London 2012 Guidebook
Favorite discoveries or tips:
The "Confessions of a Chocoholic" Afternoon Tea at the London Hilton's Podium Restaurant. There are 2-for-1 vouchers available at http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/confessions-of-a-chocoholic-afternoon-tea-2for1 Good Mon thru Fri only. Highly recommended!
Jimmie Tatum in Hendersonville, NC USA 01/30/2012
This is an update to my comments, dated 9/2/09, on booking tickets for performances at West End threatres. I am currently making arrangements for a one-month holiday in Ireland and England from mid-June to mid-July and I will spend 7 nights in London. Ticketmaster had been one of the worst agencies for booking tickets but now it is one of the best in that it permits you to choose your seats. The worst agency I have encountered this time is SeeTickets, which continues to not permit you to choose your seat but, more improtantly, rejects my credit card by claiming that my bank has refused to accept the charge when other agencies, including Ticketmaster, readily accept it. If high fees in booking tickets are a concern, the best way to avoid them is to book through the primary agency for the theatre and Theatre Monkey is the best source for that information. When Ticketmaster is the primary agency, its fees continue to be higher than other agencies but not enough to be signifcant. However, when it is a secondary agency, its fees are extremently high, which is probably a reflection of thes fees it must pay to the primary agency in order to be a secondary agency. If anyone is considering a trip to London and would like to book tickets for West End theatre performances, feel free to contact me by email at philbrazil@comcast.net.
Phil Brazil in Seattle, WA USA 09/02/2009
Phil Brazil in Seattle, WA USA 01/16/2012
Our family of 5 enjoyed a comfortable stay at Coach House Inn in Balham, UK. Within walking distance to the tube, a 15-20 min. tube ride gets you to downtown London. The hosts Meena and Harley were knowledgeable, helpful. Meena's breakfasts are exceptional. We stayed during a very cold spell in Dec. and were kept warm in the cozy 2 story coach house Inn.
Chris in Woodland, CA USA 01/09/2012
Mind The Gap Tours... Guided day trips by bike to Windsor Castle & Hampton Court Palace
Mind The Gap Tours in London, United Kingdom 11/13/2011
We had a great experience renting a flat from Coach House Rentals. We stayed for 5 days in September 2011, and our family of 4 was able to stretch out in 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms for less than the cost of two hotel rooms. The kitchen and laundry made us feel even more at home. Their apartments are centrally located, and each is unique. Not corporate rentals, but real family homes. The CHR staff was helpful, and we had no surprises. A great option for families.
Stacy DeKeyser in Simsbury, CT USA 10/06/2011
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to London; our first time there. We arrived on Saturday and immediately purchased Oyster cards and went on the Original Bus Tour. We ended up at London Tower and at 5pm where ready to hop back on the bus. However, a protest on the other side of the Thames River prevented buses to get to us. Once we discovered we were stranded, and not yet familiar with the tube, I pulled out your London Guidebook, turned to page 34 and found the bus routes we were to take to get back to Victoria Station. What a relief! I'll never leave home without this handy reference. Thank you.
Madeline Czervionke in Antioch, IL USA 09/15/2011
One tip I would give re: Windsor Castle. If you want to see the Dollhouse, wait until about an hour or less before closing, when the line dies down, and you'll waltz right in rather than wait 20 min. Meanwhile, go straight to the State Apartments which have no line and return later for the Dollhouse.
Katherine Hutchison in Chicago, IL USA 09/03/2011
One of the previous comments mentioned bus maps. I ended up using the Tube extensively, but wanted to get onto the buses to "sight-see" as I travelled. I tried to get a map at the Visitor's Center on Regent Street, but they didn't have any, then tried their suggestion of the nearby Piccadilly Tube station, which also didn't have any that particular time. Turns out, I could have gotten one from any Tube station (finally did).
Allison Britting in Milford, CT USA 08/30/2011
Coach House Rentals
Patrick Power in Melbourne, V Australia 08/29/2011
Buying tickets for the Tower of London at a Tourist Information office made buying the book worth it all by itself--it saved us at least two hours of waiting in lines. By having tickets in our hands and knowing to go the group entrance, we got right in. The suggestion to go straight to the Crown Jewels was so correct. We walked right in the door of the building and by the time we came out the line was at least 300 people outside of the door. Also knowing to buy travelcards for the week was helpful.
We bought a lot of tickets online before going to London and it was a big time saver. We ordered the London Eye tickets online and it saved us a LOT of time. Although it is expensive, I thought the Eye was totally worth it.
We bought the tickets to go into Buckingham Palace online and thank goodness we did. The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress had just gone on display and it was a madhouse at the ticket offices. Having the tickets in hand again saved us hours of waiting (literally). We got there when the ticket offices opened, waited for about 20 minutes, got an assigned time and went in 30 minutes later. If we hadn't had those tickets we would never have gotten in. Also being in one of the first groups got us out early and we found that the tea cafe was not at all crowded and we were able to get a table easily.
We went to a concert at Westminster Abbey and that was one of the highlights of our trip. Being there with just the concertgoers was quite intimate. Also, we were able to sit wherever we wished and so we sat in the choir. It was almost magical. Our kids were not excited to go to an organ concert, but we are so glad that we took them. I bet they'll always remember sitting in the Abbey, looking up at the gorgeous ceiling and listening to lovely music.l
We really appreciated your book and it was a lot of help to us on our London trip.
Laura Zimmermann in Hagerstown, MD USA 08/21/2011
Buying tickets for the Tower of London at a Tourist Information office made buying the book worth it all by itself--it saved us at least two hours of waiting in lines. By having tickets in our hands and knowing to go the group entrance, we got right in. The suggestion to go straight to the Crown Jewels was so correct. We walked right in the door of the building and by the time we came out the line was at least 300 people outside of the door. Also knowing to buy travelcards for the week was helpful.
We bought a lot of tickets online before going to London and it was a big time saver. We ordered the London Eye tickets online and it saved us a LOT of time. Although it is expensive, I thought the Eye was totally worth it.
We bought the tickets to go into Buckingham Palace online and thank goodness we did. The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress had just gone on display and it was a madhouse at the ticket offices. Having the tickets in hand again saved us hours of waiting (literally). We got there when the ticket offices opened, waited for about 20 minutes, got an assigned time and went in 30 minutes later. If we hadn't had those tickets we would never have gotten in. Also being in one of the first groups got us out early and we found that the tea cafe was not at all crowded and we were able to get a table easily.
We went to a concert at Westminster Abbey and that was one of the highlights of our trip. Being there with just the concertgoers was quite intimate. Also, we were able to sit wherever we wished and so we sat in the choir. It was almost magical. Our kids were not excited to go to an organ concert, but we are so glad that we took them. I bet they'll always remember sitting in the Abbey, looking up at the gorgeous ceiling and listening to lovely music.l
We really appreciated your book and it was a lot of help to us on our London trip.
Laura Zimmermann in Hagerstown, MD USA 08/21/2011
Re: Where to eat in London -- AVOID "SeaFresh"
Robert in Jackson, MI USA 08/13/2011
Leadenhall Market, Hampstead Village and Hampstead Heath
There's a great cafe in the basement of St. Mary Le Bow Church in the City. Highly recommended.
Steve Macfarlane in Carmchael, CA USA 08/07/2011
Children, including my thirteen-year-old, are not permitted in the pubs we visited after 7. Just as well, I suppose. For example, the Windsor Castle in Kensington was very rowdy at 7 on a Sunday. Eat early if you are planning on dinner with kids at a pub.
Granville in Durham, NC USA 08/06/2011
To book a double decker bus tour I would go with the "Big Bus Tours." They have more frequent pick up and stops. Go with them!
Julia in San Diego, CA USA 07/27/2011
If using the "Tube" to get to Heathrow, then allow lots of time, since there are frequent signal failures, breakdowns, and various repairs that cause slowdowns or require rerouting.
Larry Iversen in Bremerton, WA USA 07/15/2011
One your first day in London, if the weather is good, then consider taking one of the double-decker tour buses, take notes, then go back and tour those places that intrigue you in more detail.
Larry Iversen in Bremerton, WA USA 07/07/2011
P.540 of London 2011 has a list of recommended fiction books about London. I highly recommend Christopher Fowler's Peculiar Crimes mystery series--each one is based on an interesting aspect of London history (such as London's hidden rivers/sewer system, the tube, historic pubs).
Also, a great nonfiction overview of the history of Great Britain is Simon Schama's DVD series A History of Britain.
Jamie Moore in Covington, LA USA 06/22/2011
We just returned from several days in London, where we stayed at the Coach House B & B, through Coach House Rentals. It was even better than advertised! We had a private entrance, so could come and go as we pleased. The breakfast and conversation each morning was fantastic. Also, the neighborhood provided many great restaurants -- we went to a different one each night and had delicious meals.
Also, for travellers to London in the next several months, we took a tour of the 2012 Olympic site that was excellent -- and the cost was included in our London Pass.
Marcia Pauly in Clemson, SC USA 04/06/2011
Great book. However, why add "unnecessary" war on page 524?? I don't won't a political commentary; I buy your books because I like your tourism info. If I want political positions, I'll buy those books. Poor decision to jump off that cliff, Rick!!
Dustin in Tishomingo, OK USA 03/23/2011
We spent our Christmas vacation 2010 in London - stayed in a terrific 3-bedroom flat in St. George's Square in Pimlico. Rented it through Coach House Rentals, who were superb in many ways. Booking through them online was a breeze. The flat turned out to be much larger and even more nicely appointed than their photos might suggest. The flat was very good value for money in an excellent location.
Jeff Richardson in Toronto, ON Canada 02/23/2011
I actually used the 2006 guide and found the self-guided tours for the museums, were fabulous. I even caught several people using the 2010 guide and they all agreed it was a much better guide than Frommer's or Fodors. This is a good book for an experienced traveller-someone who has never been to London, but doesn't need help with basic things such as hotels and restaurants.
Pradnya Parulekar in Los Angeles, CA USA 01/08/2011
Consider adding the Morgan Hotel on Bloomsbury Street near the British Museum (we could see it through the garden from our window) and very close to the theatre district. It was 115 pounds for bed and huge breakfast with free use of a computer for internet and very genial owners.
Chris in Cedar Point, NC USA 11/16/2010
Tours with Context Travel were fabulous. We especially enjoyed our docents Phillipa and Sue King. The restaurant Wahaca was wonderful in Covent Garden. Very tasty upscale Mexican food with wonderful Margaritas, and who doesn't want a Margarita while on vacation. The food in great in London now--it is almost easier to find a good meal in London than I daresay Paris. Call me a heretic...
Cathy Brown in Lexington, KY USA 11/16/2010
We ate at a wonderful restaurant in London last week. It was so good we went back for another meal and was not disappointed. It is Bistro Benito at 166 Earls Court Road. The owners are great and so is the food. The bill for two dinners, desert and 1/2 bottle of wine was about 42 pounds without tip.
Frank Dusek in Northbrook, IL USA 11/08/2010
Discovered Coach House Rentals on the internet (got very good reviews), and rented a fine apartment in the Marylebone district of London in early September. Great experience. Met by "Rosie" of the Coast House Rentals, who had the key and showed us in and gave us all sorts of advice, plus leaving us a starter kit of cereal, milk, coffee, tea, marmalade, bread, and butter. Delightful apartment, on the ground floor, and close to many pubs, restaurants, stores--and in a quiet community. Reasonable price for London. I would gladly rent from this company again. Everything was first class.
George Craddock in Cary, NC USA 10/15/2010
Prior to our London trip, my husband and I took Rick's advise regarding the best Stonehenge tour group and signed on with Mad Max. As we were staying in London this required us to travel by train to Bath the morning of the tour. You may want to let your readers know how prohibitively expensive it is to travel to Bath by train! After the exchange rate it would have been over $400! That's more than 1/3 the cost of our ticket from the US to London! We opted to lose the $100 deposit and not go on the tour rather than spend the additional money.
Julianne Verret in Boston, MA USA 08/07/2010
Troia Restaruarnt, an excellent Mediteranian restaurant, at 3f Belvedere Road, ESI 7GQ, London, Tel. 020 7633 9309, right near the Eye. Excellent food and reasonable prices
Larry Raskin in Sacramento, CA USA 07/25/2010
PIMLICO TANDOORI, 38 MORETON STREET, LONDON, SW1 V2PB. Tel: 0207 8343375, Fax: 0207 9766331
Very good food tucked into the Pimlico neighborhood.
Wendy Sarney in Columbia, MD USA 07/23/2010
Tip 1: Pedestrian crossings in London are dangerous at first if you're from the US, even with the arrows painted on the road. My wife and I had a rule that we stopped at all intersections independent of what was painted on the ground or what the locals were doing.
Tip 2: The bath in our hotel (Hilton Paddington) had a much higher step to get into and out of relative to most American baths/showers. Using caution, especially if wear glasses, when getting out is a must.
Tip 3: The London Pass and Oyster Cards worked well for us. The London Pass gave us more freedom to do what we wanted WHEN we wanted and we didn't feel rushed. The Oyster card facilitated entry and exit from the Tube.
Tip 4: Be first in line for whatever the main attraction you want to see is for that day. We were first in line at Westminster Abbey, the Tower, and St. Paul's. Virtually no lines, we were alone with Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Mary and we saw the Crowne Jewels three times before the thundering herds arrived.
Tip 5: London is Big. Pacing yourself is a must, something we did not do a good job at initially.
Tip 6: Unsupervised youths are rude. We had to "change our liking" to accept this.
Tip 7: As London gets closer to the 2012 Olympics, many of the Tube stations are closed and some of the Tube lines are shut down. Your readers should have at least one alternate route in mind before they arrive at their first Tube station.
Jon and Jenny Davis in Fredericksburg, Va USA 07/21/2010
I found Rick's London guidebook to be quite helpful when touring Westminster Abbey, The British National Libary, and the Tower of London. Rick had diagrams, and information laid out for both those places. I was able to save a few dollars by not having to buy the audio guides, and could go at my own pace.
John in Fort Worth, TX USA 07/18/2010
I wished I had picked up a bus map when I got my travel card. Buses were a great way to save the feet but get to see the city, but I didn't see good maps at the bus stops.
At the British Museum, I also enjoyed the Theme exhibits, especially Enlightenment, which harked back a few hundred years to the oriins of the museum and really evoked the sense of wonder and exploration that must have prevailed then. I think kids would enjoy that room as a change of pace. Also Clocks and Money were interesting.
Patricia Cargill in West Chester, OH USA 07/08/2010
British Library is NOT TO BE MISSED!
Anna in Richmond, VA USA 07/08/2010
We used Coach House Rentals to book our 5 night stay in London. There were personable, professional and could not do enough to help us. We were booking and had paid a non refundable deposit when the ash cloud appeared from the volcano in Iceland, and of course we were concerned about our trip. They did not ask for the balance of the money which would have been due but said they would still hold the accomodation for us and lets wait until for a few days and see what happens. The cloud cleared up within that time so we had peace of mind to send the balance due. Wonderful people to deal with, we would not hesitate to book with them again. We stayed and LAU and the location was amazing. The pictures and description on their web site is exactly what the accomodation is like. No surprises! It is so much fun to look at all the different locations on the web. If your staying in London and you can stay for a least 5 nights this is the most affordable and fun way to do it. What an amazing city London is, there is so much to see and do we would love to go back tomorrow. We loved having afternoon tea at the Orangery at Kensington Place. The restaurants on Glouster Road. The Tower of London, Windsor Castle The ticket office at St. Pancras Station was very helpful to get Eurostar tickets for the same day and what a beautiful station. We purchased London Passes over the web before we left with travel we received 10 discount. They were great and saved us so much money on admission. We went to the Winston Churchill Musem and could have spent another couple of hours there. So well done and clean and had a lovely tea room. Especially good place for a very hot day as it is air conditioned and all undergroud.
Christine Glenn in Ingelwood, On Canada 07/07/2010
The heart of West End London, for me -- between Covent Garden and Leicester Square, between Soho and the Strand -- is the neighborhood of bookshops off Charing Cross Road and St. Martin's Lane. Cecil Court is the best old-time street full of specialist secondhand booksellers, like walking into another era. Among modern shops, visit Stanford's nearby for any map you could ever want before heading off for a drive or ramble in the countryside (or the rest of the world).
Kevin in Princeton, NJ USA 06/12/2010
Calling all Boy and Girl Scouts: Find the tomb of Lord and Lady Baden Powell, founders of Boy and Girl Guides respectively, in Westminster Abbey. Look for the Boy and Girl Scout flags at the left rear of the Nave, just around the corner from the exit and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Their marker is on the floor between the flags. This is near #11 on Rick's Abbey Map (page 105 of London 2010). Also, the Coronation Chair is currently undergoing renovation which is visible in a glassed-in room next to the exit of Westminster Abbey.
C. Halsey in APO, AE USA 06/02/2010
May was a great time to visit London. The temperature was comfortable for walking around, the sights weren't packed (we waltzed right into Westminster Abbey at 11:30), and the flowers in the parks were blooming.
Lauren in Cleveland, OH USA 05/23/2010
You can get International Response Coupons (for ordering tickets to the Ceremony of the Keys) at www.usps.com. I ordered them there with no problem and prompt shipping. I think shipping cost a dollar. Go to www.usps.com, select "Buy Stamps and Shop", from the "For Mailing/Shipping" menu select "International" and you will see the International Response Coupon ($2.10 each).
Dave in Spokane Valley, WA USA 04/18/2010
Jack The Ripper tour done by Ripping Yarns with guide Dickie Dover was excellent! I would highly recommend it to any traveler wanting the facts plus interesting tidbits.
Robin in Germanton, NC USA 03/22/2010
St. George's Tavern near the Victoria Station accommodations is a real find! Their sausages are delicious! When I asked about their recommendations on beers and ales, they cheerfully brought me a complementary tray of 6 types clearly labeled to try out.
Chris Peter in El Cajon, CA USA 03/21/2010
THis is by far the best guide to London that we have found. We have visited London several times but found the London 2010 easy to follow and full of easy maps and suggestions. We loved it.
Geri Colby in Mesa, AZ USA 03/12/2010
Not really an addition to the book, but a suggestion. The Rajpoot restaurant in Bath isn't just, as the guidebook notes, the best Indian restaurant in bath, it may well be the best Indian food I have eaten on either side of the Atlantic. Really no one should leave Bath without trying it. z
Roe Buchanan in Reston, VA USA 11/28/2009
Not sure how it would integrate into a guidebook, but we got burned by the deck chair charge in St. James Park. If I have known in advance we would have readily sat in the grass.
Leon in Colorado Springs, USA 11/06/2009
We like to travel off-season to avoid crowds, however we happened to hit the mid-term school holiday, so London was teeming with families and some of the sights were busier than I'd like. Perhaps you could include the major school holidays in your list of holidays and festivals.
Janelle Sanda in Fargo, ND USA 11/01/2009
We happened to be in London when Buckingham Palace was open to the public. Fantastic opportunity that only happens in August and September.
Laralyn Sasaki in Columbus, Oh USA 10/09/2009
I actually have 2 discoveries: 1. When we were watching changing guards at Buckingham Palace, we followed the guide book suggestion and watched the event by the Queen Victoria statue. We noticed there were policemen giving out violation tickets to tourists who were watching the event. We were not able to ask the police what it was about but we overheard it had something to do with packages (i.e. bags or backpacks) left on the ground (unattended) and the cops would give out the ticket. Can you confirm is that true? I was surprised by that because most tourists carry bags / backpacks and we usually leave them around our feet when we know we would be standing for a while. 2. I purchased my Eurostar tickets throught Rick Steves' website for my trip from London to Paris. When I booked the tickets, I thought I was departing from London. When I arrived at the train station, I found out my tickets were departing from Ashford and the station is 1/2 hour train ride away from London (2nd stop after London stop). The conductor let us board from London station (Bercy) without charging us extra. We were glad that we got the station an hour early because the train left 1/2 hour earlier that the time stated on my tickets. We would of miss the train. I think the website was not very clear where Ashford station was when I purchased the tickets. I assumed it was within London city limit.
Ada Wong in Chicago, IL USA 09/23/2009
Consider some hotels in the Bloomsbury neighborhood. It's convenient to many sights, quiet, and part of London where real people live. I have stayed at the Thanet on Bedford Place and the Morgan Hotel on Bloomsbury St. Both are not too expensive, clean, and well located.
Laura Wilson in Fredericksburg, TX USA 09/05/2009
Next Monday, I fly to London for nine nights. This is my fifth visit to London and my fourth where I will attend multiple West End performances, 7 of them this time. If you want to see a West End play or musical but want to wait until you arrive in London, by all means, go directly to the theatre and buy tickets at the box office. I much prefer the main floor (stalls) to the balconies and seats at the back of the main floor are usually available at 2/3 the cost of the top price tickets. If, however, you want good seats, order them online as far in advance of your arrival as possible (3 months or longer if you can). Buying tickets online is easy but getting the seats you want is complex. Here is how I went about it this time.
To determine what is scheduled at each theatre, go to www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk. This can be tedious as there are about 50 theatres to choose from but it is the best place to start. Don't order tickets here. For help in choosing plays and musicals, go to www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=287 for reviews. There is a handy "star" system similar to movie reviews in the USA. Don't order tickets here. For help in choosing your seats, go to www.theatremonkey.com, which has color-coded seating charts recommending the best (and worst) seats as well as the prices for seats. Don't order tickets here but go to "buying tickets online" at the individual theatre listings to determine how. This is critical becuase you should avoid Ticketmaster if you can. Their service fees are high but the biggest problem is that you can't choose your seat. They are chosen for you and they are almost always poor seats. If there is an alternative to Ticketmaster, the Theatre Monkey website will tell you what it is and you should definitely use that service. I did exactly that for all 7 of my tickets and I have excellent seats on the main floor near the center of the stage.
Phil Brazil in Seattle, WA USA 09/02/2009
Surprisingly, the gift shop at the Tower had the nicest and most reasonable selection of souvenirs and gifts.
Packing a small pair of binoculars proved useful for detail viewing the cathedrals.
At tube stations, be wary of signs for 'stairs' which might seem a short cut but--if the locals aren't taking them..there's a good reason, like 172 steps to the surface. Good exercise, but maybe not what you had in mind.
alice USA 08/14/2009
Found another pub in Bayswater you might want to add: The Bayswater Arms, just outside the tube station.
Vic S. in Idyllwild, CA USA 08/05/2009
Mad Max Tours from Bath: Full day stone circles and villages tour was great and our tour guide was funny. Small van with about 12-15 people total. Took the National Express Bus from Heathrow to Bath and back to London and it was a very painless experience--I recommend it (£19 one-way).
Joy in Dayton, OH USA 07/23/2009
London Marriott Hotel Kensington 147 Cromwell Road, Kensington, London, SW5 0TH United Kingdom Phone: 44-207-973-1000 Fax: 44-207-370 1685
We realize you tend to recommend smaller, local hotels, but sometimes the American chain is the way to go! The hotel accommodated the 4 of us in one room, while most London hotels would have required we take 2 rooms since our elder child is 17; and we paid a bit extra to use the executive lounge, which offers free breakfast in the morning, as well as coffee, drinks, snacks, newspapers, tv, and computer usage all day long. (A terrific perk, esp. to check internet and e-mail and to get a little break from one another.) Location is great--3 blocks from 2 tube stops, near the V&A and History Museum, 10 minutes walk from Kensington HIgh Street and Kensington Gardens. Great service, spacious bathrooms (2 sinks!), comfortable beds, and an American-style electric outlet. (We booked the Jr. Suite--abt 500 sq. feet--for 289 GBP/night.)
ALSO recommend Kennard Hotel (11 Henrietta Street, Bath, BA2 6LL, 01225 310472, Mary and Giovanni Baiano, proprietors) A lovely small hotel on edge of city center in Bath--understated elegance, clean, well-appointed, terrific breakfast, lovely and helpful host/hostess. Would love to return for another stay!
Susan Hebble in Western Springs, IL USA 07/20/2009
While not a recommedation of Rick's, I would urge readers not to stay in an Easy Hotel.
pete card in santa cruz, ca USA 07/17/2009
Leadenhall Market. This is a covered market street that has alot of charming shops and restaurants. Old meat hooks still hang outside the shops. Open daily. Tube: Monument. Gracechurch Street.
Anderson in Portland, OR USA 06/04/2009
Effective May 17, 2009 there is a 3 pound deposit when you purchase an Oyster card for travelling on the tube. You can get a refund of this deposit by visiting a tube agent at Paddington station at the end of your trip
Ira Krauss in New Providence, nj USA 05/26/2009
Suggest you add that the British Library now has free wi-fi available throughout the location. You have to register your laptop as a user, but it's free and easy. We were able to check-in for our home flight while not losing sight-seeing time.
Lisa Romney in Alexandria, VA USA 05/17/2009
We traveled to London the 1st week of April. We found the Dot2Dot hotel shuttle online and booked when we arrived at Heathrow. It was only 19 pounds for a one-way trip and I think they knock off a pound or two when booking a round trip. We didn't have to wait long at all and the van was super comfortable for the ride. I think it held about 10 people and the driver actually pointed out areas and sights along the ride. We were picked up on time on return at our hotel and delivered to our airline terminal. It was absolutely the best way to go. It was much better than most shuttle services in the US like SuperShuttle.
Holly Nunn in Raleigh , NC USA 05/09/2009
Blades Hotel near Pimlico Tube Station on Belgrave (not listed in 2009 London Guidebook).
Nick Chavez in Grand Prairie, TX USA 04/30/2009
The ceremony of the keys was a great event to attend, although we were with mostly Americans and two British couples. While the Americans enjoyed the ceremony, the British poked fun at the soldier-quite interesting.
Catherine Conger in Greenville, SC USA 04/19/2009
Wait until after 9:30 to buy your allday pass on the tube/bus (5.60 vs 8.00 before 9:30). Also, consider riding the bus vs the tube. You will see much more of London by taking the bus and you don't have to do all the walking that the tube requires.
Greg in Lexington, KY USA 04/11/2009
I stayed at a hotel called base2stay that's about a block from the Premier Inn near Earl's Court station. For 120 pounds a night, it's clean with decent hotel staff. http://base2stay.com/
The other favorite was a pub called Sherlock Holmes, a block or so from Embankment station. There are perhaps a few more tourists that come through, but I saw a lot of locals there and they serve every traditional British meal from your guidebook there. I think this is the contact info: Address: 10-11, Northumberland St, London, WC2N 5DA Tel: 0871 917 0007
Grace in Seattle, WA USA 04/05/2009
Bath is a great sidetrip from London but I would advise anybody to take a train from London to Bath as opposed to bus. Get there quicker!
Andrew Goldman in Crystal Lake, IL USA 03/29/2009
The Down House, Darwin's home, a 20 minute train ride outside London, has now been re-opened by the National Trust. We visited on its opening day. Excellently remodeled with displays on Darwin's life and work. Good cafe and one can stroll the grounds. A Victoria station train takes you to the Orpington train station, where you can take a cab for 10 pounds to Down House. The receptionist in the Down House shop will call a cab for you when you return.
Jack M. Potter in Olympia, WA USA 02/16/2009
Really want to recommend the Blades Hotel in London. It gets good reviews because it deserves them! The most helpful staff we found on our trip to Europe. From singles to families they cater well and the location so close to Buckingham Palce etc is excellent. Their web page is www.blades-hotel.co.uk
Patrick Finlay in Toronto, Canada 02/14/2009
If you are going to be in London and want a good value, try the Historic Royal Palaces membership: www.hrp.org.uk. It includes admissions to Hampton Court, the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, the Banqueting House, and Kew Palace over the course of a year, as well as 10% discounts on food and gifts at the palaces as well as a free book about the palaces. The price for two people for a full year of membership is 58.50 pounds. There are also family memberships and individual ones. Considering that a trip to the Tower is 27 pounds for two people, this pass is an excellent value and you get to use it for a whole year.
Also, make sure you let people know that they can read at the British Library, as long as they have a passport and go to reader services. Having a reader card means you can spend a rainy afternoon among the researchers at the library, reading a copy of your favorite book. The BL is also supposed to have free wireless by now -- a good idea if you're trying to plan parts of your trip on the fly.
lm in Goleta, CA USA 02/12/2009
We just returned from London and had a fantastic time...your book was great!
Couple of recommendations: 1. We read your Harry Potter London section, and wanted more for our kids. We used LondonTaxiTour.com (Carol is the lady we worked with and Gordon was our guide). This was a three-hour tour, and not only hit on some fantastic film locations, but the driver/guide was super and he showed us many additional things around central London as well. Highly recommended.
2. It was difficult for us to book a hotel that would sleep four people in the same room. We finally found the Holiday Inn at King's Cross that worked well with two double beds. This was about a 10-15 minute walk from the train/Tube station, so very convenient.
Randy Lynch in Stuttgart, Germany 01/01/2009