Visiting Faculty Handbook FIE February 2011 Foundation House, 114 Cromwell Road, London SW7 4ES Tel: (020) 7591 7750 Email: studyabroad@fie.org.uk
Contents About FIE 3 Liaison with FIE prior to arrival, the academic programme Living space.. 5 Housing and the cost of London living Immigration 6 Facilitating letter Arriving in London....7 From Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted airports to Foundation House Orientation....8 Reading materials Money & banking.9 Traveler s cheques, transferring funds from home Health & insurance....10 Health care and insurance London travel...11 Zones, Travelcards & tickets, the Tube, buses, taxis, minicabs, trains, coaches and buses, car hire Getting the most out of London.....14 A brief guide: useful websites, dance, films, museums, music, theater, restaurants, shopping and markets What things cost. 18 Checklist...20 Things to do before departure 2
About Foundation for International Education Foundation for International Education (FIE) fully recognizes the importance of visiting faculty in realizing the greatest potential of all its programmes. Faculty are, in many ways, the most important component in the success of any study abroad programme. In this regard FIE actively supports faculty in every possible way and to the best of its abilities. We hope that this brief guide goes some way to achieving this important aim. FIE provides high quality facilities and support services for US university and college study abroad and internship programmes. Unlike many study abroad service providers, the senior staff of FIE come from a faculty and administrative university background. They have a ready and enduring interest in the educational and learning environment afforded by living, studying or working in another culture. FIE provides high quality student residential accommodation in west London close to our programme facilities. FIE also provides discipline-specific internships (unpaid), work-study placements for visiting students and highly qualified FIE faculty to augment visiting US faculty in London. FIE s Academic and Student Life facilities are ideally located in the heart of Kensington. These facilities are close to the Underground, Kensington library, innumerable amenities, bookshops, and Imperial College (with whom FIE has temporary membership for students). In short, Foundation s headquarters benefit from an outstanding location which exploits London as a world cultural and educational center. If you would like to know more about FIE operations and activities, please visit our website: www.fie.org.uk Liaison with FIE prior to arrival You will have three primary contacts with FIE prior to arrival. Administration and Academic Services Manager will be available for matters ranging from class scheduling and course registration to visiting faculty orientations. Student Life team will be in touch regarding co- and extra-curricular support for your programme and also deals with a range of other aspects of programme support. Academic Directors will help with your academic requirements. 3
The academic programme FIE is a not for profit higher education organisation which works with a range of university and college partners to deliver higher education programmes in London. Some, but not all of these programmes, have visiting faculty who are here with their students. The vast majority of programmes have courses which are taught by FIE's own faculty. The Director of Academic Programmes oversees the academic development and quality assurance of FIE faculty. Together with the Academic Programme Consultant, he also acts in an advisory role to visiting faculty in relation to teaching and learning issues in London. Foundation House at 114 Cromwell Road houses several classrooms (with a full range of audio-visual aids) of differing sizes, seminar rooms, faculty offices (each with online computer facilities), the Office of Student Life, a student common room and FIE s other administrative offices. Class schedules are agreed following correspondence between FIE's Administration and Academic Services Manager and the US faculty coordinating the programme, and are established in principle well in advance of the start of the programme. The exact room and building allocated for classes may not be finalized until near the start of the programme. It should be noted that London-based FIE faculty generally have less flexibility than visiting US faculty when it comes to scheduling their classes. FIE faculty are concurrently teaching in other institutions where their schedule may have been fixed many months in advance. Classroom space is normally available Monday through Friday, 08.00 18.00. occasional evening classes also. There are Classroom equipment classrooms are equipped with whiteboards, TVs with videos/dvds (all videos play NTSC tapes), carousels, overhead projectors, CD/tape players, and data projectors. Some equipment needs to be booked with the Study Centre Coordinator 24 hours in advance. Photocopying FIE has photocopying facilities (with double sided, stapling, and grouping modes) for faculty use. Faculty are issued with a pin code and must undertake their own photocopying jobs. The home institution will be billed five pence per copy at the end of the programme. Faxing FIE provides a faxing facility at a cost price of 50 pence per page. Internet and email FIE operates a free email and Internet service on all its faculty computers. Faculty offices faculty are provided with a workstation, PC access, printer and shelving in a shared office. 4
Living space FIE does not serve as an accommodation agent but we do refer faculty to reliable agents in the area and in this respect FIE maintains a list of centrally located temporary flats and student dormitory-type accommodation in the South Kensington area. Pauline McKerrall will be pleased to supply you with an updated listing upon request. It is impossible to find the same style of housing in London as one could expect to find near a suburban campus in an average area in the United States. London flats are generally much smaller than you would be used to, largely because Britain is a small and very crowded island. Much of the housing in London is also old, dating from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which can add to its charm, but does not always make for the most efficient room layouts, heating and plumbing. As these living situations are only temporary it is possible to get by with less space. Many visiting faculty manage with a small studio or one-bedroom flat. Short-term rentals are relatively expensive all around London, and South Kensington is no exception to the rule this is perhaps the best residential district of London with prices being roughly comparable to Manhattan or San Francisco. Flats do not always come with a telephone and installing one for very short stays is difficult. Telephone installation (depending on whether there is an existing line) can take up to two weeks. Not all flats will come with a TV. The SW7 and W8 Kensington Postcodes (the equivalent of Zip codes) are among the top ten most expensive London locations. A one-bedroom flat in Kensington will cost an average of 350 per week. In addition there is a hefty deposit required by most agents usually two months rent which is refundable at the end of the rental. The real cost to faculty, however, depends on the strength of the US Dollar at the time of visiting. Yet should the exchange rate not favor the Dollar there are still great savings to be made: one could take full advantage of the Cultural Programme and save money on tickets to the theater, concerts, and operas. Perhaps the main compensation to the high cost of living is that London is one of the cultural capitals of the English-speaking world. There is a truly vast array of amenities available to its residents. The hundreds of well-known shops, restaurants, bars, theaters, museums and galleries, and the extensive transport facilities, make London-living an enjoyable experience overall. 5
Immigration The Home Office has indicated to us that because faculty are coming to Britain on the instructions of and in the service of an institution which is continuing to pay their salary in the US, they are not regarded as taking up paid employment in the UK with a British-based organization, and a work permit is not required for their entry. Faculty are not employees of FIE and must not give this impression. (Please note faculty and their accompanying family are not permitted to undertake any paid work in Britain, in addition to their duties for their US employer, unless a work permit has been obtained or they are a British or EU citizen.) Visiting teachers and professors accompanying study abroad programmes for fewer than six months may use the business visitor route. The request for business visitor status as 'a visiting professor accompanying study abroad students' can be made at the UK airport for US nationals. This route is only for stays in the UK of fewer than six months. It is very important to note that 'teaching should not be the visiting professor's main purpose for coming to the UK.' This route should therefore be used by visiting faculty who are carrying out various duties, e.g. administration, pastoral care, research and/or teaching. Visiting professors whose primary duty will be teaching will be refused entry under this category. If faculty know they will be travelling in and out of the UK multiple times then they could apply for pre-entry clearance as business visitors which would make travelling a smoother process as it would be multiple entry. Any issues once in the UK, faculty should speak with the UKBA at: Immigration Office, Lunar House, Wellesley Road, Croydon, (020) 8686 0688. Facilitating letter Visiting faculty are advised to bring an original letter from the home campus confirming that they are under contractual employment to the institution in the USA, will be in the UK for fewer than six months (give dates), will return to his/her position at the end of the academic programme, and will not make use of public funds. In addition, the letter should make clear that the professor will be undertaking various duties (e.g. administration, pastoral care, research, teaching), and that teaching is not the main reason for coming to the UK. (This letter can also be used to request access to library facilities for research interests while in London.) It is the responsibility of individual institutions to determine whether their visiting faculty qualify for this route under the terms of the new regulations. Faculty should plan to arrive in London at least two days in advance of the commencement of classes. Once in London, they should contact FIE as soon as possible at: Foundation for International Education Foundation House, 114 Cromwell Road, London SW7 4ES Tel: (020) 7591 7750 Fax: (020) 7591 7755 Email: studyabroad@fie.org.uk 6
Arriving in London From Heathrow airport Underground follow the signs for the Underground which will bring you into central London. Cost 6.00. Taxi licensed black cabs into central London will cost approximately 50 and are available for hire outside the terminal building. Rail a new Rail Express service now runs from Heathrow to Paddington in 15 minutes. Cost 17. Bus the Airbus from Heathrow stops at Holland Park and Victoria, cost 6 ( 10 open-return, good for one year from date of purchase). From Gatwick airport Follow the signs for British Rail (Gatwick is built directly above the train station). A second-class one-way ticket to London Victoria Station costs around 12.00 trains leave every 15 minutes for London. It is advisable to ask which platform you need to wait on, as Gatwick is a mainline station with trains to other destinations. The Gatwick Express takes about 30 minutes to Victoria Station. From Victoria, passengers can either take the Underground (be prepared to carry your luggage up or down a few flights of stairs) or a taxi from the taxi stand (if the destination is in central London, it should cost 10 to 15). It is not recommended to take an unlicensed cab/private car many of these tout for business at Victoria Station. From Stansted airport Follow the signs for British Rail and take a train from the airport to Liverpool Street Station in central London. 7
Orientation FIE conducts orientation sessions for both faculty and students at the start of each programme in London. It is at this time faculty is provided with an orientation pack containing useful current information on London. Part of your orientation will cover the practicalities associated with your use of Foundation House access to the building, pin codes, setting up your email account, IT support, booking AV equipment, and so forth. The student orientation programme over the first few days includes an orientation meeting, a sightseeing tour with a professional guide, a residence life meeting and a welcome reception. It is essential that faculty attend the orientation session in London for their programme. In addition faculty may hold an academic meeting with students directly after FIE student orientation to confirm class lists and address specific course concerns with students before classes begin. Teaching usually begins on the day after the student orientations. Reading materials The following texts may be useful for background reading (reading material for students will be recommended in the pre-departure mailing): Bryson B., Notes from a Small Island, Doubleday, 1995 Danziger N., Danziger s Britain: a Journey to the Edge, Flamingo, 1997 Daudy P., Les Anglais: a Portrait of a People, Headline, 1992 Fox K, Watching the British, Hampshire D., Living and Working in Britain, Survival Books, 1991 Hitchens C., Blood, Class and Nostalgia: Anglo/American Ironies, Vintage, 1991 Miall A., Xenophobe s Guide to the English, Ravette Books, 1994 Oakland J., British Civilisation: an Introduction 3rd edition, Routledge, 1995 Paxman J., The English, Penguin, 1999 Pearce R., Education in England: a Guide for New Arrivals 2nd Edition, Pearce, 1995 Smith Z, White Teeth, Tan T., Culture Shock: a Guide to Customs and Etiquette, Kuperard, 1994 Vansittart P., In Memory of England: a Novelist s View of History, J. Murray, 1999 Walmsley J., Brit-Think Ameri-Think: a Transatlantic Survival Guide, Harrap, 1994 8
Money & banking Faculty normally continue to receive their salaries through their US bank accounts and the challenge is how to access funds in London. Faculty are advised to bring enough traveler s checks to cover their expenses during the first few weeks in London, when there may be heavy outgoings for accommodation, transportation, etc. Checks drawn on US banks are not conveniently negotiable in Europe or Britain and can take three to four weeks to clear. However, with an American Express card you can cash a check on your own US bank account at American Express offices in Europe, up to a limit of $1,000. There is an office at 84 Kensington High Street (about a 15 minute walk from Foundation House). The most efficient method is the use of cash dispenser networks: the American Plus System, Cirrus and Star networks can be accessed from the cash dispenser networks of several of the high street banks in Britain, allowing cash to be withdrawn from a US bank account if you have a card which is linked to one of these systems. Perhaps not all banking needs would be served by using this system alone, but it usually costs less than cash withdrawals on credit cards. Major credit cards American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa are widely accepted in Britain and Europe. Cash advances can also be charged to Visa and MasterCard at many banks. The Internal Revenue Service publish the following brochures which might be useful: Publication 593: Income Tax Benefits for US Citizens Who Go Overseas, and Publication 54: Tax Guide for US Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad. Investigate now the possible tax advantages of living abroad. Contact the IRS or a tax accountant for recent revisions to US income tax planning as this may affect eligibility for deductions. Log all your expenses, and receipts for expenditures should be kept doing this may reduce substantially the overall cost of living in London. 9
Health & insurance Healthcare Strictly speaking, faculty will only be entitled to free treatment under Britain s National Health Service (NHS) in cases of genuine emergency. Routine check-ups, non-urgent dental work, the filling of prescriptions, etc. are not available under the NHS. Health insurance Students are covered for the cost of health care either under home university schemes or under the special policy arranged by FIE if the university has opted for it to be included in the programme. The cost of the policy is generally included in the students programme fee. This policy does not include visiting faculty. Further details about the medical insurance policy (and current premium rates) can be obtained from Study Centre Coordinator at FIE. Alternatively, faculty may wish to make special arrangements with their regular insurer (e.g. Blue Cross) in order to maintain their health coverage during their period of residence abroad. 10
Mobile phones We work with PicCell Wireless who offers a special faculty package. You must order from the link to receive this discount: www.piccellwireless.com/fiefaculty The package includes a free GSM mobile phone rental, waived processing fee (from $39.90), a local UK number with TMobile UK service, no daily line fees or rental fees and regular roundtrip shipping within the U.S. if ordered at least 14 days in advance. Incoming calls are free for you while in the United Kingdom (even from the US). Your phone and number will be sent to you before you leave. This allows you to give out your phone number before you leave home and have a phone upon arrival. If you arrive in the UK and still need a phone, you can still order one online and choose to have it shipped to FIE or pick it up at the Mail Boxes Etc near the Green Park tube station in central London. Free GSM phone rental (no daily rental fees) Free incoming calls (including from the U.S.) while you are in the UK Waived processing fee (usually $39.90) Special Faculty rates Standard round-trip shipping within the U.S. included if ordered at least 14 days in advance. Your phone can be shipped to you before you leave the US or after you arrive in the UK Customer Service located in the U.S., UK and throughout Europe Rental offered for any length of time - you choose rental period. Ability to view your itemized bill online each month. Billing is in US dollars. Cell phones function throughout Europe (roaming rates apply) All phones have alarm clocks, text msg, call waiting & caller ID Lost or stolen insurance offered (recommended) You also receive a US Virtual Number with the service, which you can use at your discretion. All phones include a US Virtual Number: it is a US number that you receive which will have a local area code for your home area (or as close to it). When people call that number, the calls forwards directly to your international PicCell phone and you answer it like a regular call. The difference in having people call you on your International number or your US Virtual Number is: 1. Calls directly to your International Number: You receive free incoming calls on your International number (you don t pay, but your callers pay their own international calling rate) 2. Calls to your US Virtual Number: Your callers only pay what is a local call for them. You pay either.39c/min to receive calls on your USVN. The benefit of giving out your USVN is to make it cheap and convenient for people to call you while you are overseas. They don t have to pay any international rates or deal with dialling any international calling codes. For more information or to order: www.piccellwireless.com/fiefaculty If you have any questions, please email PicCell Wireless at info@piccellwireless.com or call from the U.S. at 1-877-235-5742 or from Europe at 0044-207-100-2956. 11
Gym FIE has a relationship with Club Kensington, a local gym, which enables our students to join at a discounted rate. If you are interested in joining a gym while you are in London, please see the following link where you can apply for membership before you leave the States: http://www.webmotionuk.com/clubkensington/fie.asp If you join before departure, a welcome pack will be waiting for you at FIE on your arrival and you can start using the many facilities straight away! If you would like to join, but want to wait until you get here to be sure then we can also give you a three day trial pass during orientation week, and you can decide whether to join after that. There are other gyms you can sign up to when here in Kensington. There is also a local council run fitness centre that does not require membership but operates on a pay-per-visit basis. You may also join up to sports/fitness clubs at Imperial College Student Union using the associate membership you will get. Your residences are near many big parks ideal for jogging. In conclusion, there are lots of options for you to stay fit and healthy whilst here in the UK! 12
London travel London is renowned for its excellent transport system. Some programmes provide their faculty with Oyster cards, some do not. Either way you will need to use London s comprehensive public transport system. We therefore advise visiting faculty to familiarize themselves with the system as soon as possible. You will be supplied with information about London Transport ticket systems and Underground and bus maps as part of your orientation on arrival. Use these in conjunction with this general introduction to the system. The system may seem confusing at first, but once you understand the basics it is quite easy to find your way around. Keep your transport maps with you at all times. Never be afraid to ask for help people are nearly always glad to help, and there are always London Transport staff (uniformed) who are pleased to help you find your way. Zones The London Transport system is divided into six zones. It is important to know which zones you are traveling to as fares differ between the zones. There is a map showing the zones in your information pack. The zones apply to buses, Underground, and London area trains. Oyster cards are valid on all three types of transport. Oyster cards & tickets You must have a valid ticket for your journey. Inspectors board trains frequently and if you do not have a valid ticket you will receive an on-the-spot fine of 10. Your ticket must cover the correct zone for your destination. All London stations have automatic ticket machines for entry and exit and an invalid ticket at these stations will not pass through the machine. The cost of your ticket depends on the zone in which your destination lies. Each station has a map showing the zones and also a list of stations and fares. Your Zone 1&2 Oyster cards are much better value than buying individual tickets. Whenever you travel outside these zones you will have to pay an additional fare at the beginning of your journey. A standard Zone 1&2 Oyster card for a week will cost you 22.20. Buying week or month passes will save you money. The Tube The Underground (Tube) system is probably the most efficient way of getting around London. The nearest Tube station to the Metrogate Study Centre and Foundation House is Gloucester Road. As in all large metropolitan areas the rush hours 8:00 9:00am and 5:00 6:30pm are extremely busy. All Tube lines have their own distinctive color used on the Underground map and signs. When planning a journey locate which line your stop is on and then follow the signs for that line at interchanges, i.e. District Line (green on the map) Northern Line (black on the map) and so on. 13
Buses The London bus system is very comprehensive. The disadvantage of buses is that they can be very slow, especially during the rush hour periods. Tubes are really a better way to travel if you have to be somewhere at a set time (i.e. class!) but do explore London by bus too at other times the top of a double-decker is a great way to see and get to know your way around London. To find which bus to take, look at the bus map in your orientation pack, or the comprehensive bus guide in the Office of Student Life. Bus stops on the street show clearly which buses stop there, and also list the route and times. Night buses run from central London all through the night. All buses run through Trafalgar Square. The best bus for Kensington is the N97, which runs along the Cromwell Road. For any enquiries about traveling by Tube, bus or train within the London area call the 24-hour information line (020) 7222 1234. Taxis London licensed taxis are plentiful and very reliable. The drivers undertake a rigorous training course on London s geography known as the knowledge. London taxis can be recognized by their distinctive boxy shape (the door is still required to be high enough for a gentleman to enter without removing his top hat!), but not all of them now are black. If a cab is available the FOR HIRE light will be on at the front. To hail cabs simply raise your arm. All fares are metered. It is customary to tip (usually 10%). Minicabs Minicabs are licensed private cars, which can be ordered by telephone (it is not legal for unlicensed cabs to tout for business outside theaters, clubs etc.) Minicabs are variable and sometimes the drivers do not know the route. There are many reliable local companies though, and they can be cheaper than black cabs. It is best to establish the cost to your destination before you set out. Women alone are advised to use only licensed taxis. Trains There are 15 mainline rail stations in London so check carefully which one you need to leave from when travelling around Britain. All stations have Underground stations either connected or within a couple of minutes walk follow signs for British Rail. For further information regarding trains check at any train station, or ask in the Office of Student Life. Tickets can be bought at any station. Cheap Day Returns these are good for short distance, round trip travel and cost slightly less than the ordinary fare. They are not valid before 9.30am on weekday trains. 14
Saver Returns by avoiding peak times on the outward journey (such as Fridays and commuter trains) you can make substantial savings. APEX these tickets are available on certain routes and give discounts if booked 1 32 weeks in advance. For train information on the Internet go to www.thetrainline.com, once you have registered you can check train times and prices, and also buy tickets on-line. Coaches & buses National Express coaches operate from Victoria Coach Station and cover the whole of Britain. Journey times can be long, but tickets are cheap. www.gobycoach.com Car hire You must be over 21 (sometimes 23 or 25, depending on the company) and have a full, clean licence to hire a car in Britain. You should be a confident driver and be prepared for roundabouts (rotary interchanges), driving on the left-hand side of the road, and unfamiliar road signs. Prices vary greatly depending on car size, age of driver and reputation of the company. Check that the rates are inclusive and be prepared to pay a deposit. Before you set off it is wise to check on legal documents and what to do in case of accident or breakdown..insurance is compulsory for driving in Europe in the form of the Standard International Certificate or Green Card. You might also need an international driver s permit. There are hundreds of car rental companies in London consult the Yellow Pages. Getting the most out of London Before setting out to conquer London s cultural and social scene, there are two essential items to purchase. The first is the weekly magazine, Time Out, which has listings for all film, theater and music events in the capital. A copy of Time Out is kept in the Office of Student Life. The second item is the London A Z, which contains street maps of every part of the city to prevent you getting lost as you dash about. 15
Useful websites: www.timeout.com London s essential living guide www.thisislondon.co.uk leisure-oriented, cultural events www.londonlife.co.uk what is happening in London www.historiclondontown.com a concise history of London www.bta.org.uk British Tourism Authority www.albemarle-london.com guide to theatre and entertainment in London s West End www.multimap.com provides street maps by Postcode (ZIP code) http://www.explore-london.co.uk maps and pictures 16
Dance If you like ballet then you need to set your feet in the direction of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2, (020) 7304 4000. (See listings in Time Out.) The tickets are expensive with the cheapest unrestricted view costing 20 or more (these tickets are in The Gods, so called because of their proximity to Heaven) or watching out for Saturday specials at which the cheaper tickets are reduced to 7. You could also opt to buy a cheaper ( 12.50) restricted view ticket, which are often not quite as bad as the name suggests. Other occasional venues for ballet include Sadler s Wells, Roseberry Ave, EC1, (020) 7713 6000, and the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank, (020) 7960 4242. Films London is one of the film capitals of the world, however the cinemas in central London can be quite expensive ( 9 a ticket at most cinemas). You can make cinema going cheaper by seeing screenings in the early afternoon or on certain days, mostly mid week, when prices are reduced. Close to Foundation House and the Metrogate Study Centre are the two Virgin Cinemas at Fulham Road, 0870 907 07 11, and Kings Road, 0870 907 07 10, which offer student discounts for all weekday showings, excluding Friday. There are some cinemas, such as the Prince Charles just off Leicester Square, which specialize in cheap, excellent, second-run films. The advantage of seeing films in London is that you are exposed to the best in contemporary cinema from Europe and the rest of the world. Some of the cinemas offering unusual or alternative viewing to the regular diet of gratuitous blood and sex are the National Film Theatre, South Bank, SE1, (020) 7928 3232; Renoir, Brunswick, WC1, (020) 7837 8402; MGM Swiss Centre, Wardour Street, W1, (020) 7439 4470; Everyman Cinema, Hollybush Vale, Hampstead, NW3, (020) 7435 1525; MGM Panton Street, (020) 7930 0631; Riverside Studios Cinema, Crisp Road, W6, (020) 8741 2255. Museums There are over four hundred museums and art galleries in London alone, (see listings in Time Out). They can be public or private, big or small, specialized or full of assorted world masterpieces. The most famous London museums and art galleries are the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery, Tate Modern and Tate Britain and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). The British Museum is not actually a British museum, but a storehouse of the world s priceless treasures. The National Gallery is an art history lesson in itself. The Tate Gallery concentrates on (but is certainly not limited to) modern and British art. The V&A, located just around the corner from Foundation House, is the National Museum of Art and Design. The V&A has a magnificent collection of dresses, furniture, textiles, prints and much more. Admission is free to many of London s museums so there is no excuse to miss them. Some of the smaller and more specialized museums are fascinating and can enhance in-class teaching. The London Transport Museum traces the history and importance of London s public transportation, the Theatre Museum is devoted to the performing arts. 17
And the list goes on and on. Rainy days and lazy Sunday afternoons are perfect for museum visits. Music The listings sections in Time Out groans under the weight of assorted venues hosting concerts ranging from Jazz to punk. In addition to larger venues hosting U2 and Smashing Pumpkins concerts there are hundreds of small clubs and pubs where you can see and hear the stars of tomorrow or the fallen stars of yesterday. We recommend the smaller venues since it s great being able to tell your friends that you were present at the birthplace of the newest megastar on the block and in the process you should save money since entrance often costs only a couple of pounds. Classical music is equally well served by the Capital s venues. The Royal Festival Hall, the South Bank, (020) 7960 4242 and the Barbican, (020) 7638 8891, house London s two symphony orchestras which give performances throughout the year. Candlelight concerts are offered in the intimate surroundings of London s churches such as St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, (020) 7839 8362, and St John s Public Hall, Smith Square, (020) 7222 1061. A ticket for a top-notch classical concert in London can cost as little as 5. Opera lovers are restricted to two main venues, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, (020) 7304 4000, and the English National Opera, London Coliseum, St Martin s Lane, WC2N 4ES, (020) 7632 8300. Tickets for the Royal Opera House are exorbitantly priced (if you book early, you may get a discount), ranging from 24 for the nosebleed seats to 250. The prices at the English National Opera are much more reasonable though the work is often more experimental and are sung in English. Theater London is without doubt the world s theater capital and many programme courses are theater based for this very fact. London can be expensive with prices for West End productions between 10 for the worst seats and 40-45 for the best. (See listings in Time Out.) Cheap tickets can be purchased at the Half Price Ticket Booth in Leicester Square. The Booth sells one ticket per person for the performance the same day. The best way to cut the cost is to actively seek out fringe theatre productions. Fringe productions are mostly put on in smaller theaters that often double as pubs or clubs. The subject matter for fringe theatre is often unusual and provocative and the challenging nature of the plays can be rewarding in itself. More to the point a fringe theater ticket can cost as little as 5. Some of the best fringe or smaller theaters are the Bush Theatre, the Gate Theatre, the Bridewell Theatre, the King s Head and the Donmar Warehouse. Restaurants London has more types of food from more countries than any other city in the world. What s more the food is authentic in origin and taste. This explosion of restaurants presents you with an opportunity to try unfamiliar food without travelling the world. 18
Eating out can be expensive with most good meals costing between 15 25, but the large number of restaurants means that you can easily hunt down special offers and good value meals. Magazines such as Time Out and newspapers like the Evening Standard often have special introductory offers for restaurants that cut the cost significantly. Many restaurants and cafés also have special lunchtime or afternoon menus that are more limited but cheaper than the evening version. Some of the best areas for food are: Hackney, Newington Green and Stoke Newington for Turkish food, Drummond Street and Euston Square for South Indian food (particularly good for vegetarians), Southall, Wembley and Brick Lane in Whitechapel for Punjabi (Indian) and Bangladeshi food, Soho (Chinatown) is excellent for Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese food while Thai food is found everywhere in London. Don t be put off by the less glamorous setting of some of these restaurants, it often means more authentic food at cheaper prices. There are also some unusual places to eat such as pubs (particularly for Thai food) church crypts (St Martin-in-the-Fields), small theaters and riverside cafés. Tipping, at around 10%, is common in London restaurants though an increasing number are including voluntary 10 15% service charges. Watch out, you could be tipping twice. Please see Appendix 1 for a listing of recommended local restaurants, pubs and bars. Shopping & markets London is a shopper s paradise with everything from the excesses of Knightsbridge and Harrods to the cheap and cheerful open-air markets. The markets are cheaper than London s more famous shopping streets and can reveal more interesting items for sale, though this is less true as the markets succumb to the pressure of catering to tourists. Here are some shopping areas that you might wish to check out: Harrods (Knightsbridge Tube Stop) if only for the Food Hall Fortnum and Mason (Piccadilly Circus Tube) the last bastion of all things English Bond Street (Bond Street Tube) with shops like Tiffany s it is well beyond most pockets Portobello Market(Notting Hill Gate Tube cheap antiques, clothes & great food, Camden Market (Camden Tube) good clothes, furniture, crafts and jewellery Bermondsey, Charing Cross, Petticoat Lane markets good antiques, though you need to be an early riser to get a bargain. Please see Appendix 2 for a listing of local shopping. 19
What things cost Like most European cities London is expensive. The following price approximations may give you a rough guide to how much things cost in London. The Dollar/Sterling exchange rate is $1.40 = 1.00 (at time of publication, March 2002). Entrance to the Tate Gallery, National Gallery, British Museum.. 0.00 One day Travelcard for Tube & bus for Zone 1&2 (off peak!)... 4.70 Entrance to the Design Museum... 6.00 Premier League Soccer match... 20.00 Sandwich lunch... 5.00 Roll of film (24 exposures)... 4.00 Hamburger, fries and a soda... 5.00 Load of laundry wash and dry... 3.00 Pair of Levi jeans... 40.00 Hair dryer... 20.00 CD... 13.00 Chocolate Bar... 0.55 Can of soda... 0.80 Shampoo... 4.00 Meal (modest)... 10.00 Standby theater ticket... 10.00 Haircut... 25.00 Rock concert... 35.00 20
Checklist things to do before departure Is your passport valid and have you made the correct immigration arrangements for the length of your stay in Britain? Do you have a Letter of Introduction from your university which confirms your status as a salaried employee in the US? Do you have traveller s cheques for your first few weeks in Britain? Have you decided on your banking arrangements while in London? Will you need to bring your US driver s licence? Will you be travelling to countries where you will need an international driver s licence? Have you investigated your income tax position for the period you will be abroad? Have you checked your health insurance coverage for the period while you are abroad? Faculty can opt to take the FIE student health insurance cover. Do you have baggage and possessions insurance? Have you contacted the other London-bound faculty from your institution? Do you have a list of participating students from your university/class enrolment lists? Have you checked on your institution s drop/add procedure while abroad and do you have a supply of the relevant forms? Do you have office funds for London? Do have a supply of your university s headed paper? Have you made contact with the FIE staff in London? Have you registered with the US STATE DEPARTMENT? https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ 21