<p>My DD will be going to London for 10 weeks as part of her MBA program. The program will begin in January through March.She needs a lot of cold weather clothing and also be prepared for wet weather. She will be taking a duffle bag and a regular 25 inch rolling suitcase. I also think she will be going out to take advantage of the night life. If anyone has been to London in the winter time, please advise. In addition, please chime in as to what you or your child needed but forgot to pack. She is trying not to purchase much there as she knows everything will cost more.</p>
<p>DS found out the hard way that traveler's checks can't be cashed just anywhere for free. Only certain banks offered this service. It might be helpful to check this out in advance, so she knows where to go when she needs extra cash.</p>
<p>Make sure she has plenty of adapters that are adequate and that will work with the appliances she'll be using. Computers and hair dryers require certain types of adapters. We found out that our cell phone chargers wouldn't fit into the adapters we bought here, because of the shape of the plug-in. We had to buy additional adapters there. </p>
<p>DS, 18, was in London for a couple of weeks last summer at the City University of London. The dorms were very safe. However, he had several uncomfortable experiences out late at night in the area -- Soho in particular. He witnessed fights, was offered drugs, people tried to pick fights with him, etc. I'd suggest she stay with groups when going out at night and be extra cautious.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention that DS was shocked at how expensive everything was. He ate a lot of fish and chips. Count on a minimum of $10 US for lunch each day, if she has to eat out. Of course, depending upon where she is, she might be able to eat in. That would be cheaper.</p>
<p>Have her pack clothes that she can layer. It's been raining quite a bit now, in Dec., and it should get worse in January. Bring waterproof boots--not necessarily rain boots, but something made out of PU rather than leather would be good for rainy days. Hm. As soon as it started getting cold here, I really regretted not packing my longer, knee-length walking coat... And socks. I wish I would have brought more socks that were appropriate for my boots, since I wear them much more than expected. If she's going to be wearing skirts, make sure she packs tights because it's <em>cold</em>. I don't know if this is true in other pharmacy-like stores, but Boots has a very limited offering of toothpaste, floss, and deodorant, so she might want to keep that in mind. They're pretty good on shampoo/conditioner/body wash. I couldn't find Neutrogena products though, which is, again, kind of odd given the other products that they do have.</p>
<p>Um. I don't know what else to say, and I know this is all very random. I'm in London right now, have been here since Sept. and am heading home week after next, so if you have more questions, I can definitely try to help.</p>
<p>Hi, am in London now. Compared to the northeast US winter the weather is mild but one does need gloves/scarf/hat since it is breezy. Check your hairdryer - the newer ones have a switch for the different voltage but you still need an adapter. And comfortable walking shoes are a must as is a small fold-up umbrella she can put in her handbag. If she exercises
her usual exercise gear. A debit card for cash, and Capital one's credit card charges no
transaction/conversion fees. Any questions pls ask, D is here at the university, while husband is working & I'm enjoying myself!!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the information. I have a few questions.</p>
<p>-I have an assortment of adapters, and I know sometimes they have the two prongs (round) and three prongs. Can you tell me the shape of the 3 prongs? How common are the 3 prongs outlets?
-Should she buy a pair of waterproof boots over there ? She has UGGS(treated with water repellent sprays) and some leather ones, probably not suitable for pouring rains.
-Yes, we've got her a Capital One credit card/debit card
-Just ordered a bunch of Smart Wool socks for her. Thanks</p>
<p>The only other thing I am worried about is housing. She hasn't found any yet and I am looking at craigslist for her as well as gumtree. The college does not offer any housing for study abroad students. Any advice here? She will be attending classes at the London School of Economics in central London. I know housing around there are super expensive but I'd like to keep her in zone 1 near the Piccadilly and Central line. Can you give me any suggestions ? It will be a 11week rental. Her budget is 180 pounds a week all inclusive. She has one a other student who may rent with her, so they would need a bedroom to themselves. Can you give some suggestions as to where students or young professionals stay? Safe areas recommendation and avoid areas recommendations please.</p>
<p>Hi, you may want to look at the International Students House on Great Portland Street which
is right by Regents Park, & across the street from the Great Portland tube stop-great area. I've only used their internet cafe & have not seen their rooms.They have temporary housing. Check again w/ the MBA program of her home university for other suggestions. Since she is only going to be here for 11 weeks her options will be limited & realtors will not be willing to
assist her. You may want to check/call other US universities that have London
programs such as Syracuse.
ALL of the outlets are 3 squarish prongs- the adapters generally state "for use in the UK."
An inexpensive pair of Walmart/Target type of rain boot is fine.<br>
Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Thanks, nancyzl, I have already called ISH and they told me that there is a long waiting list. Thanks for the info on the 3 prongs. I just looked at my adapters and yes I have them.
Are the young ladies still wearing the rubber wellies in rainy weather ? Or is that out of fashion? I saw some cute rainboots at Target.com. Anyone wearing UGGS?</p>
<p>I was in London during summer weather and I'd like to know in the winter, is the rain a downpour or just a constant drizzle ?</p>
<p>Wellies are in but the real ones (by Hunter) are super expensive. Target rain boots will do just fine at a significant fraction of the price.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Thanks for the info on the 3 prongs. I just looked at my adapters and yes I have them.
[/quote]
The English plugs are 3 rectangular prongs - not round ones.</p>
<p>The electricity is 240 instead of 110. Unless the appliances she is taking have dual voltage you cannot use them with an adaptor. A lot of electronic items like computer and cell phone chargers are dual (it will say on the charger). Most things like driers etc will not be.</p>
<p>The exchange rate is in your favor right now. A few weeks ago it took @ $2 to buy a pound. Today the exchange rate is $1.47ish to a pound. Good timing for you.</p>
<p>Travellers cheques went out with the dinosaurs in Europe. Just withdrawn cash from an ATM like everyone else. If you a member of Bank of America you can withdraw from Barclays for free.</p>
<p>Voltage - the cost of a plug adaptor and a transformer thingy will probably be more than the cost of a new haridryer. Go to one of the ubiquitous lovely Boots stores (they're everywhere. try the airport even) and spend £5 on a new hairdryer. This is what most US students do on their second day, after they have blown up their first hairdryer (it is traditional for US students to blow up at least one electrical item in my experience!). Again, Boots can supply a 3-prong plug adaptor for your phone and laptop (which will almost certainly be voltage compatible so no need to worry about them). Another option is Argos, or the supermarket Tesco. </p>
<p>The only people I have ever seen wearing rubber "wellies" in 7 years in England are
a)farmers
b)people camping at summer music festivals
I think that would look most bizarre in a city street. Just buy a pair of waterproof leather shoes or boots like everyone else. It's just a bit of drizzle. You're not going to be wading in it. People do wear Uggs, but they're not very waterproof.</p>
<p>I think you'll have a problem with 11 week rental. Most places only rent out for a full year or half a year minimum. At the very least you will probably have to rent for a whole number of months. Can't the program provide a list of landlords/addresses/letting companies which past students have used?</p>
<p>I sent traveler's checks with DS, just in case something happened with the ATM card (e.g., lost or stolen) or for financial emergencies. </p>
<p>It's important to notify your US bank that you will be using the ATM card in the UK. Sometimes they will place a hold on the card, if they aren't notified in advance, thinking that perhaps the card has been stolen.</p>
<p>The other thing we did was to order some pounds in advance from the bank. That way, as soon as DS arrived, he had money to get around, but didn't have to change it at the airport, which could be more expensive. </p>
<p>I'm sorry I don't know the proper names for these things, but in the UK we went to an electronics store and bought cords for our laptops. It was the part that goes from the wall socket to transformer. These worked fine for the laptops and weren't outrageously expensive. The laptops would not work with just an adapter.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your helpful responses.</p>
<p>-DD would have a dual voltage hair dryer and a 3 prong adapter. If it doesn't work, she will go to Boots.</p>
<p>-She will have ATM and credit card. Whenever we travel, we get cash from ATM machines from airport first. I am sure Heathrow has them. As a matter of fact, my DH was there last month and that was what he did. Thanks</p>
<p>-I think all cell phones and laptops are dual voltage already. They just need adapters. No?</p>
<p>-Yes, I will remember to call Capital One to let them know she will be in London. Missed it when DH was in Ethiopia last month. Can you believe they (Capital One) called me to substantiate a charge for $2 that my DH used at Frankfurt airport to use an internet there?</p>
<p>-Have been calling around for housing. Most places (with agencies) are far out. I am trying to ask a friend's DD to see if she will go see some places for me. Don't want to fall into a scam since it is online. Of course, they have to trust me too.</p>
<ul>
<li>I got her an unlocked phone. Any advice which prepaid service (I heard T-mobile has good prepaid plans) is good? She will probably skype people back in the States but would need a phone for local use. What are charges for messages to the US?</li>
</ul>
<p>Any other advice, please chime in. Thanks</p>
<p>Re: Phones</p>
<p>I use an Orange pay-as-you-go plan. Super easy, you can get it at any Carphone Warehouse or Orange store. They have a couple of different plans you can choose from, all of which are on their website (orange.co.uk I think). I have the plan that is designed for calling abroad, since I don't use Skype to call home. It's 6 pence a minute for me to call the U.S., and I think texts are a bit more. It's actually much more expensive (for me, anyway, and for all of the pay-as-you-go plans I looked at) to make local calls in London than to call abroad. Really odd. Texts are usually cheaper, and you can buy them in bundles. I think Pay-as-you-go is what most students get. Again, it's all on the various phone companies' websites.</p>
<p>Re: Wellies--I've seen them in London! Not a lot, but a few! Wearing Uggs in any sort of rain is a bad idea, even if you've water proofed them. The suede will get ruined. She should be fine wearing leather boots, though, as long as she doesn't go wading in the Thames or ponds in parks, and isn't one for standing in puddles for inordinate lengths of time :P</p>
<p>Re: Money--I have friends who haven't been able to cash traveler's checks. I wouldn't bother with them, no matter what your bank at home says. I bank with Wachovia, and I've been able to use my ATM card with no problem. There is a 2% international transaction charge (I think that's what it is anyway. It's 2% for something), plus whatever you get charged for using an ATM that isn't associated with your bank (sometimes this doesn't apply), and conversion. Usually ATMs will give you comparatively good conversion rates. Just MAKE SURE that you card is flagged for international use for the entire period she'll be away.</p>
<p>And Heathrow has ATMs. I used one while waiting for my bags to come 'round.</p>
<p>Re: Laptops. Check the adaptor. Mine works fine abroad with just a wall adaptor, as does my dad's ancient laptop.</p>
<p>DS had an unlocked phone. We set up T-Mobile international service here in advance. It worked fine. </p>
<p>We went the UK in 2006 and our laptops did not work with just an adapter -- we had to go buy new cords from an electronics store.</p>
<p>I don't know if this is close to where your daughter will be, but the University College of London does offer some accommodations to individual travelers.</p>
<p>"UCL Residences offer to Summer Schools and Language Schools, group and individual travellers as well as conference organisers."</p>
<p>Thank you for the link. This is available only for summer school since they need to fill up the space when the students are out. nevertheless I sent them an email inquiring about availability in Jan.</p>
<p>This listing or private housing for students was linked to directly from Queen Mary UoL's Residence page: accommodationforstudents.com/largerprivatestudenthousing/</p>
<p>Thanks. I've called a few of these places before and they are for students who attend for the full year. But I've emailed it to my D so she can take a look.</p>
<p>Is she studying at a school in London? IF so, you might try contacting their residences office, or office of international education, if you haven't already done so. I can't think of any other resources to direct you towards, but good luck!</p>
<p>I thought I'd give an update on acccommodation for my D since everyone has been so helpful. I found a LSE dorm for her half a block from Trafalgar Square and within a mile from London School of Economics itself. I've called each dorm individually before but the information they provided was all their dorms are on yearly contracts and fully booked. Finally I tried this website that allocates one floor of dorm rooms for rent year round for anyone not just the summer months and was lucky enough to book a single en-suite room for 10 weeks. Thank you all for your suggestions.</p>
<p>LSE</a> TopFloor! Apartments, studio apartments and rooms in central London</p>