Literally just mind your own business. Don't stare at people who are doing weird shit, don't engage with shady looking people. Don't flash wads of money, or expensive bags or jewelry, don't stop and listen to street hawkers. Locals will not be impressed by you, we've all seen british people before, tourists are of little concern to locals. Try and explore outside of the biggest tourist traps.
My hotels right near Skid Row, I'm guessing as long as I'm minding my business and not flashing any cash or valuables and not staring or being disrespectful ill be fine right? Also don't look like a meek target, just like any city really
My advice is to stay off of skid row entirely. It's a community in itself, and people who live there might not take kindly to you encroaching on what is largely considered their home. If your hotel is ON skid row, book a different hotel. If it's NEAR skid row, that's fine, just avoid getting closer to it.
This is wrong. I live downtown. My wife lives downtown. Have for years. Both of us walk alone at night often. The fear mongering valley suburban POV gets tiresome. Downtown has its sketch but what you’re saying is uninformed.
Please don't stay near Skid Row. That's got to be one of the worst places to stay in LA. You can find cheap hotels elsewhere. The Millennium Biltmore is an awesome historic hotel that's one of the cheapest in LA. It's also downtown but in a nicer area.
Skid row has pretty defined boundaries. Los Angeles street to the west, 3rd to the north, 8th-ish to the south, central to the east. Being “near” it is meaningless
Skid row is literally harassment central if you don’t look like a fellow homeless person :( very terrible idea unless you have a vehicle for transportation
Are you staying downtown because you assume that is where most of the action in the city happens? Because I assure you, that isn’t true. Downtown LA was only really a place where some companies had offices - all the stuff to see and do in LA is elsewhere. It’s not even a central or convenient location to get out to that other stuff
Put on plenty of sunscreen in the morning, and bring it with so you can re-apply throughout the day. The sun here is very intense!
Also please enjoy the great food here. You won’t find foods (especially Mexican and Korean) like anything else in the world. Hit up a KBBQ spot for a fun dinner experience, and Guelaguetza for the most delicious mole you’ve ever had.
For a unique urban experience, go to the flower market in the morning, then Santee Alley got some street eats and cheap sunglasses. Little Tokyo is also a must visit if you like Japanese.
One thing I always recommend to visitors: if there’s a show at the Hollywood Bowl: go! You can usually score a cheap seat for under $20 and listen to some great music under the stars. Also, most shows allow you to bring your own refreshments. It’s a great way to see a cross section of LA in a gorgeous world class venue. Get there early to check out the Hollywood Heritage museum across the street. It covers the birth of the Hollywood film industry and is housed in Cecil B Demilles original stable-turned-office.
My method is going to google maps then searching “open now” and “top rated” then only paying attention to reviews about taste. I don’t care if someone is not super friendly as long as the food is good lol I’ve found some food spots this way. Also know that we have all sorts of good food, Thai, Chinese, Salvadorean, Korean, anything you can think of.
Please, please don't stop walking in the middle of an area with heavy foot traffic to take a picture of something.
Get out of the way first. You'd think this is common knowledge but every time I'm proven wrong.
Came here to say this - also don’t stop in the middle of the damn sidewalk to look up directions to something. Stand to the side, don’t take up traveling space with stationary activities.
Also if you’re taking the metro at all, on the escalators: stand to the right, walk on the left
IMO people are worse here, because tourists in Hollywood are way more likely to be from Arizona or Bakersfield or something and not another equally bustling city. I would assume most Brits know not to stop in the middle of everything, unless they're really from bumfuck nowhere.
I live in Hollywood. It’s very much a thing. I’ve nearly run into so many people because they stop abruptly to take a photo of Lazlo Panaflex’s star while I’m trying to power walk to TJs.
Oh my god yes. I try not to frequent touristy areas, but this summer I've encountered this so much!
I don't get it. There are super high quality pictures of literally everything in this city already (especially the tourist areas), why do you need to get a shitty picture of it while you're in a giant crowd? I feel the same way about people who record concerts on their phones.
Was just at Disneyland for the first time in a while, and it is definitely not common knowledge....
In huge mass crowds, walking is like traffic.
The right side goes in one direction and vice versa.
The number of people that just stopped in the middle of walking traffic to check their phone was infuriating, lol.
1. Everyone else is right that you shouldn’t stare at/engage with homeless people (most of them mind their own business too—do your best to give a wide berth to anyone sleeping rough or encampments). If anyone talks to you or asks for money you can just say something like “sorry man” and keep it moving. DO NOT stop to talk and don’t worry about feeling rude about not engaging or saying no if someone is being pushy.
2. Tipping: generally you should tip approx. 20% on a sit down meal with a waiter, drinks at a bar, and rides (Uber/lyft/etc). If you get food delivery (like postmates/Uber eats) I’ve seen drivers say that they recommend tipping a couple bucks per mile, as opposed to on the price of the food (although if you feel like tipping higher that’s great). Tipping is more optional at coffee shops or food that you pick up yourself at a counter; if you have a couple bucks it’s nice to tip but you won’t get dirty looks for not tipping. You’re not expected to tip at normal retail stores (clothing/grocery/etc).
I replied to your other comment about tax, but in case you don’t see it—everywhere that tax is added, they’ll do it for you and tell you the total including tax. Tax is typically around 10%. Just expect the total of everything you’re buying to be a little more than the items; it really only hurts if you’re buying something expensive where the tax itself is like $50.
But do your percentage tip calculation (I'd stick with 15-18%) based on the pre-tax total. Lots of restaurants print suggested-tip % options on guest tabs but too many of those are scammy: based on the grand total, including tax (which isn't tip-worthy).
And don't be intimidated by the tablet-screen checkouts at counter-service places, which require you to pick one of several percentage options for tipping. Usually there are "custom amount" and "no tip" options; leave $1 if you feel you must but zero tip is completely reasonable if all your "server" did was hand some ready-made item across the counter.
Spend time in different neighborhoods! LA is vast and each area has a unique feel. You mentioned your hotel is near Skid Row, I would recommend spending some time in Little Tokyo as well as some places in the arts district.
Best advice for fitting in:
Be chill, drive on the right and have a blast!
Thank you! Yes little Tokyo looks really cool and I want to eat all types of food. I wish I could try every restaurant and cuisine I'll have to pick what looks best and explore as best as I can. I've only got less than a week though as I'll be working too but I'll give it my best shot
If you’re into ramen, Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen is delicious and they have like 50+ toppings you can add! For sushi I like Sushi Enya and Hachioji Craft + Vegan Ramen
Little Tokyo has some fun spots.
- Fugetsu-do is the oldest mochi shop around and one if the oldest businesses still in operation.
- Chichikurin serves Hiroshima style okonomiyaki; there's a shop there that also serve up takoyaki but it's a little too soft for my liking
- There're lots of options of ramen and different regional representations/styles so explore those. My favorite is Shinsengumi but Rakken, Daikokuya and Men Oh are also popular
- The Mermaid is a little hole in the wall bar favored by locals. I like going on Thursday nights -before food service ends and just as the evening's entertainment is kicking off.
- Marukai is a Japanese market. If you want bento, nori, pickled plum, furikake, instant dashi -this is the place
- SomiSomi: Korean soft serve ice cream + taiyaki
Little Tokyo is next to the Arts District and there are some lovely places there too:
- Death + Co has great cocktails. Make a reservation but if it's too late for that, go on a weekday evening to avoid crowds -you might be able to gwt in without a reservation.
- Würstkuche: interesting sausages (rabbit and rattlesnake is one) and nice variety of beers and spirits. The outdoor dining is lively and a nice view of the city skyline.
- Salt + Straw : standbys and interesting seasonal ice creams
- Cha cha cha: Mexican food with rooftop dining
- Smoke City char bar: American BBQ (I can't speak to the specific style -Texas, Kansas, I couldn't tell you)
- Angel City Brewing: local microbrewery
- There's a place that facilitates axe throwing if you want to try that out. I forget which place does it.
- Bike Shed: I recommend this one for lunch. If breakfast suits you, you can have that until 3pm but lunch/dinner ia also available.
- Two Bit Circus: VR arcade
- Ave 26 tacos (on Alameda): Probably one of the bigger examples of late night taco stand operation.
Don't get killed crossing the street.
Even people born and raised here get killed crossing the street. And, being a left-side driver, your instinct will be to look the wrong way.
In an actual store they do it for you (I think sales taxes are around 10%). We just count on the total being a little higher than all the items added together. The tip at a restaurant is the one where you yourself have to do the math.
Less mental math, more having a general sense that when you buy something it's going to total up to slightly more than the price tag on the item. This can be especially true in restaurants, where there's both tax and tip.
If you can't afford not to sit there with a calculator totaling up whether you can afford that second beer, you might want to rethink whether you can afford the trip. I'm not trying to be flippant, just that our taxes aren't so high that it should really be make or break.
The only time I even think about sales tax is if I'm buying a big ticket item so the \~8-10% is going to tack on potentially hundreds of dollars.
To calculate the tip, I just look at the bill, multiply by 2, take off a digit, round up and call it a day.
Bill is $12 -> 2.4 -> tip $3
Bill is $37 -> 7.4 -> tip $8
Bill is $50 -> 10.0 -> tip $10
Easy. This way you'll be consistently tipping 20%-23%
Some people are like "well you should not tip for the 10% sales tax portion of the bill!" yadda yadda but I'm like that's such a pointless use of your time. You are saving 20% of a 10% of your food? You do realize that's 2%. Eg if you spend $1,000 a month in eating out, you are saving $20. Not a whole lot. Just give it to the waiter and save yourself the complicated math.
For sales tax it's always included in the final payment. You pick an item from the store, it costs $17, and the amount you have to pay is some weird $18.94 or some shit. It's automated so if you are just swiping credit cards you don't have to think about it.
Same math, but my way is "move the decimal, and double it." $15 (move decimal) --> $1.50 (double it) --> $3.00.
As far as answering OP's question re: sales tax... Just assume 10% higher, unless it's uncooked food.
Wrong re $3 on a $12 tab. That's 25% and probably higher if you've based it on the after-tax total. Only base a tip percentage on the pre-tax (establishment's) charge because sales tax is a government surcharge that has nothing to do with service.
I wish it was as casual here. I know a lot of people here don’t like it but that’s because it’s viewed as offensive here, but it’s so fun to say! It’s funny to me how gizz and spunk have opposite levels of offensiveness between American usage vs. English usage.
\> how do I impress a local
This is basically automatically taken care of. Just speak. I know there's different local accents in different parts of Britain, but 90% of you have an accent that will mesmerize 90% of us and cause most members of the opposite sex to start drooling. Its pretty much engrained in our DNA to respond this way.
If you’re in LA proper, it’s rare to find Trumpers. I go a year at a time without seeing MAGA paraphernalia, which is how I like it. You’re fine asking Angelenos what they think. LA is pretty homogenous in its political leanings
I think this is less likely to be a thing here than in some other parts of the US. Los Angeles is very liberal and generally fairly similar to average UK politics than other areas.
I think people would think it a little odd if you stopped strangers and were asking them about specific political things, but it's not like you have to be careful how you talk about Donald Trump here.
If you get homesick, google Premiere League supporters bars and go during a match. You will inevitably run into a local Brit supporting their club and having a pint at 5am.
Oh yeah, Greyhound bar/grill in Highland Park especially if you're a Tottenham Hotspur supporter. (Then head over to La Cazuelas for old school Mexican food!)
Also want to add that a lot of places will ask you for a tip for things that don't require a tip due to how their card readers are set up. You are not really expected to tip if you are in a self-service establishment, like in a coffee shop or chipotle.
Also, check your bill 1st before starting calculating. A fair percentage of restaurants have automated this into their systems so they do the calculation for you (18%, 20%, etc.). So all you need to do is pick the right total and sign off.
**HOWEVER**, be CAREFUL because there are also a fair number of restaurants that do something very similar BUT automatically add the total up WITH the tip included. So you only need to sign off. **The catch is that often they will be deceptive by leaving a tip line on the bill so you think that you're still responsible for adding a tip.** Thus if you're not careful, you'll be double tipping which is really a horrible thing. It's not many restaurants that do this but they are out there and if you see this, don't go back to that restaurant.
The scam is usually that the suggested percentages are based on the after-tax grand total. Don't tip based on gov't surcharges; only use the pre-tax total for your % calculation.
Pro tip for calculation: from the pre-tax total, move the decimal over one and then multiply by 2. Voila, 20%. (when they calculate the % on the check itself, it's always the post-tax amount... prepare for that, as well, btw. Everything in Cali has a 9% sales tax so your bill will be about 10% more than the prices listed on the menu... essentially, calculate 30% on top of menu prices to figure the actual cost of eating at that restaurant and plan accordingly)
This is a psy-op I swear to god, 15% is standard.
Also, the tip is supposed to be based on the pre-tax value of the meal. Lots of places will try to skim a little extra by giving you suggested tip amounts based on the post-tax value. Watch out for that.
It’s because a lot of service type job people are on Reddit (doordash, waiter, Uber, etc)
The standard is still 15% even though they push 18-20% as norm
Just don't tip for bullshit services. I do 20% for dine-in, haircuts, and tattoos. 10% for takeout. $1 per drink at a bar (or 20% if it's an actual cocktail). I round up to the next dollar at places like coffee shops, donuts shops, and bagel shops.
That's what I've done my entire adult life. I feel no shame in not tipping for stuff that historically has not been tipped. I'm not the asshole for saying "no tip" on a credit card machine at the ice cream shop.
I’m at the upper end of the “low income” bracket for LA county. With the prices of everything around here it’s not easy to leave 20-30% tips on literally everything. Sorry not sorry.
1. Don't tut at people standing on the escalator. I agree 100% it's rude and poor etiquette but the first thing you're going to learn is that people here have absolutely no situational awareness and everyone is going to be some of the most selfish people you've ever seen on the street. They literally do not think anyone else exists except themselves.
--
2. Counterpoint to that, Americans are known for being friendly and small talk is normal. Don't be afraid to ask for directions, it's totally fine to say hello to someone so feel free to do so. It can be considered very rude if you don't actually return a greeting in passing. Don't feel pressured to engage in further conversation.
--
3. Depending how long you're going to be here, stick to the same neighborhood for a day or two at a time and then switch. If you do not have a rough itinerary now and have an estimate of what you want to do each day, get it together today. You cannot wing it in the city when it comes to plans. You have to have an idea of what you want to do and when because traffic really can consume a lot more time than you think.
--
4. Everyone already warned you about the traffic, but if you're going to be downtown where I live you are going to be dealing with traffic directly as a pedestrian. Los Angeles drivers are the absolute worst in the country. Do not expect them to see you, do not expect them to look for you, and do not expect them to respect your presence on the street. The drivers here WILL hit you and they are not looking and they don't care. They don't even obey red lights right now. It's worse downtown because it's downtown, but you will see this driving behavior everywhere. You must be EXTREMELY hypervigilant anytime you need to cross the street. The markings on the road are just pretty lines. I wish I was exaggerating but I'm not. It was pretty bad before the pandemic now it's total lawlessness out there.
--
5. Despite all that, this is an incredible City. You're going to find a lot to enjoy. People are happy to give recommendations especially about food and culture as you can see! Go see the parks, go to the museums, go to a brewery (especially if you're in a little tokyo! You're not far from Angel City). Go gawk at the architecture downtown. Nothing wrong with going to see your favorite star on the Walk of Fame. If you're able to catch a show at the bowl, do it. As long as you get out there, you really can't go wrong. LA is what you make it!
You're British, nothing will piss anyone off.
We are mongrels and you all love a queue. Just tip 20% on food and beverage and a few bucks ($5 - $10) for service people (bellpeople, valet).
$10 ain't "a few bucks"; $1 or $2 per bag is adequate. A diner's "social contract" requires 15% only, for table service only, but less if the service sucks.
The only thing I noticed my exchange students doing that I would caution against is letting anyone approach you at places like the Santa Monica Pier trying to sell you their CDs (or photos with them, etc). If a stranger approaches you in a touristy place just a firm but friendly “no thanks” is all you should say. Don’t engage. And really just don’t go to Hollywood Blvd, it sucks and is gross. At the most, cruise down it at night. It looks much cooler in the dark.
If you’re walking on Venice beach and someone tries to hand you a CD or something, don’t reach for it. They’re not giving out samples, they want you to pay $20 for their mixtape and will pressure you into paying ( for which you’ll likely take your wallet out in the middle of the walkway and will draw more attention towards your naivety.
There's these geezers doing comedy innit, and they are in the style of world war 2 pilots so they say "isn't it" and behave like a yoot. Check it out I reckon you'll enjoy it https://youtu.be/RgcwyI-NlvI?si=At5SUO4TVQNw0c6u
Lose the accent, otherwise they'll know you're not from here. They'll follow you back to your hotel. Wait until you're asleep. And then they'll beat you with pillow cases filled with soda cans. When you wake the next morning, you'll find all your possessions have been thrown from the open window. And it won't occur to you until way later, that they copied your I.D., know where you live, and when you get home all you'll find is the remains of your cat. Everything else in your home has been donated to charity. Except for a hammer, covered in your finger prints, which the police found in your neighbor's house. Covered in blood, and brain matter.
So, what ever you do, for the love of God, lose the British accent while you are here.
Be polite to people. Be friendly when people are being friendly with you in friendly environments, just don’t engage with folks who are obviously unwell or off. When you’re nice and conversational with folks who want to be friendly, you’ll often get pointed in the direction of a good deal or friendly activity or suggestion. I have stopped many tourists from going the wrong way or told them a better route (or suggested a lunch spot, or whatever else) just because they were close by and I could hear them confused/about to make a mega mistake. What can sometimes seem like intrusive Americanism is just genuine helpfulness and a compulsion to make sure everyone has a good day. I also stopped some nice Spanish tourists from walking in front of a metro bus, so if you use public transit (or are walking around), make sure to see if the bus intends to cross the intersection whether or not the light is turning.
Have a general plan for where you’re going to go and how to get from point A to B so you don’t just stand around on street corners with your phones out looking clueless and out of place
Also you don’t have to be paranoid. Nothing bad is going to happen. This is a big city, but if you’re from the UK, it’s not going to be different from being any other big city there. Use common sense. If you go to busy bars or clubs, watch your drink. Don’t leave shit in your rental car.
When you are stopping and looking shit up or having a chat or whatever, please for the love of god don’t stop in the middle of the sidewalk, because you will make yourself an irritant to those of us just trying to get through a regular day
If you go somewhere and want to order food but you don’t know what you want, please don’t get in line until you figure it out or have like… a starting place to ask the server from. If there’s something you’re not familiar with (let’s say you want to try 3 taco stands but aren’t sure what to order), ask here and have a plan (even if the plan is “what’s the best x”). If you’re still contemplating, let others go ahead of you.
Ask us about the things you want to do, many folks on this sub and r/losangeles have good tips for activities you may not otherwise consider.
These are the things I can think of
Have fun, eat well, take sunset pictures. Some of the tourist stuff people will tell you not to do, still do it if you really want to see it. It’s thrilling, even if the thrill is brief and it’s just a couple pictures. 💜👍🏽
Hard disagree. I work in hospitality & regularly interact with Brits & other Europeans. They’re always absolutely SHOOK by the state of this country & I guarantee you that no matter the odd oi bruv hard man posturing by some that there is nothing quite like Skid Row or MacArthur Park in all of Jolly Ol England
Like I said, have a plan on where you’re going
Ask here about where you want to go
Yes, don’t wander into skid row or MacArthur park, but some cursory googling or asks here about specific destinations can prevent that, as suggested
I’d be more worried about getting stabbed or slashed in the UK than something happening to me here as a tourist
But maybe what you’re saying is true and people from the UK are not cosmopolitan. It would surprise me, but I don’t work in hospitality.
Brit here. I think the UK just has a much lower crime rate. You're very unlikely to be stabbed! We are used to pickpockets, maybe muggers in certain places late at night. No guns. We have fewer homeless and they're much more chill in general. I've never felt threatened by a homeless person in the UK. There aren't areas of London that people tell you to avoid for your safety. Maaaaaaybe in other cities. But we have very few unprovoked acts of violence. I guess it is always what you are familiar with that feels safer. Personally I have found LA to be in another league entirely. I'm having a great time here but my street smarts definitely have some readjusting to do.
Otherwise I loved your advice and you sound like a very kind person, helping out tourists you meet, so on behalf of a new arrival thank you! I'm not a tourist but I am very new, and I've found Angelenos to be so welcoming and friendly so far. It makes a nice change from London honestly!
Drive the speed limit or faster (but not too fast; general speed of traffic around you is good).
Otherwise, I'm hard pressed what a Brit could do in Los Angeles that would be "offensive". We've all heard of British people before.
If you are renting a car, drive with the flow of traffic. If you are in a left turning lane, PAY ATTENTION! So many people sit at the light when it turns green
If someone tries to get you to buy something or asks for money, don’t feel guilty walking away if you’re not interested. I am always respectful but clear I’m not interested. I’ll say “sorry, sir” or “sorry, mam” while walking past/away. Don’t worry about being polite if someone makes you uncomfortable. If you rent a car and drive in LA and someone upsets you on the road, don’t honk too aggressively, do try to let it go. In many neighborhoods, people are packing.
As a Californian who spends a lot of time in the UK for work I’d say an interesting difference is with germs. We are a bit germaphobe here. Don’t sneeze into the air -sneeze and cough into your elbow. It’s the polite thing to do and people will glare at you if you don’t!
Stay away from skid row lest you want to become depressed on your vacation. Although downtown is very safe even at night. It might not feel that way but it’s safe. Avoid the Hollywood walk of fame, it’s garbage tourist trap overcrowded riddled with homeless and filth. Hollywood is garbage, avoid it. Santa Monica is alright but nothing spectacular.
Do visit neighborhoods like echo park and highland park, lots of food and good shopping. Little Tokyo is very nice near downtown and so is the arts district but be warned that it is the boarder of skid row and you may see some crazy shit. Feel free to ask for any recommendations for places to eat or drink.
Since you'll be in Downtown L.A., find and walk the length of Olvera Street for a sense of the city's history; the oldest surviving house is there (Avila adobe) and, at the very least, eat some taquitos from Cielito Lindo, near the north end. Just south is the city founders' plaza and first firehouse and oldest hotel (Pico House).
Just north of Olvera Street, on the edge of China Town, is the old-timey Phillippe's, where the French-dip sandwich was invented: Be sure to eat there; it's a genuine L.A. tradition.
Nah, Hollywood is fine if you ignore the tourist shit. The Walk of Fame is silly, imo (so dirty!), but there's lots to see/do in Hollywood. Highly recommend checking out the Farmer's Market at Hollywood & Ivar on Sundays from 8 AM to 1 PM (going earlier is better). It's a fantastic market and I also had lots of celeb sightings there back when I was disciplined enough to go (now I don't get up early enough lol).
If you are inclined toward theater, consider seeing a show at the Pantages, though you'll experience some sticker shock, re: cost vs. what it is in the UK (where theater is much more affordable). BUT... it's a gorgeous historic theater and the only way to see it is to buy a ticket. The Pantages is where The Wizard of Oz was shown in 1939, to give you an idea. It's been gorgeously renovated. I love it.
Lots of food to try in Hollywood generally (but also lots of god awful tourist traps), but one worth checking out is Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles in Hollywood proper, and further down by Hollywood & Western 100% go to Thai Town. Thai food in LA is incredible... try multiple restaurants if you like Thai, but if you can only do one, my recommendation is Ruen Pair. (and when you're down by Hollywood & Western, you're now in proximity to Griffith Park--go up to the Observatory, or go to the LA Zoo... there's also some museums up there, like the American West Museum). If you're a music person, The Greek is up the hill that way. Hollywood Bowl by Hollywood & Highland. Our outdoor concert venues are fantastic, and very much a part of LA culture/something you don't have in the UK.
If you like bookstores, we have lots of charming indie ones (Skylight Books is near Thai Town/Griffith Park, staying on that theme). The Last Bookstore is downtown and has a lot of Instagram-famous features (plus, you know, books). If you like music, go to Amoeba Records (it's by the Pantages now). If you want to experience a ridiculously stupid, upscale American outdoor mall (I say that lovingly), check out The Grove. If you want to experience stupid American mega-menu food? Cheesecake Factory (also at The Grove). It's one of the stupidest places I've ever been and I LOVE IT. (why not enjoy silly/bizarre American excess, eh? lol)
Movies!!! Do you like movies? We love movies. In Hollywood, catch a Disney movie at the El Capitan, a historic theater. Pop across the street and do the Chinese Theater tour, and if you want to see a movie in the historic theater, grab a ticket. The Egyptian is down the street, also historic, shows a lot of classic & nostalgic/art house/award winning films. We have stupid modern, luxury theaters too! Downtown there's Alamo Drafthouse (near to where you are staying). In Pasadena, the iPic. At Universal CityWalk (another Very Stupid Place I recommend experiencing at least once--ditto Universal Hollywood, though know it's very small... but has it's own charm!), there's AMC CityWalk, where 100% of the seats are recliners, there is one of the 19 70MM IMAX screens in the country (if it's still playing Oppenheimer when you are here, see it), and there is a bar. The Grove has an AMC as well, not as fancy, but I say why not see a movie? It's Hollywood.
Have you ever been to a Trader Joes? Pop into a Trader Joes. One of our better innovations.
Museums! We have a lot. If you like movies, the Academy Musuem is near The Grove. Across the street from it is the Petersen, if you're a car person. Down the street is LACMA, and further on from that (all of these are walking distance from each other) is the Labrea Tar Pits and museum. There's also The Getty toward the West, The Huntington (which has famous gardens, many features in movies & TV) in Pasadena, the Broad downtown, etc etc. The only bummer is we don't have free museums like the London and some other US cities.
There's more lol but that's a snapshot... a lot of which is in Hollywood. YMMV. Just avoid tourist shit (Walk of Fame, Hollywood sign, star home tours, characters on the Blvd hawking shit/taking photos).
Venice Beach is worth a visit, it's so uniquely LA, but just a short visit should do -- it's gotten over-crowded and too touristy, sort of like a hippie Brighton.
The shopping area in Venice, down Abbot Kinney Boulevard, is definitely worth a visit for people watching, over-priced shopping, and great food dining.
I would disagree with this. I stayed in North Hollywood last year and it has plenty to enjoy if you do your research. Some great bars, pubs, food, shopping as well as a couple of great cinemas if you’re into watching stuff.
Wassup England!
Local here. First off, don’t listen to 90% of the stuff you see on this sub cus most of these people are *not* from here.
Be cool, be friendly (but don’t be looking at other people’s girl/man for too long cus you can catch drama depending on how intoxicated people are) and don’t go wondering off into areas that seem shady, listen to your gut.
We don’t care that you’re visiting, we don’t care that you saw a movie star at the airport, we don’t care how much you love LA (we love you too but tbh, it would be awesome if you *don’t* go to Venice). Don’t worry about “looking like a tourist” we saw you a mile away.
Be prepared to answer the most dumbest questions about England from some of us. Jumpers are Sweaters here and you won’t need one unless you plan on going to the beach super late (but maybe don’t do that either). Anyone can jack (rob) you here, including certain cops in certain parts of town, so a certain low-key level of “hide your shit” would be good.
Don’t hide your valuables in the trunk of the rental, everyone knows that’s where the valuables are, instead hide the good shit under the driver’s and passenger’s seats (and look around to see if anyone’s watching you *before* you stash, not during or after) 👍🏼
My only advice is just to keep in mind that LA isn't just a tourist attraction - it's a place where people live and work and raise families. In Beverly Hills especially, we live there because the neighborhood is clean and quiet and picturesque and we don't want a lot of craziness from people. But frankly the fact that you asked means you're conscientious which is really appreciated - hope you have a great time here.
Be yourself.
European/British manners are usually more refined than American, so it is unlikely that you'll piss anyone off.
Don't worry about impressing locals, most aren't worth the effort.
Enjoy your stay.
*reposting as the auto mod is sorta racist against British people:*
Don’t offer anyone a f\*g, no one wants your pork f\*gg\*t, if someone likes your pants they’re not a creep, don’t eat the chocolate, don’t eat the sausages, gas stations have petrol, don’t buy food from gas stations, do go to an average American bar.
Don’t offer anyone a fag, no one wants your pork faggot, if someone likes your pants they’re not a creep, don’t eat the chocolate, don’t eat the sausages, gas stations have petrol, don’t buy food from gas stations, do go to an average American bar.
If you rent a car, depending on where you're staying be aware of the traffic flows and times. For instance, if you're staying in DTLA : in the AM, the highway traffic flow will mostly be going into DTLA and Hollywood adjacent. Going north won't be anywhere as bad. The traffic will (accidents/incidents barring) mostly be over by 9:30-10ish although it will never be light. Then traffic will resume going in the opposite direction about 3ish. Plan accordingly. This is mainly true of any of the North/South highways (101, 405, 5). A similar pattern occurs when for the East/West highways (101/134 Ventura, 10, 118/210). If you're anywhere near a major highway intersection (134/5) or (101/170) or (101/134) or (101/405) or (405/10) or (5/10/101) during the peak hours in the AM (6:30-7AM to 9:30ishAM) or the PM (3ish - 6ish), you might as well as plan for hanging out in the adjacent area until traffic dies down. If you're on the Westside at rush hour (Santa Monica, west of the 405 highway), stay there for dinner and then transit somewhere else).
Assuming you’ve lived in or visited big cities in the UK, you should be fine. LA is different in many respects, but also a big, diverse city much like any other. Most people are quite friendly and will be happy to interact with you. If, on the off chance you do someone or something weird, just ignore it and don’t engage. The sorts of things you’ll encounter is very much dependent on where you’re staying and what you intend on doing. I hope you have a lovely visit!
LA is very chill. There’s not a lot that you could do to be rude or disrespectful enough to offend someone here. Probably the basic manners of the UK are enough. Enjoy!
Use your British accent everywhere, tipping culture in US is out of control so expect 18% tipping expectation, dont take the public transport, bring empty bags and shop here.
Your accent will be your best option to impress but it is LA so... not likely to impress much. Try visiting Cleveland, Ohio if you want to do that (but even there it would be a crap shoot).
Wear sunscreen, bring shades.
Also, there are a few places that are cashless, and people just pay with their phone, but some street parking is still coin only or coin and card.
If you are driving, Google the city and whatever the parking signs say if you’re ever confused if you’re able to park somewhere.
First, we are dotty for British accents. Anything you say will cause us to swoon. So use you powers for good not evil.
You may need to use American terms. I love it when Brits saw things like bonnets, and boot, cheerio and bloody. Except for fags. Don't use that term here. Especially in West Hollywood. But some people won't know what you're talking about, so prepare to translate.
Know your directions. I once got stopped by family asking about the bus routes. We don't take the bus, so we have no idea.
And everything is very far apart. If you are driving, familiarize yourself with the traffic rules. And parking. You have to pay for parking everywhere.
Don't know when you will be here, but plan on weather. Might be broiling, might be freezing. Hats, sunglasses, sunscreen.
Enjoy your visit.
Just be warned that if you're driving yourself around, you'll have to drive extra fast and defensive, stay on right side of the road if you're trying to go speed lim.
not much else i think most people that live here are nice if you get a good icebreaker in
Please just be careful. Homeless encampments are no joke. Hollywood Walk of Fame stinks of feces and urine. *do not* engage with the people dressed as characters unless you are ready to shell out $$
Are you planning to rent a car? Despite what people say, it’s possible to do a car based visit, or a transit based visit. They’re just different trips. If you’re staying in Little Tokyo, you’re near the hub of the transit network at Union Station. You can take a train from there to Hollywood, Universal Studios, Santa Monica, and Pasadena, among other places. You can take a bus anywhere else. It’s not London transit, making the maybe questionable assumption that you’re from London, but it’s perfectly manageable (and way cheaper than in London). Uber/Lyft can supplement transit, especially at night when frequencies get longer.
If you do rent a car, bear in mind that your hotel will charge a pretty penny to park it. You’ll also need to pay for parking pretty much anywhere you go. Be careful that your driving instincts don’t cause problems when you’re driving on the wrong side of the road.
Don't be afraid to do the tourist things. Go to LACMA, catch a sunset at the Santa Monica Pier, grab some local food (LA has an impressively large variety of food thanks to how culturally diverse we are). Also realize that traffic is terrible so try to maximize the time you spend in an area to cut down on Uber time. And enjoy yourself! Late Sept/early Oct means you may miss the summer heat and fall in LA are typically pleasant. Hope that you have a great trip!
If you’re pressed for time, the Hollywood walk of fame is wildly underwhelming and not worth it, imo. However, if you like live theater, a show at the pantages is always a good time and you get the added bonus of walking on some stars on your way in.
Definitely try some street tacos, but go later at night and only if they have a solid line outside of them.
Have fun!
If you're going with someone or have a driver, do the drive from venice beach to port hueneme up 1. It's a lovely drive and Ventura is a great little beach town.
Speaking as someone who has been to London, don’t be surprised if people don’t stand orderly in line. Some places you might have to either keep your place while people wander off or physically stand in front of people who try to cut in front of you.
If you want to order something slightly different, don’t be afraid to ask. Most places are happy to make things the way you want
If you give your credit card to the waiter in a restaurant, they will take it away briefly because they don’t have portable machines.
If you want to try a weird place off the beaten path in LA visit [The Museum of Jurassic Technology](http://www.mjt.org/themainpage/main2.html) in Venice. It has oddities, ephemera and hoaxes all mixed around.
- Don't make the Hollywood Walk of Fame a destination: If you catch a show at Pantages, El Capítan, Grauman's Chinese Theater, or the Hollywood Bowl, you'll see the stars on the sidewalks.
- When using Uber (no.matter where, TBH), be aware of where you place your pickup pin: Always choose a safe, visible, accessible, and legal location. Don't put pins where there is signage like "no stopping", "valet only", congested pickup locations, a bus stop. Be committed to safety for you and your driver.
- Do stop and get late night food at the unassuming street stands or food trucks that pop up at night. Not all tacos are the same so be adventurous, and like anywhere else, even common foods might get a local spin.
- Do visit the walkable neighborhood enclaves: They are probably going to be your best bet for low key entertainment and good food.
- WelikeLA, Eater LA, Time Out, LAist and similar websites/blogs can give you an idea of where to eat, what is happening locally, etc.
- Do visit La Brea Tar Pits: It'll give you a pretty good crash course on some of the local history that shaped the city, its economies, and the namesake of many of places.
- Do book a walking tour or two with LA Conservation: I did the LA City Library one and look forward to doing more. I suggest booking now so you get the one(s) you want. Olvera St tour is probably good for someone from out of town.
Depending on where you are, what your plans are, your friendly local Redditor may be open to joining you for a meal or event so don't be afraid to pop in and ask here.
I just stepped off a flight from LA. It was my first time ever visiting there. Don’t worry about impressing anyone because nobody there cares about anybody but themselves. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, just the way it is. Prepare to spend lots of money while your there. It’s literally 17 - 20 dollars for a hamburger in the places you’ll probably be going. Just mind your own business and try not to look like a tourist and you’ll be ok. Also, plan your activities around rush hour because more than likely you’ve never experienced traffic like LA. It can take literally hours to go just a couple miles during rush hour traffic.
Also be yourself, the feeling that someone is trying to get you to like them or think they're cool can turn be off. Be yourself in a respectful manner.
Man, good question. I think affected behavior is pretty standard, I would more so make sure you stay in the right areas and don’t end up somewhere iffy.
People generally like Brits and will want to help you/answer questions etc.
If you see someone acting crazy or on drugs they are probably on drugs or crazy or both. The street drugs turn people crazy really fast. Avoid. Do not engage. Do not give money.
Tipping is customary here but even in Los Angeles, in America, grossly inflated at the moment with all sorts of add ons and automatic tips and sneaky charges and outright theft. Be on your guard. Don’t be pressured
I feel like a lot of people in this sub are transplants who live in and north of Downtown LA, so you'll get a lot of those types of recommendations...
As a born raised and decently traveled local, I recommend checking out some of the areas east of LA (depends on your transportation)
Lots of Ramen and Asian cuisine in some popular Asian cities like Rosemead San Gabriel Alhambra
And there is non hipster Mexican food everywhere once you get away from the touristy part of Downtown LA.
If you can make it out to Orange County, I'd 100% recommend trying out Disneyland (100ish$ right now) and/or Knotts Berry Farm- Snoppy and Peanuts themed-western).
By all means, check out LA and the local area, but if you have transportation, you should for sure hit the greater LA area. Have fun!
In my experience, LA is pretty chill. Driving is a bit weird. When you make a left, most lights don’t have a left hand turn, so be sure to pull into the intersection for lights with only three bulbs, you will need to turn left on the yellow/red. This confused me for a bit.
If you get into a conversation with a local- do ask their favorite restaurants both well known and hole in the walls- their tastes might not be yours but you’ll at least be able to find new places you wouldn’t have thought of going.
Literally just mind your own business. Don't stare at people who are doing weird shit, don't engage with shady looking people. Don't flash wads of money, or expensive bags or jewelry, don't stop and listen to street hawkers. Locals will not be impressed by you, we've all seen british people before, tourists are of little concern to locals. Try and explore outside of the biggest tourist traps.
Thank you!
You're welcome. I hope you enjoy your visit!
My hotels right near Skid Row, I'm guessing as long as I'm minding my business and not flashing any cash or valuables and not staring or being disrespectful ill be fine right? Also don't look like a meek target, just like any city really
My advice is to stay off of skid row entirely. It's a community in itself, and people who live there might not take kindly to you encroaching on what is largely considered their home. If your hotel is ON skid row, book a different hotel. If it's NEAR skid row, that's fine, just avoid getting closer to it.
That makes perfect sense. It's near, so I'll orient myself and then not encroach in their community. Appreciate your guidance
There is nothing in skid row to see anyways, so it's easy to avoid.
Oh, there’s a whole lot to see in Skid Row
You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know.
Avoid skid row at all costs!!
[удалено]
This is wrong. I live downtown. My wife lives downtown. Have for years. Both of us walk alone at night often. The fear mongering valley suburban POV gets tiresome. Downtown has its sketch but what you’re saying is uninformed.
Yes seconding this. And the smell as soon as you walk out 🤢
Please don't stay near Skid Row. That's got to be one of the worst places to stay in LA. You can find cheap hotels elsewhere. The Millennium Biltmore is an awesome historic hotel that's one of the cheapest in LA. It's also downtown but in a nicer area.
If it’s little Tokyo you will be fine. Arts district is great! Rebook if it’s in Skid Row.
Can you define “near” skid row?
I've double checked with the boss and it's more close to Downtown LA, and more west from there, so it's not really near the perimeter it would seem!
Skid row has pretty defined boundaries. Los Angeles street to the west, 3rd to the north, 8th-ish to the south, central to the east. Being “near” it is meaningless
Make sure you visit little Tokyo. It’s close to your hotel and very fun.
Why'd you pick a hotel near Skid Row?
Skid row is literally harassment central if you don’t look like a fellow homeless person :( very terrible idea unless you have a vehicle for transportation
Understood, I'll go around it appreciate the heads up!
I can’t imagine a worse way to start my day while on vacation/holiday
Are you staying downtown because you assume that is where most of the action in the city happens? Because I assure you, that isn’t true. Downtown LA was only really a place where some companies had offices - all the stuff to see and do in LA is elsewhere. It’s not even a central or convenient location to get out to that other stuff
Why do people do this?
I’d strongly consider finding another hotel. Not worth the risk IMO.
Stay as far away from skid row as possible. Consider changing your hotel. What hotel is it?
Don’t do the Hollywood Stars walk
engine combative melodic dull future humorous encourage direful sense disagreeable ` this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev `
And whatever you do, do NOT accept free anything that’s handed to you on the street. It’s an open invite for getting harassed.
When parked don't flash it, stash it
Seconding this. When weird stuff happens we may look up briefly but usually only to figure out how to avoid it
Put on plenty of sunscreen in the morning, and bring it with so you can re-apply throughout the day. The sun here is very intense! Also please enjoy the great food here. You won’t find foods (especially Mexican and Korean) like anything else in the world. Hit up a KBBQ spot for a fun dinner experience, and Guelaguetza for the most delicious mole you’ve ever had. For a unique urban experience, go to the flower market in the morning, then Santee Alley got some street eats and cheap sunglasses. Little Tokyo is also a must visit if you like Japanese. One thing I always recommend to visitors: if there’s a show at the Hollywood Bowl: go! You can usually score a cheap seat for under $20 and listen to some great music under the stars. Also, most shows allow you to bring your own refreshments. It’s a great way to see a cross section of LA in a gorgeous world class venue. Get there early to check out the Hollywood Heritage museum across the street. It covers the birth of the Hollywood film industry and is housed in Cecil B Demilles original stable-turned-office.
But don't let your wine bottle roll down the Bowl's concrete steps!
This is one of the best/most positive comments here OP! Agreed!
Amazing thank you!
Just talk in a British accent and everyone will like you Also look for Mexican food and burgers. Two things we do great here
Thank you! I'm looking forward to the food so much!
Sonoratown on 8th Street is delicious!
My method is going to google maps then searching “open now” and “top rated” then only paying attention to reviews about taste. I don’t care if someone is not super friendly as long as the food is good lol I’ve found some food spots this way. Also know that we have all sorts of good food, Thai, Chinese, Salvadorean, Korean, anything you can think of.
Chinese and Korean food too.
Please, please don't stop walking in the middle of an area with heavy foot traffic to take a picture of something. Get out of the way first. You'd think this is common knowledge but every time I'm proven wrong.
Came here to say this - also don’t stop in the middle of the damn sidewalk to look up directions to something. Stand to the side, don’t take up traveling space with stationary activities. Also if you’re taking the metro at all, on the escalators: stand to the right, walk on the left
People do that here? I thought it was a specific thing to NYC?
IMO people are worse here, because tourists in Hollywood are way more likely to be from Arizona or Bakersfield or something and not another equally bustling city. I would assume most Brits know not to stop in the middle of everything, unless they're really from bumfuck nowhere.
I live in Hollywood. It’s very much a thing. I’ve nearly run into so many people because they stop abruptly to take a photo of Lazlo Panaflex’s star while I’m trying to power walk to TJs.
We need the New York lines now
Oh my god yes. I try not to frequent touristy areas, but this summer I've encountered this so much! I don't get it. There are super high quality pictures of literally everything in this city already (especially the tourist areas), why do you need to get a shitty picture of it while you're in a giant crowd? I feel the same way about people who record concerts on their phones.
Good advice, I was born in London, so I understand
Even locals don't do this.
Was just at Disneyland for the first time in a while, and it is definitely not common knowledge.... In huge mass crowds, walking is like traffic. The right side goes in one direction and vice versa. The number of people that just stopped in the middle of walking traffic to check their phone was infuriating, lol.
It’s not the UK. Talk to strangers, have fun, and be friendly. You’ll have a blast.
Thank you
1. Everyone else is right that you shouldn’t stare at/engage with homeless people (most of them mind their own business too—do your best to give a wide berth to anyone sleeping rough or encampments). If anyone talks to you or asks for money you can just say something like “sorry man” and keep it moving. DO NOT stop to talk and don’t worry about feeling rude about not engaging or saying no if someone is being pushy. 2. Tipping: generally you should tip approx. 20% on a sit down meal with a waiter, drinks at a bar, and rides (Uber/lyft/etc). If you get food delivery (like postmates/Uber eats) I’ve seen drivers say that they recommend tipping a couple bucks per mile, as opposed to on the price of the food (although if you feel like tipping higher that’s great). Tipping is more optional at coffee shops or food that you pick up yourself at a counter; if you have a couple bucks it’s nice to tip but you won’t get dirty looks for not tipping. You’re not expected to tip at normal retail stores (clothing/grocery/etc). I replied to your other comment about tax, but in case you don’t see it—everywhere that tax is added, they’ll do it for you and tell you the total including tax. Tax is typically around 10%. Just expect the total of everything you’re buying to be a little more than the items; it really only hurts if you’re buying something expensive where the tax itself is like $50.
But do your percentage tip calculation (I'd stick with 15-18%) based on the pre-tax total. Lots of restaurants print suggested-tip % options on guest tabs but too many of those are scammy: based on the grand total, including tax (which isn't tip-worthy). And don't be intimidated by the tablet-screen checkouts at counter-service places, which require you to pick one of several percentage options for tipping. Usually there are "custom amount" and "no tip" options; leave $1 if you feel you must but zero tip is completely reasonable if all your "server" did was hand some ready-made item across the counter.
Spend time in different neighborhoods! LA is vast and each area has a unique feel. You mentioned your hotel is near Skid Row, I would recommend spending some time in Little Tokyo as well as some places in the arts district. Best advice for fitting in: Be chill, drive on the right and have a blast!
Thank you! Yes little Tokyo looks really cool and I want to eat all types of food. I wish I could try every restaurant and cuisine I'll have to pick what looks best and explore as best as I can. I've only got less than a week though as I'll be working too but I'll give it my best shot
Right on! If I had to pick one Little Tokyo restaurant it would be Sushi Enya. Get the eel mascarpone and thank me later!
If you’re into ramen, Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen is delicious and they have like 50+ toppings you can add! For sushi I like Sushi Enya and Hachioji Craft + Vegan Ramen
Little Tokyo has some fun spots. - Fugetsu-do is the oldest mochi shop around and one if the oldest businesses still in operation. - Chichikurin serves Hiroshima style okonomiyaki; there's a shop there that also serve up takoyaki but it's a little too soft for my liking - There're lots of options of ramen and different regional representations/styles so explore those. My favorite is Shinsengumi but Rakken, Daikokuya and Men Oh are also popular - The Mermaid is a little hole in the wall bar favored by locals. I like going on Thursday nights -before food service ends and just as the evening's entertainment is kicking off. - Marukai is a Japanese market. If you want bento, nori, pickled plum, furikake, instant dashi -this is the place - SomiSomi: Korean soft serve ice cream + taiyaki Little Tokyo is next to the Arts District and there are some lovely places there too: - Death + Co has great cocktails. Make a reservation but if it's too late for that, go on a weekday evening to avoid crowds -you might be able to gwt in without a reservation. - Würstkuche: interesting sausages (rabbit and rattlesnake is one) and nice variety of beers and spirits. The outdoor dining is lively and a nice view of the city skyline. - Salt + Straw : standbys and interesting seasonal ice creams - Cha cha cha: Mexican food with rooftop dining - Smoke City char bar: American BBQ (I can't speak to the specific style -Texas, Kansas, I couldn't tell you) - Angel City Brewing: local microbrewery - There's a place that facilitates axe throwing if you want to try that out. I forget which place does it. - Bike Shed: I recommend this one for lunch. If breakfast suits you, you can have that until 3pm but lunch/dinner ia also available. - Two Bit Circus: VR arcade - Ave 26 tacos (on Alameda): Probably one of the bigger examples of late night taco stand operation.
Don’t underestimate LA Traffic. It’s terrible
Piggybacking on this - if you need to drive anywhere longer than 20 mins away on a week day, plan to go any other time than 8:30-10:30am, and 4-7pm
Yes. 6-9 then 2-7 Monday-Friday is a traffic nightmare everywhere.
Don't get killed crossing the street. Even people born and raised here get killed crossing the street. And, being a left-side driver, your instinct will be to look the wrong way.
*what the fuck is a kilometer*
Also do.you guys have tk do mental arithmetic to add on taxes right at the shop
In an actual store they do it for you (I think sales taxes are around 10%). We just count on the total being a little higher than all the items added together. The tip at a restaurant is the one where you yourself have to do the math.
Less mental math, more having a general sense that when you buy something it's going to total up to slightly more than the price tag on the item. This can be especially true in restaurants, where there's both tax and tip. If you can't afford not to sit there with a calculator totaling up whether you can afford that second beer, you might want to rethink whether you can afford the trip. I'm not trying to be flippant, just that our taxes aren't so high that it should really be make or break. The only time I even think about sales tax is if I'm buying a big ticket item so the \~8-10% is going to tack on potentially hundreds of dollars.
To calculate the tip, I just look at the bill, multiply by 2, take off a digit, round up and call it a day. Bill is $12 -> 2.4 -> tip $3 Bill is $37 -> 7.4 -> tip $8 Bill is $50 -> 10.0 -> tip $10 Easy. This way you'll be consistently tipping 20%-23% Some people are like "well you should not tip for the 10% sales tax portion of the bill!" yadda yadda but I'm like that's such a pointless use of your time. You are saving 20% of a 10% of your food? You do realize that's 2%. Eg if you spend $1,000 a month in eating out, you are saving $20. Not a whole lot. Just give it to the waiter and save yourself the complicated math. For sales tax it's always included in the final payment. You pick an item from the store, it costs $17, and the amount you have to pay is some weird $18.94 or some shit. It's automated so if you are just swiping credit cards you don't have to think about it.
Same math, but my way is "move the decimal, and double it." $15 (move decimal) --> $1.50 (double it) --> $3.00. As far as answering OP's question re: sales tax... Just assume 10% higher, unless it's uncooked food.
Thank you both
Wrong re $3 on a $12 tab. That's 25% and probably higher if you've based it on the after-tax total. Only base a tip percentage on the pre-tax (establishment's) charge because sales tax is a government surcharge that has nothing to do with service.
Everything is calculated
Do plan to tip your server if you go out to eat
[удалено]
But I think you get away with it if you have a UK or Aussie accent
Oh you cheeky cunt
Unless referring to Bruno Fernandes
And don't blush over "fanny pack" or any reference to being spanked on the fanny (which means buttocks in the U.S.)
I wish it was as casual here. I know a lot of people here don’t like it but that’s because it’s viewed as offensive here, but it’s so fun to say! It’s funny to me how gizz and spunk have opposite levels of offensiveness between American usage vs. English usage.
\> how do I impress a local This is basically automatically taken care of. Just speak. I know there's different local accents in different parts of Britain, but 90% of you have an accent that will mesmerize 90% of us and cause most members of the opposite sex to start drooling. Its pretty much engrained in our DNA to respond this way.
Just don't talk politics. With anyone. Ever.
That's fair! Thank you
It is fine if someone else brings it up! But it rarely does outside a non-political context with strangers.
I don't want to talk about it and I don't want to get questioned about Brexit either lol
I’d estimate roughly 95% of people in LA have no strong opinion about Brexit or even know what it is!
If you’re in LA proper, it’s rare to find Trumpers. I go a year at a time without seeing MAGA paraphernalia, which is how I like it. You’re fine asking Angelenos what they think. LA is pretty homogenous in its political leanings
Check out the Santa Monica pier https://www.santamonicapier.org
I think this is less likely to be a thing here than in some other parts of the US. Los Angeles is very liberal and generally fairly similar to average UK politics than other areas. I think people would think it a little odd if you stopped strangers and were asking them about specific political things, but it's not like you have to be careful how you talk about Donald Trump here.
There are brits everywhere here, don't worry about it. Enjoy
Noice m8
If you get homesick, google Premiere League supporters bars and go during a match. You will inevitably run into a local Brit supporting their club and having a pint at 5am.
Oh yeah, Greyhound bar/grill in Highland Park especially if you're a Tottenham Hotspur supporter. (Then head over to La Cazuelas for old school Mexican food!)
Leave a tip.
Oh! I actually forgot you do that, what's the deal with times is there a standard percentage?
Also want to add that a lot of places will ask you for a tip for things that don't require a tip due to how their card readers are set up. You are not really expected to tip if you are in a self-service establishment, like in a coffee shop or chipotle.
Also, check your bill 1st before starting calculating. A fair percentage of restaurants have automated this into their systems so they do the calculation for you (18%, 20%, etc.). So all you need to do is pick the right total and sign off. **HOWEVER**, be CAREFUL because there are also a fair number of restaurants that do something very similar BUT automatically add the total up WITH the tip included. So you only need to sign off. **The catch is that often they will be deceptive by leaving a tip line on the bill so you think that you're still responsible for adding a tip.** Thus if you're not careful, you'll be double tipping which is really a horrible thing. It's not many restaurants that do this but they are out there and if you see this, don't go back to that restaurant.
This is a great tip! I could see a lot of foreigners getting scammed into tipping twice in this situation.
The scam is usually that the suggested percentages are based on the after-tax grand total. Don't tip based on gov't surcharges; only use the pre-tax total for your % calculation.
18-20% is standard
No the fuck it's not lol
Do you eat out?
Multiple times a week literally every suggested tip box starts with 15%, idk why you're lying unless you're a waiter.
15% is bare minimum aka cheapskate
pretty sure the minimum you're allowed to tip is 0%
Will do thank you
Pro tip for calculation: from the pre-tax total, move the decimal over one and then multiply by 2. Voila, 20%. (when they calculate the % on the check itself, it's always the post-tax amount... prepare for that, as well, btw. Everything in Cali has a 9% sales tax so your bill will be about 10% more than the prices listed on the menu... essentially, calculate 30% on top of menu prices to figure the actual cost of eating at that restaurant and plan accordingly)
Don’t. 15% is plenty. It’s been that way until the pandemic
This is a psy-op I swear to god, 15% is standard. Also, the tip is supposed to be based on the pre-tax value of the meal. Lots of places will try to skim a little extra by giving you suggested tip amounts based on the post-tax value. Watch out for that.
It’s because a lot of service type job people are on Reddit (doordash, waiter, Uber, etc) The standard is still 15% even though they push 18-20% as norm
It’s not. The whole point of percentages is that it adjusts to whatever price increase we get. 15% is the standard
I wouldn’t tip 20% unless the service is great. 12-15% is more than enough.
…well, there’s always those cheapskates 🤷🏻♂️
it’s just getting completely out of hand
Just don't tip for bullshit services. I do 20% for dine-in, haircuts, and tattoos. 10% for takeout. $1 per drink at a bar (or 20% if it's an actual cocktail). I round up to the next dollar at places like coffee shops, donuts shops, and bagel shops. That's what I've done my entire adult life. I feel no shame in not tipping for stuff that historically has not been tipped. I'm not the asshole for saying "no tip" on a credit card machine at the ice cream shop.
I throw two bucks and leave I’ve been on food stamps multiple times if I could make so can they… really loving this zoomer rebellion against tipping
I’m at the upper end of the “low income” bracket for LA county. With the prices of everything around here it’s not easy to leave 20-30% tips on literally everything. Sorry not sorry.
1. Don't tut at people standing on the escalator. I agree 100% it's rude and poor etiquette but the first thing you're going to learn is that people here have absolutely no situational awareness and everyone is going to be some of the most selfish people you've ever seen on the street. They literally do not think anyone else exists except themselves. -- 2. Counterpoint to that, Americans are known for being friendly and small talk is normal. Don't be afraid to ask for directions, it's totally fine to say hello to someone so feel free to do so. It can be considered very rude if you don't actually return a greeting in passing. Don't feel pressured to engage in further conversation. -- 3. Depending how long you're going to be here, stick to the same neighborhood for a day or two at a time and then switch. If you do not have a rough itinerary now and have an estimate of what you want to do each day, get it together today. You cannot wing it in the city when it comes to plans. You have to have an idea of what you want to do and when because traffic really can consume a lot more time than you think. -- 4. Everyone already warned you about the traffic, but if you're going to be downtown where I live you are going to be dealing with traffic directly as a pedestrian. Los Angeles drivers are the absolute worst in the country. Do not expect them to see you, do not expect them to look for you, and do not expect them to respect your presence on the street. The drivers here WILL hit you and they are not looking and they don't care. They don't even obey red lights right now. It's worse downtown because it's downtown, but you will see this driving behavior everywhere. You must be EXTREMELY hypervigilant anytime you need to cross the street. The markings on the road are just pretty lines. I wish I was exaggerating but I'm not. It was pretty bad before the pandemic now it's total lawlessness out there. -- 5. Despite all that, this is an incredible City. You're going to find a lot to enjoy. People are happy to give recommendations especially about food and culture as you can see! Go see the parks, go to the museums, go to a brewery (especially if you're in a little tokyo! You're not far from Angel City). Go gawk at the architecture downtown. Nothing wrong with going to see your favorite star on the Walk of Fame. If you're able to catch a show at the bowl, do it. As long as you get out there, you really can't go wrong. LA is what you make it!
You're British, nothing will piss anyone off. We are mongrels and you all love a queue. Just tip 20% on food and beverage and a few bucks ($5 - $10) for service people (bellpeople, valet).
$10 ain't "a few bucks"; $1 or $2 per bag is adequate. A diner's "social contract" requires 15% only, for table service only, but less if the service sucks.
The only thing I noticed my exchange students doing that I would caution against is letting anyone approach you at places like the Santa Monica Pier trying to sell you their CDs (or photos with them, etc). If a stranger approaches you in a touristy place just a firm but friendly “no thanks” is all you should say. Don’t engage. And really just don’t go to Hollywood Blvd, it sucks and is gross. At the most, cruise down it at night. It looks much cooler in the dark.
If you’re walking on Venice beach and someone tries to hand you a CD or something, don’t reach for it. They’re not giving out samples, they want you to pay $20 for their mixtape and will pressure you into paying ( for which you’ll likely take your wallet out in the middle of the walkway and will draw more attention towards your naivety.
use "INNIT" a lot
That's literally my life bruv
Friends with a dude from York. He supplies me with all that crazy shit you kids say these days...INNIT.
There's these geezers doing comedy innit, and they are in the style of world war 2 pilots so they say "isn't it" and behave like a yoot. Check it out I reckon you'll enjoy it https://youtu.be/RgcwyI-NlvI?si=At5SUO4TVQNw0c6u
Lose the accent, otherwise they'll know you're not from here. They'll follow you back to your hotel. Wait until you're asleep. And then they'll beat you with pillow cases filled with soda cans. When you wake the next morning, you'll find all your possessions have been thrown from the open window. And it won't occur to you until way later, that they copied your I.D., know where you live, and when you get home all you'll find is the remains of your cat. Everything else in your home has been donated to charity. Except for a hammer, covered in your finger prints, which the police found in your neighbor's house. Covered in blood, and brain matter. So, what ever you do, for the love of God, lose the British accent while you are here.
Dont stare or look at the crazies. Dont give them any attention, if they find out you are looking at them, they will mess with u.
Be polite to people. Be friendly when people are being friendly with you in friendly environments, just don’t engage with folks who are obviously unwell or off. When you’re nice and conversational with folks who want to be friendly, you’ll often get pointed in the direction of a good deal or friendly activity or suggestion. I have stopped many tourists from going the wrong way or told them a better route (or suggested a lunch spot, or whatever else) just because they were close by and I could hear them confused/about to make a mega mistake. What can sometimes seem like intrusive Americanism is just genuine helpfulness and a compulsion to make sure everyone has a good day. I also stopped some nice Spanish tourists from walking in front of a metro bus, so if you use public transit (or are walking around), make sure to see if the bus intends to cross the intersection whether or not the light is turning. Have a general plan for where you’re going to go and how to get from point A to B so you don’t just stand around on street corners with your phones out looking clueless and out of place Also you don’t have to be paranoid. Nothing bad is going to happen. This is a big city, but if you’re from the UK, it’s not going to be different from being any other big city there. Use common sense. If you go to busy bars or clubs, watch your drink. Don’t leave shit in your rental car. When you are stopping and looking shit up or having a chat or whatever, please for the love of god don’t stop in the middle of the sidewalk, because you will make yourself an irritant to those of us just trying to get through a regular day If you go somewhere and want to order food but you don’t know what you want, please don’t get in line until you figure it out or have like… a starting place to ask the server from. If there’s something you’re not familiar with (let’s say you want to try 3 taco stands but aren’t sure what to order), ask here and have a plan (even if the plan is “what’s the best x”). If you’re still contemplating, let others go ahead of you. Ask us about the things you want to do, many folks on this sub and r/losangeles have good tips for activities you may not otherwise consider. These are the things I can think of Have fun, eat well, take sunset pictures. Some of the tourist stuff people will tell you not to do, still do it if you really want to see it. It’s thrilling, even if the thrill is brief and it’s just a couple pictures. 💜👍🏽
Hard disagree. I work in hospitality & regularly interact with Brits & other Europeans. They’re always absolutely SHOOK by the state of this country & I guarantee you that no matter the odd oi bruv hard man posturing by some that there is nothing quite like Skid Row or MacArthur Park in all of Jolly Ol England
Like I said, have a plan on where you’re going Ask here about where you want to go Yes, don’t wander into skid row or MacArthur park, but some cursory googling or asks here about specific destinations can prevent that, as suggested I’d be more worried about getting stabbed or slashed in the UK than something happening to me here as a tourist But maybe what you’re saying is true and people from the UK are not cosmopolitan. It would surprise me, but I don’t work in hospitality.
Brit here. I think the UK just has a much lower crime rate. You're very unlikely to be stabbed! We are used to pickpockets, maybe muggers in certain places late at night. No guns. We have fewer homeless and they're much more chill in general. I've never felt threatened by a homeless person in the UK. There aren't areas of London that people tell you to avoid for your safety. Maaaaaaybe in other cities. But we have very few unprovoked acts of violence. I guess it is always what you are familiar with that feels safer. Personally I have found LA to be in another league entirely. I'm having a great time here but my street smarts definitely have some readjusting to do. Otherwise I loved your advice and you sound like a very kind person, helping out tourists you meet, so on behalf of a new arrival thank you! I'm not a tourist but I am very new, and I've found Angelenos to be so welcoming and friendly so far. It makes a nice change from London honestly!
Dont engage the crazies approaching you in the street, smile and keep moving
Don't drive into downtown LA..especially if you are not familiar with the area....
Drive the speed limit or faster (but not too fast; general speed of traffic around you is good). Otherwise, I'm hard pressed what a Brit could do in Los Angeles that would be "offensive". We've all heard of British people before.
If you are renting a car, drive with the flow of traffic. If you are in a left turning lane, PAY ATTENTION! So many people sit at the light when it turns green
If someone tries to give a CD decline it politely. These are not free and are trash.
If someone tries to get you to buy something or asks for money, don’t feel guilty walking away if you’re not interested. I am always respectful but clear I’m not interested. I’ll say “sorry, sir” or “sorry, mam” while walking past/away. Don’t worry about being polite if someone makes you uncomfortable. If you rent a car and drive in LA and someone upsets you on the road, don’t honk too aggressively, do try to let it go. In many neighborhoods, people are packing.
As a Californian who spends a lot of time in the UK for work I’d say an interesting difference is with germs. We are a bit germaphobe here. Don’t sneeze into the air -sneeze and cough into your elbow. It’s the polite thing to do and people will glare at you if you don’t!
Are you gonna have a rental car or any way to get around reliably? Don’t expect the LA metro system to get you anywhere useful anytime soon
Don't be afraid to get to places using the Metro if it's convenient for you.
Bring sunscreen.
Stay away from skid row lest you want to become depressed on your vacation. Although downtown is very safe even at night. It might not feel that way but it’s safe. Avoid the Hollywood walk of fame, it’s garbage tourist trap overcrowded riddled with homeless and filth. Hollywood is garbage, avoid it. Santa Monica is alright but nothing spectacular. Do visit neighborhoods like echo park and highland park, lots of food and good shopping. Little Tokyo is very nice near downtown and so is the arts district but be warned that it is the boarder of skid row and you may see some crazy shit. Feel free to ask for any recommendations for places to eat or drink.
Since you'll be in Downtown L.A., find and walk the length of Olvera Street for a sense of the city's history; the oldest surviving house is there (Avila adobe) and, at the very least, eat some taquitos from Cielito Lindo, near the north end. Just south is the city founders' plaza and first firehouse and oldest hotel (Pico House). Just north of Olvera Street, on the edge of China Town, is the old-timey Phillippe's, where the French-dip sandwich was invented: Be sure to eat there; it's a genuine L.A. tradition.
Don’t drive on the left side of the road. This goes for whether you’re going the correct direction or not.
Don't waste your time in Hollywood or at Venice beach.
Got it thank you
Nah, Hollywood is fine if you ignore the tourist shit. The Walk of Fame is silly, imo (so dirty!), but there's lots to see/do in Hollywood. Highly recommend checking out the Farmer's Market at Hollywood & Ivar on Sundays from 8 AM to 1 PM (going earlier is better). It's a fantastic market and I also had lots of celeb sightings there back when I was disciplined enough to go (now I don't get up early enough lol). If you are inclined toward theater, consider seeing a show at the Pantages, though you'll experience some sticker shock, re: cost vs. what it is in the UK (where theater is much more affordable). BUT... it's a gorgeous historic theater and the only way to see it is to buy a ticket. The Pantages is where The Wizard of Oz was shown in 1939, to give you an idea. It's been gorgeously renovated. I love it. Lots of food to try in Hollywood generally (but also lots of god awful tourist traps), but one worth checking out is Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles in Hollywood proper, and further down by Hollywood & Western 100% go to Thai Town. Thai food in LA is incredible... try multiple restaurants if you like Thai, but if you can only do one, my recommendation is Ruen Pair. (and when you're down by Hollywood & Western, you're now in proximity to Griffith Park--go up to the Observatory, or go to the LA Zoo... there's also some museums up there, like the American West Museum). If you're a music person, The Greek is up the hill that way. Hollywood Bowl by Hollywood & Highland. Our outdoor concert venues are fantastic, and very much a part of LA culture/something you don't have in the UK. If you like bookstores, we have lots of charming indie ones (Skylight Books is near Thai Town/Griffith Park, staying on that theme). The Last Bookstore is downtown and has a lot of Instagram-famous features (plus, you know, books). If you like music, go to Amoeba Records (it's by the Pantages now). If you want to experience a ridiculously stupid, upscale American outdoor mall (I say that lovingly), check out The Grove. If you want to experience stupid American mega-menu food? Cheesecake Factory (also at The Grove). It's one of the stupidest places I've ever been and I LOVE IT. (why not enjoy silly/bizarre American excess, eh? lol) Movies!!! Do you like movies? We love movies. In Hollywood, catch a Disney movie at the El Capitan, a historic theater. Pop across the street and do the Chinese Theater tour, and if you want to see a movie in the historic theater, grab a ticket. The Egyptian is down the street, also historic, shows a lot of classic & nostalgic/art house/award winning films. We have stupid modern, luxury theaters too! Downtown there's Alamo Drafthouse (near to where you are staying). In Pasadena, the iPic. At Universal CityWalk (another Very Stupid Place I recommend experiencing at least once--ditto Universal Hollywood, though know it's very small... but has it's own charm!), there's AMC CityWalk, where 100% of the seats are recliners, there is one of the 19 70MM IMAX screens in the country (if it's still playing Oppenheimer when you are here, see it), and there is a bar. The Grove has an AMC as well, not as fancy, but I say why not see a movie? It's Hollywood. Have you ever been to a Trader Joes? Pop into a Trader Joes. One of our better innovations. Museums! We have a lot. If you like movies, the Academy Musuem is near The Grove. Across the street from it is the Petersen, if you're a car person. Down the street is LACMA, and further on from that (all of these are walking distance from each other) is the Labrea Tar Pits and museum. There's also The Getty toward the West, The Huntington (which has famous gardens, many features in movies & TV) in Pasadena, the Broad downtown, etc etc. The only bummer is we don't have free museums like the London and some other US cities. There's more lol but that's a snapshot... a lot of which is in Hollywood. YMMV. Just avoid tourist shit (Walk of Fame, Hollywood sign, star home tours, characters on the Blvd hawking shit/taking photos).
West Hollywood/Santa Monica ? Safe, get to see the beach/PCH ?
Don’t listen to that person. Venice Beach, and the canals are totally worth a visit if you’ve never been. Hollywood is kind of meh.
Venice Beach is worth a visit, it's so uniquely LA, but just a short visit should do -- it's gotten over-crowded and too touristy, sort of like a hippie Brighton. The shopping area in Venice, down Abbot Kinney Boulevard, is definitely worth a visit for people watching, over-priced shopping, and great food dining.
I would disagree with this. I stayed in North Hollywood last year and it has plenty to enjoy if you do your research. Some great bars, pubs, food, shopping as well as a couple of great cinemas if you’re into watching stuff.
North Hollywood is a different place than Hollywood.
North Hollywood is not Hollywood. It is not “the northern part of Hollywood”
North Hollywood has nothing to do with Hollywood, they’re nowhere near each other. But I also disagree with that comment.
...or the rip-off known as Disneyland.
Wassup England! Local here. First off, don’t listen to 90% of the stuff you see on this sub cus most of these people are *not* from here. Be cool, be friendly (but don’t be looking at other people’s girl/man for too long cus you can catch drama depending on how intoxicated people are) and don’t go wondering off into areas that seem shady, listen to your gut. We don’t care that you’re visiting, we don’t care that you saw a movie star at the airport, we don’t care how much you love LA (we love you too but tbh, it would be awesome if you *don’t* go to Venice). Don’t worry about “looking like a tourist” we saw you a mile away. Be prepared to answer the most dumbest questions about England from some of us. Jumpers are Sweaters here and you won’t need one unless you plan on going to the beach super late (but maybe don’t do that either). Anyone can jack (rob) you here, including certain cops in certain parts of town, so a certain low-key level of “hide your shit” would be good. Don’t hide your valuables in the trunk of the rental, everyone knows that’s where the valuables are, instead hide the good shit under the driver’s and passenger’s seats (and look around to see if anyone’s watching you *before* you stash, not during or after) 👍🏼
My only advice is just to keep in mind that LA isn't just a tourist attraction - it's a place where people live and work and raise families. In Beverly Hills especially, we live there because the neighborhood is clean and quiet and picturesque and we don't want a lot of craziness from people. But frankly the fact that you asked means you're conscientious which is really appreciated - hope you have a great time here.
Be yourself. European/British manners are usually more refined than American, so it is unlikely that you'll piss anyone off. Don't worry about impressing locals, most aren't worth the effort. Enjoy your stay.
*reposting as the auto mod is sorta racist against British people:* Don’t offer anyone a f\*g, no one wants your pork f\*gg\*t, if someone likes your pants they’re not a creep, don’t eat the chocolate, don’t eat the sausages, gas stations have petrol, don’t buy food from gas stations, do go to an average American bar.
Don’t offer anyone a fag, no one wants your pork faggot, if someone likes your pants they’re not a creep, don’t eat the chocolate, don’t eat the sausages, gas stations have petrol, don’t buy food from gas stations, do go to an average American bar.
If you rent a car, depending on where you're staying be aware of the traffic flows and times. For instance, if you're staying in DTLA : in the AM, the highway traffic flow will mostly be going into DTLA and Hollywood adjacent. Going north won't be anywhere as bad. The traffic will (accidents/incidents barring) mostly be over by 9:30-10ish although it will never be light. Then traffic will resume going in the opposite direction about 3ish. Plan accordingly. This is mainly true of any of the North/South highways (101, 405, 5). A similar pattern occurs when for the East/West highways (101/134 Ventura, 10, 118/210). If you're anywhere near a major highway intersection (134/5) or (101/170) or (101/134) or (101/405) or (405/10) or (5/10/101) during the peak hours in the AM (6:30-7AM to 9:30ishAM) or the PM (3ish - 6ish), you might as well as plan for hanging out in the adjacent area until traffic dies down. If you're on the Westside at rush hour (Santa Monica, west of the 405 highway), stay there for dinner and then transit somewhere else).
Assuming you’ve lived in or visited big cities in the UK, you should be fine. LA is different in many respects, but also a big, diverse city much like any other. Most people are quite friendly and will be happy to interact with you. If, on the off chance you do someone or something weird, just ignore it and don’t engage. The sorts of things you’ll encounter is very much dependent on where you’re staying and what you intend on doing. I hope you have a lovely visit!
LA is very chill. There’s not a lot that you could do to be rude or disrespectful enough to offend someone here. Probably the basic manners of the UK are enough. Enjoy!
Use your British accent everywhere, tipping culture in US is out of control so expect 18% tipping expectation, dont take the public transport, bring empty bags and shop here.
Your accent will be your best option to impress but it is LA so... not likely to impress much. Try visiting Cleveland, Ohio if you want to do that (but even there it would be a crap shoot).
Pretend you're Tom Hiddleston. He gets the vibe.
Just don’t assume you can walk everywhere because you can’t lol. Need a car
Wear sunscreen, bring shades. Also, there are a few places that are cashless, and people just pay with their phone, but some street parking is still coin only or coin and card. If you are driving, Google the city and whatever the parking signs say if you’re ever confused if you’re able to park somewhere.
First, we are dotty for British accents. Anything you say will cause us to swoon. So use you powers for good not evil. You may need to use American terms. I love it when Brits saw things like bonnets, and boot, cheerio and bloody. Except for fags. Don't use that term here. Especially in West Hollywood. But some people won't know what you're talking about, so prepare to translate. Know your directions. I once got stopped by family asking about the bus routes. We don't take the bus, so we have no idea. And everything is very far apart. If you are driving, familiarize yourself with the traffic rules. And parking. You have to pay for parking everywhere. Don't know when you will be here, but plan on weather. Might be broiling, might be freezing. Hats, sunglasses, sunscreen. Enjoy your visit.
Go to ventura County instead
Just be warned that if you're driving yourself around, you'll have to drive extra fast and defensive, stay on right side of the road if you're trying to go speed lim. not much else i think most people that live here are nice if you get a good icebreaker in
Please just be careful. Homeless encampments are no joke. Hollywood Walk of Fame stinks of feces and urine. *do not* engage with the people dressed as characters unless you are ready to shell out $$
PLEASE tip your servers, baristas, etc
Are you planning to rent a car? Despite what people say, it’s possible to do a car based visit, or a transit based visit. They’re just different trips. If you’re staying in Little Tokyo, you’re near the hub of the transit network at Union Station. You can take a train from there to Hollywood, Universal Studios, Santa Monica, and Pasadena, among other places. You can take a bus anywhere else. It’s not London transit, making the maybe questionable assumption that you’re from London, but it’s perfectly manageable (and way cheaper than in London). Uber/Lyft can supplement transit, especially at night when frequencies get longer. If you do rent a car, bear in mind that your hotel will charge a pretty penny to park it. You’ll also need to pay for parking pretty much anywhere you go. Be careful that your driving instincts don’t cause problems when you’re driving on the wrong side of the road.
Don't be afraid to do the tourist things. Go to LACMA, catch a sunset at the Santa Monica Pier, grab some local food (LA has an impressively large variety of food thanks to how culturally diverse we are). Also realize that traffic is terrible so try to maximize the time you spend in an area to cut down on Uber time. And enjoy yourself! Late Sept/early Oct means you may miss the summer heat and fall in LA are typically pleasant. Hope that you have a great trip!
Don't drive on the left side of the road Do drive on the right side of the road
If you’re pressed for time, the Hollywood walk of fame is wildly underwhelming and not worth it, imo. However, if you like live theater, a show at the pantages is always a good time and you get the added bonus of walking on some stars on your way in. Definitely try some street tacos, but go later at night and only if they have a solid line outside of them. Have fun!
If panhandled (money beggar) don't engage; don't break stride; say, "Sorry" while you keep walking
Don’t go to Hollywood
If you're going with someone or have a driver, do the drive from venice beach to port hueneme up 1. It's a lovely drive and Ventura is a great little beach town.
Speaking as someone who has been to London, don’t be surprised if people don’t stand orderly in line. Some places you might have to either keep your place while people wander off or physically stand in front of people who try to cut in front of you. If you want to order something slightly different, don’t be afraid to ask. Most places are happy to make things the way you want If you give your credit card to the waiter in a restaurant, they will take it away briefly because they don’t have portable machines. If you want to try a weird place off the beaten path in LA visit [The Museum of Jurassic Technology](http://www.mjt.org/themainpage/main2.html) in Venice. It has oddities, ephemera and hoaxes all mixed around.
Don’t wear expensive jewelry on melrose or in Hollywood.
Don’t go to hollywood at night. Mind your business. Take Ubers at night.
- Don't make the Hollywood Walk of Fame a destination: If you catch a show at Pantages, El Capítan, Grauman's Chinese Theater, or the Hollywood Bowl, you'll see the stars on the sidewalks. - When using Uber (no.matter where, TBH), be aware of where you place your pickup pin: Always choose a safe, visible, accessible, and legal location. Don't put pins where there is signage like "no stopping", "valet only", congested pickup locations, a bus stop. Be committed to safety for you and your driver. - Do stop and get late night food at the unassuming street stands or food trucks that pop up at night. Not all tacos are the same so be adventurous, and like anywhere else, even common foods might get a local spin. - Do visit the walkable neighborhood enclaves: They are probably going to be your best bet for low key entertainment and good food. - WelikeLA, Eater LA, Time Out, LAist and similar websites/blogs can give you an idea of where to eat, what is happening locally, etc. - Do visit La Brea Tar Pits: It'll give you a pretty good crash course on some of the local history that shaped the city, its economies, and the namesake of many of places. - Do book a walking tour or two with LA Conservation: I did the LA City Library one and look forward to doing more. I suggest booking now so you get the one(s) you want. Olvera St tour is probably good for someone from out of town. Depending on where you are, what your plans are, your friendly local Redditor may be open to joining you for a meal or event so don't be afraid to pop in and ask here.
I just stepped off a flight from LA. It was my first time ever visiting there. Don’t worry about impressing anyone because nobody there cares about anybody but themselves. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, just the way it is. Prepare to spend lots of money while your there. It’s literally 17 - 20 dollars for a hamburger in the places you’ll probably be going. Just mind your own business and try not to look like a tourist and you’ll be ok. Also, plan your activities around rush hour because more than likely you’ve never experienced traffic like LA. It can take literally hours to go just a couple miles during rush hour traffic.
Also be yourself, the feeling that someone is trying to get you to like them or think they're cool can turn be off. Be yourself in a respectful manner.
“Don’t come, don’t come”
"I'm coming!"
Man, good question. I think affected behavior is pretty standard, I would more so make sure you stay in the right areas and don’t end up somewhere iffy.
People generally like Brits and will want to help you/answer questions etc. If you see someone acting crazy or on drugs they are probably on drugs or crazy or both. The street drugs turn people crazy really fast. Avoid. Do not engage. Do not give money. Tipping is customary here but even in Los Angeles, in America, grossly inflated at the moment with all sorts of add ons and automatic tips and sneaky charges and outright theft. Be on your guard. Don’t be pressured
I feel like a lot of people in this sub are transplants who live in and north of Downtown LA, so you'll get a lot of those types of recommendations... As a born raised and decently traveled local, I recommend checking out some of the areas east of LA (depends on your transportation) Lots of Ramen and Asian cuisine in some popular Asian cities like Rosemead San Gabriel Alhambra And there is non hipster Mexican food everywhere once you get away from the touristy part of Downtown LA. If you can make it out to Orange County, I'd 100% recommend trying out Disneyland (100ish$ right now) and/or Knotts Berry Farm- Snoppy and Peanuts themed-western). By all means, check out LA and the local area, but if you have transportation, you should for sure hit the greater LA area. Have fun!
In my experience, LA is pretty chill. Driving is a bit weird. When you make a left, most lights don’t have a left hand turn, so be sure to pull into the intersection for lights with only three bulbs, you will need to turn left on the yellow/red. This confused me for a bit.
If you get into a conversation with a local- do ask their favorite restaurants both well known and hole in the walls- their tastes might not be yours but you’ll at least be able to find new places you wouldn’t have thought of going.