- Flight
- about 7 hours eastbound
- Departs
- Pearson
- Lands at
- Heathrow
- Time difference
- London is 5 hours ahead
- Currency
- Pounds sterling, in cash
Toronto to London is one of the busiest transatlantic routes there is, and at seven hours and five hours of difference it behaves almost exactly like the New York run.
Overnight, landing early
Most departures from Pearson leave in the evening and land at Heathrow in the morning. The same warning applies as from the east coast: your room will not be ready, you will not have slept properly, and the first morning is not the time to be arranging anything.
Five hours is the friendly gap
It is the easiest difference to work with. Late morning in Toronto is late afternoon in London, so you can settle everything in your own waking hours and have it confirmed before you leave for the airport.
Differences from home
More than Canadians tend to expect. The legal position in the United Kingdom is not the same as in Canada and the differences are not intuitive, so it is worth understanding properly rather than assuming. Tipping is not expected on top of an agreed fee here. Cash in pounds is the norm.
The visitor guide is the one to read before you fly, and the booking guide covers what to say when you make contact.
When to get in touch
London runs 5 hours ahead of you. Messages sent between about 6am and 6pm your time land during London working hours, which is when replies actually come.
Areas near where you land at Heathrow
The big figure is the straight line distance from the airport in miles, and nothing about travel time, which in London is always longer. Each page has the stations, the route from Heathrow and the measured rates.
Common questions
Do I need to arrange things before I fly?
It helps. Good diaries fill days ahead, and arranging from home means you are doing it awake and unhurried instead of jet lagged in an unfamiliar city.
What time should I message from the United States?
London is five to eight hours ahead of most of North America. Aim for mid morning on the east coast or mid morning on the west coast, which lands in London in the afternoon or early evening, when people are answering.
Will my hotel mind?
Central London hotels see guests receive visitors constantly. Pass your room number by message and the evening is unremarkable.
What currency do I need?
Cash in pounds sterling, agreed beforehand. Draw it before you need it rather than looking for a cash machine late at night.
Is prostitution legal in England for tourists?
The law applies to everyone in the country equally, visitors included. Selling or buying sex between consenting adults is legal in England and Wales, but soliciting in public and using brothels are not.
Is escorting legal in the UK?
Yes, in England and Wales it is legal for two consenting adults to exchange sex or company for money. What is illegal is the activity around it, such as soliciting in the street, running a brothel or controlling someone else's work. The Crown Prosecution Service sets this out in its published guidance.