Rick Steves' London
- The 2008 edition of Rick Steves' London is now available.
- See the guidebook updates for all of Great Britain.
Updates since the 2008 edition:
Sights
The guided tours of the Houses of Parliament (July 28-Sept 27 in 2008) now cost £12 for adults. For more information, see www.parliament.uk/about/visiting/summer_opening.cfm.
At Somerset House, the Hermitage Rooms are no longer an exhibit space. Also, the Gilbert Collection has closed and will reopen in 2009 as the Gilbert Galleries at the Victoria and Albert Museum. For more info, see www.hermitagerooms.com. The Courtauld Gallery remains open.
The Bramah Coffee and Tea Museum (www.teaandcoffeemuseum.co.uk) has closed indefinitely (following the death of the founder), although staffers hope to someday reopen in a new location.
The lower galleries at the Museum of London remain closed through early 2010.
The correct website for Kew Gardens is www.kew.org. They also have a new 200-yard "treetop walkway" 60 feet above the ground.
The Monument, London’s 202-foot-high column designed by Sir Christopher Wren to mark the spot where the Great Fire of 1666 began, should reopen in the spring of 2009 after a complete make-over.
If you'll be doing some heavy-duty sightseeing beyond London, consider getting the Great British Heritage Pass or becoming a member of English Heritage or the National Trust. For tips and info about which pass might be right for you, see the article titled "Saving Pounds on British Sightseeing."
Shopping
The directions to the Spitalfields Market from the Tube in the book are incorrect, and should be: Tube: Liverpool Street; from the Tube stop, take Bishopsgate East exit, turn left, walk 2 blocks, and turn right on Brushfield Street.
Transportation
London-Glasgow rail repairs will cause re-routing or bus-replacement services on the west coast main line every weekend through December 2008.
By Airport Shuttle Bus: Hotelink has changed its name to National Express Dot2Dot. They provide door-to-door minibus shuttles between Heathrow or Gatwick Airports, to and from central London addresses. For Gatwick Airport, they provide transfers to and from each end of the Gatwick Express train, which runs from London’s Victoria Station (Heathrow £14-22/person, Gatwick £16-24/person, includes Gatwick Express train fare; tel. 0845/368-2368, www.dot2.com).
London's public-transit prices increased as of Jan 2, 2008, including for the Tube, buses, and Docklands Light Railway (DLR). For more information, see www.tfl.gov.uk and click on "Tickets." Cash rates for single tickets:
- A single ride Tube ticket anywhere in Zones 1-6 (includes Heathrow Airport) is still a staggering £4 — about $8.
- Any bus ride in downtown London (for those paying cash) is still £2, an all-day pass is £3.50, and a seven-day pass is £13 (a Bus Saver ticket six-pack remains £6).
Why so pricey? Largely because of the push towards plastic, prepaid Oyster cards, which you can buy at any Tube station, airport, or convenience store displaying an Oyster card sign. Each card has an embedded chip which you must touch to a specially marked scanner as you enter and exit the Tube or DLR (or only as you enter when riding a bus). Oyster cards come in two versions:
- "Pay as you go" rechargeable cards
- Seven-Day Travelcard (expires after a week)
For the "pay as you go" version, the Oyster card will never deduct more than the price of a One-Day Travelcard for all travel in a single day. There's no minimum amount required but we recommend starting with at least £10 on your card. You'll also pay an additional £3 deposit to get the card, but this deposit (along with a cash refund of any remaining balance) is refundable at any Tube station ticket office if you return the card. The money on the card never expires, although it will need reactivating after two years of non-use (just ask at any Tube ticket counter). If you have money left on your Oyster card, you can also keep it if you travel to London frequently, or pass it along to someone else.
A Seven-Day Travelcard can be loaded onto an Oyster card for £24.20 for rides within Zones 1-2 (does not include Heathrow Airport). This gives you unlimited rides on the Tube, buses, and Docklands Light Railway. You can start the card on any day, with no deposit needed, and it will expire at 4:30 am on the eighth consecutive day of use. Cards that include more zones cost more money (see www.tfl.gov.uk for prices). If you'll be visiting London for four or more consecutive days, this plastic transit card is what Rick recommends.
How much will I save with an Oyster card?
- A Zone 1 Tube ride costs £1.50 (less than half the cash price).
- A bus ride in downtown London costs 90p (less than half the cash price).
Which card should I get?
For |
Buy |
1-2 days |
One-Day Travelcard for £5.30- £6.80* |
3 days |
Three-Day Travelcard for £17.40* |
4-7 days |
Seven-Day Travelcard for £24.20* |
If you won't be using public transportation every day, or you will be in London at the beginning and end of a longer trip, a "pay as you go" rechargeable Oyster card might be your best bet. *Note: these prices are only good for Zones 1-2. More zones cost more money. For prices and a zone map of London, see www.tfl.gov.uk.
Children 10 and under can travel free all day every day on the Tube and Docklands Light Railway when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. For more information, see www.tfl.gov.uk.
Day Trips: Greenwich
Conservation work on the historic Cutty Sark clipper ship, which was delayed by the May 2007 fire, has resumed. The fire has not only caused a major setback in the schedule, but millions of pounds worth of additional costs have been incurred. The visitor center is open Sun-Tue 11:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30), closed Wed-Sat, call to confirm that center is open. For more information see www.cuttysark.org.uk.