Conference in London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom. The city is diverse in nature, with over 230 languages spoken and a wealth of different cultures and communities. London is an academic hotspot, with the most universities of any UK city. It is home to 18 universities in total. With Europe’s largest concentration of higher education institutions, it includes Imperial College London in natural and applied sciences, the London School of Economics in social sciences, and the comprehensive University College London. London is not exactly a cheap option for students. Despite the high costs, London has claimed the title of the best student city in the world for two years in a row.
London Required Information
The UK currency is the pound sterling (£/GBP)and there are 100 pence (p) to the pound (£). There are numerous bureaux de change in London – often located inside banks, travel agents or Post Offices, as well as at London’s airports and major train stations. Credit and debit (bank) cards – especially Visa and Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club cards – are widely accepted.
Contactless cards are widely used in the UK and many businesses accept them as payment, up to a limit of £30 per transaction. Travellers can use a contactless card instead of an Oyster card when using public transport in London.
Also, There are plenty of cash machines (also known as cashpoints or ATMs) dotted around London.
According to the UK.gov website, all medication prescriptions and medical items are allowed on board. The traveler must have documents to prove they are required by a medical professional, which can include a prescription. Medicines such as tablets, liquids, inhalers and hypodermic syringes are all allowed on board
If you’re planning an adventure to the UK, you may need to organise a visa. Whether you need one or not depends on your nationality and your reason for visiting.
If you’re visiting from the EU:
For the most up-to-date information on visiting the UK for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, please see the official government website.
If you’re visiting from the Rest of the World
If you’re an American, Canadian or Australian tourist, you’ll be able to travel visa-free throughout the UK, providing you have a valid passport and your reason for visiting meets the immigration rules.
If you’re a tourist visiting from Brazil, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan, you are able to travel visa-free around the UK. This also applies to nationals from some additional South American and Caribbean countries. You can check if you need a UK visa here.
If you’re a national of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, or the UAE and you’re planning to visit the UK, you may be able to get an electronic visa waiver instead of a visa. You can find further details at https://www.gov.uk/get-electronic-visa-waiver
https://www.visitbritain.com/ca/en/plan-your-trip/getting-britain/passport-and-visa-requirements-entering-uk
UK appliances are fitted with three-pin plugs that can be connected to the UK mains supply through wall sockets. Unlike the sockets in many other countries, these have a switch to turn the power supply on and off – make sure you’ve turned it on if you’re trying to charge your appliance!
UK power sockets deliver an average voltage of 230v, although in practice this can be slightly higher.
To charge devices that are compatible with this voltage, simply buy the appropriate adapter from the airport or from high street shops.
If your device runs on a lower voltage, you will also need a converter to stop it from overheating. Even if your country uses lower voltages, remember to check whether your device is dual-voltage (look for the 110-240v notation) before buying a converter.
London is served by six international airports:
1. Heathrow (LHR)
2. Gatwick (LGW)
3. Stansted (STN)
4. Luton (LTN)
5. London City Airport (LCY)
6. Southend (SEN)
The main rail operators connecting the city centre to Greater London and beyond are:
- SouthEastern Railway
- Southern Railway
- London Overground
- Greater Anglia
- South West Trains
- Chiltern Railways
- London Midland
Buses
London’s iconic double-decker buses are a quick, convenient and cheap way to travel around the city, with plenty of sightseeing opportunities along the way.
London Underground
The London Underground rail network, or “the Tube” is a great way to travel to and from central London and will be an integral part of most people’s stay in the UK capital.
Docklands Light Railway
London’s innovative, driverless Docklands Light Railway (DLR) serves parts of East and South East London.
River bus services
Travelling by river is a great way to get around London. You’ll beat the traffic and enjoy fantastic views of London along the way.
Local trains
Use London’s Overground train network to travel across the city and beyond the Tube.
London trams
Trams run in parts of south London between Wimbledon, Croydon, Beckenham and New Addington. The services are frequent and accessible.
Accessible public transport
Find your way around the capital with our helpful guide to accessible and wheelchair-friendly travel.
London cycle hire scheme
London’s public bicycle scheme is a great way to travel around the city – and the first half hour is free! Grab yourself a bike and get riding today.
Taxi
From iconic London black cabs to local minicabs, we’ve got all the traveller information you need to help you travel around London by taxi.
Emirates Air Line Cable Car
Take a ride on London’s cable car, for views over Greenwich and East London, including The O2, Cutty Sark and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Also in London are these popular transportation services:
- Mytaxi
- Uber