Country: England is a country which is a part of the United Kingdom and bordered by Wales to the West and Scotland to the North. 

Capital: London

Country Flag:

Languages: English

Size: 50,301 Square Miles

Currency:  British Pound

Passport: Must be valid for the duration of your stay in the United Kingdom and have at least 1 blank page. 

Visa Required from United States: Not for visits under 6 months. 

Current Travel Advisories:  Click here for current travel advisories.

Suggested Immunizations: Click here for a list of suggested immunizations from the CDC.  

Driving Side: Left

Driving Requirements:  You need an international driving license which you can apply for in your home country and use in conjunction with your regular license.   

Average Temperatures and Holidays by Season:  Visit the Seasonsyear.com website to see average temperatures and holidays in each season. 

Average Daylight Hours:  16 hours in June, 8 in December.  

Electrical Plug Type:  Type G

LGBQT Friendliness: Consexual same sex acts are legal in the United Kingdom and so is sex marriage.      Click here for more specific information on sexual orientation laws on the ILGA website

General Tips for London:

Airports: There are several airports in London and some are further out than others.  There are:

• City Airport:  9 miles from City Center
• Heathrow: 16 miles from City Center
• Gatwick: 28 miles from City Center
• Luton: 34 miles from City Center
• Stansted: 39 miles from City Center
• Southend: 40 miles from City Center

Keep this in mind when booking tickets as you will need transportation to get into the city which can be costly.

Transportation from Heathrow:  So far we have only traveled through Heathrow.  There are several options to get in to central London from Heathrow, with several different costs.  The first is the Tube.  It takes about an hour to get into the city and costs about $6 USD each way.  This is by far the cheapest option, so if you are budget minded this one is for you.  The downside is that you have to carry your luggage on the Tube and possibly lug it up and down stairs while changing stations.  Another option is the Heathrow Express which is a train that goes directly from Heathrow to Picadilly Circus.  The cost of the HE varies based on when you purchase your ticket (90 days in advance are the cheapest), and if you purchase a fixed date or an open date round ticket.  Tickets can cost anywhere from 11£ for fixed date in advance to 30£ for a walk up.  Uber runs in London and is about $60USD a trip, so you’d be spending $120 but the advantage is you don’t have to worry about lugging your suitcases all over creation. 

Tube:  Prices for a ride on the Tube (subway) vary from location to location.  Visitors to London can order a Vistors Oyster card prior to their trip, or get one at Heathrow like we did.  Oyster cards can be used on the Tube, buses, trams or the river buses. The Oyster cards can be topped up, and prepaid fares are cheaper than individual fares.  The Tube is very easy to maneuver.  There are a number of apps that are great for navigating unfamiliar cities, but my go-to is the Moovit app.  This app requires data usage, but it will tell you where you are, and when you put in your destination it will give you a number of ways to get there sorted by length of time or cost.  Once you choose an option, it gives you step by step instructions on what to do, which Metro line to take, and when to get off.  When considering the Tube look at walking directions as well, sometimes it’s quicker to walk than to ride to stops that are close together.  

Crossing the Street:  Don’t forget they drive on the left side in the UK, so when step out into the street cars will be coming from your right instead of the left.  There were several times I almost stepped in front of a car or a bike.  On that same note when walking or going down escalators, stand to the right so people can pass on your left..  

Moovit:  As mentioned before, there are a number of different GPS apps you can use, but my go-to is the Moovit app.  This app requires data usage, but it will tell you where you are, and when you put in your destination it will give you a number of ways to get there sorted by length of time or cost.  Once you choose an option, it gives you step by step instructions on what to do, which Tube line to take, and when to get off. 

Weather:  You can almost guarantee that at some point in your visit it will be raining.  Bring a small umbrella when you’re out walking around. Lucky it’s usually just a drizzle – not like a Florida downpour!

Tipping:  Tips at restaurants are generally 10-15%.  Some restaurants will automatically add a 12.5% charge so check your bill before tipping.  There is no tipping on drinks.  

Toilets:  Unlike the US, most public toilets in Europe charge a small entry fee.  Make sure you keep some small coins for just this purpose – or a lot of coins if you have to pee 10 times a day like  

Sky Garden:  If you’re looking for views of London, you typically have to pay for them – unless of course you visit the Sky Garden.  The Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden and sits atop a 38-story building.  The Sky Garden is glassed in and boasts beautiful flowers as well as restaurants with amazing views of the Thames.  The best part is you do need a ticket, but admission is absolutely free.  Tickets become available 60 days in advance and if you’re interested, book them as soon as you can – they “sell” out fast.

Museums:  Most museums in England are free, so make sure you check some of them out like the British Museum or the National Portrait Gallery. 

Buckingham Palace: Since Buckingham is a working palace, it is only open to visitors on certain days December through May, but it is open to the public from July to September so if this is a must see, plan your visit accordingly.£