London Travel Forum

I am hoping to catch a concert at the Royal Festival Hall and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a reasonably-priced hotel with easy access to the venue. Any ideas?

We are travelling to the UK for the first time this summer. I know we are probably trying to do waaaaay too much, but any suggestions to optimize time will be appreciated:

July 5
Arrive LGW and depart for BTH by train
Tour bath

July 6
Guided tour of Stonehenge, Lacock, Castle Combe/Cotswald

July 7
Train from BTH to DAT (where we have a cabin cruiser reserved)
Probably take train back to VIC that afternoon
Walk past Tower Bridge, Big Ben, etc.
Planning on visiting Vinopolis that evening

July 8
Tour of British Museum
Westminster Abbey
Jack the Ripper walking tour that night

July 9
Depart DAT for SAV by train
Tour of SAV/walk around

July 10
Warwick castle
Tickets purchased for Shakespeare play at Globe

July 11
Depart SAV to LHR by car service
LHR to DUB to start next leg of journey.

We are not looking to do any of the real touristy places in London proper (Harrods, Piccadilly Circus, the Eye, etc.). Thanks for any suggestions

I am planning a trip to London for this summer, does anyone know a cheap (£40-60 per night) hotel with ensuite rooms?I know it is almost impossible, but if you know one please tell me! thank you very much! L

We will be in London June 13th (arriving from the U.S. at 8:25am at Heathrow) and will leave London Wednesday morning, June 18th on the Eurostar to Paris.

PLEASE REVIEW THIS ITINERARY AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS/CHANGES. THANKS!!

We will be staying at the County Hall Marriott (2 adults ages 26).

Day 1 FRIDAY
- Arrive at Heathrow - 8:25am
- Check-in at hotel and get settled
- Lunch (ANY SUGGESTIONS in this area?)
- Royal Observatory Greenwich (mainly just to see the park and the time line)
- Greenwich Market
- (free time – maybe walk around Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square)

Day 2 SATURDAY
- Westminster tour (opens at (9:30am for a 90 min. tour)
- Parliament/Big Ben (walk by and take pictures)
- Lunch Cruise – Board from Waterloo Pier at 12:35 and return at 14:15.
- London Eye
- (free time – maybe walk around Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square if not seen already or do whatever!)

Day 3 SUNDAY
- Tower of London (arrive before opening at 10am – go straight to jewels and then tour)
- British Museum

Day 4 MONDAY
(From County Hall Marriott, take the RV1 bus which stops half a block from Tate Modern. Cross Millennium Bridge to St Pauls, then go to Lloyds from there.)
- Millennium Bridge
- St. Paul's Cathedral
- Lunch with co-workers (over by Lloyd’s)
- Lloyd’s Tour (couple hours at most)
- Leadenhall Market (next to Lloyd’s)…won’t take long
- Tower Bridge Experience
- WICKED MUSICAL (if we get tickets for this date!)

Day 5 TUESDAY
- Maybe changing of the guards...not sure
- Hampton Court
- Harrods ?? (maybe just for the fun of it)
- (free time – maybe walk around Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square if not seen already or do whatever!)

Hi,

Can someone tell me is Luton or Stansted nearer to town...or I shld say easier to reach London city? Do you know the best and cheapest way to travel from these airport to Oxford Circus station

Thank you.

Since we're only staying one day in London, any suggestion about tours? Thanks.

Are they safe enough for a single female? I've heard lots of mixed reviews for the hostels in London.
If someone can recommend any alternatives on a budget I'd appreciate it.
(attending a series of concerts in Islington)

I have to rent a car for 2 days next month, on arrival at T1 in Heathrow.

From memory, all the car hire companies are well away from the terminals and you have to take a shuttle bus. I think I used Budget the last time, and I know I've used Avis in the past.

Any recent recommendations based on price & convenience?

me and my friends have been wanting to plan a trip to europe
around mid july to see major cities

where should we arrive to begin travelling around? and where to find affordable flight tickets and train transportation?

thank you!

Hi,

I'm planning on taking a national express coach from London to Cardiff soon but my girlfriend is convinced that this is a bad idea. She thinks that it will take ages and be very uncomfortable. I think that it will only be a few hours and surprisingly comfortable. Also, it's far cheaper than going by rail. Can anybody tell me if taking the bus is a good idea or is it a nightmare like my girlfriend thinks it is? Appreciate any help on this!

Thanks.

Hello! More questions. I have been reading up on oyster card and 1 day travel cards but I am still so confused! Hope someone can help.

The plan is that I will probably be travelling only around zone 1 and 2 (with an out of town trip planned). THerefore, I will spend around 4 days in London (non consecutive). Ignoring whether I get peak or non-peak, do I:

1) Get an oyster card for the entire time I am in London?
2) Get a one day pass for each day I am travelling?
3) Get a 3 day pass and then one day pass?

I keep reading contradicting reviews. Some say that oyster will cap at the one day travel pass; so getting an oyster versus one day pass would not make a difference (other than the initial 3 pounds deposit). Some say it won't cap for the one day but will for a 7 day.

Basically, I am looking at it from a cost point of view. I understand that oyster is convenient as you just swipe it, but is it more value for money???

From what I read it seems that either of this cards can be easily bought. So getting it should not be a problem right?

what is faster and more convenient, Taxi or Tube?
I am going to a concert in London next week, and would like to know should I take a taxi or tube from
Liverpool Street to Bloomsbury (the Lancaster Hotel, it is near a tube station)
and then
from Bloomsbury to the Wigham Hall

If the taxi is faster and more convenient I don't mind paying for it, or is it a lot faster by tube? The tube isn't cheap either is it?

Hello,
I am coming to London next month and I am tryaing to comopare PRESIDENT hotel ,
IMPERIAL hotel, and ROYAL NATIONAL hotel as they have the same rate and close to each other. and they are close to Russel Sq underground.Any idea which is better?
have any one stayed there?
thanks

Hi
We will visit London (10 days) next month and we had buy 6 Day London Pass with travel. I'm thinking to buy on line a visitor Oyster card for the days out (one before, 2 after )but I don't know what I must buy for a 12 years old. We need to use the tube (Zone 1- 2).
Thanks for your help.

Hi everyone,

I need your expertise and experience! Please take a look at the following itinerary, and see if it is not too tight?

Day 1:
Go to hotel in the Kensington area
Natural History Museum
Knightsbridge (if time permits, and we are not too tired)

Day 2:
National Gallery
Traflagar Square
Covent Garden
Chinatown

Day 3:
Parliament Square
Westminster Abbey
Big Ben
Regent St/Carnaby St
Piccadilly Circus
Soho

Day 4:
Windsor / Eton

Day 5:
Tower of London
Tower Bridge
St. Paul's Cathedral (just view from outside)
Shakespeare's Globe (just view from outside)
Buckingham Palace

Day 6:
Bath

Day 7:
Bath

Day 8:
(Return from Bath)

Day 9:
British Museum
Also just go to any place that we want to see more

Day 10:
Leave London


Does it look fine? Is Day 3 too packed?
Thanks in advance.

Hi,
I am coming to London next week, I would like to know where can I buy buttons for my jacket blazer.
thank you

I am trying to decide whether to go for the cheap 5 pm tickets. Does anyone know whether 1 hour in the museum will be sufficient? I am going with another 2 friends...hope someone can help! Thanks!

Hi to everybody!
Can somebody please tell me how long does it take from King's Cross to Oxford Circus by foot?
Thanks in advance.
MM

I'm exploring the possibility of flying to London, England in late August or September. I live in Vancouver and can fly from here or could also fly out of Seattle, Washington.

Does anyone have any advice about airlines and/or timing to get the best prices?

Robert

Has anyone been to the evensong performance at St. Paul's or Westminster Abbey? Is the organ at St. Paul's being repaired? Does the performance include organ music or just vocal music? How long does it last? Does it get crowded?

Does anyone know about the queue situation for London Eye, the last time I tried London Eye was in 2006 that was in the early afternoon, first I got a number ticket then waited for about 30 mins till my number is displayed on the electronic board, then I got to pay for the ticket and queued to board the Eye.

Nowadays are they still using this practice?

I want to bring my friend and have a ride on London Eye, do you think that we will have to wait for more than 30 mins?

Thank you for your help.

Hi everyone,

Could you please advice me with the website that I can download or see the train or subway map for London? and what public transport system is the most commonly used in London? I am going to London next month, so just wanting to plan ahead with my first exciting London trip.

Much appreciated!

I am planning on a vacation from Florida to London in July.
OK I know its the worst time to travel to Europe from the US but I said I would take the family and now I have to figure out how.

Can anyone recommend a good hotel (without breaking the bank) for a couple and one 8 year old in central London?
Anyone have any experience with Zoom Airlines, they have the cheapest flights?
Any recommendations on websites for best hotel rates or flights? I know all the basic ones, expedia, kayak, farecast, orbitz, etc.
Lastly I've never tried the Priceline system of naming your price, I am hoping someone can give me feedback before I enter a CC number.

Trying to decide on the Shapftesbury premier paddington or the holiday inn kensington forum (near Gloucester station evidently) will be going to one show in the west end, staying 5 nites and going to various places in London.

I am going to see Wicked in London in May. I have checked online and the only options that keep coming up are row B and C. Are theses seats too close? Any advice? Also, how can I call London cheap from a landline? Thanks in advance.
Jess

Hello everyone!

I am trying to find a "kid-friendly" pub near Piccadilly, somewhere maybe just north of the underground station? It doesn't have to tailor itself to kids, but somewhere that would allow an 11-year old (with parents!) on a Saturday evening.

Am I kidding myself in trying to find one on a weekend night??

Thanks!

Is the mess with the luggage fixed yet? I am landing at terminal 5 next month after an international flight.

hi
I'm from Portugal and I'm traveling with some friends next tuesday to london.
We caught a low cost flight for 45 euros with bus to city center.
We will arrive the city center wednesday at 2 a. m. and we will leave london in the same day at 18:30 p. m.

I'm writing this message in order to get some help on what to do at night in london.
Does anyone knows any bar or disco not very expensive near the easybus bus stops (Baker Street or Buckingham Palace Road) where we can spend the night?

Or anything else to do while waiting for daylight?
The subway station is open at night? I'm thinking if we could stay there in a bench or something.

Thanks.

Does anyone know how much a return on the stansted express is. I hear its cheaper to book it on the plane? I will be flying with Ryan air in June & want to get to Portsmouth via London Waterloo. Loooking at cheapest options
Thanks
Rusty

Please help me with how to pack for a short trip to London..Early May...Please help with shoes: are ladies still wearing boots?? Do I need gloves? Hat..

What is the proper dress for afternoon tea??
What is proper for dinner in the evening??

Are Jeans acceptable?

THanks!