First Time in London – Travel Guide: Must-visit Spots, Tips & Fall Outfits

Mid-November of 2023, I went to visit London for the very first time!

Truly, it felt like a dream because London was one of those places that I read in books, saw in movies, and grew up dreaming about going.

This time was also my first time being in Europe, so I felt like a kid in a candy store the entire time.

November Christmas shopping spirit was high, so I felt like it added a lot to the festive vibe that London had always known for minus the crazy December crowd. Highly recommend going in November if you missed fall travels!

FIRST TIME TRAVELING TO LONDON?

If you’re wondering how many days you should be in London, then I’d recommend a trip of at least 3 full days, 4 – 5 days like how I did it, or up to a week. It depends on how you like to travel and what you like to see, really!

Since the public transportation in London is so fast and efficient, you, of course, shouldn’t be too worried about getting around the city nor renting a car. For my next London trip, I’d love to rent a car and drive to the coast exploring other parts but London.

This time, I spent a little over 4 days, arriving Saturday morning November, 11th and leaving around 6 pm on Wednesday the 15th, 2023, and thought it was perfect for the first trip for us. *Note that we’re the hyper-go-go-go travelers, so we move around a lot. Definitely don’t feel the pressure to do everything I have to recommend you in this post.

For transportation, we relied mainly on the Tube (subway system is London is quite impressive!), Bolt (like Uber in the States!), and walked the rest of the way! Comfy shoes and cozy layers are highly recommended!

Keep on reading to find out all of my London travel details and tips!

Left: the iconic red phone booths you’d spot everywhere in London;

middle: The Victoria Memorial by the sculptor (Sir) Thomas Brock, located the end of The Mall or in front of the Buckingham Palace;

right: Flag of England

TIPS FOR FIRST TIMERS

I noticed these things when I was there and thought they’re cool to share:

• At crowded places such as the train stations or food markets, I notice people say ‘sorry’ a lot when they bump into someone or wanting to get someone’s attention, instead of saying ‘excuse me’ like us from the US. 

• British, the language, is quite difficult to understand as they use different sets of vocabulary and common espressions that I don’t often hear in the US. They don’t speak fast, just the content that is harder to understand, and all of these are just my experience from having conversations with service workers like waiters at restaurants and sale associates at stores.

• The Underground or the Tube is the fastest and most efficient way to get around the city besides walking. It’s similar to NYC, if it’s within 20 minutes of 2 train stations away, YOU WALK!

• Get a Travel Card if you’re here for a full week otherwise just fo Contactless/tap in and tap out using your phone (Apple pay or Google Pay). In NYC, you only need to tap in.

• At peak hours, usually the hours between 7 – 9 am and 4 – 6:30 pm, the Tube would be packed (it’s exactly like the saying ‘packed like sardines in a can‘!). The tube is literally like a tubular vehicle, and it only fits two rows of chairs and one row of people standing in the middle. Peak hours are especially bad for the Northern Line as many Londoners reside in the North and South residential areas coming in the city for work and leaving the city to go hom, outside London.

• Train etiquettes in London: You must stand on the sides of the door and wait for people to leave the train before entering. You musht yield your seat for the elders, pregnant people, and kids. And lastly, when standing on an escalator, you stand on the right side and allow people to pass on the left.

• Buses and ride-sharing cars (such as Bolt in London vs. Uber & Lyft in the US) are often time held up by road closures, construction delays, and traffic, so you should always be prepared to walk and walk a little bit more. If it’s a 20 minute walk or 2 strain stations away, walk!

• For a true London pub experience, I’d recommend going to those in the back alleys or residential areas as you’d want to be surrounded by locals, not tourists, for the full experience.

• Most museums in London are free, so do take advantage of it when you’re here.

WHEN?

Initially, I was afraid of traveling anytime after October as I know London weather can get super cloudy and rainy the closer we get to winter time. Plus, we don’t get as much daylight aka not as much time outside to play, so we generally try to avoid that.

And I was wrong!

London, at the time that I was there in early to mid-November, was crowded, but not crazy crowded. The touristy areas and especially the train stations at peak hours were busier than NYC would ever be. The pre-holiday shopping was insanely busy, crowded but fun. The holiday store displays are already put up, and some street lights were lit or started to get lit all throughout November. Around Christmas time, the crowd would have gotten much worse. Imagine how crazy the city would get the weeks leading up to Christmas?

London is a big city with a decent amount of green spaces, and there are still fall foliage mid-November. We got fall foliage, sunny days, and even clear blue sky. The rain, as expected, was just light and quickly coming and leaving. There are many shopping areas and museums, so plan that when it rains outside!

I’d love to make it back there for Christmas one of these days, but mid-November weather was a perfect coat weather. I loved it! 

a gift shop on Portobello Road in Notting Hill

WHERE?

We stayed at a hotel near Regent Park in Marylebone, called Regent Hotel Parkside, hotel review and details in my newsletter, and it’s located on a quiet street within walking distance to the commercial area in Marylebone, Mayfair, and Oxford Street (one of the most famous shopping streets in London).

Staying in central London can be pricey (and limited if you want to stay under certain budgets), but it’s your best option if you want to hit all of those London’s iconic spots. Note that you’ll be asked to pick the ZONES, if buying a pre-paid Travel Card at the airport, so know that most of everything touristy is in ZONE 1 and 2.

London is known as the city with many hotels, so I’m sure you’ll find something even a day before your arrival. Try to book a place that is less than 10 minutes walking to the nearest train station. Avoid taxis or a ride-sharing app from and to the airport because that can get EXPENSIVE unless you’re really in a rush. However, I feel like traffic on the road is even worst for London.

Once you’re in the city, the Tubes will get you everywhere faster, but taxi and ride share can come in handy at night.

LONDON’S NEIGHBORHOODS YOU NEED TO KNOW

I personally find knowing a little about each neighborhood in a new city that I’m visiting helps me narrow down the very best things to do in each area. Do you also do the same?

CENTRAL LONDON

• Covent Garden – one of London’s best-known neighbourhoods! 

• Soho – the original Soho (it means the Soho in NYC comes after or its names was inspired by the Soho in London!). Famous streets here include Oxford Street, Regent Street, Leicester Square and Charing Cross Road. Lots of theatre shows, bars, shops and restaurants.

• Westminster – Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament,

• King’s Cross – Victorian Gothic architecture

WEST LONDON

• Mayfair – the place to be ft. world’s most high-end shops, art galleries, restaurants, and world-class hotels

• Marylebone – much more low-key, but quickly catching up!

• Notting Hill – The colorful Victorian houses that have appeared in many films! Portobello Road, famed for its busy market selling antiques and vintage fashion. Lancaster Road, Denbigh Terrace, St. Luke’s Mews

• West Hampstead, Queen’s Park, Kensal Rise and Kensal Green 

• Knightsbridge – red bricks, rich history, and high-end designer stores as well as the legendary department store, Harrods

• Chelsea – the legendary football club or the world’s most famous flower show

• Kensington – Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, trilogy of London’s most prestigious (and interesting) museums: the Victoria & Albert Museum, The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum

EAST LONDON

• Shoreditch – attract a creative, tech, fashion, and hip crowd. Huge art scene with lots of bars and clubs!

• Hackney Central – becoming more known as the hot spot in East London (Moth House, Mare Street) – weekend markets, pubs, great eats

• Bethnal Green, Dalston, Spitalfields and Clerkenwell

THE SOUTH BANK OF RIVER THAMES AKA THE SOUTH BANK

• Borough Market, Wobbly Bridge aka the Millenium Bridge, Tate Modern

• Camberwell, Brixton, Deptford, Southwark, & Wimbledon – I have yet to visit!

NORTH LONDON

• Camden, Canonbury, Tottenham 

Nottinghill

Knightsbridge means ‘bridge of the young men or retainers’ (Old English) – an affluent district/neighborhood in London’s West End.

un-lit Christmas light display on Thayer street in Marylebone

a busy street in Mayfair

FAMOUS & ICONIC LANDMARKS/ATTRACTIONS

• Tower Bridge – bridge

• Buckingham Palace

• Westminster Abbey – Anglican Church

• St. Paul’s Cathedral

• Palace of Westminster

• The Elizabeth Tower – the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster / Big Ben – refers to the clock tower. It was originally applied only to the largest bell of the clock.

• The London Eye or the Millennium Wheel –  a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames 

• Trafalgar Square

• The Tower of London

• The Thames – river

• The Shard

• 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin)

downtown of London

Tower Bridge

London Eye

Big Ben and Houses of Parliament

St. Paul Cathedral & Millennium Bridge

Buckingham Palace

Trafalgar Square

MUSEUMS

• National Gallery

• British Museum

• Churchill War Rooms

• Natural History Museum

• Victoria and Albert Museum

• Science Museum

National Gallery & Trafalgar Square Christmas market

Victoria & Albert Museum

PARKS

• Hyde Park

• The Regent’s Park

• St. James Park

• The Green Park

• Primrose Hill

• Kensington Gardens

• Kew Gardens

Hyde Park

OTHER ENTERTAINMENT

Check out a show in Leicester Square. London’s West End has some of the world’s finest theatre on offer (think Mamma Mia, Wicked and the Lion King).

• Shakespeare’s Globe Theater
• Royal Albert Hall 

HOLIDAY MARKETS

• Covent Garden Christmas markets

• Greenwich Christmas market

• Leicester Square Christmas market

• Trafalgar Square Christmas market

• Spitalfields Christmas markets

• Kingston Christmas Market

• King’s Cross Christmas markets

• Borough Market at Christmas

Covent Garden Christmas markets

Leicester Square Christmas market

SHOPPING

• Regent Street

• Oxford Street

• Saville Row

• Carnaby Street

• Covent Garden

• Redchurch Street

• King’s Road in Chelsea – independent, high-end boutiques and cafes (and one of my favorite places to shop in London)!

• Knightsbridge and Belgravia – high-end shops and department stores

MUST-VISIT STORES/SHOPS: 

• Selfridges 

• John Lewis

• Boots

• Harrods 

• Harvey Nichols

Covent Garden

Knightsbridge

BOOKSTORES/STATIONERY STORES

• Daunt Books, Marylebone

• Present & Correct

• Choosing Keeping

MARKETS

• Borough Market – one of London’s oldest and largest food market, great for lunch

• Portobello Road Market, Notting Hill – specialized antique shops, hand-crafted goods, and vintage clothing

• Camden Market – record stores, clothing and coffee

• Spitafields Market, East London – leather bowties and bespoke jewelry

empty Portobello Road Market early Monday morning

Borough Market 

great spot for lunch with endless food stalls

FOOD

Google and Eater London is a great place to start, not Yelp.

• Best Dinner at BRAT Restaurant – Spanish, wood fire grill. I love the vibe and the creative dishes here! Everything hit!

• We had dinner at DISHOOM in Covent Garden, and I thought it was worth it! It was raining that night, and we were offered umbrellas, warm teas, and snacks while waiting in line outside. Food was modern Idian, and the waiter did a good job recommending us dishes we wanted. Highly recommend getting the naan, Ruby chicken, lambs, and rice. My cocktail was ok!

• Brunch at Cafe Cecilia was the highlight for me as well because I had been following them on Instagram for awhile. Dishes we ordered were a bit too cheesy and heavy for brunch, but I still loved and would rececommend if you want to venture out East London for a day.

• Asian food (in general) is bland and isn’t as good as what we can get in the US. Even the Din Tai Fung (we had it for lunch at the location inside Selfridge’s) was not the same.

last brunch at CAFE CECILIA

dinner at Dishoom in Covent Garden

We had lamb, a sweet potato appetizer, naan, Ruby chicken and rice. My cocktail was ok! Lovely service and modern interior!

my favorite dinner at BRAT in Shoreditch

late Sunday lunch at The Wellington in Covent Garden

Steak pie and a Sunday Roast 

first dinner in London – fish and chips at Poppie’s in Soho

We had fish and chips and got to try the mushy peas (as recommended by the waiter!). Service was lovely, but food, I’d give them a 7/10. 

dinner at Koya Soho

My udon broth is bland, and they used raw beef like pho? Chicken karaage was good! It’s still a cute spot worth checking out if you’re in Soho and want Japanese!

COFFEE & BAKERIES

I’m happy to share that all of the coffee and baked goods I had in London were all amazing, except the ones I got served on the place by British Airways. Again, my typical coffee order is an espresso drink with some milk such as cappuccino. In London, you see a lot of flat white, and it essentially is the same. They don’t do cortado, so if you want something even less milk, try a macchiato.

Here are a few I’ve tried and a few more on my list.

• GAIL’s Bakery, Notting Hill – chain bakery

• Omotesando Koffee, Fitzrovia – from Japan

• Kiss the Hippo Coffee – the red hippo logo and shop interior remind me of Blue Bottle in the US

• WatchHouse, Marylebone 

• Notes Coffee Roasters & Bar, Trafalgar Square

• Arôme Bakery, Covent Garden 

Left: interior of Kiss the Hippo coffee shop;

middle: matcha latte, coffee and a Kashi at Omotesando Koffee;

right: Arôme Bakery – Duke Street in Marylebone

left: walk-in tea and cakes at Sketch – London; right: afternoon tea room at Sketch (it’s no longer the iconic pink room, but rose-gold now! Reservation is required!)

OUTFITS I WORE IN LONDON (NOVEMBER WEATHER)

OUTFIT 1

T-shirt: COS | sweater: ACNE STUDIOS | belt: KHAITE Robbie | sneakers: ADIDAS X WALES BONNER | coat: COS | bag: LOEWE mini puzzle

OUTFIT 2

T-shirt: EVERLANE | sweater: ACNE STUDIOS | vintage leather jacket | earrings: AURATE NY | belt: KHAITE | trousers: COS | sneakers: ADIDAS X WALES BONNER

OUTFIT 3

T-shirt: COS | cashmere sweater: COS | bag: LEMAIRE | trousers: TOTEME | coat: COS (wearing size L) | boots: KHAITE Hopper

OUTFIT 4

cut-out top: VICTORIA BECKHAM | trousers: TOTEME | blazer: OFFICINE GENERALE | sweater (worn draped on shoulder): NAKED CASHMERE | bag: LOEWE | gray socks: MANGO | loafers: DUKE + DEXTER (cherry)

OUTFIT 5

trench: OUR LEGACY (detachable fur collar) | sweater: COS | boots: KHAITE | bag: LEMAIRE

I ALSO VLOGGED MY LONDON TRIP ON TIKTOK:

London Vlog – Day 1

London Vlog – Day 2

London Vlog – Day 3

London Vlog – Day 4

London Vlog – Day 5