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Tips

• It is advisable to purchase the London Pass card to visit the city places of interest and take tours on the Thames. It allows you to avoid making line at each location. It is s valid for the date of purchase, if it is bought on a day at 8 pm; the pass expires in 4 hours.

• London has one of the best public transport system, with its traditional black cabs and the red double-decker buses. The London Travelcard allows you unlimited use of the metro (“the tube”), buses, trams, the Dockland Light Rail, surface trains and the National Railway between zones 1-6. If purchased for 6 days, the 7th day is free.

• There are ATM machines in shopping centers, shops, banks and sidewalks where you can get cash in Euros or Pounds Sterling. Being one of the financial capitals of the world, it has all services that any traveler might need in this area. All major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.

• London prides itself of having many specialized restaurants with dishes from around the world. Mainly from Italy, France, Spain and India, but the proud British cuisine clearly dominates. A walk through downtown will be enough to find all kind of fresh produce and ingredients. You can get as sophisticated as you want.

• London’s climate is quite unpredictable, with sudden changes. You might need in any season an umbrella and sunglasses on the same day. However, fluctuations are not extreme as to cancel plans due to weather. The high tourist season is during July and August, when the temperature is warmer.

Tops

• March festivals celebrated in London are St. Patrick’s Day (17), Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday) in mid-month, the Ideal Home Show (  weeks of March) Exhibit and sale of housewares . In mid-April, the London Book Fair takes place. On the 21st   the birthday of Queen Elizabeth is celebrated and on the 23rd.  St. George’s Day.  During the second half of the month, you can see the London Marathon and at the end of the month, the East End Cinema Festival.

• A must to visit are the castles and palaces in London.  When you go to Buckingham Palace; do not to miss the change of guard. Also, visit the Kensington, which was the preferred residence by the royals until 1760. The Palace of Hampton Court, in west London by the banks of the Thames; the Tower of London on the Thames, next to the Tower Bridge, and Windsor Castle.

• London is proud of its public gardens and care of them accordingly. Kew Gardens are the summit of London gardening obsession. The Chelsea Physic Garden has non-native species, thanks to the microclimate created by its proximity to the Thames. The Geffrye Museum Gardens show the evolution of the landscaping along half a millennium.

• Londoners give great importance to their parks. The most important ones are appointed “Royal Parks” and are administered by the Royal Parks office. Among them, Hyde Park, Richmond, Kensington Gardens, The Regent’s Park, Greenwich Park, Bushy Park, St. James Park, Green Park and Brompton Cemetery.

Text:  Amura ± Photo: @Doug / VISIT BRITAIN