - yes, on other modes of transport, always tap in and tap out.
Thank you, I'm British, but no longer live in the London area, I have long wondered how Oyster cards work, last time I went to London I couldn't go on the tube because I couldn't find anyone to explain.
@@lesleyhawes6895 You can also use a debit or credit card. You are charged exactly the same amount for a one-way journey, can also check your travel history online and the only advantage of an Oyster Card is that you can load travel cards on them, so you can get a bit of a discount if you make more than two journeys per day including weekends.
Make sure to visit all the free museums and visit all the parks and see if there are any free events on during your stay, if you download the dice app there are many free gigs you can go to to help you explore, there are many free jazz and blues bars and the theatre is a must.also try not to go to congested places like Oxford street as this isn't the only representation of London, places like Nottinghill and Greenwich are nice places to go to and more gentrified areas like Brixton and Dalston have great restaurants and bars but I wold say to respect these areas and all the people who live in them as many areas of London are or have experienced gentrification in the last couple decades and are not as authentic as they used to be.
Brilliant advice here about queuing. I have seen many heated discussions with visitors when this system is broken. The UK takes it quite seriously. Camden is a must visit in London too.
I work and live in London and this is all accurate! Be polite, don’t yell in the tube while people are commuting, keep left wherever you go (that’s driving me crazy) also make sure to visit all the wonderful free art galleries! People here are happy to help strangers if they are lost, it’s a crowded city and the best is to be mindful of each other’s space :)
I went in London in 2012 and normally I wouldn't travel to the same place twice but I've planned to visit it again next month. There's something about this city 💕 lots of love from Greece!
this feels weird watching as a brit normally us brits aren't seen as too intricate so here ya go - -if you are gonna go get typical british food DONT GO LONDON its simply a tourist trap. i live 45 mins away from our capital yet i go maybe once a year only because of peasky tourists and expensive everything near enough. -the dudes still right that the monuments and what not, London is a beautiful place but thats kinda just it, unless your british and know the backstreets and specific food places that are cheap and serve nice food i wouldn't bother really (london dungeons, big ben, the windsor house, london eye and parliment are kinda just musts) -if you want a whole different experience food wise, i would also recommend going to east london and trying jelly eels n pie and mash with liquor (most people are regulars so please dont go round taking photos, its seen as very rude) -if your into cars i would recommend going to the ace cafe, its a very well known car meet joint with lovely 'america' sized portions and a chill atmosphere (make sure to check what days certain cars will turn up, and better to not go on a week day) -if your into scenery and want a purely british experience (britain is very diverse) places like york and oxford are very authentic and posh. -if your into food, make sure to go china town for really nice chinese places. brick lane beigel bakery for really famous bagels (salt and beef there is amazing) -finally i would very much recommend to goto camden and go through there markets and food stalls (make sure to watch your stuff just incase of pickpockets abit more like any busy area) and try out the wide range of food they've got there. if your fancy theres many very posh restaurants to eat from aswell ;) a brits guide to britain enjoy
Sam Hines oh no i am, i saw the opportunity that being british would come in handy for fucking once otherwise i would much rather move to sweden or something
Sam Hines Suggest you do a fact check on that. There is only one legal nationality in the United Kingdom and that is British. Your UK (not English) passport will describe you as a British Citizen. England ceased to be a sovereign nation over 300 years ago. If you need consular assistance while overseas you go to the UK Consulate, Embassy or High Commission (good luck to you finding an English Embassy anywhere). You might consider yourself "pissing English" but you are also pissing in the wind.
Aidankiwi thank god some people know that they're talking about on here. the english kingdom was a KINGDOM which some people like the other dude don't seem to realise. we are britain now.
Samuel Reed word. n i hate the people that scream racism yet protect a murder if they're foreign, but when the criminal is white they all slag them off, and british people as a whole. i wished we was still the industrial powerhouse we were 200 years ago, the british empire at its finest. now we're as corrupt as we've ever been, killing people in other countries, because of someone else's beef. why the fuck put resources in that when we've got a rotting nation. slowly but surely, we won't have enough space or jobs anymore. then it'll be like the victorian era all over again. people will understand what true HARD work is, just to get your rent for a week or food for that day. then we'll realise that all that political correctness and making sure everyone is totally equal was a dogshit idea and ruined us. we ruined our own country because of our society being so dumbfounded and arrogant, we've ruined our own country. do you shit on your own doorstep? no. but that's what we've done letting all these policies and people in. we are fucked until we do something, but our corrupt money hungry government won't ever fix us.
If you want to got to airports, book a nationalexpress coach, Stanstead u can go from Stratford E15 and a present most key tube services now run about every 20mins thru sat night into sunday morning.
Well done Wolters World. Its a very fair Don't. As a born and bred Londoner and travel journalist myself, youve done a great job. This guy knows what he talking about.
It's a very small thing but if you're walking around and need to stop to check a map or something, please move to the side and do your business. Nothing is more frustrating than when you're trying to get somewhere and there's a group of 10 tourists stood in the middle of the pavement.
I think we need to Americanify that paragraph for our friends across the pond - Don't stop on the friggin sidewalk!
That is a universal issue. People from Europe come to America and do it all the time. Yes it is annoying but you get over it and move on.
Same here in America. We don't do it but a lot of smartphone idiots will do it and not pay attention where they are going. You should've seen it when Pokemon Go was happening. We didn't know it was going on and went to see the Riverfront park one summer evening in Salem and it was swarming with people looking at their phones for something.
We couldn't figure it out at first until there was a booth selling Pokemon T-Shirts and I was like ALL THIS FOR A F-KING GAME? I first noticed a large group of people were outside the Gilbert Science House and I thought they were being evacuated because they were standing around the entrance but upon closer notice they were all staring at their phones.
Maz Amd yea I back this. And please don't stand right at the edge of the pavement (sidewalk) when waiting to cross...London roads are seriously way smaller then the US roads if I clip your head with my wing mirror its gonna hurt :)
Also a tip from a Londoner, you can ride the boats with your oyster card :)
I saw that in another video. That's so awesome!
I'm not from London but one thing I notice about American tourists is they are really LOUD, it's not the worst thing and there are totally public spaces you can be loud in, but read the room guys, if everyone else is speaking in low voices it's probably polite to copy.
I think the Italians are the worst. At least when they are on the phone! Spaniards form in groups and block up entrance ways to shops and tube stations! All friendly people though.
That we are. I asked a cousin about blending in in Europe, he said basically it was impossible for most Americans to do so, between being louder, more open, clothing, etc.
Anthony Kaiser
I hope you haven't got the impression that we don't like Americans because that simply isn't true. Personally i think Americans are great tourists, willing to get of the beaten track and engage with the locals, and very friendly. Just one thing, for the love of God and all that is decent in this world, do NOT call football "soccer".
Sophie they are the loudest people in the world. On one flight I was on the only American girl was speaking about her traveling to the girl beside her (who was English). I could only hear the American girls side of the conversation because she spoke about ten times louder. I don’t dislike Americans for that though it’s just amusing how loud they speak.
It's part of the american cultural inferiority complex. They believe that they have to be loud else no one will take them seriously. Same with the Italians and their raging emotions. I have an Italian and an america neighbor, and they confirm this to be case, and yes, I'm sandwiched in between both of them, a humble Brit. They like my tea with milk though
Don’t buy a discounted Tube ticket from a stranger in the street. It’s a scam!
no shit... thanks for the recommendation
@@Angel-ij4bk you never know who could fall for it
I suspect that's true most places.
Just to clarify a common misconception, I know you said it in jest but some of your viewers might not realise it. The fact is we don't love to queue. We can often find it irritating and it can try our patience, but we do it because we believe in fairness and the principle of first-come-first-served. So it can really get our goat when somebody pushes in who hasn't - in effect - put the work in!
And EVERYONE will know when you have pushed in. It is ok to ask to push in, for a queue to the toilet if you are ill, but do not take the piss [XD].
yup! hate queues its annoying i only line up if its reasonablly long or i have to and patientce is a vertue.. aslo if u want to leave the line ask the person behind u if u can hold ur place and most likely will :)
True, who likes queues! anyway, I always give my turn in the queue if I see an elderly person or a pregnant woman. They're always surprised but grateful.
Evil Twin Ok I wish that it was like that here in the U.S 😧
Do not push in or you will literally be murdered by the intense glares
As a Londoner.... please don't stand on the left side of the escalators. That's my one gripe with tourists 😂
Miss Vintage Queen it is weird. Cars use left hand side, people on the pavement too but only escalator on the right
Evona K Because the left hand side of the escalator is for people who want to walk up it and the right hand side is to just stand.
Sit your ass back down Yes I know it is the rule in the whole world and unfortunately there is always people who block moving in other countries too and not only tourists. But anyway I was surprised that England keep the same rule (keep right) where everything is on left cars, etc.
Miss Vintage Queen and dont talk to locals on public transport. Just sit down, shut up, read a book or listen to music.
People who stand on the left can die a slow death
My tip as a Brit living outside of London would be DON'T just go to London...visit other cities too...visit the seaside...visit the countryside...visit Wales & Scotland. We're a relatively small island with diverse landcapes and types of environment!
Yeah its such a beautiful country all around, I live in wales and its stunning and scotland is amazing aswell
I live in London and I totally agree - London's great but so much brilliant stuff elsewhere
Yep . Londonistan .
I cannot agree more!
Even if you only spend a few days or maybe a week in London (you really have things to do for a whole week in this city) you should go see Cambridge/Oxford or the British Channel, it's not that far and the atmosphere is very different
The best still being to stay for more than a week and visiting the rest of England or even Scotland
Bloody good advise. I plan to visit Portsmouth. HMS Victory is docked there.
Go to a "Greggs" bakery and get a hot Cornish Pasty. Enough culture in one of those bad boys to last a full week.
Gregg, the cheeky **** charges a quid for a single sausage roll. Whereas the "Pound" bakery offers 2 for a quid!!! BARGAIN!
pfff, damned peasants..... Quality over quantity my working class friend!
LOL You're either Team Cornish Pasty or Team Sausage Roll LOL
Mr Irrelevant Better still I go to Cornwall for my pasties...
KernowManiac1984
I heard a vicious rumour that Cornish Pasties were originally from Devon. Mind you, a mate from Plymouth told me that.
Remember to also stand right and walk left on escalators!
J M YES!!!! How did I miss that one. So annoying :)
so important...drives me mad when people dont do it. :)
I made the mistake of standing left upon my first 5 minutes in London 😬 and suffered the evil eye of a business man trying to walk up. I’ll never do that again. 😂
J M Same in NY.. What a concept! 🤔
very important one. Hope more people read this one
Don't smile and say Good Morning on the underground, the locals will think you're a weirdo ;) Where I'm from (Yorkshire) we always say good morning and acknowledge people but sadly this isn't the case in London nowadays.
ExploreList Similar to San Fransisco and new York. If you want someone to be nice and welcoming you pretty much have to visit the south or the Midwest. the west coast particularly is not the friendliest cities..
You said that for the London video. D'ya go around all countries saying that lol !
ExploreList I live in London and I say hi ally the time to everyone
And no one bothers to say hi back to you.
I think it's because they can't speak English
Would also recommend the natural history museum and the science museum.
Not anymore sadly, they aren't as good as before
Yes they are beautiful
Yes they are good plus Madame Tussaud’s
And the Victoria & Albert: there's some impressive stuff in there.
Donts: 1. When at a station, please do not stand at the top or bottom of the stairs while you try and figure out where you are supposed to be going particularly during rush hour. People are rushing for their train and tend to get rather angry when there is suddenly a bottle neck because some clueless tourist chose the bottom of the stairs as a good place to idly stand while they get out their map. If you need to do that, find a space at the back of the platform or in a more secluded area where you are going to cause less of a problem for people. 2. Similarly have your card or ticket ready BEFORE you get to the ticket barrier - dont cause a big hold up behind you when you stop to start rifling though your bag to find your ticket. 3. Dont just stick to restaurants when you want to eat - there are some great markets and outside eating areas all over London (my favourites are Borough Market and the South Bank) and you can get a much better variety of food. 4. The Guards at Buckingham Palace and the Beafeaters at The Tower of London may be all dressed up but they are NOT there for the tourists. They actually have a real job to be getting on with so by all means enjoy standing and watching them do their thing, but do not mess with them and do not stand in front of the Beafeaters trying to taking photographs when they are marching - they stop for nothing and the WILL run over you (it has happened). 5. The buses no longer accept cash so come prepared 6. There are 4 Airports that will say they are London plus another that services London. However only one of those airports is actually IN London (London City Airport). Heathrow is now technically within the boundaries of Greater London (it is in what was once part of Middlesex) but you a literally on the boundary line. London Stansted is in Essex and London Gatwick is in West Sussex. All of them service London and therefore have reasonable transport links into central London but DONT expect that if you are flying to one of these airports that you are close to where you want to be as it is still going to take you a while to get into Central London. 7. Dont underestimate the crowds that certain events draw in, the crowd control measures you will have to negotiate or the distance you may still have to travel once you get off the train if you are intending to attend one of these events. Nottinghill Carnival - you will need to dedicate a day not just for the carnival but for the one way systems the Police put in place afterwards to ensure everyone leaves the area safely plus the crowds on the trains can add a further couple of hours. Wimbledon Tennis and Epsom Derby (thats pronounced DAR-BEE not DER-BEE) are still a distance from the station and although taxi's and buses are laid on to transport people from the station (for which you buy a special ticket - your oyster card or travel card will not work for these) and as the local towns get completely clogged with traffic during these events it can still take a while to get there so leave plenty of time to get to where you are going. 8. Dont forget that people who live near to London will often choose school holidays as a chance to take their kids to do the touristy things in London for themselves - a day out at Tower of London and you may actually have exhausted your hyperactive child sufficiently for at least 2 days of however long it is you need to keep your kids occupied before they go back to school. If you can avoid it, dont come during the Summer or Easter school holidays (I would also say half term but as we tend to stagger those it may be too complicated to factor them in). The point is that there will be even more people when you factor in the daytrippers and you may not therefore necessarily get the best use of your time if you have to wait in huge queues for everything. 9. Dont rely on £50 notes and American Express cards. If you get given a £50 note get it changed for a lower denomination as soon as possible as lots of places refuse to take them. You also tend to find lots of places wont accept American Express due to the charges they incur for using it. There are many places that still will take it, but if you are solely relying on it then it may cause a problem given so many place wont take it. Also if you are travelling to Scotland and then back to England and you pick up any Scottish notes while in Scotland then try to get rid of them while still in Scotland (the note will say if its Bank of England or Bank of Scotland). The reason is that while Scottish notes can be accepted as legal tender in England (and vice versa with English notes in Scotland), it is not uncommon for English shops and restaurants to refuse Scottish notes either because they look so different from the notes that they are used to so they think they are fake, or because they are different to the notes they are used to so they dont have the facility to tell whether they are fake, or because they are unaware that Scottish notes can be accepted in England or because they know they are legal tender but they also know its hard to get rid of them for the aforementioned reasons and its just easier to refuse them then have the hassle. Its daft but better just to try to avoid encountering the problem in the first place then to get into an argument with someone about the fact it is perfectly legal for you to present a Scottish £5 note as payment (as I once did). 10. While there are many things to see and do in London itself, you dont just have to stick to London. Many people avoid going outside London as trips to the North, the South West, Scotland and Wales are often going to be more than a daytrip and if you are staying in London you might not want to spend further money on hotels elsewhere if you were not anticipating it. However there are many things you can do outside London that you can get to and back within a day. Brighton makes a great day trip and its just an hour on the train from London Victoria. Hever Castle in Edenbridge (the home of Anne Bolelyn) from London Victoria, Hampton Court Palace at Hampton Court (about an hour from London Waterloo), Canterbury Cathedral, Leeds Castle (not in Leeds), Hastings, Chichester, Kingston, Arundel, Tonbridge Wells, Lewes, the list goes on and on. If you are a Harry Potter Fan dont forget the studio tour in Leavesden which can easily be done in a day (although you have to book in advance, you cannot buy tickets when you get there)
Sorry, but just to clarify. The Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) are actually there for the tourists. The lead tours and are all former service members with a minimum of 22 years service. Their sense of humour is very characteristic of that of a retired sergeant major... in other words, sarcastic, biting, and funny as hell. There are also guardsmen from the Brigade of Guards stationed at the Tower, and those lads are the ones who will march over you. They belong to the whichever Regiment of the Brigade that is guarding both Buckingham and St James Palaces.
Not all heroes wear capes. Thank you, Sarah Baker!
I was wondering if it is possible to do a day trip from London to York
too long, quit reading after few sentences. try to be brief for a better reader.
Who tf is gna read all that??!! Longer than the bible.
Here are my tips for visiting London and the UK in general:
1. Oyster cards are not accepted outside of London - now this can be a bit confusing because the airports outside of London are called London airports, for example Stansted is known as London Stansted airport even though it is in the county of Essex and not a part of the city. I was on the train home from work on the Stansted Express train and I saw two young American boys fined £80 (each) because they presented their Oyster cards which are not accepted outside of London.
2. Watch a play at the Globe - it is a brilliant experience, for both tourists and natives, and you may even see a famous actor (I saw the guy who played the butler in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air!) I will warn you though, that no matter how you watch the play you will be uncomfortable, if you stand in the pit (which is the cheapest) your feet are going to hurt, whilst if you sit in the balconies your bum is going to go numb as they are basically church pews (you can rent a cushion to sit on but it makes no difference and its expensive).
3. Explore! - London is a great place to set out from to explore the rest of the country. I highly recommend seeing Cambridge, brilliant shops, museums, sights and history. But, also try going out and seeing the countryside, the pretty villages and market towns - these are great places to see at this time of year as the weather is generally pleasant (with a spot of rain) and you may even get to see a few country fairs, markets and proper country pubs (you can get more for your money as well!) But what makes London so brilliant is that you can travel from London to any other part of the country via coach, car, train or plane so take advantage of that and go and see Bath (a beautiful city), the Lake District, pretty much the whole of Scotland (Inverness is my favourite) or anywhere!
(P.S. If your stuck for ideas on what to see outside of London then look up the National Trust, they own loads of historic buildings, estates and woodland that make for brilliant days out)
I hope this has helped :)
Sarah K - unfair to fine the American boys if it was a genuine mistake. They could have just been asked to pay the outstanding fare.
I know, I felt so bad for them. The ticket officers on the trains from London to Cambridge are really tough! I think the fines are called a penalty fare, which means its the fare you would have paid, plus a fine on top. They were given the option to complain and if their complaint was seen as viable they would get a refund.
Oyster cards are now accepted to Gatwick, I believe.
+Sarah K You may well find that the ticket machine the conductor on the train has is point blank not authorised to sell standard non penalty fare tickets for journeys inside the penalty fare zone. The computers of course don't care if you are dealing with one of the train operating companies that program the systems like that you are outta luck no matter how much the conductor may or may not want to be nice. Safest bet make sure to ask the ticket office staff directly before even thinking about getting on a train with anything other than a proper national rail ticket in your hand that way can't inadvertently get on the train with an invalid ticket.
Here's my tip for you. Put on a burqa. You're going to have to eventually anyway,
Don't mess with the queen's guard.
Or any other of our military. Past a certain point (which you will never know beforehand) you will come off worse. As so many people have pointed out, they are soldiers first. And beyond a further point you will find yourself up before the beak (trans: In court, charged with a crime).
Oh, and don't mess with the Police. They will be polite and tolerant of the foolishness of tourists, but only up to a point. They are there to police the capital, not be tourist attractions. Plus, contrary to legend, some of them do carry guns (sometimes it will be obvious, sometimes it won't) and they will act accordingly. And they WILL have live rounds in the weapon.
I would *never* go to the US and fuck with some American soldier, firstly because it's insanely disrespectful. I should hope nobody does the same here, but unfortunately it's not the case. Queen's Guards are hardened soldiers in the military and could kill you instantly. But some people see them as a joke, which is extra hurtful if it is one of our close allies. My father was in the Scot's Guards his entire life and I am currently serving in the Irish Guards, we have so many stories of stupid tourists trying to fuck with us and what they got in return, if people are interested I might write some stories out or make a video or something telling them all.
At least US soldiers understand, they've all been great people that get on really well with us, many good friends.
Queen's Guard is straight up gangsta.
And if there's one set of military not to feck with, it's those Beefeaters at the Tower. Yes, they look like something from a musical comedy or tourist postcard in their Tudor uniforms......but they are *all* long service NCOs who have "been there, and done that." I have a pal who is a civilian contractor at the Tower who specifically warned me to "mind my Ps & Qs" when we went out drinking at a pub called "Liberty of the Tower," which is part of the Tower precinct....and policed not by the London Bobbies, but the Tower Beefeaters. Apparently they don't have a lot fo patience with "drunken prats."
US vet here, respects to the Guards.
If I see idiots, I try to give them a word in season, before they get something else.
You might like to know: US commanders in both Gulf wars would make allowance for various coalition forces when placing them, depending on their quality. No alllowances were made for the Guards. Schwarzkopf said it: “When the Guards are holding the left flank, it is *held*”. Just so.
You're right about not treating it as England. As someone who lives in Hampshire it seems like a completely different world... and when I first visited London I felt like just as much of a tourist as someone from a place like America.
As two Brits, one of whom lived in London, this was so bang on we were in fits laughing! Our don'ts would include;
Don't litter, there are plenty of bins (trash cans) around, we are very proud of our 'Keep Britain Tidy' ethics.
Don't pay a fortune for coffee, private establishments charge extortionate prices and we love Starbuck's and Costa, so you will find plenty of reasonable prices and, dare we say better, standards of coffee in there.
And...
Don't forget there are wonderful cities only a couple of hours away, our beloved home city, Liverpool, is only two hours by train, always welcome here!
1. don't say England is my city
wichitphun mundej 😂😂😂
Yah pls don’t
Agreed
Or that London is my country 😂😂😂
Definitely
Don't pronounce the ham as ham in Buckingham and other places with ham at the end, pronounce it buckingum.
Adam Barrett then spell it so, you are not fucking French.
Fuck off. Your country has probably barely flopped out of the fucking ocean yet, you uncultured shit.
Adam Barrett we kicked your ass twice and we saved your ass twice, the way things are going over there...we may have to save it again!
Things are going fine over here, would you like us to help you threaten kim jong un? would you like half of the country to be racist? to be more like you? Hey. while were at it lets fucking give our shitty police guns to shoot innocent people they are meant to protect.
Frank Bowne so tell me why Kansas and Arkansas are pronounced so differently? They are spelt basically the same. Gtfo of here with your judgement
I just returned from my first visit in ages and loved it. The Underground is so efficient compared to NYC and D.C. subway systems. So much to see and do there; I wouldn't be too worried about the "don'ts." Just be polite and use common sense and everything is good. Please and thank you go far.
You mean people aren't regularly pushed in front of moving trains?
The British Museum is one of my favorite things we did when we visited England (that and Oxford). My favorite thing in the British Museum (because I'm weird) was the back of the Rosetta Stone because you never see it in pictures.
Smalls the Timelord That sounds interesting.
What was in the back?
@@hambos It's just rough stone but having a new perspective of something so iconic that you've seen for years is very interesting.
@@smallsthetimelord4066 that's true
and also: don't mess with the queens guards. they are trained killers who have the ultimate honour of guarding the queen without some annoying tourist mimicking them. i have said my piece. enjoy your trip to london!
Yes as specialunit 042 has just pointed out.
Just watch one of the selection of RUclips vids of tourists trying this out to see for yourself.
I am English and a born 'n' bred Londoner; there are only 2 things you MUST NOT DO when visiting London - 1. DON'T forget to take a warm coat. 2. Don't forget to take an umbrella. Both these things are applicable 12 months a year. Then there is one thing you ABSOLUTELY MUST DO; take a lot of money with you - cause you'll need it.
So ure gonna where a coat in summer??😂
@@charchar596 Considering we usually only get maybe 2 warm days each summer... yes. Bring a coat in summer. And an umbrella, because you can bet that the one day you don't have your umbrella is the day it'll rain.
It also doesnt take alot for us to get annoyed. Also if we say “are you alright” (usually pronounced “you a’right”) we dont care if you are or aren’t. This is one of many versions of “hello”. Also- we love a good moan (just read some of the comments). If you want to come to london just come. If you have any questions like “wheres so and so”, its probably a good idea to ask someone working in a shop or a black cab. The public wont really help. And if they do theres a chance that theyre leading you on a wild goose chase because we like to tease people, its just our comedy... i once asked a policeman for directions, he sent me around the block, once i saw him on the same road i started on he was laughing. Also, bus drivers here arent really all that helpful either, not sure why, but i just avoid talking to them now. The people who work at train stations are usually nice though. Hope you enjoy your visit. So long as you know that london really is like the video said “international”. Tbh i don’t really go to central london all that much, and i only need one train to get to it. I feel like tourists see alot more of london than the locals.
I’ve replied to a you a’right with a “yea you?” Cause sometimes they really can be just beginning a conversation with “how are you?”
Just wanted to clear that up cause sometimes it can be weird if someone were to say
“You a’right”
And you replied with
“Hello!”
In the US, we say "how are you doing?" But, most of the time, it's more like a hi.
Londoner here. Don't be afraid to venture out of London on a day trip. You can be at the coast in an hour from Fenchurch Street near tower hill. Leigh on Sea is lovely and there's a nice little amusement park in Southend called Adventure Island. For the full British Seaside experience try the 2p machines!
Also, I do love steak and kidney pie but I prefer steak and ale, so give that a try too!
IIRC, There is a nice little walk you can do from Westminster Station, where you'd find Big Ben and the London Eye to London Bridge station and if you walk the correct route you can see Southbank, home of the National Theatre, then into Southwark where you'll see Shakespeare's Globe, St. Paul's Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, a nice little pub called The Anchor, Drake's The Golden Hind, then through Borough Market to London Bridge. It takes about 40 minutes to an hour
Here is my don't of London. Don't be intimidated or overwhelmed with the city. After checking into our hotel in the morning (yes, they let us check in early after arriving on an AM flight), we set out and explored our own. We just started walking. We went through Kensington Park to Kensington Palace. Then we walked down past Royal Albert Hall, St. James Palace, #10 10 Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, Parliament, etc. This took us a good 4 hours. By the time we were by Big Ben, we were exhausted. I looked at the Tube map and quickly found the trains needed to get back to the hotel. At the heart of rush hour, we were back at our hotel in less than 30 minutes. This a the first time we'd ever been to London. We just jumped in and explored before meeting up with our tour the following day. The British Museum is a MUST see,
Ralph Swindler i
Ralph Swindler also don’t try and do a British accent if ur American. You get knocked out if you do
If you want a real English experience, go to York, Bath, Wells, Oxford and Cambridge etc.
One Pound yes! York is White and beautiful, i am from York.
One pound - ah yes the real english experience, seeing ignorant low class people be racist and drink too much, Sounds great
And Surrey
Harry Potter referance
FoodforThought and I guess you're against stereotypes English country is amazing and has some friendly people that London lacks
London is awesome, there's a reason it was the only area in England that voted to remain.
The Rules of the Queue:
(1) If you are new join the back of the queue. DO NOT PUSH IN! Your fellow Queuers may exercise the right of passive aggression and the reserved right of direct confrontation if you do.
(2) If you are in a queue but you need to temporarily leave said queue - you become new (refer to rule 1). The only exception to Rule 2 is the friends and family principle. Friends and family members have a special status within the queue as they have the ability to 'hold' your place. The friends and family principle does not however negate the right of passive aggression.
(3) Your age and gender do not give you an advantage over your fellow Queuers e.g. if an elderly woman pushes in front of a child then said parent/guardian or fellow age appropriate Queuer is able to exercise their right of passive aggression.
(4) It is extremely important when entering in to a general undefined queue that you quickly assess your position within that queue. You are permitted to have a momentary glance at your fellow Queuers to assist in your assessment. The usual test is - last in everyone else ahead of you is before you. There is an exception to Rule 4 - the appointment and simply waiting clause - your fellow Queuers will indicate, when technically it should be their turn, whether they are simply waiting or have an appointment with say a particular hair dresser and will give you permission to move ahead of them.
(5) The undefined queue in a public house/bar/nightclub. When trying to order drinks at a busy bar the burden of assessment switches from the Queuer to the bar staff. You may need to get their attention if they are distracted by initiating polite conversation or have a note or card or menu in your hand (don't wave said note etc. in their face) This is a indication that you have joined the queue and have not been served yet.
(6) The Situation rule - if the situation warrants a material breach of rule 1 then your fellow Queuers may voluntarily surrender their position in the queue. If they do so then you can move ahead and it will not constitute an offence under rule 1.
(7) The Privacy rule - in certain situations Doctors surgeries, ATMs etc - you are required to form a defined queue at a respectable distance behind the person stood talking to the receptionist or using the ATM. In certain situations there are defined markers which will indicate what constitutes as a respectable distance. In most situations however there is no set definition of respectable distance so an assessment must be made.
Lol. If we had a Constitution that would be the most important part.
Sad ass
If you think you're a sad ass then fine but I couldn't possibly say...
Excellent!
The bar rules are wrong though. Xxx
The bar rules are confusing, but generally the bars I've been in you go to the bar and it's up to the bar staff to figure out whose next.
Don't forget to look for the smaller museums - they're EVERYwhere!! I loved the Foundling Museum and the Florence Nightingale Museum. Read up about the little museums, you'll find something you're interested in. Don't forget walking tours, they take you to the older areas you figure were all covered up. Don't forget day trips outside of London. You're just a train away from Hampton Court Palace and other goodies. Don't be afraid to talk to Londoners but do remember they're usually on their way to/from somewhere and don't have time to chat. They'll help when they can. The tube is fun but so many things are walk-able distance from each other. And...yes, stand right, walk left.
And don't assume that everyone in the street will be English and happy to help, in central London in summer, that is often not true.
I'm a Londoner, and had a brief giggle at how ABSOLUTELY CORRECT you are about 'engineering works' on the underground and overground. It's the bane of anyone travelling on the Piccadilly line. Also, the Richmond to Stratford overground service has been disabled on and off for ages. You've an intimate understanding of London. Fantastic.
I'm British and i honestly cannot see what it is that makes London so appealing.
As an Englishman, it's very interesting to see other people's perceptions of our culture (or, am I from North Korea?!? WHO KNOWS!!! ).
Posh is what we expect. Blame James Bond movies for that. Cheerio
@@chuckh4077 Tip top old bean. I'm off to eat my bran flakes.
@@kimjong-un1136 I've been to London before the pandemic. Stayed at the Rembrandt hotel.
Got kingsman inspired suits at a local tailor shop. Walked around acting British. Tricked many tourists with my fake accent. Guess wearing a posh suit and drinking a cup of tea attracts tourists to you. 😆
@@chuckh4077 I once woke up naked in a ditch of stinging nettles with a group of strangers after an alcoholic fuelled night out. Now THAT my dear friend is British. 😉
@@kimjong-un1136 yup. On other nights I would act like that. Shaun of the dead style.
Miss London. Can't wait to go back early 2023. This time i visit Plymouth for a few days. See HMS Victory. That is if the monkey pox doesn't cause another lockdown.
I’ve got a don’t for you that may have been overlooked.
Don’t think that London Luton, London Stansted and London Gatwick airports are in London, because they’re not. They are not even near. Only Heathrow and London city airport is actually in London. So whilst it may be cheaper to fly to these airports, the cost to get back into London could add up if you use public transport. Fly to Heathrow and catch the train to Paddington station
Don’t get a hire car in London. You don’t need one and the traffic jams are endless...
It's not just the driving. On-street parking is very limited in the central boroughs and is extremely expensive. Most on-street parking is limited to holders of residents' permits for the relevant zone within the borough. Disabled (handicap) parking is also very limited in the central boroughs - most parking concessions are only available to disabled people who live, work or study in that borough. Don't think that you can bring a US handicap permit to London and park anywhere in a hire car - it doesn't work that way!
Unless you are planning to go outside London or to spend a lot of time in outer London (TfL Zone 4 and outwards), I wouldn't bother driving at all. Public transport in the central boroughs is excellent, there are apps to help you use it (Citymapper is a good choice) and whilst it is expensive as Mark noted in the video, it is a lot cheaper than paying astronomic parking charges.
If you can do all you want using public transport, I would recommend not bothering with a hire car in the UK at all.
stanstead airport isn't in london, it's over an hour away in essex. If you can go to heathrow and you can get the tube into london from there
its called london stanstead airport.... essex is in london...
Essex is an entirely seperate county.
Agreed!! If u factor in the cost of travelling to stanstead each way those cheap tickets suddenly aren’t that cheap.
No it isn't! Greater London stops more or less at the M25. Stanstead is NOT *in* London, but *is* called London Stansted
stevie green the bus to stansted is only 12 pounds though.
I live up north near the Scottish border and it really pisses me off when Americans think that England is just London and the Cotswolds. Also it pisses me off when people think that the UK is just England. I would point out that if you go a couple hours north of London, everything is sooo much cheaper.
TheJALOBE Same thing with Europeans going to New York and California and say they've seen America. Not even close to being close.
@TheJR1948 Ummm... the early "Yanks" that murdered Native Americans and had slaves were BRITS. Bugger off!
@TheJR1948 as a brit my self your coming of a bit embarassing man haha
Don't use the the tube (Underground) or London train services (Overground) at rush hours if you can avoid it. Especially if you have bags, or a big backpack. The squash can be unbearable, especially in hot weather, and big interchanges such as Green Park can become frighteningly crowded.
Don't get fixated on the big tourist sites, such as Madam Tussauds. Don't try and "do" all the British Museum in one go. Spend an hour or so, see a few things, then if you want you can return and see some other stuff. It's free! And don't forget that the other great museums are also free, though if you wish to make a small donation that will be appreciated.
On the tube try to avoid rush hour 7 - 9.30 and 17hrs - 19.hrs. Visit Liberty Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason's for afternoon tea - enjoy x
or take the bus... they are everywhere and usually very frequent!
And Harrods! I go with my youngest son every year when schools close down( summer hols) for tea and scones at the Tea Room on the 3rd floor. He loves it !
I had a great time visiting London during my first time. Coming from New York, I loved using the Oyster Card. It's so handy compared to the MTA cards to get into the subway. Definitely, would like to come back for a longer stay! - Raymond
I simply love your videos Wolter, thank you for being so kind spreading your knowledge. Cheers from Portugal.
When you see the police call them a ‘bellend’ it’s a lovely greeting they will even give you some nice bracelets to reward what you just said to them honestly it’s well worth it
Why did nobody like this comment until me, 1 year later. Lmfao worthy of viz comic top tips.
Why you trying to get people arrested 😂
Because it's bloody funny.
IDIOT! Even I know that's a derogatory term.
@@getin3949 bet you are a blast at parties.
1: Here in the UK we are taught in school to look left, then right, then start to cross the road, & continue to alternate between looking left & right as you cross the road. When I was 4, I used to dogmatically alternate my head's direction exactly every second while crossing the road at quick march.
Big Ben is not the clock, nor the tower. It is the bell inside.
So what?
True but everyone calls the tower itself big ben. That's a bit of information you'd only know if you've googled anything about the history of the clock and the tower
It's both
@@Perririri The tower is officially called the "Elizabeth Tower" since the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 - previously it was the "Clock Tower".
Officially the main bell is the "Great Bell", but it is widely referred to as "Big Ben". The well-known tone is partly due to a crack in the rim of the bell.
don't walk slowly on the tube platform or randomly stop in the street, it really annoys us. don't talk mega loud on the tube
make sure to go to john soanes museum, camden and shoreditch
get to the lake district or Cambridge if you can
javier josefides go brixton
Lol the lake district is miles away!
I second this, anyone visiting the UK, take a trip to Brixton. Lovely place.
Lmao the Lake District in London???? It’s literally in the north west what do you meeeean!? 😂
Lexi Unicorn don't stop in the middle of anywhere.. I live in Essex and people always stop in the middle of the shops to chat.. Drives me mental
"Suffer the ire of the Brits" means we'll just complain about you out of earshot for about 20 minutes and the occasional dirty glance.
One thing we hate more than line cutters etc. is confrontation
Don't let your guard down. London is one of my favorite destinations (5 times) but I've turned many corners and gone from posh to dodgy. Love Notting Hill market, wouldn't walk it without a money belt.
I agree with what you are saying, London is very international; go to villages and other historical towns aswell . The food here is great, but you tend to get what you pay for. Food at the 'posher' pubs is really good. Things are very expensive, it annoys us Brits too, but what you are saying about the great free stuff, you're paying for it in the VAT on other 'expensive' stuff. Personally, a boat trip on the Thames is affordable and fun, get the 'commuter ones' not the touristy stuff to save money. Don't forget to visit all of the shops here, there's a great diversity. Also, Don't use 'American English' if you can help it.
tom bants Marylebone village just behind Tussauds is a little hidden village - great bookshop there
tom bants What exactly is VAT?
Laura Brewster I'm not Mr Bants, but I can answer your question. It's Value Added Tax. Basically a sales tax (presently a whopping 20%) levied on a very wide range of goods and services. You need to make sure the quoted price is inclusive of VAT, but most prices do include VAT. Keep your receipts if you are eligible to claim back the VAT you have paid.
Danny Westwood WOW!! 20%! Thank you for the reply
Laura Brewster You're welcome. Depending on where you live you might be able to claim some of it back. If you check out www.gov.UK/tax on shopping and services (Item 5 Tax-free shopping) it will tell you what you need to know.
I think London is an amazing city to visit. The sights are great, it has some of the best art and museums to visit and lots of historical buildings. It has a buzz and there is so much going on. It does have problems with crime but they tend to be in the poor suburbs where most tourists won’t venture.
My friend had her wallet taken from her purse in Herrods. Not all the crime is in the poor suburbs.
@@marymcmann9546 but isn’t getting pickpocketing in a luxury department store sort of a given?
Your comments are very helpful.
And it's great!
Merci.
My favorite city in the whole world!
Go to the theatre!!! Not cheap by any means but you have to go to the Westend. On week day afternoons you can sometimes walk into the theatre’s box offices and ask if there are any spare tickets for shows and they may let you in for cheaper. ALSO go to the street food markets in central London - amazing food from all over the world! Have a great time in London!!!!
Using your hand to ask for two of anything. Do bear in mind to always do it with your palm facing outwards like a peace sign. Doing it the other way with the back of your hand facing out is the same here as giving the finger (flipping the bird) in the USA.
I would say stay somewhere outside zone 1 (look on the tube or train map) and travel into it. You'll save tons on your hotel and have a more peaceful place to retreat to. Greenwich feels like a nice village with touristy spots and film locations (I live here, am bias) and you can get back into central by bus, train, DLR, or boat very quickly.
Ask a local for a nice place to eat, or use social media. Books are out of date by printing day, concierge are only recommending places that give a kickback or they can book you a cab to (you pay more for that cab and they get the commission).
Get the F out of the way during busy periods. Remember It's a busy working city and people really do need to get to places. Taking up the entire pavement with your group causes accidents and traffic. Be aware of your surroundings. We are rude as hell during the day. Just move! stand to the side if you're stopping for a photo.
Speaking of photos, on the bridges don't take anyone who's loitering around up on the offer of taking the photo for you. You're dicing with death here. You'll either be robbed or ripped off. They'll try and charge you.
Don't forget to look up. A lot of the shopfronts are modern and glass, but the original building is usually still seen above ground floor and have some fantastic architecture spanning hundreds of years on show, everywhere you go.
Don't fall for the homeless people's pleas. They make tons of money, more than you sometimes. A lady begged outside London Bridge station and averaged £180 a day for years. There are plenty of outreach centres and places for these people to go that are either free or pittance. Be a part of making these folk accept the help, or help themselves. Making begging to easy encourages it.
We have lots of rooftop bars and restaurants that have great views that you don't need to pay for. Even the Shard has a bar you can visit and take in the view just a few floors down from the actually viewing gallery. (That, however, has new interactive stuff in now though)
Don't ride the tuktuk's They WILL rip you off and are mostly all Illegal. If you're in an accident you're insurance likely won't help you.
Your Uber from home will work here on the same account. Black Cabs are bloody expensive and outdated and anybody who says otherwise is either a Cabbie or knows one. They often don't have as much of a clue as they make out. If you're against Uber morally, then look up the Addison Lee app, they are a huge private taxi firm. Don't be afraid to bargain on prices.
Don't hire a car unless you're leaving the city.
Don't eat from the hotdog/burger stands. Sometimes illegally operating and not regulated. Homeless people can hire the carts whenever they like.
We have great street food near Kings Cross, Southbank, Borough and many more.
If you're stopping for lunch or a drink, use the toilet. You'll rarely find a free one when you're walking about town otherwise.
In the summer, carry some water with you on public transport. Just have it with you anyway, ok?
Tubes and trains are often cheaper after about 9 or 9.30 in the morning and FAR less busy.
The stations on the Tube map don't necessarily relate to their geographic location. It's often quicker to exit the station and walk than it is to change lines and get another train. Just check on google if you're doing your routes. Some stations you walk for miles to change platforms. Bank and Green Park are two of the worst.
999 for Emergency Services.
Bring a camera
Enjoy yourself
Don't come back. JK, come back anytime.
Don't tap out on the bus though! You'll be charged twice
oleophotos You wont, the system tracks whether you used your Oyster on the bus once. If you tap twice, it will simply decline (red light) I tried it before, and thats what happened.
The Creation May U actually will get charged twice if you tap out but that's after a certain amount of time,probably 30 mnts,if you tap out 5 mnts after you tap in it will be rejected but after 30 mnts you will be charged again.
A good thing is,when you spend £4.40 in 1 day,the rest of the trips you make will be free either on the oyster or in a contactless card
no have you not heard on hopper fare?!??
A tip for you, Mark. Don't forget to visit some of the Outer London boroughs and lesser-known towns and villages within London. London is huge. It seems like you only stick to touristy areas of central London.
EliteXtasy I've been to them. I dated a London girl for three years so have explored a lot. Just didn't have the digital pictures at a high enough quality to put in here. And you are right. One needs to explore more
EliteXtasy - Greenwich and Blackheath in south east London are interesting.
I am English and I live in London and this is all spot on. Love number 8! Please, thankyou and sorry! Hahaha
Try and avoid rush hour on the tubes, most stressful part of my commute.
As an American who lives in London, I agree with most of your tips and have many on my RUclips channel. Uber is best for a Sunday morning flight. Taxis are way too expensive. Plus many lines are 24 hours now. It's important to add a change on Oyster cards in the past year. You can take two buses without being charged for the second one, as long as you tap in within an hour of the first bus ride. My RUclips channel also has tons of other tips about visiting London as an American, such as pub advice, cultural differences and how to tip!
Sunny London I'm from America and I'm dying to go to London! I want to live there for at lest one to two years! I was thinking going to school there! I'm going to visite london next year! Si excited! U going to school or just decided to live there? How did you? Tips amd advice? Plz and thanks
Jokes on you, Uber is banned
Connection Points While Uber is appealing the ban, it's still running. Let's hope they're successful! :)
A lot of Uber drivers are illegal in London... #notall 😂
Don’t tip in London, it’s just embarrassing for all concerned.
Don't walk around with headphones in or with wallets or phones in back pockets etc. Thieves will steal them.
Daniel Wilson last time I was in London I've lost my phone but someone gave it back to me- im so lucky lmao
Daniel Wilson I'm lucky, I walked around in London with headphones in and phone in my pocket, but nobody stole them!
That's okay in some parts of the UK, like I'll wear my earphones when walking etc but in London don't unless you want to get pickpocketed.
Man you’re videos are really the best I love them. Your knowledge and enthusiasm is incredible. Just saying thanks 👍🏼💪
As a Londoner, I concur with all your statements!Good work Wolter.
Don't mess with the guards thats a real fully loaded cocked assault rifle they have there.
Yes but unlike America where everybody shoots everybody on sight, the guards have never fired a single shot on Horse Guard's Parade or Whitehall, But never forget those chaps on their black steeds are crack troops. Mind you on duty they only carry a very sharp Wilkinson sword.
Geoff Geoff If all Americans shot each other on sight, there would be no Americans.
The guards won’t shoot you but they won’t be afraid to intimidate or shout at tourists. They have a job to do and if anyone gets in their way they will barge past or shove people out of their way even if the tourist fall overs and gets hurt. Often where there is a guard stationed there will be police near by or ‘security’ to ensure that the guards are able to go about their business without interference. There is sometimes signs or notices warning tourists to not distract or obstruct the guards. They are good to go see, but that’s it. See them, don’t try to play with them. They are highly disciplined soldiers and deserve to be respected.
Actually they don't keep them loaded, but they do keep a loaded magazine with them
They're not loaded but ok
Don't stand on the left side of the escalator (particularly going to/from the underground). If you want to stand and ride the escalator stick to the right, so those in a hurry can walk/run up or down the escalator on left.
Andrea Morehouse no, stand right in the middle. Tbh, anybody tries to squeeze past me on an escalator will get pushed off the side.
Tbh you'll be bulldozed by a dozen angry men who have places to be if you go to a major city and want to stand in the middle.
Wolters World videos are so awesome! Binge watching them for the past week.
Well, the first thing is actually, to resist the temptation to say "London, England", unless you are from Ontario. London is the first, London, Ontario is another.
And don't try getting a train to "Old York", it's York. It's very old, that's something you know, rather than speak out loud. And it's the reason why New York is, well, new.
And despite Wolter's enthusiasm for England, the "h" in Buckingham Palace is not spoken, it's silent. He did manage to pronounce Greenwich correctly, rather than saying "Green witch"
some things I would mention: if you're gonna use the tube, PLAN IN ADVANCE. also, I personally think that the museums down exhibition road are fantastic, especially the natural history museum. I would also recommend going to the british library as they have many free exhibitions throughout the year that are very good, for example, they have a permanent exhibition featuring the magna carta and davinci's notebook.
I'm from the UK, not London but have been there millions of times. These days you don't need an oyster card as Contactless credit cards now work the same way. Not sure if it works on foreign cards, but the pricing the same. Hotels are always super expensive, but I find London is way better than other European cities for free stuff. Very true for queues, you can never get enough of that. Another thing is talking so loud on the trains and Underground, which is usually pretty quiet but I find American tourists echo there voices throughout the whole train. Better to speak quietly.
One thing I would mention are the ticket barriers in the tube & train stations. When it's busy people wait for the barrier to close after the person in front has gone through before tapping their oyster card to open the barriers for themselves. This slows everyone down & isn't necessary. You can tap your oyster whilst the barrier is still open for the person in front of you & it will beep & stay open speeding up the whole process. You will also look like a worldly wise traveller & a true Londoner
If you have a spare day in London and you are not sure what to do, just walk at random somewhere. London is full of hidden gems and it s virtually impossible to get lost in the city.
The strange thing about London is that it's "beginner level" for tourists, but "veteran mode" for natives who are country bumpkins like me :P I suppose it's kinda good for dipping your toe into visiting the UK but all of our best stuff and greatest natural beauty is hidden away in the arse end of nowhere! For such a tiny country, you really could spend the best part of a lifetime trying to see all the best we have to offer.
London is one of the great cities of the world. If you like big cities then you will like London.
A "don't" I would add is, don't hire a car to travel around London if you can avoid it. To travel around London use the Underground (known of course as the "tube"). London is like NYC in this regard, far easier to get around by public transport than by car.
Personally I cycle around London and if you are a cyclist then this is something to consider. Cycling is a great way to see just about any city, but of course you need good road sense. However those who cycle regularly in a city will find it quite doable and very enjoyable.
It is dangerous even to cycle in and around London nowadays, so not very good advice. The tube is the quickest way to travel about avoiding the rush hour where you can be squashed like a sardine with others. Yikes !
Rubbish.
I agree. Even a native English driver (like me) wouldn't want to drive in London. It's too congested, and parking is insanely expensive. Even if you're staying at a hotel, they'll probably charge you an astronomical fee to park there.
As regards taxis - the ones at the London airports are exceedingly expensive. Use public transport if you're going into London. If you're staying somewhere just outside London, find a taxi company in the area you're going to and book them to collect you. I live just outside the M25 and a taxi home from Heathrow would be something like £120 ($160), but if I book a local taxi they charge about £60 ($80).
Well said. As an Anglophile and tourist of London, I have found the London cabbies to be the best in the world. The most efficient and gentlemanly. I have visited countries all over the world and took in the tourist sites and taxis, but the black cabs comes top on my list !
30 years ago I would have definitely agreed that London was one of the great cities of the world. Now, not so much.. It has gone severely downhill, with the majority of London not even being English. Terrorism, sexual assaults, and acid attacks are skyrocketing. No thanks.
I think one big one that you forgot is don't mess with the Royal Guard. They are not statues, they are human beings. They are there to protect the Royal Palace not take selfies with you or be annoyed. The Royal Guards are badass and will give you one heck of a raking if you disrespect the rules of the Palace or pester them.
If they were there to protect the royal palace they would have guns and not swords and big hats 😂
This especially applies to our US visitors. When indoors, turn down the volume of your voices to a tenth. Then down a bit more.
another don't is don't speak to anybody near the bridge In Camden town they will rob you
TriggerHippy666 no they won't - lots of narrowboats to see just be wary as always - anywhere in the world. walk confidently a London is your oyster - great zoo nearby
Not all of them, I was stopped by one and he was an aspiring rapper, I ended up buying a copy of his CD which was bloody good! He was the exception though, most just want to sell you coke or weed
People around Camden Lock are usually tourists taking pictures or getting lost, locals drinking, eating and having a good time, street performers, Somalis and Caribbeans selling weed...
You got as much chance to being robbed as any other busy tourist place anywhere else.
TriggerHippy666 which bridge? What's it's name?
Yehonatan L. the one over the Locke usually filled with guys "selling" weed etc at best you get an empty bag if your lucky but don't get me wrong Camden is probably my favourite place in the UK in general prone to fires but some awesome food and shops
What a great video. Wasn’t expecting to hear sense from an American about what to avoid doing in London. ;-)
And what a shame about the comment section. A lot of trolls, racists, and inadequate people venting their frustrated nonsense. How sad to see this on a benign, apolitical video about how to queue in London and save some money. Sheesh.
You're so fucking ignorant
@@JordanWilliams-ix2td ironic
he said sheesh!
What an ignorant, bigoted comment.
9ish p9p8p👋 p8pp
I stayed at an awesome hostel near Paddington station for 25 dollars per night, I ate at Indian restaurants mostly, and some pubs, of course, bought one souvenir at Camden market and went to British museum and v and a for free, so I really didn't spend all that much for an awesome vacation!
A "Do" for London is do take the walk-on walk-off bus tours. Wonderful way to see the city. Also, go to both the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Westminster Abbey: I get in there for free because I attend the Anglican Church services when I am there. I do of course, as a Christian, pay a donation when I attend any church service when I travel. Bishop Desmond Tutu was giving the sermon at one of the services I attended and I got to see him (didn't really speak with him).
I would say don't expect to be totally welcomed. Londoners and English people in general just aren't very open to strangers. We are polite but don't start having conversations with us at the bus stop or whatever. Its sad but its true. Also try and avoid eye contact with dodgy people on buses, trains and the tube or they might start something.
I've been to London it is amazing
I can't wait to go there. I am a bit of an Anglo-phile and have been wanting to go for decades. The best part is, I have a beautiful English lady who lives in London that is going to take me everywhere.....She looks like a younger Olivia Newton-John
When it comes to going to Stansted early in the morning, I can recommend looking into a bus company called "city link". They depart from Kings Cross St Pancras and it's really quick, too. Never had an issue with them. Their buses go every 30 minutes or every hour, and they let you board any bus regardless of what the ticket time says. Also, depending on where exactly you stay in London (I usually stay around Russell Square or Leyton) taking an uber to the station or even walking should be considered... When staying in Leyton, getting a bus from Stratford is not much of a hassle
Don't make eye contact or initiate a conversation with people on public transport in London. They will seriously feel threatened and consider you a psychopath. The only exception is on Friday and Saturday nights, when people tend to be really drunk. Oh, regarding Oyster cards you only tap ONCE ON BUSES - yes, on other modes of transport, always tap in and tap out.
Thank you, I'm British, but no longer live in the London area, I have long wondered how Oyster cards work, last time I went to London I couldn't go on the tube because I couldn't find anyone to explain.
@@lesleyhawes6895 You can also use a debit or credit card. You are charged exactly the same amount for a one-way journey, can also check your travel history online and the only advantage of an Oyster Card is that you can load travel cards on them, so you can get a bit of a discount if you make more than two journeys per day including weekends.
Make sure to visit all the free museums and visit all the parks and see if there are any free events on during your stay, if you download the dice app there are many free gigs you can go to to help you explore, there are many free jazz and blues bars and the theatre is a must.also try not to go to congested places like Oxford street as this isn't the only representation of London, places like Nottinghill and Greenwich are nice places to go to and more gentrified areas like Brixton and Dalston have great restaurants and bars but I wold say to respect these areas and all the people who live in them as many areas of London are or have experienced gentrification in the last couple decades and are not as authentic as they used to be.
savannah fu thanks for the app info. Will check it out
Brilliant advice here about queuing. I have seen many heated discussions with visitors when this system is broken. The UK takes it quite seriously. Camden is a must visit in London too.
Our capital's essentially lots of cities in one. It's hugely diverse and there is SO much to see and do.
3:25, damn the Tower of London now costs £30.30 for adults, I was just there a few days ago
Jesus, why is it so expensive?
The Globe isn't so pricey - all standing tickets are just £5! :D
I work and live in London and this is all accurate!
Be polite, don’t yell in the tube while people are commuting, keep left wherever you go (that’s driving me crazy) also make sure to visit all the wonderful free art galleries! People here are happy to help strangers if they are lost, it’s a crowded city and the best is to be mindful of each other’s space :)
the natural history museum and the street markets are awesome!!
Victoria and Albert museum is free and fascinating! Don’t forget to pick up a picnic lunch and eat in one of the lovely parks!
Love your vids Walter - so much good info love it.
+Lesleyt58 thank you
I went in London in 2012 and normally I wouldn't travel to the same place twice but I've planned to visit it again next month. There's something about this city 💕 lots of love from Greece!
How nice to meet an American or any tourist who knows London isn’t a British City.loved this vidthanx
My don't is don't expect to see much of Downing Street, it's mostly cordoned off and you won't see the door.
this feels weird watching as a brit
normally us brits aren't seen as too intricate
so here ya go -
-if you are gonna go get typical british food DONT GO LONDON its simply a tourist trap. i live 45 mins away from our capital yet i go maybe once a year only because of peasky tourists and expensive everything near enough.
-the dudes still right that the monuments and what not, London is a beautiful place but thats kinda just it, unless your british and know the backstreets and specific food places that are cheap and serve nice food i wouldn't bother really (london dungeons, big ben, the windsor house, london eye and parliment are kinda just musts)
-if you want a whole different experience food wise, i would also recommend going to east london and trying jelly eels n pie and mash with liquor (most people are regulars so please dont go round taking photos, its seen as very rude)
-if your into cars i would recommend going to the ace cafe, its a very well known car meet joint with lovely 'america' sized portions and a chill atmosphere (make sure to check what days certain cars will turn up, and better to not go on a week day)
-if your into scenery and want a purely british experience (britain is very diverse) places like york and oxford are very authentic and posh.
-if your into food, make sure to go china town for really nice chinese places.
brick lane beigel bakery for really famous bagels (salt and beef there is amazing)
-finally i would very much recommend to goto camden and go through there markets and food stalls (make sure to watch your stuff just incase of pickpockets abit more like any busy area) and try out the wide range of food they've got there.
if your fancy theres many very posh restaurants to eat from aswell ;)
a brits guide to britain
enjoy
Reaper trials - you calling yourself a Brit makes me question your ‘Britishness’ personally I can’t stand being called British I’m pissing ENGLISH
Sam Hines oh no i am, i saw the opportunity that being british would come in handy for fucking once
otherwise i would much rather move to sweden or something
Sam Hines Suggest you do a fact check on that. There is only one legal nationality in the United Kingdom and that is British. Your UK (not English) passport will describe you as a British Citizen. England ceased to be a sovereign nation over 300 years ago. If you need consular assistance while overseas you go to the UK Consulate, Embassy or High Commission (good luck to you finding an English Embassy anywhere).
You might consider yourself "pissing English" but you are also pissing in the wind.
Aidankiwi thank god some people know that they're talking about on here. the english kingdom was a KINGDOM which some people like the other dude don't seem to realise. we are britain now.
Samuel Reed word. n i hate the people that scream racism yet protect a murder if they're foreign, but when the criminal is white they all slag them off, and british people as a whole. i wished we was still the industrial powerhouse we were 200 years ago, the british empire at its finest. now we're as corrupt as we've ever been, killing people in other countries, because of someone else's beef. why the fuck put resources in that when we've got a rotting nation. slowly but surely, we won't have enough space or jobs anymore. then it'll be like the victorian era all over again. people will understand what true HARD work is, just to get your rent for a week or food for that day. then we'll realise that all that political correctness and making sure everyone is totally equal was a dogshit idea and ruined us. we ruined our own country because of our society being so dumbfounded and arrogant, we've ruined our own country. do you shit on your own doorstep? no. but that's what we've done letting all these policies and people in. we are fucked until we do something, but our corrupt money hungry government won't ever fix us.
I love your Videos!
I am no Londoner but London is like my second home and your Video is absolutely true...
If you want to got to airports, book a nationalexpress coach, Stanstead u can go from Stratford E15 and a present most key tube services now run about every 20mins thru sat night into sunday morning.
I assumed everyone was human. Boy, was I wrong!
Well done Wolters World. Its a very fair Don't. As a born and bred Londoner and travel journalist myself, youve done a great job. This guy knows what he talking about.
seeing you i can see why you like his low self esteem whity self you want them all like him for door mats
I love your videos ! you are very helpfull !
I highly recommend going to London. Its a beautiful city.