Ooooo....you know how to get my attention with a Champagne bar!

Hi Denisea,

I love properly prepared tea! Daylesford Farm shop had the best tea and toast at 11am one morning.

On our last trip we stayed in a One Fine Day flat in Notting Hill but it looks like that apartment is no longer offered. It was huge compared to the Kir apartment in Paris. Lovely neighbors who gave us restaurant recommendations.

We loved the War Rooms and discovered an adjoining museum on Churchill that we did not recall from our first visit. We spent a long time in St. Paul's on the audio tour and took a seat to listen to a docent speak with a class tour and learned even more. Great delivery that kept the children's attention. Tea in the crypt too.

We also enjoyed Hampton Court Palace and the Maids of Honour in Kew. Had to talk Mr. Wonderful into the latter instead of a pub but he brightened up when we walked in and he saw the bakery case.

Find some excuse to take a train from St. Pancras for the shops and snacks there. We arrived early to catch our train to Belgium.

And of course, theatre, we always attend a couple of plays on our London trips. Last time we managed tea at the Wolseley before the theatre.

We have usually traveled in September or early October and haven't had much rain at that time of year. Hm, now you've got me thinking we need to go back.

Yes, PATRICK LONDON, pray continue.

As WTB said, "lets keep you going you're doing a great job of outlining what's happening."

Your explanation gets to the gist of the matter:

"Part of that is pure speculation, and investment by people from countries where they can (currently) acquire a lot of money and want to find somewhere else, more politically and legally stable, where they can park it."

Perhaps THE SHARD would be a good example. When I visited a few years back, it had just opened. Coverage in the Times suggested that this office space/residence/hotel/restaurant was barely occupied. Perhaps things have changed.

You mentioned the recent mayors "who (whatever their politics) appear never to have seen a skyscraper they didn't like the look of." That would include BORIS, of course. I went to one of his town halls in 2014. I do get a kick out of that guy - he does love London!

Any more insights from where you sit would be appreciated by those of us only passing through....

Les 110 de Taillevent just opened a London restaurants by Oxford Street

http://les-110-taillevent-london.com/en/

The Shard....it just seems out of place. Do Londoners enjoy it? It's certainly unique but wonder hoe the locals feel about its. I am sure the views are amazing from there. Isn't there a Shangri La hotel in The Shard?

I think we will have to visit St. Pancras fir Champagne and all the shops...maybe if we do decide to tack on Paris, it will work out just perfectly.

Jamikins...have you been to the London Les 110 Taillevent? I loved the Paris one on my first visit but our visit last year was quite disappointing. Just curious.

It just opened last week I think so haven't yet!

What? You weren't waiting in line? If you hear feedback there, let know.

The Shangri-La at the Shard is the most expensive in the chain with $800 rooms being the cheapest! Certainly out of my budget, although it's my favorite hotel chain. Good place to go for a drink though. Check out St. Ermins. Lovely properly, well located and an interesting history.

My favorite London restaurant these days is Merchants Tavern in Shoreditch. I also have to go to Corrigan's Mayfair at least once each year.

The malus - London is outrageously expensive. Bring more money than you think you'll need, because you'll spend it all - fast.
The bonus - London's air is so much cleaner than when you were there last - unless you have seasonal allergies, you'll breathe a lot better.

If you compare Paris to London (not really fair, apples and oranges), you'll quickly find that Paris is the more walkable of the two, and by a huge margin. I prefer to walk anywhere I go, but even if I do an efficient job of mapping out a few different sights during a day in London, I end up running out of steam. But of course, the buses and tube are wonderful and efficient, but it's hard to get around London, otherwise.

At first, I was not a fan of the new architecture - and I worry about all that glass somehow crashing down on unwary tourists - but now I'm starting to see the humour in these buildings. They're like psychedelic mushrooms poking up from what remained of the pre-war periods, and at least are more inventive than cement blocks. The views from the Shard or the Eye can be nice, but the weather is generally a factor, and you won't see anything from that height if there's fog, smog or rain.

I'm a big fan of "the Full English" and practically live on that, not needing much else except a pint or two for the rest of the day. Galvin in Shoreditch, Zucca in the Borough, and if you can find any of the KERB roving food trucks, you'll have some great food (Google their schedule). Borough market is just too impossible - too many tour groups rampaging through whenever I've tried to buy anything. Marylebone - the part around the High Street, but not just there - is very interesting from a food standpoint.

You often hear that 'London is outrageously expensive'. It's true that hotels are expensive. But many museums are free. Tube and bus are a maximum of 6,40 per day (zone 1 and 2, which is what most tourists use). There are lots of deals to be had in restaurants (fixed menus, early evening deals). Restaurants in London cost about the same as in Belgium, where I live; if you look at Michelin starred restaurants, those in London are generally less expensive.
A Starbucks tall cappucino in Antwerp is at least 50 pence more than in London. Even with the expensive pound.

Of course it's easy to spend a lot of money in London - but you don't have to.

Favorite food trucks? Fun to follow for their locations on Twitter....tell me your favs in London.

I am sure we will blow through some money and this is true of many of the world's great cities. I am also sure there are ways to spend less if you are motivated to stay on budget....sometimes I am and sometimes, not so much. The hotel will be points...which will leave me some mad money for other things.

Have been on the Eye...nice, but not something I would do again.

I definitely used the Tube more in London than I have in Paris. I got what I think was an Oyster card to use it for the week.

Today, I loved walking over to the National Theatre for the afternoon performance of a very imaginatively-staged "Jane Eyre" and walking back to my hotel afterward.

Temp this afternoon is 37 degrees but didn't feel all that cold. Lots of scarves in use, mainly as fashion accessories. London still seems cleaner than some other cities I could name.

...they speak English and when I arrive back at the hotel I can turn on the telly and watch more than one channel.

Bookmarking for my visit starting in 4 days. Yayy!

bookmarking