I've never been there, but if it were me, I'd just try not to say "y'all" every third word.

(for anyone who knows me, they realize this is impossible)

Is he taking your camera? ;)

If he has anything he needs to recharge, like a phone or camera battery, make sure he buys a plug converter.

He will be fine with a Visa/MC-branded debit card as there are ATMs all over the city. No need to exchange any money, just get cash there.

The English find Americans loud and rude, so he should be polite and soft-spoken. London is a blast, so he should have fun.

Tell him to look to the RIGHT before crossing the street, not to the left like we do here. They drive on the wrong side of the street over there, y'know!!

Just be careful crossing the street. They drive on the wrong side of the road and get pissy when you mention it. Oh, and go look at Princess Di and Dodi monument at Harrod's... it is creepy at its British best

Is it possible for a man from Tennessee NOT to exude the I'm a big Yank vibe? Won't the first words from his mouth say it all, even if it is"Tea with the queen? How quaint."

Take a good winter coat, or even layers. I've never been so cold in my life, and it was June!

Blandess food on the planet and hope you get a hotel that has showers. The Brits love their bathtubs!

If he'd like to develop a really bad British accent, I'd be willing to coach him. I have read lots of British lit aloud to my kids over the years and thus have become an expert.

Don't mention that whole revolution thing. They're still not completely over it.

Oh, and don't mention "fanny" or "napkin." Hilarity will ensue.

We "yanks" are considered by the rest of the world very loud and unsophisticated, including how we dress. Those in Europe tend to dress in a more muted and "sophisticated" manner. A dark wool jacket or tench with a scarf will keep him warm. Muted colors and a sturdy pair of brown or black dress shoes that he can walk in (a lot ) will do a lot to help with the blending in.

As for the cell phone, you can go to your cell provider and get a pre-paid international SIM card for the trip so he can call home without sending your bill through the roof.

Stephanie is right, dark shoes not white please!
And he should be prepared to part with a lot of money, its the most expensive city in the world right now. Stil, its a great place! I love London!

No matter what, he will reek of Yank, because he is one. No matter how polite and demur I felt I was behaving, it never seemed quite polite and demure enough.
Just have him bring good walking shoes!
Money exchange? Ha. Best advice would be immediately upon landing in the UK, stop automatically stop converting pounds into dollars. It's not cheaper, but it's less painful.

Definitely no white tennis shoes and don't wear a baseball cap either. Stick to dark clothes colors.

Also, don't exchange money at the hotel - use your credit card as much as you can, you'll get the best rate that way and just withdraw money as you need it from an ATM. And, don't exchange money at the airport - you'll get the worst rate there.

Tip: Bring me.

My biggest problem when I went back to London was remembering to look BOTH ways BEFORE crossing the street. It seems simple but it's so simple to look the way you're used to looking here in the states or Canada and start crossing. I was almost hit a few times.

I lived in England for 2 years and I am married to an Englishman. I have found that generally, English people find Southerners quite charming - its the true Yankees (New Yorkers) that they find annoying. We had 30 English people come over to Nashville for our wedding and they *loved* it - pretty funny to see a bunch of normally very reserved Brits drunk off PBR and singing along with the band at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. But I digress.

I wouldn't worry about converting money before he goes over, just take his debit card and visa card and he will be fine. Make sure the bank account is full though, that exchange rate is a killer right now!

My biggest tip is not to speak too loudly. As an American, even when you *think* you're being quiet, you're not. As long as he doesn't have loud ignorant conversations on the Tube and don't draw attention to himself he will be fine. London is the best city in the world if you ask me!

Whatever you do, do not ask for two of anything and indicate with two fingers while showing the back of your hand to the person you are speaking to. Picture a backwards peace sign. This is the same as "flipping the bird" over there.

And I can tell you why fanny and napkin would be a faux paux in polite conversation.

The huz is a dual citizen. If you want to ask specific questions, email me with anything. We can tell you more than there is room to post here.

Of course, now I am very envious. London is my favorite city.

Lucky Busy Dad! But please make him look both ways, big time--your readers have me fearing for his life!

My husband is a Brit, so this is a trip we've done a lot.

If you are with AT&T or T-Mobile, your cell will work in the UK. (Sorry -- none of the other US carriers are on the same system, so the following won't work.)

If so, call customer service and tell them you are going to Europe and need to have your phone unlocked. They are usually good about doing that for longtime customers. With an unlocked phone, you can pick up a pay-as-you-go SIM from one of the British carriers (about 10 pounds - or $20) and turn your own cell into a British one. It's LOTS cheaper to do that than deal with International roaming.

For simple communications, texting is cheapest. But don't even try to send a photo from your phone to someone in the US -- the systems are incompatible (believe me, I try this every time and it never works).

If your current carrier is not on a GSM system, you may want to rent a phone while you're there, or if this is a trip you may be taking again and again, you may want to buy a pay as you go GSM phone to use.

The other commenters were right -- my husband is always berating me for being too loud (this is one of the things we fight about the most -- I hate getting shushed). Your ATM card is the best way to get cash (just don't faint when you see the Intl fees -- it's still less than what you pay to exchange money). And in London, they helpfully paint reminders on the curbs to let you know which way to look for cars. They don't do that in the other towns and cities, so if you leave for other parts, you're on your own!

One more thing about safety: In the UK, pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way as they do here in the States. If he steps off the curb and a car is coming, it WILL NOT STOP. I have an attorney friend whose co-worker found this out the hard way, and the English courts ruled in the driver's favor.

Well, I'm not in London but I am in Edinburgh, which is close-ish! You have some really good pointers up there. Another one to remember is that we don't tip over here nearly as much as you do in the US/Canada. Service on restaurant bills, taxi drivers ok, but you wouldn't normally tip bar staff for example. And I do second the volume thing - we just tend to talk in hushed tones out in public. The first time I walked into an american restaurant, I thought there was a party going on, but no - just a normal Tuesday night!

My parents have been many times and loved this little pub called The Goat. They avoided all guided tours and saw what they wanted when they wanted.

Here is some advice-tell him to take me too!

Tell him to enjoy being called "Love" all the time. I did.

No collegiate or sports oriented sweatshirts or tshirts or jackets. That was a total giveaway when I went to London about 10 years ago, so I'm sure it still holds true. I hope BusyDad has a BLAST!

Hmm....lived in England for a little while myself. I'm going there in April. :)

Make sure you have a converter for anything electric. If Busy Dad uses an electric razor, you may also need to change the voltage so you don't trip a breaker. There should be a switch.

Black cabs (or the "old-fashioned looking cars"...some have ads on them today) can pick up passengers anywhere because they have a license to do so. There are also minicab companies that you have to call or pick up from a kiosk. These companies are not allowed to cruise for fares.

Tell him not to hit anyone if they call him Yank.

As a Tennessean in London, I can tell you that we Southerners do not speak in the same volume or tone as some of our compatriots - so he should be fine on that score. And anyway since I presume he's leading school kids on a cultural adventure - there probably won't be any disguising the fact he's on a school trip.

Here's a tip learned from a friend who acted as a British liaison to American high school band members in past. There is questionable content on the tv (that weren't no wardrobe malfunction )- but they are on the main channels and no, the hotel cannot shut it off.

On the Underground escalators - PLEASE stand to the right.

My husband is also a Brit -- we lived in London for 4 years when we first got married.

You've got some good advice from the others. I really can't add to it except to tell him to have fun!

After living there for four years, I can say while most of the comments about how American's are perceived as a whole, it doesn't apply to the individual. He'll be fine.

And he doesn't have to remember what way to look when crossing the street -- tell him to "look down" and there will be a big white "Look Right" or "Look Left."

And tell him to have a curry! Yum!