London Travel Essentials (P-R)

Passports and Visas for Travel to London

Except for the territories listed below, citizens of all European countries can enter Britain with just a national passport for a period of up to 3 months (subject to satisfying UK immigration rules) or indefinitely if you're from an EU Member State:

Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Macedonia, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, Yugoslavia

Australian, Canadian, US and New Zealand citizens can stay for a period of up to 6 months, providing they have a valid return ticket (and can also demonstrate that  they have sufficient funds during their stay).

As UK visa requirements are more fluid for certain territories (and can change according to socio-political factors in your country of origin) contact your nearest British Embassy or visit the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) website before travelling.

If you need to apply for a new passport, renewal, or to amend details on your current one, contact the following passport offices in your own country:

In the United Kingdom application forms for new passports (Form A); children's passports (Form B); or amendments (Form C) can be obtained from main post offices, branches of Lloyds Bank and travel agents. Depending on which office is nearest, applications (postal only) should be made to the following Passport Agency offices:

Belfast, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newport and Peterborough, Tel: 0990 210410 (general enquiries for all offices)

The Agency's London office deals with personal callers only. Residents in the Greater London area should submit postal applications to the Glasgow office. Turnaround times for straightforward applications vary depending on the time of year, with the busiest period falling between February and August.

In the US contact one of the regional Passport Agency offices located in:

Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Stamford and Washington. Advice on submitting passport applications, the status of an application itself and emergency passports can be obtained by calling the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) on: 1-900-225-5674 or 1-888-362-8668 (credit card users with Visa, MasterCard, Amex). If you need a US passport quickly, it's also worth noting that firms such as www.passportexpress.com offer a guaranteed expediting service; 

In Canada contact one of the regional Passport offices located in:

Brampton, Calgary, Edmonton, Fredericton, Halifax, Hamilton, Hull, Jonquière, Kitchener, Laval, London, Montréal, North York, Ottowa, Regina, Richmond, Saskatoon, Scarborough, St. Catherines, Sainte-Foy, St. John's, Saint-Laurent, Surrey, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Windsor and Winnipeg. Alternatively, passport applications can be made at major post offices. For further details visit the Canadian Passport Office website;

In Australia contact one of the regional Passport office located in:

Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth and  Sydney. For telephone enquiries, contact the Australian Passports Information Service (APIS), Tel: 131 232. Alternatively, passport applications can be made at most Australian Post Offices. For further details visit Passports Australia;

If you lose your passport during your stay, then immediately contact your country's embassy or consulate in London.

Postal Charges for London

London's long established Royal Mail postal service is (relatively) fast and efficient, handling millions of letters and parcels each day. With a good spread of main-post offices and post boxes dotted around London, it should be easy to send a postcard or letter home.

Post boxes are either the traditional bright red free-standing 'pillar boxes' or wall boxes on the outside of post offices. In larger post offices there are usually two or more boxes - the first for local deliveries, the second for national and the third for international. Collection times appear on each box.

Main post offices are open from 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri and until 1pm on Saturdays. Smaller sub-post offices (which often double up as convenience stores/newsagents) may have longer opening hours and offer basic postal services and stationery.

Stamps can be bought individually, or in books of 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60. First Class stamps (36p) provide the fastest delivery for letters up to 60g, while second class (27p) usually take a day or so longer to arrive. Airmail Postcard rates are 50p for Europe and 56p for the rest of the world. For international letters, any weight from 20g up to 2kg can be sent. Make sure though letters are labelled 'Airmail', otherwise they'll be sent by surface mail (which can take up to 12 weeks to arrive depending on the destination).

If you want to send a parcel home which has nominal value International Recorded delivery (also referred to as International Signed for) should be adequate (from £3.50 per item plus normal Airmail rates). However, for more valuable items (where compensation of up to £500 or £2200 is payable if lost or damaged) use International Registered delivery (also known as Airsure and Swiftair) which costs from £4.20 per item. Please note though that this service is not available to all countries and compensation rates do vary. 

For courier deliveries the Royal Mail has it own 'Parcelforce' service which is comparable to those offered by DHL or UPS. For further information check out the Royal Mail's website at: www.royalmail.com.

Public Holidays (and Annual Events) in London

The main public holidays (known as bank holidays), festivals and annual events in London are as follows:

Public Toilets

As relatively few public toilets (also known as public conveniences) exist in London, locals and tourists alike tend to head for the restrooms of bars, pubs, cafés and restaurants. If you're shopping in the centre of town, department stores are also a good option, although ladies may have to queue at busy times.

Toilets in bars and pubs are nearly always free, though cleanliness is often dependent upon the quality of the establishment in general. In addition, landlords in certain premises may not take too kindly to members of the public using their 'conveniences' without buying a drink. That said, if you're caught short it's worth taking the risk!

In central London, coin operated automated toilets are dotted around the busiest shopping areas, although generally, people seem to prefer the alternatives listed above. Small children should not be allowed to use them on their own though, primarily because they can sometimes be difficult to exit.

Public Transport in London

As we've mentioned in other areas of our guide, probably the best way to travel around London is by the Underground (or Tube). The Underground consists of eleven lines, the most recent addition being the Jubilee line (which recently underwent a massive expansion to bring about a much needed link with Canary Wharf and Greenwich).

Despite a chronic lack of investment over the last twenty years - and expensive fares in comparison with systems in other major cities - the Tube is the most effective way to move around the city quickly. There are more than one hundred stations, many of which are within a short distance of major tourist attractions, hotels and shopping areas.

The two lines with the worst reputations are the Northern (known as the "misery line" to its long suffering users) and the Central (because of problems with a new signalling system). Although much needed investment is now being made to the Underground's crumbling infrastructure (with new trains being delivered on the Piccadilly and Northern Lines) certain lines, such as the Circle, can still be unreliable at peak times.

Unless absolutely necessary, it's probably best to avoid using the Underground before 9.30am and from 4.30pm-6.30pm, as the system gets very overcrowded during rush hour periods (akin to being a sardine in a tin on the majority of lines). And, as the Underground is particularly nightmarish on hot summer days, we advise you to carry a bottle of water so as to avoid dehydration on long journeys - or more occasionally - in case you get caught up in one of the Tube's signal failures (trains stop in the tunnels until the situation is remedied).

Transport for London (TfL), who are responsible for the Underground (and co-ordination of bus services in London) offer a number of discounts for visitors and frequent users. Most discounts are in the form of fixed price travelcards, with varying prices depending on how far you wish to travel.

As part of the Travelcard scheme, Transport for London has divided the Tube system into six zones. Zones 1 and 2 cover Central London and the vast majority of tourist attractions. The additional four zones (3–6) also contain a number of tourist sights and hotel areas. However, when using travelcards, always ensure that you stay within the zones that you ticket is valid for (otherwise you'll incur a £20 fine).

As mentioned, there are a number of ticket/fare options that benefit users of the capital's transport system. These tickets can be bought up to four days in advance and will show the effective date of use (or starting date if tickets are valid for more than one day i.e. weekend travelcards).

Some tickets (such as weekly travelcards and children's tickets) require a photocard, which will be issued free of charge at the ticket office. However, you'll need to provide a passport sized photograph, which are normally obtainable from a photo machine at larger railway/Tube stations. These machines will provide you with a strip or block of four photos for around £5. For children, they will need proof of age such as a passport when applying for a photocard.

Throughout this city guide, Underground stations are indicated by a link next to the words "Tube:". A breakdown of fares for popular ticket types is also shown below. However, for a full list of ticket types visit www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/default.aspx and 

One day travelcards (Monday to Friday) - these tickets are valid after 9.30am and allow unlimited travel on the Underground, buses (but not night buses whose number is prefixed by the letter N i.e. N1), Docklands Light Railway and all suburban rail services within the zones covered by the ticket. Off peak prices are (peak prices shown in brackets):

Zone 1 and 2 card: £5.30 for adults, no charge for children between 5 and 15 years of age (peak: £6.80 adults, £3.30 children 5-15 years);

All Zones (1-6): £7 for adults and £2 for children between 5 and 15 years of age (peak: £13.80 adults, £6.90 children 5-15 years).

One day travelcards (weekends and public holidays) - as above except that travelcards are not restricted to use after 9.30am.

3 Day/7 Day Travelcards - For short breaks and longer stays in London, it's now possible to buy a ticket online in advance of your arrival. For the latest ticket information and prices visit: www.ticket-on-line.com.

Oyster Cards - introduced on the London Underground, Oyster cards are being touted as an eventual replacement to paper tickets, as customers will be able to use their cards repeatedly by "recharging" them at ticket machines. For example, TfL have now introduced a pay-as-you-go service (similar to a mobile phone top-up) known as Pre Pay.

Using microchip technology, Oyster Cards contain information about the nature and validity of a ticket - i.e. daily, weekly, monthly Bus Pass, Travelcard, LT Card or freedom pass, while an aerial in each one allows travellers to pass through ticket barriers without the need to remove them from purses or wallets (card readers have already been installed on bus, DLR and Tramlink services).

For further information visit TfL's dedicated website at: www.oystercard.com.

Docklands Light Railway (DLR) - considered to be the most efficient part of London's public transport infrastructure, the DLR provides a fast, reliable service across East London, serving over 30 destinations including Docklands, Greenwich, Canning Town (for London City Airport) and ExCel (served by Custom House station). With easy connections to mainline rail, Tube, bus and river services across London (to the west via Tower Hill station on the Circle and District lines and Bank station on Central, Northern, Waterloo & City and District/Circle lines, it's a hassle free way of seeing the sights of Docklands and Greenwich. For more details on the system visit DLR's excellent website which also contains fare information, local maps and ideas for days out.

London Taxis and Passenger Cars - along with red double-decker buses, black cabs are an instantly recognisable part of London life. Although these days, you'll find them in an assortment of colours (and often bearing advertising) they're a great way to make short hops if you have shopping or are simply unsure as to how to reach your destination.

Unlike some mini-cab companies, black cab drivers are among the safest on the roads. In fact, the biggest difficulty you're likely to encounter is being able to put up with their outspoken views! Before being licensed, London 'cabbies' must pass a stringent route exam (the knowledge) as by law, they're required to take passengers via the quickest route.

Black cabs are licensed to carry up to 5 people, plus luggage. Newer cabs also have ramps for wheelchair access. If you need to hail a cab on the street look out for one where the yellow 'for hire' sign is displayed. And don't worry if the cab is travelling in the opposite direction as taxis can "turn on a sixpence" and will simply wait for a gap in the traffic before pulling around. Otherwise, find a taxi rank at a mainline station or designated areas in the city centre.

Taxis are metered with fares automatically starting at £2.20. For short trips (i.e. 5-12 minutes journey time) expect to pay around £6 without tip. For longer journeys (i.e. from the centre of town to Wimbledon) fares can be as high as £40, while transfers between Heathrow and Central London cost between £50 and £75.

And, although recent increases in night time fares have caused controversy, do not under any circumstances be tempted to use an unlicensed mini-cab touting for business on the street (as by law, mini-cabs are only allowed to pick up passengers who first make a booking with their company office).

Also be aware that, while many reputable mini-cab and passenger car firms exist in London, others use drivers who may be uninsured or have vehicles that are unroadworthy. In extreme cases, they may even rob or sexually assault lone women passengers. 

Best then to book through an established (and well-trusted) company such as WestOne Passenger Cars - a licensed Private Hire Operator that also offers black taxi services - or by using telephone numbers listed on Transport for London's website.

Buses - because of the huge number of bus routes in the capital, it's impossible for us to cover them in any depth here. Unquestionably the best Internet resource for finding about the many route and fare options available is the Transport for London website. To visit the site, click here.

Rail - for a detailed breakdown of London's mainline railway services, visit our dedicated rail section in getting there.

Recommended Travel Reading for London

With a wide range of travel guides on the city - covering everything from sightseeing, food and shopping to walks along the Thames - it's pretty difficult to work out which are best in each category. With this in mind, we've compiled the following 'top reads' list of published guides:

DK Eyewitness Travel Guides 'London' - provides area by area descriptions of the major sights, along with a detailed section covering London's history. Although not quite as detailed as the Rough Guide to London (see below) or Time Out's London Guide, the book's excellent photographs and cutaway colour illustrations make it a worthwhile companion. Newly published in February 2009...Buy Now >> Alternatively, try the slimmed down 'Top 10' London (ISBN 0751338109) with listings for the best shops, pubs and hotels in the city.

Harden's London's Restaurants 2008 - concise, dinky sized food companion, that lists restaurants by cuisine, area and name. However, as reviews are drawn from reader submissions, they occasionally contain more than just a hint of prejudice. Best then, to compare with other critical listings before making a choice (or indeed ruling one out). That said, maps towards the back of the book making finding any given restaurant in London a doddle...Buy Now >>

Itchy London - over the past few years Itchy Media have built up quite a following with the mini-guides to various UK cities. Written in an irreverent but informative style, this 10th Birthday Edition provides critical listings of London's bars, restaurants, shops and clubs, together with a lost of recommended sleeps. A fun read and one that costs only £4 too...Buy Now >>

Rough Guide to London Restaurants - indispensable guide to city eateries from the Evening Standard's award-winning food writer Charles Campion. Ordered by area, reviews give background on each establishment, as well as providing a price guide and brief listing of the dishes on offer. Hard to fault, it undoubtedly sets the standard for London's culinary guides...Buy Now >>

Rough Guide to London - probably the best of the bunch at the moment, Rob Humphreys' London guide is both well-written and arranged. With greater emphasis given to the major sights and areas of the city, the 'Basics' section is perhaps a little light compared to similar offerings from Time Out and Dorling Kindersley. However, the critical listings section gets everything back on track, offering good insight into London's best bars, restaurants and shops. Revised February, 2008. Highly recommended...Buy Now >>

Secret London - a welcome change to the plethora of run-of-the-mill guide books on the city, Andrew Duncan's Secret London takes a look at some of the more off-beat landmarks to be found. Centred around eight different walks, it's written in an easy going style, with colour pictures throughout. Although some of the places described aren't open to the public (mainly those around Whitehall) it nonetheless makes for an intriguing and enlightening read. Used in conjunction with some of the other publications listed on this page, it can only help enhance your trip...Buy Now >>

See also our choice of pages about London on the Internet.

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Last Updated: 30th June 2008.