What NOT to do in London: The Truth About These 15 Tiring Tourist Traps
London is one of the coolest cities in the world, but it’s not without faults.
It’s crowded at all times of year, some areas are just boring shopping landscapes, and some attractions are just built solely for tourists.
Here’s an insider guide – from a Londoner – on what not to do in London. These are some of the worst London tourist traps that just aren’t worth your time or your hard-earned money.
Let’s take a look at exactly what to avoid in London, and what to see instead.
The Worst London Tourist Traps: 15 Places to Avoid in London
As a local, these are the places I see as the worst tourist traps in London. They may not seem like it on the surface, but there are much better alternatives!
Here’s the places to avoid in London, and exactly what to see and do instead.
1. The London Eye: One of the Biggest Tourist Traps in London!
While offering spectacular views, it’s quite pricey, and the queues can be long. Locals often prefer other vantage points for city views.
What to do Instead of the London Eye
Try free viewing platforms Sky Garden, The Lookout, Horizon 22, or check out my full list of the best free viewpoints in London here.
2. Places to Avoid in London: Madame Tussauds
While impressive, this famous wax museum is often crowded and expensive, and similar attractions exist in other cities around the world.
Where to Go Instead of Madame Tussauds
London is full of free museums that don’t cost a thing! And guaranteed there’s a museum for whatever you’re into.
3. Tourist Traps in London: Leicester Square
True Londoners only pass through Leicester Square when we absolutely have to. It’s always crowded with tourists, the restaurants are terrible pricey chains, and it feels like a vortex meant to suck you into money-spending infinity.
Go through here if you have to, but only to get to the much cooler places nearby.
What to See Instead of Leicester Square
If you’re looking for a cool square to check out, go to Berkeley Square (a leafy and posh garden near Oxford Street), Soho Square, Russell Square, or St. James’s Square.
If you’re looking for a shopping district, try Oxford or Regent Street, the posh and kitschy boutiques of Soho, the antique markets of Notting Hill, or the vintagey-cool shopping of Spitalfields and Brick Lane.
4. Places to Avoid in London: Piccadilly Circus
This brightly lit confluence is like the Times Square of London, and it’s just as crowded and terrible. Don’t be tempted by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! or M&M’s World – these are made only for tourists to spend all their money in.
There is not much that’s unique or London-y about them, or about this area in general.
What to See Instead of Piccadilly Circus
Nearby you can wander the quaint streets of Soho, pop into epic museums like the National Gallery, shop at British classic Fortnum & Mason, or eat incredible food in Chinatown. Do literally anything except hang out in Piccadilly Circus!
5. London Tourist Traps: Camden Market
Camden Market is not what it once was, and no, Taylor Swift would not hang out here like in her song “London Boy”. It’s now mostly tacky and overpriced junk, bad food stalls (there are some exceptions), and hoards of people looking for an authentic London experience. This isn’t it.
Where to go Instead of Camden Market
London is full of great markets that aren’t as touristy. Try Old Spitalfields, Greenwich Market, Borough Market (though it also gets crowded), Portobello Road Market, or Columbia Road flower market.
6. What Not to Do in London: Oxford Street
Oxford Street is more than a street. It’s an entire region of high street shopping. But Oxford Street itself is the most boring and touristy part of the whole area.
Most of the better shops are not on Oxford Street itself (with some exceptions), but are on the nearby streets that are only a short walk away.
Where to Shop Instead of Oxford Street
Right nearby, try Regent Street (a bit more posh, a bit less tacky), Carnaby Street, Bond Street, or Savile Row.
7. London Tourist Traps: Trafalgar Square
The square itself is usually just crowded with tourists taking photos near the lions. But wander away from the main square and you can find some gems!
What to See Instead of Trafalgar Square
The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery are definitely worth a visit at Trafalgar Square. But if you want the ambiance of a lovely city square, go to nearby St. James’s Square, or over to the nearby Victoria Embankment Gardens.
8. Places to Avoid in London: Sea Life London Aquarium & London Zoo
These are major tourist attractions, but locals find them overpriced compared to other city offerings. If you’ve been to zoos and aquariums in America, Australia, or even elsewhere in the UK, you’ve been to much better zoos and aquariums.
I personally don’t think these are worthwhile for the price, especially if you’re visiting London with kids. There are much better free things to do!
What to Do Instead of London Zoo & SeaLife Aquarium
If you want to connect with the natural world, visit the incredible (and free!) Natural History Museum or Horniman Museum. See historic artifacts like Darwin’s dodo, a massive blue whale skeleton, and much, much more.
These museums give out free “treasure maps” for kids to find all the coolest stuff!
9. Skip: Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard
While a quintessential London experience, it’s often extremely crowded with tourists, and locals generally avoid the area during this time.
What to See Instead of the Changing of the Guard
Go to the nearby Household Cavalry Museum, where you can learn all about the history of the King’s Guards.
Kids can try on real uniforms, and you can meet the horses (politely, of course, or you’ll get told off by a King’s Guard).
10. London Tourist Traps: Shrek’s Adventure
What does London have to do with Shrek? Nothing at all. This is a plain old tourist trap for travelers with kids who see Shrek and convince their parents to pay the exorbitant entry fee.
What to See Instead
If you’re looking to entertain your kids, do something authentically London! The London Transport Museum just across the river is incredible and very hands-on. Kids of all ages absolutely love it.
11. Avoid: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours
The “Hoho” buses are one of the more elaborate tourist traps in London. Sure, it seems like a good idea to conveniently see the sights.
The drawbacks? These buses can’t use the bus lanes, so you’re really just paying to sit in traffic. Plus, they don’t have as many stops and don’t come as often as a regular London bus.
You’re paying a huge amount for a very inconvenient mode of transport, when London has one of the best transport networks in the world. Use that, instead!
What to Do Instead of a London Bus Tour
Take a regular old red London double-decker bus! Use Citymapper or Google Maps to find out where you want to go.
Use my full guide for how to take a London bus for the first time, and hop on the bus and try to snag the front seats on the upper deck. Poof! London bus tour, for £1.75 instead of £40+ per person.
Some of the best routes to see iconic London landmarks are the 11, 24 and 9.
12. Don’t Eat at Restaurants in Tourist Hotspots (including themed restaurants and cafes)
Eateries in areas like Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, and around major attractions often have inflated prices and cater more to tourists.
Especially avoid places like the Hard Rock Cafe and Bubba Gump Shrimp, which are really terrible and overpriced. Only tourists eat there.
Where to Eat Instead
If you’re in a tourist trap area, walk a few blocks away from the center of the action (this works in any city that has tourist trap areas).
There you can find smaller authentic restaurants that Londoners would actually eat at.
13. Avoid: Souvenir Shops in Central London
These shops, especially around major tourist attractions, often sell overpriced and generic souvenirs. They are also – legitimately – money laundering fronts. Avoid at all costs.
Where to Shop for London Souvenirs Instead
London has an incredible array of really cool gifts. Browse my list of the best things to buy in London here.
If you’re walking by one of these “American Candy Stores” in a crowded area, and you just want a snack or a bottle of water, find a corner store or pharmacy (like Boots) and pop in there instead.
14. Skip: The Abbey Road Crosswalk
This is just a crosswalk on a fairly residential North London street. There’s nothing of note nearby, except Abbey Road Studios, which you can only see from the sidewalk and cannot enter.
Vehicles have to stop for pedestrians at zebra crossings, so no matter how much you wave them through, they have to stop. You’ll wait in a queue and play a game of how-many-London-bus-drivers-can-we-anger while constantly blocking a main thoroughfare.
It’s chaos, your photo will be rushed, and it’s not an enjoyable experience.
What to See Instead
If it’s Beatles history you’re after, pop by Savile Row where they played their last ever live gig. Or check out Chiswick House or their former flat at Montagu Square.
Ps: the Abbey Road crosswalk looks like every other London crosswalk. Take a photo on a less busy thoroughfare, and no one will know the difference.
15. Don’t Buy: Daily or Weekly Travelcards
This is a sneaky London tourist trap that can seem like a great deal…but it’s not. It’s significantly more expensive than paying as you go.
A weekly London travelcard is anywhere from £40-£110, but the pay-as-you-go cap for most zones tourists will visit is only £9.60. Pay only for what you use! Don’t overpay for transport.
What to Use Instead
Use contactless payment (a different one for each member of your party) and tap in and out with that. You don’t even need to purchase an Oyster Card.
What to Avoid in London: Final Tips
If you still want to visit one of the places to avoid in London I’ve mentioned in this list, no judgment! These are just the tourist traps in London that I would personally avoid, but since I live here, my point of view is different than yours!
Remember: this is your trip to London. You can do exactly what you want to do, when you want to do it! And London truly has something for everyone.
More on Visiting London
The Best Oyster Card Tourist Options to Save Money
There Isn’t Just One ‘Downtown London’: Simple Visitor’s Guide
Ultimate Attraction Map of London: See it All, Efficiently!
The 5 Safest Areas in London (and 2 that are Totally Affordable!)
Where Can I Charge my Phone in London? Local’s Ultimate Guide (2024)
31 Exclusive & Unusual Things to Buy in London, and 15 Things to Avoid
Where to Stay your First time in London
Itinerary for 3 Epic Days in London: An Insider’s Guide
Top 5 Best and Worst Times to Visit London
37 Weird & Wonderful Things London is Famous For: See or Skip?
Mega-List: 250+ Astonishing London Facts From Bizarre To Beautiful
Places To Avoid in London FAQ
What are the “rules” of visiting London as a tourist?
If you want to be polite to London locals, try to follow these common courtesies:
-Stand on the right on escalators, walk on the left.
-Get out your Oyster Card or payment method before you get to the ticket barriers.
-Don’t take up the whole sidewalk walking in a group.
-Don’t listen to loud music or speak loudly on the tube or bus.
-Pull over on the sidewalk to take a picture.
-Be mindful of queues (lines) and don’t cut.
Is Brick Lane a Tourist Trap?
Yes and no. In recent years, it has become somewhat of a tourist trap during market days. But it’s also a thriving community of Bangladeshi and other immigrants, where you can find great restaurants and shops authentic to their cultures.
What are considered tourist traps in London?
Locals consider places like The London Eye, Shrek’s Adventure, Madame Tussauds, Camden Market, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, and Oxford Street to be major tourist traps.
What’s the most visited attraction in London?
The British Museum and the Tower of London are the most popular attractions in London for tourists.
