WHEN TO GO
London has a temperate climate. Spring (March to May) has a mixture of sunshine and showers although winter can drag on into March. Summer (June to August) can be unpredictable; clear skies and long hot days one day followed by humid and overcast conditions the next. June has the advantage of long daylight hours; July and August are the hottest and the busiest with long school holidays. September is the official start of autumn, but often retains a summery feel, with October the real start of the season and the colder days setting in during November. Winter (December to February) is generally fairly mild, often wet and windy, any snow or very cold conditions not lasting long. The tip is to be prepared for any eventuality, dress in layers and take an umbrella. For a five-day weather forecast: www.bbc.co.uk/weather
WHAT YOU NEED
WEBSITES
Official London tourist office: www.visitlondon.com
Official national tourist office: www.visitbritain.com
Weekly listings: www.timeout.com/london
Transport for London: www.tfl.gov.uk
Society of London Theatre: www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk
Railway enquiries: www.nationalrail.co.uk
TOURIST OFFICES AT HOME
In the USA
7th floor, Suite 701,
551 Fifth Avenue,
New York, NY 10176,
1-800/462-2748
www.visitbritain.us
In Australia
VisitBritain
Level 3, 32 Walker Street
North Sydney, NSW 2060 1300 85 85 89
www.visitbritain.com.au
HEALTH INSURANCE
Citizens of the EU and certain other countries receive free or reduced-cost emergency medical treatment in Britain with the relevant documentation (European Health Insurance Card), but private medical insurance is still advised, and is essential for all other visitors.
For emergency dental treatment, find the closest dentist from NHS Direct (0845 4647, www.nhs.uk). Expect to pay about £45 for a consultation and a further £60–£70 for a filling. This can then be claimed back from your insurer.
TIME DIFFERENCES
London is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter, but from late March until late October British Summer Time (BST, ie GMT+1) operates.
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
1 Jan New Year’s Day
Mar/Apr Good Friday,
Easter Monday
First Mon May May Day
Bank Holiday
Last Mon May Spring Bank
Holiday
Last Mon in Aug August
Bank Holiday
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
Almost all attractions close on Christmas Day. On other holidays some attractions open, often with reduced hours. There are no general rules regarding the opening times of restaurants and shops, so check before making a special journey.
WHAT’S ON WHEN
January/February
New Year’s Day Parade (1 January): this procession of 10,000 performers from around the world (from Westminster Bridge to Berkeley Square) attracts around 500,000 onlookers.
Chinese New Year (late January-early February): human dragons and firecrackers light up Soho’s Chinatown.
March/April
(University) BoatRace (late March-early April): Oxford against Cambridge over 6.4km (4 miles) of the Thames from Putney to Chiswick Bridge. London Marathon (third week in April): some 35,000 runners, from world-class athletes to fancy-dressed ‘fun-runners’, pound the streets from Blackheath (Greenwich) to the Mall in front of a sea of 750,000 cheering spectators.
May
Baishakhi Mela (mid-May): Europe’s largest Asian street festival celebrating the Bengali New Year with food stalls, parades and rickshaw rides in and around Brick Lane.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show (late May): the world’s best horticultural show, held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
June/July
Trooping the Colour (second Saturday in June): an inspection and parade of the guards honours the Sovereign’s official birthday. Watch the procession in the Mall.
Wimbledon Tennis Championship (last week June, first week July): you can line up for early rounds but it’s advance ticket-holders for the latter stages.
BBC Proms (mid-July to mid-September): Britain’s best-loved classical concert series occupies the Royal Albert Hall for two months.
August
Notting Hill Carnival (August bank holiday weekend): the Caribbean comes to London with the biggest street festival in Europe.
September
Thames Festival: a celebration of the River Thames between Westminster and Tower bridges, culminating in spectacular fireworks.
October
Punch & Judy Festival (first Sunday in October): a celebration of an English tradition in Covent Garden’s North Hall.
November-December
State Opening of Parliament (late November to early December): pomp and ceremony as the Queen arrives at Parliament in the Gold State Coach. London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run (first Sunday in November): a great spectacle as Hyde Park is crammed with 500 pre-1950s vehicles.The world’s oldest motor event.
Lord Mayor’s Show (second Saturday in November): London’s 800-year-old street parade, from Mansion House to the Royal Courts of Justice. Fireworks at 5pm.
Christmas Lights (mid-November to early January): Regent Street and Oxford Street glow with the latest festive creations.