London

Introduction

Piccadilly Square, London

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London is a cultural melting pot where people from around the world have found a home, a legacy of their colonialist past and a great contributor to its vibrant culture today: according to the 2001 census, over a quarter of the population of London was born outside the United Kingdom. Home to Big Ben, the Queen of the United Kingdom, the Tower of London and fish and chips in your local, London provides days of distraction for the first time tourist. For return visitors, London's size and diversity offer something new to see on every trip.

Neighbourhoods

London consists of the City of London, 32 boroughs and two liberties, which are informally divided into the following sub-regions.

City of London

How, you may be wondering, can there be a City of London within London itself? Because the modern municipality - the Greater London Authority - does not govern the actual City of London.

The City of London itself is located on the north bank of the Thames in the eastern part of the modern city centre. This was the Roman city of Londinium, and in its modern incarnation it is the world's largest international financial centre. It is a separate Ceremonial County from the Greater London and occupies a square mile, in comparison to the 609 square miles (approximately 1,500 square kilometres) of Greater London. Its cathedral is St Paul's.

Central London

Big Ben

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Central London, like any other city centre in the world, is the place where the hive of activities and sights are concentrated. There is no official definition for the Central London boundary. Colloquially, Londoners refer Central London as the Zone 1 of the city's public transportation fare zoning system. Zone 1 covers the City of London; part of the boroughs of Camden, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Southwark, and Tower Hamlets; and the City of Westminster.

The only borough with a city status within Greater London is the City of Westminster, a couple of miles upstream adjacent to the west of the City of London. This is the seat of government, and its protestant cathedral is the church of St Peter's, otherwise known as Westminster Abbey.

West London

West London is the area on the west side of London, on the north bank of the River Thames. The boroughs in this unofficial sub-division are Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, and Kensington and Chelsea.

North London

The London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington are located in the area known as North London.

East London

The north eastern part of London – the east of the north bank of the River Thames – is commonly referred to as East London. The boroughs in East London are Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. The Summer Olympics in 2012 will be held on this side of the city.

South East London

South East London, the eastern half of the south bank of the River Thames in London, is occupied by the boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark.

Popular attractions in the south east include the Cutty Sark, Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory, home of 0° longitude, the Prime Meridian.

South West London

South West London is the western half of the south bank of the River Thames in London. The boroughs in this part of London are Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton and Wandsworth.

Sights and Activities

Museums and Galleries

Further information: London Museums

British Museum

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There is no shortage of world class museums and galleries in London and best of all, many of them can be entered for free, although usually there is a "suggested" donation.

Central London

• British Museum is one of the world's great museums. Much content is loot from years of colonialism. It has especially notable Assyrian, Celtic, Egyptian, Greek and Roman collections, and it also houses the Elgin Marbles from the Acropolis of Athens, and the famous Rosetta Stone. Its Great Court is of architectural interest in its own right. Leave plenty of time to take it all in. Karl Marx wrote "Das Kapital" in the Reading Room.
• Sir John Soane's Museum is the house of Sir John Soane (1753-1837), an architect and eclectic collector.
• National Gallery houses over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century. The collection, which also includes paintings of Leornado da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Vincent van Gogh, belong to the British public. Entry to the main collection is free.
• National Portrait Gallery is a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people.

West End

• Natural History Museum includes some of the finest collections of animals, stuffed and skeletal, past and present, in the world – including some spectacular dinosaur skeletons. The museum has a collection of over 17 million specimens, though most of them are hidden behind the scenes.
• Science Museum has a collection of over 300,000 items, including the famous Stephenson's Rocket, Puffing Billy (the oldest surviving steam locomotive) and the first jet engine. It is not only a museum to see things, but also to touch and do things. Great for kids.
• Victoria & Albert Museum is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design.
• Tate Britain has a fine collection of British work from medieval times to the present day, particularly notable for its Turner collection.
• Madame Tussauds has a collection of waxwork models of famous people in this museum set up by an émigrée from the French Revolution, Marie Tussaud. Be prepared to queue.

East End

• The Geffrye Museum is situated in a row of ex alms houses, showcases the lives of Londoners from 1600 to the present day.

Southbank

• Tate Modern has the largest collection of Modern Art in Europe, spectacularly located in the old Bankside power station.
• The Clink Prison Museum is a museum dedicated to The Clink, a notorious medieval prison from 1151 until it was burned down during the Gordon Riots of 1780.

South East

• National Maritime Museum is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich.
• Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park is where the line of zero longitude, the prime meridian, was finally established in 1884, to the chagrin of the French. Also the coordinate base for Greenwich Mean Time.

Parks and Gardens

Squirrel at Saint James's Park

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London has one of the largest ratio of park space per-capita in the world.

West End

• Hyde Park is a big breath of fresh air bang in the middle of London, with boating ponds and flower gardens. It also has the Diana memorial fountain. Another famous part of the park is Speaker's corner. In summer the park is sometimes used for big scale music events.
• Kensington Gardens is the western part of Hyde Park.
• Green Park is a small park just south of Piccadilly.
• St James's Park is a well-kept small park with views onto Buckingham Palace.
• Holland Park is a park in Kensington & Chelsea. It houses a famous orangery and the ruins of the Holland house.

North London

• Hampstead Heath is the largest park in London, with great views over the city from Parliament Hill.
• Regent's Park is a park in the north of London in which the London Zoo is located.

South East

• Greenwich Park has good views of London from the hill in the park.

South West

• Battersea Park on the southbank of the Thames between Albert bridge and Chelsea bridge, and near to the Battersea power station.
• Richmond Park is a wild park on the outskirts of London with a resident herd of deer.

Royal Palaces and Residencies

• Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837. The State Rooms, the Royal Mews and The Queen's Gallery are open to public visits.
• Changing the Guard is the ceremony of hand-over of guards in the forecourt of the Buckingham Palace, usually consisting of Foot Guards in their full-dress uniform of red tunics and bearskins.

Queens Birthday - Guards

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• Palace of Westminster is better known as the Houses of Parliament. It is the iconic landmark that represents not just London, but the entire United Kingdom as well. Until 1512, the site was a royal residence, but a fire forced Henry VIII to move out. However, the site remained a Royal Palace; therefore, its official title is the Palace of Westminster. Almost all of it now is newer than it looks: most of it burned down in 1834 and was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style. Today, it is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons) meet.
• Big Ben – The Clock Tower, the main part of the iconic landmark to travellers, is often referred to as Big Ben, the nickname of the bell housed within the 96-metre-tall Clock Tower. Big Ben's official name is the Great Bell. Tours to the Clock Tower are open to UK residents only and must be arranged through the local MP.
• Westminster Hall is the only major part of the ancient Palace of Westminster which survives in its original form. It survived the 1834 fire which destroyed the rest of the Houses of Parliament.
• Hampton Court Palace is a former royal palace built by Henry VIII, located in the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, South West London.
• Tower of London – Once a fortress, a royal palace and also a prison (for high status and royal prisoners, such as future Queen Elizabeth I), this 1078 fortress built by William the Conqueror is now home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom since 1303. This monument is located in Central London and is just a stone's throw away from the Tower Bridge on the north bank of the River Thames.

Other Sights and Activities

Tower Bridge

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• Westminster Abbey is one of the most important buildings in Britain. Founded by St Edward the Confessor and consecrated in 1065, it was not completed until about 1500. But architecturally it is a Norman cathedral. Monarchs are crowned here, and plenty are buried here. The Henry VII chapel, in an apse, is particularly fine.
• St Paul's Cathedral - This Anglican cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of London. Located on Ludgate Hill in the City of London, this present building is generally reckoned to be the fifth St Paul's Cathedral of London.
• The Inns of Court are located between the cities of London and Westminster, the four Inns of Court are the colleges of England's barristers, or specialist trial lawyers. Their open areas and gardens are open to the public and can offer welcome respite from the crowds. Middle Temple and Inner Temple are located to the south of Fleet Street; Lincoln's Inn is between Fleet Street and Holborn; and Gray's Inn is to the north of High Holborn.
• Tower Bridge is the most iconic bridge of London and is often mistakenly referred to by many as the London Bridge, which is a different bridge that used to be located 800 metres away upstream on the River Thames. London Bridge was sold and relocated to Arizona after World War II.
• HMS Belfast was a Royal Navy light cruiser in service from 1939 until 1963. In 1971, Belfast was turned into a museum ship and is permanently moored on the Pool of London, between London Bridge and Tower Bridge.
• The London Dungeon - A recreation of various gory and macabre historical events about various tortures from the Medieval Age.
• London Eye - Nothing ocular about, it is a large and beautiful Big Wheel, located on the south bank of the river virtually opposite Westminster. Book in advance.
• Piccadilly Circus is a famous circular open space at a street junction in London's West End is in a central location close to major shopping and entertainment areas. Many famous movies have been shot in this popular meeting point.
• In the north of London, near Regent's Park lie the famous Abbey Road studio's. Here you can do one of the most silly things in London: creating your own Abbey Road album cover.
• Cycle Tours - There are numerous companies offering cycling tours around London; just search for 'london bike tours' and there are at least 10 popping up. This can be a great alternative of walking around and taking public transport and is fun as well! Guided tours of London's famous landmarks usually include stops like Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, meandering through backstreet's and cycle paths. Tours to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens for those who are wanting a longer tour are also available. Usually you can alos hire a bike and just travel around London at your own pace.
• Theatreland - London's Theatreland in the West End of the city is the home of theatre. Centred on Covent Garden, Theatreland is a major tourist attraction for both home and foreign visitors. At any one time there are over 100 shows being performed from small fringe productions to blockbuster budget musicals like Sweeney Todd and Blood Brothers. The oldest operational theatre in the world is the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, said to be haunted by actors passed.

Events and Festivals

Notting Hill Carnival

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• Notting Hill Carnival happens every August Bank Holiday in London and comprises a Kids Day, an Adults Day and a spectacular parade to rival Rio. There are plenty of stalls, selling foods from all over the world, but primarily remaining true to its Caribbean roots. There are live bands and DJs in the many sound systems set up in surrounding streets so you can continue to party long after the midday parade.
• The Championships, Wimbledon tennis tournament is held every year between late June and early July. Often called the "fortnight," the tournament is calendared so that it ends on the second Sunday of July and begins on the Monday, 13 days earlier.
• City of London Festival occurs each year in June-July and has done so since its inception in 1962. It offers a wide range of activities at indoor and outdoor venues across the square mile, all kinds of music, literature, visual arts exhibitions, guided architecture walks and much, much more. Many free events can be found on the program, so it needn't break the bank!
• The Mayor's Thames Festival takes place along the River Thames every September. The festival main spots are between Westminster Bridge and the amazing Tower Bridge and comprises street performers, markets, activities and eateries. The final day of the festival culminates in a night parade where thousands enjoy the parade of lanterns, performers and spectacular floats and a massive fireworks display.

Weather

London has a temperate marine climate, which is similar to the rest of the British Isles through in general it's one of the warmer places in the UK. There is generally regular although light rain throughout the year with around 600mm annually. The warmest month of July has an average temperature range of 13.6 °C at night to 22.8 °C during the day. Although during the summers there can be random days that are extremely hot with the highest recorded temperature being 38.1 °C. The coldest month is January, which has an average temperature range of 2.4 °C at night to 7.9 °C during the day. The driest month is February and snow is very rare in London. Central London, because of the large urban area, has a micro climate making it slightly warmer then the surrounding area. This allows some plant life to grow in London that does not grow anywhere else in England.

Getting There

By Plane

London Heathrow
London Heathrow (IATA: LHR, ICAO: EGLL) is the largest airport in the London area, and many international flights arrive at Heathrow. In fact, no airport anywhere in the world handles more international passengers than Heathrow does. One of the world's busiest airports, Heathrow is crowded and known for outrageous line-ups and lost luggage. Heathrow has four terminals. To determine what terminal you will be using, check out the which terminal information from the Heathrow airport website.

There are numerous options to get to and from Heathrow Airport.

London Heathrow Express

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• Heathrow Express is a non-stop train service that offers the fastest travel option to Paddington station in central London. Services run every 15 minutes and the journey time is just 15 minutes; a few minutes more for Terminals 4 or 5. A standard single ticket (2010) purchased online is £16.50 (£18.00 from ticket machine/office; £23.00 purchased onboard) and a standard return is £32.00 (£32.00 from ticket machine/office; £37.00 purchased onboard).
• Heathrow Connect is a stopping train service between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport, and calls at Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Hanwell, Southall and Hayes & Harlington. Running every 30 minutes, a journey takes up to 25 minutes. Single tickets are from £4.90 to £7.90, depending on the destination.
• Heathrow is on the Piccadilly line of the London Underground network, with three stops at the airport – Terminals 1 and 3; Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. There are two different train services; one stopping at Terminals 1 and 3 and Terminal 4, while the other at Terminals 1 and 3 and Terminal 5. Journey time to central London is under an hour and you shouldn't have to wait longer than 10 minutes for a train – even off-peak. A single ticket into central London (Zone 1) costs £4.
• Heathrow Airport is served by an extensive network of local buses which operate from the central bus station. Some services also stop at Terminal 4. Services into west London are part of the Transport for London network. A single adult fare for anywhere in London is £2. The bus station is well signposted from Terminals 1 and 3 and is located above the London Underground station. Access from Terminals 1 and 3 is via underground walkways. The approximate walking distance from Terminal 1 is four minutes, and from Terminal 3 is seven minutes. The routes from the airport can be found on this map. Information on services can be found at the TfL website or by calling +44 (0)20 7222 1234.
• You can also connect National Express directly. Their buses numbers 032, 035, 403, 412 and 501 (one way/return from £10/15, tickets valid three months; 45 minutes to 70 minutes, every 30 minutes to one hour) link Heathrow with Victoria coach station (7730 3466; 164 Buckingham Palace Rd SW1) over 50 times per day. The first bus leaves the Heathrow Central Bus station (at Terminals 1, 2 and 3) at 5:35am while the last departure leaves at 9:35pm. In the other direction, the first bus leaves Victoria at 7:15am, the last at 11:30pm.
• The The Tube (one way adult/child £4/2, from central London one hour, every five to nine minutes) is the cheapest way of getting to Heathrow. Operations start from approximately 5:00am (5:50am Sunday) to 11:45pm (10:50pm Sunday). You can buy tickets from machines in the baggage reclaim areas of the Heathrow terminals or in the station itself.
• Taxis are available at Heathrow Airport 24 hours a day. There are taxi ranks at all terminals, as well as taxi information desks inside. It costs about £45 to £70 to central London and the average journey time is approximately an hour.

London Gatwick
London Gatwick (IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK) is the busiest single-runway airport in the world, the second largest airport in the UK and the seventh busiest international airport in the world. Around 90 airlines operate from Gatwick's two terminals, named North and South, serving around 200 destinations.

Ways to get to and from Gatwick include:

• Gatwick Express offers dedicated, high-speed travel to London Victoria station with a journey time of just 30 minutes. A standard single fare is £16.90 and a standard return is £28.70.
• Southern Railway offers services to London Victoria, London Bridge, East Croydon and Clapham Junction. Southern take about 35 minutes to London Victoria. Fares are up to £16.90, but advanced purchase or travelling off-peak can reduce the price. Access is from the South Terminal.
• First Capital Connect offers services to London Bridge, St Pancras International and other stations in southern, central and northern London. First Capital Connect take 30 minutes to London Bridge. Fares are up to £11.80, but advanced purchase or travelling off-peak can reduce the cost.
• National Express and easyBus both provide coach service to London from Gatwick. National Express tickets cost £7.50 while easyBus tickets start from £2.00.

By car, Gatwick can be reached by taking junction 9A from the M23. The M25 provides access to Greater London, while the A23 provides local access, as does the A217.

London Stansted
London Stansted (IATA: STN, ICAO: EGSS) has domestic and European connections, plus limited destinations in North America and Africa.

There are several ways to get to and from Stansted Airport.

• Rail: Stansted Express provides services from Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street station, with trains departing every 15 minutes with an average journey time of 45 minutes. A single ticket costs £18.80. and £26,80 for a return ticket, when tickets are prebooked at the website. If the tickets are bought at the airport or at Liverpool Station, they are £1.00 more expensive for a single ticket, and £2.00 for a open return ticket.
• Bus: A cheaper option is easyBus, run by the easyJet company, which offers transport to and from central London from £2.00 each way. Other express coach services to London include the National Express and TerraVision (London Victoria and Liverpool Street stations). National Express also has services directly to Oxford. Excel operates a coach service to Capel St Mary and Ipswich every 2 hours. A few more companies and local lines operate from the airport as well.
• Car: Stansted is connected to northeast London and Cambridge by the M11 motorway and to Braintree, Colchester and Harwich by the A120.

London Luton
London Luton (IATA: LTN, ICAO: EGGW), about 57 kilometres fron the centre of London, is a major hub for low-cost carriers. Airlines using this airport include easyJet, Monarch Airlines, Ryanair and Thompsonfly.

There are a few options to get to and from Luton Airport.

• Rail: The fastest way to get from the airport to the city is by train, which arrives at the St Pancras International Train Station in 30 minutes. Trains also go to Wellingborough, Kettering, Leicester and Nottingham. You need to get a shuttle bus to the Luton Airport Parkway railway station first.
• Bus: GreenLine Coaches and easyBus operate direct bus services to London. National Express buses go to London Stansted Airport.
• Car: The airport is just a few miles away from the M1 motorway. There are rental car facilities at the airport.

London City Airport
London City Airport (IATA: LCY, ICAO: EGLC) is situated just 10 miles (16 kilometres) from the West End (the major shopping centre) and Westminster (location of main government offices), six miles (10 kilometres) from the City of London (the financial district) and three miles (5 kilometres) from Canary Wharf (London's newest business and financial centre).

There are several ways to get to and from London City Airport.

• Rail: Getting there and away is easy by public transit with the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) operating for connections to the City and Canary Wharf.
• Bus: London Buses services 473 and 474 run to local East London destinations.
• Car: There are short-term and long-termin parking places and car rental facilities at the airport, and taxis are available outside the terminal.

By Train

Paddington Train Station - London, England

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There are numerous train stations in London serving locations across the UK. Details on services are available from National Rail.

International Services on the Eurostar via the "chunnel" currently arrive at St Pancras International Train Station from Brussels and Paris, and other destinations in France and Belgium. St Pancras International is served by the Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Picadilly and Victoria lines on the London Underground.

For transporting your own vehicle (car, motorcycle) through the 'chunnel', check the Eurotunnel website, and for all other international options check the http://www.raileurope.co.uk|Rail Europe]] website.

By Car

London is well served by highways and roads into the town. Check out online maps like Google Maps for driving directions.

Drivers should note that the city is very busy, and traffic is a common problem. In addition, much of the centre of the city is covered by a congestion charge of £8.00 for any travel within the city centre, Monday to Friday from 7:00am to 6:00pm, excluding holidays.

By Bus

National Express has coach services from major cities and towns in the UK and Europe. Megabus has quite a few services within the UK as well and in general is cheaper as well, as they operate like a sort of low-cost airline, with seats for as little as £1.00 if you book early.
Greenline is another operator on UK routes. For more options on European routes check the Eurolines website.

By Boat

There are no ferries services directly into London, however a number of international ferry services run to coastal towns in the United Kingdom, and travellers can drive, take the bus or take a train from there. For more information about options regarding arriving or departing in the UK by ferry, check the UK Getting Around section.

Getting Around

By Car

With its narrow streets, busy traffic and congestion charges, most people leave the car at home and take the frequent public transport options. If you insist, there are numerous options to rent a car with both local as well as major international companies. Try Easycar, ElephantCar, Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Thrifty and Enterprise, for a start.

Drivers should note that the city is very busy, and traffic is a common problem. In addition, much of the centre of the city is covered by a congestion charge of £8 for any travel within the city centre, Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 18:00, excluding holidays.

By Public Transport

Underground sign, London, UK

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Transport for London (TfL) manages the bus, riverboat, tram and overground and underground train services in London. London uses a travel zone (PDF file) system, with crosses into other zones increasing the cost of fares. Informally, Central London is Zone 1 and the zone number increases as one travels farther away from the city centre.

For travellers who are spending multiple days in London, the best choice is either an Oyster card or a Travelcard. These are strongly recommended, because without them, ticket prices are obscene. Travelcards allow unlimited travels on the TfL network and come in Day, 7-day, Monthly and Annual validity. Oyster is a stored value travel smartcard that you use on the TfL network. Simply "touch" the card on a card reader when you enter and exit the system and you will be charged the lowest fare. For Oyster Pay-As-You-Go card, daily charges are capped at the price of a Day Travelcard even if you travelled more than that. Stored value in the card can be topped up at all tube stations.

The TfL Journey Planner is a great tool to find the route, mode and journey time to get from one place to another. Maps are also provided to assist travellers find their way around.

Underground, DLR, Overground

Bank Station, London Underground

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The DLR (Docklands Light Railway) is a driverless light rail service that serves mainly the South East London. Compared to other modes of public transportation which are built decades or even over a century ago, this railway is fully accessible, making access much easier for people using wheelchairs, or who have other mobility impairments, as well as people with young children in prams or with heavy bags.

Unlike the Underground system, the DLR does not have barrier gates where you touch your Oyster card or insert your ticket to enter or exit. Instead, it is an open system and travellers are trusted to purchase a ticket prior to boarding, or in the case of Oyster card users, a card reader is placed at the station entrance. Remember to "touch in" when you enter and "touch out" when you exit. Don't even think of taking a free ride as there are ticket inspectors on the trains who will not hesitate to slap you with a penalty for fare evasion.

Overground is a sub-urban train service in London. It runs on ground level mostly in Zones 2 and 3. It has a lower frequency with train arriving every 15 to 20 minutes. The Overground also has no barrier gates like the DLR. Options include the Thameslink and Silverlink. Silverlink links Richmond in the southwest with North Woolwich in the southeast via Kew, West Hampstead, Camden Rd, Highbury & Islington and Stratford stations. Thameslink goes from Elephant & Castle and London Bridge in the south through the City to King’s Cross and as far north as Luton.

* Oyster single fare: Peak hours are Monday to Friday from 06:30 to 09:30 and from 16:00 to 19:00. Off-peak hours are at all other times including public holidays.
** Day Travelcard and Oyster price cap: Peak hours are Monday to Friday from 04:30 to 09:29. Off-peak hours are Monday to Friday from 09:30 to 04:29 (the following day); Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 04:30 to 04:29 (the following day).

Further information:

• Tube, DLR and London Overground fares, Single fare finder, Price capping
• Tube maps, DLR maps, Rail maps, Visitors and tourists maps

Bus and Tram
London has such a wide bus network that a Londoner's knowledge of the routes is just as good as the next visitor to the city. The iconic red double-decker bus is a good way to travel around while still being able to see London compared to the Underground. Standing is not permitted on the top deck when the bus is full. All bus stops have bus route information and it is not uncommon to see two or more bus stops in a row, each serving different routes. There are bus services 24 hours a day. However, only certain trunk and N-prefix (indicating night bus) routes run throughout the night to major parts of London.

Tickets can be purchased on board of most buses. You can also find road-side ticket machines on routes where buses do not sell tickets on board. So if you see a road-side ticket machine and you don't have an Oyster card, get a ticket first before boarding the bus.

Tram services are only available in Croydon in South West London.

Further information: Bus maps, Tram maps, Bus and tram fares

Riverboat
Not entirely useful for commuters, but an enjoyable way to get around and see the traditional artery of the city at the same time, riverboats ply their trade between Putney in the west and Woolwich in the east, with several stops in the centre. This is a particularly good way to get to Canary Wharf or Greenwich. Thames Clippers offers commuter services running from 6am to just after 1am. The services (adult single/­return £5/8, child -5yrs and under- half-price, roughly every 20 to 30 minutes) give you access to lots of the river sights. Boats run from Embankment to Woolwich Arsenal Piers, passing the Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, Greenwich and the O2.

Further information: River maps, River fares

By Taxi

Taxis come in two varieties: licensed and unlicensed.

Licensed taxis (aka black cabs, officially Hackney carriages), are black with a yellow 'taxi' light on top In order to get a license, a candidate must pass a demanding test called The Knowledge. Essentially, he or she must know every street in London and how to get between them. So vast is this amount of spatial information that MRI studies have shown that your average cabbie has an enlarged hippocampus. So if you go by black cab, you can be confident your driver will know the way (although he may not want to go there: many cabbies get a nosebleed if asked to go south of the river). You can also be reasonably confident of your security and can take the licence number of your driver if you wish to complain. The downside: you pay more.

If you travel in an unlicensed taxi, you will pay less. But you will need to know how to get to your destination, since you will probably have been in London longer than your driver, even if you are a tourist. And you will have no idea of the identity of the person driving you. Women on their own are especially advised to think carefully before using this means of transport.

By Foot

Greater London is a very large city, and it is not practical to explore all of it on foot. However, most of the sites of interest to tourists are in the centre of town. It is quite practical (and highly recommended) to walk between the central sites and then take public transport home. London is a very rewarding city to explore on foot, and both Westminster and the City of London are full of thousand-year-old nooks and crannies that can only be seen this way. Walking along either bank of the river is also recommended.

Several companies offer walking tours of the West End or the City. Almost every building in the centre has an interesting history to it, and this is one way to discover it.

Other rewarding areas for a day out on foot are the villages of Hampstead and Highgate and Hampstead Heath North London; Greenwich and Greenwich Park in South East London; and Kew and Hampton South West London.

By Bike

Provision in the UK for cyclists is pitiful compared to much of continental Europe. The Greater London Authority has carried out programmes to change that, the so-called London Cycling Campaign, and bicycle usage has increased sharply since the congestion charge for vehicles was introduced in 2002. Nevertheless, cyclists and motorists are constantly at loggerheads, and London is a challenging city for cyclists. It is essential to wear a helmet. Cycling around Hyde Park Corner offers a thrill comparable to that of parachuting. Heavy goods vehicles are particularly dangerous.

Cycle London, an initiative by Transport for London to promote cycling, provides information, and free guides and maps for cycling in London. The free maps can be found here. More online maps of cycle routes are also available at the London Cycle Network website.

The London Bicycle Tour Company offers tours and bike rental in London and surroudings. Go Pedal is another company offering bikes for rent, as doSouthbank Cycles and On Your Bike.

If you want to try something different try the London Pedicabs, which has three-wheeled cycle rickshaws, seating two or three passengers. Still, they are more typical tourist transport instead of a regular mode of transport.

Eat

Like any big city, London offers a mass of choices. From £2 breakfasts in greasy spoon diners up to £200 meals in the restaurants of some of the top chefs in the world, there are many choices.

For an inexpensive lunch, check out chains like Eat or Pret A Manager, both of which offer sandwiches, soups and salads for under £5.

Brick Lane, the heart of Banglatown, is the Curry Capital of the United Kingdom and is known for its "Cheap and Cheerful" atmosphere. You often come across touts for the restaurants trying to tempt you into their establishment. This is the time to negotiate your per-head price and attempt for a round of complimentary poppadoms or drinks! A Brick Lane curry is a must for anyone visiting London!

The High Street in Angel has an array of choices – even if you don’t know what you feel like eating! Everything is covered – from French to Turkish.

• Le Mercury is a wonderful example of a restaurant with affordable prices and delicious French cuisine! The place is small, so you may have to wait for a table (even during the week) if you don't make any booking. Address: 140A Upper Street, Islington, N1 1QY. (Tube: Northern line: Angel) Tel: 020 7354 4088

Drink

Prices for a pint of beer in a pub range from £2 in the outer areas of London to £3.50 in the centre and at tourist areas. Clubs can charge significantly more, and drinks can cost £10 and above.

• Wetherspoon pubs generally offer reasonably priced drinks and food, though admittedly the atmosphere can be less than inspiring in some of them.
• Edinboro Castle pub in Camden is great for a pint or two if you're around the North London. They also have a great menu and a lovely big beer garden for when the sun comes out. Address: 57 Mornington Terrace, Camden, NW1 7RU (Tube: Northern line – Camden Town or Mornington Crescent) Tel: +44 20 7255 9651
• Gordon's Wine Bar is the oldest wine bar in London and has been serving London drinks (and meals) since 1890. It's a unique atmosphere and great experience for a night out in London. Address: 47 Villiers Street (just up from Embankment tube station, right next door to Charing Cross and a stroll across Hungerford bridge from Waterloo). Open from 11:00 to 23:00 every day other than Sunday which is 12:00 to 22:00.

Sleep

London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, and as such finding places to sleep can be pricey. However, with some advanced planning an accommodation option can be found for most budgets. With the extensive tube and train system, travellers can stay a little further out of the city and still be close to the action.

Private rooms in hotels, B&Bs and studio apartments in flats can be found around London for £40 a day and up. Areas with lots of hotels and B&Bs include Earl's Court and Paddington. Travellers can also check out Gumtree for listings of short term vacation rentals in flats in the city.

London is home to some of the most luxurious hotels outside of Dubai (which seems to have cornered the market on luxury hotels).

Many upscale accommodations can be found in Mayfair in the West End, including The Ritz and Claridge's Hotel, both renowned for the lavish accommodations.

Work

Before making plans to move to London and start working, make sure you are legally entitled to work in the UK so you do not face any legal difficulties by accidentally breaking the law. There are a number of ways you can apply for work permits and visas, and of course, this is also affected by your nationality. Check out the different types of work permits and visas to make sure you are entitled to work when you move to London.

With a number of UK and international companies based in London and a large population requiring goods and services, there are a lot of job options in London. Check out Monster or gumtree for job listings. Also, The Guardian Newspaper is also a major advertiser for skilled professionals – check out their website or pick up a copy in any newsagent's shop on a Wednesday for the biggest selection of jobs!

Learn

London has the largest population of students of any city in the UK. Here is a list of some of the more popular universities.

• University of London is the largest university in London with over 135,000 students on campus, plus another 40,000 studying off the main campus. The university is a federation of colleges which specialise in different subjects. Many of these are world-class: the London School of Economics has a great reputation in the social sciences, University College London in law, and so on.
• Imperial College London, formerly part of the University of London, specialise in science, engineering, medicine and business.
• University of the Arts London is a very good art school with other non-art programmes as well.
• London Business School, a constituent college of the University of London, offers very highly-rated postgraduate degrees in business.
• Brunel University is in West London and is a great school.
• City University is known for making very good workers out of their graduates and their alumni earn very high salaries.
• Royal College of Art is the only postgraduate arts university in the world.
• Royal College of Music is a great music university in London.
• Conservatoire for Dance and Drama provides higher level vocational education in dance and drama at several different places.

Keep Connected

Internet

For free Wi-Fi, check out the map maintained by Londonist. A number of bars and restaurants offer Wi-Fi service with a purchase, and will usually advertise this fact. You may need to get the security key from the service counter.

McDonald's also offers free Wi-Fi connection in its restaurants across the UK.

Internet cafés can be found throughout London, and charge from £1 to £2 per hour, usually payable in 30-minute segments.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

The mobile network operators in the UK are O2, Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange and 3; and often have store fronts in most shopping areas. There are also other "re-branded" mobile phone service using the infrastructure of the mobile network operators. The Carphone Warehouse is an independent mobile phone retailer with stores around the country.

Mobile phone service plans are usually packaged as Pay-Monthly for post-paid plans, and Pay-As-You-Go for pre-paid plans. Pay-monthly plans usually come with a 12- or 18- month contract, while Pay-As-You-Go plans require top up of credit, which can be done at ATMs, kiosks and convenience stores with a "Top-Up" logo displayed.

International telephone call centres can be found around London, allowing you to place calls using a land line and pay for the call. These are often co-located with internet cafés.

Post

The Royal Mail provides postal services in the United Kingdom. The Royal Mail's store fronts are called Post Office and offer services ranging from sending letters and packages to foreign currency exchange. Use the branch locator to find the nearest Post Office branch. An alternative includes TNT Post.
It's common for a post office to be incorporated into a grocery store, where there will be a small counter located at the back of the store for dealing with post related matters. All post offices are marked with signs that say 'post office' in red lettering. Post boxes can be found at any post office and standalone large red post boxes on the streets or red boxes in the sides of public buildings.

External Links

• Greater London Authority
• Visit London - London's Official City Guide
• City of London Corporation
• Visit the City
• Transport for London