FIRST TIMER IN LONDON
 

WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE I CAN BUY VISTORS TRAVELCARD. I WILL BE STAYING IN THE INSLINGTON AREA IS THIS A NICE PLACE AND STAYING AT THE ISLINGTON HOTEL ANY INFO ON THIS HOTEL LOCATED AT KINGS CROSS STATION AREA WHAT TEMPS CAN I EXPECT THANK YOU

FYI, try typing in lower case. Not sure of the hotel, but check out www.weather.com for temperatures. You can purchase the tube pass at any station.

p.s. will be there from 8/28/02 till 0/04/02

Don't bother with the visitors travelcard. You'll save money if you just buy the regular daily travelcards, available at any tube station. <BR><BR>They're cheaper after 9:30 AM, and on the weekend you can get a 2-day pass that saves even more. There's a weekly pass at an even better rate , you will need a passport-sized photo for the holder, but a cutup snapshot will do.<BR><BR>The regular tube passes are good for the whole day, on tube and buses.

Note to "Suzy":<BR>it seems all you know or speak about is this London tube pass.<BR>You're missing a much bigger world out there.

Suzy is a schmuck.

Arnold and "xxxx," I post about plenty of other things on these boards, as a simple search will show. As long as people are too lazy to look up the posts that are already here about the tube, I think I should be thanked for my patience rather than mocked.

Arnold! I know Suzy, Suzy is a friend of mine, and you are no Suzy!

Thansk, psl, I knew I could count on you.

still waiting to hear an opinion on the area of islington and hotel thistle islington if anyone knows about them also would it be a hassle if i took tubes from heathrow to kings cross station thank you will take your advice and buy travel card in london

ty susie for info

Islington is one of those areas in transition that's sorta trendy and sorta seedy at the same time.

I took the tube from Heathrow, but switched at South Kensington. It worked out well but I only had one piece of small luggage (on wheels) and a backpack. The Heathrow express will give you more room if you have a lot of luggage but it's also more expensive. <BR><BR>I used a one-week travel pass for zone 1 that I bought at the Heathrow station (although it doesn't cover the trip from Heathrow). That also worked out well for me.

hi --<BR><BR>if this hotel is located at the kings cross station, it's not in islington. the kings cross area is ugly and pretty seedy, imo. i stayed in bloomsbury for a month (near kings cross station) and made a point never to take that tube station if i could help it. i would not stay in the kings cross station area. <BR><BR>bloomsbury was nice, and russell square is nice too.

also, you can take the express train from heathrow directly to paddington station. from paddington, it's pretty easy to get anywhere you need to go in london.

The Islington Thistle seems to be on one of the main streets south of Kings Cross itself, where it shades into Clerkenwell/Finsbury. There will be a lot of road traffic outside, and you'd have to walk a bit to get to a tube station - and there's no real alternative to Kings Cross tube here, unless you rely on buses and taxis.<BR><BR>Not a particularly attractive area, but not dangerous (except when crossing the road).

Since we're staying in Russell Square, and landing at Gatwick, I had planned on taking Thameslink, and getting off at Kings Cross station. Now you say that KC is a "seedy" area! Do you think it's better to take the Gatwick Express and take the underground from Victoria Station? We have one big suitcase on wheels, (not overly big, but bigger than carry-on luggage). Help! We leave for England in July!

Penny... relax. Go with your original plan and alight at Kings X.<BR><BR>Its not as seedy as it was and is certainly not dangerous. There are literally dozens of cctv cameras monitored by police so dont worry.<BR><BR>Depending on the amount of luggage you have, simply cross the street outside. There's a subway from the underground (tube) station which may be safer as it is a busy road but then again there are pedestrian controlled lights. Once on the other side of the road turn right and pass Burger King and HSBC bank and Camden Town Hall. Turn left down Judd Street. (O'neils pub is on the corner). Right down to the end of the road and turn right past Russel Sq Tube station. <BR>Bingo! you've just walked to your Hotel! It'll take no more than 10 mins.<BR><BR>On the otherhand if you've plenty of heavy luggage it will feel a lot longer. Get a taxi from immediately outside Kings X... it should only take you 2 mins and cost &pound;5 inc. tip (+ extra per suitcase).<BR><BR>Hope this helps.<BR>Honestly Kings X is not nearly as bad as some people say (Ok its not wonderful but it has been considerably cleaned up in the last couple of years).<BR>So dont worry and enjoy your holiday!!!!<BR><BR>Dominic

I seem to be the only poster who's aware of the Airbus! You can catch it just outside the international terminal at Heathrow, and it will take you all the way to King's Cross. Cost about eight pounds, I think. Stow your luggage on the bottom deck, watch London from your seat on the top deck. ***

I agree w/ Sylvia. For anyone traveling to the north side of central London, the AirBus is perfect. Not as strenuous as the tube - no stairs with luggage! Cheaper than the train. And a great view from upstairs. The route ends at Kings Cross.<BR><BR>I really wish they hadn't terminated the southern route to Victoria.