So, you’ve spent years looking at London in TV shows, movies, and magazines, and now, you finally get the chance to visit the legendary city yourself? What are you going to do?

Well, if you’re like most people, you’ll waste a lot of time trying to figure that out.

London is huge, and it has so many high-profile attractions, as well as hole-in-the-wall adventures, that you can easily get overwhelmed.

Luckily, we’re here to help. Here are a few ways to maximize your London vacation.

1: London Serviced Accommodations

First, book yourself a stay in London serviced accommodations. You need a place to call home while you’re in the city, and you don’t want your amazing vacation to be ruined by lackluster living conditions.

A serviced apartment is a lot like a hotel, but instead of getting a tiny room with barely any functionality, you get a whole luxury apartment. That includes a full kitchen, bedrooms, living area, and bathroom; just like you’d expect to get in a real home.

There are two other things that make London serviced apartments stand out.

First, they’re centrally located. So, you’ll be pretty close to anything you want to see or do regardless of what it is.

Then, you also have to consider that they are only slightly more expensive than your run-of-the-mill hotels. If you can get a luxury apartment without any sort of lease or commitment, why would you bother with a tiny hotel room?

2: Get a Map

 

London is pretty huge, and the streets tend to become a maze if you have no idea where you’re at. It’s not uncommon for foreigners to lose track of their location just walking a few streets away from their hotel or apartment.

Get a map of the area and use it to keep track of where you’re at and where you’re going. This will help you save time, and it will also give you a better idea of what’s around you. There are some tourist maps that actually highlight must-see locations to make exploring the city for the first time an easy endeavor.

However, for the younger folks out there, we mean an actual map. Your phone is great, but you’ll want to stay out on the streets most of the day. If your phone dies, you’ll be stuck asking for directions. Get a physical map, and make sure to make down the location of where you’re staying!

3: Do Your Research

 

Finally, another key point is that you should do your research before you come to the city. We’ll split this into three main sections.

First, research the average cost of things in the city. You will end up paying for services and products while you’re here, and you don’t want to get caught off guard by our local prices.

Then, research what there is to do. You’ll get a lot more out of your vacation time if you know exactly what you want to see and experience while you’re in the city, and you can even get directions from the serviced apartment you’ll be staying at to those locations ahead of time to minimize the amount of time you spend poking around with things you’re not interested in.

Finally, take a little time to research how the culture is different than your own. There might be things that are perfectly normal for you but might agitate or annoy a local. Always make sure you’re ready to blend in with the local culture if you want to have a good time. With that being said, London residents are used to tourists, and a slip-up or two isn’t a big deal.