Know Before You Go: London

Written By Shane Samuel

The laws, local rules, safety tips, and cultural things I’d want to know before landing

London is one of those cities that feels familiar before you even get there, but there are still a few things I would want to know before landing.

The biggest ones are entry requirements, public transit, tipping, contactless payments, and just understanding how the city moves.

Check Whether You Need an ETA

Depending on your nationality, you may need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before you travel.

An ETA allows eligible travelers to visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting friends or family, certain business travel, or short-term study. It is linked electronically to your passport. GOV.UK

If you already have a UK visa or another form of permission to live, work, or study in the UK, you generally do not need an ETA. GOV.UK

Make Sure Your Passport Is Valid for Your Stay

If you are traveling from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, you need a valid passport to enter the UK, and it should be valid for your entire stay. GOV.UK

I would check this well before the trip instead of assuming the passport is fine.

Contactless Is Probably the Easiest Way to Get Around

London makes public transit really simple if you use contactless payment.

You can tap a contactless bank card, phone, or watch on:

  • Tube

  • Bus

  • DLR

  • London Overground

  • Elizabeth line

  • Most National Rail services within London

  • Some river services

TfL says pay-as-you-go contactless is one of the easiest and most flexible options for visitors, and daily and weekly caps can limit how much you spend. Transport for London

Use the Same Card or Device Every Time

This is important.

If you tap in with your phone and tap out with your physical card, TfL treats those as different payment methods and you can get charged incorrectly.

Use the same card or same device for the entire journey. Transport for London

Know When to Tap In and Out

For Tube, DLR, Overground, Elizabeth line, and most rail journeys:

  • Tap in when you enter

  • Tap out when you leave

For buses and trams:

  • Tap in only

If you forget, you can be charged a maximum fare. Transport for London

Oyster Is Still an Option

If you do not want to use a foreign card or your bank charges international transaction fees, an Oyster card can still be useful.

TfL says you can buy an Oyster card in London or use a Visitor Oyster card. Transport for London

For most visitors, though, contactless is probably the easiest if your card works internationally without annoying fees.

Watch for Foreign Transaction Fees

TfL accepts many overseas cards, but your bank may charge international transaction fees. Transport for London

That is one of those tiny costs that can add up when you are tapping all day.

London Is Very Walkable, But Distances Add Up

You can walk a lot of central London, and sometimes walking is actually faster than taking the Tube for short distances.

But do not underestimate how much ground you will cover.

Wear shoes you can actually walk in.

Look Both Ways Before Crossing

Yes, this sounds obvious.

But traffic moves on the left, and your muscle memory may absolutely betray you lol.

A lot of London crossings literally tell you which direction to look.

Use them.

Tipping Is Usually Optional

London does not tip the same way the U.S. does.

Visit London says tipping is usually optional, and restaurants often add a service charge to the bill already. visitlondon.com

So before adding more, check the receipt.

If there is already a service charge, you generally do not need to tip again.

Service Charges Are Common

This is one of the easiest ways to accidentally double-tip.

Restaurants may add a discretionary service charge automatically.

Always look at the bill before leaving extra.

Cards Are Accepted Almost Everywhere

London is extremely card-friendly.

You can pay by card or phone for most things, and some places are completely cashless.

I would still carry a little cash, but I would not make it my main payment method.

The Tube Gets Busy Fast

Rush hour can be intense.

If you have flexibility, try to avoid the busiest commuter windows.

And when you are on escalators:

Stand on the right. Walk on the left.

Do not be the person blocking the whole escalator with a suitcase lol.

Let People Off Before You Get On

Simple rule.

At Tube stations, stand to the side of the doors and let passengers exit first.

Then board.

Londoners move fast, and getting in the way of the flow is the quickest way to feel like a tourist.

Do Not Stop in the Middle of the Sidewalk

Same energy.

If you need to check Google Maps, move to the side.

Do not stop dead in the middle of a busy pavement with five people behind you.

Weather Changes Quickly

London weather can switch up on you.

Even if the forecast looks decent, I would still bring:

  • A light jacket

  • Small umbrella

  • Layers

You can get sun, wind, and rain in the same day.

Book Major Attractions Ahead

For popular attractions, I would book ahead when possible.

That includes things like:

  • London Eye

  • Sky Garden

  • Tower of London

  • Windsor Castle

  • Major theatre shows

  • Some museums or special exhibitions

You can still leave room for spontaneity, but London is not a city where I would assume everything will be available last minute.

Museums Can Be Free

A lot of major museums in London have free general admission.

That can include places like:

  • British Museum

  • National Gallery

  • Tate Modern

  • Victoria and Albert Museum

  • Natural History Museum

Special exhibitions may still cost extra.

The City Is More Than Westminster

Do not spend the whole trip around Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.

London feels completely different depending on the neighborhood.

Places like:

  • Camden

  • Notting Hill

  • Shoreditch

  • Greenwich

  • South Kensington

  • Soho

  • Brixton

all have different energy.

💡 SHANE’S TIP

My biggest London tip is group things by neighborhood.

The city is huge, and just because two attractions are both “in London” does not mean they are close.

Build your day around one area, then move to the next.

That saves time, money, and a lot of unnecessary back-and-forth on the Tube.

The Bottom Line

London is easy once you understand the rhythm.

The biggest things I would know before going are:

  • Check whether you need an ETA

  • Use contactless or Oyster for transit

  • Use the same card or device every time

  • Know when to tap in and out

  • Check bills before tipping

  • Stand right on escalators

  • Group attractions by neighborhood

  • Book major experiences ahead

  • Bring layers

  • Wear good walking shoes

Once you figure out the transit and stop trying to cross the whole city three times in one day, London becomes way easier.

Go somewhere. Make it worth it.

Shane Samuel
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