Airport

If you’re flying to London from Australia, Qantas operates from Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport.

Airport transport

The Heathrow Express train (heathrowexpress.com) is the quickest way to get to Paddington Station in central London; tickets cost from £15. From there, it takes 20 minutes on the Underground (the Tube) to other key business zones near Bank and King’s Cross stations. Outside “peak hours” – 6.30am-9.30am, 4pm- 7pm – a taxi from Heathrow to the City takes around an hour and costs approximately £70.

Local transport

With the Tube, rail, riverboats and buses, the capital’s extensive public transport system is the best way to beat the congestion. You’ll get discounted fares if you travel off-peak. A convenient option is the Visitor Oyster, a pre-paid smartcard you can buy online at tfl.gov.uk before you arrive in London.

London Population

+10.6 million

Language

English, but an estimated 300 languages are spoken here.

Currency Pound Sterling

$AU1=£0.57 (subject to change)

Average temperatures

Spring ◖4°C ◖18°C

Summer ◖11°C ◖23°C

Autumn ◖5°C ◖2o°C

Winter ◖2°C ◖ 8°C

Best SIM card

A pre-paid card from Sim Local (simlocal.com). The EE UK Option 1 offers 150 minutes, 150 UK texts and 500MB of data for £29.99.

Best local app

Complementing the free weekly magazine, the Time Out app is London’s go-to for things to do around town.

Average price of a cup of coffee

£2.80

That’s about $5 for a flat white.

Punctuality

While not complete sticklers, Londoners are generally punctual and will expect you to be, too. But if you’re late due to traffic or a train delay, they’ll forgive you, especially if you’ve called ahead.

Dining custom

You should foot the bill if you’ve set up the meeting. If it’s mutually arranged, it’s perfectly fine to go Dutch.

Tipping culture

A service charge of 12.5 per cent is included on most London restaurant bills. It’s customary to tip hotel bellboys and tour guides £2 to £5. It’s not obligatory to tip taxi drivers but rounding up the fare or adding 10 per cent is normal if the service is good. 

Start planning

You may also like