I was born and raised in London. Here are the 9 biggest mistakes I see tourists make.

Conor ClarkSep 6, 2024, 21:12 IST

After living in London for over 25 years, I've seen countless visitors miss out on some of the best parts of my hometown.Shutterstock

I was born and raised in London, where I've seen tourists make a wide range of missteps.
Many go to classic pubs for drinks but fail to order a Sunday roast, one of the best British dishes.

As someone who was born and raised in London, I've seen tourists make their fair share of mistakes — from unwittingly missing out on one of the best British dishes to clogging up traffic on escalators.

But with some advance planning and strategizing, newcomers can make the most of their time in London and save some money as they do it.

Here are the major mistakes I see visitors make while exploring my hometown.

People pay to see panoramic skyline views without realizing they can find them for free.

The Sky Garden, the capital's highest public garden, has two bars and two restaurants.Shutterstock

Tourists should never stand on the left side of escalators, especially in London Underground stations.

People almost always stay to the right on escalators, as seen here in the Canary Wharf Tube station.Shutterstock

Because the city has a reputation for being rainy, visitors fail to prepare for all types of weather.

London weather can be unpredictable, and temperatures fluctuate year-round.Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Many people leave London without ordering a pub-made Sunday roast, a classic British dish.

Sunday roasts usually have meat, potatoes, and vegetables.Conor Clark

Tourists take the Tube short distances around Central London, but it's a very walkable area.

Instead of taking the Tube around Central London, explore by foot.Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Some people only shop on Oxford Street, but other areas have stores that are just as wonderful.

Outside of Oxford Street, I recommend shopping in Chelsea and Marylebone.Conor Clark

Visitors splurge to stay in the center of London, but public transportation makes it easy to get around the city regardless of where they stay.

Camden is less than 15 minutes away from Central London on the Tube.Getty Images

Travelers overpay for airport taxis and cars when there's a litany of cheaper, faster transportation options.

Look into alternative transportation options from the airport to save time and money.Conor Clark

Newcomers often overlook London's free museums and galleries.

London has a wide variety of museums and galleries, and many offer free entry.Conor Clark

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