Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The
High Commission of Canada,
Canada House, 1 Trafalgar Square, London SW1Y 5BJ
(
&
020/7258-6600;
www.canadainternational.gc.ca/united_kingdom-royaume_uni/
index.aspx; Tube: Charing Cross), handles passport and consular services for Canadians.
Hours are Monday to Friday 9:30am to 1pm.
The
Australian High Commission
is at Australia House, Strand, London WC2B 4LA
(
&
020/7379-4334;
www.australia.org.uk; Tube: Charing Cross, Covent Garden, or Tem-
ple). Hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
The
New Zealand High Commission
is at New Zealand House, 80 Haymarket (at Pall
Mall), London SW1Y 4TQ (
&
020/7930-8422;
www.nzembassy.com/uk; Tube: Charing
Cross or Piccadilly Circus). Hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
The
Irish Embassy
is at 17 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7HR (
&
020/7235-2171;
www.embassyofireland.co.uk; Tube: Hyde Park Corner). Hours are Monday to Friday
9:30am to 5pm.
Emergencies
Dial
&
999
for police, fire, or ambulance. Give your name and state
the nature of the emergency. Dialing
&
112
also connects you to the local emergency
services anywhere in the E.U.
Family Travel
If you're renting a car, children 11 and under—and under 1.35m (4
1
⁄
2
ft.)
in height—must ride in an appropriate car seat. Consult your car-rental company in
advance of arrival, but it's the driver's legal responsibility to ensure all child passengers
comply (see
www.childcarseats.org.uk/law
for details). You'll also find babysitting avail-
able at most hotels; inquire at the concierge or reception desk.
The Web is chockfull of excellent family-travel resources. Recommended U.S. general
family travel sites include
Family Travel Forum
(www.familytravelforum.com), a compre-
hensive site that offers customized trip planning;
Family Travel Network
(www.family
travelnetwork.com), an award-winning site that offers travel features, deals, and tips; and
Traveling Internationally with Your Kids
(www.travelwithyourkids.com), a comprehensive
site offering sound advice for long-distance and international travel with children. The
best family travel blogs with an international outlook are
Delicious Baby
(www.delicious
baby.com) and
Travel Savvy Mom
(www.travelsavvymom.com). In the U.K., the mighty
Mumsnet
(www.mumsnet.com/travel) has plenty of holiday and travel advice and
reviews.
Take the Family
(www.takethefamily.co.uk) has ideas and inspiration for England
and Wales. For a list of more family-friendly travel resources, turn to the experts at
Frommers.com
.
To find hotels, restaurants, and attractions that are particularly child-friendly, refer to
the “Kids” icon throughout this guide.
Frommer's London with Kids
($17.99/£13.99) is the
best specialist guidebook for families visiting the city.
Gasoline
Please see “Car Rental,” earlier in this chapter.
Health
Visiting the U.K. doesn't pose any specific health risks. Common drugs widely
available throughout the Western world are generally available over the pharmacy coun-
ter and in large supermarkets, although visitors from overseas should note the generic
rather than brand names of any medicines they rely on. If you're flying into London, pack
prescription medications
in carry-on luggage and carry prescription medications in their
original containers, with pharmacy labels—otherwise they won't make it through airport
security. Also bring along copies of your prescriptions, in case you lose your pills or run
out. Don't forget an extra pair of contact lenses or prescription glasses.
North American visitors can contact the
International Association for Medical Assis-
tance to Travelers
(
IAMAT;
&
716/754-4883,
or 416/652-0137 in Canada; www.iamat.
org) for tips on travel and health concerns. The United States
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention
(
&
888/232-6348;
www.cdc.gov) provides up-to-date information on
health hazards by region or country. If you suffer from a chronic illness, consult your doc-
tor before your departure. All visitors with such conditions as epilepsy, diabetes, or heart
20
