Traveling to London? These are the worst tourist traps in London to avoid on your visit. If you’re planning to visit places like Leicester Square, which is a MAJOR tourist trap (plus it’s one of the most overpriced areas in London) this you need to watch this video so you don’t get scammed or ripped off while visiting London.
I’m Jess and I make videos for people who are visiting London and want to see the more local side of the city (I’ve lived here for 6 years and love to share spots you’ll never hear from other sites and guides.) If you’re visiting London for the first time and need help planning your trip, try watching:
Areas to Visit in London (that you’ve never heard of): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW9WeSM8PdU&t
Things You’ll Forget to Pack for Your Visit to London: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3GlPslf6uU&t
Important Things to Know Before Booking Your Flight to London: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS38Q1jd9eI&list=PL6u96nZN-L_ao52yOCcYXgaV-JalLZag1
My video series that will help you choose the perfect hotel for your trip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uijm7ClPkuo&list=PL6u96nZN-L_Ygnf21iQv6cELBDj7TvE90
Book unique tours and experiences in London with us! https://tours.loveandlondon.com/
Tour some of London’s historic pubs on the Eating Europe London Old Docks tour (aff link): https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1059328&u=1606161&m=73513&urllink=&afftrack=
♥️ MORE LONDON HELP ♥️
📗 Free London 101 Guide for first-time London visitors: https://goo.gl/Eh3HP3
📱 3-Day London Itinerary (PDF guide and digital map included): https://bit.ly/39KEv4i
📍 Travel guides for London, divided by area (The Casual Tourist Guides): https://bit.ly/3bgeRoj
💸 London Spending Guide (includes budget calculator spreadsheet): https://bit.ly/3OduFqy
📞 Book a Trip Planning Call with Jess: https://bit.ly/39MGhBJ
🏨 My top London hotels tips and recommendations: https://loveandlondon.com/category/london-accommodations/
🚶🏼♀️Daily London life and tons of London advice on our Instagram: https://instagram.com/loveandlondon
❓Visiting London FAQs: https://loveandlondon.com/faqs-from-london-visitors/
38 Comments
I really agree with this as a Londoner
Interesting info. 🤔
👍👍👏
What’s wrong with Bella Italia?
Nice video and unafraid to speak reality. I am Asian and we have Chinese products everywhere so to buy them again would be hilarious 😂
Thanks for the video. J from Norway.
Yeah… The rickshaws…. yeah…
I've not got one, but when I find myself coming out of the Hypodrome Casino at 2.00 am (it's one of the few places to get an after hours drink) I always get approached by these guys, telling me they'll take me to find girls.
Now, I'm not shaming sex workers, or even those who partake in such practices, but these guys creep me out. I spoke to one rickshaw driver and he said he could to take me to a place where there was a girl in a room whom I "could do anything [I] like to". The whole thing had a "human trafficking" vibe to it.
About 20 years ago, I used to see numerous vendors selling hotdogs and burgers from little metal trolley stoves. Nowadays these usually sell caramelised nuts. However, I was recently surprised to see a vendor that still had hotdogs.
A few things to note- These little stoves have no coverings on them, open to the wind, rain and bird poop. Also, where do they keep their stock? Are those little cubbyholes below the hot-plate refrigerated?
The reason I was surprised to see a hotdog/burger vendor with one of these little trolleys is because about 20 years ago I saw a show following health inspectors investigating these kind of vendors. The raw sausages were kept in a greasy cardboard box in the trolley, next to a gas cylinder that fed the hotplate (so, no- not refrigerated) The health inspector also pointed out how there was nowhere for the vendor to wash their hands and that the trolley was so poorly put together, that the whole thing could blow up!
Leicester square is awful. Poppy's is the best fish and chips. Sunday roast at a great pub is always amazing. Bond street is best shopping Selfridges on Oxford is great but there are some junky pub type places. Love Covent Garden too for people watching.
0:38 There are Lego stores in the US and Lego has nothing to do with the US
Do you have any suggestions where to go for fun souvenirs for kids that are typical line a toy replica of a double decker or big Ben?
What’s wrong with “made in China”? That’s really offensive!
watch out for pickpockets
We are staying in Notting Hill in a few weeks. Can you recommend a pub that has great fish and chips?
The last time I visited London, I had a stay in the Earls Court area and I did not venture into the tourist spots, which is probably why I'd had so much fun.
To many handmovements. Very annoying.
I'm going to visit London soon, thank you for your whole channel!
Thanks for video. London still the best city
3:00 I remember seeing a Lego builder (Brick City Depot) recreate that red and blue row house! Its so cool to see it in this video as well!
👍👍
I get that the souvenirs shops are bad quality made in china, but really when i visit a city i like to have an actual object that represents the city, like my favourite monument, i don't really care about a poster or tea lol
the best fish and chip i had was in brighton
I'm sorry, but there's loads more to Leicester Square than the few fronting buildings. Take the side alleys, so much more going on.
Although the following question has 'already' been raised to the british government (but avoided!):
"How do these 'shop owners/workers' afford to pay the 'excessive high rents' in these top London locations, which previous 'major international' retailers had to make 'huge profits' just to keep the lights on" seems to be more of an important issue right???
Than the idiots who walk into these 'dens' and pay £15 for a £2 bag of M&Ms or the £50 for a £5 china import royal doulton commemorative mug!.
What comes to mind is 'A shop front!'…do the math!.
When one was in London in the mid 70s there was a chain called the Pot.Great food and cheap.Loved the old Borsch and Tears.
Great video Jess. London is so big that you can stay in the west end and find value, just head down the side streets of Soho and there are great little cafes like Thai West Cafe on Brewer St. A colleague took me when I was working near Oxford Circus and I'd have never have picked it, let alone found it. Same with good value pubs. Kerb food is also good and made by people passionate about food rather than chains, well worth looking up.
Thank you so much.
honestly 😀 every time I'm in London I go to the M&M's world 😀 It's just to photogenic 😀 and as a chocolate lover… THE SMELL!! 😀 😀 but yes, it has absolutelly nothing to do with London not the UK 😀
Thank you, nice lady.
I've never understood the hype around Leicester Square 🤷🏻♂️
I disagree with the traditional wording bit about pubs if a pub says traditional it doesn't matter best thing to do just go on trip advisor If you want to find good pubs
Love the honesty and great suggestions. thanks just love your blog's Jess keep up the great work.
Visiting London today, been watching your videos all plane ride ❤
I love fish and chips and so does my wife and our teen and I was recommended a chippie by a local Londoner located between Holborn and Russell Square Underground stations which fry the fish in beef drippings. It's on our to do list while in London, can't wait to try it.
Where to have a good coffee and something to eat? cheap or at least normal prices and good food?
I love the way you loathe the MnM shop! HAHHAHA!!! I will definitely avoid this when I visit!
I love your inveterate hate of M&M World It cheers me up immensely
Visited London this week for work, stayed around the Covent Garden area and absolutely enjoyed it. Went a bit back and forth across town for conference, and the worst that happened was a romani lady actually trying (and partially succeding) to steal my phone inside a restaurant while it lay on the table using the "conceal it with a beggars note" trick. All in all though London seems like a safe place for tourists.