London Travel Forum

Hey,

My fiance and i are Australians and we are currently planning our honeymoon to London & Europe for 6 1/2 weeks.

We are going on a tour for 21 of those days - starting in Paris, then Switzerland, Italy, Prague, Berlin, Amsterdam and then we are back to london.

We are left a lone for a few of those days and we are just wondering if anyone can offer some advice??? we are worried about the language barriers and how hard it is to get around these places on your own when you have never been there before?

We are also wondering if we wanted to go to Scotland from London, is that involved or quite simple? how do we do this??

Same with going to Ireland??

Any advice for London or Paris??? We will be there for christmas and New Years?????

Any advice would be fantastic on the above questions or just general advice too would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all in advance :)

Steph and Josh

G'day, welcome to VT.

That's a whole lotta questions, but I'll try.

I assume the 21 days is a guided tour, so you're well looked after on that. Any spare time you have on the tour you can either book side tours or simply go wandering off on your own. You can get city maps fom the hotels and the tour guide. You will find many people who do speak English, especially in the tourist areas you'll be in, and you'll find many menus, for example, include English too. It's surprising how you can make yourself understood with people anyway, even if they don't speak any or much English.

To get up to Scotland from London I'd suggest you look at a budget airline such as EasyJet. You can also go by train or coach - which are much faster than those in Oz. For Ireland the best bet is budget airline.

For advice on London and Paris (and the other stops on your trip) have a look at our pages here on VT. They're full of info, advice, suggestions, tips etc etc. Click on the names of people who answer to go to our pages, then follow the links. Or use the search panel up there on the top right. That'll give you a lot of info, then if you have specific questions come back to the forum.

As usual, Leics has been very succinct! I would add that as you are going to be in either London or Paris for Christmas and New Year's, you should be aware that much will be closed. With regards to London, things will start shutting down from mid-day on the 24th - this applies to transport as well as commercial establishments. You will find most restaurants are closed but some ethnically oriented ones will be open. However, it will cost you an arm and a leg to take a taxi on Christmas Day, so if your hotel has a restaurant, then I would plan to eat Christmas lunch there and book well in advance - and it will be costly. Nothing will be open on Christmas Day - the big plus is that you will be able to walk around London unimpeded. New Year's is pretty much the same. As both Christmas and New Year fall on a Friday, the following day will also be a holiday,(but with more operating in the way of transport) so I am not at all sure what will happen on the Sunday. This general lack of activity applies pretty much to all of the UK.
I would not attempt to go anywhere far over the Christmas period and/or New Year period. If you go to Scotland, try and do it outwith the main holiday period.
As for Paris, I will leave that reply to others - perhaps you should post a question in the Paris Forum.

Don't worry about the language barrier, you won't have much of a problem.All the places you mention are used to tourists who don't speak the local language.

If you're going in late December, be prepared for bad weather, rain is more likely than snow, I'm afraid. Also the days will be very short, it gets dark very early.

I've been in London in the days before Christmas, there are beautiful decorations and special exhibitions in the museums. An exhibition I still have to go to is the Christmas exhibition in the Geffrye museum in London.
One the other hand, expect it to be really crowded, with all the peole rushing to get their shopping done.
As said before, public transport will come to a standstill on Christmas Day.

If you have time left before Christmas, I can recommend the Christmas Markets in Germany. They close before Christmas, though.

In case you want to have a New Year's party, go to Berlin. Each year hundreds of thousands celebrate there.

I haven't been to Paris or Ireland that time of the year, so I cannot tell you anything.

Do make sure you pack clothes you can layer and suitable outerwear and footwear for cold, wet weather.

Snow is unlikely apart from in Prague and, possibly, Switxzerland (depending whereabouts you are) but frost and/or wet chilly days are very possible in all other places.

Several thin layers are warmer than one thick one. Hat, scarf and gloves will be essential.

When I answered this morning I had not realised you were travelling over the Christmas period (I was half-asleep). So two further points of which you should be aware:

1. Many people travel to and from home/relatives over that period, so flights and public transport need booking earlier than you might otherwise consider. I would be booking flights for that time around October, for best fares.

I would also reserve my train seat if travelling far in the UK during that period, something with which I would not normally bother. You do not, by the way, have to travel first-class. Second-class acommodation is perfectly ok, and the first-class premium (which can be substantial) is not, imo, worthwhile for the bit of extra space (and sometimes free coffee/tea/newspaper) you get.

2. There is no public transport in the UK whatsoever on Christmas Day (apart from train-replacement buses from London to Heathrow & Gatwick), and services wind-down from late afternoon on 24th. Transport on 26th and 1st of January is very limited.

Now do not forget to come to Cardiff wales. Only 2 and a half hours by train or 3 and a half by National express coach. Lots to see and do. There are 4 castles within 5 miles if the centre and ofcourse cardiff castkle is right in the main street area. Good back packers hotel with single ensuite rooms just 5 min walk from the castle it is called Nos Dda. Super food and spacious bar/lounge area. If you want to eat out you can have super food for £6 and all you can eat meals Chinese and Indian in the Bay area, 5 mins by bus from City centre. Super walks along the seafront, free concerts in the Wales Millenium centre most days. Christmas the main show is Les Miserables. You can book online. If you need any other advice let me know.