9 things you can ONLY do in London

If you're visiting London for the first, and maybe the ONLY time, what are the things you should definitely do that you can't do anywhere else? In this video I tell you about the things to do in London that are unique to the city, or there's a special element that's extra London-y.

♥️ MORE LONDON HELP ♥️

About Love and London:
I'm Jess, I've lived in London for many years, and this channel is a London travel guide for anyone visiting the city that wants to experience it like you live here. Beyond talking about the usual London attractions, I show you some of the cooler things to do in London, that most travel guides don't mention. Watch my videos and you'll feel like you've got a Londoner friend telling you the best kept secrets in the city.

IN THE VIDEO:
The Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory
Tour the British Parliament
Ride a red double decker bus - try number 11, pick up from Victoria station or Liverpool Street Station
Get last minute tickets: TKTS, TodayTix or do the Friday Rush at the Royal Opera House
Spot the blue plaques around the city
Visit a working royal residence: Kensington Palace

[danholland]

I'd recommend taking the 87 bus from outside Charing Cross train station. It goes past many landmarks including Trafalgar square, along the Strand, down Whitehall, past Downing Street, the cenotaph, Churchill war rooms, up to parliament square for big ben and Westminster abbey, then along to Tate Britain. I used to work at Horseferry Road and would get this bus everyday. Really good route for tourists and a lot cheaper than one of those city tour buses

[mytmyt]

I also recommend using the buses. On my last visit to London I ended up using the buses far more than the tube and I found that I gained a better intuitive appreciation of the layout of the city (how far between places, where things were relative to each other, noticing details I never saw before). Admittedly, the tube is often the faster option, and if the weather is bad it might be more pleasant being underground, but in the tube all you see is a dark tunnel. On a nice day consider taking the bus.

Great videos as always :) One tip is that when you get on the bus you don’t have to say where you go, you can simply tap-in your contactless payment card and take the seat for as long as you want. London buses have a single fare across the entire city, so you could take a bus from the edges of London to the centre for the same price as for a journey from one bus stop to the next. This is in response to your comment at timestamp 4:35.

[josephsnearline]

I wholeheartedly agree about the Houses of Parliament tour. It’s one of the best things I’ve done on any of my trips to London. If you can get in to see a debate in the Commons, those can be fun to watch too.

[quicksilver]

Last november, my wife and I we visiting St Paul's cathedral for the morning eucharist, then we heading to the tower of London for a tour there. We thought about getting a taxi or uber, but I really wanted to take an icon double-decker bus, ( we're both from Australia, btw), but most are the modern kind and look like a tourist coach. Just as we were figuring out what to do, a 1960's bus turned up complete with a Cockney conducter wearing a peaked cap. It made my day 😊

[santajohn]

Speaking as a native born Londoner, I can confirm that your channel is the most accurate tourist tour guide channel. Millions of tourists especially Americans spend hundreds and hundreds of unnecessary dollars/pounds when in London or the UK. By following the wrong YouTubers. Your comment about not buying a "one day travel card" in another video is spot on. You should only buy this ticket/option if you know for certain you will be doing extensive travelling across all four zones, and constantly jumping on and of buses trains and the "Tube". That is making dozens of separate trips in one 24 hour period. The contactless payment on your credit card if it is "contactless" is the best option for a single trip or one or two maybe three single trips in one day. Also the Oyster card is not always the best option. Even though it is widely advertised. For single trips, tap you credit card onto the machine and tap out at the end, you will be charged a much cheaper fare for the single trip. Especially after 9.00am and weekends. Some ticket options are not cheap in the evening if you are travelling out between about 5.00pm and 7.00pm this is because that is the commuters going home rush hour. Although in the centre for the past Forty years Rush Hour has been almost for 24 hours each day.
Keep up the good work.

[veronicaoliveiro]

Visiting London, or England as a matter of fact for the first time next week! excited and will be watching more of your videos to shape up our itinerary !

[izabela]

I'm happy I've just discovered your channel. I was in London last year in July and I absolutely loved the city. The architecture (narrow streets, terraced houses, bay windows), unique shops' decorations, flowers, squares, buses, ferries and food. And I met friendly and helpful people. I hope to come back one day.

[Pablo]

I’m so glad to see London clean and ready to receive tourists around the world 🌎

[Rik]

I think my most memorable night in the "only do this in London" category; started in a busy Swedish pub watching sweden choose their eurovision song on live swedish TV, then a short bus journey to a Tiki bar at Hilton Park Lane for cocktails (we saw the bar as the bus passed so we got off), then back on the same bus route, another 15min to a late cabaret pub/club in an old rough pub with performances including nude acrobatic poetry reading!

[lisamaher]

Jess you are literally the bomb diggity with all these recommendations! So appreciated!

[davemorris]

Bus 24 also shows some great London. Starts down at Pimlico and ends at Hampstead Heath after going through central London and also Camden Lock as well.

[ssihhhq]

I visited London in 1981.when I was in grade 2.beautiful is London as you are .keep it up

[Stefita]

I’m going to London for the first time in early May, and I’ve been binge-watching videos on your
channel! Thank you for your informative videos on London! 🫶🏻

[davidcarey]

We LOVE Central London! My wife lived in Marylebone and I lived in Barking. We met in Belgravia 36 years ago. We're planning to move back right now. Thank you so much for putting this on. You have don well!

[freebird]

I’ve been to London at least 5 times and I’ll be there in January, just to let some of your viewers know that are probably on a budget, you don’t have to eat in places that over 10 bucks, you can even go to the store and buy food there as well, yougurt fruit nuts even stuff to make sandwiches, it can be done, you don’t have to change your eating habits

[mariaalmayu]

Thank you so much Jess for your very informative blogs about London. You are amazing. keep up the good work. I am so excited now to visit London. Cant wait, it gives me more confidence to explore the City of London because of your straight forward tips. You are a blessing indeed Jess.

[sergiovillafane]

Im actually in London this weekend for the NFL game. This definitely helps me fill out my weekend. I’m also using your itinerary for guidance. Hopefully I’ll see you filming this weekend 😊

[milliejay]

Go to all the food markets you can find. My favourites include Spitalfields, Mayfair, Vauxhall and seven dials

[kevinjones]

211 from Hammersmith to Waterloo through the King's Road, Sloane Square and Westminster is a really interesting ride.