London is difficult to put a finger on.

In addition to being absurdly large in dimension with too many Tube stops going in too many directions, the city contains labyrinthian cobbled roads that seem to wind in on themselves, continually leading the wandering visitor back to where she started. All too easily, you could spend a lifetime getting to know London. Every street corner pub adorned with flower pots overflowing summer blossoms; every colorful tea emporium sweetly scented with the fragrances of the wildest flavors imaginable; every subway ride bringing you to a distinctly unique borough of the city, making the ascent from underground to ground level a journey into a beautiful unknown…. Not to fall in love with it all would be an offense.

I wish I could know London intimately, befriend its private backstreets and narrow mews, understand it from quiet daybreak to bustling nightfall. In perhaps a self-indulgent attempt to believe I even grasped a pinprick of knowledge about this city, I’ve compiled a little list of ways to break the ice with the stunningly enigmatic world that is London.

1. Give out kindness as readily as London gives you rain. There will be people who welcome you blindly, and there will be those who do not. Some places require toughness and urgency; however, in London, I think a soft heart pumps the lifeblood through these streets. I have seen tender smiles exchanged between strangers, good-natured advice given to those who seek it, and compassion shown on busy Tube rides. If you play into the kindness here, it will be returned to you.
2. Bring an umbrella everywhere, but also bring sunglasses. London chooses to keep its inhabitants on their toes by contradicting every weather prediction ever made. If the forecast warns of rain, the sky will comply, but only for about thirty minutes before convincing you that a sunny summer day will always prevail over a wet one. And then it’ll break your heart twenty minutes later by dousing you in a torrential downpour. So, in your sophisticated, London-appropriate black handbag, do keep both sunglasses and an umbrella. You will need both on the same day.
3. If you really want to blend in with the style in London, be sure to pack mainly black items, like the aforementioned handbag. Tight black pants, a black top, black jacket, black shades, and white or black Adidas sneakers if you’re going for a more casual look. This is not an overstatement; the “London look” at the moment truly appears to be one in favor of dark shades with the occasional pop of color. Red lipstick, perhaps. A bold necklace. A funky pair of shoes. Just no garish hues or oversized, baggy clothes lest you scream “tourist” louder than Big Ben can chime.

   

4. To really delve into local culture in the most unassuming way possible, duck into a grocery store if you happen upon one. Pleasing mainly to the foodies of the world, international grocery stores are perhaps the most transparent indicator that you are in another country. One shocking, notably un-American quality of London’s supermarkets is that they do not refrigerate their eggs. Additionally, they have the most astounding selection of single-serving chilled desserts, such as puddings, mini cakes, parfaits, and more. These sound like insignificant aspects of a majorly fascinating city, but it’s the minute details of a place that give it character, aside from the glamour and prestige of well-known landmarks and monuments. So, indulge in a miniature chocolate mousse from where the locals buy their milk and produce. Maybe even try a Crunchie bar (perhaps the greatest candy ever invented and really only found in the UK and Ireland).
5. Visit the mews. Those quiet alleyways lined with petite buildings (once stables) and rough, cobblestoned earth were at a time populated by servants and horse-drawn carriages, acting as service roads behind the wealthy Georgian homes of London’s elite residents. Now they are residential areas, unique and charming for their history. Take a walk through those narrow little roads for a picturesque reminder of how London used to be.

“A bad day in London is still better than a good day anywhere else.” -Unknown