If you’re from the states or anywhere else in Europe, you might not think of the UK as having any big cities. As a nation, it’s made up of a lot of towns, but being a small island all on its own, there can’t be all that far to travel! Unlike countries like Italy or Spain, you won’t need much time to get around and see the best it has to offer.
When it comes to London, however, there’s a very special case going on. London is a lot wider than most people think, and it’s not just Central or Greater London that makes up the county. Indeed, there’s nearly 15 million people living in the wider area, which makes London one of Europe’s biggest megacities!
And this very reason is why it can take so long to get round London, even when you leave in plenty of time. As such, to ensure you’re not stuck in a traffic jam for too long, miss your flight home, or never get to the other side of the city, here are some tips for getting around as fast as you can.
Keep Walking to a Minimum
You don’t want to be walking too far around London. If you do, you’re going to get very achy and sore very quickly, even if you’re a regular jogger or hiker. The city has a lot of uneven ground, twists and turns, and what seems like a quick 20-minute walk can soon turn into an hour-long adventure.
It’ll be hard to enjoy the city when all you can think about is how much your feet hurt! So save your feet and keep walking to a minimum. Rely on the vast public transport instead or think about hiring a bike for the day, if you’re confident enough to ride one.
Leave Your Luggage
You don’t need to carry it everywhere with you! Even if you’ve just arrived in the city after getting off the Gatwick Express and you’ve got 5 hours until you can get your hotel room, luggage storage will be open all over the city. Rent a space out for a few hours so you can get around the city without anything bulky on your back or dragging behind you.
No matter where you are in London, you can rely on easy access areas like Canary Wharf to store your stuff. There are plenty of left luggage canary wharf options to choose from and each come with a safety guarantee. Or if you’d prefer, look up where your hotel is and what luggage storage is closest to it, to ensure both your bags and your accommodation are in the same direction.
Avoid Tourist Traps
Partaking in the tourist culture can be fun, but in London, there are a lot of tourist traps just waiting to catch you. Attractions, shops, events, etc., can all be a waste of time and money, made to entice people who don’t know much about what’s on in London.
Be careful about this, as what might seem like a good meal or a fun couple of hours could end up tasteless, poor quality, and very boring. Do some research before you go and get the lowdown on what to avoid and where the best can really be found.
Have Multiple Copies of Your Tickets
If the ticket has been saved within an app that requires an internet connection to use, save it somewhere else on your phone that does not. On an iPhone, for example, you should be able to use the ‘Files’ app to access items you need no matter what the signal is like.
This way you won’t hold up the queue or feel awkward and a bit panicky when your phone’s data just won’t seem to work. London is a well connected city, but all of those tall buildings can block the signal!
Have Some Good Shoes on
You won’t be able to avoid walking at least a few miles when you’re in London – even if you do use a bus or a tube whenever you can – so make sure you’ve got good shoes on. Comfortable, sturdy shoes will save your toes another day!
Book Accommodation as Centrally as Possible
We know the prices of a hotel or AirBnB in the middle of London seem astounding, but paying for the convenience of being close to all the sites you want to see is quite frankly priceless. You might be able to save a few pounds by going 10 to 20 minutes away, but don’t worry too much about this in the long run.
Indeed, you don’t have to worry about getting on the right tube line, you don’t have to factor in taxi cab fares, and you certainly don’t need to worry about renting a car! Trying to drive around London is difficult for anyone who doesn’t live within it, and even then, the roads are nearly always congested. Your rental might not cut the time down at all, and that’ll make it a wasted investment.
Simply put, the closer you are to the center of the city, the easier it will be to get around cheaply, quickly, and effectively. You’ll be able to make the most of your time, as well as always have an easy to reach rest hub to go back to. Like we said above, London is a walkable city, but boy is it a tiring one!
Move Around London with Purpose
Visiting London is a lot of fun, but most trips tend to turn out quite rushed. You need to move with purpose and be aware of the various ways to get from one point to another.
Dump your luggage so you’re not hefting it everywhere, make sure you’ve got some good shoes on, don’t get distracted by tourist spots that cost more than they should, and try to book your accommodation nearby.
These things in tandem will make your time in the city a lot smoother.
