🇬🇧 Travelling to London
💭 When’s the best time to visit London?
In my opinion — autumn, Christmas time or spring. Autumn in London is beautiful. Seeing all the Christmas lights in London is magical. As well as seeing the blooms in spring.
I think most tourists from a practical sense, are only able to get off during summer; which is why it’ll always be super crowded come June, July, and August — so I don’t suggest it!
With that said, if it’s your second time in London and you’re not sticking to Central London, summer is a great time to explore the less busy local London neighbourhoods.
💭 What should I pack for London?
I’m glad you asked! Here’s my ultimate packing guide for winter, spring, summer, and autumn in London.
💭 Where should I stay in London?
Have a look at my London hotel guides, London hostel guides, and short-term accommodation options in London to narrow your options.
💭 How long would you recommend for visiting London?
Ideally, a week. But if that’s not possible, 3-5 days.
P.S – there’s a 0% chance you’ll see everything in London on your first go (I do this for a living and I still haven’t!), so be prepared to visit multiple times if you really love the city.
💭 How do I get around in London?
Although there’s dozens of London transportation options, you’ll most likely use the London Underground and TfL buses during your trip which will get you almost anywhere you need to go (we have one of the best transport systems in the world!).
💭 Should I get an Oyster card for my trip to London?
As you might have seen, you can now use your contactless card to pay for transport in London. It doesn’t matter if you’re using an international card, as long as it has the contactless payment option, it’ll work.
If you want the perks of getting a Visitor Oyster such as discounts on attractions or just for the iconic London experience of having a normal Oyster card, you can pick one up at most airports in London when you arrive (except London Southend Airport) for £5, followed by ‘topping it up’ (I suggest adding £20 to start).
💭 What attractions should I visit in London?
If you’ve never been to London, a good place to start is definitely the top 10 attractions in London.
Make you get the Go City Explorer Pass or The London Pass to save on sightseeing during your trip!
💭 How do I save on my trip to London?
- Buy your flight far in advance and for off-peak months (like November or February)
- Stay in an Airbnb or hostel
- Get a London travel pass
- Do free walking tours over double-decker bus tours
- Avoid taking the tube during peak time when fares are higher
P.S – Here’s 27 more ways to save money in London!
💭 What hidden gems in London should I visit?
If you’re looking for something new to do, definitely check out these secret London spots.
💭 Is London safe?
London is generally safe, but like any big city, you’ll want to have some street smarts when you travel. Read more on The Safest Areas in London (from a Londoner) and Is London Safe? 10 Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers.
💭 Any tips for solo female travellers to London?
Tons! For the most in-depth information and recommendations from me for your solo trip, definitely grab A Solo Traveller’s Guide to London 📚.
It comes with hotel and hostel recommendations, safety tips, and 5 custom solo travel friendly itineraries to use during your London trip!
💭 Do you have any tips for doing a London trip with kids?
I will, when I have kids! But I’m not a fan of giving advice on things I haven’t done myself. But Family Friendly London is a great resource if you’re coming to London with little ones.
💭 What food should I try in London?
So many! Have a look at famous London foods you have to try and my London food guides to get inspired.
💭 Do you have any Afternoon Tea spot recommendations in London?
Oh do I…
- The Best Gluten-Free Afternoon Tea in London
- Affordable Afternoon Tea in London Recommendations
- The Taj Hotel Afternoon Tea
- The Drury Lane Afternoon Tea
💭 Do you have any London tours or experiences you’d recommend in London?
More than I can count, but if I had to choose my top 5.
- Brigit’s Bakery Bus Tour
- Regent’s Canal Boat Ride
- Secret British Food Tour
- Sunset Cruise across the Thames
- Climb the Roof at the O2
💭 Any London day trip recommendations?
Yes!
P.S – All the distance time is on public transit x
- Oxford (1 – 1 ½ hours from London)
- Cambridge (1 hour from London
- Brighton (1 hour from London)
- Stonehenge/Salisbury (2 hours 15 minutes from London)
- Manchester (2 hours 20 minutes from London)
- Whitstable (1 hour 30 minutes from London)
- Rye (1 hour 30 minutes from London)
- Bath (1 hour 20 minutes from London)
- Newcastle (3 hours from London)
- Hastings (2 hours from London)
P.S – Don’t forget to use Trainline to find the cheapest train tickets for your day trip!
💭 Can you help me plan my trip to London?
I do currently do a limited number of London trip consultations. If interested, please email candace@candaceabroad.com.
🏡 Living in London
💭 What are the pros and cons of living in London?
(*in my opinion)
Pros – diversity, the walkability of the city, amazing transport system, endless amount of things to do, proximity to rest of Europe and excellent global connections, business, networking and job opportunities
Cons – Expensive, not always the best weather, living in a transient city (people are always coming and going)
💭 How did you move to London Candace? What visa are you on?
I moved in 2016 on a Tier 4 student visa, then I got my MBA on another Tier 4 student visa, followed by the Graduate Route visa.
In a lucky turn of events, I’ll be moving onto a Civil Partnership visa soon with my partner (who is a British citizen) so I can continue to run my business in the UK, rather than needing to get a work visa.
💭 How do I move to London?
For a complete moving to London guide I highly suggest you read Across the Pond: A Young Expat’s Guide to London Life as it’ll cover absolutely everything you’d need to know about moving to London (literally).
Otherwise I suggest reading my blog on How to Move to London from the US.
💭 How do I find a job in London?
How to Get a Job in London as an American: A Complete Guide
💭 How do I get a bank account before I move to London?
I personally use Wise and suggest it to anyone looking to get a UK bank account before they have an official UK address.
It’s a free borderless bank that lets you have multiple accounts in different currencies. So basically perfect if you’re moving to London.
💭 Where should I live in London?
A loaded question! Have a look at my London neighbourhood guide for some recommendations.
💭 Any short term accommodation recommendations while I look for a place?
Sure do! Check out 5 Best Short Term Accommodation Options in London 🙂
Don’t see your question?
Click the button below to shoot me an email and I’ll get back to you!
Happy Londoning,
