London At a Glance

Best Time to Go
London is best in late spring or early fall. While summer certainly is warmer, the massive hordes of tourists, particularly during the August Bank Holiday (last weekend of the month), make negotiating the city a nightmare. The August Bank Holiday hosts the Nottinghill Carnival, Europe’s largest street festival, and unless you specifically want to see it don’t plan a visit during this time. January and February are chilly, dreary months, unless your plans are to keep you indoors or you’re desperate to hit the scheduled post-Christmas sales, give the city a miss during deepest winter.

Average Weather
It actually seldom snows in London, and the famous English rain is most often a quick light drizzle that disappears in a matter of minutes. January is the coldest month with an average daytime high of 41F, but it is really a bit colder because of the damp air. Both October and November see nearly three inches of rain per month. In August daytime highs average in the low 70s, but some recent heat waves have sent temperatures soaring into the 90s. British weather is nothing if not changeable.

Transportation
From Gatwick, the Gatwick Express deposits you in London’s Victoria Station in 30 minutes at a cost of less than $20. Likewise from Heathrow, the Heathrow Express runs to Paddington Station in fifteen minutes. These are the best ways to reach the city from the two major airports.

Budget travelers may want to take the tube (the subway) from Heathrow (at a cost of less than $10) directly to the stop nearest their accommodations; the journey will take from 45 minutes to an hour. Also, be advised that you may have to change lines with luggage and that’ll involve stairs and/or quite a walk. Once in the city, the London Tube and Bus System will take you anywhere you need to go. London Black cabs are efficient and cabbies have a legendary knowledge of the city, but they’re expensive. Your hotel can call a minicab for specific trips; costs may vary. Avoid gypsy cabs. Avoid car rental, a major world capital city with clogged motorways is not the place to master left-hand drive.

Many tour operators will sell you a London Travel Card before your trip. For days out in central London you may do better to simply get a one-day travel card for zones one and two (all the tourist sights are here) at a cost of around $8 from the nearest tube station.

In-Season Costs
London is very expensive. If you can get a room with bathroom facilities anywhere in central London for under $100, expect it to be small, cramped, and somewhat uncomfortable. Expect to pay at least $120 for a bare bones comfortable budget room. British bed and breakfasts and hotels often have twin bed arrangements.

Food is expensive. Expect to pay around $12-15 for a pub lunch and around $20-30 for dinner in a moderately nice restaurant. You can cut costs by dining in pubs and a few family chain restaurants that you’ll see all over the center of town. If you must have a blow-out dinner, you can easily spend between $80 and $100 for two.