europeannovice

I read that the area called Elephant and Castle is not an area tourists would want to venture. However, when preparing the journey planner on the TFL website, it is often suggested to go to the Elephant and Castle train stop or bus stop in order to walk about 10 min or so to the Imperial War Museum.

Is the station and the walk toward the Imperial War Museum a different area than the area I read about to avoid? Can someone explain the distinction if there is one?

Also how much time should we devote to the Imperial War Museum? I know it is up to personal taste and interest but I need an average time to use as a gauge.

Is it a nice walk from the Imperial War Museum to the London Eye?

rs899

It has been a few years since I have been to the Imperial War Museum, but I don't recall any issues with the area around Elephant & Castle tube stop. The museum is fantastic if you want to see some of the best hardware of war. I would plan on at least half a day, if you enjoy that sort of thing at all.

mnapoli

The Imperial War Museum is one of the best museums in London. We spent about 4-5 hours there and still did not see everything! You can walk to the London Eye, but it's not a very scenic stroll.

Palenque

Elephant & Castle is a tacky looking area but in many times walking there i have never felt threatened if that is what you mean. Just a lot of tack looking buildings and that is why someone may say avoid the area as from a tourist standpoint this is about as bad as central London can get in looks.

BikerScott

The Elephant and Castle isn't the greatest neighbourhood and I wouldn't really recommend hanging around at night, but the walk from the station to the War Museum is fine (given the usual travellers recommendation of being aware of your surroundings).

I've been to the museum twice now and I found enough to interest me both times - the amount of time depends on what period of history you're interested in and if you want to read all the info signs or just look at the displays. I'd say a good couple of hours at a minimum...

I've never walked from the Museum to the London Eye but it's not that far (probably 15 - 20 minutes)...

ron

Lambeth North is the closest tube station to the museum. In 4 or 5 visits to the museum, I have never used Elephant & Castle.

The walk to the Eye is easy, but not terribly inspiring. You are walking beside the very busy approach road to the Westminster Bridge and under the tracks leading into Waterloo station.

Cholmondley_Warner

The Elephant isn’t that bad – certainly not during the day. Especially if you stick to the main roads and avoid the huge council estates (I don’t know if you’ve ever seen it, but it’s where much of The Bill is filmed).

I would actually go to either Waterloo or Lambeth North stations for the IWM. Both are a short walk and both are much more pleasant.

cocofromdijon

I went twice to the museum with my boys when they were 9 and 12 and we loved it.
I personnally stayed more than 6 months in Elephant and Castle in 91 in a council house(had no problem at all coming back home at night by bicycle or tube from Covent Garden where I then worked) and I think the area has changed A LOT! Everytime I go back there (a sort of pilgrimage)there is something new. Looks like the City now!
What is that new gorgeous tower? http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images...Tower_pic1.jpg

Palenque

The shopping centre underground at the Tube stop has been redone into a modern nice one - not long ago was really tawdry - so as Coco testifies the area seems to be rapidly changing into a more upscale venue.

cocofromdijon

Aah the shopping centre... I miss the small hairdresser's for men in his tiny salon (so typical) and also Woolworths where we bought our last sweets in Dec 2008 before they close down. Now there is a shoe shop, too bad

cynthia_booker

Depending on where you are coming from, there are a couple of bus stops within sight of the museum, and then taking a bus to the London Eye from there is also a snap.

avalon

We go to the IWM on every trip to London, twice a year, I have no qualms about walking from Elephant and Castle. It is just up a main road. I actually prefer taking the bus .

nona1

It's not a dodgy area (barring one or two iffy housing estates), just a very grotty one. It is developing into little Lagos if you want a slice of multicultural London on your way through! Certainly no problem using the stop there, going on elsewhere. It's just not somewhere you'd want to get a hotel. Grotville.

Actually if you have an hour to spare it has the world's most confusing pedestrian subway under the roundabout. You can go round, and round, and round, and round.

cocofromdijon

You're right nona! I get lost everytime I go back there

BigRuss

The museum is outstanding, and ron is right -- take the Bakerloo line to Lambeth North and you'll be about four blocks from the museum.

Cholmondley_Warner

Despite what some people seem to be saying; the Elephant is perfctly acceptable. I worked there for a while and there are some good pubs and a killer chinese restaurant (the best I've come across).

Act the JR Arthr and you will soon find yourself in a barney. Behave and it's fine.

But I'd still go to either Waterloo or Lambeth North - as they are closer and the area is nicer.

janisj

Besides what everyone else has said (especially about the tube stations that are nearer and the buses) . . . Nothing wrong w/ E & C. Mostly on here when folks say "avoid Elephant & castle", it is about renting a holiday flat in the area. I'd never <i>stay </i>there on vacation -- but walking through is OK (aside from the estates)

avalon

I love tha cafe in the Museum. They have the best Mac and Cheese, reasonable prices too