Fast Facts

American Express -- The main office is at 30-31 Haymarket, SW1 (tel. 020/7484-9600; Tube: Piccadilly Circus). Full services are available Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm. On Sunday from 10am to 5pm, only the foreign-exchange bureau is open.

Area Codes -- London now has only one area code: 020. Within the city limits, you don't need to dial it; use only the eight-digit number. If you're calling London from home before your trip, the country code for England is 44. It must precede the London area code. When you're calling London from outside Britain, drop the "0" in front of the local area code.

Babysitters -- If your hotel can't recommend a sitter, call Sitters (tel. 0800/389-0038 or 020/7935-3000; www.babysitter.co.uk). The rates are Sunday to Friday £7 ($13) per hour, Saturday £7.50 ($14) per hour with a 4-hour minimum. Guest membership costs £10 ($19) and is valid for 1 month. You must also pay a booking fee at a cost of £6 ($11) per day booking or £5 ($9.50) per evening booking.

Business Hours -- Banks are usually open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 3:30pm. Business offices are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm; the lunch break lasts an hour, but most places stay open during that time. Pubs and bars stay open from 11am to 11pm Monday to Saturday and from noon to 10:30pm on Sunday. Stores generally open at 10am and close at 5pm, staying open until 7pm on Thursday. Some stores are now open on Sunday, usually 11am to 5pm.

Camera Repair -- Sendean, Shop 2, 9-12 St. Anne's Court, W1F (tel. 0871/750-2463; www.sendeancameras.co.uk), gives free estimates and does quick work. It's open weekdays from 10:30am to 6pm and accepts American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.

Customs--What You Can Bring into London --
Non-E.U. Nationals 18 and Older: You can bring in, duty-free, 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of smoking tobacco. The amount allowed for each of these goods is doubled if you live outside Europe.

You can also bring in 2 liters of wine and either 1 liter of alcohol over 22% or 2 liters of wine under 22%. In addition, you can bring in 2 ounces of perfume and a quarter liter of eau de toilette. Visitors 15 and over may also bring in other goods totaling £145 ($276); the allowance for those 14 and under is £73 ($139). (Customs officials tend to be lenient about general merchandise, realizing the limits are unrealistically low.)

You can't bring your pet straight to England. Six months' quarantine is required before it is allowed in. An illegally imported animal may be destroyed.

E.U. Citizens: Visitors from fellow European Union countries can bring into Britain any amount of goods, as long as the goods are intended for their personal use -- not for resale.

The current policy for bringing pets into the U.K. from the E.U. is under review. Right now, animals or pets of any kind are forbidden from entering without a long quarantine period.

What You Can Bring Home from London --
U.S. Citizens: For specifics on what you can bring back and the corresponding fees, download the invaluable free pamphlet Know Before You Go online at www.cbp.gov. (Click on "Travel," and then click on "Know Before You Go.") Or contact U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20229 (tel. 877/287-8667) and request the pamphlet.

Canadian Citizens: For a clear summary of Canadian rules, write for the booklet I Declare, issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (tel. 800/461-9999 in Canada, or 204/983-3500; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca).

U.K. Citizens: For information, contact HM Customs & Excise at tel. 0845/010-9000 (from outside the U.K., 020/8929-0152), or consult their website at www.hmce.gov.uk.

Australian Citizens: A helpful brochure available from Australian consulates or Customs offices is Know Before You Go. For more information, call the Australian Customs Service at tel. 1300/363-263, or log on to www.customs.gov.au.

New Zealand Citizens: Most questions are answered in a free pamphlet available at New Zealand consulates and Customs offices: New Zealand Customs Guide for Travellers, Notice no. 4. For more information, contact New Zealand Customs, The Customhouse, 17-21 Whitmore St., Box 2218, Wellington (tel. 04/473-6099 or 0800/428-786; www.customs.govt.nz).

Dentists -- For dental emergencies, call Eastman Dental Hospital (tel. 020/7915-1000; Tube: King's Cross or Chancery Lane).

Doctors -- Call tel. 999 in a medical emergency. Some hotels have physicians on call for emergencies. For nonemergencies, try Medical Express, 117A Harley St., W1 (tel. 020/7499-1991; www.medicalexpressclinic.com; Tube: Regent's Park). A private British clinic, it's not part of the free British medical establishment. The clinic is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm.

Drugstores -- In Britain they're called chemists. Every police station has a list of emergency chemists. One of the most centrally located is Bliss the Chemist, 5-6 Marble Arch, W1 (tel. 020/7723-6116; Tube: Marble Arch), open daily from 9am to midnight. Every London neighborhood has a branch of Boots the Chemist, Britain's leading pharmacy.

Electricity -- British current is 240 volts, AC, so you'll need a converter or transformer for U.S.-made electrical appliances, as well as an adapter that allows the plug to match British outlets. Some (but not all) hotels supply them for guests. If you've forgotten one, you can buy a transformer/adapter at most branches of Boots the Chemist.

Embassies & High Commissions -- The U.S. Embassy is at 24 Grosvenor Sq., W1 (tel. 020/7499-9000; www.usembassy.org.uk; Tube: Bond St.). Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm. However, for passport and visa information, go to the U.S. Passport and Citizenship Unit, 55-56 Upper Brook St., London, W1 (tel. 020/7499-9000, ext. 2563; Tube: Marble Arch or Bond St.). Passport and Citizenship Unit hours are Monday to Friday 8:30 to 12:30pm.

The Canadian High Commission, MacDonald House, 38 Grosvenor St., W1 (tel. 020/7258-6600; www.canada.org.uk; Tube: Bond St.), handles visas for Canada. Hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm; 8 to 11am for immigration services.

The Australian High Commission is at Australia House, the Strand, WC2 (tel. 020/7379-4334; www.australia.org.uk; Tube: Charing Cross or Aldwych). Hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm; 9 to 11am for immigration services; passports 9:30am to 3:30pm.

The New Zealand High Commission is at New Zealand House, 80 Haymarket at Pall Mall, SW1 (tel. 020/7930-8422; www.nzembassy.com; Tube: Charing Cross or Piccadilly Circus). Hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.

The Irish Embassy is at 17 Grosvenor Place, SW1 (tel. 020/7235-2171; http://ireland.embassyhomepage.com; Tube: Hyde Park Corner). Hours are Monday to Friday 9:30am to 1pm and 2 to 5pm.

Emergencies -- In London, for police, fire, or an ambulance, dial tel. 999.

Eyeglass Repair -- David Clulow has 10 offices in Central London; the one in Soho, 70 Old Compton St., W1 (tel. 020/7287-1128), can handle most repairs and fills eyeglass prescriptions. Open Monday to Friday 10am to 6:30pm, Saturday 10am to 7pm.

Holidays -- In England, public holidays include New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day (first Mon in May), spring and summer bank holidays (last Mon in May and Aug, respectively), Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (Dec 26).

Hospitals -- The following offer emergency care in London, 24 hours a day, with the first treatment free under the National Health Service: Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street (tel. 020/7794-0500; Tube: Belsize Park), and University College Hospital, 25 Grafton Way (tel. 0845/155-5000; Tube: Warren St.). Many other London hospitals also have accident and emergency departments.

Hot Lines -- If you're in some sort of substance abuse or legal emergency, call Release (tel. 020/7729-9904), open from Monday to Friday from 11am to 1pm. The Rape and Sexual Abuse Hotline (tel. 0845/122-1331) is open daily Monday to Friday noon to 2:30pm and 7 to 9:30pm, and on weekends and bank holidays from 2:30pm to 5pm. Alcoholics Anonymous (tel. 020/7833-0022) answers its help line daily from 10am to 10pm. For issues related to sexual health and sexually transmitted diseases, call the Sexual Health Information Line at tel. 0800/567-123.

Legal Aid -- In every case where legal aid is required by a foreign national within Britain, the British Tourist Authority advises visitors to contact their embassy.

Liquor Laws -- The legal drinking age for hard liquor is 18. However, persons aged 16 and up can drink beer, cider, or wine in a restaurant if accompanied by a person who is 18 years of age (or older) and if that person actually purchases the drink. Children under 14 aren't allowed in pubs, except in certain rooms, and then only when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Don't drink and drive -- penalties are stiff. Breaking decades of tradition, England in 2005 abandoned its strict, often draconian, liquor laws, and began allowing 24-hour alcohol sales in England and Wales. Many pubs no longer close at 11pm, which used to be "last call." Of course, it's up to the publican, but many, if they elect to do so, could stay open day and night. That is true at least in theory. But most publicans have applied for or been granted only a 1- or 2-hour extension at this point. It's not total Nirvana for the pub owners, however. Some counties are stationing undercover officers in pubs to fine staff members who serve liquor to visibly drunk customers, and the problems of drunk drivers on the highway, policemen fear, will only increase.

Lost & Found -- Be sure to tell all of your credit card companies the minute you discover your wallet has been lost or stolen, and file a report at the nearest police precinct. Your credit card company or insurer may require a police report number or record of the loss. Most credit card companies have an emergency toll-free number to call if your card is lost or stolen; they may be able to wire you a cash advance immediately or deliver an emergency credit card in a day or two. American cardholders can call the toll-free numbers below in case of an emergency -- Visa at 0800/891-725, American Express at 0800/587-6023, and MasterCard at 020/7557-5000 (the latter is not a toll-free number).

If you need emergency cash over the weekend when all banks and American Express offices are closed, you can have money wired to you via Western Union (tel. 800/325-6000; www.westernunion.com).

Mail -- An airmail letter to North America costs 50p (95¢) for 10 grams; postcards also require a 50p (95¢) stamp; letters generally take 7 to 10 days to arrive from the United States.

Measurements -- See the chart on the inside front cover of this book for details on converting metric measurements to nonmetric equivalents.

Newspapers & Magazines -- The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, and Guardian are dailies carrying the latest news. The International Herald Tribune, published in Paris, and an international edition of USA Today, beamed via satellite, are available daily (USA Today will be printed as a newsletter). Copies of Time and Newsweek are sold at most newsstands. Magazines such as Time Out, City Limits, and Where contain useful information about the latest happenings in London.

Passports -- Allow plenty of time before your trip to apply for a passport; processing normally takes 3 weeks but can take longer during busy periods (especially spring). And keep in mind that if you need a passport in a hurry, you'll pay a higher processing fee.

For Residents of Australia: You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au.

For Residents of Canada: Passport applications are available at travel agencies throughout Canada or from the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca).

For Residents of Ireland: You can apply for a 10-year passport at the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those under age 18 and over 65 must apply for a 3-year passport. You can also apply at 1A South Mall, Cork (tel. 021/272-525) or at most main post offices.

For Residents of New Zealand: You can pick up a passport application at any New Zealand Passports Office or download it from their website. Contact the Passports Office at tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100, or log on to www.passports.govt.nz.

For Residents of the United States: Whether you're applying in person or by mail, you can download passport applications from the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov. To find your regional passport office, either check the U.S. State Department website or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free number (tel. 877/487-2778) for automated information.

Police -- In an emergency, dial tel. 999 (no coins are needed).

Post Offices -- The main post office is at 24-28 William IV St., WC2 (tel. 020/7484-9307; Tube: Charing Cross). It operates as three separate businesses: inland and international postal service and banking (Mon-Fri 8:30am-6:30pm and Sat 9am-5:30pm); philatelic postage-stamp sales (Mon-Fri 8:30am-6:30pm and Sat 9am-5:30pm) for collectors; and the postal shop, selling greeting cards and stationery (Mon-Sat 8:30am-6:30pm). Other post offices and post-office branches are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5:30pm and Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm. Many post office branches and some main post offices close for an hour at lunchtime.

Restrooms -- They're marked by PUBLIC TOILETS signs in streets, parks, and Tube stations; many are automatically sterilized after each use. The English often call toilets "loos." You'll also find well-maintained lavatories in all larger public buildings, such as museums and art galleries, large department stores, and railway stations. It's not really acceptable to use the lavatories in hotels, restaurants, and pubs if you're not a customer, but we can't say that we always stick to this rule. Public lavatories are usually free, but you may need a small coin to get in or to use a proper washroom.

Smoking -- As of July 1, 2007 a smoking ban went into effect in England. Smoking is now banned in all indoor public places such as pubs, restaurants, and clubs.

Taxes -- To encourage energy conservation, the British government levies a tax on gasoline (petrol). With VAT included, the actual tax comes out to be an astonishing 70%. There is also a 17.5% national value-added tax (VAT) that is added to all hotel and restaurant bills and is included in the price of many items you purchase. This can be refunded if you shop at stores that participate in the Retail Export Scheme (signs are posted in the window).

In October 1994, Britain imposed a departure tax. Currently it is £40 ($76), but it is included in the price of your ticket. For business or first-class travel, the tax is £80 ($152).

Time Zone -- England follows Greenwich Mean Time ([GMT]; 5 hr. ahead of Eastern Standard Time [EST]). Most of the year, Britain is 5 hours ahead of the time observed on the East Coast of the United States. When it's noon in New York, it's 5pm in London. Because the U.S. and Britain observe daylight saving time at slightly different times of the year, there's a brief period (about a week) in the spring when London is 6 hours ahead of New York.

Tipping -- For cab drivers, add about 10% to 15% to the fare on the meter. However, if the driver loads or unloads your luggage, add something extra.

In hotels, porters receive £1 ($1.90) per bag, even if you have only one small suitcase. Hall porters are tipped only for special services. Maids receive £1.50 ($2.85) per day. In top-ranking hotels, the concierge will often submit a separate bill showing charges for newspapers and other items; if he or she has been particularly helpful, tip extra.

Hotels often add a service charge of 10% to 15% to most bills. In smaller bed-and-breakfasts, the tip is not likely to be included. Therefore, tip people for special services, such as the waiter who serves you breakfast. If several people have served you in a bed-and-breakfast, you may ask that 10% to 15% be added to the bill and divided among the staff.

Restaurants rarely add more than 12.5% onto the bill, but often they do not, leaving the tip to your discretion. In a nightclub with table service, the tip may be added to the bill but not if you're only ordering drinks at the bar. The same is true of a wine bar. Waiters in deluxe restaurants and nightclubs are accustomed to the extra 5%. Sommeliers (wine stewards) get about £1 ($1.90) per bottle of wine served. Tipping in pubs isn't common, but in wine bars, the server usually gets about £1 ($1.90) per round of drinks if it's table service.

Barbers and hairdressers expect 10% to 15%. Tour guides expect £2 ($3.80), though it's not mandatory. Gas station attendants are rarely tipped, and theater ushers don't expect tips.

Transit Information -- See "Getting Around," earlier in this chapter. For more information on travel on London's Tube and bus system, call tel. 020/7222-1234 24 hours a day, but expect to stay on hold for a good while before a live person comes on the line.

Water -- London's water is safe to drink. Tap water is free in restaurants, so be sure to ask for it if you don't want to pay for bottled water.

Weather -- Call tel. 020/7939-9946 for current weather information, but chances are, the line will be busy. You can also tune into 1152 AM (LBC News) for weather reports.