Fordham University London Centre DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NEW YORK AND LONDON While many of you will be coming to us from other universities in the United States, most of you will be coming from Fordham in New York City. But whether you’re used to New York, California, or the Midwest, London is a whole other world!

GREEN SPACE Central Park is lovely, but London has a lot more green space than New York City. Richmond Park, located in southwest London, is approximately 3 times larger than Central Park, and is home to around 600 free-roaming deer. In central London, you also have Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, St James’ Park, Green Park, and Greenwich Park, just to name the largest ones!

THE LAY OF THE LAND While New York is divided into 5 boroughs, and is bordered by the East and Hudson Rivers, London is divided into North and South by the River Thames. The London Centre and most of London’s central attractions are on the north side of the river. However, the London Eye, Tate Modern, and Borough Market are all on the South Bank.

London is divided into 32 royal boroughs, but you will more commonly simply refer to the neighbourhoods of London, such as Notthing Hill, Hammersmirth, Kensington, Shoreditch, and Bloomsbury-to name a few.

THE / THE TUBE The main benefits of the subway over the tube is that it is cheaper and runs 24 hours. While you’re in London, keep in mind that the “The Night Tube” only runs on Fridays and Saturdays on the Victoria, Jubilee, and most of the Central, Northern and Piccadilly lines. Otherwise trains normally run from about 5:00am until about midnight.

However, the Tube is cleaner and easier to navigate - but make sure you stand on the right! Especially during rush hour, it is very important that you leave the left side of the escalator clear for people to walk up or down. Most people use the Citymapper app to plan their journeys, but the many lines and their routes are clearly marked in every station and on every train. The nearest station to the London Centre is Farringdon Station (5 minute walk), and it is served by the District, Circle, and Metropolitan lines. Also nearby is Chancery Lane (Central line) and Holborn (Piccadilly and Central).

THE FOOD SCENE Long gone is London and the UK’s reputation for bland food. We could spend hours debating which city has the better food scene, but instead we will just say this: If you leave London thinking the only food the UK has to offer is soggy fish and chips with mushy peas, you will have done yourself a disservice! You can enjoy fantastic food from all over the world for less than £10 at any of London’s street food markets (Borough Market, Camden Global Food Market, Portobello, Broadway, Brick Lane, and Spitalfields just to name a few!).

PACE OF LIFE The pace is slightly slower here in London. Of course, compared to the rest of the UK and Europe, London is known as a bustling metropolis, but we find that students from New York City tend to notice that things are a bit more relaxed compared to the Big Apple. Similarly, there are a lot fewer places in London that are open 24 hours. Shops on Oxford Street tend to close by 9PM, sometimes at 6PM outside Zones 1 and 2. Some supermarkets sometimes close as early as 5PM on Sundays, and pubs normally close at 11PM. If New York is “the city that never sleeps”, think of London as “the place that quite likes to be in bed by midnight”.

TRANSPORT IN LONDON While on the London Underground, you will commonly hear about two main methods of payment: Oyster and contactless. The London Centre encourages all students to get an Oyster card for their semester in London. While it is also possible to buy single paper tickets, we strongly advise against this as the rate is much more expensive than if you were to use an Oyster Card for your journey. Always remember to tap your Oyster card when entering and exiting the station, even if the barriers are open. If you don’t, the system won’t be able to charge you the correct amount for your journey, and you will automatically be charged the maximum fare (£7.80). If your credit/debit card is set up for contactless payment, you can also use that to tap in and out for your public transport journeys.

ZONES London is divided into 6 main zones which are served by the London Underground. These zones start at 1 in the centre of London, and then move out of the centre in a circle (though not a perfect circle!), with Zone 6 being the furthest from central London. The London Centre and most of the places you will want to visit are within Zones 1 and 2. Below are some attractions you may be familiar with in zones outside of central London:

Zone 3: London City Airport, Olympic Park at Stratford, Horniman Museum Zone 4: Kew Gardens, Wembley Stadium Zone 6: Heathrow Airport

BUSES Buses are a good, less expensive alternative to the Tube. For students who use a pay- as- you go Oyster, a single journey between Zones 1 and 2 will cost £2.90 during peak hours (peak hours are 6:30-9:30 AM and 4:00 - 7:00 PM). However, a bus journey is £1.50 no matter what time of day or how far you travel. If you need to use two buses for your journey, as long as you board the second bus and tap your Oyster within one hour of starting your journey, the second bus journey is free. You only need to tap your Oyster when boarding the bus - not when you get off. FEEDING YOURSELF AND DINING OUT SUPERMARKETS The main supermarkets you will find in London and the rest of the UK are listed below, starting with the least expensive, and ending with the most expensive. Generally speaking, the smaller, convenience versions of these shops will be slightly more expensive than their larger counterparts. If you can find a large shop you will save more money by shopping there. 1. Aldi 2. Lidl 3. Asda 4. Morrison’s 5. Tesco 6. Co-op 7. Sainsbury’s 8. Waitrose 9. Marks and Spencer (M&S) 10. Whole Foods

ON THE GO There are several and coffee out- lets around our London Centre that you may not be familiar with.

 LEON: Fast, healthy, and delicious - Leon is a staff and student favourite that can easily cater to a wide variety of dietary requirements.  PIEMINSTER: Right on Leather Lane, selling classic British meat (and vegetarian) pies in pastry, with mash on the side!  ITSU: London Japanese food chain selling sushi, noodles, and soups.  : The largest coffee chain in the UK, selling packaged breakfast and lunch items.  LEATHER LANE: Not a restaurant in itself, but the street that intersects Clerkenwell Road right in front of the London Centre is renowned for its dozens of street food vendors who sell cuisine from all over the world at lunchtime on weekdays.

A HELPFUL RESTAURANT GUIDE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE CUISINES Mexican: Pizza/Italian: , Pizza Pilgrims, ASK Italian Indian: Dishoom Cheeky: Nando’s Coffee: Caffè Nero, , Costa, , Gail’s Asian: , Itsu Burgers: Byron, , Honest Burger, Bleecker Street

LET’S GET CULTURAL MUSEUMS All national museums in London and the UK are free to enter, but a donation is requested. Some museums may have special exhibitions that require a fee. South Kensington is home to a number of famous museums, with the Natural History Museum a personal favourite. Who wouldn’t want to see a roaring T-rex robot? You also have the Natural Science and Victoria & Albert museums all within a five minute walking radius. And they are all free!

In the North of London, near Euston Station is the Welcome Collection. Marketed as the “free destination for the incurably curious,” the Welcome Collection often has exhibitions related to biology. The British Museum is a quick walk from here, and is home to the Rosetta Stone among other worldly treasures.

For art, you can head to the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square to see paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900, including Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”. The Tate Modern, along London’s South Bank has one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art in the world, and holds the national collection of British art from 1900 to present day. At the top of the Tate Modern is a recently opened viewing platform which provides free 360° views of London, and is a great alternative to the London Eye.

CINEMA British people don’t go to the movie theatre - they go to the cinema! Going to the cinema in London is notoriously more expensive than in the rest of the country, but if you’re a film lover, there are a couple of ways around paying full price for a ticket. Firstly, as students, you will be entitled to a concession ticket, which is normally a couple of pounds cheaper than a standard ticket. Another option is called “Meerkat Movies”, and it is a scheme run through the insurance company Compare the Market. If you purchase insurance through Compare the Market, you can enroll in “Meerkat Movies” to receive 2 for 1 cinema tickets once a week on Tuesdays or Wednesdays for a full year. You can buy travel insurance coverage for as little as £1.50 for a short train journey in order to qualify for the deal.

THEATRE New York has Broadway but London has the West End. There are plenty of ways to purchase cheap, last minute discount theatre tickets for West End shows (Google is your friend). Be sure to double check all the details for your ticket as last minute or very cheap tickets often have restricted views or other “catches.” As you’d expect, matinee shows will be a little less than evening shows. However, off-West End shows can also very inexpensive and always worth a visit. Of course you can’t come to London without taking in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. During the summer months, a standing ticket is only £5!

LET’S GET PRACTICAL MEDICAL INFO PRESCRIPTIONS Access to certain medications can be limited while abroad so please talk to your doctor about how to take care of all prescriptions before you leave. -Make sure all drugs are in their original pharmacy containers and are clearly labelled. -It is advisable to carry copies of your prescriptions as well as a letter from your doctor or pharmacy describing your medicines, their dosage and generic name for them as well as the condition being treated. This letter could help avoid problems at Customs and be helpful in case of an emergency.

GETTING MEDICAL CARE ABROAD As visitors to the UK, you are not entitled to receive medical care through the National Health Service (NHS). The one major exception to this is in case of an emergency. If you need to use Accident and Emergeny (A&E, equivalent of ER), you will not be expected for the services you need there. Should you need any other medical care while abroad, please refer to your insurance policy. The London Centre is prepared to offer both physical and mental health professional options for you in the event you need to make an appointment.

FINANCIAL INFO Accessing Money While overseas, keep in mind that your US dollars are converted at that day’s rate of exchange.

Important Be sure to notify your bank and credit card company that you will be travelling overseas to the UK – inform them of any other countries you may travel to within your semester including places you may have a layover.

ATMS Most students access funds through ATMs which process U.S. ATM cards. Most ATMs abroad will only access a checking account, do not leave your funds in a savings account before departure. ATMs overseas are used the same as they are in the U.S.: your home checking account is debited for your withdrawal, and you receive local currency. You may be charged a service charge, and the current exchange rate is used in the transaction. Be sure to check with your local bank concerning use of your particular ATM card abroad – you may also inquire about a “chip and pin” card.

Credit Cards Credit cards such as VISA, MasterCard and American Express are honoured abroad. It is advisable to carry a major credit card to use for general purchases and for emergencies. Many small stores, restaurants and street vendors may not accept credit cards. Pounds sterling (in the UK) and other European currencies may be withdrawn from some ATM machines by credit card. Note: This is an expensive way to access funds as interest is charged from the date of withdrawal.

Pay With Contactless In the UK, many shops and restaurants accept contactless methods of payment, such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay for purchases under £30. You can turn your smartphone into a bank card by downloading any of these apps and adding your cards to an online “wallet”. Contactless payment is also accepted on the London Underground network, and using one of these apps will give you a much better rate than buying a paper ticket.

Cash Avoid changing money in airports and train stations, where high commissions on traveller’s checks can be a problem.

Electronics and Computers The UK is on a different voltage system. Most American electrical appliances such as laptops, mobile phones, iPads, and chargers only have to have an adapter which can be purchased in the US or in the UK.

Note Certain appliances like hair dryers and curling irons also require a convertor. Electrical appliances with converters tend to burn out and they can blow out electrical systems in buildings. It is often safer and cheaper in the long run to purchase the UK version of these appliances when you arrive.

LONDON CENTRE ID CARDS If you’re a Fordham student, please make sure you bring your Fordham Student ID with you as you will need it to enter the building and print. If you’re a non-Fordham student, you will receive your ID card upon arrival.

PRINTING The printers at the London Centre work on the Pharos System, the same system used by Fordham University in New York and work through their servers and from your Fordham ID cards. You can either print from your device or from one of the desktop computers in the Learning Resource Centre. You should be able to upload a print job to your https://remoteprint.fordham.edu/myprintcenter Or you can use one of the desktop computers in the Learning Resource Centre.

For both methods, you will need to know your username (Fordham ID) and password. You will also need to have credit on your card. To add credit access your account through the remoteprint web link above and add credit (this will be done in dollars). For issues accessing your account please contact FordhamIT or speak with a member of the London Centre team. Once you have uploaded or sent the job, go to the printer at the back of the Learning Resource Centre and swipe your ID card, you should then be able to access your account and release the job.

Roof Terrace Policy The Roof Terrace is accessed via the fourth floor. You need your Fordham ID to open the door. Fordham London reserves the right to restrict access to this part of the building for any reason. Rules 1. Please use for study and quiet conversation 2. Please do enjoy your lunch or tea on the roof terrace 3. Use only in daylight hours 4. 40 person limit (please respect if crowded) 5. No alcohol permitted 6. No smoking (the FULC is a smoke free campus) 7. Please keep clean (recycle and dispose of waste) 8. Please respect our neighbours (no loud noise or shouting) 9. Please use safely (do not hang on or over the balustrade)

How to Book a Room You can make a room booking request by using our online form. https://www.fordham.edu/forms/form/209/en/london_centre_room_request

Please note that the Conference Room is typically reserved for staff/faculty use and is only available on special request. B02, B03 and B04 are regularly available for students and are all fitted out with a TV screen and video conferencing equipment.

Booking information: Firstly, be sure to check availability by clicking the link on the top of the request page.

Your request is not confirmed until it has been processed by an administrator. You will receive an email confirming or rejecting your request. Please submit your request at least 24 hours in advance (for Monday bookings please submit by 2 p.m. on the preceding Friday). Bookings for the day are displayed on the wall outside of the room. A reminder that if you find any of B02, B03 or B04 are unused then you are welcome to make use of the space in between bookings. Always check the display before entering.

For any rooms not listed on the form or for any special requests please contact Nici Blake, our Facilities Manager, directly by emailing: [email protected]

Need to call Fordham in NY? There is a phone in B04 that is set up to dial key numbers back in the New York campus.

If you need to make important or essentials calls to a different US number, please come and see a member of Student Affairs.

Student Lounge  Do not put feet up on the furniture  Place all garbage into the assigned bins  Any used dishes need to be put in the dishwasher

Reception  All visitors must sign in/out at reception.  All students must tap their ID cards before entering the building.  If you have lost your ID card and are waiting for a replacement, you need to sign in/out.  Please collect packages/letters as soon as you receive an e-mail from reception.  The front door should be used to leave the building, not the emergency exit door. Classrooms  No food in the classrooms  Empty drinks must be disposed of into the assigned bins.  Drinks with liquid can be left on the table for the cleaners to remove.

Reminders  NO SMOKING in front of the building  Please do not block corridors or the entrance