Facts & Figures: UK
Climate
In December, London has an average high temperature of 7˚C and an average low temperature of 1˚C. For weather forecast please click here.
Language
The official language is English.
Time
GMT (UTC+0)
Currency
Pound sterling (GBP)
Visa Information
Το find out if you need a visa for your trip to UK please visit the website of the UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/
Shopping hours
Core opening hours for London shops are 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Many shops also open for a reduced number of hours on Sundays. Shops often stay open later in London's West End and at large shopping centres such as Westfield London. Some London shopping areas have designated late night shopping evenings, often held on Thursdays or Fridays.
Dialing code
International country code: +44
London area code: (0) 20
Electricity
The voltage in UK is 230/240V AC, 50Hz. Voltage converters are needed for most devices brought from outside UK. Sockets accept only three-(square)-pin plugs, so an adapter is needed for continental European and US appliances. A transformer is also needed for appliances operating on 110-120 volts.
Getting to London
Find your perfect way to travel to London by visiting http://www.visitlondon.com/travel/getting_here/.
Getting from the Airports to central London
The fastest way to get to London City from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports is to take an Express train to one of the train stations connecting to the Underground System and Bus Network. The cost of the train ticket is 14-16 GBP. From London City airport the best way is to take the Dockland Light Railway (DLR) which easily connects to the Underground. Luton airport is served by several bus companies, the cheapest being easy bus. Taxi rides through the city centre may take long time due to traffic congestion.
Local transportation
There are different modes of transport in London including London Underground ("the Tube"), National Rail, DLR, Tramlink and Airport Express trains. Fortunately for visitors there is a single ticketing system, Oyster card, which enables travellers to switch between modes of transport on one ticket. An Oyster card can be bought for a £2 deposit. Credit is then added to the card and it is used on a pay as you go system. An alternative to Oyster cards would be to buy a Visitor Travel card – you can either buy 1 day or 7 day cards. The price for a 7-day card is £47.60.
Please click here to learn all about transport in London.
For further information about traveling around London please click here.
Please click here to open a printable version of London tube map.
Relevant links
