FAQs - London About This Page:

[AKLRULZ]

Post deleted by Dad2jbj

[chezp]

I will be posting a lot more about visiting London over the next few days, once I've got all the information together, but it's taken a lot longer than I expected!

How many days should I allow in London and what time of the year should I visit?

Remember that if you’re travelling from the States, you will be taking a “red eye” flight on your way over here. The vast majority of flights leave in the evening sometime and arrive the following morning, usually between around 6 – 11 a.m. The flights are usually between five and eight hours in length to get over here – they’re shorter from America to the UK, as you have tailwinds following you. On the way back to the States, you can usually add a couple of hours to your flight.

We tend to find that when we arrive back in the UK, we can pretty much wipe out the first day we’re back, as we are just exhausted from jetlag, so do not plan to do a lot on your first day, especially if you can’t sleep on a plane. If you don’t sleep, you’ll end up being awake for the best part of 48 hours.

I think the absolute minimum amount of time to plan on spending in London is five days – as you’ll lose some of the first day to jetlag and on the final day, the flight back to the States is likely to leave by mid-morning, unless you’re lucky enough to get a later flight. That leaves only three full days. Of course, you need to allow time to get to the airport and through security. You are expected to be at the airport a minimum of three hours before your flight departs.

Arriving and departing:

Most flights will to and from the States go into London Heathrow, although a few do use London Gatwick (direct flights from Orlando and Las Vegas certainly do).

Check out this site for details on how to get into Central London from London Heathrow.

Check out this site for details on how to get into Central London from London Gatwick.

In both cases, the fast rail link service (the Heathrow and Gatwick Express) are the quickest ways to travel into the centre of the city. From Heathrow, you will arrive at Paddington railway station in north west London. From Gatwick, it will take you to London Victoria railway station to the south of the capital. From either, you can get a taxi or take the Tube (London Underground) to your hotel. You will probably find it simpler to take a taxi, as it will drop you directly at your hotel, although it will be more expensive. You want to look for black cabs with an orange “taxi” sign on the roof, as you can hail these and they will take them wherever you want. If they’re in use already, the taxi sign won’t be lit up. Some of the Tube lines can be far undergound, meaning you have to negotiate a number of escalators. A lot of central London Tube stations do not have elevators, although those that have step free access are now clearly indicated on Tube maps.

More about travelling around London in a later post…

When to visit

Let me give you some idea of the temperatures you can expect at different times of the year...

Spring (March to May)
Temperatures are between 50 - 60F. It could be sunny one day and cold and wet the next day. You could end up in a coat one day and shortsleeves on another day, so pack accordingly.

Summer (June - early September)
In summer, temperatures average between 60 - 70F, with some days in August into the 80's, but in 2003, temperatures hit the 100F mark! There could still be some showers, although in the last couple of years, the weather has been exceptionally dry in London and the south east of England in the summer months. Generally, you'll be OK in short sleeves and shorts on most days, but bring jeans and a sweatshirt as well for the evenings.

Autumn (September - November)
Again, you're looking at temperatures between 45 - 60F, but as you head towards November, it tends to get a lot colder. September can often be quite warm. Don't forget something if it rains and you'll probably need a coat in October and November.

Winter (November - early March)
Temperatures are between 30 - 45F. It's unusual to get snow - it usually only happens once or twice each winter and even then, it's usually no more than an inch or so, but bear in mind, we do not cope well with snow in this country and things tend to grind to a halt! Bring warm clothes, including a scarf and hat - the wind can be cold by the River Thames especially!

[Wendyismyname]

London is such an old and fascinating city! It won't be hard to come up with a ton of questions!

Great idea you had there Steve!

Wendy

[AKLRULZ]

Post deleted by Dad2jbj

[Luv2plan]

I absolutely loved visiting London, it's a wonderful city. I wanted to let everyone know about an attraction that might not be as well known (it wasn't to me, anyway!) - The Cabinet War Room museum. My DH really wanted to see this and as my taste runs more to Kensington Palace, shopping, the Tower of London, shopping...I really grumbled about having to go. But it was really incredible! It is the underground area that they used during WWII for planning, meetings, etc. and apparently at the end of the war everyone just got up and left it exactly as it was. It's set up so that you walk through corriders adjacent to the offices which are now walled with glass so that you can see right into them. I really thought the whole thing was just fascinating and for me it made me see such a big chapter in history in a very personal & day-to-day sort of way.

[chezp]

What is there to visit in London?

OK so you should allow a minimum of five days, preferably more, to see London, but what exactly is there to see?

I’ve tried to group the major tourist attractions into sections, with their individual websites. Where we’ve been to the places, I’ve listed any comments as well.

Historic attractions

Buckingham Palace The Queen's official residence in London needs no introduction and is a must on most visitors' lists. We visited during the summer 2006 opening and it was superb. For the trip report about our visit click here

Hampton Court Palace We visited Hampton Court Palace in 1998 and thought it was great value for money – there was lots to see there and we spent hours there. The gardens are wonderful, so if you can, try and visit in the summer.

Kensington Palace We weren’t impressed on our visit in November 2003 – we didn’t feel it offered value for money and we were able to get round the Palace in less than an hour. However, the collection of dresses worn by the Princess of Wales were stunning and I can imagine the gardens would have been a lot more colourful in the summer months.

London Aquarium - set on the banks of the Thames, just by the London Eye.

St. Paul's Cathedral Possibly best known as the place where Diana, Princess of Wales married Prince Charles in 1981, this has undergone a major renovation in recent years.

Tower of London Another great historical building and the Crown Jewels were worth the price of the admission alone. This is a great place to visit off season, as the crowds may get unbearable during the busy months. There is also a lot to do inside, so it’s a good choice if it’s raining.

Westminster Abbey We really enjoyed this – it highlighted so much of British history and it was fascinating to tour it. Remember though – no photos or videotaping inside, they are very hot on that!

Maritime attractions

HMS Belfast anchored on the Thames near to Tower Bridge.

National Maritime Museum This is based at Greenwich, to the South East of the city, but can easily be reached by boat along the Thames or via the Docklands Light Railway, which runs from Tower Hill (by the Tower of London).

River Thames river cruise London Eye They do combined London Eye and River Thames cruises and I can thoroughly recommend the cruise which goes with the London Eye flight. It’s very informative and we learnt a lot on it. You can also try City Cruises or Catamaran Cruises

Tower Bridge This is very interesting – you get to walk over the top walkway of the bridge, so make sure you can handle heights and the views before you do this! We went to visit Tower Bridge in September 2006 and the trip report is here The Tower Bridge section is on page three.

Other attractions – including museums and fun days out!

London Dungeon Not for the faint of heart - this is a very gory attraction and they take you through in a group, so you have no choice about how long you spend here.

London Eye Take a flight above the River Thames with views over the London skyline. We've done this both during the day and at night and both are very different, but equally stunning. This is one of our favourite attractions in London and not to be missed, although be aware – you will probably have to wait for at least half an hour to get on to your capsule, but the queue does move quickly. Also, make sure you get in the right queue for your time slot – your ticket will be checked and you will thrown out of the queue if you’re not in the right one. Our most recent night-time trip on the London Eye was in September 2006. You can find out more here - the London Eye section is on page two.

Madame Tussard's and the London Planetarium This is excellent value – two attractions for one admission price. Another good place to go on a rainy day, as it’s all inside. Some of the waxworks at Madame Tussard’s do leave a bit to be desired, but others are wonderful.

National History Museum South Kensington – one of the largest museums in Europe. We visited in 2004 and were impressed by the exhibits, which included dinosaur skeletons and the life-size model of a blue whale. Details of our visit can be found in this trip report on page two.

Details on free attractions, where to shop and evening entertainment will follow in a later post…

[chezp]

Where are the best places to shop?

Covent Garden is famous for its street entertainers and is home to many interesting shops and restaurants. For more information, check out these sites: Covent Garden and
Covent Garden life

Hamley's is a huge toy store in Regent Street and an absolute must for you if you have children – whether they’re with you or not!

Harrod's - widely recognised as the world’s premier department store, Harrod’s is a tourist destination in its own right. The Egyptian Escalator and the Food Halls, in particular, have to be seen to be believed, but don’t expect to pick any bargains up here! It's a bit out of the way, in that it's in South Kensington, not the very centre of London, but it's easy to get to on the tube and is well worth the trip.

Oxford and Regent Streets are the premier shopping streets in London. The area contains many famous high street names (over here at least!), such as the Disney Store, Boots (pharmacy), Superdrug (drugstore), HMV and Virgin Megastore (music, video and DVD), Waterstone’s (bookstore), Dixons (electrical store) and department stores, such as BHS, Debenham’s, House of Fraser, Selfridge’s and John Lewis. Clothes stores include Top Shop, Next, New Look, French Connection, Next, H & M, Burton’s, United Colours of Benetton and Dorothy Perkins. It's a great place to visit in the run-up to Christmas to see the Christmas lights they put up every year, which are pretty neat. The 2006 lights can be seen in this trip report

If you’re looking for quick lunches, then try sandwiches from some of the following, as they all do a very good selection and they’re usually of good quality:
Boots
Marks and Spencer
Sainsbury’s
Tesco

More to come soon...

[TZMOM]

This thread is excellent - thanks for doing it - I'm picking up a lot of tips!

[chezp]

What is there to see in London that’s free?

The Cenotaph in Whitehall commemorates British and Commonwealth citizens who have lost their lives in War. On the Sunday nearest to 11 November, known as Remembrance Sunday, a remembrance service is held here with the Monarch, along with representatives of the Church, state and armed forces, gathering to remember those who lost their lives. A two minute silence is observed at 11 a.m. and wreaths of Poppies are then laid on the steps of the Cenotaph. If you walk from Westminster Abbey / the Houses of Parliament up to Trafalgar Square, you will see the Cenotaph in the centre of the road.

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace takes place at 11:30 daily from April until the end of June and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting. Check the website link for the most up to date information about which days it will be performed outside of April – June. Photos of them riding up to Buckingham Palace to start the ceremony can be found here

10 Downing Street - again, you can see this as you walk down from Westminster Abbey / the Houses of Parliament to Trafalgar Square. Please be aware that you cannot tour 10 Downing Street and you also can’t get a very good view of it, due to increased security measures. The public had to be moved a lot further away from the property, after terrorists attempted to blow up the British government in a mortar bomb attack in the early 1990’s.

Horse Guards Parade – This famous ceremony consists of a colorful display of pageantry by the Foot Guards of the Household division of the Army, the Queen's personal guard. Takes place daily in the Summer (alternate days in the Winter period). We saw this in September 2006 - this trip report has photos on page three.

Houses of Parliament (exterior only) It is free to view the Houses of Parliament from the exterior, but unless you are a British resident, you can only go inside in the Summer months (generally from late July to late September) and there is a charge to do this. The website gives more details. British residents can arrange free visits all year round via their local MP’s (Members of Parliament). I have been round Parliament twice – once on my postgraduate course and once with a local MP, who also took me for tea in one of the tearooms there! It’s a lovely building and worth seeing.

National Gallery, Trafalgar Square is home to Western European paintings from 1250 – 1900.

The Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian bridge over the Thames from St. Paul’s Cathedral to the Tate Modern Gallery. It was London’s first new river crossing for more than a century and was opened in June 2000, but had to shut three days later, as it swayed so much. It re-opened in February 2002, following modifications and, from personal experience, I can tell you that it no longer sways!

National Portrait Gallery – a gallery of original portraits, of the most honorably commemorated People in British history. It’s just off Trafalgar Square.

Parks – there are many parks to visit in London, including Hyde Park, St. James’ Park, Kensington Gardens and Kew Gardens.

Science Museum - this is in South Kensington and includes exhibitions on weather, medical history, telecommunications, flight, ships, photography and space.

The Tate The Tate Britain is home to the national collection of British art, while the Tate Modern is an international modern art museum. Both are on the South Bank of the Thames – the Tate Modern is almost opposite St. Paul’s Cathedral and can be visited via the Millennium Bridge. Tate Britain is on the north bank of the Thames, not far from the Houses of Parliament.

Trafalgar Square is home to the National Gallery and it’s a very pleasant walk from Westminster up towards Trafalgar Square and then round to Piccadilly Circus and finally towards the shops of Regent Street and Oxford Street. It’s a route I took a number of times when I was a student, but for the less energetic, there are a number of bus routes which run along there – in particular, the number 12 (an old fashioned bus – the one I always used to take when I was a student in London!) or the number 88 or number 159.

Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington - the world’s largest museum of Decorative Art

Coming soon - getting around London, evening entertainment and day trips outside of the capital

[kimdisneynut]

Thanks a million. I have a question What is the currency rate now? I know this changes daily.

[chezp]

We're getting about $1.80 to the pound at the moment. According to www.xe.com the rate exchanging from dollars to pounds means $1 is currently worth about 55p.

[wdwlovers]

I went to London on a study tour for a college history course. It was the History of Modern Britian and I loved it! We stayed in London March 21-31 at the Hotel Avalon. We flew British Midland and was thrilled for my first overseas flight! Loved the meals and the free bevvies they give! Our professor actually went to school at Oxford, so she had lived in England for a few years. We had specific things we had to see and write a journal about as well as a list of things to pick from to add to the journal. We had some free time, but not a whole lot. Here is a list of things that we saw and did while in London!

*We took a couple walking tours that were so educational and fascinating...walked through Londons East End and through Literary/Artistic Chelsea.
*Houses of Parliament, which we did get to tour since we were a tour group, our prof. arranged it before we left.
*Jack the Ripper walk--yes a couple of us did this. We did get heckled by some locals, but I found it very interesting and spooky!
*Tate Museum --I could not ever step foot in here again and be okay. I just didn't enjoy this place very much.
*London Eye --we did an evening ride and loved it!
*Cabinet War Rooms --Loved seeing the history of WWII
*British Library -- only got to spend a little time here, but loved what I saw!
*Victoria & Albert Museum --Loved this place!
*Harrod's -- gotta go to at least look around
*Changing of the Horse Guards -- Highly recommend!! Free!
*Dickens House Museum --I like Dickens, so I enjoyed this.
*HMS Belfast --Didn't get a lot of time to tour here, but any military enthusiast would enjoy this!
*British Museum --I love this place! Two thumbs up!!
*Museum of London -- Also highly recommend!
*St Pauls Cathedral
*Buckingham Palace & St James Palace
*Kensington Palace & Gardens --if you get a chance to walk through the gardens...do it! Love this place!
*Got to see two shows...The Full Monty and My Fair Lady --see a show if you can!
*Player's Theatre --An authentic Victorian Music Hall (lots of fun!)
*Westminster Abbey --caught the Even Song service which was breathtaking!
*Tower of London

I hope that wasn't too jumbled ! Any questions, please ask! I would go back to London in a heartbeat if I could. It was an amazing place to visit!

[chezp]

What’s the best way to get around?

The easiest and cheapest way to get around London is either by using the bus system or the Underground, also known as the Tube. Fortunately, both forms of transport are usually covered by one ticket – the Travelcard. This can also include the Docklands Light Railway, a completely automated over ground train system, depending on the type of ticket you choose. Generally, you will probably want a ticket for Central London – Zones 1 and 2 and on the Transport For London site, they offer you the option of a Central London ticket, with access to the Heathrow Express, which of course takes you to and from the airport.

The Tube is the quickest way of getting around, as buses do tend to get delayed in traffic. Since the imposition of congestion charging in London (£7 a day to travel into the centre of the city), the traffic has diminished and bus journeys have speeded up, but they still remain nowhere near as quick as the Tube. The Tube map is well known across the world.

Please be aware that the majority of the Tube system is about 100 years old (except for the Jubilee line, which originally opened in 1979 and the extension to that line which opened about 20 years later). Although it has been extensively modernised, it does not have very good access for those with mobility problems. Most stations have escalators, not lifts (elevators). You may also find that if you need to change lines at some stations that you have considerable walks between the different lines, as some of the stations are sprawling masses.

If you want to use the buses, you obviously have to know where they are going. All London buses are red. You enter through the front of the bus and leave through doors in the middle. Some of my favourite bus routes for seeing the sites are:

11 – runs from St. Paul’s Cathedral, past Royal Courts of Justice, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Westminster and up to Victoria station
12 – runs from Westminster, up through Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street and Oxford Street
15 – runs from the Tower of London, past St. Paul’s Cathedral, Royal Courts of Justice, Trafalgar Square, finishing at Piccadilly Circus.
53 – runs from Westminster up to Whitehall
159 – runs from Westminster, up through Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street and Oxford Street

For further information on London buses, go to: London Buses map

[Teresa]

For kids- we went with girls aged 10, 9, and 4. They loved Hyde Park (where the beginning of 101 Dalmations was based) It was a lovely place to walk, relax, and enjoy. The English Parks are VERY different from US. I liked them better.
Also, in the same area, I think also part of Hyde Park, is Peter Pan Park. This was the hit of the trip (a month trevling through Europe). It is behind Kensington Palace, and was built at the direction of Princess Diana. There is a Mermaid Grotto, A sunken pirate ship, an Indian village, and all sorts of other things. THe park is fenced and gated and you cannot enter unless you have a child with you.

We also rode the London Eye, found it a little boring (slow), but worth it to see London from so high up.

Take a boat down to Greenwich, visit the ship there (I forget it's name), and walk up to the Greenwich mean time line. It is part of a park, and worth the walk up a steep hill to stand in 2 different days, and time zones. The kids got a kick out of it.

Harrods- you are NOT allowed to tape or take a picture, except at the (very cheesy) shrine to Princess Di and Dodi Al-Fayid. The buffet we had there was fabulous, and you have to pay to use the loo, unless you purchase something, so go before you go.

The Tower was great, we loved the Ravens that are there. Somme of the kids swore that they heard screams. The Beefeaters were very friendly and much more informative than our guide (my 4 yr. old had to correct him on the succession of Henry VIII's wives - Jane Gray was Never his wife)

We also went to Kings Cross Station to see Track 9 3/4, and then to Oxford where a lot of the scenes for Harry Potter were filmed, C.S. Lewis wrote there, Lewis Carrol also wrote there, Bill Clinton went to Oxford, and took a little side trip to Winston Churchill's birthplace.

[chezp]

[ QUOTE ]
Take a boat down to Greenwich, visit the ship there (I forget it's name)

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it's called the Cutty Sark

[ QUOTE ]
Harrods- The buffet we had there was fabulous, and you have to pay to use the loo, unless you purchase something, so go before you go.

[/ QUOTE ]

When we went to Harrods in December, noone queuing for the toilets paid. I was really surprised by that, as I was expecting to have to pay, so I don't know if they've changed their policy recently or it was a one-off.