London Info
History:
Legend tells of a King Lud, after whom Ludgate Hill and Ludgate Circus are named. He is said to be the founder of London. This is only a myth, yet a statue of King Lud can still be seen beside the church of St Dunstan in west London on Fleet Street.
The date London was founded is also shrouded in mystery. After the Roman conquest of 43 AD, the river Thames was grasped for its strategic significance and future crucial trade links. This new province provided easy access to mainland Europe.
Londinium, as the Romans named it, was abandoned in the fifth century. The invading Anglo-Saxons were farming people who had no taste for city life and preferred to found villages which are now London's suburbs such as Fulham, Ealing and Barking.
The Norman invasion by William the Conqueror in 1066 was marked by the construction of the mighty landmark, The Tower of London, located both to guard London Bridge from raiders coming up the Thames and to overawe its inhabitants as a royal symbol of embodiment of power.
Despite the protection of the English Channel, London was affected as much as the rest of Europe was by the epidemic of bubonic plague. Known as the Black Death, this took the lives of a third of the population in 1348-9.
During the reign of the Tudors, including the legendary Henry VIII, the population of London tripled making it both the nation's most prosperous city as well as almost a hundred times more populated than Stratford upon Avon in which Shakespeare grew up before travelling to London as an actor-manager at the Globe theatre.
By 1700 London's population had passed the half million mark, ranking it with Paris and Naples as one of Europe's three largest cities.
Victorian London found its perfect chronicler in Charles Dickens, whose home in Doughty Street survives as his museum.
When Edward VII was crowned King in 1901 London was declared the largest city in the world, with a population of over six million. A century later it is still the largest city in Europe.
Currency and credit cards:
Pounds Sterling (£) is the UK's official currency, and is further divided into 100 pence (p). All banks operate from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday. They may have reduced hours on Saturday. International credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Exchange rates are constantly changing and Sofitel London St James offers a currency conversion service for all guests.
Tipping:
Tipping is not as common in the UK as in other countries. There are, however, some situations where a tip can be expected. Please see below:
Restaurants – Many restaurants choose to add a service charge to your bill, which can vary from 10-17%. This is discretionary and you can have it removed if the service was not adequate. If service is not included, it is customary to leave 10%.
Taxis – 10-15% of the fare.
The Weather in London:
Spring (March – May)
Temperatures can vary from around 10 to 15°C as London enters springtime. The weather is generally sunny, however rain is common in this season.
Summer (June – early September)
Summer can get quite hot as temperatures average around 20°C. Spending time in London’s spacious parks is a relaxing activity to soak up the sunshine, and many traditional London pubs spill out into the streets. Prepare for occasional showers.
Autumn (September – November)
Temperatures fluctuate around the 10 to 15°C mark but are likely to be much warmer in September than November. Come prepared for variable weather but the London summer can often keep early autumn feeling warm.
Winter (November – early March)
Temperatures average at 6°C and rarely fall below zero. It is unusual for it to snow in London but on cold days it can get frosty. The weather is dry with wind, and there are periods of very wet weather.
