Every year, London draws thousands of tourists from all over the globe to experience a good slice of Brit culture. From the Changing of the Guard to Tower Bridge, there is so much to see and do its advisable to plan your trip to get the best out of your time in England’s capital.

To make sure you have the best break and navigate this bustling city with the ease of the locals, here’s a few tried and tested tips sure to help you out.

Going underground

A lot of people can feel quite intimidated when thinking about using the tube. Whilst rush hour at most stations is quite an experience, it’s usually not so bad and once you figure out the lines and routes, it’s a great method of transport. It’s a good idea to print out the Tube map available from Transport for London; this is a good guide to pinpointing where attractions are and the best order to do any sightseeing.

If you’ll be making lots of tube journeys during your stay, it may be worth buying a day ticket. An oyster card may also be worth checking out if you are in London for a week or more.

Accommodation

Centrally located hotels, let’s face it, come at a premium and this can massively eat into your holiday budget. Staying on the outskirts is of course cheaper but you could also consider letting a flat. Short Let London offers centrally located apartments for a notably lower price. Failing that, you could always try imposing yourself on any friends or family located in London when you’re down there.

Attractions

With so many options, it might be hard to narrow down your list of places to see. However, it would be a shame to cross a visit to Buckingham Palace off from possible ventures. Whilst it is only open to visitors during certain period through summer, it is certainly worth visiting to witness the Changing of the Guard and simply see the building itself – it is the Queens home after all.

Another must visit attraction is the Tower of London. Whilst its reputation will satisfy history fans of a more gruesome nature, you can also view the Crown Jewels, hear about the Tower’s legendary ravens and see an impressive armoury.

For any London-goers who enjoy shopping, it’s fair to say you’re spoilt for choice. However, Harrods, England’s most famous department store, is a luxurious day out. Even if you don’t purchase something, you could spend a few hours just wandering around – great if the British weather is up to its usual bad tricks. A good idea when the weather is nice is to buy something from the food Hall and take it over to the beautiful Hyde Park, which is just 12 minutes’ walk away. The park itself is stunning and worthy of exploration, or perhaps you fancy testing your sea legs and hiring a boat. It’s also a great area to base your holiday in one of the Queensway apartments just round the corner.

Broadway

Any budding thespians should certainly go see the bright lights of the West End and even take in a show if time permits. Theatre tickets can be a bit expensive, so try to find a good online deal beforehand, leaving you with a few more pennies for another activity.