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Destination:

London


Basics

topWhen to Go

April through September are the best months to visit; the climate is mild and most sights are open. July and August are the busiest months.

topWeather & Temperature

Be prepared for all types of weather and be sure to bring a waterproof jacket and umbrella even in summer.

London, England
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Average High Temperature F 47 49 53 58 64 70 73 74 67 60 53 47
C 8 9 12 14 18 21 23 23 20 16 11 8
Average Low Temperature F 41 41 43 46 50 56 59 60 56 51 46 42
C 5 5 6 8 10 13 15 16 13 11 8 5
Average Precipitation in 2 1.57 1.25 1.82 1.53 1.83 1.3 1.72 1.96 2.78 2.29 2.24
cm 5.07 3.99 3.17 4.62 3.89 4.64 3.31 4.36 4.97 7.07 5.81 5.69

topTime Difference

Set watches for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). This is one hour behind Continental European Time (-1CET) and five hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time (+5EST). When it is noon in New York, it is 5pm in London. From March to September clocks go forward an hour for "summer time."

topPassport & Visa Requirements

A valid passport is needed to enter the UK. Citizens of Commonwealth countries and the United States do not need a visa.

topMoney Matters

Local Currency

Currency is pound sterling (£), with the pound divided into 100 pence (p). Notes come in denominations of £5, £10, £20 and £50. Coins come in 1p, 2p 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2.

Currency Converter

Travelers Checks & Credit Cards

Most establishments take credit cards. Traveler's checks are not widely accepted but can be exchanged in English banks.

Tipping

Tip at least 10% in restaurants if a service charge is not included on the bill.  Taxi drivers also expect a 10% tip.

topPhone

Dialing Codes

The dialing code for London is 020, which you omit when dialing within the city.
When calling from abroad, dial 44 followed by 20, omitting the 0.
To call from London abroad, dial 00 followed by the access code of the country you are dialing.

Information & Emergency Numbers

100 Operator
155 International Operator
999 Emergency

Mobile Phones

London's mobile phones use a 900 or 1800 GXM system. Check with your carrier before leaving home to see if your phone will work in England.

topElectrical

Electricity is 240V 50Hz throughout the UK. British plugs have two flat blades and one flat grounding blade, so buy an adapter before leaving home.

topCustoms

Dress code. Londoners, like most Europeans dress smart. Even for the kids, polo shirts and khakis are a better choice than T-shirts and jeans or shorts. Most expensive restaurants expect patrons to dress appropriately, with jacket and tie often required.