Holidays, travel & transportation

C1 Ten Things Tourists Should’t do When Visiting London

Have you ever visited London? Many of my students haven’t which is a real pity because this city is an incredible place bustling with life and exciting things to do. It’s also a cultural melting pot where you would hardly go out without meeting people from all walks of life.

What’s it like?

If you walk around London, you’ll see that it is an astonishing blend of tradition and innovation. You’ll see typical London pubs with all their flowers hanging out and the menus chalked in Times Roman out on the street claiming both, locals and tourists’ attention to stop and savour a lager or some fish and chips and just a few metres ahead, there’ll be a design museum or a second-hand store or whatever.

Are visitors welcome?

Concerning hospitality, the British tend to mind their own business, but if they sense that you may be lost or confused, somebody will very probably politely ask you if you need any help. However, don’t take this for granted, helpful doesn’t mean that they easily tolerate queue-jumping, or pedestrians getting in their way during the rush hour. Here you would most probably get an intimidating ‘Oi, you!’

Is London expensive?

Well as all cities, it depends on what you intend to do but it isn’t half as expensive as other European ones, like Paris or Rome and even if you could feel a bit upset for having to pay a few bob for a pint of beer, there are hundreds of other things you can do for pennies or for free, like visiting the wonderful museums, or having a picnic in one of London’s beautiful parks, just to mention a couple.

Will London hurt? And… will it go away?

Well, I’m not going to go on bragging about London because I’d end up writing a really long article, but I can assure you that, not only it doesn’t hurt, but it’s really worth a visit and NO, once you’ve been there, it will never, ever go away! (You’ve had it mate!)

So what are you waiting for? Here’s a word formation activity I’ve adapted from an article with some tips for visiting London (without putting your foot in it), for those brave souls that want to be on the safe side before setting off on their trip.

The article is from The Culturetrip.com and images from Unsplashed.

Created by blogdeserena

Use of English

WORD FORMATION 10 things tourists shouldn't do in London

Read the text and  fill the blanks with a form of the words in brackets.

Activity by Serena

Mind the gap. Stand on the right. London is a city that runs on rules, and while most are second nature to locals, it takes a little more time for 1)...  (VISIT) to adapt to protocol. Here’s a quick cheat sheet to help you avoid social slip ups on the tube, around the city and – of course – in the pub.

TIP 1

When it comes to the tube, don’t… travel during rush hour . If possible, try to avoid getting the tube between 7:30 and 9:30am, and 5:00 and 7:00pm, 2)...  (SPECIAL) if you have a lot of luggage.

TIP 2

During the rush hour, tube stations can get 3) ... (CONGEST) and trains are packed with weary Londoners making their way to and from work.

Tip 3

If you do find yourself swept up in the rush hour commute, however, you’ll get a great 4) ...(SIGHT) into just how far Brits will go to avoid eye contact despite extreme physical proximity.

Tip 4

Stand on the left If there’s one golden rule in London, this is it. Do not, under any circumstances, stand on the left of an escalator in the London Underground. The left is for walking. The right is for standing. 5)...(FAIL) to adhere to this will immediately single you out as a tourist and earn you plenty of disapproving tuts.

Tip 5

Buy one-way tickets or day travelcards Though buying a travelcard might seem like the most cost-effective option for a day of sightseeing, using an Oyster card will save you more cash (not to mention help you fit in with the locals). These pay-as-you-go smart cards have a daily price cap which often works out less than the cost of a one day travelcard. The same fares apply if you have a 6)... (CONTACT) payment card. Whatever you do, never opt for a single one-way ticket, unless you want to pay double the price.

Tip 6

Get the tube when it’s quicker to walk London’s tube system is so 7)...(EXTEND) that tourists and locals alike often forget that it isn’t always the most efficient way of getting around. In central London, walking between tube stops is often much faster. According to Transport for London’s Walking Tube Map, it takes just four minutes to walk between Leicester Square to Covent Garden stations, which is probably half the time it takes to climb the notorious 193-step stairway in Covent Garden station.

Tip 7

To get the best out of your trip, don’t… Leave without having a pint Pubs are at the centre of social life in the UK, and the capital has one on virtually every corner. For a 8) ...(QUINTESSENTIAL) British experience, join the after-work crowds and “get a round in” for you and your group. When asking for a pint, make sure you specify the lager or ale you’d like – don’t just ask for “beer” – and keep in mind that tipping isn’t expected.

Tip 8

Fall for expensive tourist traps Sightseeing needn’t break the bank. Instead of going to overpriced, overcrowded attractions like Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeons, 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, we recommend booking a visit to the Sky Garden instead, a free alternative with just as 9) ...(IMPRESS) views of the London skyline.

Tip 9

Eat at Angus Steakhouse With London boasting 85 Michelin stars and a choice of cuisine from almost every nationality in the world, there’s no excuse to be eating at an Angus Steakhouse, despite their propensity to pop up in every  touristy spot in town. Explore the city’s diverse dining options and make a 11) ... (bee) for the restaurants in central London that aren’t overpriced chain restaurants.

Tip 10

Strike up an unwanted conversation British people are generally quite reserved, and talking to someone when they’re minding their business can be seen as breaking social etiquette. Pick your moments 12) ... (WISE); someone reading on the tube probably doesn’t want to chat, but someone enjoying a pint in the pub might be a little friendlier.

3 thoughts on “C1 Ten Things Tourists Should’t do When Visiting London


  1. Hi! Thank you for letting me know. I’ve been using Learnclick during a free trial period, as I wanted to see how it worked before getting the payment version. I can now see that once this time expires, activities are no longer available, so I’ve decided not to use it in the future, whether free or paid, as this would probably mean losing a lot of work if I ever decided not to continue using the application. I’ve set up the activity again using Goconqr.com.


  2. I cant see the activity. A message appears saying that the quiz is not available

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