Loud, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is a megalopolis of people, ideas and energy. The capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and of England, it is also the largest city in Western Europe and the European Union.

Situated on the River Thames in South-East England, Greater London has an official population of about 7.5 million people although the figure of over 14 million for the city's total metropolitan area more accurately reflects London's size and importance.

London is one of the great "world cities," and remains a global capital of culture, fashion, finance, politics and trade.

REASONS TO GO

Gigantic, historical and fashionable

Museums, theatres and the vibrant nightlife

To visit the iconic Tower of London, The Big Ben, The Buckingham Palace, etc.

ORIENTATION

Greater London is been divided into 32 London boroughs in addition to the ancient City of London. The City of London is the main financial district and Canary Wharf has recently developed into a new financial and commercial hub.

West London is renowned for its luxurious and expensive areas such as Kensington and Belgravia. There we can find many major attractions and also exceptional shopping grounds and beautiful architecture.

East London is an area of great variety, from the Brick Lane, to trendy Shoreditch and the modern Docklands area surrounding Canary Wharf.

North London contains attractive inner-city suburbs like Islington and Camden Town and has a dynamic social scene.

South London has a lively multi-cultural atmosphere. It has many attractions and venues including the energetic international street markets of Brixton and Deptford.

BEST TIME TO GO

London has a mild climate, but the weather can be unpredictable. Londoners are used to carry both an umbrella and sunglasses to be prepared for all eventualities! 

From November until New Years Eve the city is full of Christmas Festivities. In spring, between April and June it´s a lovely city to visit, and in summer it is really great also, as everyone comes to open air cafés, events and public parks.

HOW TO GET THERE

London Heathrow

Heathrow is London and Europe's largest airport and the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger movement, with services available from most major airports world-wide. Transport options to the city centre:

Heathrow Express rail, very 15 minutes, journey time 15 minutes. These train lines terminate at London Paddington which for most people will require a tube, bus, or cab ride to their final destination.

Heathrow Connect rail. It follows the same route as Heathrow Express but stops at several intermediate stations to London Paddington so journey is 25 minutes and trains are less frequent.

London Underground (Piccadilly line): Every few minutes, journey time approximately 1 hour, depending on your destination.

A taxi from Heathrow to central London will cost GBP 45-60

Dot2Dot Shuttle: A door 2 door shuttle service, running 24/7. Costs about half of the Taxi.

London Gatwick

It´s London's second airport. To get to the centre of the city, the following options exist:

Gatwick Express: every 15 minutes, journey time 30-35 minutes, to London Victoria.

Southern Railway: every 15 minutes, journey time 35-40 minutes. To London Victoria via Clapham Junction.

First Capital Connect: To London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International, Luton Airport and further north.

Easybus: Every 15-20 minutes, journey time 60-90 minutes to Fulham Broadway.

National Express: Every 30 minutes, journey time 75-110 minutes to London Victoria.

Dot2Dot Shuttle

London Stansted

Currently it is London's third airport, the base for a large number low cost carriers (for example EasyJet and RyanAir and flights within Europe and a few inter-continental flights. You can get to the centre by these means:

Stansted Express to London Liverpool Street: Every 15 minutes, journey time 45-60 minutes.

Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale then London Underground (Victoria line. Every 15 minutes. If you are going to South London, the West End or West London then take Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale then the London Underground (Victoria line). At Tottenham Hale ask for an Oyster card.

National Express: Every 15-30 minutes. Journey time to Stratford: 1 hour. To Victoria: 90 minutes. To Stratford (tube: Stratford) or Victoria (tube: Victoria).

Terravision: Every 30 minutes. To Liverpool Street Station (tube: Liverpool Street) or Victoria (tube: Victoria).

EasyBus To Baker Street (tube: Baker Street) and Victoria Coach Station (tube/rail: Victoria).

By taxi: 90-120 minutes. The airport is actually quite a long way from London. It's normally a better idea to take a train to London Liverpool Street and continue by taxi from there for approximately GBP 70. 

London Luton

Has traditionally been a holiday charter airport, but is now also served by some budget scheduled carriers. To get to central London the following options exist:

By rail: Journey time is 30-60 minutes. The rail station is not actually in the airport, but there is a shuttle bus from the airport to Luton Airport Parkway station which runs every few minutes and takes five minutes. From there, Thameslink trains run by First Capital Connect run four or more times an hour to London St Pancras International.

By coach: Green Line number 757, every 20 minutes, journey time 90 minutes. To Victoria (tube: Victoria) via Brent Cross, Finchley Road tube station, Baker Street, Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner.

By coach: National Express, every 20 minutes, journey time 90 minutes. To Victoria (tube: Victoria) via Golders Green and Marble Arch.

EasyBus number EB2 to Baker Street (tube: Baker Street) via Hastingwood Motorway Services and South Woodford. They now run from the city centre (Victoria), but terminate in Baker St on the way back from the airport.

TRAVELLING AROUND

Walking is a great way to get around London. Travelling within Central London on foot saves time as many landmark locations are very close to each other.

Greater London is served by 12 Tube lines, along with the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and an interconnected local train network. Trains generally run between 5am and midnight, Monday to Saturday. Operating hours are reduced on Sunday. Exact details depend on the station and the line, so it's worth checking the Transport for London website.

Buses are also a quick and comfortable way to travel around London, providing plenty of sightseeing opportunities en route. London's buses have seen many improvements in recent years with new buses, more frequent services and improved accessibility. Plan your bus route online with Transport for London's Journey Planner.

Night bus services cover the period between the close of the Tube and the start of daytime bus services. In addition, many London bus routes run for 24 hours. If you're not familiar with the routes, head to Trafalgar Square (the hub for night buses) or check any bus-stop information board.

An Oyster card is the fastest, smartest and most cost-effective way to pay for single journeys on the bus, Tube, DLR, tram, London Overground and participating National Rail services. These London travel passes give you the freedom of the city. Visitor Oyster cards cost GBP 12 and come fully charged with GBP 10 credit. Once in London, you can buy or recharge Oyster cards at Tube stations, DLR stations or London Travel Information Centres. Visit the Oyster website for details.

By taxi: London has two types of taxis: the famous black cabs, and the minicabs. Black cabs are the only ones licensed to 'tout for business' (i.e. pick people up off the street), while minicabs are more precisely described as 'private hire vehicles' and need to be pre-booked.

INFO

www.visitlondon.com