Get prepared for your trip to London – one of the world’s finest cities
- This post contains affiliate links that I earn a small commission from at no cost to you.
MAYBE it’s because I’m a Londoner that I love London so, goes the popular song. So, if you’re a first time traveller to London, the top eight tourist spots are: the British Museum, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament (including Big Ben), Royal Museums Greenwich, Tower Bridge and London Eye.
My favourite place where I could spend the whole day is the Tate Gallery, admiring some of the world’s masterpieces, followed by the next day rubbing shoulders with tourists at the British Museum. However, like any trip, with a busy itinerary, things don’t always go to plan – so it’s good to be prepared. Here is a list of a few things that I would take with me on a day out to probably one of the finest cities in the world.
Travelcard or Oyster Card?
The first thing you will need to purchase, unless you have already done so online, is a Travelcard, which will give you unlimited travel at any time on the Tube, bus, tram, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, Rail and National Rail services in London. A cheaper option is an Oyster Card or Contactless Payment Card, but that depends on how many journeys you make and you can discuss your options at the Underground or Railway Station.
Keep warm and dry in Blighty
Once you have your ticket for travelling, you’re ready to hit the road. Whatever the weather in London, the chances are that you may get to see all four seasons in the day. You will leave your home or hotel in the morning to beautiful sunshine, but once you get out of the Underground Station it may turn cloudy and windy, and by the time you reach the Houses of Parliament, you will cursing the weather as it starts to rain. But before you know it, the weather will turn again.
But being well prepared, you will have a good raincoat, which would have been one of the first items of your checklist. The Highlander Waterproof Jacket might be one to consider. It’s a lightweight unisex jacket which comes in adult and children sizes. The other option, if you don’t want to buy a raincoat or jacket to keep you dry is an umbrella.
These shoes were made for walking
Once you are suitably dressed and have a comfortable pair of shoes that you can walk in for miles on end, you will need a good travel guide like DK Eyewitness London, to get you around. Every corner of London is explored in this book, showing all the iconic sights in detail, from the financial district of the city to the rolling fields of Hampstead Heath from where you can see Canary Wharf, the Shard and St Paul’s. Before I explore a city in more depth, I usually take a Sightseeing Bus to get an overall feel for the place. If you have a specific interest, like for example, Jack The Ripper, you will probably find a guided tour, who will take you to the area where he reputedly did his evil deeds.
Money bag with pockets
When you are on the move you will need to have all your bits and pieces in a safe place. A nice black leather money bag with plenty of zip pockets can do the trick. It should have enough space to fit your wallet, bus pass, and passport, which with its long belt strap you can safely keep around your waist.
A nice pair of polarised sunglasses which won’t cost you a fortune will make your journey that much more comfortable should the sun come out. It will also protect you from harmful UV rays. These sunglasses which are also good for hiking and cycling, are great for the outdoors and come with a case and cleaning cloth. They even provide you with a screwdriver to adjust the frame so that they fit comfortably around the head and ears.
One of the greatest cities in the world
Many people are opting for the safe bet of a stay-cation, travelling to different parts of the country on day or weekend trips, so make sure you get travel insurance travel insurance if things don’t go to plan. There’s always some great hotels to stay in whether it is a weekend or longer.
You can get more help from the London Tourist Information Centres, which are found in: Victoria Visitor Centre, Piccadilly Circus, Liverpool Street, King’s Cross St Pancras, Heathrow Airport, to name a few. Whatever you do, enjoy, and if we’ve been a help, please let us know.