Pickpockets and other London, United Kingdom Warning Or Danger Tips

I cannot stress this enough after seeing it happen to people too many times

keep hold of your valuables

don't leave them in a bag you are carrying over your shoulder it's very easy for them to be stolen.

Don't keep all your cards and money in one wallet

unless you really need to don't take your passport out with you.

Don't use your phone outside of tube stations.

carry your train/bus ticket in seperately from everything else so that you can at least still get back to where you're staying.

If you do end up getting something stolen report it straight away as soon as you notice it's missing

call one of the directory lines who'll help you locate the nearest police station to you and give you their number.

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Phone: 118 500

Now london traffic is not always bad and sometimes being on one of these things can be a little dangerous as many cars hate them and don't tend to look where they're going... but more to the point if you're going to take one make sure you ask the price first and get a good discount on it... never accept the first offer!

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Personally if you're going to be staying in the city itself, i really would think twice about hiring a car for your stay. Public transport although expensive and a pain, is the fastest way to get around london, even with congestion charging it takes a long long time to drive a mile in the city.

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I have compiled a list of a mistakes American's make when they are here visiting

1. Fanny Packs/ Bum Bags whatever you want to call them. They really are not kewl... these babies stopped being sold here in the early 90's and anyone wearing them is shot on sight

2. Being Loud, if you look around especially when you're on the tube and no one's talking... or people are talking quietly... then follow suit!

3. Clothing. As a yank i suppose it depends on where you are from... but wearing a t-shirt with USA plastered all over it, or coat that looks like something you'd use on an expedition to the k2 summit, just singles you out completely. Also wearing proper trainers that you could actually use for sport, is hardly done here to walk around in... it's mostly stylish comfortable light trainers... have a look at www.puma.com and www.merrell.com for ideas.

4. Croakies on your wrap around sunglasses... just wrong

5. Making a big scene in a shop or a restaurant over a small thing. If the person serving you gets something wrong. Don't make a huge scene instead just quietly have a word with them say politely that the food is cold or that they haven't given you the right change... mistakes do happen

6. Don't act like you own the place... as much as Americans like to believe that the whole world loves them, the reality is, we don't.

7. Under No Circumstances mention the war. Yes the British soldiers are over there fighting, but almost anyone you ask about the war will tell you that we shouldn't be over there. Not many people believe in the war here so it's a subject best steered clear of.

8. If you really want to get along with the English you have to be able to joke about your own country and your own president... we do it to ourselves so why not join in

9. my last point here... if you go to a comedy club such as www.comedystore.co.uk do not... if the comedian asks if there are any americans in the audience... start screaming and shouting... you will end up being every comedian's joke for the rest of the night

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In England there are very strict criteria set for people driving taxi's. Generally more expensive black "Cabs" are the safest and best way to get around as they can seat 5 people with luggage and the drivers have to take a test called "the knowledge" which basically means memorising all the streets in london and working out the fastest ways of getting a person to their destination.

there are also mini cabs (check for the hackney carriage licence on the back of the car, which you cannot hail, only call and book one, or go into taxi rank to get them.

The final form of taxi is the illegal minicab driver, you'll see them hanging around area's asking people if they want a taxi etc... or they'll pull over to you as if you've hailed them and try and get business this way. Many of these drivers are trying to make a living, which isn't a bad thing in itself but when you consider none of these drivers are licenced to carry passengers as a taxi and are therefore not insured this is where the problem lies. More so, there have been a number of rape and mugging cases because of a few of these drivers, so my advice spend the extra £5-10 and take a black cab

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London apartments direct (www.Londonapartmentsdirect.com) is a fraudulant site designed to get people to pay extortionate amounts of money for a hotel or appartment that never gets booked. nor will you get the money back or ever hear from the guy again.

The best way to avoid sites like this is to make sure you pay by card so at least you can claim the money back and you also have a record of the transaction, be very weary of any site that asks for cash cheque or travellers cheques before you arrive. If in doubt ask a few vt members in the london forum

Have a look at these links for more details of other Vt members that have had problems with them.

http://forum.virtualtourist.com/discussion-257339-1-1-Travel-0-0-London-discussion.html#answerID_1821834

http://forum.virtualtourist.com/3/discussion-278658-1-1-Travel-0-309228-London-discussion.html?wosid=dIAMrGJbStjqPfCRL7bqjM

My advice to you is not to book with them, however if you already have, or have had trouble, make sure you let the authorities know and at the very least post your problem either on the London forum here or on other forums so that others won't fall into the same trap.

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Website: http://forum.virtualtourist.com/discussion-257339-1-1-Travel-0-0-London-discussion.html#answerID_1821834