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Been a few times in January - I'm in Toronto - I took a winter coat and boots, not really heavy ones but better to keep your feet dry - they get cold and it's hard to warm up, gloves, scarf, a hat but you won't always need them.
London in January is nothing like a Montreal or Toronto winter. |
I was in London this past January...the last Saturday I was there was 19 January...I had tickets to see Tom Paxton at the Queen Elizabeth Centre on Southbank (amazing, it was sold out believe it or not and all the Brits there knew the words to all his great songs, was I impressed as I might have been the only American there!) but in any event, it was around 15 degrees and was such a pleasant night sitting on one of the benches on the South Bank of the thames waiting for the concert to begin wearing a spring jacket...actually it usually doesn't get under freezing, probably the lowest it was was about 3 or 4 degrees and while the telly talked about terrible weather throughout the country, the entire week was not so terrible as temperatures during the day were about 8 or 9 and at night as noted 3 or 4...you will be pleasantly surprised (although I suppose it can get a bit nippier but from what I've read, it hardly ever snows so hard that snow sticks).
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January 2008 was the wettest on record, but who knows what 2009 will be like.
During bad weather, it's generally better to travel by tube. You should bring a scarf and gloves, an umbrella that folds up small and two pairs of comfortable shoes or boots (in case one pair gets wet). A mac or waterproof jacket is fine, if you can put warm layers underneath. Thermal underwear is great in really cold weather. |
I'd have a rainproof outer layer. London gets windy too, so a lined microfiber raincoat would protect you against rain and that cold damp wind.
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Thanks everyone! I think my weather concerns are pretty much answered. I have 2 new questions though.
-For a 10 day-trip (if I'm, let's say, flying in early morning on day 1 and flying out on day 11), what would be my best transport card option? I've tried to sketch some kind of itinerary by grouping the sites I want to see that are close together in one day. So I guess most of the transportation I'll need will be from accommodation to area and back; maybe some days it'll be more if I decide to go out at night or something. Could I just get an Oyster card with money on it and use it as I go or would getting a 7-day travelcard and a 3-day card be better? -This may sound really stupid but is it hard for people to understand the British accent? English isn't my first language and I'm still learning but I found that when I watch British movies and I have difficulties to understand what they say. I'm thinking to rent a whole bunch of British movies to practice! Anyone more suggestions for that? Again this may sound silly but I know that by experience, some French from France can't even understand us French-Canadians even though we speak the same language, just with different accents and expressions. |
"<i>is it hard for people to understand the British accent? </i>" :) Not stupid.
Well - first of all there isn't one British accent. You will understand many folks but you will run into Scots, South Asians, Welsh, folks from the NW and NE of England and lots of others - and ALL will sound different. Just like in the States, Alabamans sound nothing like people from Minnesota. If you rent a film set in parts of northern England or Glasgow you will think you are listening to some alien tongue :D Just remember - they will have just as hard a time understanding you - and there are people in London from just about EVERY county on Earth -- so don't sweat it. Now about your travel card -- Get an Oyster card and load a zone 1-2, weekly travel card on it. Then as that runs out you can add more £ onto the Oyster. Pay as you go may be the best choice for the last 3 days - or maybe not. But the ticket seller in any tube station will be able to tell you which option is best. Don't worry about it - the staff knows everything about Oyster and will sell you the best tickets for your needs. |
nessa, I live in London, and I once spent two weeks in Montreal in early November. My regular London clothes were fine for the weather there. It was more consistently colder than London, perhaps, (but fortunately sunny), but nothing we don't experience here. The main difference is that our weather is more changeable - but when the clouds come in they tend to trap the warmer air London's giving off.
As PalenQ says, layers are the thing, rather than thick and bulky clothes. So T-shirts, a sweater or two, something warm for your legs, scarf and gloves, a warm (and waterproof) outer layer. You can also get scarves, gloves and some sort of waterproofing fairly cheap once you're here (street stalls and the like). |
nessa-
1) If you are going with someone else on the trip, you may be better off getting a PAPER 7-day travelcard so that you can take advantage of the 2-for-1 deals. If you're going by yourself, then just load a 7-day travelcard onto your Oyster card. If you'ren ot sure what the 2-for-1 deals are, do a search here or go to www.daysoutguide.co.uk 2) As far as British accent goes, I don't think it's that difficult to understand. But Northern UK accents can be quite challenging. Like Janis said, lots of people in London are from different countries (esp Eastern Europe these days). AS a matter of fact, on my last trip 6 months ago, almost every waitstaff in all the restaurants I went to had some "foreign" accents. It won't hurt to rent some British movies just for fun but i don't think it's essential. |
yk,
I will be traveling by myself so I guess I would be better with just an Oyster card and loading a zone 1-2 week card on it. I'm guessing getting the Oyster card from any Tube station will be no problem. Any advice on special things to do in London in winter? I'll hit all the main museums and take a day-trip to Bath. I'll try to visit a few markets as well. But if anyone has any suggestions that would be nice. I'm not such an outdoor kind of person but I do enjoy walking in the city. |
I've taken a couple of walks with London Walks. They have plenty of tours every day of the week. The tours are quite popular but I tend to think they aren't as popular in the winter.
I always enjoy going to the opera or symphony or musical or theatre when I'm in London. Esp the opera and symphony because their seasons only run from fall thru spring and not available in summer. But whether those things interest you I do not know. Otherwise, lots of tea breaks will keep you warm. |
Would it be worth it to take the London Eye ride in January? Any idea how long the lines are at that time of the year? Would the fast track be worth the extra money? Would I be better early in the morning? Or later at night?
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If it's a clear day it's definitely worth a ride. I've been in June 2006 and then again in March 2008 and the lines have never been prohibitive. Both times it took approximately 10 minutes to get tickets, 20 to wait in line and then 30 for the ride.
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why would not this fab ride be as great in january as in any other months
or do the Londonscapes appear different in different months? St Paul's, Houses of Parliament, buckingham palace, the Gherkin, the Royal Parks, Trafalgar Square, the tall modern buildings in the city and even the Thames will be about the same in January as in any other month |
The Eye closes for nearly 2 weeks every January for maintenance. Not sure if the 2009 dates have been published yet.
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Thanks janisj! That's very useful to know!
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The Eye closes for nearly 2 weeks every January for some much needed 'shut eye'
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I found the dates for the London Eye maintenance period: January 11th to 20th.
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Alright everyone! I think it's time to post my first schedule. This is just a rough itinerary of what I really want to see. PLEASEEEE comment and help me make this better.
(Just a side note first: I think I'll actually manage to take a full 2 weeks of vacation! I'm planning for 13 full days now! I'm really excited.) Day 1 (Thursday)- Land in LGW early morning Leave luggage at hostel and take the hop on bus tour Day 2 - Explore the South Kensington museums and do a little shopping in the area Day 3 - If weather permits, London Eye Tate Modern and Tate Britain (is the TateToTate boat running in the winter as well?) Visit Borough Market and the Southbank Book Market Day 4 - Visit the Spitalfields Market Take a walking tour of the East End Day 5 - Lazy morning around Hyde Park Visit the Westminster Abbey Day 6 - Day trip to Bath Day 7 - Take the Westminster Walk in the morning Visit the National Gallery Visit the Florence Nightingale Museum Day 8 - Visit Greenwich and Maritime Museum Come back to Central London for afternoon tea (any nice formal place to suggest? Brown's? Dorcester? Claridge's?) Visit the National Portrait Museum (late night on Thursdays and Fridays) Day 9 - Visit the Courtauld Gallery and Covent Garden See lunchtime concert at St. Martin in the Fields Shop on Oxford St. and around Day 10 - Explore Notting Hill and Portobello Market in the morning Visit Guildhall Art Gallery and Museum of London in the afternoon Day 11 - Explore Hampstead Heath and Camden Town Day 12 - Take the Inns of Courts walking tour Do a little more shopping in the afternoon or go back to any place or museum missed Day 13 - The best for last: British Museum and British Library Also take the Literary Bloomsbury and Old Museum Quarter Walk. Day 14 - Bye bye London. Ouff. That's it. Well almost. I almost want to see an opera and a musical but I guess I'll just try to find tickets when in London. I will have a travelcard for the whole time (7-day travelcard x 2). I guess it's pretty easy to figure out my interests: art, books and shopping. It's really that easy. So anything I might be missing? (But don't tell me the Tower of London. I can't even understand what's interesting to see there and I refuse to pay 30$ for admission.) |
Day 1 (Thursday)-
Looks great. This is a nice way to orient yourself and maybe get a few photos! Day 2 - Sounds like a good plan. If you're coming from far away you may still be jet lagged so maybe only one museum? Day 3 - Try to do Borough Market first thing in the morning before it gets to crowded. London Eye is a great combo with Southbank Book market (as well as Gabriel's Wharf and possibly even Oxo tower). Perhaps others can comment on the museums. I find it an awful lot to do more than one museum in a day. I love museums and the museums in London are amazing, but overwhelming! Day 4 - Don't have any advice on this one Day 5 - If you weren't able to make it to The Tate you could go after Westminster Abbey as it is nearby Day 6 - Trip to Bath sounds great! Day 7 - This plan definitely makes logistic sense since the National Gallery is a medium walk from Westminster Abbey. I LOVE the National Gallery! Day 8 - We did tea at the Lanesborough...very nice! The National Portrait Gallery is nice, but compared to some of the other wonderful museums it paled a bit for me. There are some great pieces - particularly the Tudors. Day 9 - No advice Day 10 - Get to Portobello Rd Market early to beat crowds. It gets crazy! Day 11 - Hampstead Heath and Camden Town - both fun areas! Day 12 - This sounds like a good low key day to catch up on missed things. Day 13 - The best for last: Allow yourself plent of time for the British Museum! Day 14 - Bye bye London. The only major thing I noticed missing was the Tower of London. It's my hands down favorite London historical site! You're going to have a great trip! |
"-This may sound really stupid but is it hard for people to understand the British accent? English isn't my first language and I'm still learning but I found that when I watch British movies and I have difficulties to understand what they say."
Not at all. I'm from the US so english is my first language and for the life of me, I cannot understand some Brits and especially the Scottish. I have no problem understanding scandinavians whose first language is not english. I ususally have no problems with germans but some brits and especially scots, it sounds like they have a mouthful of food and trying to talk at the same time and you're thinking HUH???? |
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