A London business trip is not something you improvise. The city rewards preparation and punishes the traveller who assumes it works like any other major city. From a new entry requirement that launched in January 2025 to tube etiquette that matters more than you think, here are the ten things you need to do before you fly.
1. Apply for Your UK ETA (US Citizens)
If you are a US citizen, you now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK without a visa. This requirement launched in January 2025. It is not a visa; it is a pre-approval linked to your passport, valid for two years or until your passport expires. The cost is £10. Apply at gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta. Processing is usually fast (hours to a day), but apply at least a week before travel to avoid stress. Do not arrive at the airport without it; airlines check for ETA at check-in.
2. Notify Your Bank and Card Issuers
Contact your bank and credit card companies before you travel. Tell them you will be in the UK and the dates you will be there. Without this notification, fraud detection systems may block your transactions at the worst possible moment, like when you are trying to pay for dinner with a client or grab an Uber after a late meeting. A two-minute phone call or in-app notification prevents a significant headache.
For currency, do not exchange cash at the airport; the rates are notoriously bad. Instead, use a fee-free card like Wise or Revolut. Both give you near-interbank exchange rates with minimal fees. You can get a slim RFID travel wallet on Amazon to keep your cards and passport organised.
3. Download Citymapper Before You Leave
Google Maps is fine for London, but Citymapper is better. It shows real-time tube disruptions, tells you exactly which carriage to board to be closest to the exit, shows bus stop numbers, and integrates all transport modes (tube, bus, Overground, Elizabeth line, river bus, cycling) into a single route. Download it before you fly, not when you land and need to navigate immediately.
4. Save an Offline Tube Map
Download TfL’s official tube map as a PDF and save it to your phone’s photo library. The Citymapper app works great when you have data, but having an offline reference for the Underground lines is useful in deep stations with no signal. The tube map is also a useful quick reference when planning your day around which zones your meetings are in.
5. Set Up Contactless Payment or Plan for an Oyster Card
The easiest way to pay for London transport is contactless card or mobile payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay). Tap in and out at every tube barrier and bus reader. Your bank’s travel card or a fee-free card like Wise works perfectly for this. Alternatively, pick up an Oyster card from any tube station on arrival. Oyster is pre-loaded with credit and used the same way. Either approach caps your daily spending at the single-day maximum fare, which is better than the cost of individual tickets.
6. Sort Out Your Currency Strategy
The UK uses pounds sterling (GBP). Do not exchange cash at Heathrow; the rates at airport bureaux de change are among the worst you will find anywhere. Instead: use Wise or Revolut for day-to-day spending, which converts at near-interbank rates. Wise also offers a debit card linked to a multi-currency account that you can load before you travel. A compact travel umbrella is a better use of your airport spending than any currency exchange counter.
7. Check Your Mobile Data Plan
If you are on T-Mobile Magenta or T-Mobile Magenta Max in the US, you have free unlimited data in the UK at standard speeds. Check your plan before you travel. If your plan does not include international data, your options are: add a UK data roaming pack through your current carrier, pick up a UK SIM card at any supermarket or convenience store on arrival (EE, Vodafone, and GiffGaff all offer pay-as-you-go SIMs for a few pounds), or use an eSIM service like Airalo before you fly. Being without data in London is genuinely disruptive; sort this before you leave.
8. Pack for the Weather
London weather does not care about your schedule. Even in summer, pack a waterproof layer. From October through March, add proper cold-weather layers. A compact travel umbrella is essential year-round. The entrepreneurs who look sharp throughout a London trip are the ones who packed for rain, not the ones who assumed it would be fine. See our detailed London business trip packing guide for the full gear breakdown.
9. Understand London Business Culture
London’s business culture has a few characteristics that differ meaningfully from US norms. Punctuality is expected; arriving five minutes late without notice is noticed. Small talk at the start of meetings is shorter and less personal than in American business contexts. Humour is more understated. Hierarchy is respected more explicitly in traditional sectors like finance and law. Dress formally for first meetings, especially in the City or Canary Wharf. None of this is prohibitive; knowing it ahead of time means you project confidence rather than confusion.
10. Book Your Transport From Heathrow in Advance
Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports and it has excellent transport links into London. The fastest and most cost-effective option for most travellers is the Elizabeth line (Crossrail), which runs direct from Heathrow terminals to Paddington, Bond Street, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, and beyond. Journey time to Paddington is about 26 minutes and costs around £12.80 with contactless. The Heathrow Express is faster (15 minutes to Paddington) but costs around £25 to £37. Black cabs are available but expensive during peak times. The Underground Piccadilly line is cheapest (around £6) but slow and uncomfortable with luggage. Plan your route before you land; do not improvise at the arrivals hall.
Once you have the logistics sorted, read our complete London business trip packing list and our overview of how to start a business in London if you are exploring UK expansion opportunities on this trip.
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