Hello everyone, pardon my absence, couldn't keep away from my friends here.
Hi again,
Do they have places to store your luggage on the tube or coach? We will probably have several pieces of luggage with us and although our DD is a good traveller, we can't always count on her pulling her own bags.
Also, does anyone know if we were to take a cab would we need a booster seat for her since she is only 6?
Thanks,
Monica
Welcome.
First thing to think of is which airport you are coming in through, you are likely to come in through either Gatwick which is South London, or Heathrow, which is West London.
Personally due to congestion charge and parking costs and lack of space in London, I do not recommend car hire if you stay 'In London'. If you are in the suburbs, and want to see things like Stonehenge or Cotswold's then do hire a car.
Gatwick. Is about 45 miles from Me, its about 25 miles from central London, has great overground train services. The Station is under the South Terminal.The Gatwick Express to Victoria is the high visible one, its fast, non stop every 15 mins, and goes direct to Victoria, it has luggage space. But its expensive,. You do not need to use it.
Southern Services from the same station, go to Victoria or London bridge often with only one stop at East Croydon, still has space for luggage but a little less than the G Express. Its cheaper. First Capital connect also goes from Gatwick to London Bridge, and the City and Kings cross St Panacas for interchange to Eurostar if you wish to go to France, DLP etc. These do have luggage space, but avoid peak hours 7am>9am, 4pm>7pm.
Heathrow. There is overland rail, Heathrow Express to Paddington, fast, direct, but expensive, has luggage space. Also Tube Piccadilly Line serving ALL terminals, the Piccadilly trains have extra luggage areas around the center double doors on each carriage. Piccadilly line (Dark Blue Line) goes to Hammersmith, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Covent Garden and Kings cross.
All other Tube lines do not have luggage space, but with effort it can be done but avoid rush hours, weekends are best, but we have about 25% of lines closed at weekends and I understand that may involve the Piccadilly in 2010.
UK law means all kids must have a booster seat up to a certain size, often around age 10/11. A lot of Cabs will have this.
I would not recommend private taxis in London unless they are licenced by TFL Transport for London. If you organise one, take care, and when you arrive, ask them questions they would only know, to verify its your taxi.
Okay, so I am like never on our cruise thread, but is there any meets already planned?
TIA
Meggo
On our last cruise, we had a meet the next day ( sea day) in Studio Sea. It worked out great. Everyone got to meet and exchange a gift from their home town with another family. Maybe we can see about doing something like this?
If we have one and its first day can we do it on deck 9/10, rather than inside? Its so busy first day, my kids hit the pools and want the sailaway, so tend to 'refuse' to go down below!
Are there any car hire services from the airport to hotel that you would recommend? I think that would be the better option for us for all of the reasons given by Julie in an earlier post.
Also, is there enough interest from others in a bus going back to London after the cruise instead of the airports? We were thinking about going to Paris post-cruise but after looking at London a little more and seeing all that there is to do we would like to go back to the city for a few more days before flying home.
Thanks,
Monica
There is so much to do in London, I would recommend as much time as possible here, and you plan your days in advance like a WDW Vacation. Tickets purchased on line can be cheaper, and things like Buckingham palace, if its opened have limit availability and time slots. IE London eye, is always top on your list, you can book times on it, or turn up, but its a long queue on summer days.
Paris can be reached by fast Eurostar trains from Kings cross/ St Pancras station. Direct services to Paris and DLP.
I personal would advise care on booking private cabs, as answer above, also care at Airports. The best TFL services must be booked in advance, Black cabs are good and available on demand but space is limited.
If you internet search TFL and private cabs or Heathrow transfers you can get many responses. Try for licenced by TFL.
Good morning and hello- I haven't been here for a while and I just realized how much there is to catch up on if you don't check in on a regular basis!
I got a great little travel book on the weekend for a pre-trip stay in London I'm hoping to do on my own- "The Little Black Book of London". I've been to London before, but it's been a while- does anyone have any recommendations that if I only have one day/one night in London, the best area to stay in? I do not like subways, but will walk above ground all I need to....
I keep checking airfares, but see no bargains yet...I'm hoping that after the holidays the prices dip- has anyone had any luck booking flights yet?
Thanks for all the
great information I've been reading here!
Thanks for the welcome back and the tips!
I guess since I'll only have the Sat before the cruise there (I'll leave Fri night, arrive early Sat morn) and I'll be on my own since I'll be meeting my cruise mates on the ship, I was thinking of a central area near some good shopping and maybe a museum or two- I remember many moons ago when I went for my 40th, I visited a great small museum....I'd like to go back, but now to remember it's name...the hotel we stayed at was within walking distance the V&A, but seemed far from say, Liberty's, etc...I guess I should just study a good map of London and see what area has the most I'm interested in...
If I stayed at a hotel other then one Disney recommends, is it hard to get to Dover from London?
I found a neat hotel call "Hazlitt's" that sounds like a great place to stay- anyon ever hear of it or stay there?
I'm just going to keep checking airfare and pounce when it looks good- I'm at least hoping for a little drop from the $1100 I've seen after the new year...(I fly out of Philadelphia)
Thank you again for all of your help!!
Best Locations for hotels will depend on your incoming airport and what you wish to do, London overall is safe, but there are places you may 'avoid' late at night. I personally would go anywhere in London, and not feel uncomfortable, but you should be streetwise. As a tourist and having luggage the best thing is to be located on the public transport system. Ours is most likely the best in the world. It is very good, but busy at peak times so avoid weekday rush hours.
You can get to most places in London by bus, tube, or even walking.
I for this cruise knowing the airports, and connections would suggest Victoria, as it connects to most things good services, nice area, or Westminster, north of the river, or on the riverbank if south.
Mayfair is most expensive area, if using Heathrow, Knights bridge or Paddington. Consider London bridge area, as it connects to Gatwick well and also Dover, trains for Dover leave hear about every 15>30 mins and Victoria hourly.
Always look on the hotel description where the nearest tube is. If its close, and has a few lines it should be good. To save money, stay out of town, a Place such as Croydon, connects with Gatwick, and Victoria or London bridge in 17 mins. Its on the travelcard zones.
Travel in London, is normally linked on a Oyster travelcard, there are two types, pay as you go, and a season ticket, day,week, month etc. Pay as you go works on Tube, boats, buses, Docklands light railway, buts limited on network rail, (overground). Season tickets you select the zones you wish to go, ie central london is 1, it goes generally out to 6. The more zones the higher the cost. But for an adult a week oyster going anywhere, say within M25 orbital area would be £47.60. Not bad.
With oyster travel on the top deck of buses, great views say oxford street and regent street and the parks, and also DLR, Docklands light railway, sit up front, no driver, for best views of docklands and go to to Greenwich and Cutty Sark.
Museums, most are free, you can donate, or if there is a special exhibition pay a little more, Science and natural history, are all in South Kensington area (Harrods Knightsbridge). British museum is Holborn. London transport museum is Covent garden. Theater is Leicester Square Piccadilly strand areas, pre book. Shopping Oxford Street, regent street, kids toys Hamleys in Regent st, but expensive.
You do not need to go on a tourist bus, the oyster will cover you on normal buses.
Things I suggest, London Eye, Boat trip on Thames, DLR Docklands, walk in parks, Green park, St James, walk Regent street, Oxford St, London Zoo, regents park, Camden market, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace if open in summer. Windsor and castle, Hampton court, Madame Tussuad's, Top London show, and travel Eurostar to DLP.
The computers kept crashing, the phone lines had busy circuits all day, the website was down, all because of volume. If Valentine's Day wasn't in the mix, I never would have called today, but we wanted to be sure we got Citrico's (and LeCellier) later in the week. 
Good Morning All!
Finally got through to WDW Dining this morning & made reservations for April!
