Of almost any destination in the world, flying into England, if your documents are in order, is one of the most effortless undertakings in global travel. There are no shots to get, no particular safety precautions, no unusual aspects of planning a trip. With your passport, airline ticket, and enough money, you just go. In general, if you're not bringing any illegal item into the British Isles, Customs officials are courteous and will speed you on your way into your entry in their country.
Of course, before you lift off the ground in your native country, you can do some advance preparation, as will be detailed in this chapter and in the appendix. That could mean checking to see if your passport is up-to-date (or obtaining one if you don't already possess one), or taking care of your health needs before you go, including medication. In the case of London, you might want to make reservations at some highly acclaimed restaurants or even buy tickets in advance to hit plays in London's West End.
In the pages that follow, you'll find everything you need to know about the practicalities of planning your trip in advance: finding the best airfare, deciding when to go, figuring out British currency, and more.
