London One Week Early May
Dec 23rd, 2016, 10:03 AM
#41
Hooameye : >>The London Pass is not a "travel pass".<<
Actually the London Pass does sell an overpriced and over-kill travel pass (7 day zone 1-6 -- ridiculous)
Seeksocean: Do NOT (reapeat: <B>DO NOT</B> ) buy either the London Pass or the optional LP travel pass. Just don't.
You either want an Oyster card (purchased in any tube station) . . . OR a <u>paper</u> travelcard (purchased in any <u>train</u> station). You need the paper travel card if you want to use the 2for1 Days Out discounts. If not, then juts regular Oyster cards are what you want.
https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london
Actually the London Pass does sell an overpriced and over-kill travel pass (7 day zone 1-6 -- ridiculous)
Seeksocean: Do NOT (reapeat: <B>DO NOT</B> ) buy either the London Pass or the optional LP travel pass. Just don't.
You either want an Oyster card (purchased in any tube station) . . . OR a <u>paper</u> travelcard (purchased in any <u>train</u> station). You need the paper travel card if you want to use the 2for1 Days Out discounts. If not, then juts regular Oyster cards are what you want.
https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london
Dec 23rd, 2016, 01:24 PM
#45
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FYI...
If you got to Paris and plan on using public transport a lot in Paris (which I recommend), look into a Navigo card (electronic card) with a Mon-Sun pass loaded onto it.
It covers all zones including CDG airport. It costs (I believe ) 21.25€ (or something like that), plus 5€ one-time fee.
RT between CDG and the city is about 17€ alone, which means for an additional 10€ or so, you get unlimited transport. (The equivalent of approx six single tickets.)
You'll need a passport-size photo.
Note that this is NOT a one-week card for any seven consecutive days. It runs Mon-Sun. However, when we are in Paris, we find that if as few a four days are covered, it is worth it, because we ride the Metro and buses a lot.
BTW, seekocean,...I thought I had an account on Trip Advisor, but I can't seem to find out how to log in. Feel free to ask any questions right here, because, though I've been to London five times and Paris seven, there are lots of Fodorites who know much, much, MUCH more than I -- many of them live and work in those two cities, and many others have visited dozens of times.
This is my first go-to place when I have a question...a treasure trove of advice.
ssander
If you got to Paris and plan on using public transport a lot in Paris (which I recommend), look into a Navigo card (electronic card) with a Mon-Sun pass loaded onto it.
It covers all zones including CDG airport. It costs (I believe ) 21.25€ (or something like that), plus 5€ one-time fee.
RT between CDG and the city is about 17€ alone, which means for an additional 10€ or so, you get unlimited transport. (The equivalent of approx six single tickets.)
You'll need a passport-size photo.
Note that this is NOT a one-week card for any seven consecutive days. It runs Mon-Sun. However, when we are in Paris, we find that if as few a four days are covered, it is worth it, because we ride the Metro and buses a lot.
BTW, seekocean,...I thought I had an account on Trip Advisor, but I can't seem to find out how to log in. Feel free to ask any questions right here, because, though I've been to London five times and Paris seven, there are lots of Fodorites who know much, much, MUCH more than I -- many of them live and work in those two cities, and many others have visited dozens of times.
This is my first go-to place when I have a question...a treasure trove of advice.
ssander
Dec 23rd, 2016, 02:46 PM
#46
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seekocean...
I have managed to login to Trip Advisor, though I have no idea how to send/received private messages.
If you can figure it out, I'll be glad to answer any questions I can...with no guarantees.
ssander
I have managed to login to Trip Advisor, though I have no idea how to send/received private messages.
If you can figure it out, I'll be glad to answer any questions I can...with no guarantees.
ssander
Dec 23rd, 2016, 04:51 PM
#47
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Hi Seeksocean,
We have also stayed with onefinestay and thought their service was good and the apartment very nice. If you don't find something with them it looks like Citadines Trafalgar Square can be had for around $200 per night in May for a studio. One bedroom goes for about $240. Good location for theatre and some major sights.
If you use other sites to find hotel rates be sure to contact the hotel directly and ask about rates and upgrades. Thistle gave us a better rate and breakfast when I emailed the manager.
We were in London last May and saw "The Play that Goes Wrong" and "Sunny Afternoon" a musical about the Kinks and featuring their music. We enjoyed both very much. We like to have dinner in Covent Garden before the theater and can shop a little before dinner.
My favorites in London:
St. Paul's
The Tower (arrive in the morning and head straight to the jewels)
Churchill's War Rooms
Hampton Court Palace
Afternoon tea at least once
My trip report is here if you are interested http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...y-173546-2.cfm
You have to get past Stonehenge and Bath to our London days.
We have also stayed with onefinestay and thought their service was good and the apartment very nice. If you don't find something with them it looks like Citadines Trafalgar Square can be had for around $200 per night in May for a studio. One bedroom goes for about $240. Good location for theatre and some major sights.
If you use other sites to find hotel rates be sure to contact the hotel directly and ask about rates and upgrades. Thistle gave us a better rate and breakfast when I emailed the manager.
We were in London last May and saw "The Play that Goes Wrong" and "Sunny Afternoon" a musical about the Kinks and featuring their music. We enjoyed both very much. We like to have dinner in Covent Garden before the theater and can shop a little before dinner.
My favorites in London:
St. Paul's
The Tower (arrive in the morning and head straight to the jewels)
Churchill's War Rooms
Hampton Court Palace
Afternoon tea at least once
My trip report is here if you are interested http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...y-173546-2.cfm
You have to get past Stonehenge and Bath to our London days.
Dec 23rd, 2016, 05:53 PM
#48
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Thanks so much! All this info is great. I will read your report..absolutely! = I was also looking at the Cheval Harrington Court. They are reasonable and well located.
ssander, I'll try and find you on TA.
ssander, I'll try and find you on TA.
Dec 23rd, 2016, 11:01 PM
#49
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ssander, a digression, but just to say I couldn't spot any errors in your bus tour, beyond a couple of typos (should be "Grosvenor", "Stuart" and "Inns of Court"). I could amplify on various points, of course:
- the Supreme Court is a relatively recent institution, focussing on cases arising under our Human Rights Act, and is very open to the public and to visitors, with all sorts of explanatory information about its work and the development of law in the field, and well worth seeing if you're interested in the subject
- St Margaret's is traditionally considered the parish church for the House of Commons: on VE Day in 1945, Churchill formally led the House of Commons over the road for a service after the announcement of the final German surrender
- The other statues on Trafalgar Square are assorted military heroes of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with the exception of the "Fourth Plinth" (far left), left vacant for assorted reasons and now occupied for eighteen months at a time by a succession of artworks chosen after public consultation.
- Just beside St Martin in the Fields, the statue of a nurse is of Edith Cavell, shot in Brussels in 1915 for helping Allied servicemen escape back to the UK.
- St Bride's on Fleet St is sometimes known as "the wedding cake church" because of the shape of its spire. It still retains connections to the world of the press, journalism and media generally (most of the churches in the old City retain historic connections with the modern successors of the old merchant guilds or "livery companies" in different fields).
- the Supreme Court is a relatively recent institution, focussing on cases arising under our Human Rights Act, and is very open to the public and to visitors, with all sorts of explanatory information about its work and the development of law in the field, and well worth seeing if you're interested in the subject
- St Margaret's is traditionally considered the parish church for the House of Commons: on VE Day in 1945, Churchill formally led the House of Commons over the road for a service after the announcement of the final German surrender
- The other statues on Trafalgar Square are assorted military heroes of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with the exception of the "Fourth Plinth" (far left), left vacant for assorted reasons and now occupied for eighteen months at a time by a succession of artworks chosen after public consultation.
- Just beside St Martin in the Fields, the statue of a nurse is of Edith Cavell, shot in Brussels in 1915 for helping Allied servicemen escape back to the UK.
- St Bride's on Fleet St is sometimes known as "the wedding cake church" because of the shape of its spire. It still retains connections to the world of the press, journalism and media generally (most of the churches in the old City retain historic connections with the modern successors of the old merchant guilds or "livery companies" in different fields).
Dec 24th, 2016, 02:33 AM
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Patrick...thanks so much for that background info. I have added the bulk of it to my tour and uploaded the new version.
seekocean...if you downloaded it yesterday, get the updated version.
ssander
seekocean...if you downloaded it yesterday, get the updated version.
ssander
Dec 24th, 2016, 04:56 AM
#51
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Okay, thanks. Such great info!! Anybody have an opinion in any way of the CHEVAL HARRINGTON? ssander..if you go on TA, I replied to a forum thread titled, Paris/London Vacation. I have the same name. If you add a comment and if you have the same name I can make the connection. I mostly wanted to touch base on encouraging you to go to Machu Picchu. Totally unrelated to this thread.
Dec 24th, 2016, 09:24 AM
#53
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seeksocean, I rented Cheval Three Quays near the Tower. It was wonderful. I looked at the other Cheval properties and they seem equally good. We liked Three Quays because of its location, and because on weekends it's slightly cheaper, because it's in the City. Tower Hill Station is near, or you can get to town using the Catamaran Waterbuses that leave from Tower Bridge Pier.
Service is very good at Cheval, and it has a proper front desk, which is a plus to me.
Service is very good at Cheval, and it has a proper front desk, which is a plus to me.
Dec 24th, 2016, 01:45 PM
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With 7 days be sure IMO to do a day trip into a more real England than London, great as it is- but tourists seem to outnumber Brits in parts of central London -why not do a day trip to say Oxford and tour the colleges and in many ways a vibrant regional English town.
Or to Windsor for the castle but also Eton - the posh town and school opposite it and another rather typical bustling English market town.
Both are no more than an hour by train (don't do both in one day though)- get out of London at least one day!)
Hampton Court is another awesome sight outside of central London but really is in London if you ask me - but on another day maybe take a boat on the Thames there one way and train back -Henry VIII's great Tudor Palace that has one of the very best presentations inside it of any old palace or castle I've been too.
Or to Windsor for the castle but also Eton - the posh town and school opposite it and another rather typical bustling English market town.
Both are no more than an hour by train (don't do both in one day though)- get out of London at least one day!)
Hampton Court is another awesome sight outside of central London but really is in London if you ask me - but on another day maybe take a boat on the Thames there one way and train back -Henry VIII's great Tudor Palace that has one of the very best presentations inside it of any old palace or castle I've been too.
Dec 24th, 2016, 02:14 PM
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Thank you! Hay All! Please no heckling...but what is considered downtown, as far as where you could walk to many of the historical sites? You know what I mean...I hope? Near the Big Ben? We've been now looking on Airbnb. It's more in our $$ range. If it's a completely stupid question...don't relay it here. After all it is the day before Christmas. Thanks!
Dec 24th, 2016, 03:48 PM
#57
There is no 'downtown'. Central London is ENORMOUS. And no single location is walking distance to more than a very few of the sites. There are more than 20 central/convenient neighborhoods.
You can look in South Kensington (Kensington is not as central as South Kensington), Sloane Square, St James's, Russell Square, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Victoria, Covent garden, southwark (but only near the river), fitzrovia, and many others.
You can look in South Kensington (Kensington is not as central as South Kensington), Sloane Square, St James's, Russell Square, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Victoria, Covent garden, southwark (but only near the river), fitzrovia, and many others.
Dec 24th, 2016, 05:55 PM
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no matter where you stay everything is a short tube or bus ride away if not in walking distance. Or if a real walker everything is walkable- I rarely take the tube or bus - and IMO what you pass whilst walking from A to B is as interesting as B itself.
My favorite London walk is the South Bank Walk from the Eye Over London Ferris Wheel to the Tate Modern and over the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's- and climb to the roof of St Paul's for a great view over London!
Tate Modern is free so worth a look even if not into modern art- the building itself - a former Thames-side power plant-is as interesting as the art- the top floor cafe has nifty views too.
My favorite London walk is the South Bank Walk from the Eye Over London Ferris Wheel to the Tate Modern and over the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's- and climb to the roof of St Paul's for a great view over London!
Tate Modern is free so worth a look even if not into modern art- the building itself - a former Thames-side power plant-is as interesting as the art- the top floor cafe has nifty views too.
Dec 24th, 2016, 06:22 PM
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Exactly perfect replies. Thank you. With all this info and some Ipad/travel book research I think I will be on my way. Super appreciate everyone. It's what community is all about.
Dec 24th, 2016, 10:55 PM
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otoh, also consider that public transport is excellent, so you can get to all of your sights easily.
Last week I took my son on our traditional "winter holiday in London" and we stayed in Whitechapel (City Gate Apartments) near Brick Lane and Spitalfields. It's nice to be in a neighbourhood not entirely geared to tourists. I had a nasty cold for two days, so while my son (19) hit the town and the clubs, I could potter around Brick Lane and have artisan espresso and such (the area is in a process of gentrification)
So, it can also be important to have a good "base", with a supermarket at hand, good coffeeshops (not a chain) and good public transport. Our apartment was directly next to Aldgate East Station, so the connections were great.
Last week I took my son on our traditional "winter holiday in London" and we stayed in Whitechapel (City Gate Apartments) near Brick Lane and Spitalfields. It's nice to be in a neighbourhood not entirely geared to tourists. I had a nasty cold for two days, so while my son (19) hit the town and the clubs, I could potter around Brick Lane and have artisan espresso and such (the area is in a process of gentrification)
So, it can also be important to have a good "base", with a supermarket at hand, good coffeeshops (not a chain) and good public transport. Our apartment was directly next to Aldgate East Station, so the connections were great.
