My First London Trip: 5-Day Adventure & Lessons Learned! ✈️

Just got back from a last-minute London getaway (booked Tuesday, flew Friday!). Let AI plan my itinerary—not perfect, but packed with fun! Sharing my do’s & don’ts for first-timers: ⚠️ Key Takeaways 1️⃣ Book Attractions Early British Museum: Free but needs timed entry (I barely got a slot!). London Pass: Saves ££ if hitting multiple spots (thanks to a fellow traveler’s tip!). 2️⃣ Budget Realities Prices sting: £1 ≈ $1.3 USD. Service charge: 10-12.5% added (no extra tip needed). No VAT refunds—don’t bother researching! 3️⃣ Food Tempered Expectations Hotpot shock: £100+ at Haidilao 😱. Hotel meals surprised me (included breakfast + £150 dining credit helped!). 4️⃣ Weather Woes Sunburn alert: UK sun is sneaky strong—sunglasses & SPF saved me! 5️⃣ Train Troubles Non-English speakers: Trains can be confusing (delays, platform changes). Stick to Tube where possible! 🏨 Hotel: The Londoner (Leicester Square) 📍 Perfect location: 2-min to Tube, 5-min to Chinatown/West End. 🎁 Perks: "Stay 3, get 1 free" + free breakfast + daily Walker’s cookies (unused, alas) + tea gift! 🌟 Highlights: AI-planned route: Stress-free but always double-check timings. London Pass: Worth it for Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, etc. #LondonFirstTimer #UKTravel #SoloTravel #TravelHacks #AIPlanner ✨