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If you're planning a trip to London,
England, I'd love to help you out - just give me a call or email and
we'll create the perfect trip for you.
Already have your tickets? Then you
should definitely read this before you go.
Note: If you see
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Tickets can be pre-purchased to save
money, call or email Christine to find out how much you can save
by pre-booking.
Click here
for a PDF version of the London Guide
GETTING
AROUND
London is a huge city, but it's
actually very easy to get around and the 'downtown tourist area' is
actually quite walkable. As soon as you arrive, buy a small "A to Z" -
it's a booklet style city map that you can pick up at any corner store
for $5 - $10.
The London Underground is their
subway system and if you're going to use it more than once in a day,
you will want to get an Oyster card (transit pass) to save money.
Electronic cards are swiped to enter the subway and to exit. If you
just buy a paper travel voucher, you'll need to stick it in the slot
at the entrance but don't forget to pick it up after you go through
the little gate - you'll need to do the same thing to exit the
station.
Double decker buses are a tourist
attraction and a convenient way to get around and see things. Try to
get the front seats on the upper level - you'll find yourself
cringing, expecting to rear end vehicles and smack the sides of
buildings while the skilled bus driver easily (and safely) drives
along. (It's just a perception thing)
THINGS TO SEE & DO
BIG BUS TOUR
First thing you should do is get a ticket for the Big Bus Tour. There
are 3 companies that offer this Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) tour but the
best one is the red bus, with live commentary. This is great if
you get stuck in traffic or at a light as the guide always has extra
tips & trivia to share. Passes cost about £20 - £25 if purchased
locally and it's a 24-hour pass to ride. The bus takes a somewhat
circular route through Central London, past all of the major tourist
attractions. You can just ride the bus and take photos of everything
except Buckingham Palace (tour buses are no longer allowed to pass in
front of the palace) or you can hop off at one of the many stops,
wander about and then just catch the next bus when it comes along.
Just hold on to your ticket. Ride on the top for the best view.
If it's full, wait until people get off at the next stop and then go
upstairs.
This tour also includes walking tours & a ride up the Thames. You'll
disembark across the water from the London Eye & across the street
from Big Ben.
ü
Tickets can be pre-purchased to save
money
LONDON EYE
Originally called the Millennium Wheel, this tourist attraction was
created to celebrate the turn of the century and was actually
scheduled to be demolished after. It turned out to be so successful
that they decided to keep it going. Across from the Parliament
Buildings and Big Ben, the London Eye offers great views of the
cityscape of London. There is a guide book you can purchase which
shows photos of what you'll see onboard and points out tourist
attractions and important landmarks.
ü
Tickets can be pre-purchased to save
money
CAMDEN MARKET
This market operates daily, but it's best to go on weekends. As you
exit the Camden tube station, you'll pass by some tattoo shops and
other adult oriented stores. Beyond that, you'll pass the market,
which is a bit like a flea market. Stalls of new & used goods are for
sale. Cross over the bridge and you'll see another market with
International food stalls set up - very much like Vancouver's
Granville Island. Enjoy a great lunch here of anything from Mexican
empanadas to Trinidadian roti to Greek kebabs. This area overlooks the
Camden Lock and you'll see many cigarette boats as they enter the lock
on their way around London.
NOTTING HILL MARKET
If you've seen the movie Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts &
Hugh Grant, you'll definitely want to check this out. At this market,
you'll see everything from WWII silverware for sale, to fresh
vegetables & bread, to used clothing, to freshly baked treats like
sweet or savory crepes. The market is on Portobello Road and extends
for about 2 miles. Fans of the movie will want to head up Bleheim
Crescent to see the Travel Bookshop - the inspiration for the movie.
NATIONAL GALLERY
This gallery is full of popular classics and entrance is FREE. All
they ask is that you provide a donation for upkeep. It's located in
Trafalgar Square, and the entire area is great for tourist photos,
with Canada House and South Africa's embassy overlooking the square as
well.
MONEY
MATTERS
The currency in England is still the
Great British Pound but they also accept Euros at some shops. Before
you go, ensure that your Visa has a chip in it or it's not likely to
be accepted there. (Click
for the full article on this)
You can withdraw cash at ATM's that use the Plus system; however, you
may want to confirm what your bank's service charge is for this (much
higher than at home). This does give you the current exchange rate
though and is less hassle that travelers cheques.
If you take cash before you go, you can exchange it at banks or change
a bunch at the airport.
COMMUNICATING WITH OTHERS
If you're traveling with other people
and there are going to be times when you'll be separated, you'll want
to have a strategy for communication.
If you have a GSM network cell phone
then you can use it to send text messages or call, but the
International service charges can be quite high. You can buy a new SIM
card to save money.
Alternatively, you can simply buy a
cheap pay-as-you-go cell phone for £10 or more (depending on how fancy
of a phone you want) and then just buy airtime as you need it. Most
phones come with some included airtime, and if all you're going to do
is text, you may not need to buy extra time.
Renting a cell phone is another
option, and if you simply need a blackberry or similar device, this
may be the least expensive option for you. You can pre-arrange this or
you can rent phones at Heathrow as soon as you land.
Internet cafes are everywhere, and if
you've got an iTouch or similar WiFi device, you'll find that most
coffee shops and pubs offer FREE internet access. Keep on top of email
or simply keep in touch with friends and family this way.
OTHER
GENERAL INFO
SHOPPING
Oxford Street is the best place to go. All of the major department
stores are located here (Marks & Spencer, Debenham's, Selfridges,
etc). As you wander along, you'll be surprised at the variety of
languages being spoken, and if you keep your eyes open, you'll
sometimes find shops that are closing out and have fantastic sales
(designer shirts for £10!). You'll also have no trouble finding elite
shops where plain cotton tank tops run £70.
Check out Harrods for another posh experience. Their Food Halls offer
wonderful delicacies and the jewelry section is definitely worth a
peek. Mind if you have to use the washroom, it will cost you £2.
Seriously.
EATING OUT
London is known for being an extremely expensive place to eat out. To
save a bit of money, eat at pubs (Garfunkel's
always has good specials). If you just want something light, you
can always pick up a relatively freshly made sandwich at Boots or tube
stations.
If you don't mind succumbing to a bit of junk food, try some of the
great pies & samosas (also at the tube stations), or get a take-away
curry or fish & chips.
LOOK LEFT
It takes a while to remember that traffic comes from the other
direction. So when crossing the streets, especially at tricky corners
where you might have oncoming traffic, don’t just “Look Left” (painted
on the ground), look everywhere.
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