traveldk.com

Visit London is the official tourist organisation for London and has a range of services for visitors to the capital, including a useful accommodation booking scheme. Their website gives a number of options.

Offering advice on anything and everything from day trips and guided tours to accommodation, you will find these London Visitor Centres at 1 Regent Street W1 and in Greenwich, at Pepys House SE10. They stock free leaflets on current events and attractions. The City of London Information Centre (located opposite St Paul’s Cathedral in EC4) is also useful.

Pre-paid hotel reservations booked through Visit London are guaranteed to be the lowest rate you can find. If paying by credit card, you can use their hotel booking service online. You can also book in person at centres in Victoria and Liverpool Street stations, and at Heathrow.

This organization (in business for some 20 years) will find you a restaurant and reserve a table for you if you call, fax or e-mail your requirements to them. They have a comprehensive database and will try to meet your needs. There is no charge.

Apart from satellite and cable television, there are five terrestrial channels in the UK: two run as public service channels by the BBC (BBC1 and BBC2), and the three commercial channels (ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5). Ceefax and Teletext are text programmes on these channels, giving travel and weather updates.

London radio stations bring constant news and travel updates for the capital. They include BBC London Live (94.9FM), Capital FM (95.8FM), News Direct (97.3FM) and LBC (1152 MW).

For current events in London, see the daily papers, particularly theEvening Standard (the capital’s evening paper) andTime Out , a weekly listings magazine. The Thursday edition of theStandard also includes a free listings magazine,Metrolife , for the week ahead. Their websitewww.thisislondon.co.ukis also useful. The Tourist Board publishes two useful booklets:Where To Stay andWhat To Do .

London’s weather is as unpredictable as elsewhere in the country, but if you want to check ahead phone Weathercall for an up-to-the minute forecast. There are also regular weather forecasts for the capital and other regions on radio and television.

Here you will find a vast amount of information on London and the rest of the country, with advice on accommodation, travel, attractions and activities. As well as the Visitor Centre in Regent Street, there is a good website which covers the same type of information.

Britain Visitor Centre interior

This 24-hour information line provides information, support and a referral service for lesbians and gay men. They can give advice on pubs, clubs and bars for gay visitors to the capital.