guide to london

Currency
The currency used in the UK is the Sterling pound and it's divided into one hundred pennies. The coins in circulation are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p and £1. Notes come in denominations of £1 (coin is now more common and notes have been discontinued in England), £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100.

Language
The native language in London is English.

Climate
In general, the winter months are cold and wet and have shorter daylight hours. Spring can be very cold and doesn't arrive until March and October is the crossing point for the winter weather. From April to September the weather is at its best and this is also the best time to visit as you are guaranteed that all the tourist attractions are open. Unfortunately, this also means that it is between these months that the queues are longest.

Time Zone
Greenwich Mean Time which is five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time is the time zone used in London.

Opening Hours
Shops generally open between 9.00am and 5.30pm but many now open until 7.00pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Up until recently, most shops closed on Sundays but this is no longer the case. Office hours are between 9.00am and 5.00pm from Monday to Friday and banks generally open at 9.30am and close at 3.30pm.

Tourist Office
Tourist offices are widespread throughout London and as well as those that deal specifically with the city, you will also find centres which deal with information for England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales as well was most major European countries. The principal offices are the British Travel Centre which is located at 12 Regent Street, Picadilly Circus and the London Tourist Information Centre, branches of which can be found in the four terminals at Heathrow, at Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports, Harrods, the Tower of London and at Victoria Station.

Electricity
Electricity in the UK is 240 volts AC (50Hz)

Tax
A 17.5% sales tax (VAT) is levied on all goods and services in Britain at the moment. It does not apply to books or food. By law it must be included in your hotel or restaurant bill. With regards to shopping, this tax can be claimed back on goods taken out of the country by non-nationals but not all stores participate in this 'Retail Export Scheme' so, before purchasing, look for a sign or enquire.

Visa Requirements
Citizens of EU member states are free to live and work in the UK without a visa and visitors from the Republic of Ireland do not even need a passport to enter the country. American, Canadian, Australian, South African and New Zealand nationals are allowed to stay for up to a period of six months without a visa. Visitors from all other countries should contact the British Embassy in their area for entry details.

Currency Exchange
Traveller's cheques are widely accepted and can also be exchanged in banks and bureau de changes. Banks are generally open from Monday to Friday, some also open on Saturday mornings. Bureau de Changes tend to open later than banks. Visa and Mastercard are also widely accepted but some of the smaller hotels, restaurants and B & Bs in the north will probably want cash payment. You can also use your credit card or your regular bank card to obtain money from an ATM if you have the pin. Remember, however, that you do pay a charge every time you withdraw cash. ATMs are available throughout the city.

Telephones
To call the UK from abroad you first dial 00, followed by 44, the local area code for London which is 0171 and the local number. If you wish to call abroad from the UK again you dial 00, followed by the international calling code for your particular country and then the local number. It is worth noting that you also need to drop the first zero from the local area code for both types of call. Thanks to the world of cinema, most people associate bright red kiosks with London public telephones. Today, however, these are very rare and have been replaced by smoked glass kiosk and will usually have the British Telecom (BT) logo. Most take coins and phonecards. Cards can be purchased in newsagents, tourist offices, train stations and a variety of other outlets. They come in denominations of £5, £10 or £20. The cheapest time to make international calls is after 8.00pm on weekdays and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.

Post Office
Post offices in Britain are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5:30pm and from 9:30am to noon on Saturdays.

Tipping
Tipping in the UK is not compulsory, but as with everywhere else it is greatly appreciated. If you are happy with the service you should leave some amount, however big or small. In some restaurants a fifteen per cent service charge is included in the bill. Where this is the case, you will probably feel less obliged to leave a tip. If you are paying by credit card, the final total is left blank so you can leave a gratuity if you so wish. Taxi drivers and hotel porters are usually paid a small amount for their services.

Public Holidays
It is worth noting what the public holidays are before you travel to a country as the majority of businesses, banks and shops usually shut for the day. In the UK they take place on January 1st, Good Friday, Easter Monday, the first and last Mondays in May, the last Monday in August and December 25th and 26th. It is a good idea to check the particular area too as certain towns and cities also shut down during special events.

Luxury Car Hire Scotland / London / Manchester / Oldham

London: Northern Perimeter Road, Heathrow, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW6 2RY

Manchester: 49 Oldham Road, Manchester, Lancashire, M4 5FS

Edinburgh: 39 Roseburn Street, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, EH12 5PE