Heathrow airport LHR is 15 miles west of London, 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. There are 4 terminals 1, 2 and 3 are within walking distance of each other, via underground walkways. Transfer between Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and Terminal 4, which is located on the south side of the airport, is free on the Heathrow Express train (journey time: 8 minutes).
London Heathrow Hotels discounted room rates Cityotels have special internet rates available for certain hotels and dates, if the hotel participates in this scheme it will be ticked under deal,
Heathrow Hoppa hotel shuttle hotels close to Heathrow are linked to the Airport via a shuttle bus, the hotel information will indicate if they have this service, for which there is a small charge:- Hotel guests arriving at terminal 1 should proceed to bus stop 8 on the ground floor; guests arriving at terminal 2 should proceed to bus stop 12 on the ground floor and guests arriving at terminal 3 should take exit 1 and proceed to bus stop 24 -- Guests arriving at terminal 4 should take the free Heathrow Express to terminal 3 then proceed to exit 1 and bus stop 24 (there is no direct Hoppa bus service from terminal 4) From London:: Take Heathrow express train from Paddington station or the underground Piccadilly line to terminals 1-2-3 * Heathrow Hoppa bus or taxi service available from all three terminal buildings to the hotel, it is possible to pre book a transfer, which will save you time and trouble see below.
Gatwick Airport GTW is located 28 miles south of London, it has 2 terminals, There is a free Transit train, which links the North and South terminals 24 hours a day, check your ticket to see which one you need London Gatwick Hotels discounted room rates Cityotels have special internet rates available for certain hotels and dates, if the hotel participates in this scheme it will be ticked under deal Hotel courtesy vans and the Hotelink shuttle are available for arriving passengers. Flightline and Jetlink buses operate between the airport and Victoria Coach Station. It is possible also to pre book a transfer bus or private limo to take you directly from the Airport to your London Hotel and vice versa, see below 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). More Hotels and Gatwick Airport Information
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London Tourist Information As Europe’s largest city, (covering over 600 sq miles) London is host to more than 25 millions visitors a year; yet, it is never too crowded to be enjoyable. There is always time for tea and a leisurely stroll through London’s famous parks and boroughs. Popular destinations abound, including theatres, concert halls, shops, restaurants, sports venues, world famous landmarks and hundreds of restaurants with cuisine from around the world. Time Zone: England follows Greenwich meantime (5 hr. ahead of US 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. Similarly the time in London compared to the rest of Europe can vary by 1 hour either way. When to Visit: British summertime lasting (roughly) from the end of March to the end of October is the time when most tourists visit. You will find Hotel Rates lower during the winter months, possibly with the exception of the Xmas period, when London which is a shopper’s paradise at any time becomes a positive Mecca for Christmas shopping. The Weather: Rain is heaviest in November (2 1/2 in. on average). Evenings are cool, even in summer, but the British climate is full of surprises, and you can have a cold rainy day followed by an incredibly warm one, bad weather or good can last from less than a day to several, and the climate is unpredictable, the English say, if you don’t like the weather, just wait a moment or two, it could change dramatically. 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 Day Dec. 24 and 25 Boxing Day December 26 New Year's Eve Dec. 31. 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. Outside of London 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, and most of Europe). American most European & other countries plugs do not fit British 13 amp flat 3 pin 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. Pubs:- 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. The current legislation is set to change, making it possible for Pubs to remain open through the small hours 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 : The country code for England is 44. The area code for London is 020 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. There are several directory enquiry services available see the local phone book or ask your hotel for their number, if using them, they will ask would you like them to connect you directly to the number you seek, beware, in addition to initial charges a connection through their own line will cost you more. Tipping : For 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. Currency: Britain'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. as yet the UK has not accepted the Euro as its own currency, but many stores will be happy to take Euros, and give a fair rate of exchange. 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. It is possible also to pre book a transfer bus or private limo to take you directly from the Airport to your London Hotel and vice versa, see our side panel for hotel transfers 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) see National Express Coaches for timetables and bookings 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, or to book a ticket, see our side panel for UK Rail Ticketing services |  London | | | London Information London Services |
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