16 Things Londoners Want Tourists To Know

    Trafalgar Square is, like, the WORST PART.

    Chelsey Pippin
    by Chelsey Pippin

    BuzzFeed Staff, UK

    Chelsey Pippin / BuzzFeed / Via Flickr: martinrobson

    We recently asked the Londoners of the BuzzFeed Community what advice they'd give to tourists. Here's what they said:

    1. You can get the Shard view for less.

    2. Regular double deckers can be just as good as bus tours.

    giphy.com

    Sack off the London tour buses. Instead get the 159 bus from Lambeth North station. It goes past the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey and up Horse Guards Parade to Oxford Circus. Then get the 10 towards Hammersmith from Oxford Circus which goes up Oxford Street past Selfridges, then Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge and specifically Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Rides are under £2 with a card or Oyster. Download information to read as you go past and you've got yourself a tour for a fraction of the cost.

    —moheyersweater

    3. Not all fish and chips are made equal.

    4. Skip the London Eye and go to the top of One New Change instead.

    5. And check out all the great views beyond central London.

    Flickr: davidedamico

    Check out the views from Alexandra Palace before or after an event or gig there. It's a fantastic venue and it offers one of the most stunning views of the London skyline.

    —Alexandra Louise Dalwood, Facebook

    6. Try your local pub.

    Facebook: TheShipWandsworth
    Facebook: TheShipWandsworth

    Avoid the restaurants right near touristy things. They are generally overpriced and you can get much better food at the tiny pub around the corner from your hotel.


    —purpleambivert

    7. Think before you take a rickshaw.

    8. Walk as much as you can.

    Flickr: 14903992@N08

    Skip the tube and walk, most places are closer than you realize and it can actually be faster. Plus, London on a nice day makes for an amazingly beautiful and scenic place so you'll probably see a few things you would have never come across otherwise!

    —jamiew4ba6e309c

    9. Check out hidden gems like Maltby Street Market.

    10. Or St Christopher's Place.

    11. Replace Westminster Abbey with a trip to St Bartholomew's.

    12. Check out a city farm.

    Facebook: vauxhallcityfarm
    Sophie Dent / Facebook: vauxhallcityfarm

    If you don't fancy paying out for London Zoo, go to Vauxhall or Hackney City Farm.


    —moheyersweater

    13. There's good theatre beyond the West End.

    Facebook: bushtheatre

    Visit some theaters not in Leicester Square. Just like any other big city, you can see a great show for cheaper at a less well-known venue, like the incredible Bush Theatre.

    —chloemckenziem

    14. Don't miss the Sky Garden.

    15. Greenwich may be out of your way, but it's worth it.

    16. Respect the locals.

    keepcalm-o-matic.com

    Don't stop in the middle of the pavement to take a photo, or worse – a selfie. Stand on the right. Observe correct queueing etiquette, always. Be aware of the people around you. Enjoy the city – but remember that not everyone is here on holiday. Some of us have to get to work.

    —Alice Chadfield, Facebook

    These submissions have been edited for length and clarity.