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Attracting millions of tourists from around the world each year, London is one of the most popular cities to visit in the world.
From Buckingham Palace to Big Ben and the London Eye, it is a capital rich in history and culture with numerous well-known monuments.
However, for every tourist who discovers a hidden gem in a pub or a secret spot known only to locals, there are many more who are lured by crowded or disappointing attractions.
On TikTok, content creator Ash, who uses the platform to give users tips and tricks on things to do in the UK, shared the tourist traps he would urge first-time visitors to avoid in the city.
Its examples include EL&N Cafe, a chain that claims to be “the world’s most Instagrammable cafe”, as well as the Heathrow Express.
Several of Ash’s points were related to the cost of the experiences and whether he thought they were worth it.
For example, an ongoing problem for Ash is the use of rickshaws in the city, as he warned of previous cases where he has seen tourists charge “between £50 and £70 for what is essentially a five-minute walk”.
Keep reading below to learn the tourist traps you should avoid in London, according to the TikTok user.
On TikTok, content creator Ash (pictured), who uses the platform to give users tips and tricks on things to do in the UK, shared the tourist traps he would urge first-time visitors to avoid in London.
Tourist buses
Moving on to one of the tourist traps you should avoid, Ash said that tour buses that follow routes exclusively near tourist sites are not worth the extra money compared to the price of a fare on a standard London bus.
Although many tickets include a walking tour with a specialist guide around selected London attractions, they can cost more than £30, while a single ticket on a regular London bus route costs just £1.75 for an adult.
With this in mind, Ash said the best London bus routes for spotting tourist attractions are routes 11 and 24.
The number 11 bus runs from Fulham Town Hall to Waterloo Station via Chelsea, Sloane Square, Victoria and Westminster, giving you the opportunity to stop and see numerous sights such as Westminster Abbey.
The number 24 runs from Pimlico to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, via Victoria, Westminster, Leicester Square and Camden, offering plenty of opportunities to explore the heart of London.
Heathrow Express
While Ash admits that the Heathrow Express is not a tourist trap as it is the quickest and most convenient way to get to central London from the city’s largest and busiest airport, it is also the most expensive form of public transport.
Attracting millions of tourists from around the world each year, London is one of the most popular cities to visit in the world.
Although it takes just 25 minutes to get to London Paddington station on the Heathrow Express, a single adult ticket costs a staggering £25 if you don’t book your ticket in advance.
This price is dwarfed by the cost of a TfL fare on the Piccadilly or Elizabeth Line, and a trip to Leicester Square from the airport costs less than the Express.
EL&N Coffee
During his clip, Ash highlighted EL&N Cafe, a chain that claims to be “the most Instagrammable coffee shop in the world.”
A sleek and stylish neon pink interior at its various central London locations can add credibility to that claim.
Ash said that while “you might be tempted by the bright pink shop and the flowers on the wall… this place has the worst food and worst service in all of London.”
He added that the prices are “on par with Selfridge’s”, before stating that “it wasn’t worth going just to take pictures with a dusty pink wall”.
Alternatively, Ash advised tourists to try local coffee shops, recommending Monmouth Coffee, which has branches in Covent Garden, Borough and Bermondsey.
Ash highlighted EL&N Cafe (pictured), a chain that claims to be “the most Instagrammable coffee shop in the world.”
Rickshaws
A constant concern for Ash is the use of rickshaws in the city, as he warned of previous cases where he has seen tourists charge between “between £50 and £70 for what is essentially a five-minute walk”.
He pleaded: ‘Please don’t ride these rickshaws, let’s get them off the streets of London. They’re a nuisance, they’re a scam, they overcharge people.’