Here Is Everything You'll Ever Need To Know About Planning A Trip To London

Prepare to supercharge your trip.

Planning a trip to London can be a huge task – there are the main tourist spots to hit, but also cute neighbourhoods, incredible parks, and some insane restaurants. Not to mention a whole transport system to try to master.

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Luckily for you, I've put all my London-based knowledge down into one post to help you plan.

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This is me, not in London (lol).

I've lived here just over five years and been visiting all of my life. For this post, I've also enlisted the help of true Londoners, because my mere five years aren't enough to fully know the city.

While you may find yourself focusing on your itinerary, you'll need to first think about where you're staying, and how you're going to get around, as this can be the most expensive part of your trip. Here are some potential things to consider:

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Pro tip: Before you arrive in London, download the Citymapper app. It will make navigating the city a lot easier by helping you to figure out the quickest route to your destination – whether it's walking, bus, tube or train.

Travel on public transport: There are lots of ways to travel in and around London. An Oyster card gives you access to the buses, tubes, DLR, and you can pay for trains on it as well. You can buy an Oyster card with a £5 deposit from airports, information desks in underground station concourses, corner shops around the city, and visitor centres. You then need to preload the card with money. You can also pay for your travel with contactless and Apple Pay.

There is a price cap for travel around London – for instance, if you're an adult travelling between Zones 1-2, you'll only be charged a maximum of £7 a day, but remember to always use the same Oyster card or contactless card throughout your day otherwise you will be charged twice!

Hiring the bikes docked around the city: More commonly known as "Boris Bikes" thanks to the Prime Minister's involvement in the set-up of the scheme, the red Santander Bikes are dotted around the city and available to hire by all for as little as £2 per 24 hours (with the first 30 minutes of your journey being free). You can pay through the app or with your card at one of the docking stations.

Beware though, if you're not a confident rider they may not be the best option – London's roads are busy and sometimes can be unforgiving, and there aren't cycle lanes on all roads. Plus, a helmet isn't provided when you hire.

Accommodation: Accommodation prices in London can vary wildly – you can stay in hostels like the sohostel near Hyde Park or Wombats City Hostel near Tower Hill or spend as much as you like at any of the luxury hotels in the city, like the Savoy or Claridge's. As well as smalller boutique brands like The Standard and Hoxton Hotels, you can find all the big hitters like Holiday Inn and Hilton too. If you prefer to live like a local, there are also lots of Airbnbs in the city.

The Royal Family is admittedly iconic and there are lots of places in the city to learn more about them. These are some of the best places for a royal occasion:

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Looking for a slice of royalty while you're in London? Then a visit to Buckingham Palace is a must. Just walking by is a pretty spectacular sight, but if you want you to delve deeper, you can take a tour of the State Rooms on selected dates. Booking ahead needed.

The Tower of London is a multi-hyphenate attraction. Not only is it London's castle, it also originally functioned as a prison, a royal palace and a fortress. Now you can take a tour around the grounds, meet the famous ravens of the Tower, and be guided around by one of the traditional Yeoman Warders, as well as visit the spectacular Crown Jewels.

Watch the Household Calvary Regiment in action at Whitehall, where you can see them perform their daily ceremonies like the hourly sentry change. You can also visit The Household Calvary Museum where you can look into the working stables and try on the cavalrymen's traditional uniform.

If you're more interested in Harry and Meghan than Elizabeth and Phillip, then Kensington Palace is also worth a visit. The palace is situated in Hyde Park and functions as both a museum and a home to a select group of royals who live in apartments and houses on the grounds.

Want to shop like the Queen? Head to Fortnum and Mason, which is Big Lizzie's royal grocer. The posh department store - which invented the scotch egg - sells a vast array of teas, men and women's fashion, and their famous hampers. If you're visiting around Christmas time, make sure you try some of their renowned mince pies for a festive treat!

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London is a city best enjoyed on your feet – these walks will take you by some of the city's most iconic buildings and attractions:

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A walk along the Southbank to Westminster is one of the best things that you can do in London – start at London Bridge and get breakfast at Borough Market and a coffee at Monmouth, before then heading down to the riverside. Step into the Tate Modern for a peek at some pieces by Hockney, Picasso, and Lichtenstein, before heading down to the Southbank Centre for another injection of culture, and hopping on the Coca-Cola London Eye. Finish your day by walking across Westminster Bridge and taking a good look at Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Cathedral. Bonus points for anyone who visits the Churchill War Rooms which are a great insight into how and where one of our most famous Prime Ministers' weathered the war.

Getting lost in Hyde Park is almost inevitable if you visit the vast park. While lost, try to navigate yourself to Speaker's Corner where you can hear people vent their feelings, then the aforementioned Kensington Palace, and meander along the Serpentine until you find yourself near the Serpentine Galleries. If you've still got some miles left in you, skip across Park Lane to Mayfair and head south towards Green Park and St. James' Park.

Walking along Regent's Canal from Little Venice to King's Cross is a great Summer's day jaunt. It will take you from the busy Camden Market, to the hyper-modern architecture of Coal Drops Yard where I suggest you stop for a late breakfast at Dishoom where not ordering the bacon and egg naan should be a crime.

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As well as the main tourism spots, you should also branch out and visit some of the varied neighbourhoods around the city. These are some of the ones that deserve some of your time:

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Richmond, in the south-west of the city is a leafy enclave with stunning houses, a great high street, and much more. If you're looking for a genteel walk among some of London's most unusual inhabitants? Head to Richmond Park where you can frolic alongside the deer. Petersham Nurseries on the edge of the park serves food throughout the day – from refined dining to more buffet style offerings.

Hampstead Village is a quaint area of London where some of the city's boujiest residences reside. As well as the village itself, Hampstead is home to the heath, a large park which has swimmable ponds, beautiful walks, and some pretty incredible views of London. Before heading back central, take a detour to Highgate Cemetery where you can see the resting place of Karl Marx.

Shoreditch is one of the city's ~vibiest~ neighbourhoods. A creative centre, the area has a healthy mix of boutique shops like Goodhood, Michelin-starred restaurants like BRAT, and cool and quirky cocktail bars. Head to Brick Lane's Beigal Bake for a cheap but delicious salt beef bagel before going vintage shopping. Redchurch street also has a cool collection of shops and is near the iconic Rochelle Canteen. On Sundays pop over to Columbia Road to fight your way through the crowds at the famous flower market.

Just north of Oxford Street, is Marylebone. Get away from the crowds and take a quick stroll up Marylebone high street where there are boujie shops galore, cute brunch places, and a farmer's market on Sundays.

Some of London's overtly posh residents can be found in Chelsea. A walk along the King's Road will take you by the Saatchi Gallery.

Home to the Cutty Sark, the Meridian Line, and the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich is a great place to visit for a mix of culture, fantastic views, and good photo opportunities.

Fancy yourself an intellectual? You'll fit right in in Bloomsbury, the location of the British Museum, British Library and some of the city's university campuses. The area is also known as the home of the Bloomsbury Set (or Bloomsbury Group), a collection of intellectuals and authors, like Virginia Woolf, Clive Bell, and John Maynard Keynes who lived and worked in the area. You can find a blue plaque dedicated to them at 51 Gordon Square.

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There are lots of museums and galleries in London – from the big and iconic, to the smaller and more niche ones. Here are a list of some that you should consider visiting:

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Prepare to get lost – the British Museum is vast and will take more than one visit to truly see it all. As well as the rotating exhibitions, the permanent collection is pretty damn special. Head to The Rosetta Stone for an insight into hieroglyphs. Admission to the permanent collections is free (a donation is requested), but you will need tickets to some exhibitions.

Similarly, the National History Museum, like many of its exhibition pieces, is a bit of a beast. My favourite bit? Walking underneath Hope, the blue whale skeleton. There is no admission price but there is a suggested £5 donation fee.

The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square has some of the most iconic pieces of art in the world hidden behind its doors. Glide between rooms filled with pieces by Georges Seurat, Vincent van Gogh, and Rembrandt. While some exhibitions are ticketed, admission to the gallery is free.

The Victoria & Albert is the perfect place for people with a flair for fashion or interiors. From rotating retrospectives on iconic designers, to exhibitions that focus on designs and beautiful things from a certain era, this museum will inspire anyone to get creative. Admission is free to the museum, but some exhibitions are ticketed. I would recommend booking ahead if you have an exhibition you really want to see.

The Tate Modern is an imposing building that sits on the banks of the Thames. As well as art from the 1500s, you can experience modern and contemporary art here. Organise to meet your friends inside the Turbine Hall before meandering around the gallery. Admission is free with some ticketed exhibitions.

Opened in 1897, the Tate Britain has a huge collection of British art. The gallery is the home to the largest collection of Joseph Mallord William Turner's works. Again, admission is free with some ticketed special exhibitions.

The Hayward Gallery at the Southbank Centre is a cool space which runs special exhibitions which are usually pretty interactive. Entrance to exhibitions is charged and I would recommend booking beforehand to guarantee entry.

Modern history buff? The Imperial War Museum will teach you everything you need or want to know about the First World War onwards. Plus, admission is free!

The Wellcome Collection opposite Euston station is a gallery dedicated to challenging how we think and feel about the connection between science, medicine, life and art. The Wellcome Collection is free.

Special shoutout to The Mail Rail at the Postal Museum which I've had on my to-do list for years and still haven't done! You can save £1 by buying your tickets online which vary from £9 for children and £16 for adults.

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If you travel for food, London has some world-class food markets where you can try some of the city's best dishes all in one place.

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Borough Market - London's oldest food market is possibly also its best. Make a loop around picking up as many things as you can. Don't forget to try a sausage roll from legendary Ginger Pig.

Maltby Street Market - Within walking distance from Borough Market, Maltby Street is a pretty casual affair where you can grab food from any of the street food stalls on the street, and then take it into the many gin distilleries and breweries that call the area home. It is also the starting point of Bermondsey Beer Mile.

Broadway Market - Meander through the street market and the permanent stores on Saturdays. A more compact market, you can find everything from great food from an array of rotating pop-ups, to chic ceramics and candles.

Dinerama - This Shoreditch-based market is the perfect mix of drinking hole, foodie centre, and party location. The buns from Yum Bun are a highlight.

Arcade at Centre Point - This market has outposts for some of the city's most promising restaurants, like the Lina Stores and modern Turkish-Cypriot Oklava. For an Insta-famous sandwich, order the Katsu Sando from TŌU.

Honourable mentions also go to: Market Hall Victoria, Seven Dials Market and Hawker House.

As well as visiting some of the museums and galleries above, there are so many great things to do and see with kids in London. Here is just a few suggestions of what to do with your little ones:

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Body Works - Give your kids a biology lesson at Dr Gunther von Hagens’ renowned exhibition based near Piccadilly Circus.

Science Museum - This dynamic museum has a rolling roster of exhibitions which focus on scientific, medical and technological advancement. The Museum also has its own 3D IMAX cinema!

Harry Potter Studio Tour - Delve into the wizarding world of Harry Potter at the studio tour in Watford, where you can see props from the film, costumes, and step into some of the sets, including the Great Hall and Gringott's Bank.

Musicals - London's theatres have world-class productions of a whole host of musicals. One of the longest running is The Lion King which is a visual feast for kid's who already love Disney and may be familiar with the story.

Ragged School Museum - Take a trip back to the Victorian era at this museum which has a reconstructed classroom from the time.

KidZania - dubbed as an "indoor city run by kids", drop your child off for a 4-hour experience where they will play act as a doctor, police officer, dentist, fireman, and more.

You have your oyster card and you have your itinerary sorted, now here are some tips to to help you get to all of these places:

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It isn't always possible when you've got stuff to do, but try to avoid the tube at peak travel times – e.g. when people are travelling to work, and then when people are travelling home from work. Especially if you have a huge suitcase with you. Trust me, that will not be fun for anyone involved!

Firstly, get your Oyster or contactless card ready before you get to the barriers. If you don't, you may end up with a grumpy Londoner huffing and puffing behind you.

If your ticket doesn't seem to be working, stand to the side and let someone else try. Sometimes the barrier just needs to be reset, but if not, find a TfL employee (they wear blue and red uniforms) and ask them for assistance.

Possibly the most important piece of advice I can give you for the tube is to stand on the right hand side of the escalator. I recently did a Community post about the worst mistakes a tourist can make in London and this was by far the most submitted answer.

Let people off the tube before you get on....

And if you can't get a seat, hold onto a pole. Trust me, no one wants to fall on the tube and being used as someone else's leaning post is not the best way to spend a tube journey. Same for the bus TBH.

There are designated seats on each tube carriage for the elderly, disabled, pregnant, and others who may need them more than you. If you're sat in one, keep your eyes up so you can easily spot when to give it up!

If you're pregnant, you can pick up a "Baby on Board" badge from tube offices to alert other passengers that you may need a seat.

If you or one of your party is feeling a bit under the weather, wait until you arrive at the next station before pulling the emergency stop lever.

Now go forth, bookmark this page, and enjoy your trip to London!

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Jay Fleckenstein / BuzzFeed