here is some info I posted in a different thread
Before You Arrive in London - The Basics
The UK = The United Kingdom = England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Currency = The British Pound = Sterling
£1 = 100 pennys
Currency Exchange For a general approx. currency exchange rate I always use this
http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
On the day I checked it $100 = £74.05
As currency exchange rates change on a daily basis, this is just a rough estimate for you to use for your budget
Money
Notes = £100, £50, £20, £10, £5
A lot of places do not accept £100 or £50 notes when paying for purchases under £20. If you have these, try to use them in restaurants or for when the purchase amount is large.
Coins = £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p
Coins are just called by their denomination ie a 1 pound coin, a 5p coin. They do not have names like the American Nickles and Dimes.
Cards
Visa and Mastercard are the standard cards used. American Express is really only accepted in major tourist places.
All cards used in The UK and Republic of Ireland are Chip and Pin cards. The UK and Republic of Ireland are becoming a cashless society.
Contactless payment cards are now being issued by banks. This is where you just tap your card on the chip and pin payment unit.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2...nts-uk-stores-cards-british-retail-consortium It can be used for a single payment up to £30.
Chip and Pin payments are just part of life. If you don’t have a chip and pin card you will be very restricted, as everything from getting a coffee in Starbucks, to getting cinema and theatre tickets, to bus and train tickets, grocery shopping, clothes shopping, souvenir shopping and things I can’t even remember but just take for granted. In restaurants they bring the chip and pin machine to the table. Buy tickets online and then collect at the machine at the venue by inserting the chip and pin card in the self-service machine.
Timezone
London is on GMT time.
4pm London = 11am New York = 8am LA
Plugs, Sockets and Voltage
There is an electrical Voltage difference between USA and UK. The USA has a lower voltage than UK. This means you will need a voltage adaptor for your American appliances like phone chargers etc. These adaptars can be bought from
Amazon or at the airports. This website explains what you need to know
https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/england/
Another reason you will need an adaptor is because UK plugs are 3 pin plugs. You will not be able to plug your American 2 pin plugs into the UK sockets.
International Phone number
To phone London from America +44
Example phone number A Landline - Hard Rock Café London +44 207 514 1700
International Code +44
Area Code (London) 207
Local Number 514 1700
If you just have the Area code and local number it will look like this 0207 514 1700
In this case drop the first 0 and then add the +44
Example phone number A Cellphone +4478xxxyyyyzz
International Code +44
Network Code 78
Number xxxyyyzz
If you just have the local number it will look like this 078xxxyyyzzz
In this case drop the first 0 and then add the +44
Main UK cell network codes 071,074,075, 076,077,078,079
Driving
UK drives on the Left side of the road. People also walk on the left side of corridors, sidewalks etc. If you are planning to hire a car during your vacation, this is a really good website
https://www.visitbritainshop.com/world/articles/guide-to-driving-in-the-uk/ It goes through what you need, rules of the road, road signs, road etiquette etc etc.
Weights and Measures
The UK uses a mix of metric and imperial. For example beer and milk are sold in pints, road signs have either KM or both KM and miles, people say their height in feet and inches, their weight in stones or KG.
Temperatures
The UK uses Centigrade not Fahrenheit Here is a handy online converter
http://www.onlineconversion.com/temperature.htm
Weather
The Uk and Ireland have a warm temperate climate. This means that they don’t get extreme highs or extreme lows. Rain can occur at any time of the day or night at any time of the year. On average the UK gets approx. 133 days of rain per year.
Winter lows in London are approx. 23F, Summer highs are approx. 77F to 86 F
Use this BBC London Weather guide to help you figure out what clothes to bring
http://www.bbc.com/weather/2643743
As a rule though, April to September are layers. Jeans, sweaters, hoodies, long sleeve tshirts, short sleeve tshirts, cute summer dresses with leggings and cardigans, light rainjacket, umbrella.
Out and About London is like Manhattan Island in New York. The city functions due to public transport. As a result you are on your feet and walking, walking everywhere. You will need sturdy comfortable shoes.
Think of it like a day at a Disney Park, walking, standing, on transport, off transport. Also have a day bag the same as you would in a Disney park. A bottle of water is essential, the tubes can get very very hot, even in winter.
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