A Northerner’s Guide to Surviving London
Planning a holiday to the capital? London is a fantastic city for a vacation as there is an incredible amount to see and do and it is somewhere with a unique atmosphere not quite like anywhere else in the world. It can be a bit of a shock to the system for Northerners as it is quite different even to the major cities found in the north. Here is a guide to surfing London and making the most out of your trip.
Public Transport
The public transport is excellent in London and it can be quick and relatively easy to get across the city no matter where you are. Although it is a great system, it can also be quite different, particularly if you are travelling during peak hours which can be stressful.
The trains will help you to get into and around the edges of London so research your trip ahead and book your ticket online, such as East Croydon to London Bridge. You will then want to use the underground system to get around and you will want to find out which zones you need to travel through (you can get a travel card for all zones which is handy). Tube etiquette includes not looking at anyone in the eye during the trip and keeping conversations quiet – you will quickly get the hang of it!
Mind Your Own Business
London is a lovely city and somewhere that is easy to fall in love with, but it can also be an intimidating place and not the friendliest. Whereas up north you could easily strike up a conversation with someone that you pass by, this is quite a rarity in Lon-don (although there are plenty of friendly people around). People tend to mind their own business in London and keep their head down.
See the Sights Without Being a Tourist
You will, of course, want to check out the highlights during your time here, such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square etc. While you certainly should do this, try to avoid being like many of the tourists who frustrate the locals by getting in the way wondering around. Know where you are going, see the sights, get a few photos and move on.
While this might make London sound like a scary place, it is actually a brilliant city and a great place for a vacation because there is so much on offer. The key is to know what to expect and understand that London is one of the busiest cities in the world filled with people who are rushing around often highly stressed due to work so you need to learn how to act during your time here and avoid frustrating those around you.
Cheerz -my navigation skills at home are abysmal -london is a nightmare
Great tips
Good advice! I love London and enjoy sitting on the top deck on the buses and viewing everything from there!
Good Advice x
Some great suggestions for our next visit
It's a while since I've been to London and I'm thinking about going for the weekend so some handy tips thank you x
my hubbys a northerner, and he knows his was around london better than I do!
Not been to London for 20 years, its nice to read a decent guide from someone who is from up here
Brilliant advice!I love London but being a Northener im always getting lost! Xx
Its a long time since I visited London, some great tips.
I love to visit London because there is so much to see and do!
While we do love City breaks, London is not one of our favourites I'm afraid. I think it's the unwillingness of people to talk, like you mention…
This is so helpful, London is huge and gets some getting used to
A very sensible post. London is a fabulous city but I have previously had to warn family visiting from abroad not to expect Londoners to be friendly as they are so often busy getting on with their lives.
I do find London a bit overwhelming.