WELCOME TO PAI 2018

WELCOME
PACK 2018

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
INTERNATIONAL

56 Russell Square, London, WC1

We are delighted that you will be
participating in a workshop in London at
PAI. We will do our best to make sure
that your time with us is both rewarding
and enjoyable.

We wish you a very warm welcome
Claire Cameron
Managing Director of PAI
Slava Gromlyuk
Business Development Director

55-56 Russell Square, London WC1B 4HP
T +44 (0)20 7580 3590 F +44 (0)20 7580 4746 [email protected] www.public-admin.co.uk

Public Administration International Limited Registered in Cardiff Number 2687571

CONTENTS PAGE 2
4
1. HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION 7
2. RESTAURANTS/CAFES 8
3. TRAVEL IN LONDON AND IN BRITAIN 9
4. BANKS AND POST OFFICES 9
5. BOOKSHOPS 10
6. HEALTH 11
7. PLACES OF WORSHIP 11
8. INTERNET/EMAIL FACILITIES 11
9. SIM CARDS FOR MOBILE TELEPHONES 12
10. LIBRARIES 13
11. SHOPPING 13
12.NOTE ON VAT AND SHOPPING 17
13. SIGHTSEEING 17
14.THEATRE AND CINEMA 18
15. WEATHER 18
16. ELECTRICITY 19
17.SECURITY – WARNING! PLEASE BE CAREFUL 19
18.SMOKING LEGISLATION 20
19.PAI COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE FOR WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS
20.PAI ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT POLICY

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1 HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION
The following is a short list of some hotels and accommodation in central London close
to PAI. There are many more at a wide range of prices and quality. It is not possible
for us to list all hotels in London, so if you would prefer to stay in cheaper hotels
further out of London it is probably best if you do a Google search. Depending on
budget, PAI participants staying in the locality tend to stay at the Kingsley Hotel or
Tavistock Hotel. Rates quoted are valid as at January 2018. Whilst most hotels will
hold these rates for the whole of 2018 some hotels may increase rates slightly during
the year. Please note promotional offers are sometimes available (it may be worth
checking hotel websites) but these are often offered to individuals and not to
companies so it may be in your best interests to check with the hotel direct.
Depending on the time of year PAI can sometimes get special rates at certain hotels,
so please ask and we will see what we can get. If you are happy to travel, then
cheaper options may be available further out of London.
(Note: “en suite” = toilet and bathroom/shower facilities in your own room;
“shared facilities” = bathroom and toilet facilities down hallway and shared
with other guests; “double room” = one double bed (for a couple) in the
room; “twin room” = two single beds in the same room.) Please note that
the below hotels are all within walking distance of PAI.

1.1 Russell Hotel 4* 1-8 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5BE

Tel: 020 7837 6470 Fax: 020 7520 1835 www.hotelrusselllondon.co.uk

A corporate rate is available if booked through PAI of £199 (City single), £258 (Guest

room with double bed) or £282 (Superior room – larger with double bed) per night

inclusive of VAT but excluding breakfast. 2 minutes from PAI

Please note that the hotel is under refurbishment and will re-open around

March/April 2018.

1.2 The Kingsley Hotel 4* Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2SD

Tel: 020 7242 5881 Fax: 0870 333 9203 www.thistlehotels.com/bloomsbury

A corporate rate of 10% off the Best Available Flexible Rate at the time of booking, is

available if booked through PAI and includes breakfast and VAT.

7 minutes from PAI.

1.3 Holiday Inn 4*, Coram Street, London, WC1N 1HT

Tel: 0871 942 9222 www.hilondonbloomsburyhotel.co.uk

A corporate rate is available if booked through PAI £189 per double/twin per night

(single occupancy); inclusive of breakfast and inclusive of VAT. 6 minutes from PAI

1.4 Myhotel 4* 11-13 Bayley Street London WC1B 3HD

Tel: 020 3004 6000 Fax: 020 3004 6044 www.myhotels.com

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A corporate rate of 10% off Best Available Rate at the time of booking when quoting
“Public Administration International”. Rates include VAT but exclude breakfast. 8-10
minutes from PAI.

1.5 Crowne Plaza 4* 1 King’s Cross Road London WC1X 9HX
Tel: 020 7833 3900 E: [email protected] www.igh.com
A corporate rate of 15% off Best Available Rate if booked through PAI and includes of
a full English breakfast, but excludes VAT. 10-15 minutes from PAI.

1.6 The Bloomsbury Park Hotel 3* 126 Southampton Row London WC1B 5AD

Tel: 0207 430 0434 Fax: 020 7242 0665

www.thistlehotels.com/bloomsburypark

A corporate rate of 10% off the Best Available Flexible Rate at the time of booking, is

available if booked through PAI and includes breakfast and VAT. 2 minutes from

PAI.

1.7 Imperial Hotel 3* 66 Russell Square, London WC1B 5BB

Tel: 020 7837 3655 Fax: 020 7837 4653 www.imperialhotels.co.uk

£109 per night for a single room and £139 for a twin/double room, inclusive of VAT

and full English breakfast. 1 minute from PAI.

1.8 Bedford Hotel 3*, 83 Southampton Row, London, WC1V 4HD

Tel: 020 7636 7822 Fax: 020 7837 4653 www.imperialhotels.co.uk

£109 per night for a single room and £137 for a twin/double room inclusive of VAT

and full English breakfast. 2 minutes from PAI.

1.9 President Hotel 3*, Guilford Street London, WC1N 1DB

Tel: 020 7837 8844 Fax: 020 7837 4653 www.imperialhotels.co.uk

£105 per night for single room and £127 for a twin/double room inclusive of VAT and

full English breakfast. 3 minutes from PAI.

1.10 Royal National Hotel 3*, Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0DG

Tel: 020 7637 2488 Fax: 020 7837 4653 www.imperialhotels.co.uk

£100 per night for single room and £123 for a twin room inclusive of VAT and

Continental breakfast. 6 minutes from PAI.

1.11 Tavistock Hotel 3*, Tavistock Square, London, WC1

Tel: 020 7636 8383 Fax: 020 7837 4653 www.imperialhotels.co.uk

£95 per night for single room and £119 for a twin/double room inclusive of VAT and

full English breakfast. 7 minutes from PAI

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1.12 County Hotel 3*, Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0JW

Tel: 020 7387 5544 Fax: 020 7837 4563 www.imperialhotels.co.uk

£73 per night for single room with shared facilities (one bathroom to every 4 rooms)

and £77 for a twin/double room with shared facilities, inclusive of VAT and breakfast.

9 minutes from PAI.

PAI can give you advice and assistance with booking accommodation. Hotels can often
get very busy, particularly during the summer months when so many tourists visit
London, so please book well in advance.

Please note that it is very expensive to use the telephone from your hotel
room. You will find it a lot less expensive to use public telephones. Most of
these take phone cards which can be bought from many newsagents and
sometimes from hotel receptionists. To make international calls from the
UK dial 00 + country code + number.

There are a range of apartments available throughout London but the majority are for
long-term let. Saco Apartments however arrange lettings for 3 days onwards and 2
locations are within a 7 minutes walking distance from PAI:
1.13 Holborn (72-84 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London, WC1N 3LT)
1.14 Tavistock Place (2 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9RA). Please see their
website: www.sacoapartments.co.uk for full details. A one bedroom one-week let will
cost approximately £1,080 exclusive of VAT. Please note that participants must book
apartment lets direct with Saco Apartments.

Another option would be for you to search the Airbnb website (www.airbnb.com) for
the area in London you wish to stay in.

2 RESTAURANTS/CAFES
There are many restaurants/ cafes in and around Bloomsbury and Russell Square.
Listed below is just a small selection of reasonably priced cafe’s; please note: Some
restaurants and cafes often add a 10-15% service charge to your bill.

2.1 CAFE IN THE GARDEN - Russell Square Gardens, London WC1B 5EH
Cafe in the Gardens serves light meals as well as a selection of sandwiches, snacks
and beverages.

2.2 COSTA COFFEE - 112 Southampton Row, London, WC1B 4BL
Costa Coffee is a cafe that serves teas, coffees and other hot drinks. They also sell
hot/cold sandwiches.

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2.3 STARBUCKS - 124 Southampton Row, London, WC1B 5AA
Starbucks is very similar to Costa Coffee, serving a selection of teas, coffees, pastries
and sandwiches.

2.4 PRET A MANGER - 40 Bernard Street, London WC1N 1LE
Pret a Manager sells coffee/ tea and a selection of sandwiches, soups, and other hot
beverages.

All of the above cafes have seating areas however; it can get very busy during lunch
time. There are many more small cafes around Southampton Row and Russell Square.

2.5 VEGETARIAN
HUMMUS BROS - Victoria House, Bloomsbury, 37-63 Southampton Row,
London, WC1B 4DA. Tel: 020 7404 7079
Opening times: Monday to Friday 11.00 to 21.00 hours. Closed Weekends.

2.6 INDIAN
HASON RAJA - 84 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London, WC1B 4BB.
Tel: 020 7242 4888 Website: http://www.hasonraja.co.uk/
The Hason Raja, named after a poet from Bangladesh has an assortment of
less familiar dishes like Goose Ki Parchy (goose cooked in an aniseed and
poppyseed blueberry sauce) which makes it a cut above the typical Indian
HALAL restaurant.
Opening times: Monday to Sunday 12.00 to 23.30 hours.
MALABAR JUNCTION - 107 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1B
3NA. Tel: 020 7580 5230, http://www.malabarjunction.co.uk
Malabar Junction offers a combination of Cochin, Malabar and Travancore
cuisine in the Keralian tradition. Malabar Junction in Bloomsbury is Britain's first
up-market South Indian restaurant.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday Lunch – 12.00 to 14.45 hours, Dinner:
18.00 to 22.30 hours

2.7 CHINESE/KOREAN
ASADAL - 227 High Holborn, London WC1V 7DA. Tel: 020 7430 9006
Asadal is one of the largest Korean restaurant in London.
Opening Times: Monday to Friday Lunch – 12.00-15.00| Dinner Saturday and
Sunday 18.00 to 23.00 hours.
CHINA CITY - 50 Woburn Place, London, WC1H 0JZ. Tel: 020 7580 1188
Serves traditional Chinese cuisine. Dim Sum served daily until 17.00 hours.
Opening times: Monday to Sunday 12.00 to 23.00 hours.
CHINA HOUSE - 51 Marchmont Street, London, WC1N 1AP. Tel: 020 7713
0866

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China House is an inexpensive restaurant that offers a selection of Peking and
Cantonese dishes.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday 12.00 to 23.00 hours and Sunday 17.00
to 23.30 hours.

2.8 AFRICAN/ CARIBBEAN RESTUARANTS

SOUK MEDINA (North African) 1A Short's Gardens, London WC2H 9AT.
Tel: 020 7240 1796
The atmosphere and food at this North African restaurant are authentic and
inviting - relax amongst a bed of plump cushions in the half-light.
Opening times: Monday to Sunday 12.00 to 23.30 hours.
JAMAICAN GRILLHOUSE (Caribbean) 189 Wardour Street, Soho, London
W1F 8ZD. Tel: 020 7287 2878
This Caribbean cafe is as generous in atmosphere as it is in portion sizes.
Dishing up mountains of Jerk Chicken with rice and peas to tired Soho shoppers.
In the heart of the West End this little gem comes as a real respite from the
chaotic surroundings. Bringing the warmth of Kingston to the chilly streets of
London. Opening times: 12.00 to 23.30 hours.

2.9 ITALIAN RESTUARANTS
CIAO BELLA, 86-90 Lambs Conduit Street, London, WC1N 3LZ.
Tel: 020 7242 4119
Renowned for its generously portioned pasta (the seafood spaghetti, cooked in
a grease-proof bag, is fabulous), its huge wood-oven cooked pizzas (try the
calzone if you're feeling peckish), its tasty cuts of meat (the veal is delicious)
and its great daily specials.
Opening times: Monday to Friday 12.00 to 23.30 hours.
PIZZA EXPRESS, 114-117 Southampton Row, London WC1B 5AA
Tel: 020 7430 1011
A chain of restaurants all around London, serving pizzas, pasta and other Italian
meals at reasonable prices.
Opening times: Monday to Sunday 11.00 to 23.00 hours
PIZZA HUT, 150 Southampton Row, London, WC1B 5AA Tel: 020 7837 3934
As above, Pizza Hut has a chain of restaurants all around the world serving,
pizza’s, pastas, salads etc.
Opening times: Monday to Sunday 11.00 to 23.00 hours.

2.10 TURKISH RESTAURANTS
ANTALYA, 103-105 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4HH
Tel: 020 7580 5355

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A luxurious yet affordable Antalya Restaurant presents on its menu a
complimentary selection of classic mezzes and mains from finest Turkish and
Mediterranean cuisine. Serves Halal.
Opening times: Monday to Sunday 11.00 to 23.30 hours.
SARRASTRO, 126 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, WC2B 5SU Tel: 020 7836 0101
A very unusual restaurant which portrays an opera atmosphere. 10 minutes
from walk from PAI.
Opening times: Sunday to Thursday 12.00 to 22.30 hours, Friday to Saturday
12.00 to 23.15 hours.
TAS, 22 Bloomsbury Street, WC1B 3QJ Tel: 020 7637 4555
Tas Bloomsbury is located in the heart of Central London. Close to the British
Museum as well as many other local attractions are within an earshot of Tas
Bloomsbury.
Opening times: 12.00 hours till late.

There are many restaurants in and around London offering a variety of
international dishes, if you are looking for a specific country restaurant,
please ask one of the staff at PAI.

3 TRAVEL IN LONDON AND IN BRITAIN
You will find it very useful to buy a good street map of London, for example the A-Z
of London, which is available from most newsagents and bookshops. Underground
and bus maps are also available free of charge at underground stations and main
railway stations.

3.1 The Underground (known as “the tube”) www.tfl.gov.uk
This is a quick, reasonably cheap and, most of the time, efficient service. Tubes
generally run from 06.00 hours until about midnight or from 07.30 to 23.00 hours on
a Sunday. The different tube lines are colour-coded and there are maps, direction
signs and train destination indicators on each platform.

London is split into zones for fare prices. There is a single rate for journeys within the
central zone and a higher rate for a journey across two or more zones. You can buy
daily, weekly or monthly Travelcards which allow you to make unlimited journeys by
tube, train and bus within the zones covered by your card. You can buy a Travelcard
at any tube station. Alternatively, you could buy an Oyster card. An Oyster card is
now the cheapest way to pay for single journeys on Tubes, buses, DLR and trams in
London. You can store your Travelcard/Bus Pass and/or cash to “pay as you go” on
your card. Oyster saves you time – no more queuing for tickets as you can pay in
advance. Oyster will always automatically calculate the cheapest fare for the journeys
you make in a single day. Your Oyster card is reusable – just top it up with cash or

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renew your Travelcard/Bus Pass when needed. You can get an Oyster card from most
underground stations and some National Rail ticket offices.
Please remember that it is an offence to travel on public transport without
a valid ticket and ticket inspectors can fine you immediately if you do not
have one.

3.2 Buses
You may prefer to travel by bus as it is certainly better for sight-seeing and for getting
acquainted with London. Travelcards are valid for both buses and tubes. There are
night buses running from midnight until 06.00 hours, all of which pass through
Trafalgar Square. You can obtain information about these from local bus maps or from
London Transport Travel Enquiries. Please also note that payment on busses are not
accepted.

3.3 Main Line Railway Services www.thetrainline.com
Information on all rail enquires can be obtained from telephone 08457 484950. Trains
vary from slow services which stop at every town to fast intercity services connecting
only the main towns. Rail travel is often expensive in Britain.

3.4 Coaches www.nationalexpress.com or www.greenline.co.uk
National Express and Green Line coaches run services to all parts of Britain and it is
often a much cheaper, if rather slower, way of travelling. It is good for sightseeing
during the weekend, when you have more time. Most coach services leave from
Victoria Coach Station, which is a few minutes’ walk from Victoria main line and
underground stations.

3.5 Taxis
Taxis are very good value if you are sharing with others (taxis will take up to four
people and some of the newer ones will take five) and especially if the journey is
relatively short - say up to five miles. They are also very useful for late night journeys.
You can call a taxi in the street or find one at a taxi rank. If the yellow light on the
front of the taxi is lit up, the taxi is for hire. The cost is assessed by the meter inside
the taxi. If you are calling a taxi on the street, you should always use
licensed black taxis, not unmetered mini-cabs, which can be very
expensive.

4 BANKS AND POST OFFICES
You will find branches of all the main British banks in most high streets and shopping
areas in central London. Banks are normally open from 09.30 to 16.30 hours, Monday
to Friday and do not close for lunch. If you would like to open a bank account while
you are here in London, we will write you a letter of introduction. However, some

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banks may be reluctant to open an account for you if your stay here is relatively short.

Post offices are normally open from 09.00 to 17.30 hours, Monday to Friday, and from
09.00 until 12.00 hours or 13.00 hours on Saturdays. The nearest post office to PAI
is Marchmont Street Post Office, 33 Marchmont Street, London, WC1N 1AP. Its
opening hours are from: Monday to Sunday – 07.00 to 23.00 hours.

5 BOOKSHOPS
Some of the main bookshops are:

Waterstones 82 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6EQ. www.waterstones.co.uk
Open Monday to Friday 08.30 to 21.00 hours, Saturday 08.30 to 20.00 hours
and Sunday 12 noon to 18.00 hours. The nearest tube station is Goodge
Street (Northern Line).
Foyles, 107 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H ODT. www.foyles.co.uk
Open 09.30 to 21.00 hours, Monday to Saturday and Sunday 11.30 to 18.00
hours. The nearest tube stations are Tottenham Court Road (Northern and
Central lines) or Leicester Square (Piccadilly or Northern lines).
Hatchards, 187 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LE. www.hatchard.co.uk
Open Monday to Saturday 09.30 to 20.00 hours and Sunday 12.00 noon to
18.30 hours. Nearest tube station Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo
lines).

6 HEALTH
National Health Service - If you are visiting Britain for less than six months,
you are only entitled to free medical treatment under the NHS in cases of
accident or emergency.
Doctors and hospitals – Pharmacists/chemists can often be very helpful in
advising you (free of charge) if you feel unwell. A late night chemist is Bliss
Chemist, 5 Marble Arch, W1H 7EL open daily from 09.00 hours to midnight. If
you need to visit a doctor you should book an appointment in advance.
Doctors at The Museum Practice, 58 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B
3BA Tel: 020 7405 2739 are open between 08.45 and 18.30 hours Monday to
Friday – approx. £30 per consultation. Alternatively there is a “Walk in
Doctor” available at Your Doctor @ Holborn, 79-80 High Holborn, WC1V 6LS
Tel: 020 7242 0088 www.yourdoctorlondon.com at a cost of £45 per
consultation. Also Doctorcall is a 24-hour doctor service which is useful for
visitors to London Tel: 0344 257 0345 (www.doctorcall.co.uk) but note that
they charge between £185 - £265 per consultation depending on time of day
and day of the week.

If you feel seriously ill or have an accident which needs immediate treatment, contact
the Accident and Emergency Unit of the nearest hospital. In a real emergency,

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ring the ambulance service on 999. The nearest hospital to most central London
hotels is University College Hospital, 235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU. Tel:
0845155 5000 (switchboard). You can get there:

By bus:
Tottenham Court Road - North bound (Warren Street station) - Bus No's 10,
73, 24, 29, 134
Gower Street - South bound (University Street)- Bus No's 10, 24, 29, 73, 134
Euston Road - Bus No's 18, 27, 30, 88
By tube:
Warren Street (Northern / Victoria Lines)
Euston Square (Circle / Hammersmith & City / Metropolitan Lines)

Dentists - Charges are made for dental treatment in Britain and it is best to
check before booking an appointment whether the dentist you are visiting carries out
National Health Service work. Private dental treatment is very expensive. Emergency
treatment for acute pain can be treated temporarily at the Casualty Department,
Eastman Dental Hospital, 256 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD. Tel: 020 3456
7899. The Casualty Department is open from 09.00 hours and patients will be treated
on a first come, first served basis. After you receive temporary treatment at the
Casualty Department, you will then need to book an appointment with a dentist, either
in Britain or when you return home.

7 PLACES OF WORSHIP
There are places of worship of many denominations in London, some of which are:

All Souls (Anglican) St Marylebone Parish Church
Souls Place 17 Marylebone Road
London W1B 3DA London NW1 5LT
Tel: 020 7580 3522 www.allsouls.org Tel: 020 7935 7315

London Central Mosque Council of Mosques
146 Park Road 94 Whitechapel Road
London NW8 7RG Tower Hamlets, London E1 1JQ
Tel: 020 7724 3363 www.iccuk.org Tel: 020 7247 5981

Roman Catholic Parish of St John Woods Oratory Catholic Church

54 Lodge Road Brompton Road

London NW8 8LA Tel: 020 7286 3214 London SW7 2RP

www.rcsjw.org.uk Tel: 020 7808 0900
www.bromtonoratory.com

Kensington Temple (Pentecostal) Buddhapadipa Temple
(Buddhism) 14 Colonne Road, Wimbledon
Kensington Park Road, London, SW19 5HJ
Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3BY Tel: 020 8946 1357

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Tel: 020 8799 6100 www.kt.org
www.buddhapadipa.org

Seventh Day Adventist Church Seventh Day Adventist Church
Santley Street 66 Haverstock Hill
London SW4 7QG London NW3 2BE
Tel: 020 7274 8283 Tel: 020 7482 5022

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Hindu)
105-119 Brentfield Road
Neasden, London, NW10 8LD
Tel: 020 8965 2651 www.mandir.org

8. INTERNET/EMAIL FACILITIES
All participants attending PAI’s international scheduled workshops will receive a tablet
which has wi-fi and 3G roaming capabilities. PAI has access to laptops with eight
terminals which are available for participants to use during office hours. Most hotels
now have internet access available from bedrooms (at a charge) and there are also
quite a few of internet cafes around the Russell Square area. The cheapest is
easyInternetCafe, 122 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 4TR (Sloane Square underground
station) Tel: 020 7241 9000 open 09.30 to 19.00 hours daily, except Sunday when it
is open from 12.00 to 18.00 hours.

9 SIM CARDS FOR MOBILE TELEPHONES:
Sim cards can be bought from many telephone shops in London. An independent
shop which may provide good value for money is the Carphone Warehouse, at 231
High Holborn, London, WC1V 7DA.

10 LIBRARIES
Holborn Library (public library: general textbooks) 32-38 Theobald’s Road,

London WC1X 8PA, Tel: 020 7974 6345 Fax: 020 7974 6356
Opening times: Monday to Thursday 10.00 to 19.00 hours, Friday 10.00 to 17.00
hours, Saturday 11.00 to 17.00 hours, Sunday closed.
Nearest tube station: Holborn

Swiss Cottage Library (Reference Library: general and perhaps political
textbooks) Swiss Cottage, 88 Avenue Road, London NW3 3HA, Tel: 020 7974 652
Fax: 020 7974 6532 Website: www.camden.gov.uk/swisscottagelibrary
Opening times: Monday to Thursday 10.00 to 20.00 hours, Friday to Saturday
10.00 to 17.00, Sunday 11.00 to 16.00 hours.
Nearest tube station: Swiss Cottage (on the Jubilee Line; to get there take the
Piccadilly Line from either Russell Square or Holborn, change on to the Jubilee Line
at Bond Street which will take you north to Swiss Cottage station)

The British Library (public national library: many textbooks on all subjects)
Tel: 020 7412 7332 (switchboard) 96, Euston Road London NW1 2DB

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Website: www.bl.uk
Opening times: Monday to Friday opening times are from 09.30 to 20.00 hours,
Saturday from 09.30 to 17.00 hours and Sunday from 11.00 to 17.00 hours.
Nearest tube station: King’s Cross (on the Piccadilly Line: just take the tube from
either Russell Square or Holborn, and it will take you straight there).

11 SHOPPING
Shopping facilities in London are excellent, with a wide range of choice from street
markets to exclusive department stores such as Harrods in Knightsbridge (do try and
visit, even if only to look at the displays rather than buy).

Oxford Street (Oxford Circus, London, WC1) Oxford Street is a
major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in the West End of London. It is
Europe's busiest shopping street. Oxford Street is home to a number of major
department stores and numerous flagship stores including Selfridges, Debenhams,
House of Fraser, Primark, New Look, Next, Top Shop, D H Evans, John Lewis and the
well-known Marks and Spencer. Opening hours for many of the shops are generally
from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday – 10.00 to 20.00 hours, Thursday –
10.00 to 21.00 hours and Saturday – 09.00 to 17.00 hours and Sunday – 12.00 to
20.00 hours.

Westfield Shopping Centre Shepherds Bush, Ariel Way, London, W12
7GR – This is the 6th largest pedestrian indoor shopping centre in the UK with 372
shops.

Westfield Shopping Centre Stratford City, Montfitchet Road, London,
E20 1EJ – This is the 3rd largest pedestrian indoor shopping centre in the UK with
350 shops.

Covent Garden Market (Covent Garden, London, WC1) - This is a
pedestrian shopping area with a variety of small shops and market stalls, restaurants,
cafes, pubs, clubs and theatres. It is very lively at weekends and in the evenings and
is a pleasant area to shop, eat and drink or just stroll around. There are often street
musicians and entertainers who perform in the Piazza - a large open area which was
originally London’s fruit and vegetable market. The nearest tube station is Covent
Garden (Piccadilly line).

Wembley Market and Petticoat Lane - Both street markets are open only
on Sundays. Petticoat Lane in Middlesex Street, open from 09.00 until 14.00 hours,
is traditionally a market for people from the East End of London. Food, clothing and
household goods can be bought here. Nearest tube station is Aldgate East (District
and Metropolitan lines). A variety of goods are sold in Wembley market, including
cheap leather and suede clothes. It is very popular with Londoners who live in the
North and North West of London. Nearest tube station is Wembley Park (Jubilee and
Metropolitan lines).

Portobello Road Market (Portobello Road, London, W10 & W11) -
Open Monday to Saturday 09.00 to 18.00 hours (closes Thursday 13.00 hours) this

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market is good for meat, fruit and vegetables which are very cheap and come from all
over the world. You can also buy antiques and bric-a-brac. Nearest tube stations are
Ladbroke Grove (Metropolitan line) and Notting Hill Gate (District, Circle and Central
lines).

Camden Lock (Stables Market, off Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1)
Monday to Sunday 10.00 to 18.00 hours all day market. Clothes, jewellery, records,
ornaments. Not particularly cheap, but worth a visit for the atmosphere and to see
the young (and not so young) fashion-conscious people. Nearest tube stations are
Camden Town and Chalk Farm (Northern line).

Walthamstow Market (Walthamstow High Street, London, E17) –
Tuesday to Friday 08.00 to 17.00 hours, Saturday 09.00 to 17.30 hours. Antiques not
a key feature, but there are plenty of food traders among the 450-ish stalls that line
the high street. Look for good prices on exotic fruit, plus household goods, electrical,
linen, fabrics, clothes, CDs, pet food and tools. Nearest tube station is Walthamstow
(Victoria line).

12 NOTE ON VAT AND SHOPPING
Non EU nationals (or EU nationals who are not returning to the EU on their return
flight) may be able to reclaim VAT on goods purchased in the UK by the Retail Export
Scheme. However, please note that this is a non-compulsory scheme and not all
shops/hotels are part of this. Whenever you purchase something you must tell the
retailer at the time of purchase that you wish to reclaim VAT. If the retailer is part of
the scheme they will provide you with a 407 form to complete at the time of purchase.

When you check in at the airport on your return home please show the Check in
assistant your 407 form(s). They may ask to actually see the goods you have bought
(be prepared for this), and will then stamp the 407 form. There is a post box at the
airport (ask Check in where they are) for you to post the form back to the Retailer.
The Retailer will then refund the VAT to you but, be warned, it may take some time.
The HM Customs & Excise Helpline telephone number is 0845 0109000.

13 SIGHTSEEING
One of the best sources of information are the weekly magazines “What’s On in
London” and “Time Out”, which can be bought from any newsagents for approximately
£3.50 and which list sightseeing attractions, museums, art galleries, exhibitions,
music, theatre, cinema, sporting events, restaurants, pubs and clubs. Guided walks of
London are provided by companies such as City Walks and cover themes such as
“Legal London: the Inns of Court and the Old Bailey”, “London of Dickens and
Shakespeare”, “Ancient London”, etc. These walks cost about £5-£6 and information
can be found in “What’s On” or “Time Out”.

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13.1 MAIN PLACES OF INTEREST ARE
Tower of London, Tower Hill, London, EC3,

http://www.toweroflondontour.co.uk/ Open 1 March to 31 October, Monday to
Saturday from 09.00 to 17.30 hours and Sunday 10.00 to 17.30 hours. From 1
November to 28 February from Tuesday to Saturday 09.00 to 16.30 hours and Sunday
to Monday 10.00 to 16.30 hours – last admission 30 minutes before closing. Well
worth a visit if you are prepared to queue. Probably the oldest building in London and
formerly a fortress and a prison, now houses the Crown Jewels and collections of
ancient weapons. Visit the Bloody Tower and Traitor’s Gate. Nearest tube station
Tower Hill (District and Circle lines).

Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, SW1A OAA, www.parliament.uk
– At present tours are available only on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings
and Friday (all day if Commons not sitting, late afternoon if they are). Nearest tube
station is Westminster (District and Circle lines). But please check the website before
you arrange to visit.

Westminster Abbey - Victoria Street, London, SW1. www.westminster-
abbey.org/visit-us/opening-times Open daily 09.30 to 18.00 hours. Site of
coronations for many English monarchs. Burial place for many famous British people.
Nearest tube station is Westminster (District and Circle lines). Please check before
visiting for opening hours.

St Paul’s Cathedral - St Paul’s Church Yard, London, EC4. www.stpauls.co.uk
Beautiful cathedral built by Sir Christopher Wren. St Paul's Cathedral is open for
sightseeing from Monday to Saturday between 08.30 hours -16.00 hours; there is an
entrance fee charge. Nearest tube station St Paul’s (Central line).

Buckingham Palace - The Mall, London, SW1. www.royal.gov.uk Changing of
the Guard every day at 11.30 hours from April to end of June and on alternate days
rest of year, weather permitting. Buckingham Palace is open during August and
September, daily from 09.30 to 18.30 hours, last admission 16.15 hours (tickets may
be purchased in advance by credit card Tel: 020 7766 7300). Visitors may tour the
State Rooms, which include the Throne Room, the Picture Gallery and the State Dining
Room. Well worth seeing. Nearest tube stations are St James’s Park (District and Circle
lines) and Victoria (Victoria, District and Circle lines).

10 Downing Street - Off Whitehall, SW1. official residence of the Prime
Minister is unfortunately not open to the public. Nearest tube station Westminster
(District and Circle lines).

British Museum - Great Russell Street, WC1. www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
One of the largest museums in the world. Open daily 10.00 to 17.30 hours (until
20.30 hours on Friday). Entrance free of charge. Nearest tube stations Tottenham
Court Road (Central and Northern Lines) and Russell Square (Piccadilly line).

Natural History Museum - Cromwell Road, SW7. www.nhm.ac.uk Open
Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to 17.50 hours and Sunday and Bank Holidays 11.00

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to 17.50 hours. Entrance free of charge. Nearest tube station is South Kensington
(Piccadilly, District and Circle lines).

Science Museum - Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD. Open daily 10.00 to 18.00
hours, Monday to Sunday. Nearest tube station South Kensington.

Victoria and Albert Museum - Cromwell Road, SW7. www.vam.ac.uk Open
Monday to Sunday 10.00 to 17.45 hours (until 22.00 hours on Fridays). Entrance is
free. Nearest tube station South Kensington.

National Maritime Museum - Romney Road, Greenwich, SE10.
http://www1.rmg.co.uk/ Open daily 10.00 to 17.00 hours (until 20.00 hours on
Thursdays). Entrance is free. British Rail to Greenwich or Docklands Light Railway
from Tower Hill (District and Circle lines) to Island Gardens and walk under the River
Thames through the foot tunnel.

Museum of London - 150 London Wall, EC2. www.museumoflondon.org.uk
Exhibitions of London from Roman times to the present day. Open daily 10.00 to
18.00 hours. Nearest tube station Moorgate (Northern, District, Circle and Metropolitan
lines).

National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery - Trafalgar Square, SW1.
www.nationalgallery.org.uk Excellent collection of paintings and portraits. Open daily
10.00 to 18.00 hours (until 21.00 hours on Friday). Nearest tube station is Charing
Cross (Northern and Bakerloo lines).

Tate Gallery - Millbank, SW1. www.tate.org.uk Fine collection of paintings,
including modern art exhibitions. Open daily 10.00 to 18.00 hours. Nearest tube
station is Pimlico (Victoria line).

Madame Tussauds the London Planetarium - Marylebone Road, W1.
www.madame-tussauds.co.uk One of the most popular tourist attractions in London -
be prepared to queue. Nearest tube station is Baker Street (Jubilee, Metropolitan,
Bakerloo, District and Circle lines). Open Monday to Friday 09.30 to 17.30 hours,
Saturday and Sunday 10.00 to 18.00 hours (please check times as they vary during
the year)

London Film Museum - South Bank, SE1
www.londonfilmmuseum.com/south-bank The London Film Museum is the only film
museum of its kind in Great Britain, supporting the Film Industry and the talent
within it. Open daily 10.00 to 18.00 hours (Please check website for times). Nearest
tube station is Waterloo (Northern and Bakerloo lines).

London Aquarium - The County Hall, Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge,
London, SE1. http://www.visitsealife.com/london/ Open daily 10.00 to 17.00 hours.
The £25 million London Aquarium features thousands of aquatic specimens of over
350 species of fish and invertebrates from around the world. Awesome sharks to
spectacular moon jellies, cuttlefish, sea horses, stingrays and octopus. Nearest tube
station is Waterloo (Northern and Bakerloo lines).

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13.2 SOME OTHER PLACES AND AREAS OF INTEREST ARE:

The West End - main entertainment area for theatres, cinemas, restaurants,
cafes and nightlife. Nearest tube stations are Leicester Square (Piccadilly and Northern
lines) and Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines).

Trafalgar Square – Trafalgar Square is a landmark in central London enjoyed
by Londoners and all visitors alike. It is a lively place often used for a wide range of
activities including: special events and celebrations like the Royal Wedding, Olympics
One Year to Go, St Patrick's Day and Chinese New Year; filming and photography; and
rallies and demonstrations. Nearest tube station is Charing Cross (Northern and
Bakerloo lines).

Whitehall - wide avenue used for ceremonial and state processions. Home of
most Government departments (“Whitehall” is shorthand for “the civil service”).
Trafalgar Square is at one end and Parliament Square the other. Nearest tube stations
are Westminster (District and Circle lines) and Charing Cross (Northern and Bakerloo
lines).

The City - known also as “the square mile”. Financial centre of London, where
all the main banks and finance houses are located. St Paul’s Cathedral, the Bank of
England and the Stock Exchange are all in this area. Many interesting and historic
buildings. Nearest tube stations are St Paul’s (Central line) and Bank (Northern,
Central, District and Circle lines).

Hyde Park - one of London’s largest parks containing the Serpentine, a natural
lake for fishing, boating and swimming in the summer. The famous “Speaker’s Corner”
is at the Marble Arch side of the park - anyone can talk (or shout) in public about
anything. Kensington Gardens is a more formal and elegant garden to the west of
Hyde Park. Nearest tube station is Marble Arch (Central line).

Regent’s Park and London Zoo (www.londonzoo.co.uk) one of the most
beautiful royal parks, with a magnificent rose garden, the open air theatre and London
Zoo. Nearest tube stations are Baker Street (Jubilee, Metropolitan, Bakerloo, District
and Circle lines) and Regent’s Park (Bakerloo line).

River Thames - can be explored by boat from Westminster Pier all the way to
the Thames Flood Barrier in the East and Hampton Court Palace (well worth visiting)
in the West.

St Katherine’s Dock - a converted dock built in 1839 and now redeveloped
with shops, hotels, cafes and a large boat marina. Close to Tower Bridge. Nearest
tube station is Tower Hill (District and Circle lines). It is well worth travelling a short
way from the centre of London to some of the pretty, more tranquil areas, for
example:

Hampstead and Hampstead Heath - one of the prettiest parts of London.
Hampstead village is charming with elegant houses, exclusive shops and a wide variety
of restaurants and cafes. Hampstead Heath is a large, open area of grassland with
excellent views over the city of London - St Paul’s Cathedral, Canary Wharf and

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Docklands. Good for walking and for open air classical music concerts by the lake in
summer.

Kew Gardens (www.rbgkew.org.uk) Royal botanical gardens with huge
conservatories and rare plants and flowers from all over the world. Very pleasant for
walking. Nearest tube station is Kew Gardens (District line).

Richmond - one stop further on from Kew Gardens, Richmond is another
elegant part of London with beautiful views over the River Thames, many restaurants
and pubs and a very pretty theatre which often has good pre-West end plays at
cheaper rates. Richmond Park is a very large open area of grassland, well-known for
its herds of deer which roam there. Nearest tube station is Richmond (District line).

Windsor Castle (www.windsor.gov.uk) a magnificent castle still used by the
Royal Family. Visit King George’s Chapel, the State Apartments and the Royal Dolls’
House. Windsor itself is a pretty town on the River Thames with good shopping and
tourist facilities. Train from Waterloo Station (Northern and Bakerloo lines) to Windsor
(takes about half an hour).

Hampton Court Palace (www.hrp.org.uk) Henry VIII’s magnificent Tudor
palace set in extensive gardens and parkland on the banks of the River Thames. Tudor
kitchens, tennis courts, maze, state apartments, King’s Apartments and Georgian
Apartments. Train from Waterloo Station (Northern and Bakerloo lines) to Hampton
Court (takes about half an hour), or Riverboat from Hampton Court Pier from
Westminster, Richmond and Kew (summer only).

14 THEATRE AND CINEMA
Full details of events in and around London can be found in the daily newspapers,
particularly in the “Evening Standard”, or in “What’s On in London” and “Time Out”
magazines. For theatre tickets, try the theatre kiosk at Leicester Square (Leicester
Square tube station - Piccadilly and Northern lines). This often sells tickets at half
price provided you go on the same day that you buy the ticket. As many plays and
musicals get very heavily booked, it is best to ask them what they have available and
then decide. Afternoon performances (matinees) are often easier to book.
Alternatively, call at the booking office in person or book by telephone. It is best to
avoid using booking agents as they often charge a high commission fee. Cinemas can
be found throughout London and there are many large, wide-screen cinemas around
Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus. Tickets are usually available on the door but
for popular films you may be advised to book in advance. Entrance is often half price
on a Monday.

15 WEATHER
British weather is very unpredictable – hence the reason we talk about the weather
every day! Generally speaking London’s weather changes from cold and damp in
winter to bright and warm in summer. An umbrella would be useful to bring at all
times of the year – or purchase a cheap one when you arrive in London.

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Spring (March to May) - Quite unpredictable with a good mixture of sun, rain and
cloud. Temperatures average during the day-time between 11°C to 15°C but can fall
to between 4°C and 7°C at night-time.
Summer (June to August) - Generally sunny, with the occasional rainstorms.
Temperatures average around 18°C to 20°C during the day-time but have been known
to go as high as 3O°C. Night-time temperatures fall to between 10°C to 13°C.
Autumn (September to November) - Pretty much the same as Spring but generally
wetter. However it has not been unknown for summer to run well into September or
for November to be uncharacteristically cold. Be prepared.
Winter (December to February) - Temperatures hover around 6°C during the day-
time and it is normally mild and damp. At night-time temperatures can drop to around
0°C but it rarely freezes or snows in London. Take a hat and gloves when going out.

16 ELECTRICITY:
Voltage is 240. Three pin plugs are used in UK. You will need to bring or buy
converting plugs from 2 pins to 3 pins.

17 SECURITY - WARNING! Please be careful:
Pickpockets – Pickpockets operate in many of the large cities in Europe, especially
in popular tourist centres. So be vigilant with personal belongings and valuables
particularly when passengers are getting on and off the trains/underground.
Wallets – Carry your wallet in an inside pocket, and never in your back trouser pocket.
If you take off your jacket carry your wallet with you.
Handbags – Never leave your handbag even for short periods. Always take it with
you.
Hand Luggage – Do not leave your luggage or your briefcase unattended in waiting
rooms or on railway platforms, luggage racks or anywhere else. Valuables such as
cameras, radios, portable typewriters etc. should be carried and a note kept of the
serial numbers.
Cash – Do not carry a large amount of cash with you. If it is stolen or lost, it is not
likely to be recovered. Carry only enough cash to meet your day-to-day expenses. If
you are staying in a hotel, hand any large sum of cash to the manager for safekeeping
and obtain a receipt.
Documents – special care should be taken of your passport, air tickets and other
personal documents.
Thefts from Hotels – Hotels and hostels usually display a notice disclaiming
responsibility for the loss of money and valuables that are left in rooms. It is in your
interest to leave valuables and large amounts of currency with the hotel/hostel
management and obtain a receipt for deposited items.

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18 SMOKING LEGISLATION
Please be aware that from 1 July 2007, England has a new law which bans smoking
in enclosed public places. This includes offices, shops, restaurants, pubs and night
clubs, hotels, theatres, cinemas, buses, trains (including on station platforms), taxis,
washroom facilities, etc. Smokers will be liable for an £80 on-the-spot fine if they stub
out cigarettes in the street. In order to comply with this new law, PAI offices and the
conference rooms that PAI uses are now smoke-free. If in doubt, please talk to a PAI
staff.

19 PAI COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE FOR WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS
PAI (Public Administration International) is committed to delivering efficient, effective
and high-quality workshops for our clients. As part of our culture of continuous
improvement, we are keen for participants to have the opportunity to discuss any
concerns or raise any complaints about our services. We aim to resolve any such
difficulties as amicably, as quickly and as fairly as possible.

If there is anything you are dissatisfied with or concerned about, please talk to your
Workshop Facilitator or Workshop Director. Your Workshop Facilitator or Workshop
Director will take your concerns or complaint seriously and deal with it quickly. You
should expect a response the same day or, at the latest, the following day. We are
confident that most difficulties can be resolved at this stage.

If you feel that the matter has not been resolved satisfactorily through informal
discussions, you are welcome to raise it with one of PAI’s Directors, Claire Cameron
or Slava Gromlyuk, who will investigate your complaint fully. You should expect a
response from one of them before the end of your workshop.

As PAI is accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC), you can also make a
complaint through the BAC formal “student” complaints procedure. Their complaints
procedure is covered in their Accreditation Handbook and they will try to help you to
resolve any dispute you have with PAI.

Full details can be found on BAC’s website: http://www.the-bac.org/bac-complaints-
procedure/

This procedure will be reviewed annually by PAI’s Directors.

November 2017

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20 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT POLICY
PAI recognises that it has a responsibility towards the environment and we are
committed to improving our environmental impact.

Our aim is to comply with all regulatory and legal requirements and also to ensure
that our staff and visitors are aware of our environmental management policy and
procedures and are encouraged to follow its guidelines.

Clare Walters is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of this policy and
for identifying ways of improving PAI’s environmental performance. Clare Walters will
report to PAI’s Directors on any issues that arise.

We encourage staff and participants on our workshops to walk or use public transport
whenever possible,

In the office environment we strive to use paper sensibly, with practical measures to
re-use and recycle waste paper, and the increased use of electronic communication
to reduce the need for paper use.

We dispose of all waste in a responsible manner including recycling where possible.

We consider the environmental impact of any purchases. Where possible, we use
suppliers who comply with the requirements of our environmental management policy,
for example, those who are willing to take away packaging for re-use or recycling.

We seek to reduce the energy and water consumption of the business and minimise
CO2 emissions. We aim, where possible, to use energy efficient products. We ensure
that dust, noise and odour do not cause a nuisance to the community surrounding our
place of business and that no polluting matter enters surface water or groundwater.

This policy will be reviewed annually by PAI directors at which point all staff members
will be consulted about any proposed changes.
February 2018

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