Travel Guide to the UK: How to plan a London Trip from Dubai
If you want to see some of the world’s most renowned monuments, such as Big Ben or the London Eye, make a journey to London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom. London is also recognised for its rich history, red phone booths, world-class museums and galleries, massive verdant parks, financial areas, and cosmopolitan ambience. While planning and carrying out a trip to London might be challenging, this guide will ease your concerns and assist you in making the most of your vacation.
Flights from Dubai to London
Flying from Dubai (DXB) to London (LON) takes around 8 hours and 1 minute. Emirates, Qantas, and Iberia offer direct flights from Dubai to London.
Tips to make your vacation in London easier
- Pack Effectively
London weather is unpredictable, so you should be prepared for it. When you’re walking down the street, the weather can change quickly from clear to cloudy to rainy, soaking you completely. All you can do is prepare for the volatility of the weather. Pack comfortable clothing, coats, an umbrella, shoes, flip-flops, and sunglasses because you never know when you’ll need them.
- Get an Oyster card
When you arrive in London, you should purchase an Oyster Card. It is an electronic smart card that provides the cheapest way of payment for major London public transportation. Your mode of transportation determines the rates, the number of zones travelled or zones to and from, and the day and time of travel. Pre-pay and you will receive the Oyster card and be able to travel without having to worry about having the correct change or cash as soon as you arrive in the city. Oyster cards entitle you to access visitor discounts at a variety of bars, entertainment venues, stores, and restaurants.
- There is free WiFi everywhere
In London, many stores and tourist attractions provide free WiFi to visitors. You can always find free public WiFi in London, whether you’re shopping, dining, touring, or simply enjoying tea. So, whether you need to use the map to locate your route or are constantly on Instagram to upload images and status updates and to keep your loved ones updated on your location, there is free Wifi. However, for extra safety and protection, utilise a VPN while connecting to these public networks.
- Discover Free Attractions
Some tourist attractions in London, such as Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, Hampton Court Palace, the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace, and many other museums and galleries in London, such as the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, The National Gallery, and so on, offer free entry to tourists, so you don’t need to buy a ticket, or pay an entry fee.
- London Cuisine
Start your day with a full English breakfast with sausage, bacon, baked beans, tomato, fried egg, fried slice, and a big slice of black pudding is one of the excellent classic foods available in London. Enjoy your afternoon with a cup of tea while munching on finger sandwiches. For dinner, serve roasted beef with roast potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding, and cauliflower cheese, topped with sauce. Try out other dishes like Bangers and Mash, Pie and Mash, Fish and Chips, Spaghetti Bolognese, and Chicken Tikka Masala.
How to get around in London
Tube: The London Underground, sometimes known as the Tube, is easy to use and runs across the city and into neighbouring counties. A Visitor Oyster card entitles you to unlimited excursions in Zones 1 and 2, and you will not be charged more than 7.40 pounds. Remember to tap your Oyster card on the yellow readers when you enter and depart the Tube station.
Bus: The advantage of taking the bus over the tube is that you get to see more sights. A single ride with an Oyster costs as little as 1.55 pounds. Remember that buses do not accept cash, so have a topped-up Oyster card to pay for your travel. Many bus lines run around the clock and cover the whole city.
Taxi: The city’s famous black cabs can be seen all around town, and in long lines at major train stations, airports, and hotels. Remember that a lit-up taxi sign indicates that a cab is available when hailing one on the street. Cabs are metered, and the price varies according to the time of day and distance travelled. A trip of one mile or more will cost at least 6.20 pounds. All taxis accept credit and debit cards and cash. Unlicensed taxis, particularly ones soliciting you, are illegal in London and dangerous, avoid them.
Rail services: London Rail is a division of Transport for London (TfL) that is in charge of the railroads, including suburban rail that connects central London to its suburbs and fast trains that connect London to the rest of the nation. Direct train connections are also available to London’s three major airports, Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stanstead.
Cycle: Santander Cycle, London’s bike-sharing service, has 11,500 bikes and over 750 docking stations around the city. For just 2 pounds, you can take unlimited rides of up to 30 minutes throughout the 24 hours. Trips lasting more than half an hour are charged 2 pounds every 30-minute interval. You can rent a bike with a credit card at a docking station or through the Transport for London app.
Top places to visit in London
London Eye
The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, is the world’s most famous Ferris wheel. The wheel features 32 capsules that soar 443 feet over the River Thames. Throughout the year, the wheel changes colours to commemorate various occasions. Many of the city’s landmarks can be seen from the London Eye. You can expect to wait in a long queue to enjoy the whole 30-minute ride. If someone is in a hurry, they can enjoy it ahead of others by purchasing a London Eye: Skip-the-line Ticket.
Big Ben
Big Ben is one of the most famous tourist attractions in London. It is a 316-foot-tall tower clock known for its precision and giant hour bell. There are four clocks on the tower, one on each side. Each clock has a 23-foot diameter. It uses Victorian technology to keep residents on time since it is accurate and exact. The shields on the tower represent the four nations of the United Kingdom: a rose for England, a thistle for Scotland, a shamrock for Ireland, and a leek for Wales.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, completed in 1837, has been the Royal Family’s London home since Queen Victoria took power. It is located in the centre of London, flanked by Green Park and St. James Park. The palace is spread across 39 acres and features 775 rooms. When the Queen is not in residence, the stunning state chambers are available to the public. The Changing of the Guard, a ceremony in which new troops arrive to replace those who are already guarding the palace, is a well-known sight. Wear comfortable shoes because the tourist route includes a long walk through the garden to the exit along a gravel path.
Madame Tussauds London
Madame Tussauds’ wax museum was founded by the legendary wax artist Marie Tussaud and features over 400 wax figures of some of the world’s most famous individuals, including singers, actors, politicians, historical figures, scientists, geniuses, religious heads, and even criminals. The Incredible Hulk is the largest figure produced by Madame Tussauds, while Tinker Bell is the smallest. Take a red carpet walk with your favourite icons or experience your favourite movie moments in a unique Star Wars zone.
Westminster palace
A tour of the Palace of Westminster will show you about British politics and how Big Ben and the Parliament were built. An iconic location tied with Christianity since the seventh century, it has witnessed numerous burials and coronations. The immense historical and cultural artefacts shown throughout the Palace include the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, a copy of the Magna Carta, and countless royal and parliamentary portraits. Westminster Abbey is a must-see for history buffs and anyone looking for a taste of monarchy.
St Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral, London’s most renowned cathedral, constructed between 1675 and 1711, contains one of the world’s largest domes and the Whispering Gallery, a famous place in the structure owing to how effectively sound travels through it. A crypt is placed on the lower floor of the church, where the tombs of various prominent persons from London’s history, including the Duke of Wellington, Christopher Wren, and Admiral Nelson, can be found. If you want to go, you can find out the time and buy tickets on their website.
Oxford Street
Oxford Street, which stretches from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch via Oxford Circus, is Europe’s busiest shopping street. It boasts about 300 stores and exquisite cafés and receives over 200 million visitors every year. Shops range from River Island, Gap, and Primark to the UK’s classic department stores such as Selfridges, John Lewis & Partners, House of Fraser, and Marks & Spencer. The red buses that run down Oxford Street are extremely popular with tourists and are frequently photographed.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is a historic and vast park in central London, England, known for its Speaker’s Corner. It covers 350 acres and is joined by Kensington Garden, which covers 275 acres. Hyde Park is loaded with monuments and tributes to famous people, taking a leisurely walk around the area to view as many of these as possible is an excellent way to learn more about the park. The park contains a man-made lake named Serpentine, which was built in the 18th century and is popular for boating and swimming.
The British Museum
The world’s first national public museum. The British Museum is remarkable in that it brings together civilizations from all around the world under one roof, covering continents and seas. No other museum is responsible for collections of the same depth and range, beauty, and significance as the British Museum, which holds nearly 8 million artefacts from all around the world. The contentious Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon, the Rosetta Stone, the gigantic bust of Rameses II, Egyptian mummies, and other exhibits are among the best-known.
Tower of London
The Tower of London is a 900-year-old castle that served as a significant London fortification, holding many notorious convicts and housing crown jewels. It is now a world heritage site. The Tower of London’s attractions includes the Jewel House, the Royal Mint, the Medieval Palace, the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula, and Tower Green, where executions took place.