Travel Information



London, United Kingdom

One of the world's most visited cities, London has something for everyone: from history and culture to fine food and good times.

Time Travel
Immersed in history, London's rich seams of eye-opening antiquity are everywhere. The city's buildings are striking milestones in a unique and beguiling biography, and a great many of them – the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben – are instantly recognisable landmarks. There’s more than enough innovation (the Shard, the Tate Modern extension, the Sky Garden) to put a crackle in the air, but it never drowns out London’s seasoned, centuries-old narrative. Architectural grandeur rises up all around you in the West End, ancient remains dot the City and charming pubs punctuate the historic quarters, leafy suburbs and river banks. Take your pick.

Art & Culture
A tireless innovator of art and culture, London is a city of ideas and the imagination. Londoners have always been fiercely independent thinkers (and critics), but until not so long ago people were suspicious of anything they considered avant-garde. That’s in the past now, and the city’s creative milieu is streaked with left-field attitude, whether it's theatrical innovation, contemporary art, pioneering music, writing, poetry, architecture or design. Food is another creative arena that has become a tireless obsession in certain circles.

Diversity
This city is deeply multicultural, with one in three Londoners foreign-born, representing 270 nationalities and 300 tongues. The UK may have voted for Brexit (although the majority of Londoners didn't), but for now London remains one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities, and diversity infuses daily life, food, music and fashion. It even penetrates intrinsically British institutions; the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum have collections as varied as they are magnificent, while the flavours at centuries-old Borough Market run the full global gourmet spectrum.

A Tale of Two Cities
London is as much about wide-open vistas and leafy landscape escapes as it is high-density, sight-packed urban exploration. Central London is where the major museums, galleries and most iconic sights congregate, but visit Hampstead Heath or the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to flee the crowds and frolic in wide open green expanses. You can also venture further out to Kew Gardens, Richmond or Hampton Court Palace for beautiful panoramas of riverside London followed by a pint in a quiet waterside pub.

Travelling To & From London

Public transportation is inexpensive and easily accessible throughout London. When travelling to ICETM 2020, please consider the following options:
By Air
London has six major airports: London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted and London Southend.
London Heathrow and City airports are directly connected to the Tube network. With 190,000 passengers arriving and departing every day, Heathrow handles more international passengers than any other airport in the world. Heathrow Airport is located west of central London and with the Heathrow Express from London Paddington it takes you 15 to 20 minutes to travel between the airport and central London.
London Gatwick (LGW) is the most efficient single-runway airport in the world, serving 200 destinations in 90 countries for 35 million customers a year. Gatwick Airport (LGW) is located south of London and the Gatwick Express is the fastest way into central London, taking 30 minutes to London Victoria Station.

By Taxi
There are usually taxis queuing for customers at London's airports. Only use a black cab or reputable minicab and never use unauthorised drivers. The official Gatwick taxi concession is Airport Cars Gatwick. You can ask the driver for an estimate of how much your journey will cost beforehand. If you'd prefer to drive along the roads of Central London yourself, then you can hire a car at the airport.

By Tube
The Underground is divided into nine zones: central London is covered by Zone 1. Oyster or contact less payments are the cheapest ways to pay for single fares. Tube services usually run from 5am until midnight, with Night Tube services on some lines on Friday and Saturday evenings. If you are travelling to or from Heathrow Airport, you can use your Oyster card and take the Tube. Heathrow is on the Piccadilly line and it takes just under an hour from Zone 1 stations.




Important Travel Information

Travel Tips
Pick up an Oyster Visitor Card, an electronic smartcard to easily use the Tube, buses, DLR, the London Overground, and most National Rail services in the city.




UK Currency
When visiting London, it is helpful to know a bit about UK currency and how it works. The UK currency is the pound sterling (£/GBP). There are 100 pennies, or pence, to the pound. It is customary to leave 10-15% of the bill as tip when eating out or when taking a taxi.




Get Your Travel Wish List Ready
There are so many attractions and things to do, no matter your daily travel budget.