UK Travel Guide: London, Oyster & Pubs
🛂 UK Visa & ETA (NOT Schengen)
- UK is NOT in Schengen - need separate ETA (£10, 2 years) or visa
- ETA required for US, EU, Canada, Australia - simple online
- Standard visitor visa £115 for 6 months - apply 3+ months ahead
🚆 London Transport
- Oyster Card (£7 deposit) or contactless - daily cap auto-applied
- Tube daily cap Zone 1-2: £8.50 - unlimited after that
- Buses tap-in only - flat rate £1.75 per ride
- Elizabeth Line £12.80 from Heathrow vs £25 Express
🥤 Pub & Food Culture
- Pubs stop serving food at 9pm - kitchens close earlier
- Sunday Roast is THE British institution - 12-4pm Sundays, £12-18
- Tipping 10-12.5% in restaurants - not expected in pubs
- Afternoon Tea £30-60 - cream tea (scone+tea) £8 cheaper
🏛️ London Free Attractions
- British Museum FREE - pre-book time slot
- Sky Garden FREE - book 3 weeks ahead on Monday mornings
- Changing of the Guard 11am Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun
- Tower of London £34.80 - go early for Crown Jewels
🗺️ Best Day Trips
- Windsor Castle: 30min train - oldest inhabited castle
- Oxford: 1h - Christ Church (Hogwarts hall), punting
- Bath + Stonehenge: 1.5h - Roman baths + Stonehenge by tour
- Cambridge: 50min - punting, King College Chapel
- Brighton: 1h - pebble beach, pier, quirky Lanes
🛍️ Beyond London
- Harrods food hall is an experience
- Camden Market: alternative fashion, street food - weekends best
- West End theatre: TodayTix same-day deals from £25
- Edinburgh: 4.5h - castle, Arthur Seat. August = Fringe
- Lake District: 3h - hiking, Beatrix Potter. York: 2h - Vikings
💡 Quick Tips
- Look RIGHT then LEFT crossing streets - traffic opposite
- eSIM much cheaper than UK roaming - buy before arrival
- Pubs: order at the bar, no table service
- Free museums: V&A, Natural History, National Gallery
- Borough Market best Wed-Sat - go 11am
- Carry a compact umbrella year-round
- Queuing is a national pastime - never cut in line
- Scottish banknotes legal UK currency but sometimes refused in England
⚡ Pro Tips
- Railcard (£30/year) for 1/3 off most train fares
- TodayTix app for cheap same-day West End theatre from £25
- Skip Oxford Street on weekends - Regent Street or Covent Garden better
📋 Summary
The UK blends history with modern convenience. Separate visa from Schengen, use contactless for transit, and embrace pub culture. Museums are gloriously free.
