LONDON TIPS

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- STREETS
Streets are NOT numbered (First Street, Fifth Avenue), they have names. Some streets do not have the word Street, Road or Avenue after the name. Examples include Haymarket, Pall Mall and Whitehall.

London is so old that it is NOT based on a grid system. Asking "how many blocks is so-and-so?" will often elicit a blank stare. Distances are usually given in how long a walk it is ("it's ten minutes along this road") or how many bus stops. Directions are given in terms of landmarks (like shops, pubs, train stations or traffic lights). Traffic drives on the left.

WHEN ASKING DIRECTIONS REMEMBER

* A subway is a pedestrian passage under a street - the underground railway system is called the tube! You use the subway to cross the road and take the tube to go shopping.

* People walk on the pavement rather than a sidewalk. All roads are paved in the North American sense so the term is never used.

* Zip Codes are called Postal Codes. In England zips are only found on clothes and bags.

* Striped pedestrian crossings are called Zebra Crossings.

* Traffic lights go from red to red and yellow (called red and amber) then to green. Be careful when posting letters - British letter boxes are red. The boxes that resemble North American post boxes are rubbish bins! Transport London's Underground system is called the tube.

- UNDERGROUND
Do not refer to London's Underground lines as the blue line or the red line. Many underground lines have similar colours and Londoners won't know what you are referring to.
Use the names (Piccadilly Line, Bakerloo Line, etc). Maps can be obtained from tube stations or at the main railway stations. There are some peculiarities to the system, mainly because it is the oldest in the world (first line 1863). Check the destination on the front of the train since most lines have branches and not all trains go to the end. Trains are usually very frequent unless there is a problem. Many escalators don't work.

On the escalators remember to stand on the right as the left side is used by people walking up or down. Don't stop at the foot of the escalator as people following will have nowhere to go. Try avoiding travelling during the rush hour. If you're confused, ask. Many Londoners are polite.

For commuter or intercity trains, there is no central London Railway station. There are several termini serving different parts of the country. Before setting off for a trip out of London, make sure you know which station the train leaves from (Victoria, Waterloo head south; Paddington heads west; Liverpool Street heads east; Euston, Kings Cross and St Pancras head north).

The word bus is reserved for city transport - the ones travelling between cities tend to be called coaches. A good way to see London is from the top deck of a double decker bus. Routes to try include 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 19, 24. Free bus maps can be obtained from many tube stations.

All London transport fares are zonal - daily or weekly tickets can be bought. These allow travel on buses, tubes and trains within certain zones. Most tourist attractions in London are in zones 1 and 2. Daily tickets are valid after 9:30am (Monday to Friday) and all day at weekends. Try to avoid travelling during the rush hours.

London has five airports none of which is commonly referred to as London Airport.

The largest is Heathrow.
It has four large terminals, two tube stations on the Piccadilly Line, and a railway link to Padington Station. It is the world's busiest international airport with the largest variety of airlines and flights. Regular buses and tubes (fastest option) run to the centre of London. Taxis are expensive.

Gatwick is the city's second airport.
Many charter flights leave from here as well as long haul. This has two terminals and its own railway station. It is reached by train from Victoria Station.

Stanstead is the third airport and is a train ride away from Liverpool Street Station. Many cheaper airlines use this airport. Most flights are to Europe or the UK.

The fourth airport is Luton.
This is reached by train from Kings Cross followed by a free shuttle bus. Used by cheaper airlines to Europe.

City Airport is the fifth and smallest airport.
It is close to the city but with no train service as yet. The nearest station is Silvertown on the Silverlink Railway (known as the North London Line to most Londoners). It is mainly for very short haul flights within the UK or to Europe.

Passenger Boats travel along the River Thames (Americans put the word river after the river's name as in The Hudson River, in the UK the word river comes first). A good ride is from Westminster to Greenwich (pronounced gren - ich).