Diane Ethridge

We love to travel in the UK but suggest that tourists stay away from having their laundry and/or dry cleaning done while there. We had less than a load of laundry done in London & the price was $98 US. In Scotland, I had 2 prs of jeans dry-cleaned at a cost of $50 US & the dry cleaning fluid never dried in the remaining 5 days of the trip. I had to tie them up in a plastic bag for packing to return home, the fumes were so strong. Washaterias are not that hard to find & I suggest you use them if needed.

ron

Last September/October, a service wash (wash, dry and fold) cost me £5 in Edinburgh and £7 or £8 in London.

xxx

I think you were gouged, we had our all of our outerwear laundry dry cleaned in Chelsea for approx $25, next day service as well.

xxx

Does anyone know if there is a drycleaner service around Tottingham Court, London? If you provide an address I'd appreciate it, I'll be there in June 2001.

elaine

Diane, you were gouged
I've had laundry and drycleaning arranged by fairly pricey London hotels, and I felt that the charges were a bit high but not outrageous as you experienced--taking it to a place yourself should be that much cheaper, and of course fume-free

Annie

I had bad experiences with dry cleaners while living in Ireland. My husband's shirts looked like they had been sat on, and then the clerk couldn't believe that I didn't want her to fold up the shirts and put them in a bag, rather than have me carry them out on a hanger!

Also, my clothes were NEVER ready when they said they would be.

That said, why would you have jeans dry cleaned?

Also, you definitely got taken on the prices.

Diane

I didn't ask for them to be dry-cleaned - just left them to be laundered & that's what I got. Also, on that same trip, the hotel tried to charge half to cash a 100 lb Am Ex cashier's check. He had to walk 3 mi, in the rain, to the AMEX office as we were down to less than cab fare. Won't make that mistake again.

frank

Launderettes have a scale of charges on the wall including "service wash" ie they do it for you.
Sorry you were overcharged.Next time check the price.
Also Amex isn't welcome in Europe-they overcharge!

Liz

I would strongly suggest...DON'T use your hotel's laundry service. Instead, take them to a laundrette or dry cleaners yourself. You will find the prices are MUCH cheaper, and you can usually get a 24 hour turnaround.

Sorry you got so overcharged!

elaine

I respectfully disagree with the last comment. As a short-term visitor to a place, I would feel that I have more
recourse with my hotel if something goes wrong with my laundry/cleaning, than if I had to argue with a local dry cleaner who has no incentive to solve my problem. I don't know about you, but I can't always get a dry cleaner in my own home town to own up to its mistakes.
Yes I understand that the hotel charges a mark-up on arranging the service, but I'm not sending my whole wardrobe, just a few pieces. And I'd rather just have (wonderful) bread and cheese for dinner if I have to make up the difference in cost, but that's a personal decision.

jhm

xxx = I'm assuming you mean Tottenham Court Road. If you're around UCL, there are many cleaners. Try Goodge Street just off of Tottenham Court Road.

The dry cleaners in London are generally extortionate around touristy areas - i.e. Mayfair. Chelsea is more reasonable. Hotel dry cleaners are extortionate generally, but sometimes you are paying for the convenience, as was noted earlier.

Liz

Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've never had a dry cleaner in the UK make a mistake. Or maybe we just have a very high standard of drycleaners over here!