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🇬🇧 London Travel News 🇬🇧 ​ ​🏰 St James’s Palace, a royal palace built by Henry VIII, is preparing to open to the public for the first time in 500 years. ​ ✈️ Hungry before take off? Check out this ranking of Heathrow Airport’s top restaurants.​ ​ 🚕 Black cabs could vanish from London, this report warns.

Hi Reader,

You’ve probably heard the phrase “London is expensive” more times than you can count. And while, yes, it can be true—your wallet might feel a little lighter after a trip here—what people don’t talk about enough is how many visitors make it even more expensive for themselves without realizing it.

A hotel that looks like a great deal… until you realize the location adds an extra £££ a day in transport costs (and time!) Or a popular attraction that isn’t worth the price. And falling for a tourist trap because it was trending on TikTok...

The truth is, overspending in London often comes down to a few small but costly decisions.

But don’t worry— YOU won’t be making those mistakes.

In today’s London Letter, I’m breaking down the top mistakes that could cost you extra cash, plus how to do royal London properly without paying a king’s ransom.

Here’s what’s inside:

⚠️ The biggest mistakes to be aware of
👑 The ultimate royal London experiences
❌ The sneakiest scams to watch out for in the city
🐇 What to do on Easter weekend in London
🎁 Unique souvenirs to bring home from your trip

Let’s get into it ⬇️

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🏩 5 BIG London hotel mistakes (that will cost you money)

If you haven’t booked your London hotel yet, then don’t do it until you read this article ⚠️ I tell you some of the most common hotel mistakes tourists like you make that end up costing them money or time when visiting London. So you can make sure you’re not one of ‘em!

But listen up: accommodation is not the only London thing that might empty your pockets. From overhyped attractions to pricey restaurants and everything in between, there’s a lot to look out for in a big city like London.

Luckily you don’t have to spend hours researching it, because I smashed all the tips into this one video.

Enough mistakes! Now off to something that is actually worth your time and money ⬇️

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👑 How to do all things royal on your London trip
​Sponsored

If you love royalty and want to soak it up when you're in London, here's how you can do the most without going into royal overload.

There are some key places to visit for a royal immersion: Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, and Westminster Abbey are the top three IMO, and doing them with a knowledgeable tour guide who can help you skip the lines and tell you the stories of the most important parts of these expansive icons is THE move 👌👌

💂‍♀️ For Buckingham Palace, if you're visiting July - September, this tour takes you inside the palace's State Rooms, or opt to see the world-famous Changing the Guard ceremony on one of these tours.

🫖 For history, pageantry, and elegance, this tour takes you through the city's most beautiful Royal Parks and to Kensington Palace, once home to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Diana, Princess of Wales. You'll also have a luxurious afternoon tea in the Palace's Orangery.

🔔 To see where the royal family has had coronations, weddings, and funerals, hop onto this tour to sail right past the lines at Westminster Abbey and hear all about the impressive interiors and

history of this church. You'll see the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries too, home to many royal treasures.

Ready for a few days of royalty in London? Head over to Walks to book one or more of their London tours.

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⚡️ Other helpful advice for your London trip

🐇 What to do on Easter weekend - some places might be closed for the holiday, but there are a ton of fun activities around the city. Make sure you’re prepared.

☕️ Scams to avoid - check out our list of London’s seven most common scams, so you can be ready and STAY CLEAR.

🎁 9 unique souvenirs to get in London - forget the plastic mini-Big Ben or the “Mind the Gap” t-shirt. These are the coolest souvenirs in London.

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❓Question of the week

I saw this recently posted in our ​Facebook Travel Community​ 👇🏻👇🏻

I know, London transport can be tricky... But I've got you.

To be honest, most tourists won't encounter a pink card reader. They pop up only at a few stations, where people are changing between tube and train or overground. It's to ensure you're charged the right amount if you're doing a change, since tube and train/overground are in theory, different systems.

Confused? Don't worry, most Londoners don't even understand these things. Just know this— if you see one, you should only tap your card on it if you are not at the end of your journey, because you're changing to another line.
Otherwise, if you're about to finish your journey, don't tap.

And if you want to learn more about London transport, I have a full guide on that! Check it out here.​

If you have a question you'd like me to answer in a future newsletter, reply to this email and I might answer it next week.

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Congrats to everyone who aced last week’s trivia! 👉 The correct answer is “Piccadilly Circus to Leicester Square” ✅ This journey is just 853 feet (260 metres), making it the shortest distance between Tube stops in the entire city. Definitely walkable, if you’re able to.

And this week’s question is ⬇️

What London area are you planning to stay in? 🤔 Central London: near the sights and landmarks you’ve seen in movies 💂‍♀️ East London: artsy, eclectic and buzzy for a glimpse into what London is like for those who live here 🎨 West London: posh, elegant and leafy 🌳 North London: music-inspired, good vibes 🎶 South London: diverse, unique and affordable 🍽

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Thank you for reading The London Letter ❤️ Jess Dante Founder, Love and London, Love and Paris and Voyagr​

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