Most flights from South Africa land in the UK early in the morning (around 6am or 7 am). On board just before landing, the in-flight personnel will hand those that require one, a landing card. Complete this on board (put a pen in your hand luggage and the address where you will be spending your first few nights). When you get off the aircraft, you will be required to go through immigration control.
When you arrive at the immigration hall you will have to present yourself at the immigration official who will check your passport and papers and will ask you a few questions on what you intend to do in the UK:
For those on the Working Holiday Visas (WHV)
You may have received an Entry Clearance from the British Consulate but that does not guarantee your entry into the UK. You can meet all the necessary requirements, such as having a valid passport, a valid WHM visa, enough money and a return ticket, but you will have to satisfy the Immigration Officer at the port of entry before you can finally enter the United Kingdom.
Have all your documents ready: Passport and airline ticket and also ensure you have an address written down of where you will be staying in the UK (a hostel or friends house). Be prepared to provide reasons for your visit and details about duration of stay. If they ask about work keep using the phrases “casual work”, ”pub jobs” “part time” and “work and travel”, the basis of the WHM visa is that you work and travel and do work incidental to your holiday so saying you would like to get a job in banking might not go down too well.
Some other good advice
·Try not to bundle with friends or other groups in front of the immigration desks.
·Don’t unnecessarily mention that you know friends or have friends in the UK (especially those whose status might be doubtful).
·Don’t say you want to stay for 1 week but have an open ended ticket, use your common sense.
·Don’t carry any person’s luggage through customs as it could contain illegal substances, refer to the above sentiment, use your common sense (the prisons in the UK are not bad but not great either).
·Don’t arrive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
·Don’t bring biltong or other dried meat into the country, you may be fined heavily if you do and you there are shops here in the UK that sell biltong.
·Don’t use a cellphone (you’ll have to call it a mobile from now on!) in the immigration area.
·Try to look like you’re on your own.
·Be presentable (even after a 12 hour flight you need to make sure you look fresh and awake, if you look as if been dragged through a bush backwards, chances are you’ll be dragged into an interview room)
·Don’t lie or be nervous, if you have nothing to be nervous about, customs officials are trained and have been doing their job for a few years.
·Have your X-Ray ready for inspection if you don’t have these or you’ve left them behind, it’s not the end of the world.
·Most times your passport will be stamped and you will be waived through so don’t worry too much about the Immigration Officers but be respectful at all times.
Wait for your luggage and then head through Customs then to the Underground to get the Tube to central London or the place you will be staying.
Customs
Pass through the green area if you don’t have anything to declare. Pass through the red zone if you would like to declare any goods. The custom area is more often than not unmanned during the early morning so simply pass straight through and make your way to the London Underground.
The Underground or "Tube"
The fastest way to move around London is by the Underground, affectionately referred to as the tube. Have a look at London Transport on this website to get more information about getting around.
Getting Started 
