Hello,
I am traveling to London in April and am planning on bringing my laptop with me. I will need to charge it at my apartment in London, and am wondering what I need to be able to plug in! Also, once I find out what I need....where do I get it?
THanks!

Check your AC adapter/charger to insure it operates on 100-240V 50/60Hz electricity - most do. If so, all you need is an adapter plug. They are available in most airport shops. A good reference for travel needs is http://kropla.com/.

After you've arrived in Britain, go to practically any shop in any street (OK, not undertakers, but practically anywhere else) and buy a plug adaptor.

There's no need for any further explanation. You'll usually be sold a little set of plastic gizmos for about £5 that enable anywhere-to-anywhere adaption. If you tell themn where you're from, they might sell you just the plastic for your country to the UK, but it'll only save you a pound or so.

As far as I'm aware, no laptops exist that require power conversion: youi simply need a widget to make the plug from your country work in our sockets

Connecting to the web is a whole nother thing, and if you think you're going to need this, you might need to ask your landlord a few questions.

What questions should I ask? This is my first international trip.
THanks

What internet access are they offering and what connectivity have you got?

This has nothing to do with "international": even if you come from a high-tech country like Singapore, not every flat comes equipped with wireless internet access, and not every visitor's laptop comes with wireless.

In the very worst eventuality, you might have to dial up to a UK paid-for ISP like freeola, the cost goes onto your phone bill, and you'll have to get a wherever you're from -to-UK phone jack. Also widely available along Tottenham Court Rd - but irrelevant if your landlord offers wireless and your laptop's got it too.

The information says WI FI, and I have a wireless laptop....
Is there anything else I would need to connect to the internet?
Thanks!

There are wi-fi hotspots, just as in the US - Starbucks, etc. Ask around when you get here.

Great, thanks for the info!

also 99.4/10's of the mobile shops have hotspots in the air, ie t-mobile, verizon, find a coffeshop nearby and surf away...

You can buy adaptors at Wal-Mart, Office Depot, Radio Shack etc...they are very common..they will come in a set for every country....I have a zillion of them. All laptops are dual voltage....

Hi K,

Is there a reason why you NEED an expensive, easily stolen, heavy hunk of luggage to drag around with you?

lol...I'm debating changing cell phone providers so I can use that in the UK. My cell phone company will not work overseas.
I need to be able to keep in touch w/the states as I have some unhealthy family members...internet is free at our apartment...and it plays DVD's during down time

Heard about Skype?

Yes, Skype was what I was planning on using...that requires a computer correct?

Yep...but not a phone!

http://www.voltageconverters.com/

click on plug adaptor then voltage guide, scroll down to united kingdom

<font color="red">DO NOT</font> use a voltage converter with your laptop unless it is (unlikely) 120V only. If it is dual/multi-voltage (100-240V) it should be plugged directly into the electrical supply with a simple plug adapter.

Another point: In the UK, all electrical appliances have fuses fitted into their plugs. If you use an American device with an adapter plug, it should have a fuse as well. An example can be found in: http://www.eoutlet.co.uk/ProductDeta...?productID=249.

The little red rectangle on the plug in the picture houses the fuse. These adapter plugs can be found everywhere in the UK.