London Overview
'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.' - Samuel Johnson
London's contrasts and cacophonies both infuriate and seduce.
London - the grand resonance of its very name suggests history and might. Its opportunities for entertainment by day and night go on and on and on. It's a city that exhilarates and intimidates, stimulates and irritates in equal measure, a grubby Monopoly board studded with stellar sights.
It's a cosmopolitan mix of Third and First Worlds, chauffeurs and beggars, the stubbornly traditional and the proudly avant-garde. But somehow - between 'er Majesty and Pete Doherty, Bow Bells and Big Ben, the Tate Modern and the 2012 Olympics - it all hangs together.
Currency in London
Notes in United Kingdom
Notes come in denominations of 5.00 GBP, 10.00 GBP, 20.00 GBP and 50.00 GBP.
Coins in United Kingdom
Coins come in denominations of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, 1.00 GBP and 2.00 GBP.
Preferred Form of Payment in London
Except for some of the smaller businesses, plastic is unlikely to cause too many furrowed brows. If all else fails, an ATM will never be far away and most are linked to major credit cards as well as the Cirrus, Maestro and Plus cash networks, but if a machine swallows your card it can be a nightmare. Most banks insist on chopping it in half and sending it back to your home branch - very helpful.
Travellers cheques are only accepted at larger hotels and, thanks to ATMs, hardly necessary these days anyway - but they are safe and widely accepted in English banks.
Changing Your Money in London
If changing travellers cheques or cash from your own country, change bureaus (especially in London) frequently levy outrageous commissions and fees, so make sure you establish any deductions in advance.
Money Tips
England can be extremely expensive and London in particular can be a big drain on your funds. While in London you will need to budget at least 40.00 GBP for bare survival (dorm accommodation, a one-day travel card and the most basic sustenance). Even moderate sightseeing or nightlife can easily add another 20.00 GBP to this. If you stay in a hotel and eat restaurant meals you could easily spend 80.00 GBP a day without being extravagant. Once you get out of the big smoke the costs will drop, particularly if you have a transport pass and if you cook your own meals. You'll still need at least 30.00 GBP a day, and if you stay in B&Bs, eat one sit-down meal a day and don't stint on entry fees, you'll need about 60.00 GBP a day.
Using a Telephone in London
London's increasingly dwindling number of pay phones accept coins, prepaid phone cards and often credit cards. All phones come with reasonably clear instructions.
Local calls are charged by time alone. 'Daytime' rates (just over 3p per minute) apply weekdays 08:00-18:00. The 'cheap rate' (1.5p) applies weekdays 18:00-20:00 and from midnight Friday to midnight Sunday.
To reach an operator call 100.
Note that numbers preceded by the codes 0800 and 0500 are toll-free. Those beginning with 0870 charge a national rate of 6.5p a minute, and those with 09 are premium-rate numbers, costing anything from 50p to 1.50 GBP a minute.
Using a Mobile Phone in London
The UK uses the GSM 900 and 1800 network, which
covers the rest of Europe, Australia and New Zealand, but is not compatible with the North American GSM 1900 or the totally different system in Japan (though many North Americans have GSM 1900/900 phones that do work in England). If you have a GSM phone, check with your service provider about using it in the UK, and beware of calls being routed internationally (very expensive for a local call). You can also rent one from various companies from around 20.00 GBPper week, depending on the hire period. In this case, however, you can't use your existing number.
Doing Business in London
London is one of major business cities in the world, and as it lacks a major conference centre, its high-end hotels are very well-equipped with business and conference facilities. Heathrow Airport is generously furnished with services relevent to the business traveller. There are three Executive Lounges at Heathrow, located in Terminals 1, 2 and 3, offering food, drinks and work areas equipped with phone, fax and e-mail connections. The Travelex Business Centre is located in the
Queens Building between Terminals 1 and 2 and is a large complex suitable for small private functions through to much larger corporate meetings. It has a very impressive range of services, including 20 meeting rooms, a theatre-style conference suite, business support facilities and a myriad of other useful options.
The main business centre of London is the 'Square Mile', also referred to as 'The City', which lies to the east, on the northern bank of the Thames. It's the major commercial hub, where all the pin-striped types - bankers, brokers, insurers and the like - rush about their business.
Media in London
'I read the news today, oh boy ...'. Londoners are passionate about news and gossip, consuming an astonishing range of reading material from political weeklies to the plethora of newly launched giveaway newspapers that litter Tube seats and luggage racks each day.
Weekday commuters still peek out beneath a rustling sea of broadsheets and tabloids, and on weekends Sunday papers remain an institution, though are slowly being replaced by MySpace and other online interaction. TV and radio run a bountiful gamut from the world's best highbrow to gloriously smutty pop culture.
