ATM services in London

If you want to exchange money it is the best to go to a Bank or Post Office. They charge less high commissions than exchange offices.

In many places in London you will find ATM machines where you can withdraw British pounds. Withdrawing money do you do with a debit card (Maestro) or credit card. When withdrawing money there are always additional transaction costs. These can be different per bank or credit card. Credit cards are widely accepted but because of the costs there is a a minimum amount used by accepting a credit card.

In the whole of England it is customary to leave a tip at taxis, restaurants, hotels and bars in the upper segment (not in pubs). A usual gesture is a tip of 10-15% off the price. Be aware that sometimes a service fee is included in the price.

Safety in London

London is a safe city. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t keep an eye on your belongings, especially in the metro. Also, it is not recommended for you to be in or around empty looking underground stations. Furthermore, there are areas that have a lot of pickpockets. These are especially in the busier areas such as Oxford Street and Leicester Square. Lastly never take a taxi that doesn’t have a license.

Public holidays of London

Most shops and banks closed on public holidays. The public holidays of London are:

How late do the stores open and close

– Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday are the stores open from 09:00-18:00.
– On Thursday there is a late shopping night in London, stores are open from  09:00-20:00
– Sunday the stores are open from 12:00-18:00

Pay attention. These are the regular opening hours primarily for Central London, but there are often fluctuations in this. Some stores won’t open till 9:30 am. The larger stores are already open at 10:00 on Sunday, the shops at the West End and Kensington High Street remain open until 19:00 and the larger shops in Oxford until 21:00. The shops of Knightsbridge and Chelsea have on Wednesday late night shopping.