BIGGEST MISTAKES Americans make when visiting London 🚫
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- čas přidán 10. 01. 2024
- In this video Jess is taking her fellow Americans under her wing and letting you all know about the mistakes SHE made when first visiting London and crucially... how you can avoid them completely. If you're from the USA and you're visiting London for the first time, this is your go-to London guide you shouldn't miss before you hop on the plane to the UK.
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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, myself and my team show you some of the cooler things to do in London, that most travel guides don't mention. Watch our videos and you'll feel like you've got a Londoner friend telling you the best kept secrets in the city.
Hi folks. Please do not plug US 110 volt only electrical equipment into our power sockets unless using something called a voltage converter, not just the ubiquitous 'adapter'. Our voltage is 230 volts. Your gadget will probably be destroyed. Even with a voltage converter be careful, our frequency is also different from yours, it is 50 cycles per second. It may not matter but then again it might. Many electronic devices and associated power supplies bricks are now dual voltage but do make sure to check yours first. Enjoy your visit, we are delighted to have you come over and visit.
Betty Grable!
I didn’t think London black cabs were expensive unless where I went was close enough. I had great chats with those cab drivers . I’ll be back in 2024
A lot depends if your stuck in heavy traffic it can get pricey then
@@terrym3837 it would be okay if I got stuck in traffic. It’s part of being a tourist
"Just wiggle it until something happens." Sound advice for a variety of situations. The rest of the advice was also sound.
As usual, as a Londoner most of my life I have to say that “Love & London” is completely accurate with her information. Ok there are variations with some subjects but it’s impossible to cover every situation. I’m still amused that some Americans still think the food here is not good. That situation changed 20+ years ago and has only got better and better. In fact I would guess that the variety of World cuisines (of high quality) is probably the greatest in the World. Yes there are plenty of junk food places but you can easily avoid those. Remember there’s so much more to this city than the obvious tourist hot spots.
I'd definitely agree that London is one of the best food cities in the world. Blows the likes of NYC out of the water IMO.
One of the things I say (I'm British born but have lived in Canada most of my life but British food is still my comfort food because mum made it) is that people tend to give British cuisine a bad rap. They just don't understand how warm and wholesome it is. So many peoples' answer to "is British food bad" is basically "not if you don't eat it." Yes there's excellent Indian, Sri Lankan, Italian etc but they need to try pub lunches and the like. Have a Gregg's and Lilt for your lunch, have a full English breakfast and not be hungry again 'til 7pm LOL.
You are certainly correct about the Full English.
I seriously wouldn't recommend eating it if you arrive early in the morning your first day.
You will be dragging all day long especially if it happens to be hot outside.
Have it the last morning and you'll sleep really well on the flight back home.
Some context needed. If you're from southeast Asia and your every meal's served so spicy it burns your mouth then, yes, British food will taste bland because it's relatively un-seasoned. I'd recommend taking a bottle of tabasco sauce, or similar, with you if your palette can't adjust. If you're from the US and everything is pumped full of extra salt / sugar / butter / mystery additives that make cereals glow phosphorescently then, yes British, food may appear bland.
If you go to good spots itll still be good 😎
I don't know, ordering cider for kids is one way of sending them to sleep and having peace... ;)
Public transport in London (especially the Tube!) is sooooo easy! We found it even easier with the City Mapper app, told us exactly when the tube trains would be arriving, and even which end of the train to be on to make for easier transfers!
Also, London’s black taxis are expensive but very clean and quite luxurious unlike NYC cabs 😂
These are great videos. In Sep 2023 I went to London for two weeks with my sister, then up to Edinburgh for 9 days. It was one of my best trips ever. Great weather. I am going back in Sep 2024. I hit all the top spots from the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abby, Kew Gardens and other botanical gardens. If the weather was nice we were out of doors. Loved walking along the Thames for miles too. Loved the food . Stayed in a VRBO at Globe View Apartments, across the river from the Globe Theater (got a tour of that), which means I had daily access to Borough Market. Ate many a meal out of there! Loved the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert one and the London Transport Museum. Mastered riding both the tube and the National Rail - so easy! Loved the pubs. Now that I have the lay of the land, bring my husband in Sep to enjoy all the landmarks that I enjoyed last year! Can't wait to get back to London!
Glad to hear you had a great time ! Did you use our London Itinerary? If not do have a look, it will help make taking your husband around more efficient and relaxed! shop.loveandlondon.com/collections/itineraries
Will check this out thank you!@@loveandlondon
Dishoom is great, but also on trend. London has hundreds of great Indian (=Bengali/Indian/Pakistani) restaurants. Try Brick Lane. My favourite is the Punjab in Neal Street (Soho).
Brick Lane can be hit or miss! But yes Dishoom is of course a modern take on Indian.
Yes, it's hard to find a London video without Dishoom being recommended. We have so many traditional tasty 'Indian' restaurants.
I was at a London Starbucks and order a Carmel Apple Cider. Was told they don’t server alcohol. A minute later I realized the difference and I left.
Just want to add that it is actually the law for all places that serve alcohol to serve tap water too (free of charge), but it is also very common for coffee shops to serve water too.
This is true, although they are allowed to make a "reasonable charge" to cover things like the use of a glass and washing it up. In practice, most don't (at least IME) and they should certainly fill a water bottle or similar on request free of charge.
As a Londoner let me say.. I admire your bravery with asking them to remove that service charge 😂 I’d be way too scared 😂
Most service is awful 😂
We Americans are very bold and entitled. We'll not only refuse to pay the service fee, we'll demand to talk to the manager!
@@joycemcclure8436 agreed. I’ve witnessed it often 😂
Bahahahahahaa! Wonderful. I'll be there in September! Very excited and nervous.
My british boyfriend flat out refuses to pay any service charges at restaurants. He's from the English countryside, so I think he might have a different mentality than Londoners do.
I also live in the US, but London is my home away from home and I visit every couple years. Spot on advice! I will say, though, it has been my experience that Londoners are super friendly and chatty (barring on the Tube, as she said!) I've made friends with strangers each time I've gone to London! I have seen many Americans talking loudly on the Tube complaining about Londoners or London....in front of tons of Londoners. Just don't be that person. ☺️ Also, my other tidbits of advice for someone visiting London for the first time is: avoid the London Eye. Absolutely see the Tower of London, even if you are not super into history. Don't freak out about the rain. Most of the times I've traveled to London, I end up having one half-day or one full day of rain on my trip. Just be prepared, but don't let it worry you! ABSOLUTELY TRY ALL THE DIFFERENT FOODS! YES, do pub foods, but also try the other kinds of foods!!!! Try to explore other areas such as Chiswick, Greenwhich, etc...London is so much more than just the center of the city. 😊
What about Airbnb in London?
The public transit system in London has to be one of the best in the world. Inexpensive, easy to use, and it covers the entire city (and beyond). We also had no problem finding transit workers in the Tube stations to ask for directions when we needed them.
So very true. I always use the Tube when I am in London.
The underground (tube) is fairly expensive compared to European cities, however the network is very extensive and improving all the time.. London couldn’t survive without the underground. Buses are less expensive and a great way to see the city.
Biggest cultural shock was the tiny water glasses. . . I need the whole pitcher.
😂😂
If londoners think Americans are loud, I can only imagine what’s their opinion about us Brazilians 😅🇧🇷 Love your nail polish color, Jess 😊
😂😂😂 thanks for watching!
Well done, Jess. I like that cool background music.
This Californian will be in London in two months! I've had my share of time in London (to a point where London does feel like home at times) but it's always good to have reminders. Thanks as always Jess!
Thanks for watching!
Oddly enough on our last trip to London last year people were coming up to us and initiating small talk, even on the Tube (my wife saw a person sitting with a dog and the person next to her started talking with her about it). Even police officers would engage with us.
I saw lots of people talking on the tube as well, especially those from other cultures and countries. I did find the native born Londoners to be a bit aloof, though. But when I left London, and went to the smaller towns, I met much more outgoing and friendly Brits. Almost felt like I was back home in Kentucky lol
Thank you! I subscribed!!!
Solid advice as always (and I have 23 years London living experience)
Thanks for the tips! My girlfriends and I are planning a girls trip this sept and are so excited!!!!
As someone who lives outside London - the point about not driving into London it totally correct, I will take a train into London and then use public transport we in London, no point in getting stuck in traffic and trying to park.
As an HGV driver I can only say this DONT DRIVE IN LONDON it can be hellish and you won’t want waste time sitting in traffic or trying to find a parking place the tube and walking are the best ways to get around
If your backpacking, you should definitely watch the video. All the tips are extremely helpful.
Ok thanks Jess I'll remember that
Great video, as usual.
Thanks for watching ❤️
Jess forever!
Great video always 👌 😊
We're glad you enjoyed it ❤️❤️❤️
@loveandlondon thanks jess for your kind reply a big fan of yours always a great kind american lady with a heart of gold a beautifull lady who give safe great advice how to be safe in London always 😊
Nice Jess. Did I see a few shots from the Wallace Collection? One of my favorites!
You did and it’s one of London’s best kept secrets. 😁
You did, we filmed their afternoon tea a few months ago.
Can't wait to visit London, native there, but left as a tyke. Can't travel right now, so these videos are a godsend. Thanks.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
From Idaho and ciders are huge here. Never heard of a kid drinking a cider 😂
Switches - all lights, plugs, etc installed properly should always have the top in when switched off (doesn't collect dust on the top of the switch !). And pushed in at the bottom to be switched on (unless it has been wired wrong by the electrician)
I really like the Tube. It makes it so easy to get about. I go to London once a year and always have a fun time. And speaking of Pubs, I really enjoyed The Anchor
❤️❤️
Which Anchor? There's quite a few.
If it serves good beer then it’s alright by me I always liked the Black Frier boozer
@@terrym3837 I will go to the Black Frier when I return in a few months, :) Nothing like a good boozer
I got the opportunity to go to London twice last year. On the November trip, we tried Dishoom in Shoreditch. Soooo good. I’ve fallen in love with all things London, and will be back twice more, this year
❤️❤️ thanks for watching !
I loved London except the casino experience I never had
@loveandlondon can you make a video about shoreditch’s ball pit bar?
Hm it's not really our vibe :)
Looking forward to my 3 to 4 day trip to London in 2 months. Also looking forward to Full English breakfast and pub food. I need to now find a Paris youtube channel as good as yours.
We're launching Love and Paris on CZcams later this year!
@@loveandlondon this is so exciting!! i can’t wait for the paris channel!
This French/ American couple have a French
channel is very good for food/shopping/sightseeing in Paris @LesFrenchiesTravel
Yes, in Europe tips are included in the cost of the meal. Would never think of striking up a conversation with a stranger. The only time I would speak loudly is to be heard over a noise. Trying to drive less not more. Don't like a lot of ice to begin with. Do they have pizza places in England?
Yep, everywhere, they are like fleas on a dog, :) independent and chains like Pizza express etc, sit in and take-a-way, just google pizza and your location. :) be aware they are very different from the ones you get in Italy. All the ones we have here are very topping heavy, unlike the ones I had in the Naples area in Italy. (maybe in Italian restaurants are different). :)
@@RobG001 Don't know how they do pizza in Italy as the only time I was near Italy was a flyover.
I eventually learned about the small talk, I would be on the tube or something and I'd say something like "Rush hour's pretty bad tonight" and maybe somebody would give me a fleeting glance, otherwise I'd be ignored
😂😂sounds about right
Thank you for another informative video. Planning a trip to London for 2025, which will be the first time back since 1992. I expect there have been just "a few" changes! Looking forward to obtaining your 2024 & 2025 guides.
Lovely! Thanks for watching ❤️❤️
Hi, I love your style. Will you please share where your red crossbody bag is from?
Jess said it's a secondhand find from Rebecca Minkoff
What I learn about London during this New Years Eve trip, London restaurants and shops close early and you need to have reservations if you are going to eat around the West End Theater District. After I got out of watching the Book of Mormon, I Google restaurants in the area, most were already closed and the others were closing with in 1 hour. I was surprise by this. Evening shows start promptly at 730pm, you will have to have an early dinner if you want to eat before the show.
As it was my 1st time in London, I prefer the taxis over the tube. The tube is cheaper but I was able to see the city while being driven around to my destinations.
Retail and hospitality workers deserve to enjoy New Years Eve too. I'm sorry this inconvenienced you 🤣
Recommend using the buses if you like to see the city. They're even cheaper than the tube and, if you sit on the upper deck, offer a better view than taxis.
Small talk tip. Talk about cricket especially when the Ashes series is on.
On the plugs, because the UK mains runs on 240 voltage, US appliances might need a step down transformer to turn that 240 into the (110?) Volts that won't fry their American devices. (I needed to do this for my Japanese imported Sega Saturn back in the late 90s. Also needed to change the battery on my Chinese imported digital radio, but that may have been because I got it off ebay where it could have been a factory reject. Whether electronics nowadays convert automatically I'm not sure, but it's definitely worth a Google.)
Most things you'd bring like phone chargers are dual voltage now and we usually say to skip bringing anything that would need a converter.
Today it's 230 V in the UK.
Hi! I’m going to London for the first time for a solo trip soon. I live in Boston so I am used to walking a bit and taking the T ( our equivalent of the tube). I am going to stay in Kensington as the hotel prices were significantly lower than closer to the main attractions . However, a lot of the museums, food recommendations I have seen seem like a very long walk on google maps ( minimum 30 min sometimes 45 min or more). I’m not averse to doing some long walking, but am worried about burning myself out by overdoing the walking. The tube estimates though seem to be the equivalent of the walking time though so do you feel like that is accurate? I’m still doing research, but so far I know I’m going to end up going to a show in the west end and some of the main attractions like the parliament building etc. Do you have a feeling about whether or not walking, the tube, or the bus is better from Kensington? Have you heard if afternoon tea at town house at the Kensington is good?
Unfortunately, I do tend to fall into the loud American category, and I definitely am trying to work on that. In my defense, I do have a 20% hearing loss in one ear...
The next time I'm in London, I'm definitely going to try and take advantage of more of the local cuisine like bangers and mash and fish and chips. Regrettably I didn't get around to those last trip, although I did fall in love with the Cornish pasty...
Try some international cuisine as well! ❤️❤️ Thanks for watching
Hi Jess!! I lived in London for a summer, and you nailed it! Great advice! On a tangent, where are you from in the US? I could be wrong, but I keep hearing a Delco/Philly accent 😉. Cheers 🍻
Thanks for watching! Jess is from New York.
Great video, one thing you should mention is that everything closes at midnight. I was just there this past fall and was shocked that every bar, restaurant and club closes at midnight every night. Amazing for a city like London.
Hmmm.... That's not true, especially clubs and bars!
Really, that was my observation. I stayed below Camden heading toward the downtown. Everything closed at midnight were I was. @@loveandlondon
@@BuffaloBBQMan Central London (and especially the City) is a lot more likely to close early, as people have to get home.
Think you should try jrc1 day its a global buffet you have to book it advance though they do some amazing food around the world only pay for the entry per hour I think everything is free once you get in and you can free refills aswell I went 1 in Purley way/valley park twice it was amazing
Hi: Love your videos. I live in the US. In 2025 I am taking my oldest granddaughter on a graduation trip to the UK. She is a picky eater. Have you ever done a video on what restaurants to visit in London to visit with a teenager who doesn't like a lot of food? She likes fish and chips, pasta, and pizza. Thank you.
Thanks so much ❤️ and no, sorry!
I'm a New Yorker and I have to say Im not a big fan of small talk now dont get me wrong I don't mind some small talk but most of the if I can I will try and aviod it
One mistake I don't know if you mentioned before is the fact you can't use contactless payment on Gatwick Express. It will take it at the gate, but when you arrive at your location, they check to see if you have a paper ticket. If you don't, you get stuck with a huge fine.
Don't take Gatwick express anyways it's a ripoff!
@@loveandlondon I agree 💯, I just thought I'd put this information out there since I saw lots of tourists and even Londoners who had no idea about the ticket requirement for Gatwick Express.
Best place to eat or drink in Soho?
There are lots of great ones! We have our best local reccs in our Casual Tourist Guide to Central London: shop.loveandlondon.com/collections/casual-tourist-guides-to-london
hi there, I have a short 8 hour layover in London, I want to get a glimpse of the city. is it doable in this short time without the risk of missing the flight. I will be landing at 10:15 am and my onward flight is at 6:30 pm. Thanks
Mehhhhhh it's tight.
What does the x mean
Pronouncing Holborn, Greenwich, Marylebone and others wrong!
Fun video. Our ability to talk too loud as Americans travels the world! The food culture in the UK shouldn’t be underestimated. There’s a bit of everything and most of it’s good to great. Unfortunately it feels like pub food has become burgers and chips. It’s a bit of a cliche but Asian food and especially Indian food is amazing. Including Michelin Starred Indian restaurants! It’s been six months. Need to go back…
❤️❤️❤️thanks for watching!
If going to Cotswold from London, where is the best place to rent a car? In Oxford or London?
Take the bus. Easy.
You can also get a car at Heathrow.
Train 😎
If your travelling to the Cotswolds and visiting a few villages I would get the Oxford Tube bus from London to Oxford and hire a car there, as the Cotswolds aren’t far and it will be less driving enjoy the Cotswolds
Who gets the 12.5% service charge? Is it the person that brought the food to the table or do they share this charge at restaurants/pubs?
It's shared with front of house and back of house staff!
Just shows the disparity between London and the rest of the UK where there is no tip culture whatsoever
I thought there was going to be information on why you should not rent an Airbnb in London. I don’t see that anywhere and also how do I know they are not just saying that because they get paid from the hotels or they have a deal with the hotels
Lol the hotels won't even give us a free night! Here you go: loveandlondon.com/why-i-dont-recommend-an-airbnb-for-your-london-trip/
@@loveandlondon are there hotels with kitchen
The central London casinos did not let me in. I was dressed perfectly fine. I had no one with me. One casino said I seemed drunk. I was sober completely as I could not get in anywhere. I have no idea why they thought I was drunk at all. I was nice n polite . It made no sense. No one with me. I tried to go in with a couple n they still said no bc I didn’t have my bf w me. Shoreditch bars were good n gave me no issues
They did you a favour, honestly lol!
You forgot to explain what a 'tap' is Jess!
For beer? That's pretty well known for Americans.
"That's what she said."
Have you been to the London Zoo, is it worth going?
We don't recommend anything with animals in captivity.
Yes, it's good.
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Your voice is one them...
Good one !
😂 You are a Ex New Yorker that’s Lives London
Yup! Jess has lived in London for over ten years and this business is run by a collective of Londoners!
Rule #1: Don't fly British Airways. They are the worst! And I say that as a Brit.
Northerners are generally more friendly ! (fact !!)
Superficially
Just wiggle it until something happens
😎😎😎😎