Travel Guide > Europe > United Kingdom > England > London
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.
London consists of the City of London, 32 boroughs and two liberties, which are informally divided into the following sub-regions.
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 of Greater London. Its cathedral is St Paul's.
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 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.
The London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington are located in the area known as North 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, 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 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.
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
West End
East End
Southbank
South East
London has one of the largest ratio of park space per-capita in the world.
West End
North London
South East
South West
London has a temperate marine climate, which is similar to the rest of the British Isles. There is generally regular although light rain throughout the year. The hottest month of July has an average temperature range of 13.6 °C to 22.8 °C. 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 to 7.9 °C. The driest month is February and snow is very rare 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.
London Heathrow
London Heathrow (IATA: LHR, ICAO: EGLL) is the largest airport in the London area, and many international flights will arrive at Heathrow. One of the world's busiest airports, Heathrow is crowded and known for outrageous lineups and lost luggage. Heathrow has five 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 by train or bus.
The 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; 7 to 8 minutes more to and from Terminal 4. A standard single fare purchased online is £14.50 (£15.50 from ticket machine/office; £17.50 purchased onboard) and a standard return is £28 (£29 from ticket machine/office; £31 purchased onboard).
Heathrow Connect is a stopping train service between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport, and calls at Ealing Broadway, WestEaling, Hanwell, Southall and Hayes & Harlington. Running every 30 minutes, one-way tickets are between £4.90 and £6.90, depending on the station.
Heathrow is on the Piccadilly line of the London Underground network, with three stops at the airport - Terminals 1,2,3; Terminal 4 and the new Terminal 5. There are two different train services; one stopping at Terminals 1,2,3 and Terminal 4, while the other at Terminals 1,2,3 and Terminal 5. Heathrow is in Zone 6 of the London transit network. 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. Srvices 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, 2 and 3 and is located above the London Underground station. Access from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 is via underground walkways. The approximate walking distance from Terminal 1 is four minutes, from Terminal 2 is three 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.
Taxis are available at Heathrow Airport 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There are taxi ranks at all terminals, as well as taxi information desks inside. The average journey time is approximately 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic condition.
London Gatwick
Gatwick Airport (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, serving around 200 destinations. London's Gatwick has two terminals, named North and South.
Train services from Gatwick include:
National Express and easyBus both provide coach service to London from Gatwick. National Express costs as low as £6.80. easyBus costs as low as £2. Check both companies' websites for schedules and fares.
London Stansted
Stansted Airport (IATA: STN, ICAO: EGSS) offers services to and from Europe, with limited services to North America, Iceland and limited other destinations. In addition, there are services to a number of destinations in the UK.
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 cheaper option is easyBus, run by the easyJet company, which offers transport to and from central London from £2 each way. Other express coach services to London include the National Express and TerraVision (London Victoria and Liverpool Street).
London Luton
London Luton (IATA: LTN, ICAO: EGGW) is a major hub for low-cost carriers. Airlines using this airport include easyJet, Monarch Airlines, RyanAir and Thompsonfly.
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.
GreenLine Coaches and easyBus operate direct bus services to London.
London City Airport
London City Airport (IATA: LCY, ICAO: EGLC) is situated just 10 miles (16km) from the West End (the major shopping centre) and Westminster (location of main government offices), six miles (10km) from the City of London (the financial district) and three miles (5km) from Canary Wharf (London's newest business and financial centre).
London City Airport offers services to 31 European destinations, and is served by 12 airlines.
Getting there and away is easy by public transit with the Docklands Light Rail (DLR) operating for connections to the City and Canary Wharf.
There are numerous train stations in London serving locations across the UK. Details on services can be found at the National Rail website.
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.
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 for any travel within the city centre on weekdays between 07:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday (excluding holidays). For more details, check out the congestion charge information at Transport for London.
National Express has coach services from major cities and towns in the UK and Europe.
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.
With its narrow streets, busy traffic and congestion charges, most people leave the car at home and take the frequent public transport options.
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 on weekdays between 07:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday (excluding holidays). For more details, check out the congestion charge information at Transport for London.
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 choices are either an Oyster card, or a Travelcard. These are strongly recommended, because without them, ticket prices are obscene. Travelcard allows unlimited travels on the TfL network and is valid for either 1 or 3 days. 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
The cash fare for a single journey on the tube costs £4 compared with Oyster card's fare of £1 to £2.50, depending on the zones travelled.
Refer to the Underground maps for the routes of the Underground lines.
DLR
The 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.
Refer to the DLR maps for the routes of the DLR lines.
Bus and Tram
London has such a wide bus network that a Londoners 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 be able to see London compared to the Underground. Standing is not permitted on the top deck when the bus is full. All bus stops has bus route information and it is not uncommon to see two or more bus stops in a row 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 most parts of London.
All London buses and trams has a flat fare of £2 for a single ticket if paid by cash, or 90p for Oyster card. 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.
Refer to the bus and tram maps for the routes in different areas of London.
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.
Refer to the river route maps for information on the different riverboat services.
Overground
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. Cash fares range from £1.50 to £4 for a single ticket while Oyster single fares is from £1 to £3.
Refer to the Overground maps for the routes of the Overground lines.
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 license 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.
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.
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, 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, guides and maps for cycling in London.
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.
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.
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 (where it seems, 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.
| Property | Address | Type | Phone | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Bestplace' in Paddington | 308 Edgware Road | Hostel | 75 | |
| 'Bestplace' in Waterloo | 41-42 Cosser St | Hostel | 79 | |
| A to Z Hotel | 150 Horn Lane, Acton | Hotel | 69 | |
| Abercorn House Hostel | 28 Bute Gardens Hammersmith | Hostel | 63 | |
| Access Apartments Bayswater | Apartment | 52 | ||
| Access Apartments City | Apartment | 74 | ||
| Access Apartments Earls Court | 16 Leinster Square, Bayswater | Apartment | 68 | |
| Access Apartments Euston | Check in at 16 Leinster Square, Bayswater | Apartment | 81 | |
| Access Apartments Maida Vale | Apartment | 65 | ||
| Access Apartments Marble Arch | Apartment | 78 | ||
| Ace Hotel (Kensington) | 16-22 Gunterstone Road, West Kensington | Hostel | 81 | |
| Acton Town Hotel | 109-113 Gunnersbury Lane, London W3 8HQ | Hotel | 75 | |
| Aelita Guest House | 16 Stadium Street | Guesthouse | 63 | |
| Airways Hotel Victoria London | 29 St. Georges Drive, Victoria | Hotel | 60 | |
| Alexandra Hotel | 1 Sussex Place | Hotel | - | |
| All Star Hostel | 39 Chatsworth Rd, Kilburn | Hostel | 72 | |
| All Star Private Studios | Willesden Green | Apartment | 81 | |
| Amsterdam Hotel | 7 Trebovir Road, Earls Court | Hotel | 73 | |
| Antigallican Hotel | 428 Woolwich Road | Hostel | 78 | |
| Anwar House | 31 Collingham Place, SW5 0QF | Guesthouse | 62 | |
| Aquarius Hotel | 20-22 Hogarth Road. Earls Court | Hotel | 66 | |
| Arriva Hotel | 55-Swinton St | Hotel | 63 | |
| Ashlee House | 261-265 Grays Inn Road, Kings Cross | Hostel | 73 | |
| Astons Apartments | 31 Rosary Gardens, South Kensington | Apartment | - | |
| Astor Hyde Park | 191 Queensgate, South Kensington | Hostel | 84 | |
| Astor Kensington | 138-140 Cromwell Road, Kensington | Hostel | 81 | |
| Astor Museum Inn | 27 Montague Street, Bloomsbury | Hostel | 84 | |
| Astor Quest | 45 Queensborough Terrace, Bayswater | Hostel | 79 | |
| Astor Victoria | 71 Belgrave Road, Victoria | Hostel | 76 | |
| At Home B&B | 20 Denbigh Road, Ealing | Guesthouse | 83 | |
| Balham Lodge | 204 Bedford Hill, London | Guesthouse | 83 | |
| Barkston Youth Hostel | 1 Barkston Gardens, Earls Court | Hostel | 64 | |
| Beaconsfield | 357 - 359 Green Lanes | Hotel | 67 | |
| Belmont Hotel | 104 Sussex Gardens | Hotel | 62 | |
| Belsize House | 40 Belsize Park Gardens | Hostel | 70 | |
| Berjaya Eden Park Hotel | 35-39 Inverness Terrace, Bayswater | Hotel | 79 | |
| Best Western Burns Hotel | 18/26 Barkston Gardens, Kensington | Hotel | 90 | |
| Best Western John Howard Hotel | 4 Queens Gate, Kensington | Hotel | 83 | |
| Best Western Lodge Hotel | 52-54 Upper Richmond Road, Putney | Hotel | - | |
| Best Western The Cromwell Hotel | 110 Cromwell Road | Hotel | - | |
| Bowden Court | 24 Ladbroke Road, Notting Hill | Hostel | 68 | |
| Brent X Hotel | 165, Preston Hill, Kenton | Hotel | - | |
| Budget London Apartments | Willesden Green | Apartment | 77 | |
| Budget Mapesbury Hostel | 30 Chatsworth Road | Hostel | 73 | |
| Campus Accommodation @ QMUL | Westfield Way | Hostel | 80 | |
| Central Hostel | 26 Princes Square | Hostel | 69 | |
| Central House | 14 Queens Parade | Apartment | 61 | |
| Channins Hounslow Hotel | 41 Hounslow Road, Feltham TW14 0AU | Hotel | - | |
| Chelsea Guest House | 372 & 374 Wandsworth Road | Guesthouse | 68 | |
| Chester Hotel | 27-29 Longmoore Street, Victoria | Hotel | 66 | |
| Chiswick Court Hotel | 39-41 Bath Road | Hotel | 71 | |
| City Hotel Carlton | 90 Belgrave Road, Victoria | Hotel | 70 | |
| City Hotel London | 12-20 Osborn St | Hotel | 80 | |
| City YMCA, London | 2 Fann Street | Hostel | 73 | |
| City YMCA2, London | 8 Errol Street | Hostel | 70 | |
| Clink Hostel | 78 Kings Cross Rd | Hostel | 77 | |
| Comfort Inn SW8 | 87 South Lambeth Road | Hotel | 76 | |
| Conifers Guest House | 5 Argyle Road, Ilford | Guesthouse | 57 | |
| CPS North London Flat-share | Aspect House 16 Wilmer Place, London | Apartment | 58 | |
| Cranbrook Hotel | 22/24 Coventry Road, Ilford | Hotel | 67 | |
| Crestfield Hotel | 2-4 Crestfield Street | Hotel | 72 | |
| Curzon House Hotel | 58 Courtfield Gardens, West End | Hotel | 65 | |
| Diana's Guest House | 89 Exeter Road, Walthamstow | Guesthouse | 53 | |
| Dolphin Inn | 44 Norfolk Square | Hotel | 61 | |
| Dover Castle - New Cross Inn, Hostel | 323 New Cross Road | Hostel | 76 | |
| Dover Castle Hostel and Bar | 6a Great Dover Street | Hostel | 70 | |
| Dover Hotel | 42/44 Belgrave Road, Victoria | Hotel | 77 | |
| Dylan House | 14 Devonshire Terrace, Lancaster Gate | Hotel | - | |
| E17 Guesthouse | 35 Stainforth Road, Walthamstow | Guesthouse | 61 | |
| Earls Court Garden Hotel | 36 Earls Court Gardens, London | Hotel | 49 | |
| Ebury House Hotel | 102 Ebury Street, Victoria | Hotel | 40 | |
| Elephant and Castle Guest House | 23 Oswin Street | Guesthouse | 59 | |
| Elizabeth Hotel | 37 Eccleston Square, Victoria | Hotel | 87 | |
| Elmwood Hotel | 19 & 20 Argyle Square, London | Hotel | 69 | |
| Elysee Hotel | 25/26 Craven Terrace | Hotel | 77 | |
| Enrico Hotel | 77-79 Warwick Way, Victoria | Hotel | 77 | |
| Euro Lodge Clapham | 90 Clapham Common, Southside | Hotel | 47 | |
| Express by Holiday Inn Park Royal | Victoria Road, North Acton | Hotel | 82 | |
| FCT Bed | 180 Bow Common Lane | Guesthouse | 73 | |
| Forest Gate Hotel | 105 Godwin Road, Forest Gate, E7 OLW | Hotel | 33 | |
| Forest House | 70-74 Green Lanes Forest House | Guesthouse | 53 | |
| Gay Hostel | 164 Victoria Street | Hostel | 72 | |
| Generator Hostel London | Compton Place Off 37 Tavistock Place, WC1 | Hostel | 79 | |
| Georgian House Hotel | 37 St George's Drive | Hotel | 74 | |
| Globetrotter Inn London | Ashlar Court, Ravenscourt Gardens Hammersmith | Hostel | 81 | |
| Goldsmith's House | Park Village East, Regents Park | Hostel | 75 | |
| GRANADA Europe Hotel | 56-57 Kensington Gardens Square | Hotel | 55 | |
| Grapevine Hotel | 117 Warwick Way | Hotel | 66 | |
| Hanover Hotel | 30 St. Georges Drive, Victoria | Hotel | 65 | |
| Hayesthorpe Hotel | 48-52 St Augustines Avenue, South Croydon | Hotel | 78 | |
| Henley House Hotel | 30 Barkston Gardens, Kensington | Hotel | 83 | |
| Holiday House Hotel | 47/48 Leinster Gardens, Bayswater | Hotel | 62 | |
| Hollingbury Hotel | 106 Craven Park, Harlesden | Hotel | 69 | |
| Hootananny Hostel | 95 Effra Road, Brixton | Hostel | 74 | |
| Hopfan Bed and Breakfast | 192 Central Park Road | Guesthouse | 73 | |
| Hostel 63 | 63 Princes Square, Bayswater | Hostel | 65 | |
| Hostel 639 | 639 Harrow Road | Hostel | 57 | |
| Hostel Rio | 218 Seven Sisters Rd, Finsbury Park | Hostel | 43 | |
| Hotel Earls Court | 28 Warwick Road, Earls Court | Hotel | 69 | |
| Hotel Meridiana | 43/44 Argyle Square, Kings Cross | Hotel | - | |
| Hotel Olympia | 49, Earl's Court Square | Hotel | - | |
| Hotel Sergul | 87 Shepherds Bush Road W6 7LR | Hotel | 80 | |
| Hourglass Hotel | 131 Beaconsfield Road | Hotel | 65 | |
| Hunters Meet | Chelmsford Road, Hatfield Heath, Bishop's Stortfor | Hotel | 93 | |
| Huttons Hotel | 53 - 55 Belgrave Road | Hotel | 78 | |
| Hyde Park Court Hotel | 48 Norfolk Square | Hotel | 66 | |
| Hyde Park Whiteleaf Hotel | 66-68 Inverness Terrace, London W2 3LB | Hotel | 59 | |
| IES Student Residence Hall | Manresa Road at Kings Road, Chelsea SW3 6NA | Hostel | 73 | |
| International Student House | 229 Great Portland Street | Hostel | 78 | |
| Islington home bed and breakfast | 52 hemingford Rd, Islington | Guesthouse | 98 | |
| James House Hotel | 108 Ebury Street, Belgravia | Guesthouse | 73 | |
| Journeys Greenwich | 86 Tanners Hill, Deptford | Hostel | 60 | |
| Journeys Kings Cross St. Pancras | 54-58 Caledonian Road, Kings Cross | Hostel | 75 | |
| Journeys LONDON EYE | 73 Lambeth Walk | Hostel | 71 | |
| Journeys Queen Victoria | 118 Wellington Street, Woolwich | Hostel | 70 | |
| Journeys Smoking Barrels | 204 Manor Place, Kennington | Hostel | 73 | |
| Journeys Wishing Well | 79 Choumert Street | Guesthouse | 67 | |
| Kensington Park Apartments | 58 Kensington Court, London W85DG | Apartment | 64 | |
| Kensington West | 25 Matheson Road, Kensington | Hotel | 69 | |
| King's College Hall - King's College | King's College London Champion Hill | Hostel | - | |
| Kings Hotel | 36-37 Argyle Square, Kings Cross WC1 8AL | Hotel | 69 | |
| Langland Hotel | 29-31 Gower Street, Bloomsbury | Hotel | 55 | |
| Lidos Hotel | 45 Belgrave Road, Victoria | Hotel | 70 | |
| London Backpackers | 8/10 Queens Parade Queens Road, Hendon Central | Hostel | 74 | |
| London Holiday Stay | 48 Berkely Road, Manor Park | Apartment | 59 | |
| London Home Stay | 57 Manor Road, South Norwood | Guesthouse | - | |
| London Home Stay Eltham | 1A Dunvegan Road | Guesthouse | 82 | |
| London House Hotel | 81 Kensington Garden Square, Bayswater W2 4DJ | Hostel | 84 | |
| London Private Rooms | Willesden Green NW2 | Guesthouse | 59 | |
| London Shelton Hotel | 60 Wightman Road | Hotel | 93 | |
| London Stay | 236 Limes Avenue, Chigwell | Apartment | 44 | |
| London Town Hotel | 15 Penywern Road, Earls Court | Hotel | 77 | |
| Lonsdale Lodge | 2b Lonsdale Road, Wanstead | Guesthouse | 71 | |
| Lord Kensington Hotel | 38 Trebovir Road, Earls Court | Hotel | 77 | |
| LSE Bankside House | 24 Sumner Street SE1 9JA | Hostel | 73 | |
| LSE Butler's Wharf | 11 Gainsford Street SE1 2NE | Hostel | 77 | |
| LSE Carr-Saunders Hall | 18-24 Fitzroy Street W1T 4BN | Hostel | 78 | |
| LSE High Holborn | 178 High Holborn WC1V 7AA | Hostel | 83 | |
| LSE Passfield Hall | 1-7 Endsleigh Place WC1H 0PW | Hostel | 82 | |
| LSE Rosebery Hall | 90 Rosebery Avenue EC1R 4TY | Hostel | 77 | |
| MacDonald Hotel | 45 - 46 Argyle Square, Kings Cross | Hotel | 81 | |
| Marble Arch Inn | 49-50 Upper Berkeley Street, Marble Arch | Hotel | 73 | |
| Mary Rose Hotel | 36-50 High Street St. Mary Cray, Orpington Kent | Hotel | 70 | |
| Meininger City Hostel & Hotel London | At Baden Powell House 65-67 Queen's Gate | Hostel | 76 | |
| Melita House Hotel | 35 Charlwood Street, Victoria | Hotel | 80 | |
| Melville Hotel | 42 c/o 38/39 Argyle Square, Kings Cross | Hotel | 62 | |
| Metro Hotel | 7 Craven Road, Paddington | Hotel | 74 | |
| Mowbray Court Hotel | 28/32 Penywern Road, Earl's Court | Hotel | 74 | |
| My Pad | 33/34 Leinster Gardens | Hostel | 79 | |
| Myoe Guesthouse | 6 Lena Gardens, London | Guesthouse | 81 | |
| No.8 | 305 High Rd, Willesden | Hostel | 60 | |
| Norfolk House Hotel | 585 London Road Thornton Heath, Croydon | Hotel | 68 | |
| Northfields Hostel | 264 Northfield Avenue, London | Hostel | 64 | |
| O'Callaghan's | 205 Earls Court Road | Hostel | 65 | |
| Olympia Rooms | 27 Matheson Road, Kensington | Hotel | - | |
| Orchard Hotel | 86-90 Sussex Gardens | Hotel | - | |
| Paddington Hotel | 28 Gloucester Terrace | Hotel | 67 | |
| Palmers Lodge | 40 College Crescent Swiss Cottage | Hostel | 86 | |
| Park Hotel Essex | 327 Cranbrook Road, Ilford | Hotel | 62 | |
| Park House Women's Hostel | 227 Earls Court Road | Hostel | 73 | |
| Peckham Lodge | 110 Peckham Road | Hotel | 61 | |
| Piccadilly Backpackers Hotel | 12 Sherwood Street, Piccadilly | Hostel | 68 | |
| Pickwick Hall | 7 Bedford Place, Bloomsbury | Hostel | 81 | |
| Quality Hotel Wembley | Empire Way Wembley, Middlesex | Hotel | - | |
| Queens Hotel Euro Group | 122 Church Road, Crystal Palace | Hotel | 68 | |
| Regina House | 110 Gloucester Road | Hostel | 61 | |
| Revive Family Lodge | 89 Hounslow Road Feltham, Middlesex | Guesthouse | 72 | |
| Rose Court Hotel | 1-3 Talbot Square, Sussex Gardens | Hotel | - | |
| Rosedene Hotel Victoria | 119 Ebury Street, Victoria, Westminster | Hostel | 72 | |
| Royal Court Apartments | 51 Gloucester Terrace | Apartment | 60 | |
| Royal Hyde Park Hotel | 106/110 Queensway, London | Hotel | 74 | |
| Royal Norfolk | 25 London Street | Hotel | - | |
| Sara Hotel | 15 Eardley Crescent | Hotel | 77 | |
| Servite Houses- Robbins Hall | Gardiners Close, Enfield | Hostel | 56 | |
| Sheriff Inn | Reception: 117 Warwick Way | Hotel | 67 | |
| Sir John Cass Hall | Sir John Cass Hall 150 Well Street | Hostel | 57 | |
| Sleeping Beauty Motel | 543 &586 Lea Bridge Road, Leyton | Hotel | 79 | |
| Smart Camden Hostel | 55/57 Bayham Street, Camden | Hostel | 69 | |
| Smart Hyde Park Inn | 48 - 50 Inverness Terrace, Bayswater | Hostel | 66 | |
| Smart Hyde Park View | 11 Craven Hill Garden | Hostel | 70 | |
| Smart Russell Square | 71 Guilford Street | Hostel | 72 | |
| So Apartments | 34A-36 Kilburn High Road | Apartment | 82 | |
| St Christopher's Camden | 48-50 Camden High Street, Camden NW1 | Hostel | 76 | |
| St Christopher's Greenwich | 189 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich | Hostel | 77 | |
| St Christopher's Orient Espresso | 59 Borough High Street | Hostel | 77 | |
| St Christopher's Shepherds Bush | Belushis Bar 13-15, Shepherds Bush Green | Hostel | 78 | |
| St Christopher's Southwark | 121 Borough High Street | Hostel | 78 | |
| St Christopher's Village | 165 Borough High Street | Hostel | 82 | |
| St George Hotel | 46 Norfolk Square, Paddington, W2R102 | Hotel | 68 | |
| St. Athans | 20 Tavistock Place Russell Square | Guesthouse | 83 | |
| St. Christopher's Hammersmith | 28, Hammersmith Broadway, Hammersmith | Hostel | 78 | |
| Stainforth | 141a High Street | Guesthouse | 40 | |
| Stratford Hotel | 43 Romford Road, Stratford | Guesthouse | 69 | |
| Surtees | 94 Warwick Way | Guesthouse | 83 | |
| The Bell (Quality) | High Road, Bell Common, Epping | Hotel | 56 | |
| The Bird's Nest | 32 Deptford Church Street | Hostel | 73 | |
| The Central Hotel | 150 Barking Road, East Ham | Hotel | 48 | |
| The Central Hotel | 150 Barking Road | Hotel | 37 | |
| The Court Hostel | 194-196 Earls Court Road, Kensington | Hostel | 71 | |
| The Guesthouse | 14 Bullivant Street | Guesthouse | 62 | |
| The Langorf Hotel | 20 Frognal Hampstead | Hotel | 70 | |
| The New Dome Hotel | 51 Camberwell Church Street | Hotel | 77 | |
| The Parkcity | 18-30 Lexham Gardens, Kensington | Hotel | 92 | |
| The Royal Bayswater Hostel | 121 Bayswater Road | Hostel | 66 | |
| The White House | Market Place Abridge | Guesthouse | 68 | |
| The Windmill | 50 Acton High Street, Acton | Hostel | 65 | |
| Tony's House Hotel | 30 Norfolk Square, Hyde Park | Hotel | 67 | |
| Torquay Hostel | 1 Torquay Street | Hostel | 67 | |
| Tudor Court Hotel | 10-12 Norfolk Square, Hyde Park | Hotel | 67 | |
| umi | 16 Leinster Square, Bayswater | Hotel | 82 | |
| University of Westminster Halls - Alexander Flemin | Alexander Fleming 3, Hoxton Market, London N1 6HG | Hostel | 77 | |
| University of Westminster Halls - Furnival House | Cholmeley Park, off Highgate Hill | Hostel | 82 | |
| University of Westminster Halls - Wigram | 84-99 Ashley Gardens, Thirleby Road | Hostel | 77 | |
| University of Westminster Halls-InternationalHouse | 1-5 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7DQ | Hostel | 70 | |
| University of Westminster Halls-Maryleybone Rd | 35 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LS | Hostel | 84 | |
| Vegas Hotel | 104 Warwick Way, Victoria | Hotel | 55 | |
| Victoria Inn | 65-67 Belgrave Road, Victoria | Guesthouse | 76 | |
| Victorian Apartment | 157 Drakefell Road | Apartment | 91 | |
| West Cromwell Hotel | 66 West Cromwell Road | Hotel | 74 | |
| West Two London | 22-23 Kensington Gardens Square | Hostel | 63 | |
| Westminster House Hotel | 96 Ebury Street, Victoria | Hotel | 75 | |
| Windsor House Hotel | 12 Penywern Road, Earls Court | Hotel | 67 | |
| 104-108 Bolsover St | Hostel | 87 | ||
| 38 Bolton Gardens SW5 0AQ | Hostel | 78 | ||
| Holland Walk, Kensington, W8 7QU | Hostel | 73 | ||
| 14 Noel Street, Soho, W1F 8GJ | Hostel | 73 | ||
| 79-81 Euston Road | Hostel | 85 | ||
| 36 Carter Lane EC4V 5AB | Hostel | 77 | ||
| 20 Salter Road, Rotherhithe | Hostel | 75 | ||
| York Hotel | 8 York Road, Ilford | Hotel | 60 | |
| 218 Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush, W12 7JD | Hostel | +44 20 8740 5064 | - | |
| Next to Liverpool Street Station, East End | Hotel | +44 20 7961 1234 | - |
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 accidently 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 here 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 News-seller on a Wednesday for the biggest selection of jobs!.
London has the largest population of students of any city in the UK. Here is a list of some of the more popular universities.
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 between £1 and £2 per hour, usually payable in 30-minute segments.
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.
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.
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