5 tips for avoiding the crowds in London

Trying to get around the busiest city in the UK can be quite difficult, especially if it’s your first time. It’s no secret that London is known for having big crowds and long queues but there are ways to avoid them.

Whether you’re planning your first trip to our hotels in London City or you’ve been to the Montcalm Royal London House plenty of times before, avoiding the crowds will make your trip much more enjoyable and less stressful. Here are some top tips to help you along the way.

Plan your destinations

Before you even step foot in the Montcalm Royal London House or board a train, it’s a good idea to plan your trip and prepare in advance. You don’t want to take away the element of surprise and ruin your adventure but having an idea of the places you want to visit before you get to London will help you plan your route and reduce the amount of time you have to spend in crowds trying to find your way around.

Avoid peak time travel

Public transport is unavoidable while travelling around London. The Tube is the quickest and easiest way to get around the city which is exactly why it gets so busy at peak times. If you’re planning to spend the day out visiting London’s many famous attractions, make sure you leave and return outside of peak times. Avoid using public transport around mid-morning and late afternoon as this is when the commuters ascend.

Invest in pre-paid tickets

There’s nothing worse than having to spend the majority of your day stood in a queue. Whether you’re waiting for Tube tickets or queuing at the entrance of a famous attraction, standing around wastes valuable time that you could be spending having fun. Before heading to London, it’s worth investing in a tourist Oyster Card to make travel a lot quicker. Also, there are various passes and pre-paid tickets that will grant you a queue jump at many of the city’s attractions.

Go for a walk

Although public transport is the quickest way to get around the city, it can also be the most stressful. Big crowds and long queues always occur on the Underground and at train stations so it can sometimes be better to go for a walk. Exploring London on foot will help you avoid busy stations and will also give you a chance to get lost and discover some of the hidden gems around the backstreets and squares.

Visit alternative attractions

It’s easy to fall into the tourist traps and get caught up in the crowd. There are certain famous landmarks that have to be ticked off your bucket list but if you’re trying to avoid the masses, consider checking out some of London’s alternative and lesser-known places. Smaller markets are a great alternative to the big department stores and smaller museums and galleries will often attract smaller crowds.