Information about London
Travel documents: National members of the European Community will need an identity card or passport valid to travel abroad. Nationals of countries outside the EU will need a Visa and should therefore contact the British Embassy in their country of origin.
Currency: The Pound Sterling is the British currency. The currency symbol is £; the currency code is GBP - Great Britain Pound. For current exchange rates click Currency converter.
Instrument of payment: You can withdraw money with your debit card or credit card at ATMs - it is advisable to check with your bank or credit card company that your card is valid prior to travelling. In banks, exchange offices and post offices money can be exchanged. Always pay attention to fees and charges. Credit card payments are often associated with increased rates.
Oyster card: With this card you can travel on all public transportation (underground, buses, trams) at a lower price. Using the Oyster card saves you money and time spent queuing at the ticket office or machines. You can purchase this card at any underground station for a deposit of £5 and you will need to charge it with a minimum of £5 to be able to travel.
It is important to remember to touch in and out of the card reader at the beginning and at the end of your journey to pay the correct fare.
There are two different cards:
1. Travel Card (valid for one week)
2. Pay-as-you-go (the cost is deducted at the end of each journey)
Medical care: The local health service National Health Service (NHS) will treat national members of the European Community for free. In an emergency, you can go to one of the hospitals with 24-hour emergency room. However, dental treatments must be paid directly by the patient. Italian citizens will need the health card (Tessera Europea di Assicurazione Malattia - TEAM). Austrian citizens need the e-card and German citizens will need the Versicherten Karte. If you are not in possession of these cards, then please contact your health insurance provider.
Voltage: The electrical sockets in England are different from the European sockets. If you bring electrical equipment, you will need an adapter (England uses a three-pin, flat adapter).
Direction of travel: Cars travel on the left, the opposite to the rest of Europe. Caution is recommended when crossing the road. We recommend that visitors observe the writing on the pavement LOOK RIGHT and LOOK LEFT to ensure looking in the correct direction when crossing the road.
Time Difference: London is one hour behind most European countries. Summer time starts in March and ends in October.
Tips: We suggest making a copy of all relevant documents (identity card, passport, insurance, credit and debit cards) and leave them in the luggage; alternatively scan the documents and send them to an email address that can be easily retrieved in case of emergency.
