Just back from London - a quick trip report
 

Since I've gotten such great advice on this forum, I wanted to take a couple of minutes and share a very quick trip report. If anyone has any questions, I'd be more than happy to try and answer them!

Arrived at LHR last Wednesday morning at 6am just as everything was opening up for the day. Breezed through Immigration and caught the HEX to Paddington. As our main purpose of the trip was my husband's business conference at the Hilton Metropole, we chose to stay at the hotel for the week.

A little bit about the hotel. As others have said, it is primarily a business oriented hotel. Very very busy! I wouldn't have picked the hotel or the area (by Paddington) as a first choice, but it was extremely convenient to three tube lines. We were able to get semi-early check in at 11 am and took a quick nap before heading out for the day.

Some highlights of the trip included getting Adam Sandler's autograph at the premiere of his movie "Click" in Leicester Square, visiting friends in Letchworth - a nice break from the busy city, and a bus tour of Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Warwick Castle.

This was our second visit to London so we skipped a lot of the main tourist attractions in favor of absorbing the city at our own pace. We spent lots of times in pubs with our local friends, and just really enjoyed exploring different areas and neighborhoods.

On another note, I can heartily recommend the Masala Zone in Soho for Indian food. Very reasonably priced and the best Indian food we've had.

Any other questions I can answer, feel free to ask!

Were you upgraded at the Hilton Metropole?

Hi Tyr - glad you enjoyed Letchworth. I grew up there, although I've lived in North Carolina for ages. Don't often hear of people going there!

What were your impressions of the bus tour?

oooh yeah, i like Masala Zone. I have to remind myself to visit them again on my next visit (which will be in November!)

Jamila - They said we were upgraded, but it seemed like a regular room. We were in the West Tower (at my request). Unfortunately, we ended up with two beds instead of one, but they were trying to accomodate our early check-in request.

Thursdaysd - We really liked Letchworth! It almost reminded us of a small American town, but it was so charming. A great break from the hustle and bustle of London.

crazy - The bus tour was fun, but it was a lot to fit into a day. We only had 45 minutes in Oxford as opposed to an hour and a half in Stratford. I would have loved more time in Oxford - what an amazing city. I took the tour through Evan Evans and I was less than impressed with our guide, Rodney. He was not at all friendly and even condescending at times. Not great qualities for a tour guide. I'm considering writing an email to the company.

If you're not impressed with the guide, do write and say so. Oftentimes, we get home from our travels, and just put those complaints behind us. I think the company would appreciate any feedback you have.

While in London, I took a walking tour, and was dismayed to see the guide open up a newspaper (during a brief time on the tube). He seemed bored.

Feedback is welcomed by tour operators. They are unable to monitor the quality of tour guides and drivers unless they stick a mystery customer on every departure. As they are not able to do that, an email from a previous client will be helpful.

Tyr - as your friends may have told you, Letchworth was developed in the early 1900s by Ebeneezer Howard, a Quaker, as the "First Garden City" - my grandparents were among the early "settlers". Howard's idea was that every house should have a garden (yard in American), and the streets should have trees. Also, no pubs! Very un-British. You could tell when you left the town limits, because then there would be a pub. (No longer the case.)

It's too bad about your guide. We once did that same trip, and the guide was quite good until she abandoned us in favor of her cell phone as we came back into London. We would have liked to hear about the pretty squares we were driving past.

We took a London Walks tour of the Blackfryer's area and our guide answered her cell phone in the middle of her talk. That was a new one!

I think I will shoot off an email to the tour company about our guide. I was really disappointed by his attitude and I think Evan Evans should be aware.

Thanks for all of your advice!