While there are many places within London that are ideal for peoplewatching (any train or Tube station, for example), I think I’ve found one of the most relaxing and fascinating spots to watch the tourists mingle with locals. Go to the Starbucks Coffee across the street from the British Museum entrance. Find a spot at the window counter, or outside at a table, and watch the comings and goings. You’ll see tourists from every nation, hurried locals with their carrier bags and briefcases, and every type of motor vehicle pass right in front of you as you sip your Earl Grey or triple-shot espresso. I’ve done this during each trip I’ve made recently to London, and I guarantee you a wonderful peoplewatching experience.

Starbucks Coffee
51 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3BA

When traveling to the U.K. on vacation, you’ll need to prepare yourself in advance to convert your electric and electronic items in order to be able to use them. While the U.S. uses 110-volt electricity, the majority of countries around the world use a 220-volt system. Many items now have dual voltage so, for instance, taking your iPod with you and charging it up while in London won’t be as much of a concern. Switch it to 220 volts while overseas; switch it back when you return to the U.S. If your appliances do not have dual voltage – like a hair dryer, for instance – then you’ll need to use a converter.

Also, plugs in Britain are shaped differently, so you’ll need to purchase plug adapters and pack them prior to leaving. Technically, adapters don’t have anything to do with the electricity – they just help make the plug fit securely into the wall socket. A photo is shown below of the different prongs used in the U.K.

As far as converters go, these are for use with electric appliances such as hair dryers and irons. They can be used for short periods of time. You’ll need something more heavy duty, a transformer, for extended use with computers and battery chargers. There are even products available that can be used as both converter and transformer.

Plug adapters, converters and transformers can easily be found and purchased online, although most travel, luggage and major office supply stores carry these products here in the States. You’ll be hard-pressed to find these appliances while in London, so be sure to handle these matters before leaving.

Since many vacationers now carry laptop computers with them, either to keep up on work or to stay in contact with those back home, you’ll want to know these details in order to stay up and running. Most AC adapters and chargers for laptops are dual voltage, so a plug adapter is all you’ll need. To protect yourself, you may want to purchase a travel surge protector as well if you’re going to be working for extended periods of time.

If you’ll be staying in a major chain hotel while in London, inquire before you arrive as to what is available. While plug adapters are a necessity, you may even find that some hotels provide you with 110-volt outlets for your use while there. In general, “know before you go” and avoid frustration while dealing with your electric appliances. Click below to visit Amazon.com and purchase what you’ll need:

A vacation in the U.K. can be quite costly, especially if you’re taking the entire family. Between airfare, accommodations, and food, you’re likely to spend thousands of US dollars. However, there are still quite a few things to do in London that cost absolutely nothing that you should take advantage of while on your trip. The top ten are:

1. Museums, museums, museums! In 2001, the British government provided the necessary subsidies and tax law changes to allow the doors of many of London’s top museums to be propped open for the general public without any admission fees. You could plan an entire holiday around these locations alone, which include: the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert, the Natural History and Science Museums, the Imperial War Museum, both the Tate and Tate Modern, the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, Covent Garden’s Theatre Museum, the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Prior to this incredible scheme, it would have been prohibitively expensive to take an entire family for a day-out at a museum. Now you can enjoy all of these and still have money for lunch.

2. The Changing of the Guard. The grand tradition at Buckingham Palace is a must-see for those visiting London for the first time. The music, the horses, the pageantry — it’s all there. Check with your hotel concierge or online for dates and times.

3. Street Markets. Besides Portobello Road on Saturday mornings (which is terrific for peoplewatching as well as browsing), there are over fifty other locations in the capital city to wander through, including Borough Market, Petticoat Lane Market, Camden Market, and Greenwich Market. Most are at weekends.

4. Visit the park. There are dozens of parks in which to stretch out and relax, provided it’s a sunny day! The largest, of course, are Hyde Park, St. James’s Park, Green Park and Regents Park. It’s amazing that there is still so much greenspace in the middle of one of the world’s largest cities, and it may be more grass and trees than your children see back home in the States. Take advantage of it.

5. BBC TV and Radio shows. If you have enough advanced time, visit www.bbc.co.uk/whatson/tickets/ and get tickets to see a recording of either a BBC television or radio program. There are several locations in and around London where these tapings occur, and while you may find yourself arriving early and standing in line for awhile, these free events are very entertaining and provide a backstage look at something you would rarely even see back home.

6. London bridges. A stroll along the Thames, both north of the river and along the South Bank walkway, is a relaxing way to spend a day and can often provide you with some of the best photographic opportunities you’ll have during your trip. (Think Big Ben, the London Eye, the Tower of London, and the river itself!) Crossing back and forth on the Westminster Bridge, the London Bridge, the new Millennium Bridge, and the Tower Bridge, it’s one of the best self-guided walking tours you can take.

7. Bookstores in Charing Cross Road. Between Foyle’s and Borders and Blackwell, you have enough books and magazines to keep you browsing for an entire day — and Foyle’s has an especially wonderful children’s section as well. A cup of coffee halfway through the day and you’ll have enough energy to explore some of the other smaller independent shops nearby.

8. A Day at a Department Store. While most of us prefer shopping over browsing, there are so many amazing things for sale at Harrods in Knightsbridge or Selfridges in Oxford Street that you could spend a day looking, trying on clothes, and enjoying a cup of tea that you won’t feel badly if you leave at the end of the day empty-handed. It’s also a terrific way to spend some indoor time during one of London’s frequent rainy days.

9. Lunchtime Concerts at St. Martin’s. St. Martin-in-the-Fields, located in Trafalgar Square, hosts small live music concerts (most always classical) on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 1PM. While donations are suggested, these are free to the public.

10. Old Bailey Courtroom Galleries. If you’re interested in seeing the British legal system at work, there are free public galleries at the Old Bailey (technically the Central Criminal Court) near St. Paul’s. Children under 14 won’t be admitted, and no recording equipment is allowed — leave it behind because there are no storage facilities.

Keeping yourself and your loved ones safe and healthy during your London vacation is obviously important. Taking a few minutes to prepare before your trip will help you avoid potential problems and allow you to enjoy yourself.

While it may be difficult to fit one more item in your suitcase, it’s always a good idea to pack a small first aid kit and some cold and headache remedies. Blisters are bound to happen with all the walking you’re going to do, and a few bandage strips and some cream will come in handy. While the Brits have plenty of drug stores (with Boots as their largest chain of “chemists”) with usually very helpful pharmacists, their products are just not the same as ours. The last thing you want to do if you get sick while on vacation is try to figure out if Night Nurse or Lemsip is going to work as well as what you’re used to taking back home.

If more serious medical attention while in London, your hotel staff will be able to direct you to an emergency room (called Casualty or A&E for accident and emergency) or ambulances can be reached by dialing 999, not 911. You’ll need to pay for doctor’s services out of pocket. If you want to put your mind at ease before leaving, check with your insurance carrier to see if they will help reimburse some of your expenses for overseas medical consultations. You may also choose to purchase additional traveler’s insurance.

Crime occurs in every major city, and London is no exception. Tourists are often easy targets because they are preoccupied with having a good time far from home and may be oblivious to warning signs around them. Basic safety principles, such as not walking alone after dark (especially in parks or isolated areas), should be observed. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers work the streets and the Underground, so men should keep their wallets in their front or inside jacket pockets and women should keep their bags securely fastened and closed. As night turns to morning and many Londoners spill out of the pubs and clubs, take caution as you may see an increase in disorderly behavior on the streets.

The attacks of 7/7/2005 on the public transport system have renewed worries over terrorism. London proved that it had emergency plans ready to implement that day, and while things can always be improved upon, the local and national authorities are constantly working to strengthen both their anti-terrorism campaign and their preparedness procedures. During a crisis, television news from the BBC and other channels can often be your best and quickest source of information.

If you have a wireless phone with international roaming, it may be a good idea to carry it with you while on vacation. They can also be rented at the airports when you arrive in the U.K. or from certain companies before you leave. Mobile phones are of great help during emergency situations and can help keep your family connected in case you become lost or separated.

Finally, the U.S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square is able to provide assistance in emergencies for American tourists. Keep their phone number in your wallet — 020 7499 9000 – and it’s not a bad idea to register your visit with them online at www.state.gov. Along with passport assistance, the Embassy can help you if you become ill and need advice or if all your money is lost or stolen and you need assistance in obtaining funds.