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  • In this video, we'll share important information about what you need to know before traveling

  • to London like best time to visit, how to use public transportation, best apps to use

  • in London, and many other practical information.

  • We also made a separate video on Top 10 things to do in London, the link is in the description.

  • And don't forget to like this video, subscribe to our channel and enable notifications.

  • And share your London tips or ask a question in the comments below.

  • London is a city with a population of over 8 million people

  • and is the capital and the largest city of the United Kingdom.

  • It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

  • Here are our tips on what to know before traveling to this amazing city

  • NUMBER 1: CURRENCY

  • The currency used in London is British Pound or shortly just Pound.

  • At the time of the making of this video, 1 GBP is worth approximately $1.30 or €1,15.

  • Make sure to check the exchange rate before traveling.

  • NUMBER 2: TRAFFIC

  • Cars in the UK drive on the left

  • so make sure to always pay attention to both sides when crossing the road.

  • Cycling in the city center can be dangerous, so is crossing the street, so always pay attention.

  • NUMBER 3: SAFETY

  • London is relatively safe

  • but do take all the usual precautions typical for big cities

  • like avoiding less touristy areas, especially at night.

  • London is unfortunately also full of pickpockets so hide your wallet, passport, and other valuables

  • somewhere safe and pay attention to your bags, especially in crowded areas like in front

  • of major attractions or when using the underground.

  • There are a lot of scams, targeted mostly at tourists, so make sure you always buy your

  • tickets at the official ticket office and not on the streets.

  • For emergency services, dial 999.

  • NUMBER 4: WEATHER

  • London is known for its unpredictable weather.

  • In general, the climate is mild year-round, but just remember to pack a lightweight raincoat

  • to keep in your daypack.

  • The hottest month of the year is usually August when the peak temperature can reach 90 F while

  • the average temperature in August is about 70 F.

  • The coldest month is usually January when temperatures can sink to around 33 F.

  • Don't forget to check the weather forecast before traveling.

  • You can expect rain in London in practically any season so don't forget to pack an umbrella.

  • However, the wettest month is October.

  • NUMBER 5: BEST TIME TO TRAVEL

  • High season in London is between May and September and in December.

  • Low season is January and February and shoulder season is between mid-September and November

  • and then again in March and April.

  • Best time to travel to London is spring (April to June) and fall (September to November).

  • when it's usually warm and dry.

  • Not only will you be able to avoid the big crowds, but the accommodation and entertainment

  • rates are less expensive compared to the high season.

  • To avoid big crowds and higher prices you can also travel during the week.

  • London is a year-round destination, so major attractions are not affected by low season.

  • You'll be able to see all major attractions regardless of when you travel.

  • NUMBER 6: WHERE TO STAY

  • The average hotel room rate in London is around 150 GBP per night.

  • Of course, it depends on what kind of accommodation you want,

  • as well as on the location of your stay.

  • You can get accommodation below $100 per night, but that probably means you'll be located

  • further away from the city center and you'll need more time to reach the attractions.

  • London is a big city and, therefore offers virtually any kind of accommodation

  • from hostels to exquisite luxury hotels.

  • Check out our video on the best apps to book your stay

  • and find your best accommodation in London.

  • We recommend that you book your accommodation close to the underground so you can easily

  • access all major attractions.

  • If you want to book a room close to where the action is, some of the best areas to stay

  • are, for example, Oxford Street if you like shopping, The City if you like skyscrapers,

  • and Covent Garden if you want to be located close to London theatre district

  • and nice restaurants and cafes.

  • Check the description for more suggestions.

  • NUMBER 7: POWER PLUGS

  • You will probably need special UK power adaptor

  • to charge your phone and other devices.

  • This is what the UK power plug looks like.

  • We recommend purchasing a power adaptor before traveling to London.

  • In fact, it is worth buying the adaptor for the entire world

  • so you can use it in other countries too.

  • NUMBER 8: TRANSPORTATION

  • From and to the airport

  • London has five major airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, City, and Stansted.

  • To get to London, you can take the underground or DLR, which is an urban light railway,

  • if you are traveling from Heathrow or City Airport.

  • The return ticket costs 12 GBP or 10 GBP with Oyster card.

  • More about Oyster card later.

  • You can take the train to central London from all five airports.

  • The return ticket varies but you will likely pay

  • at least 20-30 GBP for return a return ticket.

  • However, the prices are cheaper if you buy your tickets in advance online.

  • If you want to save some money, the cheaper alternative is a National Express bus with

  • service from all airports except City, which is pretty much in the city anyway,

  • as the name suggests.

  • You can use a cab or Uber, but the prices will most likely be higher.

  • Check the description for links and more information, as well as updated ticket prices.

  • Getting around the city

  • London is big and every journey will take a lot of time.

  • It normally takes at least 20 to 30 minutes to travel between major attractions and over

  • an hour to the center of London if you are staying on the outskirts.

  • So make sure you always check how long it will take you to get from A to B.

  • London is well covered with public transportation.

  • Types of public transportation are bus, underground, also called tube, tram, DLR, London Overground

  • and National Rail service.

  • The best way to get around is undeground

  • which will get you close to most major attractions.

  • Check the description for the links to download the underground map.

  • The best way to use public transportation is by purchasing an Oyster card,

  • an electronic smart card used to pay for all public transportation in London.

  • You can get one at most underground stations.

  • It will cost you 5 GBP as a deposit.

  • You can top up your Oyster card for as much and as often as you want and collect all the

  • remaining credit plus the deposit when you leave.

  • You can pre-purchase your Oyster card for 3 GBP plus postage and add credit to it, so

  • you don't have to worry about getting your card at the station.

  • A great option, especially if you are arriving from Heathrow or City airport.

  • A more expensive but faster way of getting around London

  • is Uber or the traditional London taxi.

  • Taxies are more expensive, but they use bus lanes, so they are usually faster than Uber.

  • Hop On - Hop Off Bus is a great way to see tourist attractions if you don't want to

  • deal with public transportation.

  • You can also take a riverboat tour and see London from a new perspective.

  • London is a busy city and just as there are peak seasons to travel to London, there are

  • peak times of the day when public transportation and the roads get even more crowded.

  • Peak times are Monday to Friday between 6:30 and 9:30 AM and between 4 and 7 PM.

  • NUMBER 9: BEST APPS TO USE IN LONDON

  • Your smartphone can be your best buddy in London.

  • Here are some of the best apps to use: Citymapper, which is a public transit app

  • and integrates data for all urban modes of transport, from walking and cycling to driving,

  • with an emphasis on public transportation.

  • Visit London App: which provides directions, recommendations, history and more.

  • It has everything you need to experience London like a local.

  • Withlocals, where you can book experience such as tours with locals, or

  • Eatwith, where you can book a dinner or a cooking class at someone's home.

  • NUMBER 10: LINES ARE EVERYWHERE

  • Since London is usually a crowded place, especially

  • around major attractions, you can expect lines everywhere.

  • But don't worry, the sights you are visiting are totally worth the wait.

  • You can buy London Pass to at least avoid the queues at the famous attractions.

  • NUMBER 11: FOOD

  • While London is home to many expensive restaurants,

  • there are many places that offer a full meal for less than 10 GBP.

  • Use Yelp or TripAdvisor to find the best deals depending on your budget and rating.

  • And check the description for links to ideas for best cheap eats.

  • NUMBER 12: TIPPING

  • There is no need to tip in a restaurant:

  • tipping in London is not mandatory.

  • Of course, if you want, you can tip but they won't make you feel bad if you don't.

  • Sometimes a 10% service charge is included in the bill at hotels and restaurants,

  • but they'll usually tell you if that's the case.

  • NUMBER 13: BARS AND PUBS CLOSE EARLY

  • While there are many great bars and pubs in London,

  • like the ones in Soho, the famous entertainment district,

  • most of them close around midnight.

  • Speaking from experience, we were surprised when they offered us plastic cups for our

  • unfinished drinks and they politely asked us to move in front of the pub to finish drinking

  • there since they closed at midnight.

  • Don't worry, there are some places that are open later, but it's certainly not the

  • norm and you'll have to check before you head out if you plan to stay out late.

  • NUMBER 14: DRINKING WATER

  • The tap water in London is perfectly clean

  • and won't harm you if you drink it.

  • Of course, it doesn't taste as good as the bottled water,

  • but it might save you some money.

  • NUMBER 15: LONDON PASS

  • London Pass is a great option if you want

  • to see many attractions and want to save money, don't want to deal with buying tickets all

  • the time, want to skip the line, if you're traveling as a family, etc.

  • For example, a one-day London Pass costs 69 GBP.

  • Check the description to see how much it costs for different durations, to check what you

  • can see with London Pass, and for the link to purchase one.

  • You can even download it to your smartphone.

  • NUMBER 16: WI-FI

  • You'll find free Wi-Fi in many places in London.

  • Use Facebook to locate the nearest free wi-fi or download Wifi Finder, an app

  • that downloads WiFi map so you can search for nearby WiFi even when you're offline.

  • You can also buy a local sim card and get online that way.

  • Some of the best providers for cheap sim cards when it comes to value for money

  • are Giffgaff and Three.

  • NUMBER 17: BEST FREE VIEWS OF THE CITY

  • For the best free views of the city you can visit

  • Sky Garden, Tate Modern, Primrose Hill, One New Change, Alexandra Palace,

  • Greenwich Park and many others.

  • Or you can pay and see the city from London Eye, which offers a truly amazing

  • and unique view of London.

  • NUMBER 18: MUSEUMS ARE FREE

  • Most of the important and interesting London museums,

  • such as Natural History Museum or The British Museum are free of charge.

  • Check the description for the list of free museums in London.

  • Do you have a suggestion on what you need to know before traveling to London?

  • What's your experience?

  • Do you have a question about London?

  • Share it in the comments below.

  • And don't forget to like this video, subscribe to our channel, and enable notifications

  • so that we can keep bringing you more awesome content.

In this video, we'll share important information about what you need to know before traveling

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