We'll be in London for a week in Sept. <BR>Are there any recommendations for the various London Walks? Also, what is the best way to get to Windsor other than car? <BR>Thanks for any help. <BR> <BR>Ray

I heard that the Jack the Ripper walking tour was great. Lots of people I know highly recommend it.

Many guide books have mapped out walks. In fact, either Fodor's or Frommer's has a book titled, "London Walks". These walks give explicit directions on where to go without the need of a map unfolded in front of you. They include aprrox. times, suggested eating stops and historical facts. Windsor is easily reached by train, I just don't remember from which station, I think it may be King's Cross or Victoria but someone here will know.`

try <BR> <BR>www.walks.com <BR> <BR>tons o' info..

It is critical that you first get your official Walking Permit from the Ministry of Silly Walks.

The information for Original London Walks is as follows: <BR> <BR>The Original London Walks <BR>0171-624-3978 phone or 0171-794-1764 <BR>0171-625-1932 fax <BR>email [email protected] <BR>www.walks.com or www.london.walks.com <BR> <BR>I can vouch for the Jack the Ripper walk and have only heard good things from friends who have taken other walks through this group. <BR> <BR>You might also want to pull up www.timeout.com (go to London). Not only will they have information on this, but they have links to other websites that will answer most of your questions. <BR>

The Original London Walks that others have responded about truly is the way to go -- you both see and hear about where your're walking, and get additional history and tales as well. I've done numerous walks, both in the city and outside (with this company, from the city and back), and all were excellent. Choose whatever interests you with confidence.

Another vote for the Jack the Ripper walk. Your hotel will have the brochures at the check-in desk. You don't need to reserve ahead, just show up at Tower Hill at 7:30 pm and pay up. Try to plan a night when Donald Rubelow is conducting the tour--he wrote the difinitive book on the Ripper. <BR>Getting to Windsor: VERY easy and fast by train. They leave about every 20 minutes from Paddington Station. They make one stop, at Slough, which is easy. Get off, walkway over the tracks, down and there's your track for Windsor. Total travel time is about 25 minutes. Note that one direct leaves Paddington about 10:20/10:30 am, but the transfer at Slough is TRULY easy. When you buy your ticket at Paddington ask for a "return" which means round-trip. You can take any train back from Windsor at any time of the day--no need to pick a certain time when you buy your ticket. The station in Windsor is smack in the center of town. Just get off the train and follow the crowd. Train ticket cost is under $20. <BR>Have a great trip!

Take the Jack the Ripper tour with Donald Rumbelow of London Walks(www.walks.com). Mr. Rumbelow is an expert on the subject and the tour is fantastic. Take it at night so you can get the full effect.

Jack the Ripper's the most popular of the London Walks, but there are dozens of others. Donald leads three of the Jack the Ripper walks and I believe there are about half dozen or so each week, all given at night . . . for obvious reasons. A number of the guides hold the Blue Badge, which is an especially meaningful credential that separates these folks from the ordinary tour leader. They know their stuff and more. Although you can certainly find walks to do on your own, the London Walks crew will make the experiences much richer. They're well worth the 5 pounds each costs. No need to make reservations. Just show up at the designated meeting spot 10-15 minutes before show time to allow the guide to collect from the attendees. The walks actually begin several minutes after the stated starting time.

I can vouch for the LegalWalks tour. Very enjoyable, historic, etc. <BR> <BR>Definitely worth the money.

I've always done well with Eyewitness Travel Guides. They offer walking tours and highlights for different neighborhoods, and have pictures. I find them useful for deciding where I want to go, and have also followed some of their specific walks. <BR> <BR>

I took the Chelsea walking tour from London Walks in June and loved it! It was great to see an area that I did not know much about and wouldn't have gone to otherwise. The guide was fantastic!

I just came back from London. I took the St Paul's tour and was very happy with it -- it isn't just St Paul's (and I can't imagine going there without a tour leader, there is a great deal worth knowing etc.), it also includes some out of the way places between St P's and the Thames. My general impression is that I would enjoy any of the tours, it would just depend on what I was in the mood for. Anyhow, first class leadership. <BR>

Another vote for the Jack the Riper walk but be sure to take the one that doesn't charge... you pay only at the end of the walk...if you think it worth 5 pounds. Ours definitely was!! Our guide "works days" at the Tower of London. He was excellent! I think the tour leaves just atop the Tower Hill Station of the Tube. Have fun!

We took the Original London Walking Tour of the British Museum a few months ago. It was a great way to see the Museum for the first time. The guide was very knowledgeable and was able to move our group through the museum crowds to see all the major sites. It was the perfect introduction to what could have been an overwhelming experience. The group meets at a nearby tube stop and walks to the Museum.

I agree about the British Museum Walk with The Original London Walks. We took that walk a week and a half ago and it was wonderful. The guide was terrific...very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. It is such a huge place, that is was wonderful to have our introduction be so focused. We felt that we saw major things, got a lot of additional information that we never would have gotten on our own (although sometimes with a very British slant on world history), and had a great overview of the museum. In addition, we didn't have to figure out where things were located and how to get there. And our guide knew a good route to take to minimize constantly going up and down stairs. I wish we"d had time to do other walks with this company. It was well worth the time and really enhanced our experience.