The City Code · United Kingdom
London
Understatement is the local luxury; nobody announces anything.
Arriving
The Elizabeth line from Heathrow beats a car into the centre by half an hour at almost any hour. Keep the car for the return, with luggage.
Book this first
A table, then the theatre. Both go six to eight weeks ahead for anything spoken about.
What is worn
Softly formal. Mayfair members' rooms still refuse trainers; almost nowhere refuses a good jacket.
Money & manners
Twelve and a half per cent is usually added — check before adding more. Contactless works on every bus, train and taxi.
The golden hour
Six in the evening in the parks between May and September, when the light goes long and gold.
The usual mistake
Staying in the West End and never leaving it. The city's best hours are in Marylebone, Spitalfields and along the river.
From the collection
The stay, the table, the morning
While you are there
What moves the city
Sport · 30 Jun to 13 Jul
Wimbledon
The Championships in SW19. Hotel rates rise across the south-west; District line trains are packed.
Festival · 24 Aug to 25 Aug
Notting Hill Carnival
Europe's largest street carnival in W11. Notting Hill roads close and stations run exit-only.
Getting around · 24 Dec to 26 Dec
Christmas shutdown
No tube, no trains and almost no buses on Christmas Day. Pre-book a car for any airport transfer on 25 December.
Go deeper
The rest of London on Velori
Elsewhere
Other city codes
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