A week in London

maclondon · May 22, 2015

hands down best pub in london is The Harp! Chandos Place a few meters from Trafalgar Sq/Covent Garden
http://www.harpcoventgarden.com/

near by is the awesome Lamb and Flag too
http://lambandflagcoventgarden.co.uk/

both are what i would call 'proper pubs'

lamb does food - but to be honest if you want food go to a restaurant - then the pub
or before at the pub and after
or just buy a bag of crisps and keep drinking

HIC!

goofy4tink · May 30, 2015

Deb in IA said:
I am just in the beginning phases of planning a week in London for May 29 - June 4, 2016.

"We" are a family of 4 - myself, husband, and 2 young adult children, daughter age 25 and son age 21.

We will be on the Disney Magic 2016 EBTA, and will arrive in Dover on May 29.

I understand there is a train from Dover to London, but is will it be difficult to manage with large suitcases from a 14-night cruise? What would be the best way to get from the St. Pancras station to a hotel?

And speaking of lodging, what are some recommendations? Would a quad room be best in a hotel, or maybe renting a house/apartment (or flat, as you call them)?

For our itinerary, I would like to spend 3 days touring London, using the hop-on, hop-off bus, then spend one day each at the Harry Potter Studios (we are all HUGE HP fans!), and at Stonehenge. Maybe a show in the West End, and I'd like to go to services at Westminster Abbey (we are Episcopalians).

Does that sound reasonable? Any suggestions?

I'm going to tag onto this discussion! My girl friend and I are heading to London so I can visit my dd...she's studying abroad from Sept 4-Dec 4. Staying over in Bloomsbury. We have our stay booked...The Academy. It's on Gower St so we're pretty close to dd. I stayed at a Premier Inn my first time over....County Hall. Loved it. It was incredible walking home at night, along the Thames, with Big Ben in the background!!! We used London Walks a few times...they were terrific. And Westminster Abby? We were actually there just before a service started. So, being the good little Episcopalian that I am, I sat down. Told the others in my group I would meet them. But, they had really long readings that day...so I left just before the Gospel was read. Imagine my surprise when I returned to that area, they were at the tail end of communion...so I hopped into the line and up I went!! A high point for me!!! Do it if you can. Same thing for St Paul's.

I found the underground to be incredibly easy to use. I even found my Oyster card...will top it off when I get to Heathrow. I just need to decide the best way to get from Heathrow to the hotel.....without too many changes.

Loved the many museums...they are incredible and free!!! Imagine that. The one thing I do want to do is head north to Scotland. Want to spend a few days up there. My friend and I have both done the London Tower and such...so want to do something different. Maybe take a tour with a group out to Loch Ness and see some of the country side. So, looking at train service now.

I didn't realize you could go from Waterloo directly to Hampton Court....we took the bus before, and I'll be darned if I remember how. Direct from Waterloo seems much better. I believe there might be a boat that goes there as well.

So much planning to do.....weather is less than perfect in November but that's when I have to go!!! So, keep those hints coming. It's great to have locals give hints.

LiquidSunshine · May 31, 2015

goofy4tink said:
I just need to decide the best way to get from Heathrow to the hotel.....without too many changes.

The Piccadilly line runs from Heathrow - you could get off at Russell Square. It would be about a 10-15min walk from their to your hotel.

http://www.heathrowairport.com/transport-and-directions/underground

goofy4tink · May 31, 2015

LiquidSunshine said:
The Piccadilly line runs from Heathrow - you could get off at Russell Square. It would be about a 10-15min walk from their to your hotel.

http://www.heathrowairport.com/transport-and-directions/underground

That's what I figured! When we stayed at County Hall we transferred to Bakerloo (I think that's what it was) and walked from Waterloo. I'm just not sure my friend is looking forward to walking with the bags. I really hope she doesn't want to take a cab!!!

LiquidSunshine · May 31, 2015

goofy4tink said:
That's what I figured! When we stayed at County Hall we transferred to Bakerloo (I think that's what it was) and walked from Waterloo. I'm just not sure my friend is looking forward to walking with the bags. I really hope she doesn't want to take a cab!!!

No, you def don't want a cab! Cost a small fortune!

When we stayed at County Hall, we got off at Westminster tube, and walking across the bridge with the suitcase was a nightmare! In the end I had ran over that many people's feet (while trying to apologise to the poor victims!) because there was just no room to navigate round people!

The other option is to get a cab from Russell Sq to the hotel!

goofy4tink · May 31, 2015

There weren't that many people coming in from Waterloo!!! No way would I do it from Westminster! I can see it now, crossing the bridge. It was bad enough with no bags.
Russell Sq isn't too far from our hotel....a few streets over. So that shouldn't be too bad to walk. I'm just afraid she's going to love the Heathrow Express....goes to Paddington. Then you have to switch.....maybe a cab from there would work. Ahhh, decisions, decisions!!

LiquidSunshine · Jun 1, 2015

Either way isn't too bad, although my preference would have been to take the tube - at least you don't have a change in the middle!

Cost difference? The Gatwick Express is always a costly option, I am sure it will be the same for the Heathrow one.

Dimplenose · Jun 3, 2015

goofy4tink said:
I didn't realize you could go from Waterloo directly to Hampton Court....we took the bus before, and I'll be darned if I remember how. Direct from Waterloo seems much better. I believe there might be a boat that goes there as well.

Yes, it is such an easy journey as Waterloo and Hampton Court are at each end of the line so it's easier not to get off at the wrong stop. Also Hampton Court is still in the London Travel Zones (6 I think) which makes things even easier if you have an Oyster card. (I live just a few miles away but my local station is outside the zones on a different line.)

LiquidSunshine · Jun 3, 2015

goofy4tink said:
I didn't realize you could go from Waterloo directly to Hampton Court....we took the bus before, and I'll be darned if I remember how. Direct from Waterloo seems much better. I believe there might be a boat that goes there as well.

Dimplenose said:
Yes, it is such an easy journey as Waterloo and Hampton Court are at each end of the line so it's easier not to get off at the wrong stop. Also Hampton Court is still in the London Travel Zones (6 I think) which makes things even easier if you have an Oyster card. (I live just a few miles away but my local station is outside the zones on a different line.)

Yes, direct from Waterloo to Hampton Court. As @Dimplenose says, both are at the end of each line, so no worrying about getting off at the wrong stop.

Takes about 40mins & is in Zone 6. Lovely stroll from the station across the bridge, and Hampton Court is on the right. Beautiful place to visit.

goofy4tink · Jun 4, 2015

Thanks guys! Yes, I still have my trusty Oyster card from my stay years ago. It was so easy to use.
Thinking of heading north to Scotland for a few nights....taking the train so we can see some countryside! Fingers crossed we can get decent fares by booking in advance.

Deb in IA · Aug 13, 2015

Got our hotel!

We are staying May 29 - June 4 at the
London House Hotel
81 Kensington Gardens Square, London, England, W2 4DJ

It had a rate of $197 for a quad room! We ended up paying a bit more ($205) for a cancellation policy - the $197 rate was non-refundable.

It has good reviews on Expedia and in Rick Steves' book. It also looks quiet, since it is next to Kensington Garden Square, but also just across the street from Whiteley's Shopping Centre, and just a block away from the Bayswater tube station.

Can anyone tell me if I made a good choice?

Jon84 · Aug 14, 2015

Deb in IA said:
Got our hotel!

We are staying May 29 - June 4 at the
London House Hotel
81 Kensington Gardens Square, London, England, W2 4DJ

It had a rate of $197 for a quad room! We ended up paying a bit more ($205) for a cancellation policy - the $197 rate was non-refundable.

It has good reviews on Expedia and in Rick Steves' book. It also looks quiet, since it is next to Kensington Garden Square, but also just across the street from Whiteley's Shopping Centre, and just a block away from the Bayswater tube station.

Can anyone tell me if I made a good choice?

I've not stayed at the hotel, but the location is brilliant. You'll be able to walk to so much from there. Museums, Buckingham Palace, Parks. All within 15 min walk.

One piece of advice, don't be fooled by tube times, it might take 10 mins to get somewhere, but that's once you are on the train. Some tube stations can have a long walk to and through them, by which point you could have walked there. I always check Google Maps for a walking route, before I take the tube. Sometimes taking a part tube and instead of changing, walking the rest

Another option is the buses, you Oyster/Travelcard is valid on pretty much all red buses, you'll see alot more on your travels than smelly armpits on the tube

Enjoy your adventures!

Deb in IA · Aug 14, 2015

Jon84 said:
I've not stayed at the hotel, but the location is brilliant. You'll be able to walk to so much from there. Museums, Buckingham Palace, Parks. All within 15 min walk.

One piece of advice, don't be fooled by tube times, it might take 10 mins to get somewhere, but that's once you are on the train. Some tube stations can have a long walk to and through them, by which point you could have walked there. I always check Google Maps for a walking route, before I take the tube. Sometimes taking a part tube and instead of changing, walking the rest

Another option is the buses, you Oyster/Travelcard is valid on pretty much all red buses, you'll see alot more on your travels than smelly armpits on the tube

Enjoy your adventures!

Thanks for the advice and reassurance!

Aliceacc · Aug 14, 2015

Make plans well ahead of time to see the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. Tickets are free but MUST be reserved ahead of time. You'll be so glad you bothered!!!!

Deb in IA · Aug 17, 2015

Aliceacc said:
Make plans well ahead of time to see the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. Tickets are free but MUST be reserved ahead of time. You'll be so glad you bothered!!!!

According to the website, it siall sold out until January, 2016! Wow, I'd better do this quick!

A week in London

maclondon

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goofy4tink

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goofy4tink

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