What I’d Do Differently: London Edition

Updated April 2026 | 3 min read

London is the kind of city where you think three days is enough and then realize you barely scratched the surface. Here is what we would change.

Get an Oyster Card or Use Contactless Immediately

Single Tube tickets cost over five pounds each. An Oyster card or contactless bank card caps your daily fare automatically. We wasted money on singles our first day before figuring this out.

Do Not Eat Near Major Attractions

The restaurants within sight of the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey are tourist traps. Walk ten minutes in any direction and the quality doubles while prices halve. Borough Market is the exception — it is a tourist attraction that actually delivers.

Book Afternoon Tea Further in Advance

We wanted to do afternoon tea at Claridge’s and it was booked solid for the entire week. The popular spots need a reservation three to four weeks out. The Wolseley and Sketch are alternatives but they book up too.

The Museums Are Free — Use That

The British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, V&A, and Natural History Museum are all free. Schedule a museum when it rains, which it will. Do not waste a sunny day inside.

Spend a Full Day Outside Central London

We stayed in Zone 1 the entire trip. Next time we would spend a day in Greenwich, Hampstead Heath, or Richmond Park. The real London is not just the tourist center.

What We Got Right

Walking everywhere in central London. The distances between neighborhoods are shorter than they look on the map, and you see things between destinations that the Tube misses.

Travel Tools We Actually Use

• eSIM Data: Airalo eSIM for London — Buy before you land. You need data the moment you arrive for navigation and translation apps.

Book Tours and Activities

• London Tours and Activities on Viator

Gear We Recommend

• Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack — Carry-on sized, opens like a suitcase.
• Anker Nano Power Bank — Essential for long days of navigating with your phone.
• Packing Cubes (6-Pack) — We bring these on every trip now.
• Universal Travel Adapter — One adapter for every country.
• Rain Jacket (Marmot Precip) — London weather is unpredictable. Pack this daily.

Book on GetYourGuide:

• Tower of London Entry Ticket
• Stonehenge and Bath Day Trip

Find Flights to London

Plan Your Trip to London

Ready to book? Search flights to London to compare prices across airlines. And compare hotel rates in London to find the best deals for your dates.

Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. SafetyWing, Skyscanner, Airalo, Booking.com, Viator, GetYourGuide.

Plan your own trip: guides I actually use

Cards, lounges & insurance:

• Best Airport Lounges I Have Actually Used — From Changi to Istanbul
• Is Priority Pass Worth It in 2026 — My Honest Review After 15 Airports
• Best Travel Credit Cards for 2026: The Cards I Actually Use and Why
• Best Travel Insurance for 2026: What I Actually Recommend After 15 International Trips
• The Credit Card Points Strategy That Funded $15,000 of Travel

Finding cheap flights:

• Going vs Dollar Flight Club vs Thrifty Traveler: Which Flight Deal Service Is Worth It in 2026?
• When to Book Flights by Region — The Booking Windows That Actually Save Money
• How to Find Error Fares and Flight Deals — The Services I Actually Use
• Google Flights vs Skyscanner vs Momondo — Which Actually Finds the Cheapest Flights

Staying connected abroad:

• Best VPN for Travel 2026 — NordVPN vs Surfshark and Why You Need One
• Best eSIM for Travel 2026 — Holafly vs Airalo vs Nomad

Travel gear I actually use:

• Best Portable Chargers for Travel in 2026: Which Size You Actually Need
• My Exact Travel Tech Setup After 15 International Trips
• Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for Travel in 2026: Tested on 40+ Flights
• Best Travel Backpacks for 2026: The 5 I Have Actually Used
• Phone Photography Tips for Travel: How to Take Great Photos With Just Your iPhone