I got a chance to visit London in sep 2019. However it was a business trip but still i had enough time to explore London. As usual i was little worried about all the preparations and the process, as it was first experience to go out of india. I applied for VISA online and submitted all the required documents online. I received an email from UK embassy containing date, time and place of appointment and documents verification. I reached the place which was in BKC, Mumbai at the fixed date and time. There was too much crowd and i was disappointed to see the inconvenience and mismanagement there. A person contacted me and offered membership costing Rs. 3000 to get all the paperwork done by themselves. I agreed and accepted the membership. Rest of the paperwork and biometric verification done smoothly with the help of that membership. My passport was submitted there and I was informed that my passport with VISA would be couriered to my address. Courier delivery of visa at home was benefit of membership, otherwise i would have travel to their office again to collect visa and passport.
I had 45 days for my journey, so i was relaxed. When 30 days gone and i didn't get any information about my visa, i became little bit restless. I tried to search online on UK immigration website regarding my visa status, but surprised to know that there was no way to check status of visa online. Only option was to call UK immigration office of London. I called twice but got only one answer, its in progress. One day i got my passport with visa affixed on it through courier. It took 37 days to get my Visa, thank God, i was having that much of time. Now, i was all set to go ,as only one week was left. I did a little research regarding London weather, local travelling etc and did shopping accordingly. I shopped umbrella, charger converter, jackets, blazers, international sim card etc.
I boarded flight from Mumbai to Delhi on 21.09.2019 at 6.00 pm , landed delhi at 9.00 pm. Flight from Delhi to London was at 1.30 am , so i waited in lounge and boarded at 1.00 am. There is time difference of 5.00 hrs in London and Mumbai. I reached at 8.00 am on London Heathrow airport. This was long 8 hrs flight but comfortable. It took almost two hours in exiting airport. It was too crowded. Taxis are very expensive in London. I already had an idea about London metro and installed city mapper application in my mobile. I was little hesitant in taking metro but wanted to try. So i entered in metro station and reached Royal Albert metro station and my hotel Holiday inn was at walking distance from metro station. I had to change metro at two stations but metro commute was easy and hassle free. Metro was almost empty and signboards and guiding signage were everywhere so i reached my destination in no time.
I checked in hotel at 11.00 am and visited the place where my business seminar was going to be held . The place was just 1 km from hotel. I walked and collected my padd for the seminar which was going to be held from 23-26 Sep, 2019. Rest day i took rest and in evening walked in and around hotel. London weather is very unpredictable and rain can start any time. We need to keep umbrella with us all the time. The temperature dips in night and early morning, so warm clothes are must.
I got up early and got ready for seminar. My hotel and all nearby hotels were filled with the guests of seminar only. I found a few people from my business and decided to visit London together. We attended seminar till 4.00 pm and then left to visit london. We visited Westminster Abbey, the British parliament, Buckingham palace, London Bridge, London Eye etc
Visiting London was a unique experience and i enjoyed a lot. Our seminar host issued us an oyster card with amount 50 pounds. Oyster card is a prepaid card which is used in all the local transport of London. Every person there had the oyster card. I already told, metro in London is very convenient. I travelled whole london in metro only. London is very expensive. Taxis are very costly and everything is quite expensive in comparison of India. My suggestion is to take everything in your luggage whatever your can take. Lunch was arranged by seminar hosts but it was tasteless and not of choice of any Indian. I hardly got few eatable items from lunch buffet. Indian food is not easily available and you have to find particular indian restaurant to taste indian food.
Overall it was great experience and now i am more confident to go anywhere in world. First experience is always memorable, and good to share with you. Thanks.
