When is the best time to fly to London? When is the best time to go to London? What you need to be prepared for in the UK

Usually, everyone who wants to travel around Europe chooses summer, and this, of course, is the warmest time of the year in London. But the British capital can be interesting at any time of the city.

In the cool season, there are fewer queues and it is easier to book a good hotel room.

Summer in London

Temperatures in summer are usually in the range from +20° to +25°, sometimes dropping to +15° or rising to +30°. In the summer, a huge number of street concerts, rock and pop festivals, theatrical performances, show concerts and many other entertainment events take place here. open air. In sunny weather, the city's parks are usually crowded with numerous tourists, families simply strolling, or local residents trying to sunbathe while lying on the grass. The most popular summer events are: the official celebration (June 12), the Wimbledon tournament at the end of June, the Notting Hill Carnival at the end of August, and other events. June and July are the most seasonal months for all hotels in all, and therefore, it is advisable to book your places several months in advance if you want to save big.

Autumn in London

Autumn in London can be rainier and cooler, but no less pleasant for tourists, as you can fully enjoy the autumn coolness after the hot summer. Many tourists leave the city, and this makes it possible to find cheaper hotels, and the queues for the main attractions of the city become noticeably shorter. Autumn is home to renowned events such as London Fashion Week (September), the Regent's Park Art Festival (October) with around 170 contemporary art exhibitions from around the world, the London Film Festival (October), the Jazz Music Festival (November) and many other traditional celebrations .

Winter in London

In winter in London, you can rely more on indoor entertainment, as frosty winds and short days will prevent you from enjoying outdoor walks. Fans know that in winter there are huge seasonal sales in all clothing, accessories and equipment stores. Beer and whiskey lovers can have a great time at the numerous large number people who usually pop in after work or school for a couple of glasses of fresh beer. You can easily find pubs anywhere in the city.

In London it is very calm and quiet, because almost all establishments are closed for holidays, and even public transport. Therefore, from December 23-26, you can only walk around London and enjoy the hanging garlands on the deserted streets. Fireworks adorn the London sky, with sparks from fireworks illuminating the towering circle of the London Eye and the dark hulk of Big Ben. Thousands and thousands of people gather in the city center to enjoy this masterpiece of colorful lights and accompanying music. But you must be prepared for the fact that the return journey can be very long and tiring due to the huge crowd of people celebrating, and limited quantity public transport.

Spring in London

London blooms in spring. Less rain and more sun. Clocks do not change at the end of March summer time, which makes the days longer and the nights shorter. In spring, all cities come to life, and there are many folding chairs provided by the park administration for all vacationers. In April and March, sporting events take place - the London Marathon and the historic rowing competition between Cambridge and Oxford. The Flower Festival at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea brings together more than 150 thousand flora lovers. For fans of theatrical art, the season of the Shakespeare Theater and the Open Air Theater in Regent's Park begins in spring.

So, as we can see, London is beautiful at any time of the year, and can bring a lot of pleasure regardless of the weather.

Hello, autumn! 10 reasons why autumn - best season for a trip to London

If you think that autumn is not best time to go to a meeting with the British capital, and put off your acquaintance until spring, forget about it! This season is the most compelling reason to pack your suitcase and go to Foggy Albion. We offer 10 reasons why you should visit London in autumn!

Optimal weather

With the onset of autumn, the heat that lingered in the capital this summer will finally subside, and weather conditions will be ideal for exploring the city. You won't be upset unpleasant odors passengers on the subway, and possible rain will create an ideal atmosphere for walking around the capital, because what would London be without rain!

Night metro

At the end of the summer it was finally launched in London, and during your autumn visit to the capital you will be able to test it yourself. Walk on Fridays and Saturdays until the last minute, because you won’t have to languish waiting for the night bus to get to, you just need to go down to the metro.

Photo: flickr.com by mariusz kluzniak 3

Autumn parks

The royal parks of the capital look especially beautiful in autumn. Strewn with golden leaves, they definitely claim to be the best locations for walking. Here you will be united with nature, and beautiful views, and a calming atmosphere.

Fewer tourists

The summer season is over, which means that there will be significantly fewer tourists in the city, and you will have a better chance of doing it with Big Ben as a backdrop rather than with other travelers. But it is worth remembering that London is in the world, and to see the British capital, people come here from different corners planets.

Photo: flickr.com by Sergio Martinez Campos 5

Autumn events

This season, like no other, is rich in events! The capital's organizers have planned events that you cannot miss for both residents of the capital and its guests. Concerts, festivals and parties - you won’t have to rack your brains in search of leisure time, because in London life is bustling non-stop!

Mulled wine

What is the best way to warm up on cool November evenings if not this aromatic drink? We've been yearning for it all summer and with the arrival of autumn we can say goodbye to mojitos until next year and go for a walk around London in search of !

Photo: flickr.com by Kevin Stone 7

Halloween

If you find yourself in London on October 31st, before you know it, you'll be caught up in the crazy atmosphere that reigns in the city on Halloween! London's clubs, restaurants and pubs offer a host of themed events to residents and visitors of the capital, who, in turn, don't forget to put on costumes and celebrate one of the brightest (or rather darkest) days of the year.

Guy Fawkes Night

Bonfire Night is a traditional British celebration that takes place on November 5th. Throughout London on this day, many fireworks take off into the sky, creating an amazing spectacle! They have been lighting firecrackers, burning effigies and releasing fireworks in honor of Guy Fawkes in Britain for more than four centuries, so every traveler who comes to the city should join this ancient holiday!

Photo: richardalois.com 9

Urban atmosphere

What could look more beautiful than London in autumn, with fallen leaves and morning mist? At this time of year you will be able to take the most atmospheric pictures of the capital, and if you sit in a cafe, wrapped in a blanket and drinking a latte, you will want this moment to last forever.

Seasonal dishes

With the start of the new season, many metropolitan restaurants will offer their visitors an updated menu, which will be much more filling and no less tasty! Light salads will be replaced by delicious stews, and instead of cool drinks you can finally order a large cup of cocoa with marshmallows.

Photo: shutterstock

The capital of Great Britain attracts thousands of people from all over the world every year, and for good reason. London has something to surprise its guest: incredibly beautiful parks, museums that have collected outlandish objects of art, rich history and infrastructure of a modern metropolis. Who didn’t dream as a child, while rereading the stories of Arthur Conan Doyle, to visit Baker Street? Who hasn't admired the images? Buckingham Palace or Tower Bridge in your first English textbook?

But many are stopped from traveling to London by the fear that getting a visa to England on their own is difficult, it is often denied, and tickets and accommodation are too expensive. We will try to dispel this myth in this article, explaining in detail how to travel to London on your own, and why the trip is not at all difficult to organize.

Visa to London on your own

To obtain a visa to the UK, you need to fill out an application form, pay the consular fee, collect the necessary documents and take it all to the British visa center. There are five UK visa centers in Russia: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and Rostov-on-Don.

You can fill out an online application for a British visa, make an appointment at a visa center at a time convenient for you, and also view the list of documents required for a visa on the official website of the British Embassy in Russia (https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa ) or on the website (https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk). There are three types of tourist visas to choose from: for children under 18 years of age, for visiting relatives and the so-called general visa, which is suitable for all other cases, be it a trip to visit friends or just a desire to explore the city. The form is filled out at English, but those who do not know English have nothing to be afraid of - the Internet is full of volunteers who have posted a translation of the questionnaire with comments and advice for free access. Also, for convenience, a Google Translate translation immediately appears next to each question in the questionnaire.

Immediately after filling out the application form, you can pay the visa fee online in the amount of 83 pounds for a six-month visa, 300 pounds for an annual or two-year visa. After which all that remains is:

print the form,
take a photo,
collect documents about your solvency (account statement, work certificate - the more evidence of having funds for the trip, the higher the chances of getting a visa),
obtain travel insurance and you are ready to go to the visa application center.

We must remember that when receiving an account statement or a certificate from work from a bank, you must ask for a document in English.
The official period for obtaining a visa is 3 weeks, but it is valid for tourist season. The rest of the time, the visa can be issued much faster, and you will be notified by email.

How to buy a plane ticket to London

When purchasing air tickets to London, the same rules apply as for other destinations: the cost of tickets will be cheaper if you buy them a few months before the trip, if there is a transfer or if you fly to weekdays. Many airlines fly from Russia to London, and some have several scheduled flights per day. Surprisingly, London is one of the cheapest destinations. The most great deals can be found on EasyJet and Transaero airlines, and also on non-stop flights.

For example, if you look for tickets to London from Moscow using the website for the summer of 2015, then prices for round-trip flights start at just 6,150 rubles. Of course, the price may change due to the dates of purchase of tickets, exchange rate increases and other factors, but sites such as help you tailor your trip to external conditions and choose the most profitable option for purchasing tickets. If travel dates are not important, then you can select the +-3 days option to compare prices for upcoming dates.
You can try to find flights to London right now using this form below, just select your departure city and dates.

If you have never bought air tickets online on your own, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the step-by-step process of buying air tickets online.

How to choose and book a hotel in London

At first glance, housing in London is not cheap at all. But acceptable options for any budget can always be found. To do this, it is most convenient to use hotel search sites such as, or. Using the filters on the left side of the window, you can select the price category of housing, distance from the city center and other living conditions. It is also important to check: were the previous residents of the hotel satisfied, does the declared level of quality correspond to the real state of affairs? To do this, on each of these sites there is a system of reviews by which you can determine whether it is worth booking a particular accommodation.
For convenience, you can use this search form, just enter the dates you need and the system will select the most suitable ones for you. best options hotels in London.

The most budget option In London, hostels are hotels where you will share a room with one or more roommates. It's not only great way save money that would be better spent on a trip out of town or on shopping, but also a unique experience of communicating with people from other countries, because anyone can be in the same room with you - a student from China or a young couple from Canada.

For more immersion In the city atmosphere, it is more convenient to book an apartment or apartment. In addition, it is significantly cheaper than a hotel when booking for a long period, for example, a month. For this purpose, there is a website where you can choose an apartment in a cozy residential area of London or an attic floor in the city center with a view of Big Ben.

UK currency

The official currency of Great Britain is the pound sterling GBP, which at the exchange rate at the end of December 2014 is equal to 81 rubles. The pound is divided into 100 pence or, as they are also called, pennies.

It is best to exchange rubles for pounds in Russia, since here you have the opportunity to choose a bank with the most favorable exchange rate for buying and selling currency. But if you already have euros or dollars, then you can change them in London, the main thing is to avoid exchange offices in the most tourist places, for example, next to the office tourist information or at the airport and train station - the rate there may differ significantly from the rate in city banks.

Having a credit or debit card can solve many problems. London is one of the most modern and advanced cities in the world, so you can pay with a card in almost any store. If you have a plastic card, then you may only need cash to go to the local market or just in case.

When is the best time to go to London?

Let me start with the fact that Foggy Albion is actually not that foggy. And the stereotype about incessant rain and eternal bad weather is just a stereotype. Due to the slight fluctuation in air temperature between seasons, London is a great holiday destination at almost any time of the year, but there are still some nuances to consider.

In July and August, temperatures can exceed 35 degrees, which is not very comfortable for long walks in a large metropolis. And the number of tourists in summer increases significantly compared to other times of the year. In the spring, a trip to London can be overshadowed by an allergy that unexpectedly manifests itself in response to the blooming beauty of the city’s parks and boulevards. The city is home to so many different plant species from all over the world that during their flowering period - April and May - even Londoners themselves suffer.

Otherwise, London will delight tourists with its beauty and diversity at any time. At the end of October you can also catch the Halloween celebration, at the end of December you can take part in the farewell of the old year, and at the end of January you can celebrate the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated annually in London's Chinatown. Plunge into sports life You can watch the FA Cup Final in a pub with locals in mid-May. Well, on the last weekend of August, residents and guests of the capital come with pleasure to the Notting Hill district of London to watch a real carnival, which is second in scale only to the famous carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

Public transport in London

In London you can find a means of transportation for every taste: the subway, the famous double-decker buses, ferries and motor ships for river trips along the Thames, electric trains, taxis and bicycles. Public transport in England is not cheap, but the price is offset by convenience - one or another type of transport is available anywhere in London, so no matter where you are, there will be no problem getting to the center. Plus, there's no need to run to the last bus or rush to the tube before it closes - there are many night bus routes in London every day.

The fare depends on the zone you are in and the one you need to get to. The London Underground is divided into six zones, and the bus route map is divided into four zones. For example, one metro trip within zones 1-3 costs 3 GBP. To save money, you can buy an Oyster card at the metro ticket office, an analogue of the Moscow Troika card; it will reduce the cost of the ticket by almost half. In London, public transport route maps are available at all stops and stations - this is a necessity, because, at first glance, it is very large city with rather confusing transport links. Fortunately, workers or ordinary passers-by are ready to help the lost tourist and show the way. To plan your route in advance, it is very convenient to use the official website of London Transport www.tfl.gov.uk, where you just need to set the starting and ending points, after which the system will offer you all travel options.

There are as many as six airports within London and its suburbs. Flights from Russia most often land at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. There are several ways to get from them:

Metro. Heathrow Airport is located within the city, and there is even a blue metro line to it. So from the airport you can get a direct ride to King's Cross Station or Piccadilly Circus. The cost of travel to the city center one way is 3.8 GBP.
By express. This method is more expensive than the previous one (and in the case of Gatwick airport you can’t get there by metro at all), but the express is definitely the most quick method get to London. Trains run every 15-30 minutes, and by comparison, the express train from Heathrow to the city takes just 15 minutes, and the tube takes almost an hour. You can buy a ticket at special terminals at the airport or in advance online at www.heathrowexpress.com and www.gatwickexpress.com.
Heathrow: express ticket price – 21 GBP, destination station – Paddington.
Gatwick: express ticket price – 17.7 GBP, destination station – Victoria.

By taxi. A taxi is the most comfortable, but also the most expensive way to get to London from the airport. The cost of a one-way trip can range from 40-70 GBP. It is better, as in other countries, to use the services of an official taxi, whose stands can be found in the airport arrivals hall. But what you should understand is that there are traffic jams in London, so the most in a fast way You can't call a taxi to get to the city. But all the inconveniences are compensated by the fact that a taxi is the only way to get your suitcases from the airport directly to the hotel door, with a minimum of effort.
By bus. It is easy to spot bus stands near the terminals of Heathrow and Gatwick airports. From here you can get to London for a reasonable price (from 3 GBP with an Oyster card), but from Heathrow Airport and to other cities in the UK there are even more intercity bus routes than local ones. Tickets, just like express tickets, can be purchased in advance at www.easybus.co.uk/london-gatwick and www.nationalexpress.com.
By rented car. At all London airports there are counters of companies offering car rental services. This is the most convenient option for those who plan to travel a lot outside the city or move around the country, but it is worth considering that in England left-hand traffic, so a driver renting a car in London must not only be confident in his abilities, but also have sufficient experience and skills.

London's main attractions

London is very rich in attractions and entertainment. During the day it’s nice to walk around the city, go to one of the many museums, and in the evening sit in a pub somewhere in the Soho area. You can fall in love with London instantly, but it won't take you a week to explore all the interesting things it has to offer. Organized excursions will only help if you need to “gallop across Europe,” superficially and selectively. But you can truly get to know the capital of England and enjoy every moment in a park or museum only by traveling on your own.
The most recognizable symbol of London is undoubtedly Big Ben. The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, or the Palace of Parliament, is a symbol of England, its calling card. Here you can see where the House of Lords sits and where all the official ceremonies of the kingdom take place. Or you can admire Westminster and Big Ben while walking along the Thames embankment, or sailing past on a boat.

Tower of London and Tower Bridge

A special place in the history of Great Britain the Tower occupies. Former prison with a centuries-old past, it still stands eerily on the banks of the Thames, although now it is by no means worth fearing. There is a museum, an armory, and royal regalia stored here. Entrance costs 22 GBP, but this is a fair price, because you can spend more than an hour here. During the summer, the Tower of London is open from 9 to 17:30 from Tuesday to Saturday and from 10 to 17:30 from Sunday to Monday. In winter, the Tower's opening hours are reduced to 16:30.

Opposite this iconic landmark of London is another building recognizable throughout the world - Tower Bridge. You can walk along it completely free of charge, but if you are interested in its structure (this is one of the first drawbridges!), then you can go up to the museum located in one of the bridge towers. From here, by the way, one of the best views of London opens.
St. Paul's Cathedral is not only a religious building, but also an important architectural monument of London, which is definitely worth a look, at least from the outside. Entrance fee is 15 GBP, the cathedral is open all days of the week except Sunday.

Undoubtedly, the cathedral will impress you with its size - in size it is second only to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, which, by the way, the architects took as an example.
Even those who are not very fond of museums will appreciate the British Museum, one of the largest in the world. It houses countless interesting things, for example, the collection of Egyptian Halls in many ways surpasses in importance even the collection of the Cairo Museum. And the best part is that, like most public institutions in London, entry is completely free. You can visit the world-famous museum from 10 to 17:30 every day, and on Friday the British Museum has an extended day - it is open until 20:30.

Fans of panoramic photography and viewing the city from above should definitely take a ride on the now legendary London Eye - the largest Ferris wheel in Europe. It offers unparalleled views of London and its surroundings, and the enclosed cabins are not scary at all! The ticket costs 18.85 GBP, and the trip lasts a full half hour.

Of course, this is just the beginning of a long list of London attractions. Believe me, it is much more interesting to choose places to visit yourself, plan your day in advance, or, on the contrary, spontaneously visit what you meet along the way of a walk around London, rather than become a slave to the strict time frame of a travel agency, which will most likely show you only a small part of the beauties of the city.

If you have doubts that you will be able to book a hotel or buy a ticket on your own, then I advise you to read articles on this topic in the section - Independent travel. In fact, everything is much simpler than it seems, and most importantly, more interesting.

"Nature has no bad weather..." - is sung in the song. We are going to London - “every weather is a blessing!” Moreover, regardless of the time of year, London does not skimp on events. And yet, most of us equate vacation with warmth, sun, and summer. Therefore, it is in summer time the influx of tourists is much greater. So when is the best time to go to London?

- Doctor Watson, I have a headache.
- This is for bad weather, Mrs. Hudson.
- And my bones ache.
- And this means bad weather.
- And the gout got worse.
- And this means bad weather.
- Yes. When I was young, the weather in London was much better.

London summer

The temperature fluctuates between +20° and +25°, can drop to +15°, and can rise to +30°.

In the summer, London pampers its residents and guests with street concerts, theater performances, pop and rock festivals, concerts and open-air shows. London's parks in sunny summer weather are crowded with tourists or locals, some are walking, some are absorbing a book on a bench, and some are lying on the grass in the process of photosynthesis and sunbathing. In a word, at this temperature, a holiday can appear out of nowhere.

The most popular summer events:

June 12 is Her Majesty's Birthday,
Wimbledon tournament takes place at the end of June,
at the end of August Notting Hill Carnival, etc.

June and July are the hottest months not only of the year, but also for hotels. Therefore, try to save money and not run into: no vacancies*: book a hotel in advance.

*no vacancies– the inscription means that there are no vacancies in the hotel (hotel, hostel, etc.).

Autumn in London

The weather has been holding back for so long, so in the fall London hits with renewed vigor with rain and pleasant coolness after the hot summer. Hotels are becoming freer, queues are shorter, there are fewer people - this is the beauty of autumn in London!

In the fall, events take place such as:

September – London Fashion Week,
October:

— London Film Festival,

- art festival in Regent's Park, about 170 exhibitions of contemporary art from around the world are exhibited here,

November – jazz music festival, etc.

Winter in London

“English winter are like the First World War. You start thinking, ‘Am I going to die before I get to the end of this?’*

John Cleese, comedian

*English winters are like the First World War. Do you start to think: “Am I really destined to die without seeing the end”?

With the arrival of winter, the holidays gradually move indoors, because frosty winds and short days will not allow you to enjoy a walk around the city. Cold is not a thing!

Shopaholics don't care about forecasts and go to London - there are sales, after all! Prices in stores drop like snow to 70-80%.

London pubs are open to whiskey and beer lovers; a lot of people, local and visiting, gather here. After all, pubs are one of the main institutions of English and London life.

Christmas in London is quite quiet, as many establishments close for the holiday. Therefore, from December 23 to 26, you can see half-empty streets and garlands hanging all around.

IN New Year The London sky is decorated with breathtaking fireworks, illuminating and... A huge number of people flock to the Thames to see this spectacle.

Spring has come to London

More sun, less rain = spring in London. Time switches to daylight saving time, which means longer days and shorter nights. All parks come to life by providing their guests with folding chairs allocated by the kind park administration for all those in need.

In March and April, sporting events are held: the famous London Marathon and the rowing competition between Oxford and Cambridge.

Flora lovers flock to the annual flower festival at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. Also in the spring, the theater season opens: the Shakespeare Theater and the open-air theater in Regent's Park.

As you can see, whatever the weather, you will find something to do in London. What activities would you recommend, dear reader?

Where to buy cheap flights to London? How to get a UK visa? Where to find an inexpensive hotel? How to save on cultural program? Where is the cheapest place to eat in London? These questions concern many tourists who plan to spend a week or two in the capital of Great Britain.

First - visa

UK visa not easy to get. In the first half of 2009 alone, every 11th Russian citizen who applied was denied entry into the country. In addition to providing a passport, application form, income certificate, and hotel reservation, you need to go through an oral interview, which lasts quite a long time.

At an interview at the consulate most often asked about work, financial situation. For example, they may ask: “Would you go to England if you didn’t have money?” To which you should firmly say “No.” Or they may ask the following question: “What is the first thing you do when you come to work.” If a person works, he will say without hesitation what he is doing in the morning when he arrives at the office. For example, the first thing I do is press a computer button. The British side pays serious attention to the income of the visa applicant and the availability of property.

They may also ask what do you want to see in the UK. This is not only a test of your erudition, but also a desire to find out if you have any other purpose for traveling to London, maybe you want to find a job, which is not covered by a tourist visa. The consular fee is 3685 rubles. and in case of refusal it is not returned.

How to get there

Fly to London it is possible from Moscow and St. Petersburg, but much cheaper - through Finland, Estonia or Latvia on budget airlines (for example, a round-trip ticket from EasyJet costs from 30-40 euros). The earlier you buy a ticket, the cheaper it will cost. I bought tickets a month in advance and for specific dates, so they cost me 100 euros. It is expensive for budget airlines, it is better to buy tickets in advance.

You have to pay for luggage additional 20 euros. But I like to travel light, so I only flew with hand luggage, which can be taken for free, but it must be of a certain size. Also, this airline, like many budget airlines, does not indicate seats on the boarding pass. True, you can also buy the “priority boarding” service for 20 euros - it gives you the opportunity to be among the first to board the plane. I counted about 20 first-line passengers on my flight. The rest went on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no crowd, everyone goes to the plane, keeping their distance.

I flew from Tallinn, it’s convenient and the cost of the flight is even slightly lower than from Finnish Tampere. There are several buses a day from St. Petersburg to Tallinn. From the bus station in Tallinn you can get to the airport by bus number 2, the stop is at Tartu Mnt, a three-minute walk from the station. The airport is located about 2 km from the bus station, the ride takes 7-10 minutes. The bus arrives directly at the departure hall.

From Stansted to central London

There are five airports in London. I arrived at Stansted airport. At the airport, following the signs, it is easy to find the ticket office that sells tickets to London. A bus ticket to Victoria Station (you can get off earlier) costs £17 return (one way £10).

Ask where the landing is to the bus, it’s about 100 meters from the ticket office. While waiting for the bus, a line forms, and an employee helps you find the right platform. Buses run every 20-30 minutes. Travel time is about 1.5 hours. There is a toilet on the bus. Website: www.londontoolkit.com.

Stansted Express Ticket to Liverpool Street station costs 18 pounds, round trip - 28.80, discounts when buying a ticket on-line. Travel time is 45 minutes. The train runs from 5.00 to 23.30. Website: www.stanstedexpress.com/ Another option, not at all budgetary, is a taxi. How to order a transfer

Where to stay in London

Hotel in London You should not book in advance; it is difficult to find a cheap room during the high season. I flew in November, booked an inexpensive hotel near Victoria Station 10 days in advance, there were places. A room with all amenities, a 15-20 minute walk from Buckingham Palace and 5 minutes from Victoria Station, cost me 40 pounds (1900 rubles). The location of the hotel is very convenient.

To what is “cheap” London Hotel”, you need to prepare in advance. The rooms, even with a private bathroom, are very tiny. The shower can be adjacent to the bed, and another half meter from it is the exit from the room. When we first stayed in this hotel, the toilet was outside the room, although it was “private”. You leave the room and immediately come across a toilet that says “Only for room 7.” And the room only has a shower and a sink. During my second stay at this hotel, I had a room in which both the toilet and shower were already inside the room. All the hotel receptionists were from India, nice and helpful, and the rooms were clean.

In the center of London A room with amenities on the floor can be rented for 30-35 pounds (about 1500-1700 rubles), and further away from the center - starting from 26 pounds (about 1250 rubles). A place in a hostel can be found even cheaper - from 8 pounds (about 400 rubles), but rooms for 4-8 people are very cramped, and they are occupied regardless of gender, that is, a woman can easily be shared with three men. And vice versa.

In many hotels In the UK, the bathrooms have separate taps with hot and cold water. Also, the sockets here are different than in Russia and you need an adapter. You can read about this here: At my hotel, the receptionist didn’t have an adapter, so I had to give him the batteries to charge. Considering that his working day was from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., this was not always convenient.

In almost all In hotels there is a kettle in the room, as well as bags of tea, coffee, cream and sugar, some hotels even have brown sugar. You don't expect much from breakfast in a cheap London hotel - it's coffee, rolls, toast and butter. Breakfast started quite late - from 7.30.

Here you can see prices and book a hotel.

How to cheat in London

In markets, especially on weekends, and in transport, often in the subway, there are a lot of pickpockets. You need to keep an eye on your bag, especially if it has a long strap, and it is best to carry money in the inside pockets.

Also in London You need to be careful at currency exchange offices and in shops - they can deceive you. The tactic here is this: sellers and employees of exchange offices find a victim: as a rule, this is a tired tourist who speaks little English. For example, he gives 100 pounds for exchange, but they only change him 50. It’s the same in stores - the seller gives change from a banknote of a lower denomination than the one the buyer handed over. They hope that a novice tourist will not notice. It's difficult to prove anything here. It is better to change money in banks, and in the store to be collected and not look absent-minded.

Transport in London

It’s quite convenient, but sometimes you have to wait for the bus – there are traffic jams in the center. If there are more than one trip per day, then it is profitable to buy a pass for one or several days. They are sold in vending machines and cash registers at the entrance.

The travel card is valid on buses, underground, DLR, suburban trains within a certain area, on trams. Keep in mind that the cost of the pass depends on what time of day it is valid for. The cheaper one is valid on weekdays after 9.30, and on weekends throughout the day. More expensive - no time limit (Day Travelcard Anytime - £7.40). Website: www.tfl.gov.uk

Available in London There is an ordinary underground metro, but there is a light one (Doklendovskoe), in which trains mainly run above the ground. For example, you can use it to get to the most beautiful suburb of London - Greenwich.

Getting there from London to other cities is also easy. For example, to Oxford an express bus runs every 20-30 minutes from early morning until almost 2 a.m., and an electric train runs once an hour. Both the bus and the train travel quickly, it’s nice to look out the window. It is more profitable to buy tickets for a train or bus at once in both directions - it is much cheaper.

Cross the streets need to be careful - here right-hand traffic. And although in the center at the crossings it is written directly on the asphalt Look right (Look to the right) or Look left (Look to the left), out of habit you begin to turn your head in different sides. At many crossings you can press a button to turn the light green. But pedestrians here are impatient and often run across the road at red lights. Moreover, not only tourists, but also locals.

What to see

When planning a route We must remember that it gets dark very early in London in autumn. So, in early November, it begins to get dark around 16:00, and by 17:00 it’s already pitch black. In winter it is warmer here than in St. Petersburg, and in summer there is rarely extreme heat. On my trip in early November, at other times it was up to +17, but in the evening it was always quite cool.

If Paris sometimes Petersburg is compared, then London is compared to Moscow. Ancient mansions and churches here are often sandwiched between glass and not-so-glass skyscrapers. You can quickly see London in a week, but there are so many attractions here that you can’t get around it in a year.

An event that Tourists love to watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. It takes place at 11:30 - every day in spring and summer, every other day in autumn and winter. When the changing of the guard will take place is announced on a large sign near the palace. If you want to take photographs, you should “take” a place near the palace fence in advance. The people in the crowd are polite, there is rarely anyone jostling.

Many "big" museums free in London. Here is the list:

British Museum,
Imperial War Museum,
Museum of London,
National Maritime Museum,
National Army Museum,
National Gallery,
National Portrait Gallery,
Victoria and Albert Museum,
Natural History Museum,
Royal Air Force Museum,
Science Museum,
Theater Museum,
Tate Britain,
Tate Modern.

But a visit to the Tower of London costs 17 pounds (converted to about 800 rubles), but how can you not look at the famous beefeaters - the guards who live there!

But with the spirit of London You won’t be able to get into it unless you visit the markets. There are a lot of them here - floral, antique, grocery, and clothing, similar to the St. Petersburg Aprashka, but, as it seemed to me, cheaper. London also amazes with the abundance of flowers and parks. Roses in Hyde Park and beyond can be seen even in November.