0: In this video, we’ll share important information about what you need to know before traveling

4: to London like best time to visit, how to use public transportation, best apps to use

10: in London, and many other practical information.

13: We also made a separate video on Top 10 things to do in London, the link is in the description.

19: And don’t forget to like this video, subscribe to our channel and enable notifications.

23: And share your London tips or ask a question in the comments below.

30: London is a city with a population of over 8 million people

34: and is the capital and the largest city of the United Kingdom.

37: It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

41: Here are our tips on what to know before traveling to this amazing city

46: NUMBER 1: CURRENCY

48: The currency used in London is British Pound or shortly just Pound.

53: At the time of the making of this video, 1 GBP is worth approximately $1.30 or €1,15.

61: Make sure to check the exchange rate before traveling.

64: NUMBER 2: TRAFFIC

67: Cars in the UK drive on the left

69: so make sure to always pay attention to both sides when crossing the road.

74: Cycling in the city center can be dangerous, so is crossing the street, so always pay attention.

80: NUMBER 3: SAFETY

82: London is relatively safe

85: but do take all the usual precautions typical for big cities

89: like avoiding less touristy areas, especially at night.

92: London is unfortunately also full of pickpockets so hide your wallet, passport, and other valuables

99: somewhere safe and pay attention to your bags, especially in crowded areas like in front

104: of major attractions or when using the underground.

107: There are a lot of scams, targeted mostly at tourists, so make sure you always buy your

112: tickets at the official ticket office and not on the streets.

115: For emergency services, dial 999.

119: NUMBER 4: WEATHER

121: London is known for its unpredictable weather.

124: In general, the climate is mild year-round, but just remember to pack a lightweight raincoat

129: to keep in your daypack.

131: The hottest month of the year is usually August when the peak temperature can reach 90 F while

137: the average temperature in August is about 70 F.

141: The coldest month is usually January when temperatures can sink to around 33 F.

147: Don't forget to check the weather forecast before traveling.

150: You can expect rain in London in practically any season so don’t forget to pack an umbrella.

155: However, the wettest month is October.

158: NUMBER 5: BEST TIME TO TRAVEL

161: High season in London is between May and September and in December.

166: Low season is January and February and shoulder season is between mid-September and November

171: and then again in March and April.

173: Best time to travel to London is spring (April to June) and fall (September to November).

179: when it's usually warm and dry.

182: Not only will you be able to avoid the big crowds, but the accommodation and entertainment

186: rates are less expensive compared to the high season.

189: To avoid big crowds and higher prices you can also travel during the week.

194: London is a year-round destination, so major attractions are not affected by low season.

199: You’ll be able to see all major attractions regardless of when you travel.

203: NUMBER 6: WHERE TO STAY

206: The average hotel room rate in London is around 150 GBP per night.

211: Of course, it depends on what kind of accommodation you want,

214: as well as on the location of your stay.

216: You can get accommodation below $100 per night, but that probably means you’ll be located

221: further away from the city center and you’ll need more time to reach the attractions.

226: London is a big city and, therefore offers virtually any kind of accommodation

230: from hostels to exquisite luxury hotels.

234: Check out our video on the best apps to book your stay

237: and find your best accommodation in London.

239: We recommend that you book your accommodation close to the underground so you can easily

243: access all major attractions.

245: If you want to book a room close to where the action is, some of the best areas to stay

250: are, for example, Oxford Street if you like shopping, The City if you like skyscrapers,

255: and Covent Garden if you want to be located close to London theatre district

259: and nice restaurants and cafes.

262: Check the description for more suggestions.

264: NUMBER 7: POWER PLUGS

267: You will probably need special UK power adaptor

270: to charge your phone and other devices.

272: This is what the UK power plug looks like.

275: We recommend purchasing a power adaptor before traveling to London.

279: In fact, it is worth buying the adaptor for the entire world

282: so you can use it in other countries too.

284: NUMBER 8: TRANSPORTATION

287: From and to the airport

289: London has five major airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, City, and Stansted.

295: To get to London, you can take the underground or DLR, which is an urban light railway,

300: if you are traveling from Heathrow or City Airport.

303: The return ticket costs 12 GBP or 10 GBP with Oyster card.

308: More about Oyster card later.

310: You can take the train to central London from all five airports.

314: The return ticket varies but you will likely pay

316: at least 20-30 GBP for return a return ticket.

319: However, the prices are cheaper if you buy your tickets in advance online.

323: If you want to save some money, the cheaper alternative is a National Express bus with

328: service from all airports except City, which is pretty much in the city anyway,

333: as the name suggests.

334: You can use a cab or Uber, but the prices will most likely be higher.

338: Check the description for links and more information, as well as updated ticket prices.

343: Getting around the city

345: London is big and every journey will take a lot of time.

349: It normally takes at least 20 to 30 minutes to travel between major attractions and over

354: an hour to the center of London if you are staying on the outskirts.

357: So make sure you always check how long it will take you to get from A to B.

362: London is well covered with public transportation.

365: Types of public transportation are bus, underground, also called tube, tram, DLR, London Overground

372: and National Rail service.

375: The best way to get around is undeground

377: which will get you close to most major attractions.

380: Check the description for the links to download the underground map.

384: The best way to use public transportation is by purchasing an Oyster card,

388: an electronic smart card used to pay for all public transportation in London.

393: You can get one at most underground stations.

396: It will cost you 5 GBP as a deposit.

398: You can top up your Oyster card for as much and as often as you want and collect all the

403: remaining credit plus the deposit when you leave.

406: You can pre-purchase your Oyster card for 3 GBP plus postage and add credit to it, so

412: you don’t have to worry about getting your card at the station.

415: A great option, especially if you are arriving from Heathrow or City airport.

419: A more expensive but faster way of getting around London

422: is Uber or the traditional London taxi.

425: Taxies are more expensive, but they use bus lanes, so they are usually faster than Uber.

430: Hop On - Hop Off Bus is a great way to see tourist attractions if you don’t want to

434: deal with public transportation.

436: You can also take a riverboat tour and see London from a new perspective.

441: London is a busy city and just as there are peak seasons to travel to London, there are

445: peak times of the day when public transportation and the roads get even more crowded.

450: Peak times are Monday to Friday between 6:30 and 9:30 AM and between 4 and 7 PM.

456: NUMBER 9: BEST APPS TO USE IN LONDON

460: Your smartphone can be your best buddy in London.

463: Here are some of the best apps to use: Citymapper, which is a public transit app

467: and integrates data for all urban modes of transport, from walking and cycling to driving,

473: with an emphasis on public transportation.

475: Visit London App: which provides directions, recommendations, history and more.

480: It has everything you need to experience London like a local.

484: Withlocals, where you can book experience such as tours with locals, or

488: Eatwith, where you can book a dinner or a cooking class at someone’s home.

492: NUMBER 10: LINES ARE EVERYWHERE

495: Since London is usually a crowded place, especially

499: around major attractions, you can expect lines everywhere.

503: But don’t worry, the sights you are visiting are totally worth the wait.

507: You can buy London Pass to at least avoid the queues at the famous attractions.

511: NUMBER 11: FOOD

514: While London is home to many expensive restaurants,

517: there are many places that offer a full meal for less than 10 GBP.

521: Use Yelp or TripAdvisor to find the best deals depending on your budget and rating.

525: And check the description for links to ideas for best cheap eats.

529: NUMBER 12: TIPPING

531: There is no need to tip in a restaurant:

533: tipping in London is not mandatory.

535: Of course, if you want, you can tip but they won’t make you feel bad if you don’t.

539: Sometimes a 10% service charge is included in the bill at hotels and restaurants,

544: but they’ll usually tell you if that’s the case.

547: NUMBER 13: BARS AND PUBS CLOSE EARLY

550: While there are many great bars and pubs in London,

553: like the ones in Soho, the famous entertainment district,

555: most of them close around midnight.

557: Speaking from experience, we were surprised when they offered us plastic cups for our

562: unfinished drinks and they politely asked us to move in front of the pub to finish drinking

567: there since they closed at midnight.

569: Don’t worry, there are some places that are open later, but it’s certainly not the

573: norm and you’ll have to check before you head out if you plan to stay out late.

577: NUMBER 14: DRINKING WATER

580: The tap water in London is perfectly clean

582: and won’t harm you if you drink it.

584: Of course, it doesn’t taste as good as the bottled water,

587: but it might save you some money.

588: NUMBER 15: LONDON PASS

591: London Pass is a great option if you want

594: to see many attractions and want to save money, don’t want to deal with buying tickets all

598: the time, want to skip the line, if you’re traveling as a family, etc.

601: For example, a one-day London Pass costs 69 GBP.

605: Check the description to see how much it costs for different durations, to check what you

609: can see with London Pass, and for the link to purchase one.

612: You can even download it to your smartphone.

615: NUMBER 16: WI-FI

617: You’ll find free Wi-Fi in many places in London.

620: Use Facebook to locate the nearest free wi-fi or download Wifi Finder, an app

626: that downloads WiFi map so you can search for nearby WiFi even when you’re offline.

631: You can also buy a local sim card and get online that way.

635: Some of the best providers for cheap sim cards when it comes to value for money

639: are Giffgaff and Three.

641: NUMBER 17: BEST FREE VIEWS OF THE CITY

644: For the best free views of the city you can visit

647: Sky Garden, Tate Modern, Primrose Hill, One New Change, Alexandra Palace,

653: Greenwich Park and many others.

655: Or you can pay and see the city from London Eye, which offers a truly amazing

660: and unique view of London.

661: NUMBER 18: MUSEUMS ARE FREE

665: Most of the important and interesting London museums,

667: such as Natural History Museum or The British Museum are free of charge.

671: Check the description for the list of free museums in London.

674: Do you have a suggestion on what you need to know before traveling to London?

678: What’s your experience?

679: Do you have a question about London?

681: Share it in the comments below.

682: And don’t forget to like this video, subscribe to our channel, and enable notifications

687: so that we can keep bringing you more awesome content.