HAS ANYONE BEEN TO LONDON?
 

Has anyone been to London in the past month? What new? What are the good restaurants? Hot spots? New shops? Sights? I leave next week on my 8th trip and I really have not planned anything except for shopping and going to Starbucks (I printed a map for every Starbucks location, I am addicted).

anyone?

Richardab pick up a copy of a magazine called Wallpaper...if you like to shop and go to the trendy places this magazine usually is a good resource...
Have fun I envy you...

Its your 8th trip to London, and all you want to know is about shopping and Starbucks?????? Try your local mall and save yourself the airfare. Sorry, Ask a joke question and you get joke answeres!

I know plenty about shopping, I was wondering abouts what was new....

easy there jor. no need to attack the man.

i was there last month. i'd say Coffee Republic and Costa are far better than Starbucks any day, but then again, I'm a Peet's addict, so it's all about taste.

hot spots. depends on what you like. what your budget is. we went on somewhat of a budget and ate at amazing and hip restaurants, stayed in a designer hotel and so on.

Well they are tearing up Trafalger Sq. if that interests you. It's going to become a pedestrian center from what I could tell.

richardab is TROLLING!! see the thread about doing a search. He wants someone to tell him to do a search.

They have this great new thing that is all the rage, it is called the Tower of London.

Also, they have just finished Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. I guess you just didn't make it in time for the grand openings before.

Thanks Lewis. I knew I wasn't the only one who knows he is trolling.

What trolling? I am simply going to London in a week and wanted to know what was going on this month. I did a search many times but only found the usual stuff but I am not looking for the usual sights and shops. I am looking for what's new and different and limited time events and shows.

To clarify my original question, My primary reason for going to London is to shop and get new clothes for Summer.

Biscuit, I agree with Peets, its by far the best premium coffee but what were those restaurants you found?

Why is everyone here so judgemental?

In the words of the great Yogi, Berra that is, London is so crowded that no one goes there anymore.

I don't know why Richard. People just like to be critical and nasty, it makes them feel better somehow, especially when they are pseudo-anonymous. Just ignore them.

Anyway, in response to your questions, here's a link to my trip report. It's long, but has all the goodies in there...

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34415885

Just paste the link into the URL field.

Have a great trip!

richardab,

I just returned from London yesterday and posted my report on the Cumberland earlier. (Not sure if anyone here cared to read it or not.) In the next few days I do plan on posting a fuller report of my trip.

Anyway, I know that my suggestions don't qualify as anything new or hot, but that's not why I go to London really.

If you haven't been there already, have a look at Greenwich with the famous ship Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory and Royal Naval College designed by Wren. The grounds around the observatory are gorgeous and well worth a stroll. Greenwich itself also looked pretty, although I didn't spend as much time there as I would have liked.

Windsor Castle and its pretty environs are also worth seeing if you are an art and history buff like me. They seemed to have done a marvelous job of restoring the rooms damaged by the 1992 fire.

And for something relatively new, try the London Eye with its wonderful panoramic views of London!

I avoided most American chains like the plague. Pret a Manger seemed a perfect alternative for light breakfasts. Loved their compote parfaits!

Hey Biscuit have you seen this thread??
It's still in the top 50.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...59&start=0

If you have enough dough for airfair and a week to shop London for spring cloths and Starbucks, you need your personal assistant to post these questions. Sorry if I am judgemental! but I'm on my way to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things before I have to put in 10 hours at work. Send a post card darling, and say hello to the Royals.

Have you tried Timeout? You can either pick up the magazine when you arrive or you can go to www.timeout.com/london. They usually have good reviews and up-to-date information on what's happening around town.

I can relate to going to London just for the shopping. It's fabulous and I wish I were there now!

As for Starbucks, there are indeed better places, although I found Costa horrible in comparison. Coffee Republic is much better, although Cafe Nero is my favourite.

Yeah, I've seen the thread Lewis. It's useless.

People just love to complain instead of help. So what if there are a thousand posts (spread out over time) about the same thing?

Different people have different needs here.

The Beatles said it best, "Let it Be."

Gee RichardAb - is this before or after your trip to Vienna?

Richard, you big man about town! Sorry to read about your addiction to Starbucks. We must have tea soon. Please give my best to Charles and the lads. It's been simple weeks since I chatted whith the Prince.

Ta Ta

First of all thank you to Biscuit, Katherine, Rebecka and anyone else who offered info.

jor - Sorry but my budget allows me to go to Europe twice a year and I always stop in London or Paris to shop. Sorry about the way I live. Luckily my hotel and part of my airfare is FREE. I travel a lot and use my miles I get from business trips. Also if I had a personal assistant I wouldn't be able to afford a vacation.

Heyblondie - I have the Timeout book, but the Timeout magazine is too expensive at newstands in NYC and I will buy as I arrive in London.

Helenc - Sorry I am not living in Studio City right now. I am live in New York City for the Summer months and go back to Los Angeles for the Winter.

Debbie - I am going to London AND Vienna. 4 days in London and 7 days in Vienna. If you are not sure about this you can read about my Heathrow questions on this link which explains my connections...

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...amp;dirtyBit=1