"Packing List" London Packing List Tip by sjvessey

Luggage and bags: A small backback, obviously, for carrying anything you want to carry. Or a sling if you think you are cool enough to get away with it. Security personnel at many tourist attractions insist on searching your bags for weapons and explosive devices, so don't carry around anything too embarrassing. In the evenings, leave your bags behind if possible, because although some bars and clubs have cloakrooms or lockers, most of them don't. Keep your bags zipped up at all times, and don't leave them lying around (or even hanging off the backs of chairs), or you risk someone snatching them off you and running out of the door. A lot of bars in the West End will have little hooks you can hang your bags from on the underside of the tables.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Obviously this depends on the time of year and the weather. In the summer London is lucky to break 30C, and in the winter it doesn't often drop below freezing, but these are only general guidelines. You'll definitely need a good pair of walking shoes because you are likely to be doing a lot of walking. Bring an umbrella, even in the summer.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: If you need any specific medication you should check on its availability before coming to the UK, as laws on what can and can't be sold over the counter vary by country. For example, in Spain contraceptive pills can be bought by walking into a pharmacy and asking for them, but in the UK you need a doctor's prescription for them (i.e. you have to visit a doctor who then writes out a piece of paper instructing the pharmacy to sell them to you). Don't assume that because you can buy it in your home country, you can buy it in London. Tylenol, for example, doesn't exist in the UK.

Photo Equipment: You will need an adapter plug (available at the airport before you travel) or none of your electrical equipment will work. The UK uses a unique design of plug socket so you will need to buy one especially. Check your equipment can handle a voltage of up to 250 volts, or it'll be fried when you plug it in. Photographic film is available from many different types of retail outlet, so no problems there.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: There is nowhere to pitch a tent in central London, and the nearest beach is about an hour and a half away by train at Brighton (the beach is not sandy, either, but made of small stones). You won't need any beach gear, trust me.

Miscellaneous: To all you Americans out there... US dollars are not acceptable currency in the vast majority of stores in the UK. The only exceptions are shops designed for tourists, which will give you a hideously poor exchange rate. And even then, you'll get your change in pounds. However people of almost any nationality should be able to get cash from ATMs using a foreign-issued VISA card. Other types of card holders should check availability before travelling, as not everything is available. If all you have is a Belgian-issued 'Mister Cash' card, you better bring all your money with you...