London Hotels and Getting About
General Info
It's worth noting that beds are smaller in the UK. A standard "double" is cosy! I can't remember the sizes off the top of my head, but a "king" is 5 ft wide and a "superking" is 6ft wide. A standard double is 4 feet 6 inches wide. Book a twin (i.e., 2 beds); a double is a bed for two!
Although London is a big place, a lot of the sights are fairly close together. If you add to that the fact that we have an excellent public transport system, then your location probably doesn't matter too much
There are hotels pretty much all over the place, although there does seem to be a concentration in West London. Accommdation is very expensive in London, so don't rule out staying a little further out if you want to save some money. I live 15 miles north of town, but the train can get me right to the centre in 15 minutes!
There are plenty of obvious sights, e.g., Westminster, London Eye, St Pauls Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, but also consider some less obvious ones eg Borough Market, Hampstead, Camden Town – all no more than 15 mins from town
Buy a travelcard/oystercard – gives you travel on ALL forms of public transport for its duration within a given area. Excellent value, and very helpful to think you can hop on any bus, tube, tram or train you happen to come across!
Eat fish and chips from a proper chippy (not a pub) - plenty of other threads on this forum for more info
Don't forget to WALK... it’s the best way to see London
Plenty of ATMs all over the place (and all over Europe). Anything with a Visa/MC sign will be accepted
In general, euros are not accepted currency in the UK!
Hotel brokers
TripAdvisor hotel recommendations
Bidding links
Bidding sites
- 1800hotels.com
- Expedia.com
- Hotwire
- Priceline
- Kayak
- Ortbitz
- Travel Zoo
- Last Minute Travel
- Bing travel
- mobissimo.com
Bidding tips and tricks
- www.biddingfortravel.com the moderator there is quite stern in her approach; however, there is really no other site that compares in quality
- Booking Buddy
- Better Bidding there really isn't much information on that site yet.
- BidOn Travel
- lonelyplanet.com for destination and accommodation info
- Frommers for destination and accommodation info
- www.tripadvisor.com
- www.hotelchatter.com
- www.virtualtourist.com for user reviews of hotels, etc.
Arrival
Heathrow Airport London’s main airport is 15 miles (24 km) west of central London. The Heathrow Express train to Paddington is the quickest way into the centre, and takes only 15 minutes. Trains run from 5am until about 11:30pm daily. Taxis take about an hour, depending on the traffic, and are very expensive. Cheaper options include the tube (Piccadilly line) or Airbus into the centre.
Gatwick Airport London’s second airport is 31 miles (50 km) south of the centre, on the Surrey-Sussex border. The Gatwick Express train runs every 15 minutes into Victoria Station, taking around 30 minutes. There are also train connections on City Thameslink trains to London Bridge. The Airbus is a little cheaper and takes an hour longer.
Stansted Airport This fast-growing airport is 35 miles (56 km) to the northeast of London. From here, the half-hourly Stansted Express to Liverpool Street station takes 45 minutes. The Airbus service to Victoria takes about 90 minutes.
If Heathrow: If you have luggage you can manage yourself, I recommend the Heathrow Express train; you can use a trolley to get down to the train, then its a short (15 minute) direct trip to Paddington station. It costs about 15 pounds one way. From Paddington, it will be a short taxi ride to your hotel (I don't know which Marriott you are using, but as long as its not the one in India Quay, you should be fine). Other options; you can catch the tube but only if your luggage is really manageable - it's the Piccadilly line, it takes about an hour to get into the centre of the city. I haven't done this since I was a broke student - all those stairs and elevators are no fun with bags. There is also a bus service, but I have only done this when it was a replacement service for the train so I don't know too much about it. In addition, you can catch a taxi straight from the airport - I do this if I am arriving early in the morning (before 6am) or late at night, because in fact it's not much more expensive = a mini cab runs about 35 pounds to the centre of the city. A black cab will be more expensive. Only use a mini cab company you trust. I would never do this outside of these hours though - traffic above ground can be savage. Unless money is of absolutely no consequence to you, DO NOT book a car through your hotel - I've seen charges of over 100 pounds for a car - they really take advantage of rich tourists fears!
If you decide to use the Heathrow Express, buy your ticket online and print it out at home before you arrive - its cheaper, you don't have to queue, and you don't have to worry about currency when you are sleep deprived from the flight. just google it - the site is very easy to use.
If you are arriving at Gatwick, the only sensible option is the Gatwick Express - again, you can take your luggage right to the train on a trolley. It costs 14 pounds one way from memory, and takes you straight to Victoria Station (from memory its about 45 minutes) - where you can either jump on the tube or catch a taxi to your hotel. There is a slow train that is less expensive and not direct but still gets you to Victoria. you can buy this ticket online before you go too - again, just google it.
When we stay in London we either take the train or a London taxi from the airport. The taxis are not inexpensive, but an easy way to travel into town.
Simply airports They are a car service with flat rates, no meters. Tell them where youw ant to go, how many people and you get a rate. I found then thru some one's recomendation here on CC, and the were fine. Their prices were way below a Taxi. We had loads of luggage, and when we set up the reservation, we told them 2 people with about 5 bags,and they set up a car or mini van for our needs. We stayed at the Hilton Tower Bridge pre cruise and it was 28 pounds, and post cruise we sayed at the Sheriden Park Lane, and the cost was the same back to Heathrow. We did call to confirm the resevation, and they were as prompt as anything. You have to pay in cash though, since we had pounds, we used that.
Is the price per car, or per passenger?? (price was quoted as 34-39 pounds, depending on type of car) What I am confused about is the type of car they are offering. We are two adults with two regular suitcases, 2 smaller suitcases and a couple of carry on (small duffeles). The sites say 4 passengers and 2 cases or 4 passengers and 4 cases. There are none for 2 passengers and say 4 cases. What they consider cases, are they like for large type suitcases, or any type suitcases. Our large ones aren't tremendous, just large. If we have more luggage than they assume, do they charge you more??
Price is per car. If there are two people travelling with 4 cases the smallest car should do.
These two address the low cost taxi Heathrow - London market and are probably the biggest/most respected.
The only thing you have to watch for is waiting times. Most of these companies only allow 45 or 60 minutes after the flight arrives before they start clocking waiting time, its relatively small but do look at the small print. In reality you'll take about an hour to get through customs/baggage at Heathrow at the moment and they'll normally ignore the waiting time surcharge - its aimed at those who take liberties and fancy visiting the duty free shops whilst the driver hangs around outside.
Getting Around
London is one of the largest cities in Europe and its sprawling streets can be quite overwhelming when you first arrive. Visitors from the States, for example, will find that none of the streets are in blocks and are instead denoted with seemingly arbitrary names, rather than numbers. Nevertheless, the city boasts an excellent public transport system, allowing you to get around 24 hours a day.
On Foot
Although London can initially seem confusing and extraordinarily large, once you get the hang of it you'll realise that everything is actually a bit closer together than you thought. Remember the walking distance between two tube stops in central London is never more than 10 minutes, sometimes a lot less.
A to Z
Owning a copy of this compact street atlas isn't just for visitors; just about everyone in London has one to help them navigate the arcane street layout. It's really easy to use: at the back you'll find an index of all London's streets with a page and grid reference. You can buy one, in varying sizes and formats, for about £5 at newsagents, supermarkets and service stations across the city. You might have a map in the back of your guide book, but we firmly recommend you invest in one of these indispensable street plans.
The Tube
Times and Zones
The 12 colour-coded lines are open from around 5am till 12.30am Monday to Friday, and from 7am till 11pm on Sundays, although services do vary. To beat the rush hour, travel after 9.30am in the morning, and Travelcards are cheaper then too. The Underground network is divided into six zones, where Zone 1 is the most central.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cheapest way of getting around London if you're a visitor is to buy a Travelcard. These can be purchased for a day, 3 days, a week, a month or a year and are valid on buses, Tubes, overland trains and the DLR. Prices differ between zones, but most visitors to the centre only require Zones 1-2. Extensions can be bought for Zones 3–6.
Buses
London’s famous red buses are running better than ever thanks to the new Congestion Charge. You can pick up a route map at any travel centre or tourist information office. At most bus stops you'll find an easy-to-understand bus plan telling you about all the routes that serve the area
.Night buses operate to and from Trafalgar Square and are the cheapest and easiest way to travel round the capital once the Tube shuts. These days most of the buses are modern vehicles with wheelchair access, but you can still catch the classic Routemaster buses on routes number 9 and 15, which also take you past all the major sites.
Fares
Buses do not accept cash in central London. Either pay with an Oyster Card or tickets can be bought from machines next to most bus stops in the city centre. Any single journey, including central London (Zone 1), paid in cash costs £2. With an Oyster Card the fare is only £1. A one-day bus and tram pass covering the whole of London costs just £3.80.
Oyster Card
Your Oyster Card can store any type of ticket on it: Either take the pay-as-you-go option – using this you pay per journey, until you reach a fare cap, which is 50 pence less than what you would have paid for a one-day Travelcard.
Always make sure you touch in and out of all stations, even if the ticket gates are open. If you don’t, you will end up paying more than you should.
Pay-as-you-go Oyster Cards are not accepted on some National Rail services so make sure you check before you travel, otherwise you could be fined.
Black Taxi Cabs
Travel through the capital in style in a traditional Black Cab (also called a Hackney Carriage). An illuminated yellow light on the top will indicate when the cab is available for hire. They can be pre-booked by phone, procured at a stand or hailed on the street. All London's Black Taxi Cabs are metered. Calculation of fares is highly complex. Only estimates can be made in advance as traffic conditions and time of day may affect prices. There is a flat rate fare of £2.20 and drivers expect a tip of at least 10%.
Opening Hours
Museums and attractions are usually open from Tuesday to Sunday, or from Monday to Saturday. The majority open at 10:00 and close at 18:00 but the times may vary. Many are now staying open late at least once a week.
Shops and offices are open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 18:00. The vast majority of shops are open on Saturdays from about 10:00 to 19:00. Shops in the centre of town are usually open on Sundays as well from about 12:00 to 17:00. Late night shopping is usually Thursdays when the major shops don't close until 20:00 or 21:00. Most supermarkets are now open until 20:00 or later in the week, and until 16:00 or 17:00 on Sundays.
- although London is a big place, a lot of the sights are fairly close together. If you add to that the fact that we have an excellent public transport system, then your location probably doesn't matter too much
- there are hotels pretty much all over the place, although there does seem to be a concentration in West London. Accommdation is very expensive in London, so don't rule out staying a little further out if you want to save some money. I live 15 miles north of town, but the train can get me right to the centre in 15 minutes!
- there are plenty of obvious sights eg Westminster, London Eye, St Pauls Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, but also consider some less obvious ones eg Borough Market, Hampstead, Camden Town - all no more than 15 mins from town
- buy a travelcard/oystercard - gives you travel on ALL forms of public transport for its duration within a given area. Excellent value, and very helpful to think you can hop on any bus, tube, tram or train you happen to come across!
- eat fish and chips from a proper chippy (not a pub) - plenty of other threads on this forum for more info
- don't forget to WALK...its the best way to see London
- plenty of ATMs all over the place (and all over Europe). Anything with a Visa/MC sign will be accepted
- in general, euros are not accepted currency in the UK!
Assorted
Tower of London
Admission: Adult $28
Opening Times: Tues – Sat 09.00 – 16.30, Sun – Mon 10.00 – 16.30.
Last admission 16.00.
Visit Time: 2 – 3 hours.
Telephone: 0844 482 7777.
HM Tower of London
London EC3N 4AB
Information line: +44 (0)870 756 6060
Opening hours:
1 March – 31 October
Monday – Saturday: 09.00–18.00
Sunday: 10.00–18.00
Last admission: 17.00
(The Tower of London was well worth the admission price but get there early and it isn’t nearly as crowded).
Tower Bridge
Webcam: http://blog.visitlondon.com/watch-tower-bridge-live/
April – September 10:00 – 18:30 (last admission 17:30)
Ticket Prices
Adults £7.00
Family tickets from £11.00
The main entrance of Tower Bridge Exhibition is located at the North West Tower of the Bridge; allowing entrance into the Bridge’s iconic structure. On exiting the Bridge, follow the painted blue line on the floor which leads you directly to the magnificent Victorian Engine Rooms and the second part of your tour, located on the south side of the Bridge at river level on Shad Thames.
Joint tickets for Tower Bridge Exhibition and the Monument Adults £8.00
The Brasserie at The Tower
The following information has been provided by a Time Out partner. Time Out cannot guarantee its accuracy. We welcome your views on this restaurant. Top marks for the view. The Tower Hotel is on the north bank of the Thames overlooking pristine St Katharine’s Docks and next door to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Located on the ground floor of The Tower are the hotel’s two restaurants: a carvery and The Brasserie. The Brasserie is more of a casual dining experience serving a Modern British menu in a light, airy space with a panoramic view of Tower Bridge. The animated, largely City crowd show a particular liking for the crab and salad starter followed by a nice ribeye steak and veg. High-level but informal plated service. In summer, the terrace makes a good spot to while away a leisurely afternoon away from it all.
London Imperial War Museum
When you can take a group of high school students there and they enjoy it as much as your military-history loving husband, it’s definitely a winner! Aside from the obvious historical importance of some of the documents (like Hitler’s signed order authorizing the march on Poland) the museum has a couple of interactive sections that bring the reality of war to life in a way that exhibits in glass cases can’t do. The WWI section wants the visitor to experience what trench warfare was actually like (and you do) and the WWII interactive exhibit attempts to replicate (with great success) what life was like during an air raid for Londoners during the Blitz. One hesitates to say more because of spoiling the experience. Take the Elephant & Castle Line on the Tube and you’ll be there in a short walk. Also--it’s free (although a donation is a good idea.) The address is Lambeth Road, London SE1, England.
Chronicling the history of conflict from the First World War to the present day, the museum’s vast collections range from tanks and aircraft to photographs and personal letters as well as films, sound recordings and some of the twentieth century’s best-known paintings. Lambeth Road, SE1
British Museum
- The British Museum is free to all visitors. A charge may be made for some special exhibitions.
- The Museum is open every day 10.00–17.30
- Open late Thursdays and Fridays
Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge lies on the Thames between the Houses of Parliament and County Hall with the delights of the Southbank Centre and the National Theatre beyond. The view is exceptional in every direction, taking in Parliament, Whitehall, the Strand, South Bank and beyond that the City and the London Eye. Take to the bridge for a sight that moved William Wordsworth to write these lines in 1802: "Earth has not anything to show more fair: Dull would he be of soul who could pass by A sight so touching in its majesty."
St. Paul's Cathedral
Being the cathedral of the capital city, St Paul's is officially the spiritual home of Great Britain. The funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill were conducted inside the church's fortress-like walls, as was the elaborate fairy-tale wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. Built by court architect, Sir Christopher Wren, after the Great Fire of London in 1666, the cathedral miraculously survived the Blitz in World War Two when most of the surrounding area was flattened by German bombing raids. It consequently served to act as an inspirational symbol of British strength in the nation's darkest hour. Three curving galleries lead up to the dome - one of the largest in the world and one of the best viewing points in the City.
Did you know? During the construction of the dome and galleries, architect Wren was wrenched up and down in a basket at least once a week to inspect the work in progress. By the time work was completed in 1708, Wren was 78 years old and watched on as his son placed the last stone in position.
Opening times and prices
Weekdays 8.30am-4pm, Sat 8am-4pm | Mon to Sat: 8:30-16:00 (last entry) | Guided Tours at 11:00, 11:30, 13:30 & 14:00. Pricing Adult £10
Tranfer Reviews
We had the very good fortune of traveling last year and can attest to the excellent treatment we received from Cheryl Finch's company. This year we are traveling with three other couples and have arranged a private transfer that will take us from the City Inn Westminster to the ship in Harwich for considerably less than what RCI is charging for transfers. We actually are using frequent flyer miles for our one-way American Airlines daytime flight to London, and booked the City Inn Westminster for considerably less than what RCI is charging, so it is a win-win-win situation all around
Food
After much research we finally got it right. Our London cab driver took us to the place the cabbies go to. They are lined up for a few blocks. This place was fantastic! It's called
Masters Super Fish
Address 191 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8uX
tel 020 7928 6924
All I can say is the traditional cod fillet platter was 7.25 GBP and was well worth it. My husband got the superbites.. Huss haddock & plaice.. all with fresh " chips" which are wonderful! They also put pickles & onions on the table before our meal came out.
I eat at Masters regularly but Faulkners of Kingsland road Dalston is definately the best fish and chip restaurant in London,although a bit far east of central London.
That's what we also liked. Masters is right off the waterloo (metro) tube. Very easy. Maybe a 2 block walk.
I work in London, and many of us from the office use this place:
Rock & Sole Plaice 47 Endell Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9AJ
It is about 5-10 minutes walk from Covent Garden/Leicester Square/Trafalgar Square, so it is really central. The price for takeaway (so you can wander 'round eating your supper, looking at the lovely Covent Garden!) is around £5-6 for fish and chips, or around £2 for a bag of homemade English chips, cut fresh from whole potatoes! It has been there years, I first went about 20 years ago, and can highly recommend. They also have a restaurant where you can sit in and eat.
For those who have a limited time in London, I would advise taking a bus tour, on The Original Bus Tour Company, it's a hop-on, hop-off double-decker bus tour, and was perfect for us.
