Do I need a visa to go to London?
 

Hi! I don't travel all that much, but I was thinking of visiting a friend in London. Do I need to have a visa? (I'm an American citizen...)

Thanks!

no (unless you want to work or stay more than 6 months . . )

Oh, and if I go I was thinking I'd be there for about 5 days... Any recommendations as to what to see? I have ... "The Eye", The Royal Observatory, ... Oh yeah! the SIS building! What would you guys recommend?

Cool! Thanks janisj! So, a valid passport and a ticket is all I need?

No Bozo.

Best leave your clown nose at home though!

This:

http://tinyurl.com/nuvtz4

Visit this site, you might get some ideas. http://www.londontown.com/ Surely your friend will have a good ideas though.
Oh yeah....don't forget to pack your clothes and your toothbrush too! :)
All the best

Oh no! As a paranoid programmer, what's all this I'm reading about biometrics??? http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/visas/visa-bio Do I have to do all this?

When you cross a border these days is one fingerprinted and retina scanned??

OK - why are you concerned about that(??)

The site you linked is for those applying for a visa. As we all said, you will not need a visa. "<i><B><blue>Notice about biometric data of those applying for UK visas </i><B></blue>"

OK! Good! (I was just wondering if that meant that I'd be scanned just for visiting!)