London 2010

Best ways to improve this book:

I used in on a three day jaunt in London, loved the walking tours. Maps could be better. don

Donald Smullen in Oreland, PA USA 11/10/2009

The guidebook was some of the best money we spent on this trip. The Tower of London advice to see the Crown Jewels first was price less.

Leon in Colorado Springs, USA 11/06/2009

Put the major bus route map up front with the other maps. Make it clear that the London Pass only allows one entry to each attraction. (We made a mistake by going to the Tower of London too late in the afternoon and didn't see the crown jewels, thinking we could catch it first thing the next morning.) In the London Pass guidebook, the information is in fine print on the "Welcome" page and I'd read the "How to use the pass" section, so didn't see it.

Janelle Sanda in Fargo, ND USA 11/01/2009

The Camden Town market was really something -- we weren't prepared for how much was there. Perhaps include more about these types of markets?

Laralyn Sasaki in Columbus, Oh USA 10/09/2009

I have the 2009 version (and haven't even left on my trip yet), and I must say the indexing is not very good. Example: Portobello Road Market. No reference under "Portobello Road Market," and no inclusion under the "market" list, but it is referenced on page 292 and there is a paragraph devoted to it page 332.

This is just one of many examples I have run across.

JC in San Jose, CA USA 09/15/2009

Book just great otherwise----went to London with my 12 year old grandson and he virtually took the book and followed it line by line!

Penny Brown in Chicago, Il USA 09/09/2009

I realize if you put in everything, the book would be unusable. I found out that you can save significantly on booking trains if you do it online, ahead of time and pick up your tickets at the rail station when you get to England. We went to Bath for 18 pounds return!

Vic S. in Idyllwild, CA USA 08/05/2009

No suggestions Looking forward to getting Rick's book for our next trip.

Eric Sykes in Vancouver, . Canada 07/20/2009

Would like to see guidebooks make recommendations for different types of families--it was hard to plan a trip that older kids (12 and 17) would really enjoy without relying too heavily on 'standard' sights, museums.

Susan Hebble in Western Springs, IL USA 07/20/2009

Overall, a very good guidebook.

Marina in St. Paul, MN USA 05/27/2009

I would have liked to have more chain hotel information listed such as Hilton. There are several Hiltons throughout London with varying price ranges. I have Hilton Honors points as do many travelers and wanted to use those points for our stay. Unfortunately no travel book I looked at on London reviewed any of the Hilton properties and several never even mentioned them. We were actually able to stay 8 nights at the Hilton Park Lane, which was in an awesome location, for free using my HiltonHonors points. I feel there are lots of folks that are now trying to save money by traveling on hotel points whether its through Hilton or Sheraton or even Holiday Inn that it would be worthwhile to include information on specific chain hotels.

Holly Nunn in Raleigh , NC USA 05/09/2009

Take another look at other inexpensive accomodations in London. I think you've got some better options - particularly in Kensingston

Andrew Goldman in Crystal Lake, IL USA 03/29/2009

The book is excellent.

Jack M. Potter in Olympia, WA USA 02/16/2009

Add Master's Superfish near Waterloo for Fish and Chips -- it was on the list of London Cab Drivers' favorites and was fabulous. We went after Vinopolis and grabbed a taxi.

Also Tayyabs in East London for Indian food. The best I have ever had and it's not in the middle of brick lane so it's less touristy. 10 minute walk from Liverpool Street Station.

Also add more options for late night dining. There's a restaurant in Chelsea called vingt-quatre that's open all night (they even do 24 hour champagne breakfasts). Some of us are hungry after 10 pm and would rather not be wandering around the city late at night.

lm in Goleta, CA USA 02/12/2009

Not many...you all did great and this was the best investment we could have made for our trip! Thanks so much!!

Randy Lynch in Stuttgart, Germany 01/01/2009

I just wanted to comment that this is the first time I've really looked at a Rick Steves travel guide, and I'm incredibly impressed. I grew up watching Rick on PBS with my mom (and in my high school Spanish class!) but never thought to pick up one of his guides despite my extensive travelling in Europe. Perhaps it's because of my age (26) that I tended to gravitate towrads Lonely Planet or Let's Go guides, but I really think Rick's guides are well worth a look due to their excellent "tours" included and their friendly hand-drawn maps. Also, as a librarian, I appreciated all of the very useful information included in the guide that is not to be found in other guides (or is presented in a unhelpful way).

Alison Shea in New York, NY USA 11/29/2008

We also stayed at the Winchester Hotel, Victoria Station and we were put on the 4th floor. Since I was traveling with a senior, emphasizing whether it had a lift or no lift would have been helpful.

Ruth in Walnut, CA USA 11/24/2008

In spite of the fact that things got moved around, I really liked the directions through the National Gallery (i.e. Make a U-turn and exit through the far door.). Several of the rooms are not numbered and are hard to find, even with the floor plan. - Thank you.

Rick Wagner in Indianapolis, IN USA 10/07/2008

Two other suggestions:

1) Take a half empty suitcase with you and buy some London clothes when you get there. Dressing like a Londoner makes your day go much more smoothly. Cruising around town like a slovenly Vancouverite or Walmart Escapee puts you at a distinct disadvantage when interacting with Londoners. Its just one of those subtle things in life!

2) What about serviced apartments (flats)? I find that staying in a hotel that includes a traditional English breakfast is a bit of a trap - getting up on time for it, then trooping around all day...leaves you wiped out and watching ITV by 8pm when London's spectacular night life is just getting underway. It would be nice to have a flat and make a few trips to Sainsbury's or M&S Takeaways and start you day with a more measured pace.

Michael Hambrook in Vancouver , BC Canada 09/25/2008

The Courtauld Gallery in the Somerset House is a gem of a gallery for lovers of impressionist painters. Could you give more information in your book?

Judy Spencer in Dublin, OH USA 09/25/2008

I appreciate the grocery information: I eat out of grocery stores and fast food restaurants when I travel. You could cut way back on the restaurant recommendations; eating in restaurants when traveling overseas is largely a waste of time and money.

Mark Spargo in Meadville, PA USA 09/06/2008

We quickly realized that the allotted times for attractions in the book were MINIMUM times, just enough for an overview of places like the Tower and the British Museum. We had planned our schedule based on these times, and we ended up having to rush out of places in order to see the next thing on our list. Please emphasize this in future books.

Joan thompson in Portland, OR USA 07/24/2008

Better color map of key bus lines in front; gay club listings

Randy in San Francisco, CA USA 06/30/2008

Your London book was 110% perfect. I took my Mom to London a few years after my Dad passed away. He was very handicapped and could never hav done the sightseeing that my Mom always wanted to do. I decided to take her this year and followed your book carefully. I have been to London many times, but your book was absolutely fantastic.

Garret Glennon in Baltimore, MD USA 06/28/2008

Include more on the Bloomsbury District. We no longer use Rick's recommendations for hotels, because we love this district so much. We stay in Cartwright Gardens at lovely B&B's (I've stayed at three different ones and have enjoyed them all), that are very reasonably priced. It's an easy walk to Kings Cross Station, Russell Square Station, the British Museum, the British Library. There are many good, inexpensive restaurants nearby (check out the Brunswick Center!).

Sue in Boston, MA USA 06/20/2008

When you say weather could be 40F in London, add that it will feel much colder and damper to those of us from warm climates such as Southern California. We were prepared for rain but not so well prepared for how cold it was. Every day was 40-45F but we were freezing. To us it felt like it was below 0. We were able to layer up but we had to purchase hats, mittens and scarfs.

Toni Valenzuela in Murrieta, CA USA 04/01/2008

I think the Hindu Temple is worth a mention (we read about it in Lonely Planet). Not a must-see site but worth a visit. The Understanding Hinduism was £2 and quite interesting. http://www.mandir.org/infogallery/index.htm

Karis in Cross Plains, WI USA 02/20/2008

Replicate the Underground map in plastic so it can be removed and carried around.

Loved the scale of your Underground map; one could read it without a magnifying glass. Suggest print it so it can be detached from rest of book and easily slipped into purse. Would have liked to have experimented with more of the bus routes but time was a factor. Is there a website one can access while in London to clearly figure out what bus to take or to get somewhere from where you are?

[Editor's Note: The website for London's public transportation system (including the Underground and buses) has a convenient Journey Planner that will show you all of your transit options between any two points. Find it at http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/user/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en]

Helen Read in Calgary, AB Canada 01/03/2008

Rick: It would be nice if you could tell us what to do with the return-trip train tickets we purchased in order to get a better Eurostar price. We have Eurostar tickets from London to Brussels that are going to go to waste.

Ron in Damascus, MD USA 09/04/2007

I wouldn't mind more restaurant recommendations. There was one specific pub we wanted to eat at, but couldn't get a table, so we just went and found a place not mentioned in the book. (Not a huge problem, but the only thing I can think of, since the book overall was so helpful.)

Jennifer Graf in Hellertown, PA USA 08/12/2007

I'm a beginner photographer and I looove taking photos. However, I found that most guidebooks did not mention if cameras/photography are permitted in certain museums. It would help to have that feature in the guidebooks. Thanks!

Cookie in Milwaukee, WI USA 07/14/2007

You have it down, my friend. Great work, you all should be very proud. You taught us how to pack light and it worked !

Steve Roddy in Penn Valley, CA USA 07/03/2007

JUST KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND FORMAT. WHILE OFTEN CHANGE IS GOOD. IF YA GOT A GOOD THING, WHY CHANGE IT...& YOU GOT A GOOD THING!!

Dallas & Karen Renoud in Petersburg, IL USA 06/16/2007

Great book!

Steve in Sonoma, CA USA 06/11/2007

Vacationing in London has become quite expensive. Any additional economical suggestions would be great!

Maureen & Joe Schneider in Spokane, WA USA 05/23/2007

Bella Italia: Restaurant in South Kensington: Excellent food, atmosphere and service, reasonable prices

sharon quinn in Grafton, Wi USA 05/18/2007

A tear-out tube map, with the ZONES shaded in the background would be very helpful.

Martina EF Horwitz in Chicago, IL USA 05/01/2007

With this guidebook and a tube pass, even us bumpkins from rural Kansas navigated London daily with ease.

George Glines in Independence, KS USA 03/30/2007

We love the book!

Alison in Chicago, IL USA 03/26/2007

I really needed a better handle on the bus system. I mastered the tube (loved the tube map)and the train but felt very awkward with the buses. I wanted to use them since I had the Oyster pass. I'm serious about this.

Nancy Mulder in Minneapolis, MN USA 01/28/2007

Improve the index. Looking up "Greenwich", for example, does not even reference the self-guided tour!

[Editor's Note: You'll be glad to know this was corrected in the 2007 edition of our London book.]

Carrie McKenzie in Wauwatosa, WI USA 01/04/2007