London Hotels, do they speak French??

Question

Hi,
My friend wants to visit London for a week or so in October but he doesn't know a word of English.
I was wondering if the hotels in Central London have French speaking staff or is it not common? Also do they speak French at Heathrow Airport?

Answer 1

It is common among the major chain hotels and upmarket properties, and there are French-speaking staff at Heathrow Airport.

Most tourist attractions also offer multi-language facilities, but be aware that taxi and bus drivers and railway and tube station staff do not generally speak any foreign languages, and they do not make announcements on trains or tubes in any language other than English.

Answer 2

No, its absolutely strictly forbidden by law to speak French in London ;)

Seriously, the larger hotels are bound to have at least one or two staff who speak French, although smaller hotels may not. As for Heathrow, there will certainly be French speaking staff there.

And many English people over 25 learnt French as the main foreign language at school..so even if they are not fluent they can at least hold and understand a basic conversation in French.

Answer 3

I think most of the big hotels try to employ bylingual staff. I am sure most places you go they will be able to find a french speaking person. Although its unusual that a french person cannot speak English. The French are usually much better at languages then the english

Answer 4

It depends on how good the hotel your staying at is, thistles and hiltons will usually have someone who speaks french, and i think most tourist things in london have french translations. Some staff at heathrow will be able to speak french (especially if you fly airfrance) but most will not.

Id get him to take a english-french phrasebook so if he gets really stuck he can look things up.

Answer 5

Everyone in London refuses to speak French, because the Parisians refuse to speak English.

And if you speak French in London, you will be treated with the same arrogance and disdain as English speakers are treated in Paris.

Answer 6

Try IBIS Hotels, they are a French company with French speakers in their hotels and if possible fly Air France. Don't expect French to be widely spoken in England though.

Answer 7

the better the hotel the more languages spoken. Check their web sites if you can use other languages they should.
Most Brits speak more french then they realize

Answer 8

Perhaps in hotels...but do not expect too much from the anglo-saxon people when it comes to speaking a foreign language...After all, languages are not compulsory anymore

Answer 9

hi i work in a hotel and i speak french, you can visit the web site :
[e-mail]

Answer 10

i mainly go to travellodges in london and the staff there speak all sorts of languages. Ask him to pick up a guide, to learn hello, goodbye, thankyou and i am french please help etc