JoeG,
The single day and weekend travelcards can be purchased at the station. Prices are:

single day - 5.30
single day off-peak (after 9:30am?)- 4.30
weekend (good both Sat/Sun) - 6.40

All are for zones 1 and 2 valid on tube or bus. Compare that to the price of 2.00 for a single tube journey to decide if you'll use it enough to warrant buying a travelcard. Another option is to buy a carnet of 10 zone 1 tube tickets for 15.00. I believe these are fully transferable, i.e. you can buy one carnet of 10 tickets to share. I didn't investigate the longer travelcard options as we weren't staying long enough to make it worthwhile. Some people prefer buying the longer travelcards for convenience. I never took a bus, I can't figure out bus schedules to save my life but the tube is easy.

Here's a link to the dizzying list of ticket/travelcard options:

http://tube.tfl.gov.uk/content/tickets/fandtjan2004.pdf

Hope this helps rather than adding to further confusion ;)

Borough Market on Saturday morning is great. It's also convenient to other southbank sites.

Oops, just saw starspinner's post after I added mine... makes mine kind of redundant. I'll add one more piece of advice:

The London tube uses directions (northbound, southbound, etc.) rather than end stations on their signage. It's easier to figure out and more intuitive for first time users, unless of course you're direction challenged ;)

Patty,
Thank you for clarifying this for me. I think I understand now.
JoeG

Just a footnote about finding your way about the tube - London Transport provide lots of leaflets including one with all that first-timers need to know: just keep an eye out for the leaflet racks at any station, and most of the information will also be replicated on their website - www.tfl.gov.uk.

One of things you will see is that the platform indicators on each line will indicate trains by their destination: for most trips it won't be important once you have decided which line and general direction you need, but it might, since stations on the Circle Line share platforms with other lines, and some lines divide and serve different routes once they leave central London.

PatrickLondon,
I did download the leaflet from the tfl website. The short version was only 10 pages. Tonger version is like 60 pages. I have the feeling that this is one of those things that's easier doing than explaining. I just realized that the manual for my digital camera is 170 pages, I've only read about 8 pages and have taken thousands of pictures without any problems.
Hey, I'm still looking for a live music venue for Sat. night (Mar 13).
JoeG

Starspinners, do you by any chance still have some leftover photos of the Morgan Hotel to share??? I was thinking of staying there during our upcoming trip (3 people) and was hoping you still had them. If you by chance do, my email is [email protected]. Thanks so much!!! Carolyn

JoeG, I just received my tickets for Jerry Springer the Opera and the show begins at 7:45 PM. I noticed that you said it began at 8:30. Please check. We are attending in July so that might account for an earlier start time.

Hi Carolyn,
Check your yahoo email inbox for a message from me.
I am also topping a Fodors' thread for you.

JuneAnn,
We're seeing Jerry Springer on Friday night - there are two performances. 5:30 & 8:30PM.
JoeG

Let us know how you liked the show.
Have a great trip.
June

Joe G, if you don't get a lead here, why don't you pick up Time Out when you arrive to find a performance for the 13th. You could also email your hotel for advice. Good luck!

mvor,
I just looked on the website for the Tate Modern. The menu for Cafe 7 looks great. Prices don't look too bad either. We will likely be there in the afternoon on Saturday and I see they don't take reservations for lunch. We'll just have to take our chances.
Also your suggesstion for getting a Time Out magazine is probably our best source for live music possiblities.I was hoping to see someone like Down to the Bone, St, Germain, Average White Band, Tower of Power -something along those lines. It seems that places like the Jazz Cafe or London Astoria would be good venues for us. Unfortunatley not for the night in question.
Otherwise, we leave in one week and I believe that we are ready to go!
JoeG

JoeG: Your itinerary sounds great. I was never very interested in visiting London either and now it is one of our favorite destinations. We were most recently there the second week in December 2003. Went to the Courtauld/Somerset House for the first time and loved it. Also very much enjoyed our tour of the Cabinet War Rooms.

Thought you might get some info on jazz or other things of interest on the following site: www.timeout.com/london/

Have a wonderful time. Look forward to your trip report.

Try a London Walking Tour. There are several, but my favorite was the "Jack the Ripper". Excellent!

What a busy place Fodor's is. I posted to this thread this morning and it is currently 170.

Topping for JoeG.