A trip to London should be on everyone’s ‘Things to do before I’m 100’ list. If you are reading this article, then it’s probably on yours, too.
Many people are weary of visiting the city, they fear the levels of crime, or have fears that people will be unwelcoming. Here, we will set you mind at ease. Wherever you come from, London has something to unique to offer you, things that you will not be able to find anywhere else.
Let’s look at the reasons why you will feel right at home in the world’s 17th largest city, and number two tourist destination.
Company
- You will not feel out of place in London. According to the 2001 census, more than 40% of the population of London are non-English. There are than 400 ethnic groups, coming from all over the world, and so no one need feel out of place.
- More than 14 million international tourists visit London on an annual basis. There are only 8 million Londoners (only! That’s a lot, and is the reason London ranks 9th in the world in terms of population), that means that in any given year, there are almost 2 tourists to every 1 Londoner! From this perspective, the natives are out of place.
- In London, everybody is an outsider; this shared identity, of being on the outside, actually brings people to the inside, and thus, everybody belongs in London.
- According to some sources, more than 270 languages are spoken regularly in the capital – it won’t be too hard then, to find someone who speaks the same language as you.
Thing To Remember
- The English drive on the left. This can feel very odd if you are used to a right hand drive, but you soon get used to it.
- The English are fond of manners, it is customary to say please and thank-you frequently.
- You are expected to hold doors open for the person behind you when entering or leaving a room or building – if there is no one there, don’t wait until somebody appears, just exit, or enter as normal. The rule of thumb is that if it takes the next person longer than 15-35 seconds to reach the door, you don’t stand and wait – but push the door open as you leave so that it may not have closed properly before the next person arrives – this is symbolic of courtesy.
- In the tube, avoid eye contact with other travellers. This reveals you as a tourist. People avoid eye contact in London because it is a threatening gesture if held too long. Fleeting glances are OK, anything longer, unless you are speaking to the person is a no-no.
Hospitality
Although it may seem as if everyone is ignoring you, this is nothing personal. In London, everyone ignores each other as a matter of course – imagine the alternative! You would have to speak to, upwards of, 100,000 people a day!
People are usually happy to help if you have a question (if you’re lost or something similar). Some people may openly ignore you, but this is normally because they are busy, and they are not being rude; it’s part of the rat race mentality and only really happens during the working hours.
The best place to ask for information is in from the hotel staff. For instance, if you were staying in a hotel near Hyde Park, the staff inside the hotel will have extensive knowledge of the area. They will tell you wish sites to visit, according to your personal tastes, where to eat, which theatres are showing the best productions at that moment, and much more besides. Make sure that you take a note of the telephone number, this way, you can always phone them for advice on any problems you have, e.g. which direction to head on the tube to get from a-b. Hyde Park hotel rooms are amongst the most conveniently located rooms in the entire city, with easy access to a number of key Underground, and over ground, stations. They’re also some of the best-priced hotels.
Ease Of Access
If you have a disability, then London is the best city to visit. London has extensive wheelchair access to all key amenities: the Underground, the museums and art galleries, the theatres, the shops, the restaurants, the cinemas, the parks, hotels etc. In fact, wheel chair access is heavily legislated and companies face fines if they fail to provide adequate access. This means that the city is also fantastic for parents whose children are still in buggies.
