Oyster Card

Transport for London buses have not accepted cash since July 2014. If you want to use a London bus, you’ll need an Oyster Card (a prepaid travel card you top up that’s available from ticket desks at London underground stations) or you can use contactless payment if you have a card issued in the UK (some internationally issued contactless cards will work, others won’t. Apple Pay also works – but to be sure, go with Oyster).

Also, the Thames Clipper (river boat) is affiliated with Transport for London and has fantastic routes along the River Thames. You can use your Oyster card to get 30% off a standard ticket starting at £2.90. The Clipper takes in all the wondrous sites London has to offer, such as The Houses of Parliament, The Tate Modern and Tower Bridge. You can hop on and off to explore great attractions like the London Eye on the South Bank.

Soccer (Football) stadium tours

Dive into the rich history of an iconic North London club at the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal. Feel like a superstar as you tour the Directors Box and the Home and Away Dressing Rooms before walking through the Players Tunnel out onto the majestic Emirates pitch. Make your tour extra special with the VIP Legend Experience; journey through the stadium with an Arsenal legend, offering dressing room tales and backroom anecdotes. You’ll get the chance to ask questions and spend one on one time with your hero whilst dining on Michelin star quality food in the stadium’s elite Diamond Club.

Or pay a visit to Stamford Bridge in South West London, home of the only team in London to win the European Cup, Chelsea, aka The Blues. See match-worn items and celebrate the club’s history in the Chelsea FC Museum, before following in your favourite players’ footsteps onto the pitch. Led by expert tour guides who have an incredible amount of trivia and knowledge of the club’s silverware laden history, this is sure to be a memorable experience for Chelsea fans of all ages.

When Tottenham opened the doors to their brand new White Hart Lane located stadium, it came with a major surprise for both Spurs and adventure fans. Built into the stadium is The Dare Skywalk, a one-of-a-kind attraction that sees you climb up onto the stadium’s roof above the pitch, around the golden cockerel statue at the apex (offering unbelievable views across the capital), and back down to solid ground for refreshments in a whirlwind 90 minutes.

Sightseeing

Sightseeing needn’t break the bank. Instead of going to attractions like Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon, pay a visit to London’s unrivalled collection of free museums and galleries. You can see the works of Da Vinci and Van Gogh at the National Gallery or the famous giant dinosaur skeletons at the Natural History Museum without paying a penny! It pays to be thrifty in other areas too; if you’re thinking about buying a ticket for the London Eye or ascending the Shard, then maybe pay a visit to the Sky Garden in Fenchurch Street instead, a free alternative with just as impressive views of the London skyline.

Bus or taxi?

Taxis (known as Black Cabs) are iconic but can be expensive, so go for it if you can afford it, and if you use the Uber app back in the US, then you may find you can also use it here in London too.

Buses can be long journeys and can take time due to traffic in The Smoke, but if the weather is good then why not try a ‘Boris Bike’?

The Santander Cycles, commonly known as “Boris Bikes” after the former London mayor introduced the cycle-hire scheme, is London’s answer to a mini-Amsterdam. Traffic moves at a snail’s pace in London, but you can whizz through the roads quickly on a bike for as little as £3.

The subway

Known as ‘The Tube’ or ‘The Underground’

It can often be much easier to get around London this way, but a tongue-in-cheek word of wisdom – Don’t make eye contact or smile on the tube. Londoners do not like to make eye contact with anyone; they’ll see you as either a threat or weird. Don’t scare them; instead, stare wistfully at the advertisements above their heads or glare at your own hands.

Be mindful though, that London has a lot of Underground stations and many of them are very close together, particularly in central areas. It’s always worth checking an actual map before committing to the tube, as often it’s quicker to walk, particularly if a line-change is needed

Rush hour on the London Underground can sometimes resemble a humanitarian crisis in suits: avoid it from 7.30–9.30am (the busiest time), and 5–7pm (not quite as hectic) if you can help it. If you’ve no choice (for example if you need to get to the airport) it may be worth setting off a little earlier. If you have suitcases, aim for either the very front or very back carriage of the train, which are often slightly less crowded.

Drinking

Yes it’s true, we drink a lot of tea.

Going to the pub isn’t just a frequent pastime for Londoners; it’s an after-work ritual and a bonding exercise for coworkers and friends, which is how most socialising happens. That means it’s also dictated by its own system of rules and etiquette. The most important one is that if you’re out with a group of Brits, expect to order drinks for the table in rounds rather than going up to order your own at the bar each time. Mostly, that means someone else is paying for your drink—and that you definitely shouldn’t skip out right before it’s your turn.

Look both ways

Don’t forget that here in the UK, we drive on the left.

You might not think that matters if you’re not planning to drive but you’ll be singing a different tune after you try to cross the road whilst looking in the wrong direction.

240 Volts

Yes, yes, our plugs are weird and our voltage is dangerously high, all of which means that you should make sure you bring an adapter with you.

You’ll also need to check whether your gadgets will work with the different voltage (hairdryers are notorious culprits for going kaput) – either leave them at home or maybe buy a voltage converter.

Rickshaws

They might look like fun, but the rickshaws in Central London aren’t regulated and drivers will often try and charge tourists large amounts of money to travel very short distances, so they are best avoided.

Take an umbrella

British weather can be sunny one moment and pouring rain the next, so if you don’t want to walk around the city looking bedraggled and feeling sorry for yourself, always bring a brolly.

Stand on the right

London Underground rules state that the left-hand side is for people who want to walk up/down the escalators. And Londoners take this rule very seriously, so if you’re standing still, stick to the right-hand side.

Tips

Well, you can if you want to, but leaving a tip isn’t necessary or expected if there is already a service charge worked into your bill.

Steak

The Hippodrome Casino is the premier place in London to watch the New York Jets, but it also contains two excellent eateries.

Heliot Steak House specialises in award-winning USDA prime grade steaks sourced globally, including cuts from Nebraska, Argentina, Great Britain, and Japan. These exceptional cuts of Fillet, Sirloin, Rib Eye and Rib on the Bone undergo a meticulous aging process of four to six weeks before bespoke seasoning and cooking, resulting in incredible tenderness and flavour for every diner

Pie & Mash

Be warned! This Cockney fayre is not for everybody and you’ll either love it or absolutely hate it.

M.Manze Pie & Mash needs no introduction. Their mouthwatering pies, mash, green liquor and eels are legendary and uphold the tradition of excellence established by the founder Michele Manze more than a century ago. Today, they have three restaurants and also offer all of their handcrafted traditional English dishes for delivery within London, (to select areas) by way of JustEat and Deliveroo.

Fish & Chips

The fish at The Golden Hind is fried in groundnut oil with a batter that is light rather than lumpy, and the chips are gently not ferociously fried, which makes this place a good bet for anyone who genuinely enjoys fish rather than merely seeing it as a conduit for fat; cod, haddock, skate and plaice can also be ordered steamed with olive oil and oregano. Elsewhere are the expected starters of cod fishcakes and prawn cocktail and dreamy puddings of apple crumble and jam sponge with custard. The best thing of all to order here, though, are the mozzarella or feta cheese fritters that pay tribute to both Italian and Greek ownership over the years, a starter that works just as well as a side order. Reasonably smart interiors make the higher-than-average prices easier to swallow.

Chinese meals

Chinatown is an obvious choice here, but be mindful that the menu for us Londoners is a little different to the authentic offerings in the USA.

This is why Chop Chop by Four Seasons at The Hippodrome Casino is preferred. The interiors give a nod to old Hong Kong, with a menu featuring dishes such as Four Seasons’ renowned roast duck – named by The Financial Times as the best in the world – and premium dim sum, including a range of vegan options.

Afternoon Tea

Fortnum & Mason’s elegant tea salon has been serving the good stuff since 1926. A pastel-coloured dining room on the fourth floor of the iconic St James’s department store, this spacious spot excels in both sweet and savoury teas. Finger sarnies include smoked trout with dill and Coronation chicken, but there’s also a vegan and veggie menu, too. The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon was named in honour of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s visit in 2012, so why not have a cuppa in her honour at this high-end establishment.

Served in a stunning Grade II listed building, enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea at The Wolseley, one of London’s most respected café-restaurants in the heart of Piccadilly.

Whether you fancy a traditional Cream Tea or celebratory Champagne Afternoon Tea, experience this quintessentially British tradition at The Wolseley any day of the week.