London, England — Travel Tips
Getting There By Air
LondonHeathrowAirport(LHR)
Tel: 0844 335 1801.
Website: www.heathrowairport.com
Heathrow, 24km (15 miles) west of central London, is one of the world's busiest international airports.
Airportfacilities: Facilities include bureau de change, ATMs, airport information, hotel reservation and travel information desks, post offices in terminals two and four, left luggage, Internet access, showers, telephones and fax machines, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, cafes, bars and information centers. Car hire is available in all five terminals, from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National and Thrifty. The Business Center Heathrow is located in the Queen's Building, between terminals one and two. Open Monday to Friday 0730 to 1900, it offers 20 meeting rooms and a conference suite, as well as a communications center with computers with Internet access, faxes, photocopiers, audiovisual equipment and even showers.
Transport to the city: The Heathrow Express (tel: 0845 600 1515; www.heathrowexpress.co.uk) operates from terminals one, two, three and five with trains running every 15 minutes. Passengers from terminal four need to take the free transfer service to Heathrow Central and change. You can buy tickets from the Heathrow Express desks or self-service ticket kiosks located at the station; tickets are also available for purchase on the train, for a premium, or online, with a 10% discount. A cheaper, but longer option is to take the Heathrow Connect rail service (tel: 0845 678 6975; www.heathrowconnect.com) to Paddington.
The airport is also on the London Underground Piccadilly line (tel: (020) 7222 1234; www.tfl.gov.uk).
There is also a Central Bus Station at Heathrow, where the main bus service to central London is operated by National Express (tel: 0871 781 8181; www.nationalexpress.com). At night, the N9 night bus service goes to central London every 30 minutes (journey time - 50 minutes).
The Airport Travel Line (tel: 0870 574 7777) provides coach transport information. The Travel Line (tel: 0871 200 2233) can provide information on all public transport to and from London.
Taxis are readily available and cost from around £40-70 for a journey to the city center (depending on traffic conditions and time of day).
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Tel: 0844 335 1802.
Website: www.gatwickairport.com
Gatwick, 45km (28 miles) south of central London, is the second busiest international airport in the UK. A free train links the two terminals (north and south). Another useful website for passenger information is www.gatwick-airport-guide.co.uk.
Airport facilities: Both terminals have bureau de change, ATMs, airport information desks, showers, left luggage facilities, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants and bars. There is also an Internet cafe situated in the south terminal. Both terminals have car hire from Alamo, Avis, Dollar, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National and Thrifty. The airport provides a Fast Track priority service for business-class travelers, as well as a full range of business services at the Hilton London Gatwick Airport Hotel (tel: (01293) 518 080; www1.hilton.com) and Sofitel London Gatwick Hotel (tel: (01293) 567 070; www.sofitel.com).
Transport to the city: The Gatwick Express (tel: 0845 850 1530; www.gatwickexpress.co.uk) train service to Victoria station operates every 15 minutes daily (journey time - 30 minutes). Other, slower, cheaper trains also run to Victoria (stopping at East Croydon and Clapham en route). Alternative train services by First Capital Connect (tel: 0845 748 4950; www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk) to St Pancras operate daily approximately every 15 minutes during peak hours, with a reduced service at night (journey time - 45 to 50 minutes).
National Express coaches (tel: 0871 781 8181; www.nationalexpress.com) link Gatwick and Heathrow airports (journey time - 70 minutes) daily approximately 0500 to 2230. Coaches also run from Gatwick Airport to Victoria. The Easybus EB3 service also serves Victoria.
The Travel Line (tel: 0871 200 2233) and the Airport Travel Line (tel: 0870 574 7777) can provide information on all public transport to and from London. Chauffeur-driven cars are provided by Checker Cars (tel: (01293) 502 808 (south terminal) or 501 377 (north terminal). Taxis are readily available and a trip to the center of London costs around £80 for a journey time of approximately one hour 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
Tel: 0844 335 1803.
Website: www.stanstedairport.com
Stansted is located 48km (30 miles) northeast of central London.
Airport facilities: Bureaux de change, ATMs, left luggage, airport information, hotel reservation desk, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, bars and car hire from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and National. Lounges can be pre-booked for business meetings and Wi-Fi access is available throughout the terminal.
Transport to the city: The Stansted Express (tel: 0845 850 0150; www.stanstedexpress.co.uk) train service to Liverpool Street station operates daily 0530 to 2430, departing every 15 minutes (journey time - 49 minutes).
The main coach service to central London is the A6 (tel: 0871 781 8181; www.nationalexpress.com), which travels to Victoria coach station every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day (journey time - 1 hour 45 minutes).
The Airport Travel Line (tel: 0870 574 7777) provides further coach transport information. The Travel Line (tel: 0871 200 2233) can provide information on all public transport to and from London. Taxis are usually available at the airport or can be telephoned; Airport Carz (tel: (01245) 251 888) charges around £85 for the 60-minute (depending on traffic and conditions) journey to central London.
London Luton Airport (LTN)
Tel: (01582) 405 100.
Website: www.london-luton.co.uk
Luton airport is situated 52km (32 miles) north of central London.
Airport facilities: The airport has bureau de change, ATMs, several information kiosks, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, bars and car hire from Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and National. The Aviance Executive Lounge (tel: (01582) 700 898) is located in the international departure lounge. Facilities include fax, telephone and Internet.
Transport to the city: First Capital Connect (tel: 0845 748 4950; www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk) provides a fast link (approximately 30 to 40 minutes) to St Pancras from the Luton Airport Parkway station. A free shuttle bus connects Luton Airport with the Parkway station. Trains operate daily approximately every 15 to 30 minutes, with a reduced service on weeknights.
Greenline (tel: 0844 801 7261; www.greenline.co.uk) operates coach services to Victoria coach station, departing every 30 to 60 minutes 24 hours a day (journey time - 60 to 90 minutes). easyBus also operates a direct express service to/from Central London (Victoria), seven days a week. The Travel Line (tel: 0871 200 2233) provides further information on travel to London.
Taxis are available 24 hours and cost approximately £60 for a journey to central London.
London City Airport (LCY)
Tel: (020) 7646 0088.
Website: www.londoncityairport.com
London City Airport is the most central of the capital's airports, located just 10km (6 miles) east of the City of London.
Airport facilities: These include bureau de change, ATMs, information and hotel reservation desks, postal facilities, duty-free shopping, restaurants, bars, and car hire from Avis, Europcar and Hertz. The Meridian Business Center (tel: (020) 7646 0900) offers fully serviced conference suites and office space for hire.
Transport to the city: A DLR (Docklands Light Railway) link connects the airport to Bank underground station on the Central Line and has direct connections with the Jubilee Line at Canning Town. Trains run every 7 minutes, and take 14 minutes to reach Canning Town, and 22 minutes to reach Bank station.
There is a stand with licensed black taxis, located directly outside the terminal building. Fares to central London start from £20-25. The Travel Line (tel: 0871 200 2233) provides further information on all transport to and from London.
Approximate flight times to London: From New York is 7 hours 40 minutes; from Los Angeles is 10 hours 20 minutes; from Toronto is 7 hours and from Sydney is 23 hours 5 minutes (plus stopover).
Getting There By Road
Traffic drives on the left in the UK and drivers must be at least 17 years old. Speed limits are 113kph (70mph) on motorways, 97kph (60mph) on single-lane main roads and 48kph (30mph) in built-up areas. Overseas driving licenses and International Driving Permits are valid for up to one year. Insurance is mandatory. Overseas visitors bringing their own cars should bring registration documents and check with their insurance company as to whether a Green Card is needed.
Emergency breakdown services
AA (tel: 0800 887 766); Green Flag (tel: 0800 051 0636); RAC (tel: 0800 828 282).
Routes to the city
The M25 encircles Greater London. The M1, M11, M20, M23, M3, M4 and M40 radiate from London to the rest of Britain. The M1 goes north to Leeds, the M11 northeast to Cambridge and East Anglia, the M20 southeast to Folkestone (from where the A20 continues to Dover), the M23 goes south to Gatwick airport (and continues as the A23 to Brighton), the M3 southwest to Southampton, the M4 west to Heathrow airport and Bristol, and the M40 northwest to Oxford and Birmingham. Motorists can travel by train through the Channel Tunnel from Calais, France to Folkestone in southeast England, with Eurotunnel (tel: 0844 335 3535, in the UK only; www.eurotunnel.com).
Driving times to the city
From Cambridge - 1 hour 30 minutes; Oxford - 1 hour 30 minutes; Folkestone - 1 hour 45 minutes; Birmingham - 2 hours 15 minutes; Bristol - 2 hours 45 minutes.
Coach services
National and international services use Victoria coach station, a short walk from Victoria train station, at 164 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1. National Express (tel: 0871 781 8181; www.nationalexpress.com) operates services throughout the UK. Eurolines (tel: 0871 781 8181; www.eurolines.com) has departures to over 500 European destinations.
Getting There By Rail
The British railway network has suffered a bad reputation - delays, cancellations and poor traveling conditions are common, while fares (particularly on routes via London) are high. For the cheapest tickets, book in advance online.
Rail Services
London's main stations are Victoria (southwest), Paddington (west), Euston and Kings Cross (north), Liverpool Street (east), Waterloo (south) and Charing Cross (central), and they connect with different regions of the country. Buy tickets at the station – from ticket desks or machines – before boarding. Do note that London's main stations become very crowded during rush hour (Monday to Friday 0800-0930 and 1700-1830).
Rail Operators
Rail services in England are co-ordinated by a number of independent operators. Railway information is available 24 hours from National Rail Enquiries (tel: 0845 748 4950; www.nationalrail.co.uk). Eurostar (tel: 0843 218 6186, in the UK only; www.eurostar.com) connects London St Pancras International with Avignon, Calais, Brussels, Lille, Paris-Gare du Nord and Disneyland Paris via the English Channel. Scotrail (tel: 0845 601 5929; www.scotrail.co.uk) runs overnight sleeper trains from Euston to Scotland's main cities.
Connections
From Edinburgh – 4 hours 30 minutes; Cardiff – 2 hours 10 minutes; Manchester – 2 hours 10 minutes; Birmingham – 1 hour 25 minutes; Brighton – 1 hour; Paris - 2 hours 20 minutes.
Getting Around in London, England
Public Transport
Transport for London (tel: 0843 222 1234; www.tfl.gov.uk) operates the capital's buses and provides comprehensive information on all forms of transport in London. The London Underground (tel: 0845 330 9880; www.tfl.gov.uk/tube), commonly referred to as the 'Tube', is the oldest and most extensive underground system in the world. The network of 12 lines is divided into six zones, determining the price of tickets. A prepaid electronic Oyster card is the cheapest way to travel in London – enquire at a Tube station for details. All bus journeys cost the same. On many routes, tickets need to be bought prior to boarding – a carnet of six tickets bought in advance from newsagents and Tube stations offers reduced prices, as does an Oyster card. There is also a one-day bus pass. A day travelcard and a three-day travelcard can be used on buses and the underground. Thames Clippers (www.thamesclippers.com) commuter ferries run between Savoy Pier (central at Embankment) and Royal Arsenal Woolwich Pier, and a high-speed commuter service runs from Chelsea Harbour in the west to Blackfriars.
Taxis
Black cabs can be hailed on the street or booked through Dial-a-Cab (tel: (020) 7426 3420) and Radio Taxis (tel: (020) 7272 0272). Minicabs should be booked over the telephone; a reputable city-wide firm is Addison Lee (tel: 0844 800 6677).
Driving in the City
There is a daily charge for all vehicles entering the congestion charging zone in central London Monday to Friday between 0700 and 1800. See www.cclondon.com. Off-road parking is available 24 hours at NCP garages (tel: 0845 050 7080; www.ncp.co.uk) situated around London. Street parking in central London can be extremely expensive.
Car Hire
Major car firms include Avis (tel: 0844 544 5566; www.avis.co.uk), Budget (tel: 0844 581 9998; www.budget.co.uk) and Hertz (tel: 0870 599 6699; www.hertz.co.uk). There has been a recent growth in budget/internet car hire companies, spearheaded by easyCar (tel: (020) 3059 5684; www.easycar.com).
Bicycle Hire
Public-use bicycles can be found at 400 docking stations across central London. Sign up at www.tfl.gov.uk/barclayscyclehire. Once you become a member (for 24 hours, a week or a year), additional usage fees apply, based on the duration of the journey; the first 30 minutes are free, however. Available round-the-clock and year-round, the bikes are a fantastic, hassle-free transport option for Londoners and tourists alike to get across one of the world's most beautiful cities.
