No Small Wander

So often I see travel advice that encourages people to live like locals do.

I think that this advice is misguided—good, but not great. It’s normal to want an experience that avoids tourist traps, overpriced restaurants, or experiences that require standing in a long line. But what’s as desirable is the local experience.

I’m a “local” in London, and I like the way my life works. I live in a nice neighbourhood, with a large green space nearby; I’m close to public transport, so London feels very accessible to me; and I have lots of local amenities, like grocery stores, gyms, and a rock climbing place. My days look like: working from home, making dinner in the evenings, watching some TV. I visit the gym 2–3 times per week; I see my friends on the evenings and weekends; I go on date nights with my husband. I spend my weekends at flea markets, museums, and brunch spots. It’s the good life!

But when I’m travelling, I’m making the most of every moment. I’m planning walking trips that make my step tracker dizzy, examining every sight and taking pictures as I go. My phone is full of ideas, and I’m figuring out if there are more ways to pack things into my day. I’m making maps of the city based on someone’s Instagram pic of breakfast, a TikTok about a craft fair, and an article about a small business. I pick up the pace when I know my time at a venue or in a city is limited. (This is how I found slow travel; I tend to over-extend myself while I’m travelling, and I know that’s not always a good thing!)

When I’m in a new place, I’m keen to make the absolute most of it. When I’m in my own neighbourhood, the pace of life makes London a background character in my life.

Is this a privilege? Yes, absolutely. I’m so lucky that I live in one of the most exciting cities in the world. But that excitement sometimes takes a backseat to everyday life.

I’ve written before about how to be a tourist where you live—how to reclaim the wonder that newcomers experience. Break out of your routine, go to a show! Go to a museum! There’s a new restaurant to try! And I do these things from time to time. But that’s not what locals typically do. I think that people fall into patterns: we find things we like and treat ourselves. We find recipes that are easy to cook and delicious, and make them often. We find the paths of least resistance.

But travel, in my experience, is about resistance. My whole blog is about navigating challenges as an anxious traveller! Things go wrong, and we find ways around them. We push ourselves to try new things—taste new foods, see new art. We’re pushed to navigate newness, through different traffic signs, billboards, types of shops, even new languages. This should be different from regular life!

I don’t think there’s any shame in wanting to avoid overpriced tourist’s traps; but to be fair, sometimes tourist’s traps feel really special. So why not indulge? Forget vacationing like a local—travel like someone who’s new to the city, who’s ready to make memories. Take a million pictures, eat food you’ve never tried; don’t feel the need to copy the schedule of people who live there. Trust me—I’m a London local, and my daily routine is nothing like what I’d suggest to someone on vacation!