Trip Report - London
Jul 10th, 2004 | 10:52 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Trip Report - London
Since I got so much help from this BB, including that from the incomparable Ben Haines, it is only fair to reciprocate. I will break it into segments to coincide with out itinerary.
We returned home June 6 after a wonderful three weeks in England - London (7 days), Carlisle (4 days), Keswick (pronounced Kesick, 4 days), Oxford ( 4 days) and finally Windsor ( 1 Day). All arrangements were made via the Internet and all went smoothly.
We bought a four day in two months Britrail England (www.Britrail.net) pass (more economical than the full Britrail) and pre-ordered seats to Blood Brothers at the Phoenix (www.whatsonstage.com). The rail passes were delivered at home and the theatre tickets were waiting at the box office.
As recommended by several posters here, I had arranged to be met by a ?Just Airports? (www.justairports.com) car which turned out to be a lovely Mercedes sedan for a rate of 25 BPS (our hotel wanted 55 BPS). The trip was so good I was happy to add a tener. We also used this service to go from our flat to Kings Cross RR station when we left London. Again, excellent service.
After an Internet search we had selected the Regency Apartments, specifically 49 Draycott Place (www.regencyvillas.com). Subsequently, I was delighted to read a glowing report on this board. The reality was somewhat different.
The North American agent, Jeb Wilson, had said that Draycott Place was a quiet street. It was anything but. Emergency vehicles, trucks, taxis and anything else in a hurry used Draycott Place, rather than the nearby artery, Kings Road which has traffic lights and much heavier traffic. Consequently, our suite was noisy and frequently assaulted with exhaust fumes. Otherwise it was satisfactory with a large bed sitter, a well-equipped kitchen, nice bath with a minuscule shower and foyer. The heated towel rack and gigantic fluffy towels were things we had only previously encountered in very upscale hotels. While I never used it, there was a fax machine. We did use the safe. There was a VCR and downstairs a collection of several hundred videos.
It was very convenient to shops, restaurants and the Sloane Square tube station. We shopped for groceries at Marks and Spencer on Kings Road, ate at several pubs in the area and had two nice meals (but not inexpensive) at Manicomo?s, 85 Duke of York on Kings Road.
The rental fee for the week was 960 BPS, including tax, and I feel we could have done better.
As this was our third visit to London we did not want to repeat most things, but we did go to the Victoria and Albert Museum and Regents Park again. New undertakings: Kensington Palace and tea at the Orangery (very nice), St. Martins in the Field (there was a cellist giving a noon hour concert), the Nature Museum (the wildlife garden is a delight), Hyde Park (home of the very new Diana memorial fountain) and the London Eye, a new attraction since we were last there.
This giant wheel, 135 metres high does one circuit in 30 minutes, a very leisurely pace. The views are spectacular. If you do not know the city, it is probably worth buying a clever pull-out card which labels the views from each cardinal compass point.
As usual we went on a London Walk (www.walks.com), this time Chelsea (Chelsea, London?s Riverside Village), where we were staying. As usual, it was a delight with a superlative guide. We had wanted to do the ?Jack the Ripper? walk but were just too tired in the evenings. In fact our only evening outing was Blood Brothers. A sad, but wonderfully performed play with actors who give it their all. One piece of advice, make sure you know where the Phoenix is, or take a taxi.
The famous Chelsea flower show started towards the end of the week but we had heard that it is so crowded you get to see very little. In any case you must buy tickets months in advance.
One final note, Chelsea (Kings Road) was surprisingly devoid of internet cafes. When we went to Victoria RR Station to validate our Britrail passes I found one nearby and on another occasion used the free service at the Canadian High Commission, the Commonwealth equivalent of an embassy, on Trafalgar Square. By the way, the pigeons are hardly in evidence anymore. The city hired a falconer to discourage them.
We returned home June 6 after a wonderful three weeks in England - London (7 days), Carlisle (4 days), Keswick (pronounced Kesick, 4 days), Oxford ( 4 days) and finally Windsor ( 1 Day). All arrangements were made via the Internet and all went smoothly.
We bought a four day in two months Britrail England (www.Britrail.net) pass (more economical than the full Britrail) and pre-ordered seats to Blood Brothers at the Phoenix (www.whatsonstage.com). The rail passes were delivered at home and the theatre tickets were waiting at the box office.
As recommended by several posters here, I had arranged to be met by a ?Just Airports? (www.justairports.com) car which turned out to be a lovely Mercedes sedan for a rate of 25 BPS (our hotel wanted 55 BPS). The trip was so good I was happy to add a tener. We also used this service to go from our flat to Kings Cross RR station when we left London. Again, excellent service.
After an Internet search we had selected the Regency Apartments, specifically 49 Draycott Place (www.regencyvillas.com). Subsequently, I was delighted to read a glowing report on this board. The reality was somewhat different.
The North American agent, Jeb Wilson, had said that Draycott Place was a quiet street. It was anything but. Emergency vehicles, trucks, taxis and anything else in a hurry used Draycott Place, rather than the nearby artery, Kings Road which has traffic lights and much heavier traffic. Consequently, our suite was noisy and frequently assaulted with exhaust fumes. Otherwise it was satisfactory with a large bed sitter, a well-equipped kitchen, nice bath with a minuscule shower and foyer. The heated towel rack and gigantic fluffy towels were things we had only previously encountered in very upscale hotels. While I never used it, there was a fax machine. We did use the safe. There was a VCR and downstairs a collection of several hundred videos.
It was very convenient to shops, restaurants and the Sloane Square tube station. We shopped for groceries at Marks and Spencer on Kings Road, ate at several pubs in the area and had two nice meals (but not inexpensive) at Manicomo?s, 85 Duke of York on Kings Road.
The rental fee for the week was 960 BPS, including tax, and I feel we could have done better.
As this was our third visit to London we did not want to repeat most things, but we did go to the Victoria and Albert Museum and Regents Park again. New undertakings: Kensington Palace and tea at the Orangery (very nice), St. Martins in the Field (there was a cellist giving a noon hour concert), the Nature Museum (the wildlife garden is a delight), Hyde Park (home of the very new Diana memorial fountain) and the London Eye, a new attraction since we were last there.
This giant wheel, 135 metres high does one circuit in 30 minutes, a very leisurely pace. The views are spectacular. If you do not know the city, it is probably worth buying a clever pull-out card which labels the views from each cardinal compass point.
As usual we went on a London Walk (www.walks.com), this time Chelsea (Chelsea, London?s Riverside Village), where we were staying. As usual, it was a delight with a superlative guide. We had wanted to do the ?Jack the Ripper? walk but were just too tired in the evenings. In fact our only evening outing was Blood Brothers. A sad, but wonderfully performed play with actors who give it their all. One piece of advice, make sure you know where the Phoenix is, or take a taxi.
The famous Chelsea flower show started towards the end of the week but we had heard that it is so crowded you get to see very little. In any case you must buy tickets months in advance.
One final note, Chelsea (Kings Road) was surprisingly devoid of internet cafes. When we went to Victoria RR Station to validate our Britrail passes I found one nearby and on another occasion used the free service at the Canadian High Commission, the Commonwealth equivalent of an embassy, on Trafalgar Square. By the way, the pigeons are hardly in evidence anymore. The city hired a falconer to discourage them.
Jul 10th, 2004 | 11:16 AM
#2
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Thank you for your detailed report. I'm leaving for a 3-week trip in two days, starting in London. It's my first time, so I've been anxiously scouring this site for reports, hoping I can feel somewhat relaxed when I get there. Yours was very helpful.
Jul 10th, 2004 | 08:41 PM
#3
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 949
Likes: 0
Ticophile,
What apartment did you stay in at 49 Draycott Place? We stayed there two years ago in a studio apartment(#1) and loved it!
We used theapartments.co.uk, and they couldn't have been nicer regarding questions we had, and they even allowed us to pay the full bill upon arrival without a deposit.
We actually found the street to be really quiet, and we were on the ground floor. I did extensive research before we traveled, and although it was a bit expensive (660 pounds) it was in a safe neighborhood, which was a must for two single women.
I thought the apartment was very clean, nicely decorated, and pretty close to a tube station. I would have liked some of the restuarants to be more inexpensive, but thats the price of staying in Chelsea!
We stayed at 49 Draycott Place also, but never had access to videotapes, which makes me quite jealous
Was the street really noisy at night? We might be going back to London soon, and I really wanted to return to this apartment - was it noisy only during the day?
What apartment did you stay in at 49 Draycott Place? We stayed there two years ago in a studio apartment(#1) and loved it!
We used theapartments.co.uk, and they couldn't have been nicer regarding questions we had, and they even allowed us to pay the full bill upon arrival without a deposit.
We actually found the street to be really quiet, and we were on the ground floor. I did extensive research before we traveled, and although it was a bit expensive (660 pounds) it was in a safe neighborhood, which was a must for two single women.
I thought the apartment was very clean, nicely decorated, and pretty close to a tube station. I would have liked some of the restuarants to be more inexpensive, but thats the price of staying in Chelsea!
We stayed at 49 Draycott Place also, but never had access to videotapes, which makes me quite jealous
Was the street really noisy at night? We might be going back to London soon, and I really wanted to return to this apartment - was it noisy only during the day?
Jul 10th, 2004 | 10:32 PM
#4
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 725
Likes: 0
A very good report. While I always have plenty of new things and places to see in London, there are some things I never get tired of seeing or doing - visiting the National Gallery or the National Portrait Gallery, some of favorite bookstores, walks thru London neighborhoods and parks etc.
What I would never do is put up with expensive noisy places to stay. There are plenty of quiet, inexpensive B&B's to stay in London. While not in Central London (20 min ride on the tube) the place I stay at is in a very quiet residential neighborhood 3 min walk to the tube. Peace and quiet makes for a very restful night.
What I would never do is put up with expensive noisy places to stay. There are plenty of quiet, inexpensive B&B's to stay in London. While not in Central London (20 min ride on the tube) the place I stay at is in a very quiet residential neighborhood 3 min walk to the tube. Peace and quiet makes for a very restful night.
Jul 10th, 2004 | 11:58 PM
#5
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
;Ticophile -
Read my three or four lines about the Chelsea Flower Show in my trip report " A little bit of London -More on Paris"
Become a member of the RHS for 30 something pounds a year which then entitles you to see the show on a Members ONLY Day, and they send you a beautiful magazine every month. On both visits this year & in 2000 we saw everything!
A little trick is to wear very very comfortable shoes, take it slow and spend the entire day there. It was hellish hot this year so lots of icy cold Pimm's!!
Read my three or four lines about the Chelsea Flower Show in my trip report " A little bit of London -More on Paris"
Become a member of the RHS for 30 something pounds a year which then entitles you to see the show on a Members ONLY Day, and they send you a beautiful magazine every month. On both visits this year & in 2000 we saw everything!
A little trick is to wear very very comfortable shoes, take it slow and spend the entire day there. It was hellish hot this year so lots of icy cold Pimm's!!
Jul 13th, 2004 | 04:54 PM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Anna,
The street was noisey during the day (fortunatly we were out most of the time); mostly trucks and motorcycles.
I must admit we were not kept awake at night.
It was obnoxious to have fumes wafting through the window while we were eating breakfast.
It was a deluxe studio on the first floor, #3.
David
The street was noisey during the day (fortunatly we were out most of the time); mostly trucks and motorcycles.
I must admit we were not kept awake at night.
It was obnoxious to have fumes wafting through the window while we were eating breakfast.
It was a deluxe studio on the first floor, #3.
David
Jul 13th, 2004 | 05:25 PM
#7
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
rj007
I agree one can get more mileage from a travel budget by spending it on other than hotels. However, we both feel rather uncomfortable in B&B's.
Believe it or not the first B&B we stayed in was the Russell Square Tourist Hotel. The room was a guinea (21 shillings)with a coin-operated gas grill!
The year was 1964. How times have changed.
I agree one can get more mileage from a travel budget by spending it on other than hotels. However, we both feel rather uncomfortable in B&B's.
Believe it or not the first B&B we stayed in was the Russell Square Tourist Hotel. The room was a guinea (21 shillings)with a coin-operated gas grill!
The year was 1964. How times have changed.
