How To Make London Day Trips Way Easier

London is one of the world’s greatest cities, and is home to a population of more than 8 million. It’s vibrant and bustling with art, culture, theatre, world cuisine and shopping galore on offer! I love London and always will!

That doesn’t mean it’s always the easiest place to get around though, even on a short day trip, and take that from someone who spent many years living there during my university years and far beyond. 

That’s where this post can help. I explore some of the many ways to make London day-tripping more convenient and easy to navigate so you can actually enjoy the Big Smoke instead of constantly putting out fires. 

Check it out!

Plan Your Destination And Schedule

The first step is to plan your destination and schedule. You’ll want to arrive in London by train ideally as driving into and then around London is not for the weak with endless traffic james, and it’s expensive to boot when it comes to Congestion Charge and parking fees. So once you arrive by train, you’ll perhaps want to make use of the luggage storage at Kings Cross so you’re hands-free. I like to leave my coat and laptop as it’s always so much warmer in London than it is in Yorkshrie where I’m travelling from, and I only want to do work and catch up on emails on the train. There’s no point lugging around items you won’t need.   

When it comes to booking trains, check the Trainline and National Rail for departure times, how long it will take to get to where you want to go. and prices.

You can start at Liverpool Street in the City of London or you can focus on King’s Cross and St. Pancras if you want to be closer to the centre but London is huge so spread your wings. I adore Notting Hill and Queensway as I spent many years living in that area. My kids love the (free) Natural History Museum and the adjacent Science Museum so I always try to get there as early as possible to miss the queues. 

Book Your Train Tickets In Advance

Another piece of advice is to book your train tickets in advance so the cheapest prices. You can also save if you buy as a family or group and there are often special offers dependent on the time you travel. I like to take advantage of off peak tickets for the best prices! 

Research Key Attractions

The next step is to research the key attractions you want to visit so you don’t wind up rushing from one place to the next. Always make sure you check opening hours and whether they’ll fit into your schedule be it a hit of culture or shopping at Harrods for example! 

London is an enormous and ancient city with countless institutions to explore and discover. The National Portrait Gallery and the Tate are just two of our favourite modern art galleries. Find out what’s on if you’re travelling with children for example, as there are often special events.

Use Public Transport Apps

Using public transport apps is also helpful in London. The city is big on public transport compared to other locations around the world, which makes life much easier for tourists. 

The easiest option is to use your Oyster card which you can buy once you enter The Underground. The alternative is to use an accepted payment card for the turnstiles on the Tube and on buses as you travel through the city (an Oyster is often the cheaper option if you’re travelling all over). If you need help, most public transit areas have an information desk you can go to or people on hand near the turnstiles. 

Pack Light

Of course, if you’re going to be walking around London all day, it’s essential to pack light (and wear comfortable shoes). While you might be able to leave some of your luggage at various lockups around the capital, you’ll still need a backpack or bag. 

The best way to pack light is to transfer more functionality to your smartphone. For example, you might want to use maps and train timetable apps instead of carrying them around with you and I also have my bank cards on my phone now too in my trusty Apple Wallet. Many of these services work without signal and WiFi if you pre-download them onto your device for even greater peace of mind but there is now decent wi-fi on The Underground. I remember when there wasn’t any! 

Use Guided Tours

Another option to take the hassle out of your day is to go on a guided tour. These are convenient if you use platforms like GetYourGuide and Viator, and take some of the pressure off you designing and arranging your day. Instead of navigating the Underground, you’ll usually be on a bus with a set route that can drop you off at the end of the day at a destination you know of. These tours are also a good idea if you want to do sightseeing that’s a little outside of the centre of London, like Windsor Castle and Eton although I’d recommend a few days in London if you want to travel further afield.

Guided tours are everywhere in London and you’ll often see people advertising them. They’re also inexpensive, meaning you can see most of the city for less than it would cost for you to try to do everything by yourself. 

Plan Ahead and Book A Restaurant

If you’re looking for more affordable food, your best option is to venture outside of the center that tends to tourist-heavy and pricey. The Southbank, for instance, is home to a fabulous food market on the weekend and restaurants overlooking the River Thames which are cheaper than places you’ll find in Covent Garden for example. Try and book ahead so you can to guarantee a table. The same applies with theatre tickets which sell out fast. 

Use Local Info

If you can use local tourist info, that’s also helpful when visiting a place like London. Not everything is found online. 

Tourist information hubs can usually point you in the right direction or make recommendations based on your needs. Just explain to them what you want and see what they suggest. 

You can also ask people in local shops and cafes. Staff will usually be polite and offer insight into the city they live in and love. 

Keep Connected

Finally, it’s worth planning your phone charging and internet connection if you hope on using it all day. You don’t want to run out of battery at 3pm without knowing where to go next or not being able to snap photos for social media! 

If you can get a pocket Wi-Fi design, that’s useful. However, most shops and cafes have an internet connection you can use. Another option is to get an eSIM if you’re travelling from abroad and use this for your data.

As for keeping your phone charged, battery packs are indispensable. These keep you topped up in an emergency and can provide multiple charges if you have more than one device.

Those are my tips, enjoy your trip!