10 London Tourist Attractions You Should Skip

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I was born and raised in the UK. My Dad is originally from London, my Mum is not. My Dad loved taking us to London to see the sights, my Mum wasn’t as keen. She thought it too big, too busy and way too touristy. She’s right on all accounts. But London can be so much more. And that’s why I’m glad I’ve managed to inherit my Dad’s appreciation for his hometown. You have to know where to go in London. But it’s equally important to know where not to go. London is full of overrated tourist hotspots that get all the air time and ultimately give people a bad impression of the city. That’s why I’ve put together this guide on the London tourist attractions you can skip on your next trip.

Are These London Tourist Attractions Really Worth Seeing?

We all know about some of the more popular things to do in London. Anything to do with the Royal family, a plethora of museums, and of course a pint of beer in a proper English pub. But while some of the sights are worth seeing, there are others that you should probably skip. They’ve become the check boxes you need to mark off on your trip, that end up taking a lot more of your time than you want. And time that could be spent doing way more interesting and unique things in this beautiful city. Some of the alternatives can also save you a bit of money, perfect for anyone traveling on a budget. So what are these overrated places in London?

Trafalgar Square

London’s Trafalgar Square has one saving grace. The pedestrianized public square means you can breathe for a second after spending the day dodging traffic and big red buses. But you’ll instead spend your time dodging people as it’s always packed.

But what’s actually there? A decent view down Whitehall to The Houses of Parliament. A couple of cool lion statues you’ll never photograph because people don’t stop climbing them. And Nelson’s Column, commemorating a battle that the average British person wouldn’t be able to pin point the date of, let alone a poor tourist.

The National Portrait Gallery at the back of Trafalgar Square is a great free activity if you like art, but avoid the square itself at all costs.

London Phone Box

For a lot of people their trip to London isn’t complete without a photograph in one of the city’s iconic red telephone boxes. Hey, I’ve done it myself in the past. But in all honesty it’s an overrated picture that’s filled with more awkwardness than anything as you’ll no doubt have to wait in a line of other Instagrammers.

This is one of the London tourist attractions I recommend you skip. You can take a lot of photos around this beautiful city that will prove you were here. And they’re far more photogenic than a disused, probably graffitied phone box.

Harrods Department Store

Harrods might have been a unique London store back in the day. But now it’s an overpriced high street department store with many items that can be found in a number of other places for cheaper. Save yourself a disappointing shopping experience – either because it’s too busy to look around or because you’re filled with disappointment at not being able to afford anything.

The building itself is nice to look at if you’re walking down Knightsbridge. However if you’re still in the mood for luxury shopping I would recommend the older Burlington Arcade. With its beautiful European inspired partial glass roof and private police force known as the Beadles this is a unique shopping experience. Just remember to abide by the rules: no whistling, humming, singing, hurrying or behaving boisterously.

Shopping On Oxford Street

While we’re talking about shopping, I’m putting Oxford Street on this list. There’s nothing really special about Oxford Street other than the fact that people go there because it’s Oxford Street. Famous for its shopping, yet almost every store can be found in at least one other location in London. It’s all the usual high street stores you get anywhere in the UK. And Oxford Street at Christmas time? Forget it.

There are many more pleasant London tourist attractions than a busy shopping street with generic shops. Why not look for some of the more unique shops in London. Nearby Carnaby Street has a lot of shopping and it’s likely going to be busy too, but many of the stores are independent and have much more interesting items than Topshop on Oxford Street.

Number 10 Downing Street

Number 10 Downing Street might be London’s second most famous residence, but it’s all a bit of a let down. It’s not like standing in front of the gates to the gloriously magnificent Buckingham Palace. Downing Street is closed to the public and the closest you can get is a view from Whitehall.

The most you can see is a street sign at the police guarded gate where if you squint and wish really hard you might make out a door number on a row of very generic looking British houses. Unless you happen to be there when the Prime Minister steps out of the door this will be a largely uneventful visit, and one place I would definitely skip.

Abbey Road

Speaking of uneventful streets. Abbey Road was made famous on the cover of the 1969 album by the same name from the Beatles. Arguable the most famous band in the world, many try to recreate the iconic album cover of the Fab Four crossing the road at the intersection of Grove End Road.

But you’re not The Beatles so the most you’re going to achieve is holding up traffic on a busy road while you try to recreate a picture. Also, Abbey Road is not really close to any other London tourist attractions you may want to visit. So you’ll likely spend valuable time on your London trip going out of your way for this photo opportunity. Like the red phone box, there are better ones out there.

The London Eye

The London Eye has been popular since it was opened in 2000. But how good is a view in a city where, let’s face it, rain and grey skies are more likely than sunny clear days? If the London Eye wasn’t almost £30 it might be a cool afternoon activity, but there are better London tourist attractions to spend your money on.

London definitely isn’t a cheap city, but you can still get some nice views for a fraction of the price. For under £20 you can visit the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral for some stellar scenes over London. The Tate Modern Gallery on London’s South Bank, not far from the London Eye, is free to enter and even has a viewing platform located on the 10th Floor. I would say this is a much more cost efficient way to see the city than the London Eye.

Ride a Red Bus

A red double decker bus is another clear symbol that you’ve arrived in London. Much like the red phone box it is so incredibly British. Therefore London isn’t short of buses and there are plenty of opportunities to photograph them without having to get on one. A ride on a London bus isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Between the bus stops and the traffic it can be a painfully slow experience. And even if it isn’t too busy to take your photo on, it could look like any old bus.

Gone are the days you could jump on the back of the bus for a photo opportunity, hanging on like the street cars of San Francisco. Instead you’ll be ushered through the door by Sharon and her bajillion Primark bags, taking 20 minutes to get 5 blocks away. If you want to get around London, the quickest and most efficient way is the Tube, the London Underground train.

River Thames Dinner Cruise

It might seem like a romantic night, but dinner cruises are often an overrated experience and one you should probably avoid. Around £80-100 per person, even as London tourist attractions go this is quite pricey. There are nicer restaurants to eat at in the city for a much lower cost.

The Thames itself is not a beautiful, glistening river. It’s brown and murky and great from a distance. But otherwise is more concurrent with the river in the Simpsons that produces the 3-eyed fish. Instead I recommend a (free) stroll along the South Bank of the Thames to Southwark. Or if you really want to get on the water you could do one of the much cheaper Thames boat rides during the day and save your money for a better dinner somewhere else.

Madame Tussauds

The original Madame Tussaud was a really interesting person with a fantastic talent. But it’s the waxwork figures of celebrities that really make this one of the London tourist attractions that people flock to, not the history. There’s no denying the figures are well made, but over £30 to view them seems a little excessive to me. No-one is going to believe you met the Beckhams, Rihanna or the Queen in full ceremonial regalia just walking around London anyway. Skip this and spend your money on some of London’s better exhibits.

There are a number of free museums in London that have way more to see and do than Madame Tussauds. And instead of a recently created interpretation of a celebrity, you can see actual historical artifacts. If you want to see something cool I recommend the Natural History Museum complete with dinosaur skeleton collection.

The Best Way To Enjoy London

London is an incredible city. The main areas of London are all rather walkable, and there’s the Tube train if you need to travel further. The city is expensive, but there are cheaper options if you do your research. Most London travel guides are filled with the things you must do but rarely do they tell you the things to skip. My favorite way to enjoy London is just to walk around and look at the sights. Plan one or two things each day you really want to see and fill the rest of the day up by wandering around the city. Find some good food, explore those hidden streets and take advantage of the outdoor areas such as the large city parks. Don’t fall for the usual tourist traps and you’ll probably find you like London a lot more.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Which London tourist attractions do you think are overrated? Are there any hidden gems you would recommend?