London's allure

London is the capital city of England, and attracts visitors from across the globe with its famous attractions and culture. 

All seasons in London

London is an excellent choice at any time of year, and there is always something interesting to see or do. Chinese New Year each February is popular with all ages, but wrap up warm as temperatures range from 3 to 8°C. Spring temperatures rise to around 7 to 12°C and the London Marathon in April attracts participants and spectators from all over the world. The Summer months see temperatures of 22 to 27°C, just perfect for a trip to the famous Notting Hill Carnival on Bank Holiday weekend at the end of August.

London: basic tips

Be careful with bags and wallets in London as street crime can be a problem. If you expect to drive in London a congestion charge is payable for the central zone which costs approximately £11 between 7 am and 6 pm from Monday to Friday. Set your watch to local time, which is GMT or Greenwich Meantime.

London: once there

There are good transport connections from all airports to central London.

Heathrow Airport: The Underground is the cheapest way to travel and costs ca. £6 for a single 30 minute journey on the Piccadilly Line from Terminals 1, 2 and 3. The Heathrow Express from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to Paddington is the fastest taking 15 minutes with fares costing around £26. Taxis take about 40 minutes and cost about £33.

Gatwick Airport: Gatwick express from South Terminal to Victoria Station takes about 30 minutes and costs £18. A taxi is approximately £22.50 per person based on 4 sharing, and the journey takes about 1 hour. 

Stansted Airport: Stansted Express trains reach Liverpool Street station in 45 minutes and fares are about £12. It's approximately £100 for a 60 minute taxi journey.  

Luton Airport: Take the shuttle to Luton Airport Parkway then the train to St. Pancras. It costs £15 and the journey takes 40 minutes.

Accommodation to ranges from cheap £20 per night hostels to hotels from £40 up.

London has an excellent transport system.  It costs about £5.70 for a single Underground journey but a day travelcard costs between around £12-15. The Oyster card offers a considerable discount on the normal ticket price and the £5 deposit is refundable.