London is an exciting and vibrant city that offers a wealth of things to do and see. It is also one of the safest cities in the world.
To make your experience as pleasant as possible, you should exercise the same caution that you would at home.
london transport
Avoid using unlicensed taxis. Safe taxis to use are those authorized by the Police. The driver will wear a badge and the taxi will have a license on display.
When using a rental car, be sure to thoroughly inspect the car for damage before signing any forms.
Accommodation in London
Accommodations in London are Star and Diamond rated by official tourist organisations. The higher the number of stars or diamonds, the higher the quality.
Crime
As with any major city, crime can be a problem. However, if you follow the same basic principles that you would at home, you will be perfectly safe. Store purses and wallets in zippered compartments. Avoid the use of backpacks. Keep cameras slung around your neck, not over your shoulder. Never leave your bag on the floor of a restaurant or bar, take it with you at all times.
Your money
It is not always profitable to exchange your money at your hotel. Try to shop around for the best rate. Banks and building societies often offer the best rates.
Once you have exchanged your money, be sure to store it in your hotel safe.
eating and drinking
Beware of young women inviting you for a drink in bars. These ladies are often escorts and he may end up paying hundreds of pounds for a drink and the privilege of the company of ladies for the night.
Diners are now expected to tip their waitress or waiter in a restaurant. Before you do this, check your bill to see if the service is included. It is accepted that a tip of around 10% of your total bill is reasonable. However, don’t be tempted to tip if the service or food is poor.
weapons
It is illegal to carry a knife, gun or CS spray in London.
Important vacation dates
The vacation dates for 2010 are as follows:
New Year’s Day – January 1,
Good Friday – April 2,
Easter Monday – April 5,
May Day – May 3,
Spring Bridge – May 31,
Summer bridge – August 30,
Christmas Day – December 27,
Boxing Day – December 28.
Our banks are closed on public holidays, however the most popular stores are now open between 10am and 4pm
Holidays are classed as family days, so there are usually plenty of organized activities to keep everyone entertained.
Shopping
It can be distressing for American ladies to learn that they’ll go up a dress size during their time in London, and it won’t be because of the food. If you’re a size 8 in America, you’ll be a size 10 here and in Europe. Let’s hope that doesn’t put you off from your purchases! If it’s any consolation, you’ll need shoes 2 sizes smaller, a 7 in the US is a 5 here for ladies. Men’s clothing sizes are no different. However, his shoes are 1 size smaller here.
driving in london
We could write a book about driving in London. Of course, it’s much easier to say “don’t do it!” Driving in London is not a pleasant experience. It might interest you to know that in 1898 the average speed of cars in London was 11mph, in 1998 it was also 11mph – a lot of progress. It may be some comfort to you to know that there is an excellent subway system, which is cheap and fast. If driving is your thing, we have a wealth of information for you to read and digest.
- It’s a fact, we are obsessed with roundabouts. Roundabouts are placed at junctions where traffic is normally heavy. Love them or hate them, they work well. When approaching a roundabout, look to your right, if nothing is coming, there is no need to stop. You must give way to the right and go around the roundabout in a clockwise direction. You must indicate your intentions to help other drivers.
- A valid (full) European, US or Canadian license is required to drive in the UK.
- Seat belts must be worn by all passengers.
- You must come to a complete stop where you see a stop sign and a solid white line on the road, even if you can see that your way is clear.
- Unlike in most other countries, drivers must stop at zebra crossings if a pedestrian is waiting to cross.
- At pelican crossings, you must come to a complete stop on red. On amber, you must wait until all pedestrians have safely crossed before driving.
- The traffic lights follow the following sequence; red (stop), red and amber (get ready), green (go).
- We pass on the right and quickly return to the left lane after passing.
- To deal with the sheer amount of traffic that visits London on a daily basis, the Mayor has introduced a congestion charge. This charge applies to vehicles entering central London by car between 7:00am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). The charge is £8 per day. This can be paid in advance by visiting http://www.cclondon.com. You’ll also be able to pay in garage forecourts, in stores, by mail, and indeed in and around the congestion charge zone. Now you can also pay by text message, although you must register online first. Simply text the last four digits of your credit/debit card to 81099 on the day of travel and they’ll text you your receipt number within 30 minutes. A heavy fine applies to those who fail to pay the fee by midnight on the day of travel.
- Parking in London is neither cheap nor easy. If you have parking at your hotel, we suggest you leave your car there and use the metro. Traffic wardens in London have a habit of showing up when you least expect them, and following close behind is the restraint van. The release fee is a bitter pill to swallow.
- When driving in London, always lock your car doors. Gangs have been known to attack when vehicles are stuck in traffic.