Essential information for business travellers to London

If you are visiting London for business purposes, you need to know how to get around, business etiquette in the UK, and where the business districts are. So this month we have put together some essential information for business travellers to London, to ensure your visit is productive.

London Underground

Did you know that London had the first underground railway system? The Metropolitan Railway opened in 1863 between Paddington and Farringdon to reduce congestion on the streets.

Now divided into nine zones across eleven tube lines, the London Underground is fairly easy to use, even for newcomers to the city.

If underground travel isn’t your thing, get around the city on the iconic red buses!

Payment on public transport in London

Part of our essential information for business travellers to London is to explain how to pay! Load money on to an Oyster card (in London only) or make contactless payments using a debit card. Peak fares apply on all rail services (above and below ground), Monday to Friday 6.30 am to 9.30 am and 4 pm to 7 pm.

There are apps for advice on travelling by public transport, such as the TfL journey planner.

Railway network

With more than 330 mainline railway stations, (most having London Underground connections), you can get into and from London from anywhere in the UK and mainland Europe. Major stations:

Waterloo

The UK’s largest railway station

King’s Cross

One of the main railway hubs, and the Stansted Express

St. Pancras International

Eurostar Terminal and the Luton Express

Paddington

tTrains to the west and south Wales, and the Heathrow Express

Victoria

A major transport hub with trains, underground, buses, and the Gatwick Express

Euston

UK city connections including Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool

Black Cabs

The reliability and professionalism of London black cab drivers is world renowned. Hailing one is easy, and all cabs have a Transport for London (TfL) approved card payment machine installed.

You can also use a taxi or ride-sharing app like Uber for getting around.

Airports

Believe it or not, London has five airports!

• Heathrow - express train service into Paddington Station (15 minutes)

• Gatwick - express train service into Victoria Station (30 minutes

• London City Airport - the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) connects to the underground network

• Stansted - express train service into King’s Cross (around an hour)

• Luton -  express train service into St. Pancras International Railway Station (around 30 minutes)

UK Business Etiquette

On the whole, business is conducted formally in the UK. Punctuality is highly valued, so you should aim to arrive at least five-ten minutes before your meeting is due to begin.

When meeting someone for the first time in a business setting, it is customary to greet them with a firm handshake and use their title and family name, unless invited to use their first name.

It is also customary to wear corporate attire in the majority of business settings, although this is industry dependent. For example, a meeting in the financial district may be more formal then one in the creative hub. If in doubt, choose formal attire, rather than give the wrong impression!

Make sure that you take business cards to all meetings as these can be exchanged at the beginning or end of the meeting.

Business districts in London

The City of London

Located within one square mile are the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange, Lloyd’s of London, and a number of major law firms.

Canary Wharf

A major financial hub housing bank headquarters, such as HSBC, Barclays and JP Morgan.

The West End

Home to a number of media, advertising and entertainment companies.

Shoreditch and East London

The centre of London’s creative and tech industries, sometimes known as ‘Tech City’.

Where to stay?

Serviced accommodation offers many more benefits to business travellers than staying in a hotel, especially for longer periods. Arte Stays offers a number of serviced properties in East London, all with luxurious interiors and the comforts of home, offering a relaxing environment following a day full of business meetings and negotiations. Although ideally situated for the creative and tech industries in East London and Shoreditch, public transport makes access to the rest of this amazing city very easy.

You can read more about the benefits of serviced homes for business travellers in our blog.

We hope that you found our essential information for business travellers to London helpful and look forward to welcoming you soon. Check out our serviced accommodation portfolio and read the recommendations from our clients on the Arte Stays website.  When staying in Arte Stays serviced accommodation, our friendly team is always on hand to make sure your stay is a comfortable one!