El mundo es plano

Hostelworld Guide for London

Colm Hanratty

The Essentials
Getting There
By plane: L ondon's three most used airports are
Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. Each is
connected to the city centre via an express train
service although they are expensive. From
Heathrow the cheapest way to the city is on the
tube. From Gatwick the cheapest option is the
Southern Services train, while fromStansted it is
cheaper to get the bus to Victoria bus station.

Climate
London's coldest months are December and
January when frost is regularly seen in the
mornings. February is also quite cold, and it isn't
until March when the milder days and nights arrive.
Summers aren't extremely hot, although in more
recent years temperatures have been steadily
rising. While it may look sunny, it isadvised to carry
an umbrella with you as you never know when it
might rain in London! August is also quite warm and
temperatures begin to drop in September, while
October and November sees the temperature drop
even further before winter arrives again.

By train: I f you're travelling to London via train,
your final destination will be Waterloo Station
International.
By bus: Allinternational buses travelling to London
end up in Victoria Coach Station in the city centre.

Getting Around
Covering over 600 square miles, London is by far Europe's largest city. But don't let this put you off - many
of its most famous landmarks are within walking distance of each other. From Big Ben and Westminster
Abbey you can wander the streets only to find yourself at the bright lights ofPiccadilly Circus. The English
capital is also perfect for those who enjoy living life at a fast pace. With 47% of the city's population
between the age of 16 and 44, there are fewer places on the planet with as much energy as London.

On foot: You can get around London's West End
on foot and places such as Trafalgar Square and
Buckingham Palace are within walking distance of
each other.
Bytube: London's underground network is
arguably the easiest to use in the world. The tube is
an essential part of any visit so invest off-peak
travel cards for zones 1-2. They cost around £5.
By bus: B uses aren't as easy to use as the tube
but their destination is stated clearly on the front.

In this Guide...
Useful Information
After Dark
Places to Eat
Top Attractions
Budget TipsWhere to Shop

London facts
Name: London gets its name from 'Londinium',
as this is what the Romans first called it when
they founded the city.
Population: Greater London has a population
of just over 7.5 million people.
Founded: London was founded in AD43 by the
Romans.
Area: London covers an approximate area of
1,572km2/607 miles2.

Hostelworld Guide for London

Good to know...Language: English
Currency: British Pound
Electricity: 220 Volts AC/50Hz, 3-pin plug
Area Code: +44 (UK) 020 (London), local
numbers are 8 digits
Emergency Codes: Ambulance 999, Fire 999,
Police 999
Time Zone: GMT
Central Post Office: 24-28 William IV St,
Trafalgar Square, London WC2N
Main Tourist Office: Britain Visitor Centre, 1
Lower Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, London
SW1Y 4XTEmbassies / High Commissons
US: +44 (0)20 7499 9000 (E)
Canada: +44 (0)20 7258 6600 (HC)
Australia: +44 (0)20 7379 4334 (HC)
South Africa: +44 (0)20 7451 7299 (E)
Ireland: +44 (0)20 7235 2171 (E)
Germany: +44 (0)20 7824 1300 (E)
Spain: +44 (0)20 7235 5555 (E)
Italy: +44 (0)20 7312 2200 (E)
New Zealand: +44 (0)20 7930 8422 (HC)
France: +44 (0)20 7073 1000 (E)
www.hostelworld.com

CheapEats
Rock & Sole Plaice, 47 Endell St, Covent Garden
Fish and chips is one of the UK's best-known
national dishes and chip shops can be found all over
the city. This one in Covent Garden may be in the
heart of tourist-land but the quality of their food
makes it a local favourite. Open Mon-Sat
11.30am-11.30pm; Sun 12pm-10pm.
The Monsoon, 78 Brick Lane, East End Tacky as
hell and not...