United Kingdom Travel Forum

This question is more so aimed at people who live in London.

I'd say Brick Lane, but it's packed out now and I'd hardly say it's undiscovered.

Anything out there that would even surprise most Londoners?

I am planning to take a train from London King's Cross station to come Cambridge. I was buying the ticket from raileasy.co.uk site and was given two types of tickets - Standard and First class with 10 pounds price difference. If first class provides great comfort, I would go for that. Any word on this? Or there is not much difference. Please advise.

A friend is visiting Manchester in a few days and I would like her to go to a craft shop for some 3d foam pads or grip pads of 1mm (1/8" thick). Can't find them here in Israel. I have found a shop called Fred Aldous Ltd. in Manchester which sells pkts of 400. Is there a shop that sells packets of say 1000-2000. (Of course I know she can buy me a few packets of 400's). I make decoupage greeting cards and these pads would be a great help. Any info will be much appreciated.

we will be in Amritsar for 3 nights, if we take a trip to september do we need to stay over night any ideas for alternative travel guides?

Can someone help me understand the convention for tipping in London for dining. A Londoner response is preferred but please help regardless. I just came back from London and was baffled by the range of answers I got for how much I should tip in a restaurant. Here are the responses I got...

1. Don't tip. The servers take this as an insult as if you were offering money to a beggar.
2. It's not necessary to tip but you can if you like. You can just round the bill up (e.g., from 78 to 80 pounds).
3. 10% is reasonable.
4. Two restaurants had a service charge on the bill of 12.5%.

I left confused tending to tip 10% when a service charge was not on the bill. I kind of just got the impression that no one really cares one way or another. In the states if you just rounded up the bill a couple percent it wouldn't go back to that restaurant as that would be very insulting to the server.

Can someone please explain the oyster card?
We will be in London for 3 days and are wondering if it's worth purchasing?
We are staying near Regents Park and plan on travelling to Wimbledon, Brixton, Greenwhich and a few other places.

Would the card save us money?

And also, can it be purchased at the tube station at Heathrow Airport.

thanks very much.

Hi, I'm going to England soon with a bunch of friends. We'll be arriving at Harwich at 20:00. From there we'll have to take the train and bus to London. We'll arrive in London at about 0:18 (I was very surprised at this... ***ty public transport system, anyone?).

The problem is, we're staying in Canterbury, and, according to NS international, there's no train to take us there after 23:00 or so.

Could we take the bus? If so, where can I find more information about it? Or is it possible to take the train?

Any help would be appreciated.

We will be heading over to Norfolk from Pimlico 20 & 21 August. I have searched for accomadations and wanted to know if anyone might have info on a few hotels..bad or good.

Beechwood Hotel - North Walsham
Cley Windmill - Holt
The Hoste Arms - Burnham Market
The Jockey - Burnham Market

We would be open to B&B's as well as locations in North Norfolk.

Thanks so much!
Debe

HI, we are arriving Lond Heathr and will need to travel to hotel- Brindle house near to Victoria or Pimlico station.
What would be the easiest and (? cheapest option. I will be travelling with a child, so easy is good.
Thanks

Hi We are planning a day trip to Bath by train, getting started by 8 or so from Lancaster Gate,I think. Not sure about tickets though. Can we (should we) prepurchase or can you buy them on the train? I`ve read about long queues at ticket offices and would like to avoid that. I`ve heard about Cheap Day Return Tickets and One Day Travelcards but they are only valid after 9:30am. We are planning to get the 5 day travel card which covers zones 1-6, so our trip to Windsor is covered. what is an Oyster Card and what is the easiest way to obtain one? Also, does prepurchasing(from home) require specifying a particular day of travel?
Thanks for any help and all suggestions much appreciated. Anna&Kym

My wife and I will be spending our first day in London on my birthday which is on a Sunday night. I'm looking for suggestions for a place in the 50 to 60 pound per person range. We are staying right near the Holborn tube. Any restaurants with a birthday deal (free wine with dinner or better yet a free dinner on your birthday). I am open to any type of menu.

Hi

Was wondering if anyone of any books shops that sell first editions such as A A Milne's Winnie the Pooh or Little Women etc

Thanx

Stef x

Hi!
I was wondering if there is a UK equivalent to forever21.com .
It doesn't matter if it is an online shop or a boutique.

Cheers!

Any suggestions on how to get from Cardiff (airport) to Lampeter? Don't fancy an interminable buss ride o renting a car in unfamiliar territory.....

Thanx for any help ......

Cheers,
K

Hi everyone, We are getting ready for our 2nd trip to Scotland...my favorite place to travel to (never been to Glasgow, though)! We will be flying into Prestwick and staying at the Jury's Inn. We will be getting in at 21:00 and we would like to know what is the best way to get to the hotel. Should we be concerned about traveling at dark? Also, we will be there for three days...any recommendations on what to see? We are forty and like the outdoors, not really into the nightlife scene. Lastly, any good/inexpensive recommendations for places to eat? The hotel charges $20.00 per person for breakfast and that is not going to happen. Any grocery stores around there?
Thanks in advance.

Hi
I am thinking of taking my family to visit Liverpool, THE City of Culture, this SUNDAY (20/07/08) - I was wondering where the best place to park will be, I am sure most locals would know - as I am of limited means, FREE parking would be my preference!

Would be grateful if someone could please help.

Thanks
Kiamsiapl
p/s: Would all the city centre shops and attractions be open on the Sunday?

I was reading a story in which one of the characters visits the chapel of Guy's Hospital. The chapel is decribed as beautiful. When I did a google search for it, I found a chapel opposite Boland House, but apparently it belongs to Kings College. Is it the same chapel? Is it open to the public? Is it very beautiful or was the author letting her imagination run away?
Thank you for any information.

Hi,

I'm planning a very short break to London on 27th December (probably 3 nights) and would like to know if there are christmas markets during that period.
Is the X'mas atmosphere vibrant and interesting in London?

Are most shops and restaurants closed?

My main purpose of this trip is to unwind, relax and enjoy the festivities, plus photography.

Cheers
Glen

Hi there,

I am planning to go to London for the first time ever in a week, with my boyfriend who has also never been before.

We have booked to go on the London Eye, but would also like to go and see shops and I have been advised that Oxford Street is the best place to go for this.

However, getting there seems to be a bit of a worry for me!
I am a bit jubias about getting on the Tube because of what I have been told about it. (ie being cramped, takes a long time, confusing etc)

So I was wondering if someone could tell me how long it would take me approx to walk from the London Eye to Oxford Street.
Also, if possible, could someone please tell me the best ruite to go or if that may be a bit too long winded, then to point me in the direction of an easy accessable online map?

I look forward to your replies.

Many Thanks
Kerry

Hello VT people,

In August I will be arriving at London-Heathrow from the US at about 7am on a weekday. I have another flight on easyjet heading for Holland at about 2pm but leaving from Stansted. So far it looks like the best option (and best value) for me will be to take one of the National Express shuttle buses. My question is: Should I buy the ticket in advance from the website or should I just buy it when I get there? Are there usually long lines for these buses? I would hate to have to miss a couple of buses and risk missing my connecting flight.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

What is the best way to get from Glasgow to Edinburgh via public transport?
Are there any sights on the track, which would be worth to be visited or even to make a detour?

There is a lovely tall column in front of Westminster Abbey with a statue on top of it. Can anyone tell me who the statue is? Thanks.

Hi there,

I am going to London on the 23rd July for my birthday via coach travel and I plan to go on the London Eye.

However, I am wanting to also see shops and that.

Could someone please help me out with where I could find shops like Newlook and Primark etc. Also, could you tell me the best way in which to get to them from the London Eye (eg walking or tube).

I look forward to your replies.

Thanks a lot.
Kerry

Hello again,

Two days ago I saw a quick comment on the BBC about a problem with the Oyster Card. I don't know the details. Was there a problem? Thanks in advance for your time. Lee

Hi,
soon I`ll be in London again. As I`d like to do some serious shopping for my sweethearts birthday, I´m looking for a place where I can find some stylish sleeping masks in London. I found some really interesting ones on the internet (for example "peeper-sleepers") but the shipping costs were outrageuos. Where in London can I find a shop with a good collection of sleeping masks ?

Thanks for your help

Michael

I'll be in the Derry area for a couple of days in late November. Besides the walled city and the crafts market, and the Giant's Causeway, what else should I try to see or experience? What kind of weather can I expect?

Thanks in advance for your help.

1.Can please someone advise me if it is wise to take along kids to this place.....would they like it.
2.Besides, what are their attractions which is targeted to children and how many days do I need to stay there for me to be able to see most of the interesting places?
Thank you.

Hi, I am only young and I plan to go to London for my birthday with a boyfriend via coach travel.
Our trips includes us being dropped off at the London eye and we get a trip on it too.
However, I would also like to see shops and other things like that.
But, as I am not sure about travelling in London... I was wondering if someone could just let me know what trains to catch to get from the London Eye to Oxford street or some place with shops.
Also, how much approx would this cost me?

Please reply soon.

Thanks
Kerry

I am traveling to Scotland at the end of August..on an all expenses paid summer school trip. the only thing i have to take care of is my spending money. now im not sure how much i should bring considering that i will only be staying for 1 week...id like to know how much things like a t-shirt, cup o coffee, can o cool drink, a pair o earings..etc. would cost me...please help....

how can i find the cheapest tours from london to stonehence & the cheapest tour from london to birmingham ....how much is this .... where can I book that ..... should be 1 day tour .....

please let me know ....