Coming to London as a first-time visitor? Here’s absolutely everything (and I do mean everything) you need to know about coming to London for the first time — from a London travel blogger!
Coming to London for the first time is an experience like no other.
For context, my first time coming to London was when I moved here in 2016 – and I loved it so much I haven’t moved back to the US since!
From being smothered in glorious history, packed with delightful British experiences (afternoon tea, anyone?), and a charming city buzz hard to replicate anywhere else, London is a fantastic destination to visit.
But you’ll want to do your first time in London right.
Although it’s quite hard to make a bad trip to London, it is easy to make many London travel mistakes, spend too much time worrying about yourLondon itinerary and how to get around, and miss out on many of the best bits of London on your trip.
But don’t worry, I’ve got you!
In this blog post, I’m going to go over everything you need to know about visiting London for the first time to have the trip of a lifetime. Shall we?
About the Author
Hi, I’m Candace — a London-based travel writer and content creator who traded the East Coast of the US for the charm of the UK back in 2016. London’s been my home ever since.
On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of thoughtfully crafted London, UK, Europe and Worldwide travel guides alongside lots of insider London tips, honest hotel and restaurant reviews and advice for content creators.
P.S. – For more trip inspiration, travel videos, and behind-the-scenes adventures, be sure to follow along (and say hello, if you fancy) on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.
🗞️📺 As featured on the BBC, USA Today & Recipe.TV.
London For First Time Visitors Guide
🌞🍂 The Best Season to Visit London for The First Time? 🌷🎄
Before you plan your first trip to London, the first thing you’ll be wondering is most certainly the best time to visit.
Now, the beautiful thing about London is there truly is something to offer in every season.
🍂 Visiting London for the first-time in Autumn:
Autumn in London is my favourite season in London, not only are the streets lined with crisp autumn leaves, but the crowds are less, lovely sweater weather is in full swing, and it’s cheaper to fly to London too!
Autumn in London Pros:
✅ Less tourists in London
✅ Cheaper plane tickets if you’re flying to London
✅ London gets all the seasons so you’ll there’s beautiful autumn foliage all around!
Autumn in London Cons:
❌ Chillier than summer in London
❌ Not as many outdoor events like summer in London
❄️ Visiting London for the first-time in Winter:
Visiting London in winter really revolves around Christmas in London 🎄, which I think the city does better than anywhere else (truly).
The temperatures drops, but it’s never unbearably cold – and you may even get a snow day in London!
Winter in London Pros:
✅ Christmas in London!
✅ Tons of London shopping opportunities + sales for the holidays
✅ Did I mention Christmas in London? The city is beautiful!
Winter in London Cons:
❌ Tickets can be more expensive if visiting for Christmas season (but not for January + February)
❌ Christmas places can get crowded
❌ Colder weather
🌷Visiting London for the first-time in Spring:
After a long winter, springtime in London feels like a dream, and it looks like one too!
❌ If coming in March/April there’s still a bunch of ‘off days’ where it’ll be colder/possibly more rainy than late spring/summer in London
❌ Ticket prices will start to get higher
🌞 Visiting London for the first-time in Summer:
When most people think about visiting London for the first-time, a summer trip is what tends to come to mind – and it’s easy to see why!
Summer in London is the best season to come in terms of weather and things to do, if you’re happy with the crowds…
Summer in London Pros:
✅ Great weather the majority of the summer season
✅ Tons of things to do, free events and outdoor activities
✅ Londoners are generally in a super friendly mood when the weather’s good, and you’ll feel it in the buzz of the city!
Summer in London Cons:
❌ Lots of tourist crowds
❌ Plane tickets are peak expensive
❌ Sweaty tube smell…it’s a thing
With all that said, January and February are when you’ll find the worst weather in London without much to do compared to other months, so these would be months I’d avoid for a first-time visit!
✈️ How to Get From the Airport to London City Centre
Once you know when to visit, it’s time to get to London, and more specifically, get to the city centre.
The good news is it’s truly not too difficult to get from any London airport to wherever you need to get to, but your transport options will vary depending on where you land — here’s some guidance for each.
P.S. – In my opinion the best airport to land in London is London Heathrow followed by London Gatwick in terms of ease of transport to Central London (whatever you do – don’t fly to London Luton, it’s a nightmare!)
🚇 How to Navigate London Transport for the First Time
One of the most overwhelming bits of coming to London for the first-time is undoubtedly figuring out the London transport system.
Now in a nutshell, it’s truly as easy as ‘tapping in and tapping out’ the yellow barriers on the tube and just ‘tapping in’ on the bus (no need to tap out).
What the yellow ‘tap in’ button will look like!
In terms of Oyster or Contactless, you can use either on your trip — but with an Oyster card you’ll have to pay a £7 non-refundable fee for the card vs. just being able to tap in/out using your contactless card like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
How Many Days to Spend in London for a First-Time Visit?
There’s a famous quote that says ‘when a man is bored of London, he is bored of life’, and it’s true!
In truth, there’s no amount of time in London that would be too much, but I would say for a first-time visit to London at minimum you’ll want to spend 3 days here.
That’ll give you enough time to explore lots of the top London tourist attractions, a green space or two like St James’s Park, Hyde Park or Regent’s Park, and see some hidden gems along the way.
However if you’re keen to explore a bit deeper into the city, I suggest doing a 5 or 7 day trip to London for your first visit.
P.S. – A lovely reminder that I’ve made custom 3,5 and 7 day London itineraries for the perfect London trip completely planned for you!
Where to Stay in London for a First-Time Visit
If you’re coming to London for the first time getting around easily and being close to the main sites/attractions should be top priority, so for that reason I’d make sure you’re staying in Zone 1 near a tube station during your trip.
From there your three options will be:
🏨 London Hotels: Staying in a London hotel for your trip is the most comfortable and straightforward option for your trip, and oh is there tons to choose from! Here’s some of my London hotel guides to find the best fit for you.
🛌 London Hostels: Staying in a hostel during your London trip is a great way to save a bit of cash while still being Central (or Centralish) located. Read the below to plan your stay:
🏡 London Airbnbs: To be very honest with you I’ve found London Airbnbs to be very overpriced, especially compared to hotels (not to mention they’re contributing to the massive housing crisis we’re having here – so I personally don’t recommend them).
P.S. – When I’m planning a move abroad (or even a long stay in London), I always think beyond neighbourhood vibes and commute times and make sure to consider the practical side of travel and settling in. I’ve partnered with SafetyWing and their Nomad Insurance Essential plan, which is a travel medical insurance designed for people travelling internationally. For me, having travel medical coverage in place adds an extra layer of peace of mind while I’m getting settled and exploring a new city. If you’re planning your own time abroad, you can explore SafetyWing here.
Weather in London
Beginning of spring in London!
While you’re exploring you’ll also want to be prepared for any weather London throws at you! Here’s a quick breakdown of London temperatures throughout the year:
🍂 Autumn in London Weather: Temperatures during this time are generally mild, ranging from an average low of 10°C (50°F) to a high of around 17°C (63°F).
❄️ Winter in London Weather: Temperatures usually range from 0°C (32°F) to 8°C (46°F), though the weather can reach as low as -10°C (14°F) and on an odd day a high of 10°C (50°F) to 13°C (55°F) if you’re wondering what’s the coldest it gets in London.
🌷 Spring in London Weather: The weather usually starts becoming more lovely from around late March to mid-April, when temperatures generally range from 10°C to 17°C (50°F to 63°F).
After that the weather will stay relatively mild and sunny until the end of May when it gradually gets warmer and temperatures can get up to 20°C (68°F).
🌞 Summer in London Weather: During this time of year, average temperatures reach highs in the mid-20’s Celsius (77°F) and lows in the mid-teens Celsius (59°F).
But given climate change London has seen record heatwaves in the summer months, with some days reaching into the low 30’s (86°F) and one day last season going up to 40°C (104°F)!
As you can see, the nicest months to visit London weather-wise would be spring and summer.
What to Pack for Your First Time in London
A London-esque outfit!
Of course while you’ll Londoning, you’ll want to blend in with your fellow Londoners — so pack accordingly!
In all honesty, London is a place where people truly mind their business, so it doesn’t really matter what you wear.
But you should definitely pack appropriately for the season you’re visiting London.
Your first-time to London should be a mix of top London sites, bucket list experiences and a few hidden gems in between.
Use my London Tourist Itineraries for the perfect mix of all three planned for you or make sure to do as much of the below as you can on your London trip!
One of the biggest questions first-time visitors to London have is ‘do I need cash in London?’ and ‘what’s the tipping culture like in London?’
London is a majority contactless culture now (including on the tube and buses) so you can use card for pretty much everything. Just keep in mind a lot of places don’t take AMEX.
The only place I would say it’s better to have cash is markets like Portobello Market where you may be able to get discounts by paying cash over card.
In terms of tipping in London, the majority of London restaurants will add an optional 12.5% service charge to your bill, and it’s not standard to tip in pubs but they may have a jar you can throw a pound or two in if you’ve had great service.
Top Mistakes to Avoid as a First Time London Tourist
I’ll love you and leave you with some of the biggest mistakes I see first time visitors in London making – so you don’t have to!
❌ Not packing an umbrella – London weather is unpredictable, always have one!
❌ Standing on the wrong side of the escalator – Stand on the right and walk on the left (please don’t stand on the left with your suitcases, locals will go crazy!)
❌ Buying a Travelcard – 9/10 they’re a waste of money as they’re loads more expensive than just using your Oyster or contactless
❌ Thinking all Londoners are mean – Londoners may be in more of a rush but in general are friendly and willing to help tourists if you need directions or recommendations
❌ Expecting Table Service at Pubs – At *most* pubs there’ll be a table number, and you simply go to the front, tell them your number and order from there – no one’s coming to take your order!
Final Thoughts on Visiting London For the First Time
Visiting London for the first time is truly a magical experience, so use these tips, but don’t forget to relax and enjoy your trip too!
It’s going to be lovely 🇬🇧
Thanks for reading my London First Time Visitors Guide. If you enjoyed it, let me know on Instagram!
