The Best London Apps For First Time Visitors

You have booked your ticket to London for the first time and want to see as much as possible? After-all London has a seemingly endless offering of attractions, historic buildings, shopping, markets and more! We have been living in London for years and still haven’t seen or done it all! A good start however is installing some very useful apps to your phone!

 

When you have only a few days to see London, you need careful planning to make the most of your stay. Mobile apps on your smartphone are becoming more essential as they are now used as necessary guides to the best places to hang out, dine, shop, and visit. With thousands of apps now available on Apple Store and Google Play, there’s never been so much choice. Both stores are now a chock-full of quality free and paid apps that getting the best ones to perfectly suit your needs can be quite difficult. Choosing the best apps should not be a hassle, so we recommend these delights we believe will come in handy as soon as you land at Heathrow Airport.

The Best Free London Apps - Urban Stay

Picture: TransferWise

London Foodies Apps

London is a moveable feast, an endearing blend of the traditional and the contemporary. If you want to instantly find the trendiest restaurants and pubs, Dojo (Cost: Free; Available in iOS and Android) is the app you should not miss. You will be surprised to discover London’s prized finds – those secret gems which are actually the ‘best’ places to dine and drink – in one mobile app. It’s with Dojo that you can find upcoming food festivals and markets, underground night life, hidden bars and a whole lot more. Plus, you get insider tips and reviews as well as recommendations based on time and weather. The Dojo app is just so good that Boris Johnson commented, “Dojo is the way to enjoy London.”

When you have been at your most adventurous with food, you might want to check out London on a Plate (Cost: Free; Available for iOS only). This smartphone app is a luxurious guide to the capital’s best cuisine, has chock-full of dining ideas curated by author and journalist Charmain Ponnuthurai, food experts, and society celebrities all based in London. It offers impartial reviews on restaurants, useful tips on the best markets and food shops as well as recipes from chefs. It’s a great reference for people who wish to meet with their mates for lush treat.

 

London Shopaholics Apps

London has been renowned as the world’s most international shopping destination. From Bond Street to Westfield, from Oxford Street to Carnaby, London has a big surprise waiting to be revealed! For starters, you can use the Regent Street app (Cost: Free; Available in iOS and Android) to know the very best of what this famous shopping street has to offer. This smartphone app is making waves in the mobile world as London’s definitive guide to shopping. It offers a wide variety of choices from the world’s preeminent luxury brands, bespoke shops, restaurants, historical tours, maps, events and more. This app delivers ‘exclusive’ personalized recommendations of shops, promotions and more to visitors and shoppers. You also receive new in-store promotion alerts, upcoming events and offers, which are ranked by personal tastes and interests, to users.

If you want a treat for your senses round every corner, try the London Shopping Guide (Cost: Free; Available for: iOS and Android). It’s an incredibly handy app for shopping in the most gorgeous shopping hubs – from luxury stores like Harrods to bargain fashion at markets. You get directions that show where to find the nearest shops, thanks to its map views and superb photos. In addition, you see customer reviews and practical tips from shoppers about the store.

Best London Events Apps

Of course you want to see London’s most loved attractions! In this case try the London Official Events Guide (Cost: Free; Available for iOS and Android). It shows you London’s best tourist attractions and sights. Discover the London Eye, the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, Tate Modern, the Tower of London and more hidden gems. The best thing about using this app is that you also get additional useful information about London. Find out about today’s weather before you leave you London’s serviced apartments. Find nearby markets, restaurants and travel modes without incurring additional roaming charges.

You might want to find out more about the happenings in London’s North, South, East and Central neighbourhoods in real time with this spectacular app called Hype (Cost: Free; Available in iOS and Android). You get bits about the best coffee shops, art galleries, small quaint boutiques, and forthcoming events. Hype’s content is always revitalised, thanks to the app’s curators who are on the streets reporting live, so you get fresh and relevant content anytime.

London Tourist Attractions Apps

We want you to enjoy your days in London as safely and comfortably as possible. Try using the London Pocket Guide (Cost: Free; Available in iOS and Android). What does Pocket London Guide offer first-time London visitors?

  • 280 attractions
  • 50 shopping streets and shopping information
  • 2500 restaurants
  • Theatres and maps

The best part is, it’s updated every day!

The Pocket London Guide mobile app is considered by users and experts as the best visitor and travel information App on London.

And to optimise your commute and save money, we recommend using CityMapper (Cost: Free; Available for: iOS and Android). This app is considered ‘The Ultimate Transport App’, giving you get real-time routes and schedules for bus arrival times. Furthermore, it utilises Google Maps to provide travellers with transport options when they tap in a destination. It tells you the cost and time of a bus, train or taxi journey. In addition, if you are using Santander cycles or prefer to walk CityMapper even indicates those times to you as well. This critically acclaimed app is just so good that you will sorely miss it when you return home.

Now you know what we suggest, what apps do you think should be in your smartphone? If you would like to share your ideas and updates about us, please feel free to like our page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Best London Apps for First Tiem Visitors, Business Travellers and Locals - Urban Stay

Picture: Travelers Today