| UK's plugs are very different to European, American, Asian or any others!! (They have a triple head) and the voltage is 240V. You will need a power adaptor, which you can buy in most big supermarkets, airports or shops like Muji or Dixons.
MONEY
The English currency is the Pound. £1=100 pence (pennies). The notes have values of £5, £10, £20 and £50 and the coins of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p and £1, £2.
As we recommend in our Banking article, it is best you try open a bank account before you come. But if for some reason you cannot do so, you can bring the following:
- Traveller's cheques to start with. They are accepted in many restaurants, hotels and department stores and are a safe way to keep your money, rather than bringing a big amount of cash.
- Credit cards (MasterCard, VISA, Electron or American Express) are accepted everywhere.
- If you bring your own currency, you can change money at Post Offices with no-commission. There are many Money exchange shops downtown, around Leicester Square and Piccadilly. As well as Bayswater and some major train stations.
- If you are going to use ATM machines, then it is best you take bigger amounts so that the commission payments are worth it. In some cases foreign banks have deals with local banks and there aren't any commission rates. It is good to ask in your own bank before coming here.
OPENING HOURS
- Shops open usually from 9am to 5.30pm. There is late night opening on Thursdays and some shopping centres are open till later. As well as certain chain shops and grocery shops (such as GAP, Zara, Accessorize, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Costcutters...)
- Banks open Mon-Sat from 9.30am to 4.30pm approximately
- Museums open Mon-Sun from 10am till 6pm, but there are late night openings (different weekday in each museum).
- Pharmacies from 9am till 5pm, except for Boots, which opens until 7pm or even 11pm in certain areas (such as Bayswater)
- Post Offices open Mon-Fri from 8am till 6pm on average. Some open till later. They also open on Saturdays on the morning.
MEASUREMENTS
Distance: Inch (2.5cm), Foot/Feet (30cm), Yard (90cm) and Miles (1.6km)
Weight: Pound (0.45kg)
Liquid: Pint (474 ml)
Temperature: farenheit (32F=0C). When you see the weather reports on the TV they now quote all measurements in degrees Celcius.
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