London vacations
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Use The London Underground, "The tube", the buses and for longer journeys overground trains.
London taxis have some of the best trained drivers in the world. "Minicabs" are also available which are "private hire" cars which cannot legally be hailed in the street but should be summoned by phone or by going to an office. A third group operate illegally, using touts to get business, do not use these "taxis", they are likely to be uninsured, unsafe and will probably overcharge.There are also currently cycle rickshaws, everybody else on the road hates them, you might love them if you don't get hit by a truck.
Transport for London
London Underground
Rail
Rail Planner
"Black Cab" or "flounder"[1]
is something of a misnomer, as they may be any colour but are of a limited
number of designs and always carry a white registration plate on the boot
(trunk) and a yellow light on the roof which is on when the taxi is free
for hire.
There are many London Black
cab websites, here are two:-
London
Black Cabs
Black
Taxi Tours
1]
Flounder and dab - cab
Driving in Central London
Parking
is expensive in central London and, like all cities, traffic is congested.
From February 2002 there is also be a £8 a day congestion charge
for the central area. So if your visit is part of a wider touring holiday,
either arrange for long term parking or avoid having a car for your stay
in London. Of course if you are American you will have to get used to using
lots of roundabouts and mini roundabouts (give way to the right) as well
as driving on the left. Automatics are easily available from major hire
companies, even on smaller models.
Beggars
There
was a time when beggers in London were almost unheard of, but now London
has as many as many other cities. Some are recent asylum seekers who are
not allowed to work, some are alcoholics or drug addicts, some victims
of broken marriages and there is also a high proportion of ex-soldiers
amoungst the homeless. There is a self help scheme for them to sell a magazine
called "The Big Issue". a magazine readable in its own right and inexpensive
to buy. I am sure you will wish to make your own mind up on any donations,
I merely suggest that refusals should be polite but firm.
London's weather
Highest temperature recorded in the summer months is 34C 93F.(July-August)
Lowest temperature recorded in the winter was -10C 15F (January-February), these lower temperatures have become unusual in recent years, as has snow.High temperatures have become more common. Measurable rain falls on about 12 days in most months, November is regarded as having the worst, (cloudy and wet) although not the coldest, weather.Fog is rare, except in October and November on the river. August can become humid during periods of prolonged hot dry weather, which are usually ended by thunder storms.Prevailing winds are westerly, although English weather is very variable, dependant on the constantly changing relationship between low pressure, often centred over Iceland, and continental high pressure systems.
20 C equals 68 F
15 C equals 59 F
10 C equals 50 F
What we like to see