Your Travel Guide

The easiest way is to tap your contactless credit/debit card or Apple/Google Pay directly on the yellow card readers when you enter AND exit the Tube (buses, only on entry). You'll be charged the best fare automatically. Alternatively, pick up a Visitor Oyster card from the airport. Avoid buying paper tickets — they're more expensive and slower.

Citymapper is the best app for London — it covers the Tube, buses, overground, the Elizabeth Line, and even cycle hire. It's more intuitive than Google Maps for London transit. TfL Go is the official Transport for London app and is also excellent for real-time status updates.

At restaurants, 10–12.5% is standard if a service charge isn't already added to the bill (check the bottom of the menu or receipt). Many London restaurants automatically add a 12.5% discretionary service charge — you can ask for it to be removed if the service was poor. At pubs, tipping is not expected — you order at the bar and there's no table service. You can offer to 'get one for yourself' when paying, which the bartender will usually cash in at the end of their shift.

June is generally one of London's nicest months — long daylight hours (sunset around 9:15pm), average highs of 20–22°C (68–72°F), and relatively low rain. That said, the British weather is famously unpredictable. Pack a light layer for evenings and a compact umbrella or packable rain jacket. Don't let a grey morning put you off — it often clears by noon.

London is a very safe city for tourists overall. The usual precautions apply: be aware of your surroundings on the Tube, keep bags zipped and in front of you in crowded areas, and watch for phone snatchers on busy streets (don't walk with your phone out in your hand). The tourist areas are heavily policed and generally very safe.

The UK uses Type G plugs (three large rectangular pins in a triangle). You'll need an adapter if you're bringing American devices. Most modern electronics (laptops, phone chargers, camera chargers) are dual-voltage (100–240V) and only need an adapter, not a converter. Check the label on your device. Hair dryers and straighteners are often NOT dual-voltage and may need a proper voltage converter in addition to the adapter. Anker makes a good universal travel adapter available on Amazon.

London can be expensive, but there's a huge range. Budget travellers can get by on £60–80/day (hostel, cheap eats, free museums). Mid-range travellers typically spend £120–180/day (a nice hotel, sit-down meals, a few activities). Many of London's best attractions are completely free — the British Museum, Tate Modern, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, and most major galleries charge no entry fee. Many might ask for a donation, but this is not mandatory in national museums.

Yes — London tap water is completely safe to drink and is actually quite good quality. You can ask for tap water at any restaurant for free. Carry a reusable water bottle and refill it at any café.

Most pubs close at 11pm on weeknights and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays (last orders are usually 10:45pm/11:45pm). Some pubs in central London have late licences and stay open until 1–2am. Bars and clubs typically go later. The Tube stops around midnight on weekdays but runs 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights on the Victoria, Jubilee, Central, Northern, and Piccadilly lines.

Boots is the main pharmacy chain with locations throughout the city — it's also a great place for travel essentials, cosmetics, and sandwiches. Superdrug is the other main pharmacy. For groceries, look for Sainsbury's Local, Tesco Express, or Waitrose (upmarket) — all common in central London. Lidl and Aldi are cheaper options if you walk a bit further from tourist areas.

For police, fire, or ambulance emergencies, call 999 (equivalent to 911 in the US). For non-emergency police matters, call 101. The non-emergency NHS health line is 111 — useful if you need medical advice but it's not a life-threatening emergency.

London is almost entirely cashless and contactless payment is universally accepted — restaurants, markets, black cabs, buses, and most street food stalls. A handful of older pubs and small market stalls still prefer cash. We'd recommend having £20–50 in cash as a backup but you won't need much more than that for a typical trip. A good bank card option to get before your trip is Revolut or Monzo to easily transfer USD to GBP.