Buckingham Palace - Changing of the Guard

Here's an interesting article (from an American's perspective) with some tips and tricks to travel to London on the cheap. There are a few hints for flying which are US-centric, but many of the other links and descriptions are for deals on accommodations, restaurants and dining, and free or inexpensive tourist attractions, such as the changing of the guard. Perhaps some good ideas for your next trip to London! To read the full article, click here.

04/09/08 by visitEarth
Tags: London, England, Britain, travel, cheap, inexpensive

 

Time: GMT (GMT +1 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October).

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs are standard.

Money: The currency is the pound (GBP), which is divided into 100 pence. ATMs are available in all towns and Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted; visitors with other cards should check with their credit card companies in advance.

Language: English is the official language, though visitors will be astonished by the variety of regional accents and may sometimes feel they need an interpreter when speaking to locals.

Health: There are no specific health risks associated with travel to the UK and food and water can be considered safe. The British National Health Service is excellent; emergency treatment is free to visitors, but charges are made for routine medical care. Visitors from other countries are advised to take out good medical insurance.

Tipping: Tips of 10 to 15% is expected in restaurants and upmarket hotels if a service charge hasn't been included. Hotel service staff receive an optional amount. Taxi drivers are usually given 10 to 15% of the fare. Other services are discretionary.

Safety: It is generally safe to travel throughout the UK, although travellers are advised to take special care of their personal belongings in central London, where pick-pocketing is often reported. Following the counter terrorist operation in the UK in August 2006, security at all UK airports was tightened and restrictions on hand luggage introduced.

Customs: Handshaking is customary when introduced to someone new. Smoking is banned in all enclosed public spaces, including pubs and restaurants, and on public transport. There is a strict etiquette on escalators - stand on the right, walk on the left. Visitors will find Londoners more rushed and less friendly than Brits in other parts of the country, particularly on London transport where tourists are generally the only people who talk.

Business: Politeness and punctuality are key to good business relations, and initial meetings are often conducted formally and impersonally, becoming more open and social as things progress. Business cards are exchanged at introductions. Dress is formal, with dark suits preferred. Business hours are generally 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday with an hour taken at lunch.

Communications: The international country dialling code for UK is +44. There are a wide range of city/area codes in use. Mobile phones work throughout the country; the network operators use GSM 1800 networks, which may not be compatible with some dual-band US cell phones. Internet cafes are available in major towns and cities, train stations and airports.

Travel guide content sourced from wordtravels.com

12/11/07 by visitEarth
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