Really enjoying your posts even though they are making me a tad homesick. I only lived in London for about 18 months, but I left a piece of my heart there.
Most of the affordable flats are out in zone 3 and beyond. However, even then, a studio flat can set you back more than a 3 bedroom home here in NZ. On the plus side, most wages are really good in London and the cost of living (groceries, internet, cellphone charges etc) is quite a bit cheaper than it is here. I remember getting a year long cellphone contract while I was there where I could pay my bills, send in my receipts, and then get refunded. The whole year (inc. the phone) cost me about the same as a couple of months here in NZ.
Glad you are enjoying reading along. We heard yesterday that the average London wage is $27,000 pounds which makes it around $40k australian which I think hovers somewhere close to our average wage doesn't it? Correct me if I'm wrong because I'm not 100% sure. So in terms of cost of living you would be better off but housing prices are insanity.
Oh how I love, love, love your TR's Lisa!!!!!!!
Thanks for reading along Travel Mum.
Nothing like a pretty little quiet slaughter. Lol!
Sighing with amazement a lot, Shuttergirl.
The cold: you've got me knitting in prep for our northern hemisphere winter holiday lol!
The cold is a freak thing for this time of year apparently. They are saying March was colder than their winter months of Dec/Jan/Feb, coldest March in 50 years. I don't mind the cold but I have to say yesterday when we were at Stonehenge I was bloody freezing.
Great descriptions of your days in the Old Dart. Love that you're getting out and about despite the cold weather.
Sounds like you're having an amazing trip with the family. Did that tour guide speak to them during the day at all; or was it only you?
Oh he did speak to them throughout the day but it really was quite embarrassing the amount of attention I got
.
All sounding wonderful so far
Good on you getting up all those stairs! I'm gonna go right ahead and tell you that if you want to go up the Arc de Triomphe or the tower at Notre Dame, you'll have a similar experience
How lucky to get into that little museum at the Hard Rock! You must have felt like celebrities getting your own little private tour
And your tour sounds amazing! I love your emerging friendship with the guide
I was never going to do Notre Dame because of the stairs and thought I would see how I was feeling for the Arc but now I'm not sure. It will really depend on my mood
. There is definitely a lift there and I may need to pull on some of my amazing acting skills and use it
.
Just loving your TR, Shuttergirl! It's bringing back some very fond memories
I was also bowled over by the history and age of everything we saw in London. And my DDs dearest wish is to do her Masters degree at Oxford or Cambridge, it's a lovely dream
Your day tour sound brilliant, I so agree that it's worth paying extra for a small group tour when there is one available.
Looking forward to reading the next update...
Andona
Sent from my iPad using DISBoards
We heard yesterday that Cambridge is even more beautiful than Oxford so I'm a bit sad we won't get to see that as well. Oh well, another reason to come back one day. It would be an amazing place to study, I'll keep my fingers crossed for your daughter.
What a wonderful report so far. Thanks Shuttergirl!
I have been re-reading your NYC Christmas report as we have just booked our hotel there for Christmas.
Loooove the UK and also living vicariously through you.
V
You will love Christmas in NYC, you lucky thing.
Great update Lisa, sounds like you have touring all sorted out
Oh yes Caroline, I'm all over it
Loving your TR. With all your personalised tours have you managed to pick up any Cockney slang?
I've got a bit of "govnor" and "me lady" happening oh and I am particularly loving saying "it's all frightfully boring".
Cracking up at your new friendship with the bus driver. I'm a front seater, guide follower too! LOL. I hope we are never on a tour together
It could get ugly with both of us trying to get to the front
Roller Derby comes to mind.
Another great report! Shame the weather is so cold, but I kind of feel that's England. The place doesn't have the same feel when it's boiling hot outside, although the parks and commons packed with sunbakers is a sight to be seen
Oh yes we would have to throw down Aussietravellers, I think if we do a Dis meet tour ever, it's gonna get UGLY!!!!!
I absolutely agree about the cold, it wouldn't feel right if it was warm.
All caught up and loving your report. Glad you are having such a great time. (Since London is my original "home" I have a proprietorial interest!!) Can't believe you got through Heathrow customs so quickly-I think our shortest record in recent years is 1.5 hours!!! My parents practically collapsed a few years ago when we accompanied them and that was despite hustling once off the plane.
5ofus-no the really cold weather is not typical for the UK for the end of March/April -its cool but not normally as low as this-the jet stream is playing up and weak this year so they have had an unseasonable late cold snap when normally its spring starting. I think the last time it was this cold at this time of year was 1963.
And groceries (and gas etc) is cheap, in part, as wages in many careers are still really low. Typical admin jobs, analyst jobs, etc even with a London loading are 28-30,000 pounds per annum, even a job like a senior grants administrator is only 30-35,000 pounds. Here in Aus the last job is around $80,000-$90,000 in my area not including 17% superannuation and admin jobs in my field range from $65,000 for the less experienced/responsible - $90,000 + super. Also the larger population and short transport distances helps keep prices down over there.
I know you will all continue to have a ball. Looking forward to reading along. I will be interested to see how you think Westminster Abbey compares to St Pauls and if you prefer one to other-they are quite different. Are you going to go up the newly opened Shard? Enjoy!!
We were very very surprised at how quickly Heathrow customs was having heard it was a bit of a nightmare. I guess we were extraordinarily lucky.
Off to Westminster Abbey today so will let you know it goes.
Glad you liked Oxford - We lived there for a few months and loved it too. When we were in the UK last year, we took the the kids back there for a look around and it was great. I had to giggle about your comment re Escape to the Country. I LOVE that show. Sounds like your all having a fantastic time and I am getting "travel sick" and just want to hop on a plane over there
Oxford was so beautiful, you are so lucky to have lived there.
Oh how I love your TRs. Sounds like you're off to a fab start. You had me rofling about the bus driver friendship you had going!
Sorry to hijack your TR Ms Shuttergirl, but Aussie Wendy, I'm not sure you could count those sorts of salaries as normal for Aus...
Hijack away
Just caught up, sounds like you are having such a fab time! Your storytelling is amazing as always, I feel like I'm right there with you. I'm looking forward to all the photos you got being BFF with the tour guide! And when you said the guitar got knocked over my heart stopped! That would have been a fun moment!!
Look forward to the next tour instalment then because I made a new BFF again.
Sounds like you are having an amazing (private) adventure.
Next time I notice a hessian Harrods bag in Canberra I will pay compliments.
When you get a chance can you please post a link to the private cab tour - it sounds like a great way to tour London in the cold.
Yes, keep an eye out for me and my bag.
The cab tour was
http://londonblacktaxitours.com/. Michael was absolutely wonderful.
