[null, {"document_url": "https://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-london-13079.html", "unformatted_src": "//img-aws.ehowcdn.com/560x560p/photos.demandstudios.com/92/185/fotolia_10163776_XS.jpg", "src": "http://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/560x560p/photos.demandstudios.com/92/185/fotolia_10163776_XS.jpg", "formatted_filename": "fotolia XS", "alt_text": "Learn about London before you go."}, null, {"document_url": "https://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-london-13079.html", "unformatted_src": "images/left_arrow.png", "src": "https://traveltips.usatoday.com/images/left_arrow.png", "formatted_filename": "left arrow"}, null, {"document_url": "https://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-london-13079.html", "unformatted_src": "//img-aws.ehowcdn.com/150x100/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/97/163/86806897.jpg", "src": "http://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/150x100/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/97/163/86806897.jpg"}, {"document_url": "https://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-london-13079.html", "unformatted_src": "images/right_arrow.png", "src": "https://traveltips.usatoday.com/images/right_arrow.png", "formatted_filename": "right arrow"}, null, {"document_url": "https://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-london-13079.html", "unformatted_src": "//img-aws.ehowcdn.com/150x100/photos.demandstudios.com/142/188/fotolia_7250030_XS.jpg", "src": "http://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/150x100/photos.demandstudios.com/142/188/fotolia_7250030_XS.jpg", "formatted_filename": "fotolia XS"}]

Things to Know About London


Christina Hamlett, Leaf Group Learn about London before you go. (Photo: London image by Ripa from Fotolia.com )


Although you needn't immerse yourself in a lot of homework before your first trip to London, it's important to understand that driving on the opposite side of the road isn't the only thing locals do differently from Americans. In addition to their own unique vocabulary for everyday words, there's that British sense of humor marked by BBC exports such as Monty Python, Black Adder and Jeeves and Wooster. If pageantry, palaces and serene parks are your cup of tea, London is a year-round adventure.


If you have some flexibility on when you can travel, late September and early October are usually the most pleasant. The weather is mild, and evenings often only require a sweater or light jacket. Although prices for accommodations and theatrical productions are their lowest the first three months of the year, the trade-off is that the cold weather, wind and almost constant rain may dampen your mood. As for summer, thunderstorms are common during the warmer temperatures, but because this is a popular time for outdoor festivals--including tennis tournaments and horse racing--you can expect most of London's major sightseeing attractions to be crowded with families on holiday and hotel rooms to be their highest.


The system of currency used in London is the Great British Pound, which is also referred to as pound sterling and is the third most traded currency in the global economy. Although some of the major shopping venues accept the Euro, Britain per se has been slow to embrace it. With the exception of smaller shops and cafes, there's no problem using credit cards for purchases, and ATMs can be found throughout the city. You may want to check in advance, however, to see what sort of service charges will be applied by your bank and credit card issuers. British money uses bank notes in the denominations of £5, £10, £20 and £50 and coins in the denominations of 1 penny, 2, 5,10, 20 and 50 pence, £1 and £2.


When dining out, your napkin should always be placed in your lap, not tucked under your chin. It's also important to remember that--unlike in the United States--you don't put your knife down to eat with your fork; meals are very much a two-handed affair throughout. Unless you're attending a dinner party--where it's acceptable to arrive 15 minutes late--strict punctuality is the British norm. Although it's common in American conversations with strangers to directly ask what someone does for a living, it's considered a bit invasive by the English. The better course is to engage in casual small talk that may or may not lead them to reveal their line of work. Speaking of conversations, the British rarely strike up any chatter with strangers when riding London's public transportation or waiting in line at a shop.


If you're flying into London, you'll arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick and from there take a taxicab, bus or limo to your destination. Black cabs are the only ones officially recognized by the British government and require their drivers to pass grueling tests demonstrating their knowledge of every London street. Be particularly wary at either airport if someone helpfully rushes up to take your bags and escort you to a cab; these "gypsy" taxis usually aren't licensed or metered and could charge you as much as four times the regular fare. For sightseeing around town, hop a double-decker bus or go underground to one of the many Tube stations and catch a train. Weather permitting, Central London is compact enough to get around easily as a pedestrian.


England has a number of culinary specialties that you're likely to find in London restaurants and pubs. Among the most popular are cheeses such as Stilton, cheddar and double Glouchester; hearty stews and Mulligatawny soup; trifles; bangers and mash; black pudding; fish and chips; stuffed potatoes; watercress sandwiches; and scones with clotted cream. If you're invited to someone's house and told that the evening's menu is "bubble and squeak," it's the British equivalent of what Americans refer to as the meat and vegetable leftovers from an earlier meal. Beer is typically served warm in London pubs. Chinese, Indian and Italian restaurants abound throughout the city along with an influx of fast-food chains appealing to the budget conscious.


Most stores in London are open seven days a week with slightly shorter hours on Sunday. Traditional closings are Easter Sunday, Christmas, Boxing Day (December 26th) and New Year's Day. Larger retail shops also observe what are called bank holidays, which coincide with specific dates decreed by royal law or statute for financial institutions to be closed. Boutiques, pharmacies, art galleries and craft stalls such as those found at Covent Garden often remain open on bank holidays to satisfy the spending and browsing urges of shopaholics and tourists.








Hamlett, Christina. "Things to Know About London." Travel Tips - USA Today, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-london-13079.html. Accessed 18 December 2018.
Hamlett, Christina. (n.d.). Things to Know About London. Travel Tips - USA Today. Retrieved from https://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-london-13079.html
Hamlett, Christina. "Things to Know About London" accessed December 18, 2018. https://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-london-13079.html



Images related to London



 Pounds vs. Dollars in Scotland Information on Money When You Travel to London