Estimated Read Time: 2 Minutes

London is one of the most iconic cities in the world but some of the most surprising things about it aren’t in the guidebooks. From the quiet Tube rides to cozy cushions on the subway, here are five things I didn’t expect until I visited.

1. People Don’t Really Use Umbrellas
I expected London to be full of umbrellas — it’s famous for rain, right? But what I didn’t realize is that it rarely pours. It’s more like a light drizzle, and most people just wear a coat or hood and keep walking. I was surprised by how few umbrellas I saw, even on rainy days.

2. The Tube Is Super Narrow — and Has Cushions!
Compared to New York’s wide subways, the Tube felt tiny. The trains are narrow, the ceilings are low, and the seats have… cushions? That totally caught me off guard. It felt oddly cozy for public transit.

3. People Are Surprisingly Quiet and Polite
Especially on the Tube, everyone is incredibly quiet. No loud convos, no music, no phone calls — just people minding their own business. Also, the politeness stood out: people say “sorry” even when you bump into them. It made the city feel more relaxed than I expected.

4. London Feels Like… Every Other City (Sort Of)
This might sound obvious, but London felt a lot like other big cities: busy, fast-paced, and commercial. That said, I’m so glad I took time to go outside of the city — the smaller towns and historical sites around London gave me a much deeper connection to the area’s culture and history.

5. Most Museums Are Free
This was such a nice surprise! Major museums like the British Museum, the National Gallery, and the Natural History Museum are completely free to enter. It made exploring the city’s culture feel super accessible — and you don’t need to plan (or budget) for everything.