United Kingdom Travel Guide

London — Main Hubs

LHR · Heathrow — primary hub. Elizabeth line to Paddington: 15 min, £12.80.
LGW · Gatwick — Gatwick Express to Victoria: 30 min.

London — Secondary

STN · Stansted — budget carriers
LTN · Luton — budget carriers
LCY · City Airport — closest to central London (Docklands)

Getting Into London

Elizabeth line from Heathrow is best. Heathrow to central London by taxi: £60–90. Uber available from all airports. Avoid the unlicensed cab touts.

UK Rail

Excellent intercity trains connect London to Edinburgh (4h30), Manchester (2h), and beyond. Book at thetrainline.com for advance prices.

Currency

British Pound Sterling (GBP £) — Cards accepted everywhere including contactless. The UK is largely cashless — you can travel without cash entirely.

Tipping

Restaurants: 10–12.5% if service not included (many add it automatically — check your bill). Pubs: not customary. Taxis: round up.

Value

London is expensive. Quality restaurant: £40–80 per person. Pub lunch: £12–18. A pint of beer: £5–7. Expect top European prices across the board.

Time Zone

GMT — Greenwich Mean Time
UTC+0 winter · UTC+1 summer (BST — British Summer Time)

Vs. US Eastern

London is 5 hours ahead of New York in winter (4 hours in summer — UK and US change clocks on different dates).

Business Hours

Shops typically 9am–6pm Mon–Sat. Restaurants serve continuously in tourist areas — no split service like France or Italy.

London

Best: May–Sep Temperate and famously unpredictable. Summers mild (18–25°C). Winters grey and cool (5–10°C). Rain possible any time — always carry a layer.

Year Round

There is no bad time to visit London. Summer has the longest days (light until 10pm). December has Christmas markets and extraordinary festive atmosphere.

Language

English (British variety) — "Lift" = elevator. "Chemist" = pharmacy. "Loo" = toilet. "Chips" = fries. "Crisps" = chips.

Useful Phrases

"Could I get the bill?" (not "check")
"Cheers" = thanks/goodbye
"Lovely" = great
"Queue" = line — always join it, never jump it.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Most non-UK, non-Irish visitors now need an ETA to enter the UK. Apply at gov.uk/eta. Cost: £10.

US, EU, Australian Citizens

Visa-free entry for tourism up to 6 months. ETA required since 2024. Apply before travelling — approval is usually instant.

Passport

Must be valid for the duration of stay. UK does not require 6-month validity beyond stay.

General

Very Safe London is one of the world's safest major cities. Petty theft (pickpocketing, phone snatching) is the primary concern.

Emergencies

999 — Police, Fire, Ambulance (UK emergency number)
112 — Also works from any mobile phone.

Tips

Phone snatching from tables in cafés is increasingly common — keep phones off tables. Beware pickpockets in busy tourist areas and on the Tube.

United Kingdom

Destinations in United Kingdom

London