"How not to look like a tourist. September 2009" London Travelogue by leics

A warmish day, with a chilly start.

Dry but mostly overcast. When the sun shone (for about 45 minutes) it was really rather warm. I was able to take my light fleece off by about 12.30 and just wear a short-sleeved t-shirt.

So how can you easily spot the visitors (and you can)?

Same as ever:

High heels, smart jacket (and map in hand)

1. Over-smart dress. Suits, high heels, loads of jewellery and make-up just scream 'not local' (and/or 'very rich indeed and worth targeting' if you are a pickpocket).

We don't dress up to go to the shops or visit the sights or wander around town or meet our friends in the pub.

We dress up for work, and we dress up for going out in the evening.

The visor.

2. Sun visors.....we don't wear them. There is rarely enough sun for sunglasses, never mind visors!

3. Dark sunglasses when it is not sunny. In the UK it is usually not sunny. You are either a shady character with something to hide, or a visitor from a sunnier country (which is most of them).

4. Baseball caps if you are over 25-ish. Baseball caps are for younger men, or for working in the garden/garage etc. They are not for wandering around town.

The huge daypack

5. The map-in-hand and the huge daypack with ample water.

If we carry water at all, it's just a small bottle in the hand (being drunk as we go) or hidden in a bag. We know where to get a drink if we are thirsty, so no need to carry it around. And you can drink tap water in the UK anyway.

The tucked-in smartness (and baseball cap)

6. The tucked-in squeaky-clean smartness of your 'casual' wear.

As a general rule, if we are casual we are very casual indeed.

Tucked-in-ness is not the norm for visiting sights, wandering the shops, going to the pub etc. Nor is ''squeaky clean smart casual'.

Much too smart. And the socks!

7. The bum-bag (fanny-pack). Maybe people are finally realising that these are really not a good idea unless you are a cyclist: I only saw 2 all day this time (both on visitors).

No-one else uses them. They absolutely scream 'I am a visitor and I have all my important bits and pieces right here in this bag'. Any pickpocket worthy of the name will slice it open or cut the strap, whip it off and be away (e.g. in a crowded Tube station) before you even realise it's gone.

Please, do not use a fanny-pack!

8. Over-the-knee socks. Not in fashion at the moment (haven't been for several years) and only ever seen on visitors.

Fur is really not a good idea

9. Do not wear fur.

Anything made of fur, really, although obvious fake fur is tolerable.

Only a very, very few (usually only the very rich and mostly even they are not from the UK) wear real fur in public over here. It is simply no longer acceptable.

Apologies for the blurriness. She was rushing across the road!

Shorts.

10. Shorts.

Do be careful.

If it is not boiling hot or you are not going to engage in sports activities (you'd see shorts on local men in those situations) shorts are really not a good idea.

Tucking your t-shirt into your shorts is not the norm in the UK. Anywhere, anytime.

This man is a visitor. His female companion is carrying the map......

Having said all that, the really important thing to remember is that no-one in London (or elsewhere in the UK) actually gives two hoots what you are wearing.

Unless you are going to work or to a posh restaurant or to some pubs/nightclubs there are no dress rules.

So dress for your own comfort and pleasure. If you really want to look like a 'local' (whatever that may be in this massively multi-cultural metropolis) wear jeans, t-shirt, trainers (sports shoes) and carry any type of bag except a daypack. Keep your camera and map out of sight unless you actually need them.

Sounds like far too much hassle? Then stop worrying about looking like a tourist, and just enjoy your visit! :-)