Practical Tips for London

London is huge, but thanks to the excellent public transport, it's surprisingly easy to navigate. The most important tips for your stay:

Transport: The Tube (Underground) is the backbone of London's public transport — 11 lines, 272 stations, running daily until around 12:30 AM (Fri/Sat: Night Tube on some lines). The Oyster Card (£7 deposit) or a contactless credit card is a must — single tickets cost absurdly much (£6.70 vs. £2.80 with Oyster/contactless for Zone 1). Daily cap: £8.10 Zone 1–2. The red double-decker buses are cheaper than the Tube (£1.75) and you see more of the city. Bus line 11 (Liverpool Street → Fulham) passes almost all the sights — the cheapest sightseeing bus in London!

Accommodation: London is expensive. Hostels from £20–40/night (Generator London in King's Cross, YHA London Central are good), hotels from £120–200+. The best areas: South Bank (central, Thames riverside), King's Cross/St Pancras (Eurostar, good connections), Shoreditch (hip, affordable for London), Paddington (central, Heathrow Express). Avoid: Staying in Westminster/Mayfair (luxurious but soulless and overpriced).

Food: London is now one of the best food cities in the world. For cheap eats: Street food markets (Borough Market, Camden Market, Maltby Street Market), supermarket sandwiches (Marks & Spencer and Pret A Manger have excellent ready meals for £4–6), pub lunch (Pie & Mash, Fish & Chips: £10–14). For fine dining: London has over 70 Michelin-starred restaurants. Lunch menus are often half the price of dinner.

Safety: London is generally safe. Pickpocketing on the Tube and at tourist hotspots is the biggest risk — wear your backpack in front. Avoid the area around Elephant & Castle and parts of Camden at night.