Travel Tips United Kingdom City Guide London London is the largest city in the United Kingdom and a leader in global finance, fashion, commerce and education. It has a population of 8.17 million people and is located in south-eastern part of Great Britain and lies along the banks of the River Thames. London dates back 2 millennia to Roman times when it was a northern outpost of the Roman Empire. Airports London has two major international airports, and the city is easily reached from both of them. Heathrow (LHR) Heathrow located 15 miles west of London and there are a wide variety of transportation options to bring you to the city center. The Underground is the cheapest option with a one way ticket costing at most £6 (US$9.5). It takes close to an hour to reach most destinations within central London. The Heathrow Express train is the fastest option and will bring you to Paddington station in between 15 and 20 min. It costs £34 (US$53) for a return ticket. If your destination is not in the Paddington area, the Underground may end up taking less time overall. Various bus companies operate to and from London, and prices usually average about £12 (US$19) for a return ticket. There are several coaches that operate to outlying areas such as Oxford if London is not your final destination. There is a taxi queue in front of the arrivals gate, and private “Mini-Cabs” can be ordered ahead of time. It usually costs between £50-100 (US$75-$155). Private hire “Mini-Cabs” are price fixed for the journey and generally cost about £35 (US$55). Gatwick (LGW) Gatwick is located 28 miles south of London and there are several transportation options to bring you to the city center. The fastest option is the non-stop Gatwick Express train which runs every 15 min to London Victoria Station. The total travel time is about 30 minutes, and it costs around £30 (US$47). Buses operate between Gatwick and London. EasyBus tickets cost around £2 (US$3) each way, and National Express tickets cost around £15 (US23) each way. Trip times average about 1 hour. There is a taxi queue in front of the arrivals gate, and private “Mini-Cabs” can be ordered ahead of time. It usually costs between £70-120 (US$109-$186). Private hire “Mini-Cabs” are price fixed for the journey and generally cost about £50 (US$75). Transportation Underground: The underground, or more commonly “The Tube”, is the easiest and fastest way to get around London. Its network is made up of 11 lines which cover most areas of London. Ticket costs increase based on the length of your travel and ranges from £4.50 to £5.50 (US$7-$8.50). Bus: The iconic double-decker bus system in London is the cheapest way explore. With more than 700 routes it can be a little intimidating, but there are maps with surrounding lines at every bus stop. Tickets can be purchased at kiosks at many bus stops and onboard some buses, although you must have exact change. A single fare costs £2.40 (US$3.75). Taxi: The black taxi cabs of London can be hailed from the street as well as booked in advance online or through your hotel. The cabbies are always glad to offer tips about good places to eat, stay or see. Fares vary depending on distance, time of day and time taken, but they start at £2.40 (US$3.75) and increase at a rate of £2 or more per mile. Walking: Newcomers to London are always surprised at how easy the city is to walk. Distances can look intimidating, but within Central London major attractions are sometimes no more than ten minutes apart. The mild climate and pedestrian friendly atmosphere means that walking can often be the quickest way during rush hour when the Tubes and roadways become packed in every direction. If you plan to use the Tube or the bus more than once or twice, you can save considerably, both in time and in fares, by purchasing an Oyster Card which stores money for fares. Just touch it to the yellow circles to gain entry to and exit from the Underground and Buses. Hotels Price Key Staybridge Suites London-Stratford City ($) $ 200-300 USD per night 10B Chestnut Plaza | Westfield-Stratford City $$ 300-400 USD per night London E20 1GL $$$ 400-500 USD per night www.ihg.com/staybridge/hotels Park Plaza County Hall London ($) Club Quarters Lincoln’s Inn Fields ($$) 1 Addington Street | South Bank 61 Lincoln's Inn Fields | Holborn London, SE1 7RY London WC2A 3JW www.parkplazacountyhall.com www.clubquarters.com/loc_londonLincolns.php The Rembrandt ($$) The Milestone Hotel ($$$) 11 Thurloe Place | Knightsbridge 1 Kensington Court | South Kensington London SW7 2RS London W8 5DL www.sarova-rembrandthotel.com www.milestonehotel.com InterContinental London Westminster ($$$) 22-28 Broadway London SW1H 9JS www.intercontinental.com/London Restaurants Price Key Rocca ($) $ 25-50 USD 73 Old Brompton Road $$ 50-100 USD London SW7 3JS $$$ 100-150 USD www.roccarestaurants.com Italian Angus Steakhouse ($) 50 Leicester Square Quaglino's ($$) London WC2H 7AD27 16 Bury Street St James's www.angussteakhouse.co.uk London SW1Y 6AJ Steakhouse www.quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk French Bistro 1 ($) Frith St, Soho Rules ($$) London W1D 5LE 35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden www.bistro1.co.uk London WC2E 7LB Mediterranean www.rules.co.uk Traditional British Garfunkels ($) 16 Bury St London SW1Y 6AJ www.garfunkels.co.uk British Local Contact Information State of Georgia – UK & Ireland US Embassy Mike Harling 24 Grosvenor Square Managing Director London, W1A 2LQ The Barn, Suite 2 United Kingdom Puckshipton House Within the UK call: +44 020.3608.6998 Beechingstoke, Wiltshire Emergencies call: +44 20.7499.9000 SN9 6HG – England T: +44 016.7285.1619 E: [email protected] *Information valid as of September 2013 .