Report any damaged luggage to the appropriate authorities in the airport terminal. If you have insurance you will be able to claim for this. Once you have reported the damage, leave the baggage hall.

Wait until the entire luggage load has been taken off the plane. If your luggage is not there, do not panic but report this to the authorities in the baggage hall. Do not stay in the baggage hall once you have reported your lost luggage. Come out and continue your journey. If you are using the meet and greet service at Heathrow Airport, someone will be waiting for you in the arrivals lounge holding a placard with your name on.

If you are entering the UK from a non-European Union (EU) country and are carrying 10,000 Euros or more (or the equivalent in other currencies) you must declare the cash to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at the place of your arrival in the UK. If you fail to declare any cash, travellers’ cheques or bank drafts that you are carrying, or if you provide incorrect or incomplete information, you could receive a fine of up to £5000. You must use the C9011 form to make the cash declaration. Forms are available at ports and airports and also from the HMRC website. Visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/allforms and go to ‘Travel Forms’ to download a copy. If you are travelling between another EU country and the UK, you do not have to make a declaration.

Once you have completed your journey through immigration control and customs, you will want to make your way to the place you will be staying. Travelling in London is very easy as London has a very good bus, train and underground (tube) train system. We recommend that you study the tube map carefully, working out where you are going to and then plan your route, using the information provided.

Don't worry about asking people for information or for directions – look for signs at the airport. You will probably have to take a black cab (taxi) for part of the journey.

If you are coming in to central London from Heathrow you have the option of travelling by tube train, bus or rail links. By tube, take the Piccadilly line (blue) into central London. By bus to either Victoria train station, Russell Square or Kings Cross. By rail link, you can catch the Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect into Paddington train Station. The cost and ease of travel is variable but the rail link takes 15 minutes and costs about £10. The bus and tube take longer but cost less. The airport website provides lots of useful information. www.heathrow-airport-guide.co.uk

To get a black cab (taxi) from Heathrow to central London, takes 45 minutes-60 minutes and costs over £35.

If you are coming to central London via Gatwick airport, you can take the Gatwick Express train or the coach/bus. By train a single costs around £10 and takes 30 minutes to reach Victoria Coach Station. The airport website provides lots of useful information. www.gatwick-airport-guide.co.uk

To get a black cab (taxi) from Gatwick to central London, takes 60-75 minutes and costs around £65.

TASMAC London provides a meet and greet service from all London Airports. Someone will meet you at the airport and a taxi will take you to your arranged accommodation. A driver will hold a sign with your name on it. He will wait next to the information desk at Heathrow terminal 1,2,3,4 and next to “Costa Coffee” at terminal 5. Pickups MUST be paid for in advance via bank transfer and cost £50.

Before you travel, you must book some accommodation for your first night in London. If you arrive in London without accommodation you will have to stay in a hotel. Hotels in the UK are expensive, but if you do need information on where to stay, contact TASMAC Student Services.