TEL: +44 (0) 208 574 0868About London
London is one of the most vibrant and culturally diverse cities in the world, a natural starting point for any journey to the UK. The city is visited by 15 million people annually. There are amazing world class sights, unrivalled shopping, restaurants, parks and entertainment to suit every taste and budget. Our Private Hire Taxis will take you absolutely anywhere.
Money
The unit of currency is Britain is the British Pound. There are thousands of ATM machines across London. Traveler Cheque's can be exchanged at a Bank. I personally would not change any money at the airport. Instead I would visit a well known bank or alternatively some Marks & Spencer Department stores have bureau de change facility. You can also find some good exchange rates at the local Bureau De Change shops along Praed Street and Edgware Road near Paddington Station.
Weather
It rains a lot in England. Best to check the weather forecast before you get here. We didn't have much of a summer this year. Temperatures start dropping around October time. It will probably stay cold until March or April. Bring a jacket and an umbrella just in case. It has been a mild winter so far. The coldest months of January and February are to come.
Opening Hours For Shops
Shops are usually open Monday - Friday from 10am until 6pm. Most shops stay open late on a Friday. Usually until about 8pm. Big supermarkets like Tescos and Asda have stores which stay open 24 hours during the week. During the Christmas Period of December a lot of shops will stay open until 8pm. It is not uncommon for some popular stores to remain open until 10pm or 11pm. A Minicab is always handy when you have a lot of expensive shopping to carry.
Health
There are pharmacists all over London. Boots is a popular pharmacy store. There is one chemist I know which is open 24 hours a day. Very close to Earls Court its called Zafash Pharmacy . If you are looking for private clinics or cosmetic surgeries there are a lot around Harley Street and in the Marylebone area. There are a few big hospitals around central london. One of the worlds best Eye Hospitals is in London called Moorfields Eye Hospital. Other well known hospitals are
University College Hospital near Euston, St Marys Hospital in Paddington and there are many more in Central London.Tipping
It is up to you if you would like to tip anyone for good service that you have received. Generally speaking I never leave less than a 10% tip in restaurants. Hotel porters would normally expect to be tipped. You should tip at your discretion. There is no law saying you must tip anyone. In fact the porters at Heathrow Airport are not supposed to accept tips. If you want to tip your driver of your minicab you are very welcome to do this.
Telephones and Mobile Phones
There are payphones everywhere in London operated by BT. The minimum charge is 40p just for a local call. You can buy a mobile phone which is more convenient. Some local supermarkets have very good deals on mobile phones. But I personally would go to a famous High Street shop called Carphone Warehouse. I would just buy a basic Nokia Mobile phone with a Talk Mobile Sim Card which gives you cheaper calling rates when calling abroad. Better to buy a phone which is unlocked/unrestricted. It is up to you if you want to get a contract phone but if I were staying in England long term I would just get a Sim Only 1 month contract deal and I'd buy a nice new mobile handset from Ebay. Skype phones are becoming more popular these days and Blackberry's for those who can not be without their emails.
Smoking
Smoking is banned in all public places such as bars, clubs and restaurants. This also includes inside a Private Hire Vehicle.
Alcohol
You must be 18 to buy alcohol in the UK
Where Shall I Stay?
There are hundreds of Hotels and many Hostels in and around London. Go to the Useful Info page where I there are a list of Hotel Links.
Where Shall I Visit?
The best way to learn about London is to go out and explore for yourself. I have decided to give you as many links as I can think of for the most popular attractions in and around London. There are always different ways of getting discounts at the main attractions. Ask your driver and he'll give you the best advice. If you Enjoy! We can provide you a car to any location you like.