General Information
| A UK phone number consists of an area code followed by a subscriber number. Area codes, such as 020 for London numbers, always begin with a zero. When calling a number which has the same area code as the phone from which you are dialling from, the area code can be omitted. The international dialling code for the UK is 44. When calling a UK number from abroad the leading zero of the area code must be omitted. To dial an international number while within the UK first dial 00 followed by the country code for the country you are calling and the number as necessary. The number of public phones in the UK has reduced in recent years due to the increased ownership of mobile phones, however, you will still generally find them on most high streets, at bus and train stations and in shopping centres. Although you may still occasionally see the traditional red telephone box these have now largely been replaced by more modern structures. Public phones accept coins as a method of payment and may occasionally accept credit/debit cards. The minimum fee for a cash call is 40p but considerably higher when using a credit/debit card. Some public phones also offer internet access, email and text messaging facilities. Public phones may accept incoming calls and the number of the phone will be displayed on the information panel within the phone box. The cost of international calls can be expensive when dialled directly from the UK. However, it is possible to buy discount phone cards from newsagents and other retail shops which generally offer a significant saving over directly dialled calls from a payphone or other landline. To use these cards you usually dial an access number within the UK, followed by a pin number which will be found under a scratch off strip on the card, followed by the international number you wish to call. The free phone number for contacting the emergency services; police, fire and ambulance is 999. For more information on public phones see the BT Payphone website. Mobile phone network coverage is extensive throughout the UK. You will probably be able to use your mobile in the UK provided international roaming has been enabled by your own mobile network provider. If you are planning to use your mobile within the UK be sure to ascertain the dialling procedures and call rates beforehand as call costs may be very expensive. If you are planning to stay in the UK for an extended period and envisage the need to make many calls you could consider buying a prepay sim card from one of the UK operators. These can be purchased for a few pounds but may not work in your phone if it has been locked by your own network operator. A basic prepay phone on a UK network can be purchased for £20.00 - £30.00. For more information on mobile phone prices see the Carphone Warehouse website. Internet access is widely available throughout the UK with an internet cafe on most high streets. Access rates vary but should not cost more than a few pounds per hour. An increasing number of hotels, bars and coffee shops now offer wireless internet access to those who have their own access devices. Most public libraries offer free internet access but booking might be necessary. Although the number of post offices have been reduced in recent years, most towns still have a main post office and a large number of sub post offices which offer a smaller range of services. The most probable reason to visit a post office is to determine the cost of posting a letter/package, to arrange for special delivery of an item or to purchase postage stamps. If you wish to send an item to a foreign destination you will need to check the cost of postage at a post office. Mail within the UK can be posted either first or second class. A first class letter should arrive at a UK destination on the next working day but this is not guaranteed. A second class letter can take several days to be delivered. The cost of postage varies by weight and size with the cost of posting a standard letter weighing up to 100g being 32p first class and 23p second class. Booklets of first and second class stamps for the postage of standard sized items weighing up to 100g can be purchased at a large number of locations including newsagents and supermarkets. Post boxes are red in colour and can be found on most street corners and outside all post offices. Letters are generally collected from post boxes once a day. For more information on postage rates visit the Royal Mail website. |
| Puplic Holidays - Special Days There are usually 8 public or bank holidays observed in England and Wales although additional days are occasionally added for special occasions. There are different arrangements for Northern Ireland and Scotland. The banks holidays observed in England are as follows: New Year's Day New Year's day is celebrated the 1st January and so the day of the week varies from year to year. If 1st January falls on a Saturday or Sunday the following Monday is treated as a bank holiday. Good Friday The Good Friday bank holiday always falls on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday as calculated for the Western Christian religions. The formula for calculating the date of Easter is complex and varies from year to year. Consequently the Good Friday bank holiday can fall in March or April. Easter Monday The Easter Monday bank holiday always falls on the Monday following Easter Sunday as calculated for the Western Christian religions. The formula for calculating the date of Easter is complex and varies from year to year. Consequently the Easter Monday bank holiday can fall in March or April. Early May Bank Holiday The early May bank holiday always falls on the first Monday in May. Spring Bank Holiday The spring bank holiday always falls on the last Monday in May. Summer Bank Holiday The summer bank holiday always falls on the last Monday in August. Christmas Day Christmas day is celebrated on 25th December and so the day of the week varies from year to year. If 25th December falls on a Saturday or Sunday the following Monday is treated as a bank holiday. Boxing Day Boxing day is celebrated on the 26th December and so the day of the week varies from year to year. If 26th December falls on a Saturday the following Monday is treated as a bank holiday. If 26th December falls on a Sunday the following Tuesday is treated as a bank holiday. The following table shows the anticipated dates of bank holidays in England and Wales for the years 2007 - 2010:
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| Heathrow The airport code for London Heathrow is LHR. Heathrow is the main London airport and is situated 15 miles (24 km) to the west of the city. Heathrow is one of the world's busiest airports and has four terminals. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are clustered together with terminal 4 some distance away. There are several ways to travel between Heathrow airport and central London. The most popular and one of the cheaper options is to use the London underground (tube) network. The journey time to central London is approximately 45 minutes, trains are frequent during hours of operation and there are Underground connections to most areas of the city. The Piccadilly line serves Heathrow and there are Underground stations in the terminal 1/2/3 complex and also at terminal 4. The journey price is around £4.00. For more information on London Underground visit our Local Transport pages. The Heathrow Express train service is the fastest way to travel between Heathrow Airport and central London. The journey time to central London is approximately 15 minutes and there are up to 4 trains per hour during hours of operation. The train terminates at Paddington Station from where there are onward London Underground connections to most areas of the city. There are Heathrow Express stations in the terminal 1/2/3 complex and also at terminal 4. The journey price is around £15.00 one way. For further information visit the Heathrow Express website. You may also journey into central London by bus or coach. There is a bus station in the terminal 1/2/3 complex. Coach services are offered by National Express who have onward connections to the rest of the country. A one way ticket into central London will cost approximately £4.00 and the journey time will be around 1 hour. For more information on National Express visit our National Transport pages. There are also local bus services into central London, some of which operate overnight. It is probable that you will need to make several changes to reach your final destination. A single bus journey will cost in the region of £2.00 and the journey time will be variable but in excess of 1 hour. For more information on Bus travel visit our Local Transport pages. If you have much luggage or are travelling in a small group you may wish to consider taking a taxi. Each Heathrow terminal has signposted taxi ranks. The journey time is variable based on traffic conditions and could take up to a hour. One way fares will be approximately £70.00 but you should confirm an approximate fare with the driver, although the actual fare will be based on the taxi meter reading. If you are arriving at an unsociable hour a taxi may be your best onward travel option as the Heathrow Express and London Underground networks do not operate overnight. If you are not sure where to go while at the airport or how to proceed you should look out for an Information Help Desk and ask for advice. Airport staff are used to dealing with foreign visitors and should be able to assist. For further information visit the Heathrow Airport website. Gatwick The airport code for London Gatwick is LGW. Gatwick Airport is situated 28 miles (45km) south of London. The airport has a North and a South terminal which are linked by a free inter terminal transit train which runs every 3 minutes and has a journey time of 2 minutes. The easiest and quickest way to travel between Gatwick airport and Central London is on the Gatwick Express train service. Journey time is approximately 30 minutes and the train terminates at the central Victoria railway station from where there are onward London Underground and bus links. The Gatwick Express fare is £15.00 one way and there are up to 4 services per hour during hours of operation. For further information visit the Gatwick Express website. There are also other train services operating between Gatwick and Victoria and to other destinations within the country. The services to Victoria are slightly cheaper and slightly slower. Note that you can purchase a Gatwick Express ticket on board the train but you should not do this for non Gatwick Express services. For further information visit our National Transport pages. Alternatively you may travel into London by coach. Coach services are offered by National Express who have onward connections to the rest of the country. Direct services to central London are available from the South terminal and a one way ticket into central London will cost approximately £6.50 with a journey time of around 90 minutes. For more information on National Express visit our National Transport pages. Taxi services are also available for the journey into London. These can be booked from within the terminal buildings at a fixed rate. Expect to pay in the region of £85.00 for the journey. Be aware that if you arrive at an unsociable hour your onward journey options may be limited to taxi travel if you do not want to wait at the airport. For further information visit the Gatwick Airport website. London City The airport code for London City is LCY. This airport is the most central London airport and is located in the docklands area approximately 6 miles (10km) east of the city centre. This airport is mainly used for short domestic journeys and for flights to nearby European destination and is most often used by business travellers. Your are unlikely to arrive or depart from this airport unless your journey is indirect via another European city. The simplest way to travel between London City airport and Central London is on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) from the station at the airport. The Docklands Light Railway connects to London Underground at Bank, Canary Warf and Canning Town stations where there are connections to locations throughout London. The journey time should be around 30 minutes and cost approximately £4.00. For further information on the Docklands Light Railway visit our Local Transport pages. If arriving at an unsociable hour a taxis to central London will cost approximately £30.00. For further information visit the London City Airport website. Stansted The airport code for Stansted airport is STN. Stansted airport is located 40 miles (66km) North of London. The airport is mainly used by budget and charter airlines serving European destinations. There is a single terminal building. The easiest and quickest way to travel between Stansted airport and Central London is on the Stansted Express train service. Journey time is approximately 45 minutes and the train terminates at the central Liverpool Street railway station from where there are onward London Underground and bus links. The Stansted Express fare is around £15.00 one way and there are up to 4 services per hour during hours of operation. For further information visit the Stansted Express website. Alternatively you may travel into London by coach. Coach services are offered by National Express who have onward connections to the rest of the country. Direct services to central London are available from the Stansted Airport coach station and a one way ticket into central London will cost approximately £10.00 with a journey time of around 90 minutes. The National Express service operates 24 hours a day. For more information on National Express visit our National Transport pages. Alternative coach and train operators also service the Stansted / Central London route. Taxi service to central London can also be booked from within the terminal building but this is likely to be an expensive option. For further information visit the Stansted Airport website. Luton The airport code for Luton airport is LTN. Luton airport is situated 32 miles (52km) north west of London. The airport is mainly used by budget and charter airlines serving European destinations. There is a single terminal building. The easiest and quickest way to travel between Luton airport and Central London is by train. A free shuttle bus needs to be taken from outside the airport terminal to the Luton Airport Parkway station, the shuttle bus journey time is approximately 10 minutes. From the station the train journey time to central London is approximately 35 minutes and the train stops at the central Kings Cross Thameslink railway station from where there are onward London Underground and bus links. Note that the train may continue through London to the south coast and may not terminate at Kings Cross. The one way train fare is approximately £13.00 and there are typically several services per hour throughout the day and hourly services overnight. For further information visit the First Capital Connect website. Alternatively you may travel into London by coach. There are several options available including Green Line. This company offers a 24 hour service with a one way fare of around £10.00. The journey time is approximately 75 minutes. For more information on National Express visit our National Transport pages. Taxi service to central London is also an option but this is likely to be an expensive option. For further information visit the Luton Airport website. |
| Local Transport While in London you will inevitably need to use local transport to get around. While many attractions are clustered together and the simplest and most pleasurable option will be to walk between them, the clusters themselves can be quite far apart. On this page we describe the public transport options that are available to you. Bus The traditional double decker London buses, where you hop on or leave via a platform at the back, are being phased out but can still be seen on some routes in central London. You are most likely to see newer double decker buses where you enter via doors at the front and either show passes to, or purchase tickets from the driver, and exit via doors in the middle. However, there are also single decker buses with either one or two sets of door and the new long 'bendy' buses where you can enter via any of the three sets of doors. All London buses are red and only stop at designated bus stops or in designated hail and ride zones which are found in the suburbs. To stop a bus you will need to signal to the driver that you want the bus to stop. To do this while at a bus stop simple wave your hand to attract the drivers attention as the bus approaches the stop and while onboard do this by pressing one of the stop button. In central London you will need to purchase a ticket or pass before boarding the bus as drivers cannot accept cash fares. While out in the suburbs this is not usually the case except on a few clearly identified routes. When you need to purchase a ticket prior to boarding a bus there will be ticket machine at the bus stop which will accept coins only. Although it is not strictly necessary to have the exact fare when paying the driver for a ticket it is better if you do as the driver may not allow you to board if he does not have change. The cash fare for a single bus journey is £2.00 irrespective of the distance covered, however, if you need to change buses you will need to purchase a new ticket for each bus taken. There are a multitude of passes and discounts available that you may wish to consider if you plan to travel extensively on public transport. If you are planning to be in London for an extended period you may wish to consider the Oyster Card and if you plan to use public transport extensively on specific days you may wish to consider a Travelcard. For further information on bus travel visit the Bus Travel pages of the Transport for London web site. For help planning your journey visit the Transport for London Journey Planner. Tube The tube is probably the most convenient way of covering long distances within the capital although it can become very overcrowded during peak rush hours, quiet in the early morning and at night in the outer reaches, unpleasantly hot during warm weather and is prone to breakdown and delay. The underground operates from approximately 5:30am until around midnight and consists of 12 interconnected named lines which generally radiate out from the central zone to the suburbs. At peak times you should not have to wait for more than a few minutes for a tube train. The network itself is divided into a number of mainly concentric zones with zone 1 in the centre. The cash fare for a single journey on the tube is dependant on the zones travelled in or through. Any single journey within or through zone 1 will cost £4.00. Single journeys avoiding zone 1 will typically be less expensive. You are free to change between underground lines as necessary while making your journey. Tickets can be purchased from the ticket office within the underground station or from one of the ticket machines which accept coins and occasionally notes and credit/debit cards. You need to have purchased a ticket or be in possession of a valid pass before proceeding to the underground platforms. At most stations you will need to pass through automated barriers. To do this insert your ticket into the slot in the front of the barriers - do not forget to retrieve and retain the ticket during your journey. Your ticket may not be returned to you by the ticket barrier when you complete your journey. There are a multitude of passes and discounts available that you may wish to consider if you plan to travel extensively on public transport. If you are planning to be in London for an extended period you may wish to consider the Oyster Card and if you plan to use public transport extensively on specific days you may wish to consider a Travelcard. For a copy of the London Underground map, available in several languages including Turkish, visit the Tube Map pages of the Transport for London web site. The tube map, which is also available for free at any underground station, clearly indicates which zone a tube station is located in, allowing you to calculate the price of your ticket and plan your route. For further information on tube travel visit the Tube Travel pages of the Transport for London web site. For help planning your journey visit the Transport for London Journey Planner. Local Train It is unlikely that you will need to travel by local train unless you are staying some way out of the centre and are close to a station or wish to visit somewhere on the outskirts where there is a station. If this is the case train travel may be an option worth considering although you are likely to need to connect with other forms of transport at your destination station. You should purchase tickets for train travel prior to boarding a train where possible. Most stations have a ticket office and those without will have ticket vending machines. Oyster Card cannot generally used for payment of train tickets but Travelcards are valid for travel on trains within the zones the Travelcard covers and can be purchased at the station ticket office. For further information on rail travel visit the Rail Travel pages of the Transport for London web site. For help planning your journey visit the Transport for London Journey Planner. Taxi Traditional London Taxis are of a distinctive design and are generally, but not always, black. Taxi drivers are licensed and have extensive knowledge of streets and locations. You can hail a taxi on the street by attracting the attention of the driver or take one from a taxi rank, often found at train and bus stations and in town centre locations. Fares can be expensive unless sharing between a group of friends and are based on a minimum fare, distance covered, time taken and time of journey. Drivers should be able to give you an estimate of the cost of the journey but fares will be metered unless a special arrangement is made with the driver. A guide to fares can be found on the Taxi Fares pages of the Transport for London web site. Mini Cab A mini cab differs from a Taxi in that it is a private hire vehicle that must be booked in advance either by phone or in person at a mini cab office. This means that you should not be able to hail one from the street and they cannot wait in a taxi rank. Drivers will not necessarily be well trained and may not speak English very well. For safety reasons you should not get into a mini cab that you have not ordered yourself especially late at night when travelling alone. Fares are generally not metered and you are strongly advised to negotiate a fare prior to making the journey as many drivers make up a price that they think they can get away with. Boat Although it is unlikely that you will need to travel by boat to get around London a trip along the Thames is an extremely pleasant experience. Popular trips you can take are from central London to Greenwich or from central London to Kew or Hampton Court. Holders of a Travelcard are entitled to a 33% discount on the published fares. For general information about river travel visit the River Services pages of the Transport for London web site. For a copy of the River Services guide, which includes route and fare information and is available in several languages including Turkish, visit the Boat Guide pages of the Transport for London web site. Travelcard If planing to make multiple trips on public transport on a particular day a Travelcard will probably be the cheapest and most convenient solution. Travelcards are valid for travel on all buses and within specific zones by tube and train. The price of a Travelcard varies by the zones required and whether it will be used before 9:30am on a weekday. An off-peak Travelcard, valid for travel after 9:30am on weekdays and all day at weekend costs £5.70 for travel within zones 1 to 4 . Most attractions and places on interest within London are located within zones 1 and 2 and an off-peak Travelcard costs £5.10 for these zones. Heathrow Airport lies in zone 6 and an off-peak Travelcard covering travel in zones 1 to 6 costs £6.70. The London Underground map, available for free at any underground station, clearly indicates which zone a tube station is located in, allowing you to plan which zones you require when purchasing a Travelcard. The Travelcard itself can be purchased from tube stations, train stations or any of the many Transport for London ticket agents, often small newsagents, displaying the Transport for London or Oyster card logo in their window. When travelling using a Travelcard either show it to the bus driver when boarding, a train conductor when requested or insert it into the slot in the front of the automated ticket barriers on the underground - do not forget to retrieve and retain the ticket from the slot on the top of the ticket barrier. For more information on Travelcard prices, including different zone combinations and peak travel prices, visit the Travelcard Prices pages of the Transport for London website. Oyster Card The Oyster card is credit card sized prepayment card that can be used to pay for travel by tube or bus. The card can be acquired for free from tube station ticket offices but a refundable £3.00 deposit will need to be paid. Once the Oyster card has been acquired it can be credited with cash at tube stations ticket offices, some tube station ticket machines or any of the many Transport for London ticket agents, often small newsagents, displaying the Transport for London or Oyster card logo in their window. Once credited with cash the Oyster card can be used to pay for travel. When travelling bus tap the Oyster card on the yellow Oyster card reader located by the driver. The reader will beep to indicate that the card has been read and the fare will be deducted from your credit balance. For travel by tube tap the Oyster card on the reader on the top of the ticket barrier to open the gate. It is important to also tap the Oyster card on the barrier when leaving the station so that the correct fare can be deducted. Remember to do this even if the ticket barriers are already open for some reason. At stations without ticket barriers there will be a reader located somewhere near the station entrance and exit. Ticket prices are variable when paid for with an Oyster card but are always less than the cash fare. In the case of bus travel a single journey costs £1.00 as opposed to the £2.00 cash fare. If on any day the price of the tickets you have purchased exceeds the cost of the Travelcard for the journeys you have made your travel cost will be capped at the price of the Travelcard. For further information visit the Oyster Card Information pages of the Transport for London website. Journey Planner Transport for London provides a very good journey planner which allows you to plan a route by public transport, at a specific time and date, between a source and destination entered as a postcode, address, station or place of interest. The journey planner covers all forms of public transport with the exception of taxi and mini cab travel and provides details of known problems, planned engineering work, approximate journey timing, walking distances involved and maps of destinations and interchanges. The journey planner is available in a selection of languages but Turkish is not one of them. For further information visit the Transport for London Journey Planner website. |
| The currency of the United Kingdom is the Great British Pound, also known as the Pound Sterling or simply the Pound when there is no risk of confusion with other currencies who use the same currency unit. The currency symbol of the Pound is £ and the international currency code is GBP. One Pound is divided into one hundred pence with a single unit referred to as a penny. The currency symbol of the penny is p and a currency code of GBX is occasionally used in financial circles. Although the United Kingdom is a member of the European Union there are no current plans to adopt the Euro as the national currency. Coins in common circulation are available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 pence, 1 pound and 2 pound. Bank notes are available in 5, 10, 20 and the less common 50 pound denominations. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own bank notes. While it will be the case that bank notes from England will be accepted in these regions, it is not necessarily the case that notes from these regions will always be accepted at other locations throughout the UK. Foreign currency can be exchanged at many high street banks, larger post offices and dedicated bureau de change offices. Some travel agents, especially those belonging to large chains such as Thomas Cook, also offer foreign exchange services. Local currency can also be withdrawn from ATM machines by holders of compatible cards. ATM machines are widespread throughout the UK allowing 24 hour access to money. A list of compatible cards will be displayed on the ATM machines but cards showing the Visa or MasterCard logo will almost always be accepted. Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the UK as a payment method. |
| Whilst in the UK you may wish to visit locations outside London and we have suggested some destinations in our Photo Gallery. In this section we describe the public transport links between London and other destinations throughout the UK. Trains The railway network in the UK is relatively poor by western European standards and can be extremely expensive with a vast and bewildering array of ticket options. However, When covering longer distances it is generally faster and more comfortable than coach travel. Trains fall into two broad classes: InterCity and Regional, which effectively become local commuter services as they approach large cities. There are also a number of special services such as the Airport Express services discussed on our International Travel pages. Intercity trains connect the major cities in the UK. These high speed trains generally make limited stops and often have on-board catering facilities but not always. Tickets can be purchased on the day of travel from any station subject to availability but it is best to book as far in advance as possible to secure cheaper seats. When booking in advance a reservation is included in the price. Intercity services can be particularly busy around the Christmas and Easter periods and on Fridays, when reservations are advised. Regional services usually connect large cities and make multiple stops at intermediate stations. Tickets for one-off journeys are usually purchased on the day of travel from the departure station and reservations are not usually available. If a journey is to be repeated daily it is often possible to purchase a season ticket which offers a significant saving compared to the purchase price of individual tickets. These services can be very overcrowded especially during the peak rush hours on journeys into and out of the major cities. For further information on timetabling and prices visit the National Rail Enquiries website. Advance tickets can be purchased on-line through the Trainline website. Coaches The number of coach companies with a national schedule is surprisingly limited although there are a larger number of regional operators who specialise in journeys to specific destinations. Coach travel is generally cheaper than travelling by train especially for longer journeys. Seats are usually sold with a reservation but it is not generally possible to book specific seats on a coach. If you have specific needs such as a group of seats together it is best to arrive early at the departure point to ensure the best choice. Refreshments are not usually provided or sold on-board, however, long distance coaches generally have a break en route. There are no on-board stewards but most coaches have an on-board toilet. National Express: National Express is by far the largest coach operator with services to most major towns and cities within the UK. Tickets can be booked in advance at National Express coach stations or many high street agents. Tickets for immediate travel can also be purchased from departure stations subject to available space. For timetable information or to book tickets on-line visit the National Express website. Tickets purchased on-line can be posted to addresses within the UK or picked up at larger coach stations. Megabus: The Megabus network is significantly smaller than the National Express network but does cover most of the major cities. Tickets can only be purchased on-line and are self printed. Ticket prices can be very cheap even compared to National Express. For timetable information or to book tickets on-line visit the Megabus website. Flights Internal flights in the UK used to be very expensive but with the advent of budget airline travel prices have reduced in recent years and are now competitive with InterCity rail prices. Remember when considering flights as a means of travelling throughout the country to take into account the costs and journey times to/from the airport and airport check in times. In many cases the overall time saving will be minimal. For timetable information or to book tickets on-line visit the British Airways website. |
| There are a multitude of sights and attractions to see in London. Many of the sights are world famous and several of the galleries and museums contain world class collections. A selection of highlights are listed below. Natural History Museum The Natural History Museum, located on Cromwell Road, contains an outstanding collection of objects relating to the natural world, with galleries covering the earth, ecology, mammals and insects amongst others. Highlights include the extensive collection of reconstructed dinosaur skeletons. The museum is open from 10:00am until 5:30pm Monday through Saturday, opening an hour later on Sunday. Admission is free. The nearest tube station is South Kensington. For further information visit the Natural History Museum website. Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum, or simply the V&A, is located on Cromwell Road adjacent to the Natural History Museum. The V&A is claimed to be the world's greatest museum of art and design and contains an outstanding collection of ceramics, furniture, fashion, glass, jewellery, metalwork, photography, sculpture, textiles and paintings from around the world and spanning 3000 years worth of history. The museum is open from 10:00am until 5:45pm daily, closing at 8:00pm on Wednesdays and the last Friday of the month. Admission is free. The nearest tube station is South Kensington. For further information visit the Victoria & Albert Museum website. Hyde Park Hyde Park is the largest park in central London covering 350 acres. The park is the sometime venue of summer concerts and contains a number of attractions within and along its borders. Along the southern edge of the park is the Albert Memorial, a tribute from Queen Victoria to her late husband Prince Albert. Opposite the memorial is the Royal Albert Hall, a venue for mainly classical music concerts including the summer prom series. To the west of the park is located Kensington palace, the residence of Princess Diana following her divorce from Prince Charles. The Diana memorial fountain is located nearby. To the north east of the park at the Marble Arch entrance is Marble Arch and Speakers Corner. Marble Arch was originally designed as a grand gateway to Buckingham palace but was subsequently moved to the current location. Speakers Corner is a venue for free speech and open debate. To the south east of the park, at the Hyde Park Corner entrance, is Wellington Arch which contains an small exhibition space with access to the roof top viewing terrace. The park is open from 5:00am until midnight daily. Admission is free. The nearest tube stations are Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Lancaster Gate & Marble Arch. For further information visit the Hyde Park pages of the Royal Parks website. Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace is the London home of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and has been the official London residence of the monarchy since 1837. The palace itself is used for state functions, official receptions, Royal ceremonies and is in many respects the administrative headquarters of the Royal Family. The nearest tube stations to Buckingham Palace are Green Park and Victoria. Visitors to the palace can watch the changing of the guard ceremony, visit the Queens Gallery, the Royal Mews and the State Rooms of the palace. The ceremonial changing of the Buckingham Palace guard takes place daily at 11:30am during June and July and on every other day throughout the rest of the year, weather permitting. The ceremony takes place in front of the palace, lasts approximately 45 minutes and is free. The Royal Mews contains the Royal carriages and other vehicles used by the Royal family for state occasions. The mews are also a working stable but the horses may be on official duty and are not always on public view. The mews are open daily between 28th July and 25th September from 10:00am until 5:00pm with last admission at 4:15pm. Between 24th March and 27th July and between 26th September and 31st October the mews are open daily except Fridays between 11:00am and 4:00pm with last admission at 3:15pm. Individual ticket prices are £7.00 per adult and £4.50 for children. The Queens Gallery displays a changing selection of items from the Royal Collection. The gallery is open daily between 10:00am and 5:30pm. Entry is by timed ticket with last admission at 4:30pm. Individual ticket prices are £7.50 per adult and £4.00 for children. During 2007 the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace are open to visitors daily from 28th July until 25th September between 9:45am and 6:00pm. Entry is by timed ticket with last admission at 3:45pm. Individual ticket prices are £15.00 per adult and £8.50 for children. This attraction is very popular and advance booking is recommended. Visitors intending to visit all attractions at the palace may wish to consider purchasing one of the combined ticket options that are available. For further information and to book tickets in advance visit the Royal Collection website. Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square is a focal point at the heart of London. It is home to Nelson's Column, the National Gallery and is a sometime venue for outdoor concerts and events. The square is within easy walking distance of Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace via Admiralty Arch and Whitehall leading past Horse Guards Parade and Downing Street to the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey. For more information on Trafalgar Square and for events scheduled to take place in the square visit the Trafalgar Square pages on the Mayor of London's website. Palace of Westminster The Palace of Westminster is located on the banks of the River Thames and is home to the Houses of Parliament which are the seat of government in the UK. Work on the current structure was completed in 1852 following a fire which mostly destroyed the original palace in 1834. The palace is built in a Gothic revival style and features the famous clock tower containing Big Ben. Good views of the palace and the Big Ben tower can be had from Westminster Bridge and the pedestrian walkway which runs along the opposite bank of the Thames. The Palace of Westminster contains both the House of Commons and the House of Lords and it is possible to take a tour of both during the summer recess of parliament. Summer opening dates for 2007 are yet to be announced. During 2006 tours were available Monday to Saturday at varying times between 1st August and 30th September. Individual ticket prices were £7.00 per adult and £5.00 for children. This attraction is very popular and advance booking is recommended. The nearest tube station is Westminster. For more information and to book tickets in advance visit the United Kingdom Parliament website. Westminster Abbey The Gothic Westminster Abbey is located adjacent to the Palace of Westminster and has been the sight of royal coronations and burials since the time of William the Conqueror. The current structure dates back to the 13C and contains tombs and memorials to many famous people in British history. Westminster Abbey visiting times vary but generally the abbey is open from 9:30am until 3:45pm Monday through Saturday. Individual ticket prices are £10.00 per adult and £7.00 for children. The nearest tube station is Westminster. For more information visit the Westminster Abbey website. London Eye The London Eye, an observation wheel similar to a giant Ferris wheel, is located on the banks of the River Thames outside County Hall across the river from the Palace of Westminster. The ticket office is located in the County Hall building. The wheel is in constant but slow rotation taking approximately 30 minutes to rotate once, reaching a height of 135 meters at the top of the rotation. The views throughout are spectacular and constantly changing. The London Eye is open from 10:00am until 9:00pm daily during the Summer months of June through September, closing an hour earlier during the Winter months. Individual ticket prices are £14.50 per adult and £7.25 for children. This attraction is very popular and advance booking is recommended. The nearest tube station is Westminster. For more information and to book tickets in advance visit the London Eye website. British Museum The British Museum, located on Great Russell Street, contains an outstanding collection of mainly archaeological and ethnographic objects gathered from civilisations throughout the world. Exhibits include the The Rosetta Stone which was instrumental in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics, sculptures from the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos located in present day Bodrum, Turkey and the Elgin Marbles taken/rescued/stolen from the Parthenon in Athens. While visiting the museum do not miss the spectacular covered Great Courtyard. The museum is open from 10:00am until 5:30pm daily with closing time extended until 8:30pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Admission is free. The nearest tube station is Tottenham Court Road. For more information visit the British Museum website. |
| You may find the following information useful when planning a trip to the UK or during a visit. The United Kingdom, abbreviated as UK, is composed of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain, abbreviated as GB, is composed as of England, Wales and Scotland. The capital city of the United Kingdom and England is London. The capital city of Wales is Cardiff, of Scotland is Edinburgh and of Northern Ireland is Belfast. The UK is a richly diversified multi cultural society, particularly in the larger towns and cities and especially in London. Although the predominant religion is Christianity, all major world religions are represented and tolerated. Pork meat is widely available and often mixed with other meats in pre-processed food. Be sure to check ingredients if this is a potential issue. Cigarettes and tobacco products are very expensive in the UK. The minimum age for purchasing such products is 16 (due to rise to 18 in 2007). An increasing number of public buildings and offices are now non-smoking. The minimum age for purchasing alcohol is 18. The consumption of alcohol is very popular. People drive on the left in the UK. The UK operates on British Summer Time (BST) between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) at other times. Clocks go forward 1 hour in March and back 1 hour in October. The UK uses a distinctive three pin plug and the mains voltage is 240V. |
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