Come For the Sun and Stay For the Stars

From the mild, sunny weather to some of film's biggest stars, the Los Angeles area has much to offer.

Los Angeles at its best

The weather is comfortable all year in Los Angeles. Perfect soak up the California sunshine. Ring in the New Year at the Rose Parade, a New Year's celebration in nearby Pasadena. The Oscar Gala in February brings out many of film's most famous faces. Or visit at the end of October to experience some typical American Halloween celebrations.

  Before You leave for LA

British citizens who are also British passport holders may be eligible for the Visa waiver programme (VWP) for visits of up to 90 days. British passport holders with other nationalities will need a visa, though. When eating out in Los Angeles, plan to leave a 20 percent tip (or one dollar per beer). Posted prices also often do not include tax. Also, regulations for the sale of alcohol and nicotine are much stricter in California than in the UK.

Food and clothing are often cheaper in Los Angeles, with food being generally about 20 percent cheaper than in London.

Travel Tips and Local Information

The airport is 20km from downtown L.A. and 10km from Santa Monica. A taxi ride from the airport usually runs around $45 and is quite easy to find. It is also fairly easy to find a car for hire. Most areas of Los Angeles - including Venice and Santa Monica - are served by bus. Look for shuttle bus "G" (green line). Public transport is cheap in Los Angeles, but can sometimes be hard for visitors to understand, since the city is so large. It may be best to hire a car or take a cab. Popular local hotel spots are Venice Beach, Santa Monica and Hollywood, with the cheapest beds costing around $25. Many of the hotels in downtown Los Angeles and Beverly Hills are pretty expensive - be prepared to pay around $100 per person per night.