CAPITAL CITY
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MILLION
5˚C WINTER
21˚C SUMMER
WELCOME !! We are delighted to welcome you to London, England. This pre-arrival letter is intended to help you settle into your new home! It will be complemented by a full welcome on arrival.
London London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom, and is the largest metropolitan area in the European Union. It is located on the river Thames where it has existed since it’s founding by the Romans under the name Londinium over 2 millennia ago. Today, London is home to over 8 million residents from every corner of the globe.
London is one of the world’s most visited cities boasting history, art & culture, architecture, nightlife, and a dizzying swirl of international cultures that have come to call London home. London is the world’s leading financial center alongside New York, home to 43 universities, and is prominent in the spheres of media, fashion, hospitality, and the arts. London attracts and produces constant innovation, while offering ever-changing opportunities for fun and enjoyment. As the saying goes, “If you’re bored with London, you’re bored with life.” London has a temperate oceanic climate with mild temperatures and precipitation dispersed throughout the year. Summer is warm, but not hot, with an average daytime high of 22°C (72°F). Winter is cool, but not cold, averaging a daytime temperature of 5°C (41°F). This guide will give you everything you need to know before you arrive in London so good luck in preparing for your trip and we are excited to have you join us in the Greatest City in the World!
>> Dress
>> ID
Dress in central London is casual but chic, as you would expect in one of the world’s capital. Shopping is world-renowned, so you will see creative and edgy outfits, as well as more traditional, conservative dress. For a night out at the pub, smart but relaxed clothes are the norm. To get past the doorman at a club, however, dress to impress!
It is not necessary to carry your passport with you while out and about in London. It’s best to leave your passport and a photocopy safely at home. Some bars are strict on ID, so you’ll want to have an ID with you when going out at night.
>> Conversion Rate Please click this link to see a real time exchange rate between the Great British Pound & US Dollar: http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/conv ert/?Amount=1&From=GBP&To=USD
>> Taxis & Transport Public transport in London is extensive, clean, and quick. Cabs are also plentiful but quite pricey and rarely necessary. The tube and bus systems will take you anywhere you need to go within London and the surrounding suburbs. As part of your program fee, we will provide you with the London travel card known as the oyster card that works on the tube and busses. Your oyster card is paid for where you will be living and working in travel zones 1 and 2. For trips into greater London beyond zones 1 and 2, you’ll need to top up your card. Trips on the tube start at £1.60, and bus fares at £1.40. The ubiquitous black cabs charge a base fee of £2.40 and run £3.00-£8.00 per mile based on time of day you are traveling and traffic. These cabs can be hailed on the street or called in advance. All other taxis are called Minicabs, and should only be
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ordered over the phone with a reputable company for safety reasons. The price is fixed by the driver and is often cheaper than the black cab rates, but be sure to confirm what the rate will be so you’re not overcharged. Check that your taxi is a licensed one before getting in, especially at night.
>> Drinking Water
>> What you may not bring to England
Tap water in London is completely safe to drink.
>> Money Matters How much money do you need? Central London is notoriously expensive, but low-key and low-priced options can always be found. A casual lunchtime meal might range £8-£15. A beer in a pub in central London will go for £5, but at a pub further out from the center, £3.50 may be the norm.
There are restrictions on all the usual prohibited items such as weapons and produce. One thing to be aware of is that pepper spray/mace while common in the US is considered a concealed weapon in the UK and could carry jail time. Girls, leave that at home!
>> Arrival & Contact Information When you arrive in the UK you will need to show the immigration authorities your passport and visa.
>> Airport pickup
Most pubs do not charge an entrance fee, but dance bars in the trendy areas may ask £5-10 at the door. London has many free entertainment options like museums and open-air markets. And of course, we have planned lots of fun activities that are already included in your program fee!
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You will be picked up by our trusted airport pickup service upon arrival to London. Do not worry if your flights are delayed – we are in constant contact with the airport so this will be taken into account. You will be greeted with your name on a board and driven to your accommodation where a member of our staff will be waiting for you.
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WHAT YOU CAN FIND IN LONDON >> Our Top 5 Tourist Attractions 1) Arts & Culture Simply a must-do activity. London theatre has been at the cornerstone of London arts and culture for centuries and no trip to London is complete without it. If you are coming on our standard or deluxe programs, we will arrange this event within our community included in your program. In the past, we have seen top shows like the Lion King, Chicago & Les Miserables.
3) Royal Parks of London London is home to some of the most beautiful parks in the world. Whether you are having a classic English picnic at the iconic Hyde Park, stopping off at St James Park after visiting Buckingham Palace or taking a swim at Hampstead Heath, there is a huge amount to see and do in the ‘green lungs’ of London.
5) Museums and Galleries London is a hub for arts & culture and the museums and galleries are an excellent way to explore the different collections that London holds and hosts. A lot of these museums and galleries have free entry so is a great way to spend an afternoon on a weekend! Top museums and galleries include: British Museum, National Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate Modern, The Science Museum, The Natural History Museum.
2) Explore the River Thames Also included in our Standard and Delux Programs is a boat cruise lunch up and down the River Thames. Explore one of the World’s most iconic rivers while having an exquisite lunch aboard a classic London boat.
4) Sports in London Football (Soccer) is London and England’s foremost sport, on a Saturday and Sunday afternoon you will normally see groups of brightly colored fans travelling around London to see their favorite teams play. But it doesn’t end there, we have the tennis arenas at Wimbledon and Queens, cricket at Lords and of course, the 2012 Olympic Park to visit!
>> Eating British food has a perhaps unfair reputation for rather bland and uninspiring food, but what London does have which no other city in the world has, is the sheer variety and diversity of cuisine. London is home to every type of food and cuisine imaginable for every price range. From delicious Bangladeshi food on Brick Lane or Chinese food at Chinatown to Middle
Eastern cuisine on Edgware Road, there is food for everyone! If traditional British food is what you are looking for, then there are a number of classic meals such as Fish and Chips or a traditional Sunday Roast lunch that are available in pubs and restaurants across the capital. We occasionally also arrange one of these meals with the community so keep an eye out for those!
>> The Landmarks London is of course home to some of the most historically relevant and important landmarks and so make sure you take the time to check them out! Buckingham Palace – the official residence of the Queen of England, it is open for tours in London and no trip to London is complete without seeing it! The London Eye – the world’s largest observation wheel, on a clear day, you can see as far as the coast of France! Picadilly Circus is perhaps London’s most photographed landmark. The Statue of Eros stands in the middle, surrounded by dazzling lights and the commotion of a lively London life. It truly is the heartbeat of London.
St Paul’s Cathedral, built after the 1666 Great Fire of London, it is both the largest and most significant Cathedral in England. It is known as it’s ‘whispering gallery’ because of the acoustics of the construction. As beautiful as it is monumental. Tower Bridge is a 19th century bridge located by the Tower of London Castle on the East Side of the centre of London. Even people from London stop and stare when the drawbridge is raised! Trafalgar Square is home to Lord Nelson’s Column and the Lions of Trafalgar Square. It’s as close to a ‘centre’ of town as possible and on any day thousands of people will pass by this cornerstone of London.
EXPECTATIONS & PREPARATION >> London Safety
>> Housing
You will be living and working in good and safe areas of London. As in any big city, be aware of your surroundings and valuables at all times. Use caution on public transportation and when walking at night, and be aware that pickpockets operate in the heavily touristed areas. The emergency number for London is 999.
Your accommodation (if included in your program) is in a safe and central area of the city, definitely no more than 60 minutes commute to your workplace. You can expect to live in a well stocked apartment, with all essentials such as your bed, wardrobe and other bedroom furnishings, access to a living area, access to a well equipped kitchen and a clean and well functioning bathroom. Most of our accommodation has a washing machine/laundry machine and if not, a launderette will be nearby. In peak seasons, you may also be living in a residence which provides all the essentials in an apartment listed above too! Your accommodation will also be in easy access to London’s transport network so the heart of London is at your fingertips.
>> Arrival Induction & Welcome Pack In case you arrive in London after 8:00pm local time your welcome pack and induction will be given to you in the morning the next day. You will be picked up by our chauffeur at the airport as normal and let in to your accommodation by the other people who live there. They will be expecting your arrival.
>> Hospital & Emergency Services The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) will provide emergency treatment for anyone in the UK, irrespective of whether they reside in the UK. The emergency phone number is 999 where you can also access the police, coastguard and fire-brigade. They are free of charge from any telephone. In cases of medical emergency, you can go to the Accidents & Emergency department (A&E), and be seen for any medical issues.