London

Currency

The UK is outside the Eurozone — euros are not accepted. Do not exchange at Heathrow or the Oxford Street bureaus. London is effectively cashless: a contactless card covers transport, shops and most pubs.

ATMs & cards

Look for LINK machines at Barclays, HSBC, NatWest and Lloyds — these are free. Avoid the standalone machines in convenience stores that charge £1.99, and never accept the conversion offer.

Free-to-use machines say so on screen before you withdraw. Anything charging £1.99 has a bank alternative within a few minutes' walk.

Wherever you are: if the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline. That is dynamic currency conversion and the rate is set by the ATM's operator, not your bank.

Safety

Safe for a city its size. Phone snatching from mopeds is the notable current risk — do not stand on the pavement using your phone in the West End. Look right first when crossing.

Our own assessment, not a sourced index.

Entry & visa

Health & emergencies

Required to enter

No vaccinations are required for entry from Europe or North America.

Worth having

• Routine vaccinations up to date

Getting treated

Emergency treatment in A&E is free to everyone regardless of nationality. Follow-up care, admission and repatriation are not, so insurance still matters. Pharmacists can treat many minor problems without an appointment.

Orientation, not medical advice. Entry rules change and what you need depends on your own history and where you have been — check with a travel clinic or your national health service four to six weeks before you go.

Food tip

The great museums are free — budget the savings toward food instead. Borough Market for lunch, Brick Lane for curry, and a Sunday roast in a proper pub.

Getting around

• Tube — just tap in and out with a contactless card, daily fares cap automatically
• Bus — £1.75 flat fare with unlimited changes in an hour, and a separate cap
• Elizabeth Line — fast east-west crossing and the best Heathrow connection
• Walking — central London stops are often closer together than they look on the map
• Airport: Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to central London (30-40 min, ~£12)

Must-see

Things to do

• Spend a morning in the British Museum
• Tour the Tower of London
• Walk the South Bank from Westminster to Tower Bridge
• See a play in the West End
• Explore Borough Market
• Take in the view from Greenwich Observatory

Nearby day trips

Say a few words

British English — local usage

• Hello, informallyYou alright?
• ThanksCheers
• Yes, definitelyYeah, no worries
• That is expensiveThat is a bit steep
• The bill, pleaseCould we get the bill, please?
• Sorry (used constantly)Sorry
• Very goodBrilliant
• A drink before dinnerA swift half

Religion

Church of England, and largely secular

The Anglican church is established by law with the monarch at its head, while actual attendance is low. Cathedrals often charge entry but are free during services.

Do's and don'ts

Do

• Queue, properly and without comment — jumping one is the closest thing to a national taboo
• Say sorry constantly, including when someone else bumps into you
• Stand on the right on escalators
• Buy a round if you are drinking in a group, and buy yours in turn

Don't

• Do not skip your round; it is noticed and remembered
• Do not ask what someone earns or what their house cost
• Do not take "we must do this again sometime" as a firm plan
• Do not expect table service in pubs unless the sign says so — order at the bar