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Before you go to London: The ultimate travel checklist

All the London travel advice you need to know, from mastering the Oyster Card to visas and tipping.

Oyster Cards and getting around London

The Tube (officially, the Underground) is the oxygen of London – nothing works without it. And the cheapest way to get around on the Tube for visitors is with an Oyster Card.

The pay-as-you-go Oyster Card calculates the cheapest tickets for all your travels to ensure you are better off.

You can purchase one before you leave and have it delivered to you in Australia (or many other non-UK countries) within 15 days, which makes arrival that much easier. Order it from the Visit Britain Shop online store.

There are the famous black cabs of London whose drivers could find an obscure street in the back of Hackney thanks to ‘The Knowledge’ but they are more expensive and usually slower.

So for day-to-day sightseeing, it’s not really an option, but with many bags it’s totally helpful.

London is not the city to try and drive around; it is far too difficult for visitors so don’t bother. You will waste too much time trying to navigate and trying to find a park.

Orientation

You can navigate London by two distinct schema – the Tube Network and the Postal Code.

The Tube schematic is “closest tube station". Most destinations will tell you the closest Tube station and we have endeavoured to as well in the International Traveller London Guide.

Most destinations are within a maximum 10 minutes’ walk to the closest Tube station.

The other location schematic is the Postal Code – the first one or two letters of the postal code give you an idea of the location and are often used to describe a location to locals.

So, the system follows the points of the compass with the ‘City’ as the central point.

Any location within the city will have the C as its second letter and the preceding E or W will designate it being East or West within the City.

After the EC and WC inner locations, the scheme then follows the points of the compass; SE, S, SW, W, NW, N, NE, E to follow it around the compass.

The numbers that follow the letters are illogical to outsiders so don’t bother trying to understand them, for example SW1 and SW 2 and N1 and N2 are nowhere near each other.

Just know what the letters mean and it will give you some small sense of where you are.

Arriving in London

Most of us will arrive by airplane into either Gatwick or Heathrow. The Heathrow Express is by far the most efficient and effective way to get into London from Heathrow.

Simply follow the signs to the Express (not the Tube). It will deposit you at Paddington Station in 15 minutes (with excellent free wi-fi to boot) and then you can descend into the underground or catch a waiting black cab if you are too exhausted and can’t be bothered trying to save a few quid.

You can save on your express ticket by booking in advance on the website.

Alternatively the Heathrow Tube stop is a longer journey but with an Oyster Card, it’s about a third of the price. Trains take an hour and run about every 10 minutes.

Gatwick also has an express train that runs every 15 minutes and takes 30 minutes to arrive at Victoria station. Again, the website has pre-purchased discounts.

If arriving into Luton or Stansted from European locations, there are train services to London from both airports. The Stansted Express and Luton has multiple services.

If you are on a budget there is a very cheap easyBus service that runs from Gatwick, Stansted and Luton to various stops in the city and takes about an hour.

Visas and other pesky issues

Australians visiting the UK for a holiday do not currently need a visa. However, the UK immigration are not known for their welcoming spirit so you may be required to prove you have a return ticket or that you have enough money to live on while visiting.

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Opening hours

Shopping hours and museum hours in London are usually 10am to 6pm with late-night trading on Thursday.

The major galleries will open from 10am to 6pm, seven days a week.

Tipping

Yes, it is standard practice to tip in most places, but it’s nothing like the US. Ten per cent should be OK.

Major events

The biggest event on the London calendar is Wimbledon, which is held late June/early July.

The other major drawcard for Australians is the Chelsea Flower Show held over five days in May.

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What the European heatwave means for your summer travel plans

    Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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    Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK. 

    Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.

    And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.

    Why is it so hot in Europe?

    Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

    France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

    In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

    The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

    Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

    How travel is impacted

    A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius
    A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

    During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

    If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

    Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

    people swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris
    People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

    With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

    Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

    How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

    Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

    Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

    Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.