How to Plan a Trip to London

London is one of Europe's most populated city and holds some of its most impressive tourist attractions. When planning a trip to London, there are some things that absolutely cannot be missed. Luckily, travel in London is not tricky, because of its quick and inexpensive transportation systems. The best sights in the city can be seen even during a short stay.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Choose your hotel wisely. Pick accommodations that are close to the places you want to visit to ensure there will be time to see them all.

2. Understand the seasons of London travel. Go during the main travel season, which runs from late spring to early fall and is popular because of its lovely weather. Go during rainy times, from late fall to early spring, only if there is no other choice.

3. Gear up and buy the standard guidebook, "London A-Z." Take the guidebook wherever you go. It includes maps and other handy sightseeing information.

4. Dress comfortably for lots of walking. You should dress in long pants or a skirt, if you are planning to go inside churches. Call before visiting churches and ask about the dress code if you are in doubt.

5. See the biggest sights first to ensure you don't miss them. Plan on seeing the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the London Zoo, Piccadilly Circus and the London Eye.

6. Plan to wait in lines at the major attractions. Call ahead before going to inquire if reserve tickets are available.

7. Have plenty of change on hand for the subway, or tube as Londoner's call it. Take cash for cabs. Ride a double-decker bus if you have the time. The subway and bus schedules are found in the "London A-Z" guidebook.

Tips & Warnings

• Always carry ID if you are going to be using a credit card or traveler's checks. You will be asked for an ID each time these payment methods are used.
• When in doubt, hail a black cab. The drivers of black cabs are highly-trained professionals, who know the city well. Many are retired police officers.
• Watch your pockets. London, like any European city, is notorious for pickpockets. This is particularly true on highly crowded roads, such as Oxford Street.

Resources

• Plan your trip to London with the help of the London Guide.

[MrsLizzy]

on 7/18/2007 Don't forget St Paul's Cathedral. I've never heard of additional ID being asked for when using credit cards. Chip and pin is mostly used here, so you will just need to know your pin number. Make sure no-one sees you enter this. Take care when using cash machines - if there is anything that seems odd about the one you're using, use another machine. Some criminals attach devices to scan your card details and cameras that record your pin number.

When using the escalators in London underground stations, stand on the right, so that others can pass on the left. You may not smoke anywhere on London stations, and from July 1 this year, smoking is illegal in public buildings, including pubs and bars. You can still smoke outdoors.