LONDON , United Kingdom

City Threat Rating: 3 (Medium)

Country: The island of Great Britain comprises the geographical entities of England, Scotland and Wales. England occupies the southern two-thirds of the island and is bounded by Wales to the west and Scotland to the north. Politically, Great Britain and Northern Ireland together comprise the United Kingdom. The U.K. is a constitutional monarchy, headed by the monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and governed by Parliament and Prime Minister Tony Blair. Major industries in Britain are banking and finance, steel, transport equipment, oil and gas, and tourism. There is a growing drive for the U.K. to join the European Monetary Union (the country is already a member of the European Union), however, Britain remains hesitant over adopting the euro and possibly risking negative effects from countries in the EU with historically less stable economies.

City: Greater London is the political, financial and industrial center of the U.K. It is situated along the Thames river and consists of 32 boroughs and the City of London proper and covers more than 609 sq. mi/1577 sq. km. Central London is the hub of financial and cultural activity in the city and offers a wide range of activities including theater, museums, shopping and nightlife.

Security Situation: Crime, demonstrations and terrorist threats are all security concerns for visitors to London.

Strikes and Demonstrations: Labor strikes in public services proved to be a troublesome issue for most residents and travelers in London in recent years. Transportation workers' and firefighters' strikes in particular have caused significant difficulty, and other service personnel, such as fuel suppliers, have also engaged in labor actions. These issues are likely to continue cause problems and future strikes.

Terrorism: On July 7, 2005, London was the target of a series of coordinated terrorist attacks. Two groups affiliated with al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks, though it is unclear who was ultimately responsible. On July 21, 2005, London was again the target of a series of coordinated attacks, however this time the bombs failed to detonate fully and the assailants fled. Authorities later arrested the suspected bombers. The British government's participation in Iraq and agreement with the U.S. on many issues in the Middle East continue to make the U.K. – particularly London – a favorable target for terrorist activity.

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) and similar offshoot terrorist groups have often in the past given rise to terrorism concerns in London. The last IRA-related bombing on the English mainland occurred at the Ealing Broadway rail station in West London in 2001. In July 2005, the IRA issued a statement officially ending its armed campaign against the British presence in Northern Ireland; stating that it will pursue its objectives through politics.

Crime: Similar to other large cities, London has its share of crime. Primary types of crime are street robberies that include muggings/pickpocketings, car thefts and some violent crime. Racially motivated attacks are known to occur in ethnically mixed areas of the East End, such as Lambeth. While crime can occur, London's well-trained police force and normal precautions effectively deters most crime.

Police: British police forces are well trained and helpful to foreigners. The London police force also has a well-respected "walking patrol," which operates throughout the city by patrolling on foot and maintaining a conspicuous presence.

Airport: There are four primary airports that serve the London area. Heathrow Airport (15 mi/24 km west) is the busiest waypoint for commercial travelers, followed by Gatwick Airport (28 mi/44km south). Luton (40 mi/64 km north) and Stansted (31 mi/51 km northeast) airports primarily serve corporate aviation travelers. All airports are well served by public transportation, including buses, taxis, rail lines, rental cars and private transportation. Subway junctions are accessible at Heathrow airport and the city of Luton. A departure tax is assessed for all departures from the U.K.

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Hotels: Forte Crest Hotel, Hilton Heathrow - Terminal 4, Heathrow Park, London Intercontinental, Marriott County Hall, Marriott Grosvenor Square, Le Meridien Waldorf, Le Meridien Excelsior Heathrow, Park Lane Sheraton, Raddison Edwardian, Renaissance Hotel

Ground Transportation: Public transportation is well developed in London; especially convenient is the London subway, called the Tube or the Underground. There are generally no security concerns with public transportation in London but police officers reported in October 2002 that there is a growing threat of sexual assault for women who use illegal minicabs in London streets. Travelers, especially women, should note that armed robbery and pickpocketing have increased on the Underground.

Fire Safety: Select a hotel room between the second and seventh floors, as a higher floor may be out of reach of fire equipment. In case of fire, do not use the elevators. Be able to find the fire escapes in the dark.

Communications: Public pay phones are widely available in England. They can be found in such places as free-standing call boxes and pubs. Some pay phones accept coins and phone cards and others only accept phone cards. Most hotels have phones in the rooms or in the lobby. Room call charges may be excessive. Many large hotels offer fax and Internet service for a charge.

Cultural Tips: The English are in general a reserved people. They do not approve of loud or demonstrative behavior. Although Britishness has traditionally been characterized by a polite aloofness or just plain eccentricity, visitors will find Britons as humorous, passionate, hospitable, sentimental and obsessive as any other people. Manners are very important, especially when eating, and good manners are expected of visitors. A fairly dominant feature of society is the class system. It is not strictly related to wealth or education, and it is not discussed. However, it is carefully observed and impacts daily life.

Serving Airlines: Heathrow: Aer Lingus, Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Air Algérie, Air Astana, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air Jamaica, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Air Seychelles, Air India, Alitalia, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, BMI, British Airways, BWIA West Indies Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, Croatia Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Cyprus Airways, East African Safari Air, Egypt Air, El Al, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finn Air, Ghana Airways, Gulf Air, Helios Airways, Hellas Jet, Iberia Airlines, Iceland Air, Iran Air, Japan Airlines, JAT Airways, Kenya Airways, Kibris Türk Hava Yollari, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, Libyan Arab Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, LUXAIR, Malaysia Airlines, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Olympic Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, SN Brussels Airlines, South African Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines, Sudan Airways, Swiss, Syrian Air, TAAG Angola Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Thai Airways, THY Turkish Airlines, Tunis Air, Turkmenistan Airlines, United Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, VARIG, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Yemenia

Gatwick: Adria Airways, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air Europa, Air Fance, Air Luxor, Air Malta, Air Transat, Air Zimbabwe, American Airlines, Astraeus, Aurigny Air Services, Austrian, Azerbaijan Airlines, Belavia Belarussian Airlines, BMIbaby, British Airways, Bulgaria Air, Continental Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Cubana de Aviacion, Daallo Airlines, Delta Air Lines, easyJet, Emirates, Estonian Air, Excel Airways, First Choice Airways, flybe, Gambia International Airlines, germanwings, Helios Airways, Hellas Jet, Iberia Airlines, Kibris Türk Hava Yollari, Lithuanian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Maersk Air, Meridiana, Monarch Airlines, Nationwide Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Nouvelair Tunisie, Olympic Airlines, Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise, Rwanda Airlines, Ryanair, SAS Braathens, Scandinavian Airlines, Sierra National Airlines, SN Brussels Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Transaero, Ukraine International Airlines, US Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways

Luton: Aer Arann, British Airways, easyJet, flybe, Helios Airways, Monarch Airlines, Ryanair, Volare Airlines

Stansted: Air Berlin, Air Malta, Air Polonia, Astraeus, Atlantic Airways, Aurigny Air Services, Basiq Air, CSA Czech Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Eastern Airways, easyJet, El Al, EuroManx, First Choice Airways, germanwings, Kibris Türk Hava Yollari, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Norwegian, Ryanair, SkyEurope Airlines, Transavia Airlines

Health: Medical care is adequate throughout the United Kingdom. There are no major health concerns endemic to the United Kingdom.

Currency : While many European countries use the euro, the official currency of the United Kingdom is the Pound Sterling (£). Pound notes are divided into 100 pence and denominations are available in £100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Credit cards and travelers checks are most often accepted in larger cities and towns, however, they may not be as widely accepted in provincial areas. Currency exchanges may charge exorbitant fees (sometimes as high as 13 percent). The exception is American Express travelers' checks, which can be exchanged commission-free with Amex agents. ATM cash machines are located in most major tourist centers.