etc.

• There is a conspicuous lack of trash cans on the street and in the underground. Despite that, there is also a conspicuous lack of litter.
• They like to paint things on the ground. “Mind the Gap” and “Look Right/Left” come to mind. This is all, of course, very handy for tourists who have no idea which way to look when crossing the street and aren’t used to huge, vacuous amounts of space between the subway train and the platform.
• There are many young, variously tattooed and pierced French people trying to carve out a life for themselves in London. Practically every Caffe Nero we went to (and there were many) were tended solely by such people.
• A Carnet is not the best way to go if you are in London for nine days and plan on getting everywhere by tube and/or bus. Nine One-Day Travelcards are the more cost-effective option.
• Expectations notwithstanding, it is practically impossible to find steak and kidney pie.
• There really is no such thing as a nice corner pub anymore. At least not of the mom & pop variety. They all seem to have been sucked into the entertainment and hospitality conglomerate vacuum by large corporations like J.D.Wetherspoon. However, it’s tough to complain when you have enjoyed many a reasonably priced meal and pint thanks to the purchasing power and volume discounts enjoyed by such conglomerates.