“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” This quote by Samuel Johnson pretty much sums up the city of London; exciting, diverse, and cultured, it is very difficult to get bored of this fabulous city.
London is well known for being a melting pot of cultures. Pretty much every nation in the world is represented here and this is evident in the diversity of population, cuisine, neighborhoods, and shops that can be found in every corner of the city. One-third of London’s population are foreign-born and over 200 languages are spoken in its various...
“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” This quote by Samuel Johnson pretty much sums up the city of London; exciting, diverse, and cultured, it is very difficult to get bored of this fabulous city.
London is well known for being a melting pot of cultures. Pretty much every nation in the world is represented here and this is evident in the diversity of population, cuisine, neighborhoods, and shops that can be found in every corner of the city. One-third of London’s population are foreign-born and over 200 languages are spoken in its various neighborhoods. Although it is hard to miss the internationalism of London, there are some areas which are more multicultural than others. Be sure to check out Chinatown, inhabited by Chinese immigrants since the 18th century, Brixton, one of the largest British African-Caribbean communities in the city, and Camden, known as an alternative neighborhood that also has a significant Latin influence.
London’s history as a major settlement can be traced back two millennia and a lot has happened in those two thousand years. London has a plethora of historical sites to visit where you can explore and discover the interesting events which have taken place over the years. The most popular include the Tower of London, the Palaces of Westminster, Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey.
However, there are some more unusual sights if you want to discover something a bit different. Parts of the old Roman Wall which defended the original city can still be seen in some areas of the city, such as at Tower Hill. The London Dungeon delves into the dark and macabre side of the city’s history, including the Gunpowder Plot and Jack the Ripper. And in Highgate Cemetery you can see the graves of a number of important historical figures, such as Marx and Eliot.
Known as one of the best places in the world for global cuisine, you definitely will not go hungry in the English capital. From street food to high-end dining, there is something to suit everyone’s tastes and budget here. And it is not just restaurants where you can get some tasty grub. London is famous for its food markets; head to Borough Market, Boxpark Shoreditch, and Greenwich food market for some great produce.
A quintessential London experience is taking in a show in the city’s West End. Some shows have been running for an extremely long time, such as The Mousetrap, which has been running at St Martin’s Theatre since 1952, and the musical The Phantom of the Opera, running at Her Majesty’s Theatre since 1986, but it is the mix of shows, both old and new, which keeps drawing people back here. But do not just restrict your theatregoing to the West End; London has many theatres all around the city, showing high-quality productions at a fraction of the cost of a West End ticket.
While London is a delight all year round, late March through May when the temperatures are mild, and the city’s parks are at their blossomy best is the best time to visit – just don’t expect sunshine every day.
Keep in mind, however, that this time of the year is also prime tourist season in London, and hotels, flight prices, and attractions reflect the surge. You are more likely to find cheap deals across the city in the off-season – January to March and September to November.
Schools in England break for the summer holiday from mid-July until early September so be prepared for long queues in popular attractions during this busy period. December in London is also incredibly popular with Festive markets, ice skating rinks, and Christmas light display all in full swing, expect central London to be crowded with those seeking a Love Actually vibe.
London weather forecast is notoriously unreliable, so it is never a bad idea to pack an umbrella no matter what time of the year you travel. To quote the Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, Dr. Liz Bentley: "In the UK you sometimes have to look at the weather forecast several times in one morning just to plan a trip out that afternoon. Things can change that quickly."
As with the rest of the United Kingdom, London uses the Pound Sterling (Symbol: £) which is subdivided into 100 pence (symbol: p) and comes in denominations of £5, £10, £20, and £50. Coins comes in £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1p.
The exchange rate is around £0.75 per 1 USD though it is not uncommon for the rate to fluctuate daily based on the supply and demand in the foreign exchange market. Foreign currencies can be exchanged in a variety of places including:
It is worth shopping around including before traveling to London to get the best deal; remember to ask how much commission is charged.
When it comes to tipping, it is always appreciated in London and is an expectation in most restaurants. Where a service charge has not already been added to your bill – you can add 10% - 20% if you feel it is merited. For other services including minicabs, pubs, and bars, tipping is not obligatory but always welcomed.
London is culturally and linguistically diverse with an estimated 300 languages spoken across the capital. That said, the majority of Londoners speak English as their first language. 22% of the city’s population do though speak another main language other than English with Bengali, Polish and Turkish being the most widely spoken.
The highest concentration of people speaking these three languages can be found in the Royal Boroughs of Tower Hamlet (Bengali) Enfield (Turkish) and Ealing (Polish) respectively.
As you wander through London, you will encounter many varieties of British accents reflecting the multiculturalism of the city. This includes the working-class inflection known as Cockney (spoken prominently in the East End of London); the middle-class Estuary dialect (spoken in areas along the River Thames and its estuary); and Geordie (from Newcastle).
Visitors to London will no doubt also come across country and city-specific slangs during their stay in London, from traditional saying to the downright funny:
London has a world-class, integrated public transport system with six major airports, underground service, trains, taxis, cycles for hire, 24-hour bus service, and Thames Clippers. The plethora of choices makes it relatively easy to get from one side of the city to the other. Most journeys can be paid for using a Transport for London contactless card or even your debit card.
London has six main airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, City, and London Southend. Heathrow is Europe's busiest airport and is located about 15 miles from Central London.
Most international flights arrive and depart from Gatwick, Heathrow, and Stansted while the smaller airports are popular for low-cost budget internal and European flights.
The quickest and easiest way to get to and from the airports is by taking a train. Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted also run their own rail networks offering a speedy travel time to either of the three airports:
Other options to get to and from any of the main airports include taxis (ideally pre-booked) and National Express coaches.
The London Underground train service, also known as “the tube”, is the quickest mode of transportation around London. Across the city, there is usually an underground stop within a 30-minute walking distance; services run every few minutes between 5 am and midnight.
Five Tube lines run a 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays: Victoria, Central, Jubilee, Northern, and Piccadilly lines. Tube price varies across the 6 fare zones.
The fare price generally tends to increase in cost as you travel from zone 6 (outskirt of London) toward zone 1 (central London). Most tube stations will have a ticket machine for you to purchase an Oyster Card, alternatively, you can travel on the underground using your contactless card.
London’s iconic red double-decker buses are also a quick and easy way to get around. Over 8000 scheduled buses operate throughout the city on over 700 routes, 24 hours a day.
Bus fares are cheaper than tube travel at a fixed price of £1.50 for a single journey or £4.50 for a day pass, you can also take advantage of the “hopper” fare which allows for free unlimited rides within one hour of touching in – so you can change buses without needing to pay any additional charge within the one-hour timeframe.
As with the tube, you can travel on London buses using an Oyster card or a contactless card. Bus stops are located frequently across the city and within proximity of most train stations, but keep in mind that buses are generally slower than rail services – due in part to traffic congestion. Travel time can, therefore, be unpredictable.
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If you prefer a quieter ride to your destination then the equally iconic London black taxicab is a good, albeit expensive option. You can hail a black cab in the street by waving at them or at designated ranks situated in prominent places, they can also be booked over the phone. All taxis in the city charge by meter and only accept card or card payment. Taxi apps such as Uber and Gett are also widely used.
Cycling is another great way to travel around London. The city is very cyclist-friendly with more cycle lanes being created each year to improve congestion. London offers an affordable bike hire scheme called Santander Cycles – Santander bikes are located in over 750 easy-to-spot docking stations across the city and generally cost £2 for 30 minutes of use, the first 30 minutes of every journey are free.
Fun fact: Santander Cycles are better known by Londoners as 'Boris Bikes' after the former London Mayor and current British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who installed them across the city.
London is for the most part completely safe, but as with any big city, it is not immune to petty crimes and theft, so it is important to take sensible precautions. Avoid leaving any of your personal belongings unattended – this can lead to a security alert. Keep your purse and wallet close to your body and do not leave any valuables especially cash in your back pocket.
When using a cash machine cover the keypad to ensure no one can see your PIN, make sure to check as well that no one is looking behind your shoulder. Inform your service provider and the police if your phone or other valuable is stolen. The emergency service number is 999 which is the same throughout the UK. For non-urgent crimes contact the police by calling 101.
It may be worth checking to see what major event will be taking place during your visit. Roads around central London for instance are closed during the London Marathon and Notting Hill Carnival, not only that – central London is heavily packed during these events which can affect your trip and your safety. Keep your wits about you and your stay in London will go with a hitch.
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