2026 Dee Collection
Heathrow (LHR): Fastest: Heathrow Express to Paddington (15 min, ~£25 advance/~£12 Elizabeth Line 30 min). Late-night: Night Tube or taxi (~£50-70, 45-60 min).
Gatwick (LGW): Gatwick Express to Victoria (30 min, ~£22). Late-night: National Express coach (~£10, 1.5-2h) or taxi (~£60+, 60-90 min).
Note: Book trains in advance for best deals. Contactless works on most services.
UK is card-friendly—contactless everywhere (cards or mobile wallets). Use a no-FX-fee card like Wise/Revolut to avoid 3% fees. Carry £20-30 cash for markets/smaller shops just in case.
Tipping: Restaurants: 10-15% if service charge not included (optional—you can ask to remove it if poor). Pubs: not expected. Taxis: round up or 10%.
Free museums: Major museums (British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, V&A, Tate Modern) have free entry—book timed slots in advance.
Power: Type G plugs (3 rectangular pins). US visitors: Type G adapter needed (UK 230V, but most devices are dual-voltage).
eSIM/Data: Get Airalo for instant 4G/5G on O2/Three networks—great coverage and reliable for navigation/maps. Recommended: Buy Airalo eSIM (top-up easy via app). Download offline maps (Google Maps/Citymapper) before you arrive.
Prep checklist: Add cards to Apple/Google Wallet for Tube payments, download Citymapper, and check if your bank charges foreign transaction fees.
Use contactless or Oyster. The Tube caps daily. Avoid peak 8-9 AM. Download the 'Citymapper' app—it's better than Google Maps for London.
Restaurants book 2-4 weeks out. Sky Garden is exactly 3 weeks. West End shows are cheapest via 'TodayTix' for last-minute lottery seats.
Layers are essential. It rarely pours but often drizzles. Carry a compact umbrella and wear comfortable walking shoes (15k steps/day average).