Visiting London from Plymouth for the First Time: What Do You Need to Know?

London is one of the most exciting cities in the world, and it makes a great day trip or weekend break from Plymouth. If you plan on driving, it’s approximately 4.5 hours to get from Plymouth to the heart of the city, while the train is approximately 3.5 hours, dependant on whether you choose to go direct or make a change. If you have never been before, you may be overwhelmed at the idea of venturing into the capital city, and you may, therefore, be in need some tips and tricks on how to make your trip enjoyable and stress-free. This guide should give you a good idea of how to make the best of your trip with the correct planning.

Stay in central London

One of the first questions you may be asking yourself is where you should stay in London. If you’re looking to sight-see and be at the centre of the action, then it would be wise to stay directly in the centre. Although you may be paying a little more for your accommodation, it’s certainly far more convenient than having to commute from outer zones. The reason for this is that you’ll be spending a lot of extra money on unnecessary transport as well as taking valuable time out of your mini break. Some of the best neighbourhoods to stay in include Westminster, South Bank, Soho and the region around Hyde Park. If you’d prefer to get away from the hustle and bustle, the Native Hyde Park apartments are situated in a Grade II listed building overlooking green spaces in a tucked away location, while still being extremely close to the heart of the action.

Avoid tourism seasons

If you have never been to London and have several attractions and activities you wish to tick off your list, it wouldn’t be the best idea to visit in the peak of the school holidays or a bank holiday. This is due to the fact that London is overcrowded with both workers and tourists at the best of times, but the months of July and August, in particular, will mean you’ll be facing larger crowds and queues at some of London’s most popular attractions. If you plan on going around Christmas time, be sure to also avoid some of the city’s most famous shopping streets if you don’t wish to get caught up in the rush, including the world-famous Oxford Street.

Spend enough time there

You may be hoping to do far more activities than you can realistically fit into a short space of time in London. As the city is so big, it’s not realistic to believe that you’ll see and do everything on your very first visit. Therefore, you will need to pick and choose what you do wisely so that you don’t leave disappointed. To see the famous landmarks with a few activities thrown in, it would be highly recommended to spend at least three or four days there so you aren’t rushing around too much. Also, be sure to leave some time for unexpected stops during your adventuring. 

Book as much as you can in advance

It wouldn’t be wise to visit London without having booked up almost everything in advance. This would include your train tickets from Plymouth so you can get cheaper deals or even your car parking space if you plan on driving into central London. Be sure to book your accommodation beforehand too. This will ensure you get much better choice, more reasonable prices and, of course, less time-wasting and stress once you arrive.