How to avoid wasting time when visiting London (STOP doing these🤦🏽‍♀️)

[@jasonwagner5571]

After watching the “ How to use the Tube” video in 2018, I felt as if I’d done it before the first time. As a matter of fact, I’ve been back five times in six years, and would never have returned if it wasn’t for the Tube. It’s incredibly efficient.

[@HRHDMKYT]

Great advice. Except the day trips tip. I’ve only been to London once before, for a week (before the internet was a thing). I stayed with a friend in the Ealing Broadway area, had the days to myself while she was at work. I very much wanted to see Oxford, and took a train there - it’s only ~1 hour. It was so fabulous! I had a friend at home who had studied at Oxford, and he gave me a map where he outlined a lovely walk to catch the best highlights and even which pub had the best food. They also happened to be filming the C.S.Lewis film “Shadowlands” there, so got to watch a bit of that. Even 30 years later, it is one of the most memorable destinations of my well-travelled life so far ❤. This year I’m staying in the Paddington Stn area for two weeks, and plan to visit Cambridge, Hampton Court and Oxford again. Maybe Bath as well. I can’t wait!

[@Code-on-TRIP]

take train in uk is convenient. Use railcard! Different age has different discount. And there's a discount code too.❤

[@a.humphries8678]

I'm staying in paddington right now!

[@bryan__m]

Agreed. We took a day trip to Paris on our 7-day London trip and don't regret it one bit. It takes a LOT more effort to get to Europe than it does to get around Europe once you are there.

[@katiefrank3992]

Don't be afraid to take the bus either! I stayed in Bermondsey on my most recent trip and there was a bus stop directly in front of the hotel that took us almost everywhere we needed to go!

[@a.humphries8678]

I'm here now, and I've taken the bus mostly. It's so easy, and love the tap tap cap!

[@maridee4476]

I love England, I did my Master’s in Kent. I’m back in the US. You’re so lucky to live there. I miss it so much 😢

[@Plysdyret1]

I always waste my time when in London. I have been there several times, and now I just love to wander around and look at things.

[@loveandlondon]

Doesn't sound like a waste then 😊

[@ejb4298]

Great video, as usual, Jess. The Tube is really fantastic (and very easy to use), but nothing compares to walking around London and discovering all its secret gems. The only problem is that when you leave you always wish you could stay longer. I visted London twice in 2023, and I'm already planning my next visit.

[@Code-on-TRIP]

take train in uk is convenient. Use railcard! Different age has different discount. And there's a discount code too.❤

[@The_Mace]

The Underground is great! Easy to use to get anywhere in the city.

[@loveandlondon]

Truly

[@skullandbones1832]

I always find some place new in London every time I go back. Been traveling the world for over 4 decades now. I have always enjoyed the London street food. I really do miss a lot of the old places over there that are no longer here that I once knew back in the day.

[@TheUluxian]

South Kensington is my favorite. You're outside the bustle of Central/Soho, but it's just a 10 minute ride to Westminster/Piccadilly/Soho. Plus you have 3 major (FREE!) museums, Knightsbridge is a short walk away to Harrods and Harvey Nichols, and Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park/Royal Albert Hall is an easy jaunt, as well

[@Maxwell1901]

South Kensington and Chelsea - adjacent neighbourhoods, love 'em both!

[@Nick-13]

Agree totally - have been visiting London for well over 4 decades, often around 6 times a year for a couple of days at a time. Still have a long list of London unique venues to visit - such as Denis Server's House, Horizon 22, Crossness Pumping Station, Big Ben Tours, etc. I choose one venue and then immerse myself in all that is around it - a voyage of discovery Excellent advice Jess !

[@Ominousheat]

Totes. London is a global crossroads city. England itself is a European attraction that takes at least a week to visit.

[@Nick-13]

@@Ominousheat I have been visiting for 5 decades - and still plenty to discover !

[@paullewis2413]

As always Jess gives very good advice. If like me you hate being in a tourist nightmare avoid Piccadilly Circus/Leister Square ( unless you’re just passing through) Oxford Street and the rip off London Eye. Some touristy areas are worth seeing of course such as the Palace of Westminster and the Abbey, Whitehall etc however if your visit is in Summer go late in the day when the crowds have gone. London is huge and there are plenty of beautiful parts not generally touched by the crowds. If you think you’ve seen everything in 7 days in fact you’ve barely scratched the surface.

[@kentcordray8675]

I love the fact that you are showing the Museum of Brands in this video. I was just there in September and loved it; spent a lot more time there than I thought I would.

[@loveandlondon]

We're big fans, it's underrated !

[@Code-on-TRIP]

take train in uk is convenient. Use railcard! Different age has different discount. And there's a discount code too.❤

[@TenshiR]

OMG these are the exact same suggestions i give friends when they come to London to visit.😮

[@amoriello-j8v]

Thank you for the videos! I am planning a trip and your information has been wonderful!

[@StephenRobertd]

Thanks jess another safe happy video from a great utuber and a great team a big fan always. Making sure we enjoy London always

[@loveandlondon]

❤️❤️❤️

[@StephenRobertd]

@@loveandlondon l be back to see you all soon in 2024 l won't get lost in London again thanks jess one off beautifull american lady with a heart of gold bless you and your wonderfull team ❤️ ♥️ 💛

[@SimDeck]

I'm from the UK and have lived in London, north and south over the years. I found your tips so helpfull as well. All makes a lot of sense. Thank you.

[@loveandlondon]

So glad! 😌

[@davidsmith8376]

Another great video. I live just outside London and come into town a few days a week so feel that I know it well but I always find out about something I didn’t in your videos. Thank you.

[@loveandlondon]

We're glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

[@Funeeman]

London is a huge city. That is an important thing for all first time visitors to London to know.

[@dalestanley9177]

it's only as big as someone makes it depending on how much ground they wish to cover during a stay

[@Funeeman]

@@dalestanley9177 True. I'm a 76 year old Londoner born and bred.

[@2ndround415]

I’ll be in London tomorrow for the last leg of my European travels! Absolutely love this is right on time!

[@terrym3837]

Great time to visit it’s not to cold atm and it’s out of season less hectic enjoy your visit

[@loveandlondon]

Have fun ❤️

[@rosebud040686]

Your comments section is where I visit when London starts to get on my nerves, because it reminds me I’m fortunate to live here all the time ☺️

[@loveandlondon]

We're very lucky!

[@Lexipooh87]

We're going for 9 days and the more I watch the more excited I get! I'm loving all of the tips and tricks to traveling. I do, however, plan to take at least 1 day trip.

[@stevebartley628]

Altho I’m not sure if I’ll ever get to London again, I really enjoy your videos

[@quicksilver2510]

My wife and i spent 7 days in London last November. Even though it was getting a bit chilly at the time, it was a good contrast from the heat we were experiencing in Australia at the time, and the crowds were no way near as bad.

[@gmnewlook]

Great video, Jess. We were in London for less than 48 hours last summer during our trip to Paris and the rain put a damper on our plans, but we did make the best of it with the Tootbus. And using the tube was pretty fun and easy, so I added a fifth subway system to my list (Montréal (my home system), Toronto, Boston, Paris and London). We stayed at a hotel half way between Victoria station and Pimlico stations on the Victoria Line. We'd like to make another trip and spend more time in London and we'll definitely use one of your guides when we're ready to do so. Cheers from Montreal, QC Canada!

[@Andy-4342]

Looking forward to being there in October. Thanks for all the great information!

[@loveandlondon]

You're very welcome ❤️❤️

[@pzycoman]

On the "Hire a car for London", I'm a local, and I once had to pick up some stranded friends at 3am from Central London (thank you tube and train strikes!) and even then it took over an hour, traffic is BAD around the clock in London.

[@onabo-aveke]

Fantastic video of London L&L. Enjoyed watching it.

[@loveandlondon]

Glad you enjoyed it ❤️

[@darkchia00]

Having stayed a 2 minute walk away from both Earl's Court and Kings Cross, I can confirm that those are both good stations to stay close to for Tube travel. AND both are on the Piccadilly Line, so you can take the Tube from the airport without switching lines.

[@davethatcher4954]

You could even do a day trip to France (Paris) on the Eurostar Train from St Pancras Station.... next door to kings Cross.

[@paulgerrard9227]

Nobody should day trip to Paris. Long long day and super costly. Exhausting and when you arrive in Paris..then? Walk a lot

[@davethatcher4954]

@paulgerrerd........Eurostar puts you right into the centre of Paris (Gare du Nord) . Leave early, and the journey takes just over two hours. Plenty of time to take few sites in! PS.......book well in advance, and you can sometimes get a bargain price return ticket

[@darkchia00]

@@davethatcher4954 We used Kings Cross to get a train to Newcastle to visit some friends up north for a few days.

[@JennyAmponsah]

@@paulgerrard9227I’ve done a day trip to Paris and there’s a lot you can do in a day, you just have to plan it.

[@genpdeguzman]

Greetings from Southern California! Great video as always! Been following you for almost a year now in preparation for our trip in March! We can't get tix at Sky Garden for March. Hope to bump with you on our trip! Also, maybe you can make a video about family friendly trips/tips in London. ❤

[@txbashi]

You are an excellent content creator. Very happy to find your videos. They are extremely informative and helpful. Thank you

[@loveandlondon]

We're glad you're enjoying them!

[@lindasmith3978]

thank you for this preview!

[@renferal5290]

The Tube makes it so easy to get about and is cheap too

[@peterixon8708]

We are headed to London 07 February, to attend a wedding on 16 February. We return via Japan on 20 Feb. It will be wet, but it is at least off-peak; and it is not our first visit to London. That being the case, nevertheless your videos are really helpful. Thanks for your tips and hints in this and your other videos. It really has helped in the planning of our visit.

[@7catsmom959]

Couldn't agree more about day trips. I've been coming to London several times a year for the last decade and still have a hard time dragging myself away from town to do day trips.

[@loveandlondon]

Nice. Thanks so much for watching our first video with Eliza!

[@ianlove1215]

If you want to do the theatre, but are happy picking late, go to the half price ticket booth in Leicester Square.

[@bibliopolist]

Actually there are now apps that are as good as this, maybe even better, plus they spare you spending any time on this dreadful square.

[@Magic_beans_]

Re: Staying somewhere well connected - the transport system is good enough that this is actually a pretty broad area. My first trip I stayed with a friend in Lambeth and all that meant was a 5-minute train ride to Victoria station or 15 to King’s Cross. It was beautiful. (On the flip side, staying out there encouraged me to check out more stuff south of the river like Elephant & Castle, Battersea Power Station, and Crystal Palace Park 🦖)

[@mariospacagna2132]

Another great vid Jess

[@loveandlondon]

We're glad you enjoyed it❤️❤️

[@tamericaTV]

Hi, Your videos are extremely useful, thank you so much. We're planning to travel Mid of May, how is the weather? what kind of clothes we should pack up?

[@loveandlondon]

Oh we cover that in our London Packing Guide! shop.loveandlondon.com/products/london-packing-guide

[@TheRealDlo]

Keep it up Jess!!!

[@KELLY-qm9kr]

Hello! Thanks for all the great tips and help you give us. Just wanted to ask your opinion about the Tufnell Park area. Is it a good one to stay? Thank you

[@loveandlondon]

Not a heap to do there specifically, but easy connections into Central and you'd be near a tube, so if you're okay with not being amongst the action at all times - you should enjoy it!

[@raymondtitano3819]

Booking tours in advance is advisable when it's not peak season either. We visited in November, and some places offered limited availability and scheduling. We were still able to see what we wanted, but it made for some strategic planning.

[@loveandlondon]

Yes!

[@davethatcher4954]

A day trip to Brighton (on the south coast) is only just over an hour away by Train.....one hour 23 minutes. Fast service around an hour. Over 400 trains a day serves Brighton.

[@magiclion]

400 per day ??? Weekly ?

[@BillPeschel]

We'll be visiting in September (fingers crossed) and have been following your videos (mostly). We will be doing a day trip to Bath, but we have an unusual reason. We'll be working on a book about Jane Austen movies, so we're have to pick up info there and take pictures of significant Austen sites. If my wife and I see you on the streets, we'll say hey (quietly, of course).

[@loveandlondon]

Jess loves when people say hello!

[@Maxwell1901]

Having been to London several times, one of the best things I could have done on my most recent trip was to stay outside the city centre. You're able to see the city through the eye of Londoners, and there are great restaurants and attractions anywhere you go, often at a fraction of Covent Garden or the West End. I was close enough to those areas that I walked there every morning, or at least part way. For down time, I was able to go to the city parks or the garden in my hotel, and the tube does go everywhere. You want to take a day trip, take a day trip. Personally, on some of my earlier trips, I wanted to see "England" as well as London. The way I see it, if you make a list of ten things to see, and you see five, you're doing well. The main rule - and I suppose the only rule - about London is to have fun. I've been five or six times, I've always had fun, and I can't wait to go back.

[@leftycrafter]

I'm obsessed with fish and chips (literally my initial motivation to even go to London) and plan to eat it nonstop when I go - can you suggest where the good fish & chip places are? (I hear not in the tourist areas). Thanks!

[@loveandlondon]

Have a watch of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bp-qn6FseMt6la8&t

[@maltesetony9030]

Love love Jess!

[@dozierstadium]

These vids make me want to tour London big time. Weird cause I am from there, but don't know it from Adam.

[@loveandlondon]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@grwm.cloudy13]

I'm going to fly to London tomorrow😊 I haven't been there for 6-7 years😮

[@acbc3543]

My suggestion is to take a longer trip .

[@lucasviniciusar]

I went in the end of June/start of July and it was crowded only in Westminster and major attractions. On the other hand, days were so much longer I could do much more than I expected. I think each day in summer worths two days in winter. Also, a lot of events were happening around the city and the weather was amazing.

[@elizabeth10268]

Can you tell us how to maximize our time on the day of arrival? We will be tired after an overnight long flight with kids and luggage and hotel check-in isn’t until 3pm. Need some relaxing things to do without wasting the day.

[@Dibdib35]

If you watch suitcase monkey he has some very good videos on London. He knows areas that are quieter and relaxing.

[@chocolatemint9225]

Thanks for the tip about day trips. I will only be there for 3 days to sightsee before my cruise. Was debating about should I go out to the Bleinhem flower show or would that be better spent in London seeing more sights

[@loveandlondon]

You're welcome!

[@christinagipperich2780]

The problem I struggle with in London and NYC, especially after COVID, is the VERY limited hours of the museums and cultural sites. For example, the British Museum is only open from 10am to 4 or 5pm. At best you will only be able to see two sites a day. With that in mind, plan your food and theatre experiences for the evening and get up early-ish.

[@danlopez3774]

Thanks! I will arrive to Central London Big Ben around 5pm, is it a good time to take pictures? Or is it dark already at that time? Would be around Sept-15

[@loveandlondon]

It's best to do a quick Google search to find the sunset times for September 15. That way, you can plan your schedule around that ❤️ Don't forget that rush hour also happens between 4.30pm-6.30pm after work on weekdays, so keep that in mind when visiting!

[@LW2010-soccer]

Do you recommend making dinner reservations? Do a lot of places require them?

[@loveandlondon]

Yes!

[@romario1]

Can I use TFL go instead of city mapper or google maps?

[@sianiswack633]

For sure.

[@debbieworth7865]

On my first trip to London, I found out riding the bus is an event of it's own. You get to see all around. The tube is a little faster but the bus is great😊

[@loveandlondon]

the front on the upstairs deck is the place to be!

[@hotspur1974]

Westminster abbey was so busy in October!

[@loveandlondon]

It's one of the most touristy places in London!

[@MaxTSanches]

A couple I know saw all of London in five hours. They went everywhere, the list was extensive, by taxi all during their nine hour layover. When I pressed them on what they saw they basical spent upto half an hour at a few sights (the British Museum) and the others they just drove by (the Tower of London). My wife and I were in London for one week the first time. The British Museum and The Imperial War Museum were seven hours each and we felt that we didn't see enough of them. And even after a few return visits years later we still feel the same. :)

[@loveandlondon]

People live in London for 10 years and haven't seen "all" of London! ❤️

[@Samantha-xr4mx]

That latte looks amazing what cafe were you in? ❤

[@aragorn318]

Is there a station near the Tower Hotel?

[@donnadforbes]

I’m coming to London for my first time in July. Still can’t decide where to stay as I will have two friends with different budgets. How is the Tower Hotel by the London bridge? Is it a practical distance from SoHo and the tube? Thx! Love your channel!

[@loveandlondon]

Our top hotel reccs are here! loveandlondon.com/category/london-accommodations/

[@donnadforbes]

@@loveandlondon Thank you so much!

[@edwardlkent3508]

I have planned my trip this April since November last, I am doing all the things that I did not get to do last April, the tube this trip will be my best friend and a few busses and one nice grocery store down the street from my hotel

[@Tapdancingallnightandday]

What is the weather like typically second week of September? What should I pack? I will be in a beach town on south side of England for a bit too. Also traveling to Ireland for two days.

[@loveandlondon]

Sadly we are not able to predict the weather but we give you a weather guide and printable packing list in our London Packing Guide ! shop.loveandlondon.com/products/london-packing-guide

[@actionablesolutions6470]

How is early June? We are looking at visiting when the Phillies are in town.

[@Garybaldbee]

It's a decent time to visit. It will still be very busy, but it won't be quite as crowded as the peak July/August school holiday season. The weather is a little unpredictable at that time - you could get bright sunshine and high 20's or it could be grey, wet and 18C. But then you could say the same for August 😊. I know your weather can be unpredictable too - I saw the Phillies in an almost empty stadium on a chilly, grey and wet September day when I make the reverse trip in 2022!

[@actionablesolutions6470]

@@Garybaldbee Thanks! We've lived in Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Virginia, Massachusetts, Florida and Pennsylvania. One thing I've found consistent in life is the weather is unpredictable everywhere and every municipality has issues with potholes.

[@loveandlondon]

👍👍

[@john_smith1471]

@actionablesolutions6470: In June daylight hours will be long, sunset after 9pm twilight until 10pm, Sunrise/twilight starts around 3:30am.

[@brigiethepickle1088]

Thanks so much for your videos - we will be there in March and will def be doing the ethical Jtr tour!

[@loveandlondon]

You're very welcome!

[@johnmightymole2284]

Use buses in Central London as well. Very easy to and see more.

[@loveandlondon]

Yes, just check traffic 😎

[@felicegreece]

Please does anyone know where is she at the beginning of the video, at 0:18 ?is this Hampstead Heath park?!🙏🙏

[@terrym3837]

Hampstead Heath or Primrose Hill maybe

[@felicegreece]

@@terrym3837 thank you so. I wish she answered too

[@jrice644]

Its called Parliament Hill, which is in Hampstead Heath. It is a famous lookout point looking south across the City of London and the West End of London and the south of the river and beyond.

[@felicegreece]

@@jrice644 thank you so much. Kisses from Greece

[@joshthompson112]

Any hot tips for Marathon week? My wife is running it this year.

[@loveandlondon]

We'll update this soon... loveandlondon.com/top-things-to-do-in-london-in-april/

[@joshthompson112]

@@loveandlondon awesome. Thank you!

[@__Leebee]

I love brick lane ❤️

[@fockark.m8410]

hello , iam coming to london from kuwait for medical treatment , my question is does going from london to paris requires stamping my passport ? because if they do stamp it i cant go there

[@sandyglover372]

Love your content! I am visiting London this April. Can you please recommend a hotel in London that would suit single, profession 50 year old female? Requirements are, safe and central location, hotel with great restaurants/bars, or very close by, great walkability with a budget of 200 pounds a night. Look forward to your suggestions, thx!

[@john_smith1471]

@sandyglover372: If you are visiting in April you need to start booking a hotel immediately, April is springtime also Easter weekend spreads into April, schools are off as well, room prices increase dynamically. Recommendations are always subjective.

[@billsullivan868]

Is there very long lines to get into museums and castles in July and August? Does the London Pass work well for museums and castles?

[@loveandlondon]

Depends on which museums you mean and yes you should expect some queues as that's peak season. Here's our breakdown of the London Pass and how to work out if you should get it: loveandlondon.com/london-pass-worth/

[@GreaseCorp]

Is it better to get the 4 day itinerary or a few of the casual tourist guides?

[@loveandlondon]

Depends on what you want to do. If you want to do some of the classic tourist sights and also want us to give you a route to follow each day, go for an itinerary! If you want ONLY local gems, grab the Casual Tourist Guides ❤️

[@jasonwagner5571]

Additionally, by tickets to events months in advance.

[@sudhukhabar2862]

Hey ..I really appreciate you for your job.. I have one query what is the best way to go liverpool from central london.? And how much will be the fare charge..😊

[@loveandlondon]

Liverpool, the city? By train. Here's our article to help you work out your transport options: loveandlondon.com/how-to-travel-from-london-to-other-parts-of-the-uk/

[@paullewis2413]

One important tip. Don’t think you’re going to know London in 7, 10, 20, 30 days. It takes literally years to really know and discover all that’s worth seeing/doing in this incredible city. Remember London is more than just iconic sights, it’s the World capital of theatre, museums, music and sports. Overcrowding during Summer and Christmas can be a real problem in the centre but even there you can avoid the worst of that by careful timing of your visits to the more touristy sights. I’ve lived in this city for decades and still finding interesting places I’ve never encountered before.

[@stevebartley628]

Also good advice for New York City, Paris and other major cities. I have never understood any reluctance to using the Underground ( Metro,mSubway ). I recently watched a couple touring NYC for the first time. They ended up walking about 25 (!) miles over 2 days.

[@ndnacna]

You have a 2 wk itinerary?

[@deborahap]

4:33 What a charming view from this cafe. Can you tell me the name?

[@loveandlondon]

Cafe Laville! We include it in our Casual Tourist Guide to West London: shop.loveandlondon.com/products/casual-tourist-guide-to-west-london

[@bostonterrierplanet-bn1ge]

advance is a hard no, unless you mean a day or two because your flight may get cancelled and you lose a ton of money!

[@yaowsers77]

I give tips to people traveling to NYC and these are very similar, if not the same tips i give😁 Also, I'm coming for 10 days, 7 in London and 3 in Edinburgh... Just hit your cut off😂

[@gerardo301985]

I did a day trip ima four day itinerary and it was exausting. I did Stonehenge, Roman baths Buckingham palace After the day was over I was so tired

[@loveandlondon]

That does sound exhausting!

[@kaliou6645]

Waisting ANY time in Leicester Square is a Must NOT🙅🏻‍♀️⛔️🕕

[@terrym3837]

Just avoid Leicester Square THE END

[@loveandlondon]

You get it

[@fricatus]

It’s worth walking through to briefly experience the awfulness.

[@meri-ro1gp]

Kakav užas?

[@dinola3268]

Standing in line 4 the Abbey is a MUST NOT too ...

[@mariospacagna2132]

Go on a sunday to a church service, no charge of course.. and a chsnce to look around after the service

[@billsullivan868]

should i make guided tours for all museums?

[@loveandlondon]

We suggest which attractions you should book tours with here: loveandlondon.com/guided-tours-london-attractions-worth-booking/

[@rhuxley5130]

In Paris I actually understand not wanting to use the metro but in London I do.

[@jennawoodard8386]

💕✈️

[@Infiniteunion88]

If you suffer motion sickness, don't use the tube or at least take a pill beforehand. The seats don't face forward, there's no air con, and it's so small you feel like you're in a tin can! I say from experience 😂

[@loveandlondon]

Yeah it can be painful sometimes! If you get motion sickness, sometimes it's also worth standing near the doors and facing forward.

[@farioxx]

Thank you so much for all the videos. I’m traveling to London in three days and will stay for six. I do have a day trip to Liverpool on the 10th because I’m a huge LFC fans and got tickets to see them play at Anfield so for that experience, I’m willing to take the L 😂

[@loveandlondon]

❤️❤️❤️