London, England

What to wear in London, England

The style in London is mostly "anything goes," but you certainly will want to have some elegant clothes on hand for the many fine restaurants and cultural activities that are a part of most London visits, many of which require a jacket and tie for men. Dressing in layers to accommodate the rapidly changing weather is a good idea.

Spoken language in London, England

Language

English.

Currency

The United Kingdom's currency is the British Pound Sterling. For current conversation rates, please click here.

Electricity in London, England

The current runs on 240 volts, roughly twice the US current, so you will need an adapter to use your American appliances.

Customs information for London, England visitors

We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.

Entry

A passport is required, but no visa is needed. A roundtrip ticket, or a ticket continuing on to another destination, is also required since the maximum allowable visit is 6 months.

UK Customs

Visitors at least 17 years of age can enter England with 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco), 2 liters of wine, 1 liter of liquor, canned/sealed/packaged food (no produce or dairy), 2 pounds of sealed meat, and 2 ounces of perfume. In order to keep the British Isles rabies free, a strict 6-month quarantine period is imposed on incoming pets. Illegally imported animals will very likely be euthanized.

US Customs

You can re-enter the US with $800 worth of duty-free merchandise. A flat rate of 10% is levied on the next $1,000 worth of purchases. You cannot bring back fresh food, but canned goods are permitted.

United States Embassy

24 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A 1AE, United Kingdom, phone 44- 020-7-499-9000.

Advising for London, England visitors

We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.

Drinking

You must be 18 years old to drink alcohol. Children under 16 may only enter certain rooms in pubs and only if accompanied by an adult.

Taxes

A 17.5% Value Added Tax - refundable for goods, not services, upon departure - is added to many items. A refund from a store depends on its participation in the Retail Export Scheme program and each store sets its own minimum purchase total for a refund. Look for the "Tax Free Shopping" sign at these stores. You will be given a form to fill out and present, along with the purchased goods, at the airport for a refund. If you do not claim the refund before leaving, you will not be able to claim it after arriving back home.