{"id":34582,"date":"2024-07-30T13:56:36","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T13:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/?p=34582"},"modified":"2025-12-18T18:46:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T18:46:03","slug":"meet-the-real-london-locals-debunk-10-myths-about-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/meet-the-real-london-locals-debunk-10-myths-about-london\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Real London: Locals Debunk 10 Myths About London"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When it comes to myths about London, locals often say the same ones (no, it\u2019s not always gray and rainy here), but there are a few in this list that might surprise you. We asked Londoners on our team, including some expats who relocated to London, to share preconceptions visitors always have that simply aren\u2019t true. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We think it\u2019s time to put these myths to rest once and for all. It\u2019s good for any traveler to know. Plus, we share travel tips based on \u2014 wait for it \u2014 the real London! So you learn not only what isn\u2019t true but what is and what you should do to make your trip even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planning a trip to the U.K. capital? Here are the top myths about London that we\u2019re debunking before you visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth #1: Londoners only drink tea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"London<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They don\u2019t just drink it \u2014 they have a specific time set aside for it. A fancy sit-down tea with scones and cakes and cucumber sandwiches is the \u201cDownton Abbey\u201d-inspired fantasy many of us non-Londoners have of England. (\u201cAnd now I\u2019ll have a cup of tea, and one of those nice cucumber sandwiches you promised me,\u201d Lady Bracknell famously tells her nephew in Oscar Wilde\u2019s \u201cThe Importance of Being Earnest.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether they\u2019re sitting down to a cuppa in the afternoon or at 5 p.m. for a \u201ctea\u201d supper, as some northern English counties call their evening meal<\/a>, surely all Londoners prefer tea to coffee? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s real:<\/strong> While they do drink tea \u2014 and you can get some excellent traditional cream teas in the top hotels \u2014 Londoners are big coffee drinkers. In addition to Starbucks, you\u2019ll find U.K. chains like Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero, and Coffee Republic on every corner, as well as any number of independent coffee shops where you can order a flat white or, if you so desire, a cup of tea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth #2: Big Ben is a clock tower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Big<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The clock tower of Big Ben on the Palace of Westminster is one of the jewels of London\u2019s skyline. Can you think of a film set in London that doesn\u2019t include at least one shot of this iconic site? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big Ben even takes the world record for largest four-faced chiming clock and is the third largest clock tower. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s real:<\/strong> Everything I said about the clock tower is true except for one thing: the name. Big Ben is actually the name of the largest of five bells inside of what is known as Elizabeth Tower. The bell weighs more than 13 tons, so you can understand why it took 18 hours to lift it into the 200-foot clock tower back in 1859. That\u2019s when Big Ben first rang, and despite a crack that formed after two months in service, it\u2019s been ringing ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\"St\n\t\t\t\"Changing\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe must-see sights of London with travel by luxury coach<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

London in a Day Tour With Thames Cruise and Optional London Eye<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

Myth #3: It\u2019s always gray and rainy in London<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

London is certainly not known for its warm, sunny weather. Isn\u2019t it true that most Londoners leave the house each day with an umbrella, and isn\u2019t there usually rain in the forecast? Seriously, we don\u2019t know why the English don\u2019t say, \u201cKeep calm and carry a big umbrella.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s real:<\/strong> The capital has lots of sunny days that can be spent taking a London walking tour<\/a> or spending time in one of its beautiful green parks. If you do have a rainy day during your trip, there are plenty of museums or shows to see on the West End where you can have fun and stay dry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth #4: Londoners are unfriendly <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"London<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how this myth goes. Compared to southern European cities like in Rome<\/a> and our Barcelona tours<\/a>, London just isn\u2019t as friendly or welcoming. The people are always in a rush, and they don\u2019t like to chat with strangers (especially if you\u2019re a tourist). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s real:<\/strong> Londoners are very polite, so it might seem like they\u2019re being cold when you encounter them on the street or in the tube. But get them in a pub, and you\u2019ll see a whole different side come out. And while you\u2019re in that pub, be sure to try their Sunday roast! This British staple that includes meat with gravy, roasted potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding is a great way to warm up to locals over a pint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funny enough, New Yorkers often get the same reputation for being unfriendly, which simply isn\u2019t true. Next time you\u2019re in the Big Apple, take one of our NYC tours<\/a> and you\u2019ll see how warm and welcoming this city can be!    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth #5: All they eat in London is fish and chips <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Fish<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

British food, on the whole, gets a lot of criticism for being bland and tasteless or fried and greasy. The dish most people associate with England is fish and chips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You traditionally eat the fried fish and french fries with salt and vinegar for an extra kick. It definitely isn\u2019t health food. Is this all the locals eat? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s real:<\/strong> British food has lots of great dishes, like savory pies, toad in the hole, and sticky toffee pudding, but London is a culinary capital on a global scale. You\u2019ll find restaurants serving not only British food but also some of the very best food from around the world \u2014 from West African to Thai to French and more. It\u2019s a melting pot of the finest flavors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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London Borough Market Food Tour<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

Myth #6: There are CC lampposts named for Coco Chanel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"CC<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While walking around the Westminster council district<\/a>, you might notice lampposts with an interlocking CC design reminiscent of the famous Chanel logo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story goes that the French fashion designer Coco Chanel had a decade-long affair with the second Duke of Westminster in the 1920s, and the lampposts were meant to be a declaration of his love. Each lamppost also has a large \u201cW,\u201d which many people assume was the Duke\u2019s signature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s real:<\/strong> Not this love story, unfortunately. The \u201cW\u201d stands for the council of Westminster, and the \u201cCC\u201d simply stands for city council. These lampposts also weren\u2019t even installed until the 1950s, long after Chanel\u2019s affair with the Duke. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth #7: A vampire roams Highgate Cemetery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by \u16b1\ud83c\udf44\ud83c\udf3f Allison (@afoggyforest)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>