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Going to London, looking for tips
Bushi
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I'm scheduled to go to London from November 4-14. I already have a few days planned out with friends, but most of them have to go back to their various countries a few days in, so I was looking for any tips/ideas for stuff I can do in London, possibly solo. Also, this is my first international trip (I'm American college student), so I was wondering if anyone had any pointers regarding that as well. Thanks!
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definitely check out camden. It has such a good atmosphere plus the markets are awesome stuff. Its one of my favourite places.
london is bloody expensive and if you guys are going to be eating out a lot you might want to check out moneysaving expert.com a little closer to your trip. It has some good vouchers for places to eat and the like.
However, I would absolutely recommend grabbing some food from a Bodeans BBQ restaurant if you get chance: http://www.bodeansbbq.com/ I make sure to eat there every time I'm in London, I love their pulled pork sarnies.
Most of the touristy stuff in London is pretty good, certainly museums and galleries. The Tate Modern is a lovely place to go and visit.
Swing by Fleet Street and have a pint in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub (http://www.pubs.com/main_site/pub_details.php?pub_id=154) which apparently used to be a regular haunt of lots of old English literary figures, such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens. Nowadays it will very likely be full of tourists but it's actually quite a cool building -- definitely go and sit down in the cellars if there's room.
Oh, and if you're drinking on a budget, Sam Smith's pubs are always cheaper than anywhere else and probably full of more interesting local characters. The John Snow in Soho is a good one.
For the most part, London is full of tourists and international visitors, to the point where it doesn't feel very English. But there is lots to do if you research properly. The underground system makes it very easy to navigate around.
As with all capital cities, keep your wits about you and I'm sure you'll have a grand time.
My wife and I jammed a ton of crap into a two day stop there, and I cannot stress enough how much we loved London. You're going to love it.
Don't rush, take in as much as you can, and enjoy yourself. It's a whole different world over there.
Xbox Gamertag: GAMB1NO325Xi
Oh, and eat curry. Curry is delicious. It's not too expensive, and it's actually traditional English food. Almost no curry you can buy was 'invented' further from London than Birmingham or Sheffield.
Go to a pub, drink some beers without it being illegal(assuming you're under 21)
Curries are awesome, fish and chips is awesome, pasties are...eeeeh.....they can go either way.
Buuut, if you do one thing, GO TO A FOOTBALL MATCH! There are loooooads of football teams in London, try to get a ticket sorted for one of them. The atmosphere is amazing and from what i've heard from American friends who've visited, quite different to most American sporting fixtures.
You however seem to have enough time to do a bit more exploring than most
1. The John Soane Museum - this is a very small museum in central London built around the collections of the man himself, former Royal Architect. If you have ever visited a capital city of any kind in the West and wondered why half the buildings look sort of Roman, this will explain why that is.
2. The Guy's Hospital Museum - very small again, but with a pre anesthetic operating theatre and apparently the oldest surviving operating theatre in Europe
3. The various cemeteries - There are loads of neat cemeteries around London that are at the very least a nice break from the hustle and bustle. One that is certainly worth a trip is Highgate - here you see Karl Marx's grave, as well as Douglas Adams.
4. Walks through districts - pick a district and go for a guided walk, or just wander about by yourself. The weather will be a bit colder by the time you get here, but not so much as to make it impossible to walk outside for a while. I suggest you visit Camden, Kensington (Start at High Street Kensington and walk up through Notting Hill to Portobello Road), Southbank (start at London Bridge on Thursday-Saturday for the Borough Markets, then walk up along the south bank of the Thames for as long as you can be bothered) and Soho/The Strand
You should also consider taking a couple of half or day trips. The Thames Estuary has some beautiful little towns along either bank. The Home Counties (outside of greater London and its Sprawl) are amazingly beautiful. There are plenty of stately homes, museums, castles, parks, market towns or pretty little villages that you could chose from.
Seems to be these forms to fill out and they will "get back to you if there are tickets available" on a bunch of websites which seems fishy/scammy.
Do you purchase from each theatre separately or something? I am confused how to tell what is a legit site and how to just search/browse around lots of shows at once.
Depends on how much calling you are going to do. I assume you do not have a phone that uses a sim card already?
That being said, you can get a pre paid phone deal very cheaply here, possibly for under 10 pounds
Take a look at this link - it is from a place called Carphone Warehouse, which I'd suspect is the biggest non network affiliated cell phone retailer in the UK
I can't be very helpful on this one. But the only time I've brought theatre tickets, I used the uk ticketmaster. Not the cheapest, but I'm fairly certain its secure. This might be a good place to browse.
Play.com also have a theatre tickets listing, but I can't vouch for that.
Avoid rush hour on the tubes unless you know what you're doing, plus the off peak cards are cheaper too.
Try to go to the half-price tickets stand in Leicester Square and get a cheap ticket to something!
Yes to the British chocolate suggested earlier and the British museum.
Buckingham Palace, The Houses Of Parliament and The Tower Of London are must-do-once things.
Check ahead to see if there are any events going on!
Have a nice time.
Climb the Monument. It costs £3 and it's totally worth it for the view. Same view as the London Eye, without the lines or absurd expense.
When you get down from the Monument there's a really great pub right there, too. Had really good food, it's not owned by whatever chain it is that operates all of those identical pubs across the city and had £2 pints, which are very welcome after climbing 311 steps up a spiral staircase and back.
The Victoria and Albert was in my opinion way better than the British Museum. The British Museum was fine, but everything is behind (heavily fingerprinted in some cases) glass, you're packed shoulder to shoulder in any of the decent exhibits with no time to properly gawk, and everyone is using flash photography everywhere you look and it's obnoxious. The V&A you can get very close to some really nifty stuff. It's more of an art history museum, but it's got stuff from every corner of the globe too.
Also the Natural History Museum was fuck rad and the central hall with the statue of Darwin is must-see in my opinion.
It was cool taking a walk at night through Camden. It's actually a lot of tacky, lame shit but it's so over the top and absurd that it's worth seeing. Piccadilly/Soho/China Town also fall under this heading, and you can do all three in an hour if you walk briskly.
I can also vouch for pasties being totally rad. There's some chain that sells 'em for cheap and they're really filling.
Most everything you really want to do is in travelcard zone 1 and 2. You can get an unlimited travel pass for those zones for a pretty good price. We saved a lot of money using them, never had to worry about how much we were spending on travel, and they're good for both the underground and for buses. There are a lot of double-decker buses operated in that area, so you can do that too. Just note whether or not it's a London operated bus or a tourist company bus, but the tourism buses are fairly distinct.
Also, I personally disagree with bothering to pay through the nose to see the inside of buckingham or westminster abbey. It's expensive. There are lots of equally cool things elsewhere that you can even take pictures inside of. I'm not a big history buff or a fan of the monarchy though, so if you are, you might feel differently.
Oh, and wander through Hyde Park, and locate the monument to Albert. It's across the street from royal albert hall. It's pretty immense.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
And, for another question, does anyone know of a way for me to have fund available while I'm over without suffering my bank's (Wachovia's) insane transaction fees?
Oh also, don't buy your electrical outlet adapter in the USA. You can buy them for £2 in a lot of the tourist knick-knack shops.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Agree with pasties being effin awesome. The Tube is your friend for quick travel. If you're into old buildings and cool architecture check out any of the old churches and St. Paul's Cathedral. On Saturday's (at least when I was there) there were some cool Flea-market/Bazaar type shops that opened up in a residential district.
Also beware of pickpockets. My friend had his ID stolen on the Underground and it was a real pain to get it replaced.
That said, it's a great place to visit, and have fun!
Basically single trip prices are discounted and it caps the cost of your days travel to the price of an unlimited travelcard so you always get the best deal.
Also way easier just to add more money to the card at a ticket machine than it is fiddling around buying the right ticket.
Other recommendations:
The London Eye is worth it if you don't mind the cost, it gives a great view of the city.
If you are going to Covent Garden don't get off at the Covent Garden station, get off at Leicester Square it's 5 mins walk. Covent Garden station is always packed and really deep underground so the queues for lifts are massive. Generally with the tube it is worth checking a normal map to see where you are going instead of just using the tube map. Sometimes you can save yourself 5 stops by walking 5 mins above ground.
The Science Museum is well worth a visit, also worth checking what Imax shows they are doing on what days so you can plan around that.
If you do end up in Covent Garden then check out 'Bistro One' great little restaurant on a side road from Covent Garden market. Great food and really cheap.
Also if you like pizza 'Fire and Stone' is great, they have all kinds of weird ass yet delicious pizzas.
If you are into art then the Tate/Tate Modern are a must.
Nuh uhhhh. It caps it to a one day travelcard. You get better discounts if you buy a longer term travelcard. A one week card costs way less than hitting the daily cap for seven days straight.
If you're gonna be there for a week, get a week long card. It's worth it.
And the science museum is kind of weak. I found the Natural History museum to be much, much better.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Before you go:
1. Go to your bank and order some pounds. (This usually takes a week.) I ordered 100 pounds and did not use all of them and I was there for 7 days. The bank charged me $5.00 for the transaction. I used my credit card in London, which was easier and less of an exchange rate.
2. Get a voltage converter and transformer. I bought one from Wal-mart for $20.00. You must have this to use your electrical appliances, such as cell phones, razors, etc. You cannot use a curling iron or hair curlers, because it is too much voltage. Read the directions, so you do not blow up your unit.
3. Buy “Rick Steve's London 2011” and “London Underground Map”, so you can get use to the tube system. If you are familiar with the subway system, then you may not need it. I had never been on a subway before, so I figured out the system before I got there. Another good book is “London for Dummies”. You can get them at http://www.amazon.com/ (Buy all 3 and you do not have to pay shipping.) These books have very helpful information, especially if you are going to London for the first time.
4. Call your Credit card company and tell them you are leaving the country. Bring two credit cards with you, just in case one does not work.
5. Call your cellular company and set up an international calling plan for the time you are gone. If your company does not offer such a plan, then order a UK phone for $29.00. http://www.mobal.com/international-cell-phones/?gclid=COun4ryF5KkCFUHu7QodJWVLZg I ordered a UK phone, which worked very well.
6. Save yourself some money on attractions. Go to www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1london and print out any vouchers that you may want to use in London. You pay for one ticket and get another one free. They were always received without any problems. These vouchers only work with the National Rail Travel card. (see #2 below)
7. When gas starts going down, so does airline tickets. Watch for the trend. Check fares on Tuesday. Leave from a weekday to a weekday, such as Tuesday and come back Tuesday. Remember you lose two days in air travel. If you want to stay 7 days in London, then set aside 9 days. Leave from the east coast if possible. I left from Houston and it was 9 or 10 hours in the air. If I left from an east coast city, it was about 6 hours. That is a big difference!!! I booked my airfare and hotel with Expedia and got a better deal. http://www.expedia.com/
8. Find a hotel that is close to a tube. I stayed at Copthorne Tara Hotel, which is close to High Street Kensington Tube. http://www.millenniumhotels.co.uk/copthornetarakensington/index.html It was very convenient to everywhere. Make sure that your hotel has air conditioning (if you are going in the summer) and a bathroom in your room. The rooms are very small compared to the States. A double room means you get a double bed. Get a room with a minifridge to keep bottled water and drinks. Get a room with a hair dryer and iron, so you do not have to pack these things. My hotel had all these things. http://www.tripadvisor.com/ is a great place to check out your hotel rooms to see what experiences others had with the hotel. You will want a hotel with good service and clean rooms.
9. You do not need a car. If you are in good health, take the tube or bus. Walking was always enjoyable, because the scenery is beautiful.
10. Get a hand blender if you want to make breakfast shakes. This saves time and money and makes a nutritious breakfast. http://www.buythebullet.com/
11. Book any tours before you go. I took a day trip to Paris with Premium Tours on the Eurostar for 129 pounds. (Two hour trip, which I really enjoyed!) http://www.premiumtours.co.uk/tours/tour/simply-paris.id67.html This included a metro ticket, boat ride down the Seine river, map of Paris, shopping discounts, hotel pick-up, and Eurostar tickets. They picked me up at my hotel at 5:15am. It was a long day!! If I had to do it again, I would spend the night and come back the next day. You cannot see Paris in a day!! Order tickets to the Louvre in advance, otherwise you will be standing in line for 2 hours in the sun. http://www.ticketnet.fr/Resultat/idtier/138989/?ipSearch=musee+louvre.
12. Pack a washcloth-there is none in London. Take your raincoat or umbrella-you will need it. Bring a backpack to carry water, raincoats, maps, travel books, snacks, cameras, passports, etc. You see backpacks everywhere, so you will not look like a tourist.
13. Are your passports current? They cannot expire within the next 6 months. Carry them at all times while in London.
14. Once you decide on your hotel, go to Google maps. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl Check out the restaurants close to you that others have recommended. http://www.tripadvisor.com/ can also give you some good reviews on restaurants.
15. Londoners dress very nice. Only tourists wear jeans and tennis shoes. If you do not want to look like a tourist, dress for the occasion. The weather is usually cool and rainy. Sometimes they will have a few hot days in the summer. Check the 10 day forecast before you leave, so you will know how to pack. Bring comfortable shoes to walk in. http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/UKXX0085
16. Make sure you know what you can bring in your carry-on luggage. http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm I traveled Continental and I could take one bag and not pay any extra fees, since I was on an international flight. Check your airline for weight and dimensions of your bags.
When you get there:
1. I flew into Heathrow Airport. Find an Underground Station and buy a one day travel card for London, which is about 7 pounds. You can get one out of a kiosk if you have pounds. It would not take my credit card. The most cost-effective route to London is the Piccadilly Line trains, which runs from all terminals and journey time is 50 – 60 minutes. If your hotel is close to the tube, then you will not have a problem. If your hotel is not within 5 minutes walk from a tube, then you may want to get a taxi or coach. (How to use the Tube system is below.) http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/page/Heathrow^General^To+and+from+Heathrow^Trains+and+Underground^Underground/050f9b25f9599110VgnVCM10000036821c0a____/448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____/
2. After you are settled in your hotel, get a 7 Day Travelcard for zones 1 and 2 from the National Rail Company. Look on your London Underground map and this shows you all the National Railway Stations (red railway signs) and go to the one nearest your hotel. This is the only Travelcard that will work with your 2 for 1 vouchers. Kensington station was closest to my hotel, so we walked there. I paid 27.50 pounds for my 7 Day Travelcard. Have the card begin on the next day, since you already have a 1 Day Travel Card. You cannot buy them online, but only at a station, unless you want to buy the monthly travelcard. This will save you a lot of money on transportation. http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/travelcards_oyster.html
3. Ask for directions, if you are not sure where you are going. Londoners are very cordial and very helpful. I had several of them walk me most of the way to my destination. I never met a rude Londoner!! What a change from the States.
4. Go to the grocery store to buy snacks, wine, drinks, fruit, bread, sandwich spreads, bottled water, etc. We went to the Whole Foods Store down the street and bought chicken salad spread and made sandwiches for snacks. Every morning we made a breakfast drink with bananas, fruit, vitamins, yogurt, etc. Be sure to get plastic knives to spread the sandwich meat while you are there in the store. We bought wine to drink in the room at night before we went to bed. The stores in the hotels are usually very expensive, so save yourself some money. http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/kensington/
5. Ask the Concierge for a map of London and to get you any tickets that you may want for the theatre. My Concierge could get me discounted tickets even for “WICKED”. He was awesome!! If you go to the theatre, go on a weekday night or a matinee, because the tickets are less. WICKED was a wonderful play, if you can get tickets. They sell out quickly, so ask your Concierge for tickets on the day that you arrive.
6. City Cruises has a great ride down the Thames river and you get 33% off when you show them your National Rail Travel Card. Get a River Red Rover pass, so you can hop on and off all day. http://www.citycruises.com/maps.htm
7. I really enjoyed the Tower of London. If you go, be sure to go early during a week day by 9am and go straight to the crown jewels, or you will wait in line a very long time. Then go back and get a guided tour. Go next to the Tower Pier-very close to the Tower of London. Take City Cruises from there to Greenwich and see the Prime Meridian and the Painted Hall-a must see!! Then hop back on City Cruises and go down to Westminster Pier and hop off and see Big Ben and Parliament and #10 Downing Street where the prime minister lives. Depending on how much time you have, check your map for other close attractions in the area. http://www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon/
8. Most museums are free. Check out what is free in London and take advantage of this. The British Museum and the National Gallery are amazing and both are free. http://golondon.about.com/od/thingstodoinlondon/tp/free_London.htm
9. Experience London by going to at least one pub and eat fish and chips. I really liked the Salisbury and the Golden Lion (300 year old pubs). By the way “chips” are French fries. “Crisps” are potato chips. The meat pies are also delicious. There is a pub on almost every street.
Go to http://pubs.com/ and find some pubs you want to visit near your hotel. The pubs are cheaper than restaurants and more fun!
10. Go to Harrod's. http://www.harrods.com/ It is worth the experience! If you like Vintage stores, London has some excellent ones. My son wanted to find skinny ties, vests, hats, suspenders, and old dress shoes. http://blog.hostelbookers.com/travel/cheap-days-out/vintage-shops-london/
How to use the Subway (Tube, Underground):
1. Use the London Underground Map to plot your course with the least amount of changes. Every time you change a train, you have to go up and down flights of stairs to get to your next train.
2. From Heathrow, take the Piccadilly Line. My hotel was next to High Kensington Tube station, so I had to change to the Circle Line at Earl’s Court before I could get to my tube station.
3. There is a ticket terminal as you walk in the station. You must put your travelcard in the slot at the bottom face up and it will come back out on top. Don’t forget your card!!!
4. Each Line has a name: Piccadilly, Circle, District, etc. Look for the name of the Line you want to travel on. The stations are well marked and signs are everywhere with arrows pointing in the direction to go. An employee is by every ticket terminal, if you need help.
5. My biggest problem was whether to do eastbound or westbound. Look at the very end of the line in the direction you are going and whatever that destination is, then the train will be going towards this place. When you are leaving Heathrow on the Piccadilly Line, the announcer will say you are heading towards Cockfosters. This is the destination at the end of the Piccadilly Line.
6. On the train as it enters the station, the end destination will appear on the train.
7. Before you get on the train there are maps on the wall, which show you which train to get on. Make sure your stop is listed on this map before you get on the train.
8. Once you are on the platform, there is a sign telling you when the next train is coming. Wait for your train to come. They usually come every 2 minutes. We never had to wait very long. The service was very efficient.
9. There is a map inside the train that shows you all the stops. The announcer will tell you what stop is coming up next. Just look at the map as you travel along.
10. Everyone is usually very quiet in the tube. Everyone is very polite. There are not seats for everyone, so you may have to stand until someone gets off and gives you a seat. Hold onto a pole if you did not get a seat, and enjoy the ride.
11. Afford rush hours, because the trains are packed.
12. Watch your purse in the trains. This is the best place for something to be stolen.
Once I understood the system, I loved traveling by tubes. You can do this! Go for it!
As far as food, if you want the real modern London experience you need to go eat curry on Brick Lane.