City Introduction

As the capital of UK, London is situated in the England Southeast Plain and is one of three international financial centers. It surrounds the River Thames and is wet and rainy all year round. It is not only the political, economic and cultural center of UK, but also the first largest port city in UK. In the eyes of many people, the classical landscape architecture and local customs and habits in London are the best representation of the British culture.

The core tourist section of London is undoubtedly Trafalgar Square, which extends to the north side of the River Thames with the radius of one kilometer. When you sitting in this very precious region, the very popular Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, Downing Street and famous Oxford Circus shopping zone have been in all of your view. If walking along the River Thames, you may see classical architecture, such as London Tower Bridge and the emerging landscapes, such as London Eye and Shard.

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

London is a traditional and modern international metropolis. With the cultural deposition for several thousand years, it shall be surely listed as one of the most ancient and traditional cities in the world. Since the times of Roman Empire, London has maintained its long tradition. In every corner of this city, there are the historical relics from different times, and the streets and alleys manifest the traces experiencing the wind and frost. London is also a diversified metropolis, where the residents use about 300 languages, and many persons from Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia settle and work here, adding many outlandish colors to London.

 

 

 

 

Climate Change

The best time for travel in London is June to August, when the daylight saving time (DST) is used, with relatively long daytime, so there is more time for travel in the scenic spots. More importantly, this may avoid the wet and cold climate in the winter, and there will basically no happening of the operation stop of the subway and railway due to the weather reason. London is comfortable in four seasons, cool in summer, with the highest temperature about 27°C, so it is suitable to wear long-sleeve or short-sleeve T-shirts, long trousers or long skirts etc. The lowest temperature in the winter is about 5°C, so coats and cotton clothes are necessary, and the cold-preventive articles, such as gloves, and scarfs, are also necessary. Since the cloudy and rainy weather is common in UK, the wind coat with hat is practical, and it is recommended to carry the umbrella when going out.

 

 

 

 

Useful Information

Embassy ant Consulate

Embassy Contact Information

Address: 31 Portland Place, London, W1B 1QD

Tel: 02076311430

Fax: 02074369178

E-mail: visa@chinese-embassy.org.uk

Business hour: Monday to Friday, 9:00-12:00, except public holidays in UK and China.

Time Lag

London time is 8 hours slower than the Beijing time, that is, when the Beijing time is 2 o’clock in the afternoon, the corresponding London time is six o’clock in the morning. The daylight saving time (DST) starts from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October, when the London time is 7 hours slower than the Beijing time.

Power Socket

The universal voltage in UK is 220-240V, generally with three-socket flat plug, the electric appliances with the rated voltage 220V may be used, and the Chinese tourists are required to prepare the British standard plug adaptor.

Mobile phone/Tel.

The mobile phone in China may be directly used in UK, but it is required to open the GoTone business in the business office, with the use method as follows,

Local dial: Direct dial of the customer number, at the rate of RMB 1.99 per minute.

Dial back to China Mainland: “ 00 /+” -86 Area Code-Customer Number (Mobile phone: “00/+”-86 customer number), at the rate of RMB 1.99 per minute for both dialing and being dialed.

Local SMS: RMB 1.29 per SMS for direct sending to the recipient number.

SMS back to China Mainland: RMB 0.39 per SMS for sending to 86+ recipient number, and free for receiving.

In addition, it is possible to purchase the local rechargeable SIM card of Lebara Company, at the rate of 0.1 pound per minute for dial back to China Mainland. Tax refund

When the tourist purchases over 30 pounds in the medium and large-sized British shopping malls and franchise stores in London, the tourist may enjoy the tax refund in case that he/she leaves the UK within three (3) months after the shopping. In UK, the VAT rate is 20%, that is, when the tourist buys the commodities with the value of 120 pounds, the tax refundable is 20 pounds. But in the tax refund, the tourists are required to pay the service fee at certain rate according to the value of the purchased commodities, and the final recoverable tax is about 10% of the consumption expenditure. Basic steps for tax refund:

1. At the time of settlement for shopping, it is required to present the passport or passport copy, requiring the cashier to issue the corresponding Tax-free Forum filled with the personal information for the shopping invoice.

2. When leaving UK, the tax refund procedures will be handled by presenting the passport, Tax-free Forum and the corresponding commodities in the tax refund point. Generally, the tax refund may be realized by means of GBP cash or credit card account. The first operation is simple, and it will take more than one month for the latter. The whole tax refund process will take about 1-2 hours.

 

 

 

 

Visa Information

For handling the personal tourist visa, it is required to make the visa interview by person in the Visa Center and it will take 15-20 business days for the visa issuing, with the granting of the visa with the validity period no more than 6 months, and the longest stay time no more than 3 months, with the visa handling fees about RMB 800 (from the date that the visa is delivered), and required materials include,

1. Photos: Three color photos with white background, and size 35*45mm.

2. Passport: The private passport with the validity period over six months, with the personal signature on the last page of the passport (Chinese signature). In case of renewing the passport, it is required to provide the original of the previous passport.

3. ID Card: One front-and-back copy of new version of ID Card.

4. Household register: Copy of all pages of the household register with all family members. If the couple is not on the same household register, it is required to provide the copy of all pages in the household registers for the couple.

5. Marital status certification: In case of being married, it is required to provide the copy of the marriage certificate, and in case of being divorced, it is required to provide the copy of the divorce certificate.

6. Personal information table: One printed and signed online application table.

7. Payroll: Original of the list of the payroll statements, retirement pension or annuities for more than six months.

8. Certificate of deposit: Original of the certificate of deposit with the amount over RMB 50 thousand, which shall be frozen for at least 30 days after return to China; certificate of time deposit or time deposit book opened at least half year ago, with the amount over RMB 50 thousand.

9. The statement of the credit card for over six (6) months or the current deposit with the deposit record for more than half year.

10. Copy of the property ownership certificate, vehicle ownership certificate (if any), and stock transaction sheet.

11. Incumbency certification: It shall be printed on the paper with the formal company head, and shall be made in two copies, one in Chinese and one in English. The contents shall include organization name, applicant title and income, work years, travel time, expense undertaker, the title, signature, telephone number and fax number of the personnel in charge, indicating the guarantee that the applicant will return to China as scheduled, being affixed with the organization seal.

12. Business license/organizational code certificate: If the organization where the applicant works is the enterprise, it is required to provide the copy of the duplicate of the business license affixed with the official seal; if the organization where the applicant works is the public institution, it is required to provide the copy of the duplicate of the organizational code certificate affixed with the official seal; the duplicate of business license/organizational code certificate shall include the annual inspection record.

13. Retirement certificate: It is required to provide the copy of the retirement certificate

14. Certificate of studentship The students shall provide certificate of studentship. The contents shall include applicant name, study grade and trade, leave tourism and holiday time, registered school time, contact information, personnel in charge of issuing the certification, name and the signature, affixed with the school seal. Certificate of studentship shall be in two copies, one in Chinese and one in English.

15. Notarial certificate: In case that the applicant below 18 years old travels with the parents, it is required to provide the notarial certificate and certification for the three-party relations, and the notarization shall define the child as the main applicant. In case that the applicant below 18 years old travels with the parent, it is required to provide the notarial certificate and certification for the three-party relations, and the notarization shall define the child as the main applicant. The party not present shall issue the notarization and certification for letter of consent. In case that the applicant below 18 years old travels with the non-lineal relatives other than the parents, it is required to provide the notarial certificate and certification for the three-party relations, and the notarization for the non-lineal relatives shall define the child as the main applicant.

16. Lodging: Hotel booking confirmation information, giving the accurate date of the stay in UK; ; confirmation or voucher for the booking of the travel and outing; flight ticket confirmation information.

17. UK guarantor: Copy of the certification materials for legal identity in UK

18. Auxiliary materials: In case the travel expenses are paid by others, it is required to provide the asset certification information. If the applicant is the legal person of the company, it is possible to provide the certifications, such as the tax returns of the company. In case that the espouse or companion has the work, it is possible to provide their work certification and income certification.

Information for Chinese Embassy

For the handling of UK visa, the tourist may go to:

Shanghai: F1, Guangdong Development Bank Building, No. 555, Xujiahui Road, Shanghai

Beijing: Room A909-919, District A, F9, Block A, Group 2, No. 5, Shuijing Lane, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Business hour: Monday to Friday, 7:30-14:30

 

 

 

 

Currency Exchange

In UK, the circulation currency is GBP. According to the exchange rate in 2013, RMB 10 is equal to about 1 GBP. In UK, the stores attached with the “Union Pay” sign can accept UnionPay cards, over 99% and totally 64 thousand ATMs throughout UK accept Union Pay card to withdraw GBP cash. In addition, the ATMs with LNK network sign can accept Union Pay card, with multiple cash withdrawal options of minimum 10 GBP and maximum 200 GBP.

 

 

 

 

Tourism Service Number

Important Telephone Numbers

In case of dialing the phone to send the police alarm, seek for firefighting or emergency medical service, please call 999. Tourism consulting

There are many tourist information centers in London, where you may ask the way and obtain the travel suggestions. In addition, the latest maps, subway maps and activity information are available in the tourist information centers. The largest tourist information center in London is beside St Paul's Cathedral. There are tourist information centers near the main tourism destinations, such as Victoria Station, King's Cross Railway Station, and Liverpool Street Station.

City of London Information Centre

Address: St. Paul’s Churchyard, City of London, EC4M 8BX

Business time: Monday-Saturday 9:30-17:30; Sunday, 10:00-16:00

Contact Information: +444-20-73321456

 

 

 

 

Notes

Special Notes

1. Never jump the queue

The British people are accustomed to respecting each other. In any occasion, they have the habit of queuing. Unless limited by the space, they usually keep the spacing of more than half meter, so as to avoid the body contact. Jumping the queue in UK will arouse universal condemnation. If you are not sure that another person is in the queue, you may ask ”Are you in the queue”, and then choose the position in the queue.

2 Don’t haggle when shopping

Either in the shopping mall or in the marketplace, haggling is the biggest taboo during the shopping in UK. Concern about saving face, the British people do not like haggling. They will buy the things at the proper price in their view, and will go away if the price is improper. The seller also observes this point.

3. Be euphemistic when speaking about going for the toilet

In the restaurant or shopping mall, if you want to go for the toilet, you’d better avoid inquiring the position of ”Toilet” straightforwardly, and the British people are more accustomed to calling it with the euphemistic words, such as Washroom or Cloakroom, and the familiar persons will call it ”Loo”.

4. Thank the stranger

The polite British people often speak “Thank You” when they go out, and express thanks for the stranger leaving the door unlocked, the servant giving the odd change and even the driver in the bus station. Generally speaking, they speak ”Cheers” to express thanks in trivial things, and speak ”Thank you” for the important things. Similarly, if they obstruct the road of the stranger or have the body contact carelessly, they will also speak ”Sorry”.

5. Public security situations

Since UK does not join EU, it avoids the inrush of many East European thieves. So it has generally good public security, and there is little waylaying or personal injury even in the early morning. But since there are many nationalities in UK, there are still the hidden troubles in the suburbs of some northern cities and the gathering places of the nationalities. So it is better to avoid the activities far from the downtown area. In addition, there are many thieves around Big Ben and London Eye. You’d pay special attention.

 

 

 

 

Festivals(Important/Historical/Folks Ones)

Notting Hill Carnival

Time: Last weekend of August

Situated in the west suburb of London, Notting Hill is the place with the most exotic atmosphere. Every August, Notting Hill Carnival with the theme of Caribbean culture makes this place become the sea for carnival of the nationalities with pleasure in London. Many tourists from other countries swarm into this place in this period, to participate in this street carnival procession activity with the largest scale in Europe by having on peculiar clothes.

River Thames Cultural Festival

Time: September

In the end of the summer and the early autumn every year, during the River Thames Cultural Festival, the grand quarter-end party is held between Westminster Bridge and London Tower Bridge, when the Londoners will go out and join the very special lantern procession and the personal flow in street market, appreciate the dancing and singing, fireworks and overwater performance.

London Film Festival

Time: October

London Film Festival hosted by London Film Institute is undoubtedly the most famous cultural activity. In every October, 180 excellent films from home and abroad gather together, for the showing in the former National Film Theatre- BFI (BFI Southbank) and Leicester Square Cinema.

Bonfire Night

Time: November 5

On November 5, the night sky in London is decorated extremely splendid by fireworks. This special festival is held to commemorate that the government frustrated the plot of Guy Fawkes to bombard the House of Parliament in 1605. On Battersea Park, Victoria Park and London Eye, the people can appreciate breathtakingly wonderful fireworks performance.

Remembrance Day

Time: November 11

November 11 is a special day for the British people, most adult males will wear a poppy flower on the chest, to memory the British soldiers sacrificing in the World Wars and other wars, the streets and alleys in London are infused with the prevailing atmosphere of solemnity and reverence, and the British Queen, Prime Minister and other important government persons will also contribute the wreaths in front of the Fallen Soldier Memorial Monument.