While you prep up for your spring semester abroad in the bustling capital, here is a quick guide on everything you need to know to get around the city.
Transportation
The public transport in London is super accessible and efficient. Both the buses and the tube take Oyster Cards (which is the tap card of London) or you may use contact-less cards in some cases. Since public transport is the main form of commute in London, it gets crowded during peak hours. Peak hours usually last from 6:30 AM – 9:30 AM and 4:00 pm-7:00 pm, on weekdays – Monday to Friday. If you use public transport to travel outside of these times you will save a lot, as the off-peak rate is much cheaper.
If you plan to take a taxi, Uber is always a good option but steer away from the ‘black cabs’ as they can be very pricy comparatively. Also, remember cars drive on the left in England, so make sure to look the appropriate way when crossing the streets.
Money
As you all know, the currency used in the UK is Sterling Pounds (£). Although the value does fluctuate, the exchange rate now is £1= $1.29. Talking about money, let’s discuss the tipping culture in London. There is no specific percentage on how much to tip but some restaurants usually add a service fee. If it is not added, you could include an amount for tips but it’s not mandatory to tip in London.
Food
You have to try an English Breakfast when in England- the traditional breakfast includes eggs, bacon, baked beans, hash browns, baked mushrooms, tomatoes, and toast. It’s the full package! Another staple dish is Fish and Chips, it’s a plate of battered fried fish served with fries. Another one to try is a Sunday Roast, traditionally served on Sundays consisting of roasted meat, and roasted potato, Yorkshire pudding, vegetables and gravy.
Grocery Shopping
There are plenty of grocery stores across London at different price values. If you’re looking for super affordable groceries both Lidl and Aldi are great options. Both these chains are German, so if you want some good beef or sausages, you know where to find them.
Sainsbury's, Tesco and Asda are some of the larger supermarket chains in London. These chains also do £3 lunch meal deals, which consists of a sandwich or salad, a snack (chips, fruit or chocolate) and a drink. It’s such a bargain!
If you’re looking for some high quality, expensive groceries, you can shop in Marks & Spencer or Waitrose. You can never go wrong with their products!
Shopping
Known for its shopping streets, you’re in the shopaholic heaven in London! From Oxford Street to Covent Garden, Regent Street to Westfield Shopping Center, you have plenty of options wherever you go in London. Make sure to check out Primark while you’re there. You’ll thank me later for it!
Media
The go-to news media source in England is BBC News and Sky News. Publications such as The Guardian and The Telegraph are considered Britain’s national newspaper; people tend to consume news from these companies.
Time Out London is another useful resource for anything events, tickets or what’s happening around town. Its app is comprehensive and easy to use, listing up-to-date events near you as well as recommendations.
Channel 4 and the ITV franchise are subscription channels that air most British soap operas and reality shows. Hence, it’s worth looking into these subscription channels if you’re interested in watching some British shows.
Apps
More than most cities, London has a wealth of apps to help visitors and locals make the most of the city. Whether you’re getting lost in the city or you’re just looking to order some Chinese, you’ve got an app for it all. Let’s break them down here:
Transportation/ Navigation:
CityMapper: This is a great transportation resource. It’s very handy as it combines all the city’s transportation options into one handy map. It also features real-time departures and disruptions, so you can plan your commute efficiently when in London.
Oyster App: Download this for easy credit top-ups, checking your balance and for travel card purchases. You can also budget your traveling expenses through this app.
Social Media
WhatsApp: More than iMessage, people in London tend to use WhatsApp for instant messaging and calls. So, it might be worth downloading the app for ease of communication with your peers.
Skype: Again another popular one for video and audio calls is Skype. People tend to use this over FaceTime.
Food Delivery
Just Eat: This has been around for a while now and it’s the most popular food delivery app in London. The company provides convenient and easy access to a selection of delivery restaurants for online food order.
Deliveroo: This is a food delivery unicorn that has enjoyed rapid growth since its launch in 2013. It’s known for efficient and quick food delivery.
Know your lingo
Here’s the list of common lingos the brits use, that you need to know about.
ATM= Cashpoint
Gas= Petrol
Pedestrian Crossing= Zebra Crossing
Intersection= Junction
Trunk (car trunk) = Boot
Bathroom= Loo or Washroom
Line= Queue
Thanks= Cheers
Trash= Bin
Drug store= Chemist or Pharmacy
Cookie= Biscuit
French Fries= Chips
Chips= Crisps
Cup of tea= Cuppa
How are you? = You good?
College= University
Although it sounds like it’s a whole different world out there in London, it’s a city that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day! There is a place for everyone in this vast, dynamic city-- you’re sure to fit in right away!