City Information and Facts
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Population
7.2 million
Time Zone
England follows Greenwich mean time (5 hr. ahead of
Eastern Standard Time), For most of the year, including summer, Britain is 5
hours ahead of the time observed in the eastern United States. Due to
Daylight-saving time practices in the two nations, there's a brief period
(about a week) in autumn when Britain is only 4 hours ahead of New York, and a
brief period in spring when it is 6 hours ahead of New York.
Area
609 sq. miles
Telephone Area Code
020
Average Temperatures
|
Month |
High |
Low |
|
January |
43F |
36F |
|
February |
44F |
36F |
|
March |
50F |
38F |
|
April |
56F |
42F |
|
May |
62F |
47F |
|
June |
69F |
53F |
|
July |
71F |
56F |
|
August |
71F |
56F |
|
September |
65F |
52F |
|
October |
58F |
46F |
|
November |
50F |
42F |
|
December |
39F |
13F |
When to Visit
British summertime lasting (roughly) from the end of
March to the end of October is the time when most tourists visit. Rates are
lower during the winter months. Rain is heaviest in November (2 1/2 in. on
average). Evenings are cool, even in summer. In the winter, it is customary for
the British to keep their thermostats about 10° below the American comfort
level.
National Holidays
New Year's Day
Jan. 1
Good Friday
(Varies: it is the Friday
before Easter)
May Day
First Monday in May
Whitsun Bank Holiday
last Mon. in May
Bank Holiday
last Monday in August
Christmas Eve and Christmas
DayDec. 24 and 25
Boxing Day December 26
New Year's Eve
Dec. 31
Area Codes
The country code for England is 44. The area code
for London is 020.
Business Hours
Business hours are Monday through Friday from 9am
to 5pm. In general, stores are open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5:30pm.
In country towns, there is usually an early closing day (often on Wed or Thurs),
when the shops close at 1pm.
Drugstores
In Britain, they're called "chemists." Every
police station in the country has a list of emergency chemists. Dial "0" (zero)
and ask the operator for the local police, who will give you the name of one
nearest you.
Electricity
British electricity is 240 volts AC (50 cycles),
roughly twice the voltage in North America, which is 115 to 120 volts AC (60
cycles). American plugs do not fit British wall outlets. Always bring suitable
transformers and/or adapters : if you plug an American appliance directly into
a European electrical outlet without a transformer, you'll destroy your
appliance and possibly start a fire. Tape recorders, VCRs, and other devices
with motors intended to revolve at a fixed number of revolutions per minute
probably won't work properly even with transformers.
Emergencies
Dial 999 for police, fire, or ambulance. Give
your name, address, and telephone number and state the nature of the emergency.
In England,
pubs can legally be open Monday through Saturday from 11am to 11pm, and on
Sunday from noon to 10:30pm. Premises with a restaurant license can continue
serving until midnight (11:30pm Sun), provided the sale of alcohol accompanies a
table meal.
Taxes
To encourage energy conservation, the British government
levies a 25% tax on gasoline (petrol). There is also a 17.5% national
value-added tax (VAT) that is added to all hotel and restaurant bills and is
included in the price of many items you purchase. This can be refunded if you
shop at stores that participate in the Retail Export Scheme (signs are posted in
the window).
In October
1994, Britain imposed a departure tax. It is included in the price of your
ticket.
Telephone
To call England from North America, dial 011
(international code), 44 (Britain's country code), the local area codes, and the
seven-digit local phone number. For calls within the same city or town, the
local number is all you need. For directory assistance in London, dial 142; for
the rest of Britain, 192.
TippingFor cab drivers, add about 10% to 15% to the fare on the
meter. However, if the driver loads or unloads your luggage, add something
extra.
CurrencyBritain's decimal monetary system is based on the pound
(£), which is made up of 100 pence (written as "p"). Pounds are also called quid
by Britons. There are £1 and £2 coins, as well as coins of 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p,
2p, and 1p. Banknotes come in denominations of £5, £10, £20, and £50.
The Euro: Since the euro's inception, the U.S. dollar and the euro
have traded almost on par (i.e., $1 approximately equals 1€).
Getting There
By Air
Long-haul international flights are usually routed through Heathrow and Gatwick
airports. The city's other three airports—London City, Luton and Stansted—are
used primarily for regional flights and hops to the Continent.
Gatwick Airport
One of London's major international airports, Gatwick (LGW) is 28 miles south of
the city center, off the M23. It's a 70-minute drive in normal conditions, but
allow extra time for traffic delays.
There are two
terminals, north and south, so it's wise to double-check which one your flight
is departing from (the newer north terminal is reached by taking a short train
ride on an unmanned overhead railway. ) Though extremely busy, the second
busiest airport in the U.K. after Heathrow, Gatwick provides a streamlined
experience for travelers.
Gatwick
Connecting
Transportation
Gatwick
Express trains are the fastest way into the city. The journey to Victoria
Station takes about half an hour, and trains depart every 15 minutes (less
frequently between about midnight and 6 am).
Hotel courtesy
vans and the Hotelink shuttle are available for arriving passengers. Flightline
and Jetlink buses operate between the airport and Victoria Coach Station.
Heathrow Airport
Expanded in stages since its beginnings as a Royal Air Force strip in the 1940s,
Heathrow (LHR) is London's busiest airport and the world’s fourth busiest. It is
located 15 miles west of the city, off the M4 motorway. The drive takes 50
minutes in normal traffic, but allow at least 90 minutes if you're catching a
flight out
Heathrow
Connecting Transportation
The Heathrow Express runs high-speed trains every 15
minutes to Paddington Station. The journey takes about 15 minutes . One other
benefit: Some airlines let you check your bags at Paddington before your return
trip, saving time at the airport. Phone 0845-600-1515. If you don't take the
train, the next best option is the Tube. The Piccadilly line serves all four of
Heathrow's terminals. Hotel courtesy vans and taxis are readily available.
Getting Around
Bus
Most national and international coaches arrive at Victoria Coach Station, about
400 yds. south of Victoria Station. 164 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1. For
schedule information, call 020-7730-3466.
The bus lines
to know are National Express (extensive service throughout Britain) and
Eurolines (daily departures to the Continent), which share the same phone number
Phone 0870-580-8080.
Public Transportation
For information and advice on reaching your destination by bus, light rail, Tube
or water taxi, call the London Transport Authority's 24-hour information line.
Phone 020-7222-1234, Free public transport maps are available from information
offices at train and Tube stations.
Buses—Although
contemporary-style buses are becoming more common, most London buses are still
of the red double-decker variety. Buy tickets on board, except in some parts of
central London where new ticket machines have been introduced alongside bus
stops. Where these machines exist, you must purchase tickets before boarding.
Fares start at 70p for adults, 40p for children. One-day bus passes are
available from newsagents. Fare collectors usually can make change, but not
always. An infrequent night-bus service supplements the day timetable (look for
routes beginning with the letter N). Green buses provide a service to outer
London and surrounding towns.
Docklands
Light Railway—This
rapid transit system runs from the Tower of London to the redeveloped Docklands
area. Although there's not much to see once you get there, the train (which runs
on an elevated rail) offers an impressive view of the city
Subway—The
London Underground, otherwise known as the Tube, is the system of subways in
London and out to the suburbs.
Water Taxis—Boats
carry passengers from the center of London to destinations along the Thames,
including Greenwich, the Tower of London, Kew Gardens, Hampton Court, Canary
Wharf and Bankside. A handful of boat operators are used, and timetables vary by
route.
Taxi
Taxis are plentiful in London in the regulated form of the distinctive black
cab. Hail them when the yellow "For Hire" sign is illuminated, or call
020-7272-0272 or 020-7286-0286. There are taxi ranks at major train stations
such as Victoria, King's Cross and Waterloo.
All taxi
drivers are put through an arduous examination, known as "The Knowledge," which
ensures that they know every street and building on their turf. Fares are
metered but complex, taking both time and distance into account. Ask the driver
for an approximate fare before getting in. Most will accept credit cards.
Train
In the great age of steam, the Victorians built a series of imposing railway
stations around the fringes of central London, with lines slicing boldly outward
through the suburbs to the far corners of the island. They include the
following: Euston (trains to Midlands, north England and east Scotland); St.
Pancras (trains to northwest England); King's Cross (trains to Midlands, north
England, west Scotland); Paddington (trains to west England, Wales); Victoria
(trains to south and southeast suburbs); and Waterloo (trains to south coast,
English Channel and the Continent). For information on train services, phone
0845-748-4950.
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