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London.

Odeon Limitless Pass

4/9/2020

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London is an extremely expensive place to visit and live, with visiting the cinema not being an exception - from the price of tickets to the price of food and drink. However, there's an Odeon Limitless Pass which allows those living in London and across the UK to see as many films as they like each month for less than a price of a two-course meal in a restaurant. More importantly, an Odeon Limitless Pass (Monthly) costs less than the price of two cinema tickets. Therefore, for those who love going to the cinema to see the newest films released, it can easily become expensive as cinema tickets can cost up to £15 per person. 

There's two different versions of the Odeon Limitless Pass: Without Central London and With Central London. The main difference between the two would be that the Odeon Limitless Pass With Central London allows the user to see films in ODEON Luxe Leicester Square, ODEON Luxe Haymarket, Covent Garden, Tottenham Court Road, Camden as well as the rest of the cinemas across The UK. However, The Odeon Limitless Pass Without Central London excludes the cinemas mentioned above but allows users to visit any other cinema in The UK as much as they want. Regardless of the Odeon Limitless Pass the user has, they can receive 10% off selected food and drink purchased at these cinemas as well as exclusive preview screenings especially for Limitless members. Other benefits include 30% off at selected restaurants, including Frankie & Benny’s, Garfunkel’s, Chiquito, Coast to Coast, Joe’s Kitchen and Filling Station. 

From July 2017 until July 2018 I had a Limitless Pass which was priced at £17.99 per month with a 12 month minimum contract period. Throughout this time I saw 50 films with regular trips to my local Odeon every week or at times seeing films twice a week since I used my Odeon Limitless Pass to my advantage. This should’ve come to £650 as the current ticket prices are on average £13 but I only paid £215.88 (£17.99 a month). A saving of £434.12 on tickets alone!  When films such as Deadpool 2, IT, The Incredibles 2 and other popular titles came out, tickets were priced as much as £15. However, with an Odeon Limitless Pass I was able to make a return on my investment as soon as I saw one film per month at the cinema and then saving even more if I wanted to see another film during the same month.

The current price of an Odeon Limitless Pass as of September 2020 are: 
  • Monthly Odeon Limitless Pass (Without Central London) - £17.99 per month 
  • Annual Odeon Limitless Pass (Without Central London) - £205 per year
  • Monthly Odeon Limitless Pass (With Central London) - £19.99 per month 
  • Annual Odeon Limitless Pass (With Central London) - £228 per year 

Those that want an Annual Odeon Limitless Pass can save 5% off the total cost of their pass. Additionally, for those that want to make sure they can get their money's worth, they can simply deduct the cost of what a ticket would've cost them from the total of their Odeon Limitless Pass if they pay upfront. 

More information regarding the Odeon Limitless Pass can be found by clicking here.
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How Much Does It Cost To Live In London?

15/5/2020

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Whether you’re moving to the UK from abroad or you’re travelling from different parts of the UK to move to London, you’ll have heard that London is very expensive. These costs can differ depending on what part of London you’re living in as well as if you’re living in university accommodation, a house or a flat. There are a lot of different opinions as to how much living costs will be, which then again depend on the lifestyle of the person and how much money they have to spare. 

Accommodation
Source: Zoopla.com 
These prices are representative of a person renting their accommodation - I have researched numerous prices and have listed the median price. Although, each areas have their expensive areas and their inexpensive areas, to which rent prices can differ massively. 
  • North London - £400-500 p/m
  • East London - £200-300 p/m
  • South London - £500-1,000 p/m
  • Central London - £800-1,500 p/m

Source: Zoopla.com
If you want to purchase a flat, house or any other form of accommodation outright whether it’s in North London or even South London then the median price will be over £600,000 - some houses can be bought for as cheap as £300,000 whereas newer buildings in areas such as Central London and East London can go into the millions. 

Bills
  • Phone Bill - £10-50 p/m. There are numerous networks across London with shops around the capital such as Three, Vodafone, EE, O2, Tesco Mobile, BT and Sky Mobile to name a few. Each tariff has its own allowance for minutes, texts and data as well as additional items such as tablets and other forms of technology. At the moment I pay £25 a month for an iPhone 6S with 1GB of data, unlimited minutes and texts. 
  • Home Phone & Broadband - £30-50 p/m. With the rise of people working from home, the use of unlimited Internet has become popular with broadband users, which ranges in price depending on the different speeds and usage of the user. In most contracts broadband and home phone usage comes altogether, which comes along with a 12, 18 or 24 month contract. 
  • Council Tax - £100-300 p/m. There are a range of different bands, which range from A to H, which determine how much council tax home users should pay - which range from borough to borough. If you’re in an A band then your council tax will be significantly lower than those who are in band H.
  • Gym - £25-50 p/m. Even though there are numerous parks with free gym equipment across London, some people prefer to go to the gym. Gym prices range, special offers are common such as “one month free” or a reduced fee for those joining the gym for the first time. These gyms allow 24/7 access in most cases but those that are closer to Central London as well as in up and coming areas, prices can even go up to £100 p/m.
  • Water, Electricity & Gas - £70-150 p/m. These rates are representative of fixed contracts for those living in London regardless of how much water, gas and electricity used. Companies such as Thames Water do offer Smart Meters for those wanting to pay for their usage as well as reduce the amount of water they use. 

Travel
Source: Transport for London, Eurostar & Trainline
  • Oyster Card - £5. To buy an Oyster Card, which can be topped up and used across London’s public transport, it costs £5. The Oyster Card will have no credit on it, as you simply pay for the plastic card - you can top up your Oyster Card from newsagents with the Oyster symbol and at ticket machines across London. 
  • 7 Day Bus & Tram Pass - £21.20 p/w. A 7 Day Bus & Tram Pass is a travelcard which can be put onto an Oyster Card which allows unlimited travel on buses and trams throughout London for a seven day period. Each journey on a London bus costs £1.50 and there’s a daily cap of £4.50.
  • 7 Day Travelcard between Zones 1 and 2 - £35.10. A 7 Day Travelcard can be bought depending on the zones the passenger is travelling to, which once again can be altered to suit the passengers needs. For example, a travelcard can be bought for Zones 2-4 or even Zone 4-5.
  • Train Ticket From London to Brighton - £15 - £35. Depending if you book in advance and whether you have any railcards, then the price of a train ticket can vary. If I wanted to travel to Brighton right this second then it would cost me £18.60 for a one-way ticket with a return being exactly the same price. 
  • Car Rental - £12-25 p/d. If you’re travelling around London and opt out of using public transport then there are numerous car rentals across London which charge as low as £12 per day. However it depends on the area of London you’re booking from as well as for how long you’ll be renting a car for. 
  • Eurostar - £69 return. If you want to travel to Paris from London’s St Pancras then a return can cost you as little as £69. However, it can be as expensive as £200 for a return ticket if you book last minute as well as booking during bank holidays and during busy periods. 
  • Car - £3,000 p/y. The Evening Standard reported that drivers spend more than £3,000 per year on their car, including road tax, maintenance, insurance, petrol and parking. London unfortunately charges drivers who go into the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone), or more commonly know as the Congestion Charge, £11.50 per day. 
  • To And From The Airport - £20.  Whether you’re going to Gatwick, Heathrow or to London City Airport there are numerous forms of transport to get to and from these places, the main forms of transport being public transport and trains travelling from Central London. A return journey can cost as little as £6 if travelling to Heathrow Airport whereas if you were travelling to Gatwick Airport it may cost £20. 

Medication & Prescriptions 
  • Prescription - £9.15. If you visit any type of pharmacy after being given a prescription from the doctor or nurse then you will be charged the standard rate of £9.15. This price applies to those who are not exempt from these charges which will be stated on the back of the prescription. Items such as birth control, including condoms and the pill, are free.
  • Paracetamol - 39p. If you visit any supermarket around London then you’ll be able to find any own brand paracetamol considerably cheaper than paying for a branded pack of tablets. 
  • Cold & Flu - £4. If you decide that you want to purchase medicine to shift your cold or flu then it may set you back around £4 for a named brand such as Lemsip - which can either be bought as tablets or sachets. However, if you buy a supermarkets own brand then it will cost as little as £1.75 - some may argue that they do exactly the same job.
  • Seeing a GP/Nurse/Visit to a Hospital - Free. If you’re living in London then you will be able to gain access to the NHS for free, an incredible healthcare system that the UK has and we should be grateful for it. Even operations and procedures are free on the NHS provided that you’re registered with your local GP and can prove you live here. 

Groceries & Household Essentials 
There are hundreds of different supermarkets and shops that sell food - from markets to chain supermarkets, each offers their own products and branded products at a range of prices. Supermarkets such as Tesco and Lidl are known for being relatively inexpensive whereas supermarkets such as M&S and Sainsbury’s are a little more expensive for the higher quality provided. 
  • Bread - £1.10
  • Eggs - £1.20 (For A Pack of 10)
  • Cheese - £3 
  • Yogurt - £2 (For a Pack of 4)
  • Sugar - 70p
  • Chicken Breast - £2
  • Beef Mince - £2-3.50
  • Bread - £1.10 
  • Cereal - £1.50-3
  • Milk - 80p (For 2 Pints)
  • Bananas - 84p (Per kg)
  • Oranges - 80p (For a Pack of 5)
  • Potatoes - £1-1.50
  • Bottle of Water - £1 (1L Bottle from Evian)
  • Soft Drinks - £3 (For a Pack of 6 - Sugar Tax Applied)
  • Spirits - £10-20 (1L of Smirnoff Vodka costs £17)
  • Wine - £3-10
  • Toilet Paper - £6.50 (For a Pack of 16)
  • Sanitary Pads - £1.65-£5 (Depending On The Pack Size & Brand)
  • Tampons - £2 (For a Pack of 20)
  • Shampoo & Conditioner - £5
  • Deodorant - £1.50-3
  • Washing Detergent - £3-5 (Per Bottle)
  • Stamps - £8.40 (For a Pack of 12 - 1st Class)

Entertainment 
London has hundreds upon hundreds of different activities to do - whether it’s rain or shine, there’s a wide range of activities with price tags that vary on where you visit and what you do. Each person has their own taste and preferences but regardless London is very expensive in this aspect. 
  • Cinema Ticket - £10-15. Popular companies such as Odeon, Vue and Cineworld are very expensive in consideration that cinema tickets can be up to £15 if the film has just been released. Independent cinemas across London charge less than half of this but in retrospect they may not be showing the latest and greatest films. 
  • Theatre Tickets - £10-150. There is a very big price range for theatre tickets, with popular theatres along the West End charging as much as £150 for the best seats in the house whereas smaller theatres only charge around £10-15 per ticket for smaller shows going on throughout London. 
  • Meal Out For 2 - £20-40. Once again, depending on the tastes and preferences of the person visiting a restaurant, a meal for two would cost £20 if you go to a place such as Wetherspoons or a local restaurant. Whereas if you visit restaurants such as Ask Italian or Slug and Lettuce then a meal for two including drinks may cost you £40 and above. 
  • Museums - Free. The best things in life are free and so are a number of museums around London such as The Tate Modern, British Museum, Natural History Museum and The National Gallery to name a few. There are a majority of museums around London that are free with a small number charging visitors a small entry fee or suggesting that visitors give a small donation. 
  • Alcoholic Drinks - £4-10. Whether you prefer spirit and mixer or a glass of wine, there’s a very hefty price tag that comes along with these drinks whether you get these in a bar or alongside a meal in a restaurant - in my local pub a Vodka and Coke sets me back around £4.50 whereas a pint of a soft drink costs around £2.50. 

Clothing 
London is renowned for its shops, from Oxford Street to Westfield Shopping Centre, there isn’t a shortage of shops to spend all of your money on clothing. Primark is known to be guilty of fast fashion with t-shirts selling for as little as £2 and jackets for little as £20. However, if you went into a shop such as H&M or Zara you can expect to pay as much as £20 for a t-shirt and £30 for a jumper, especially if they’re branded with a celebrity or TV show. 
  • Coats & Jackets - £20-50. As mentioned before, Primark sells items of clothing for relatively affordable prices, which means customers can pick up a jacket for as little as £20 but for those wanting to spend a little more and get a bit more comfort, Oasis sells jackets for £45 when on offer. H&M and Zara are also contenders to get jackets from, with the newest styles in stock with a hefty price tag attached. 
  • T-Shirts - £2-10. The average price for a t-shirt ranges from about £5.99 for a simple t-shirt with a small design on it compared to one that can cost £10 if it’s got a reference to a TV show or if it’s coming from a celebrity collaboration. 
  • Jeans - £25-50. Jeans are a very pricey item mainly because customers want good quality as well as a size that fits well. If you buy a pair of jeans from Primark then expect to pay less than £25 but then again if you want jeans from a popular brand such as Levi’s you can expect to pay £40-50. 
  • Trainers - £15-100. For a pair of trainers that are Nike or Adidas you can expect to pay at least £30 from Sports Direct whereas you can pay up to £80 if they’re the newest trainers released. However, you can get a pair of simple trainers for as little as £15 that come from brands that are reliable but simply not as popular.
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Do's & Don'ts While in London

9/8/2019

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Like any other major city, London has it's own informal set of rules and values. It can be quite surprising how many things Londoners do that are different from people across the globe and many of them can be quite confusing. As I've lived in London for 20 years, I've learnt the hard way what the Do's and Don'ts are while in London - it would be wise to read up on what to expect and what to do as well as simple things that you should avoid while in London.

General
  • DO - Make sure you bring an umbrella with you as the weather in London can sometimes be utterly unpredictable. One minute it can be the best weather you've ever experienced and the next minute you can be caught in a heavy thunderstorm with it raining cats and dogs. 
  • DON'T - Wear uncomfortable clothing or shoes just because they're "fashionable". If you fall on a cobbled street then don't look at me after I've warned you - you really will want to wear comfortable shoes in London as there's so much to see and do. Wearing trainers would be your best bet for an enjoyable stay while in London rather than running, or should I say hobbling, to the nearest pharmacy to get some plasters for your blistered ankles. 
  • DO - Hide your valuables and make sure you have a place where your valuables will be out of sight for potential scammers and thieves. If you don't have the money to purchase an anti-theft backpack then simply turn your bag towards you to avoid anyone slipping their hand in and stealing your valuables. 
  • DON'T - Be late! When Londoners say be here at 5pm - they want you to be there at 5pm. Not five minutes later or ten minutes later - we really do mean spot on the time we said. This isn't just for Londoners, people around England like to be punctual and favour those who aren't late. For example, as I'm currently being interviewed for jobs, even though the interview may be at 1pm, I arrive around 10-15 minutes before instead of being on time or arriving late. 
  • DO - Be polite! A please and a thank you will take you a long way - or at least save the cashier or person serving you giving you a menacing look. Manners cost absolutely nothing and it's common courtesy in London to be polite - when I travelled to Australia I was told that English people were too polite! 
  • DON'T - Play your music on full volume whether it be from your phone or from your earphones - no one wants to hear songs from your Spotify playlist you've spent hours creating. Even if you're on the Tube then you don't need to shout! We don't all want to hear your conversations and certainly want to enjoy the commute to work or to our homes in peace. 

Transport
  • DO - Stand on the right hand side of the escalator - allowing others to walk up on the left hand side. This isn't just an unwritten rule throughout London, it's clearly stated when you step onto the escalator. Don't be surprised when you might be pushed or barged into as busy Londoners try and make their way to work. 
  • DON'T - Stand on the escalator with large prams or large items of luggage if there's a lift avaliable - it's there for a reason! It doesn't only put your safety at risk but puts others on the escalator as well as your child's if they're in the pram. If there isn't a lift avaliable - people are always happy to help throughout London, fold up your pram and hold your child until you get to the top of the escalator. 
  • DO - Plan your journey before you get onto the London Underground - there's nothing worse than being confused in the middle of Oxford Street Station - contemplating what direction to go in while people narrowly try and avoid bumping into you. There are a range of free apps avaliable to those travelling through London using the London Underground and buses. 
  • DON'T - Plan your journey on the London Underground during peak times, which includes early in the morning and late in the afternoon as it will be unlikely you'll even have space to get onto the Tube. Additionally, it will delay your journey even further and if you do manage to get onto a Tube - then be prepared to have no personal space at all and be face to face with a stranger for your journey. Trust me, you wouldn't have a chance getting a pram or suitcases onto the Tube during peak times. 
  • DO - Use an Oyster Card - they're widely avaliable in thousands of newsagents and train stations across London as well as being avaliable for purchase online. Not only will this be considerably cheaper compared to purchasing tickets but in turn will save you a lot of time compared to queuing up at a ticket machine each time you travel. 
  • DON'T - Fumble for your Oyster Card or tickets at the barrier - not only does this delay the queue of people trying to get out of the station but Londoners WILL push past you as they have their cards ready. It might even make you even more confused as to where your Oyster Card or ticket is - be prepared before going to the barrier. 
  • DO - Take advantage of the various methods of public transport readily avaliable in London - they're as cheap as £1.50 per journey! Walking would be advisable for those trying to save money - with an app such as Google Maps, you can't go wrong. If you prefer to get a taxi while in London, apps such as Uber and Addison Lee are considerably cheaper than taxis you'll find at taxi ranks/stands. 
  • DON'T - Drive on the wrong side of the road. In England we drive on the left hand side to which the majority of countries around the globe drive on the right hand side. It's shocking, I know. Either way for your safety, those on the road and the public - make sure you brush up on your driving skills and knowledge before taking to the busy streets of London.

Sightseeing
  • DO - Make the most of the free attractions that London has to offer as well as the discounted admission for certain age groups in specific museums and activities. There are hundreds of free activities around London as well as being able to enjoy the spectacular sights of London without the hefty price tag that comes along with them. 
  • DON'T - Stay inside all day! What did you come to London to do? You should spend your time outside and exploring London - there's simply too much to see and do to be spending time tucked away in your hotel room. There are so many places that are considered hidden gems that even some Londoners don't know about. 
  • DO - Visit places such as Chinatown, Soho or Covent Garden where you can find inexpensive restuarants with large portions as well as incredible food. Places such as Leicester Square should be avoided at all costs unless you're going to a film premiere or buying theatre tickets - it's expensive, overpriced and you won't get as much out of it. 
  • DON'T - Push in. Oh no. Whatever you do, don't push in. You won't only get the attention of everyone in the queue but everyone will be tutting and muttering things under their breath. It's the one golden rule you cannot break - us Londoners queue up for absolutely everything. It's polite and common nature to queue for Londoners as it simply shows respect for each other and simply following the rules of who was there first. 
  • DO - Take a free walking tour - even though they aren't technically free - it's a little bit confusing. Lots of companies around London offer free walking tours for specific areas of London such as Jack the Ripper Tours, WWII in London and General London Sightseeing Tours which run on a pay-as-you-wish-basis. These tour guides have an incredible job and rely solely on donations - make sure you pay what you think is fair!
  • DON'T - Get Tower Bridge and London Bridge confused - they may look the same and the name even sounds similar with the word bridge in them but they are entirely different. London Bridge is the name for several bridges across London whereas Tower Bridge is a lone standing bridge that connects Southwark to Central London. There is also a place called London Bridge - which stands as a train station, an Underground Station as well as an actual area. 
  • DO - Plan in advance what your plan is for each day and if possible purchase tickets for attractions and activities beforehand to save both money and time. Purchasing tickets beforehand may give you the option to skip the queue and allow you to have more time seeing the sights of London. 
  • DON'T - Plan every second of every day. Unexpected events may occur such as the weather taking a turn for the worst or an activity overrunning. It would be advisable to make a rough plan of what you want to see and some tickets may have the option to visit on a certain day but just make sure you give yourself time. If you're too bogged down with time constraints then you may not enjoy your trip and enjoy what London has to offer.

Money
  • DO - Get your currency before coming to London - to avoid being ripped off from extortionate exchange rates and the chance you may be given fake notes. Each country has different brands that are recognised and reputable so I would advise buying your money before travelling to London. If you're unsure of how much to bring then read this blog post: How Much Will A Trip To London Cost? before travelling. 
  • DON'T - Get your money from the travel agents and branches across Central London that advertise the best rates in London. You will probably get one of the worst rates avaliable and be charged commission for your purchase - which will leave you at even more at a loss. 
  • DO - Tip! People in London receive a range of wages based on their job role as well as if the company provides them with the "London Living Wage". For people working in restuarants and cafes, they will most likely be on the minimum wage or just above so make sure you give an extra 10-20% on your bill to give gratitude to your servers. 
  • DON'T - Take all of your money on a card or with cash - some places will only accept cash whereas others will only accept card - it's a confusing place. I'd advise getting the majority of your currency in cash whereas leaving around 10% on your card. Some hotels will also charge you a fee that they will hold throughout your stay that they will return upon your departure. If you're using a credit or debit card from another country then you may incur a foreign transaction fee. 
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    Emily McLaughlin

    Tips and tricks for what to do in London as well as travelling around it.

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