London Calling

With the London Olympics now underway travel writer, Victoria Ugarte offers some helpful tips to avoid stresses that are beyond your control
By Victoria Ugarte

You’ve been saving for months or maybe even years for this moment. To be in the throng of the 2012 Olympic Games; supporting your country and experiencing the finest London has to offer.
However, if you’re not prepared you’re likely to encounter a mountain of stress as hundreds of thousands of people descend on the city’s transportation services. Add to that the unpredictable weather the area is famous for, and you’ve got a recipe for chaos.

Visitors and locals alike are cautioned to seriously reconsider driving in central London, around the Olympic Route Network (ORN) and Games venues. However, while London roads and public transport will experience extreme levels of congestion, there are ways to make travel in London less stressful.
Record numbers from all over the world continue to pour into London’s Heathrow, Europe's largest airport. As athletes, coaches, officials, and members of the media touch down in London the airport will handle some 236,955 passengers, breaking the previous daily record of 233,562 set in July 2011. As some 1,000 volunteers, dressed in bright pink attire, enthusiastically greet arrivals, hundreds of immigration agents are hard at work, ensuring that the lines at customs flow smoothly. With an increased police and sniffer dog presence, London’s Heathrow appears to be coping well with its first influx of Olympic passengers.

However, travelling on public transport will be a different story during the 2012 Olympics. London is a thriving metropolis that boasts the largest urban area in the European Union. To service the needs of the local population, and indeed the thousands of travellers who descend upon its shores every year, it has developed a very extensive and efficient public and private transport network over the years. However, there will be an extra four million visitors descending upon London all throughout the period of the 2012 Games. That's an extra 50% on top of its 7.5 million population. Travelling on public transport in London during the Games will be far from a pleasant experience.

The best thing that anyone can do at this busy time is to be smart and get creative in finding ways to go against the flow of bodies. Work out when the peak times are in London's public transport system and avoid them. Go sightseeing or enjoy a drink and dinner after hours instead of fighting the crowds in the Tube between 5.00-7.00 p.m.
 
Here are more handy hints for avoiding London public transport stress:
 
- Don't even think of driving. You'll spend hours sitting in traffic as congested London roads turn into virtual car parks.
- Walk to your destination instead of catching the Tube if the distances are not great. London is a city made for walking, and you get to enjoy fresh air and the sights while you're at it. Maps that feature easy walking distances between destinations are now being handed out at mainline stations.
- Take advantage of the best London transport apps around to help you navigate London. 'Tube Map Pro' is the best Tube app for an overview of the entire transport network, and your best option for getting from one point to the other. 'London Bus Checker' by FatAttitude lets you see what bus you need to catch in real time, and will even alert you when your stop is approaching after you've gotten on. 'Citymapper - London Transport' will show you a list of all your transport options, including cost and how long your journey will take, after you enter the start and end location of your journey.
 
According to BBC London, large parts of the United Kingdom are being severely affected by extreme weather conditions, particularly southern and central England and Wales. Rain is falling at up to 18mm (0.7in) an hour and some areas could see levels reach 100mm (3.9in) in 24 hours. The London Fire Brigade say that they have received 'hundreds' of calls reporting flooding incidents.
The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings and the Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for England and Wales, saying the washout will continue into August. A spokesman said: "A protracted spell of hot, sunny weather looks very unlikely."

With London setting a record for the wettest June on record and July already off to a wet start, the question on everyone's lips is, 'Will the rains spoil the London 2012 Games'.
While severe weather conditions may cause flight delays and transport chaos, except for track and field, many of the actual Olympic events will not be impacted by the rain. Swimming, diving, basketball and gymnastics all compete indoors. But where does that leave spectators and overseas guests, some of whom have travelled halfway across the world to attend the 2012 Games.

According to Victoria while the average daily high temperature in July and August is around 24°C (75°F), London weather conditions have always been highly changeable and hard to predict.
You can get a week of continuous rain, or just as likely a week of glorious sunshine over the Summer. Evening thunderstorms and short heavy downpours are a common occurrence in the late Summer.
In addition, London has a microclimate that is known as an "urban heat island". It’s caused by the mass of heated buildings and people concentrated in one relatively small area, and results in temperature changes that are a couple of degrees warmer than outside of the city.
"With weather patterns varying greatly from year to year, season to season, even moment to moment, the key to surviving severe weather conditions and enjoying the London 2012 Games is to come prepared for all eventualities,” Victoria says.

Victoria offers more quick packing tips for London 2012:
- Pack a waterproof trench coat or rain coat that will protect you from the wind and rain.
- Always carry an umbrella with you. If it's the fold-up variety, make sure it's a good quality one that will not flip inside out in heavy wind.
- Carry a crushable hat and sunglasses, should the weather clear up.
- Wear waterproof footwear with good treads for those slippery footpaths and muddy fields. Running shoes and trainers are not a good idea as they will get wet and soggy, as will open-toed shoes.
- Pack clothing that you can layer on and peel off easily as the temperature fluctuates.
- Leave your shorts at home, whether the weather is good or not. Unlike Aussies and Americans, the British don't wear shorts.
 
 
Victoria Ugarte
Based in Sydney, Australia Victoria has authored several books with Amazon, including Culture Savvy For Women and A Foodie & Fashionista's Guide To London.
www.ExploreMyWorldTravel.com